Nobody has more attention to detail, and delivers such flawless results as Bill. I did all of my own luthiere work for many years before meeting bill and now I won’t let anybody but him touch my stringed instruments.
As a person with much computer knowledge but lacking in the audio department, the team at 1428 has been EXCEPTIONAL with advising and consulting me in the right direction.
Many places will happily let you overspend for something you do not need and I am finding that to be the opposite here.
I’ve been in automotive sales since 2003 and can be very troublesome as a client, I am handled very well here.
Excellent work fair prices. The end.
The owner is a scam artist. I would be very cautious about letting him work on any equipment that you have put money into.
2. Ron’s Guitars
Address: 785 Long Hill Rd, Groton, CT 06340 , Groton , Connecticut , United States
Bought my first guitar here! Thanks Ron. Now I jam for the Lamb
the best place around! no question about it amazing selection awesome environment.
Great place to get your high quality gear without spending crazy prices and Ron is great people person, he knows his products well and is always willing to be helpful. I definitely recommend this place.
3. Spindrift Guitars
Address: 300 State St, New London, CT 06320 , Groton , Connecticut , United States
Knowledgeable staff, the amp guy there is awesome! Good selection of new and used gear.
I purchased a pedal through Reverb from SG. Communication was excellent and the item I purchased was a described. They shipped FAST too!! After sending payment, I got a tracking number and received it next day…..just in time to play it over the weekend!!! Thanks guys!!!!
Shop owner very helpful with advice on adjusting the action on my mandolin. It is specifically a guitar shop.
Nice small ma and pa guitar shop
They really know their guitars.
I brought in vintage Gibson Les Paul custom for a Re fret and they completely ruined it there was surface scratches ,chips in the fret board the frets were un even and buzzed. After 4 attempts bringing the guitar back to the store with the problems only half way fixed every time or even new problems I just cut my loses and brought my guitar to a real professional if you want it done right I do not recommend bringing your guitar here for major repairs
4. School Pianos
Address: 96 State St suite b, New London, CT 06320 , Groton , Connecticut , United States
I wanted to buy a Yamaha U1 piano but could not afford a new one. I went online and saw the website and YouTube channel for Caruso pianos. The company introduction by Larry and Richard put me at ease about shopping for a piano site unseen. I called and talked to Larry and he was very helpful and informative. I called back the next day about making a purchase and talked the the Sales Manager Brian. He took the time to make a video demonstrating a couple of pianos that I would be interested in. He took care of the details in making the order happen.
I have most recently been talking to Richard and he is amazing. He will do whatever necessary to create a satisfied customer. My piano took a little longer to be delivered due to snow in my area. I got frequent updates, always extremely friendly. When my piano arrived, it was beautiful and I could not be happier.
Thanks for providing a tremendous shopping experience!
Wonderful piano buying experience with the Caruso team – Britt and Larry. Our Yamaha baby grand arrived in Texas in flawless condition. We made the purchase, sight unseen, and the piano looked exactly as represented and sounds glorious. Totally recommend Caruso to anyone looking to buy a quality piano.
Richard and his team are truly pleasant to work with! They are very knowledgeable, responsive and helpful. They made this online piano shopping experience smooth and painless, which is beyond my expectation. Piano looks and sounds great, would definitely recommend Caruso!
I went to their store and also called them multiple times showing interest in one of their pianos. Despite the fact I showed interest and called/messaged multiple times on a piano, that piano was sold to an online buyer. There was no follow-up or a courtesy call to let me know that the product I was eyeing was gone or was about to be sold.
Nevertheless, I think that they have a good variety and a great knowledge base on pianos. I wish they were a little bit more responsive and courteous as buying a piano is a big purchase and takes time and thought.
EDIT: After my initial review, Caruso Piano contacted me and let me know that they have not reached out to me due to not getting a piano that was comparable to what I was looking for. Which is understandable. I truly appreciate them reaching out to me. I have to write that I learned a whole lot about piano buying from them when I first went to their store. I wish them good luck and hope they continue to be successful as a local business.
UPDATE October 5 2018: Richard Caruso promptly called me the day after I posted the review below. He apologized again, and very willingly reimbursed me for my travel expenses. I feel this was the ethical and right thing to do, and am glad that he made things right with me.
Original review: I flew in from Chicago to try out a Steinway B I had on deposit. The staff knew of my travel plans, and were very hospitable and welcoming. The piano, however, was noticeably out of tune on my arrival. While more accomplished pianists might not have seen that as an issue, it completely stopped me from getting excited about the piano. No sale for them, no new Steinway for me.
They were apologetic and realized their mistake when I pointed this out, but were unable to get the piano tuned while I was there.
This is a shop with perhaps good intentions, but they completely dropped the ball in this instance. I’m writing this review because I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.
I purchased a used U1 3 years ago from Carusos.
Please be aware: these are GREY MARKET pianos. They were originally built and sold in the Asian market. You will have proof when you remove the knee board and see the holder for the lease agreement. And due to that fact, the wood of the pianos is dried to standards for Asia. Not the U.S. or Northeast U.S.
I do like the piano, BUT I and my piano technician are having a heck of a time keeping the damper pedal from squeaking BADLY.
I had the piano saver system installed almost immediately. It has helped the piano hold tune very well.
But because this instrument was not built to the specifications of an American instrument (or North America) it is expanding very badly from the humidity.
I have a dehumidifier in the room with the piano, no heat or doors or windows near it. And I have my technition here AGAIN trying to shave down the knee board to try and eliminate this terrible groan/squeek.
My opinion? Buy a piano through a local piano tuner/technition or through a referral from a tuner tech. If you are going to purchase one of these grey market instruments bring your tuner with you. Pay them for their time and have them tune the instrument you choose BEFORE you give Carusos your money.
6. Kaeser Instruments
Address: 51 Jay St, New London, CT 06320 , Groton , Connecticut , United States
Employees try to sell you stuff they have no idea about
Plenty of guitars
It’s a great store. Staff are helpful. They could use a bit more technical experience since they only have one technician working there
Poor service, staff too busy to acknowledge your presence, especially the one sitting at the entrance. Not once did anyone ask for if I needed assistance. Been to the San Diego Guitar Center love the place so made a return visit to the New London store. Bad mistake store is unorganized, unstocked, unclean and unfriendly. Will do my on line shopping with Musicians Friend. Who ever is in charge should be replaced and staff should be thoroughly trained in customer service after all its the customer that keeps them in business.
Can’t believe the nerve on some people. Kicked my friend out for playing stairway to heaven!!! The forbidden song is fake, THIS IS NOT WAYNES WORLD!
New London Store is out for a nap evidentially. Thought I was in a dead zone. Going else where from now on.
Small business prices, have to be honest. That said, couldnt be more happy with each visit. Extra couple dollars to keep them local is worth it.. Responsible and community driven with an exciting variety.
One of the better record stores in Connecticut. I make it a point to come here and get lunch in New London whenever I can.
One of my weekly stops for out of print records and cds. Owner is super nice. One of the only reasons to visit downtown New london.
Careful of quality of records here, overpriced but if in need of certain album and do not care about price good place to go. Just make sure you look at record quality. Does guarentee they don’t skip but was giving small attitude about return for different record . I just personally expect when I pay over 15 to 20 dollars for a record it has no scratches. With all this being said I still go here on occasion to look for the rare albums.
I walked in here to find more records for my record player, the guy working didn’t seem really helpful. He said “that all we got” while sitting at his desk
This is the best place I know to get used CDs. Be sure to look under the record cases for them as well
Had a great selection of used vinyl, but prices are high. I bought 7 Lp’s and some of them where very noisy and a couple skipped. If it wasn’t for the lunch at the Hot Rod Café the day would of been a waste.
Very rude owner, disorganized and a bad area to park or fell safe in
Doesn’t call back. Doesn’t respond to emails. Records are routinely left in shipping boxes on release day. Store is VERY disorganized and employees do not have any clue about stock. All items are overpriced. Would happily pay the few extra dollars for an ounce of customer service.
they are always fast and efficient with items ordered along with great prices and very helpful staff.
Guys,
I just wanted to drop you guys a note, saying how much I enjoyed listening to you with Jason Heath on Contrabass Conversations. It brought back memories of driving to the barn while I was working in Farmington,CT from my home in Lamoine, ME (Bar Harbor area). I remember I didn’t even know how to play and Gary had to play some basses for my to listen to. In the end, you both stayed late and went through the whole process with me and helped me pick the bohemian hybrid. You were even patient with me when I had to call my wife to get permission to go a bit over budget.That was around December of 2012, and I was starting at the age of 48 with little to no music experience at all.
I drove down from ME to pick up my bass at the Boylston Street, shop from Josh around April of 2014, and the only few days I have not touched it, was when I was moving to Vermont.
Today, I still take instruction, have played solo recitals, jazz trio work,
played in the Burlington Amateur Musicians orchestra, and I am currently
the bass player for Little City Jazz ( a 17 piece big band with all profits
going to school scholarships for music education) out of Vergennes, VT.
I trusted you guys and I have never regretted it, I have a wonderful bass
that has really helped me develop as a player. I tell everyone this story,
and I wanted to say thank you to you and all of the Upton staff.
BTW – I am trying to get my spouse to buy in on a new bostonian.
Regards,
-Jim
The sort of person who would go the extra mile for you!
I live in the UK and needed information on Abraham Prescott for a book I am illustrating … Gary Upton was so helpful, happy to share his research and really went the extra mile for me.
I highly recommend this company!
I purchased a ply bass that had issues out the door. The geometries where all wrong (e.g., the neck was too thin and was not pitched to the back of the bass) and it had a buzz coming from the fingerboard and bridge setup. They were unable to resolve the buzzing sound and I took it it to a local luthier to have the problem resolved. I ended up donating the bass our school district and purchasing a Shen.
Also do not purchase bows from Upton. I purchased a $2000+ bow made by J.R. Silva, Brazil, which developed a splinter just above the frog within 6 months and Upton would not warrant the bow. I now have a $2000+ paperweight.
Update, 10/28/2023:
… as to your reply, yes, I initially thought this was a great bass until I started using it for rehearsals and the buzzing appeared. I thought it was something I was doing or even due to the new bow. I drove 4 hours one way to your location to have your staff address the buzzing issue and they shaved a high spot on the fingerboard near first position and the buzzing did not appear while I was there. When I returned home and started using the bass again for rehearsals the buzzing reappeared. I wasn’t about to drive an other 8 hours to give your staff a second chance at addressing this. Instead, I took it to a local luthier who fixed the buzzing through a combination of reshaping both the fingerboard and bridge (the bridge was set up for jazz, even though I had told your staff that I play mostly orchestral music). While working on my bass, the luthier pointed out the other issues that I mentioned in my review. I am not a luthier, so I would not have necessarily recognized these issues except that through pro-longed use I might have developed muscular issues.
It also wasn’t until your staff responded last week that they could not help me with the issues with my bow that I decided to post this. I don’t like to post negative comments, but I wanted to warn other potential customers of my experience. Your staff could not even help with how I might get in touch with Mr. Silva. If you sell someone’s product, I would think you would have some form of contact information. I spent a lot of money on this bow ($2000+) and NO I DID NOT CAUSE THIS SPLINTER TO APPEAR. I do not appreciate you implying so by your comment. Had your staff handled things differently, I would not have posted this review.
You, as an owner, could have handled this differently as well. You *could* have contacted me by phone about this, instead of responding to my review in the manner that you did, and I might have considered removing this review. You could have even contacted me directly before I posted this review, as several days had lapsed between my speaking with your staff and my posting this review. At this point, based on the content of your reply, I will not remove this review.
14. Mundell’s Music
Address: 84 Rainville Ave, Groton, CT 06340 , Groton , Connecticut , United States
Easy to find what you are looking for and nice service
Very helpful staff here. In terms of servicing guitars, these guys know their stuff and are very willing to teach you how to maintain and care for your guitar.
Great selection and really knowledgeable owners.
I’d probably avoid these guys if I was you.
Was very unhappy with our experience with these people. Would definitely not use them ever again. They were very curt and not willing at all to help with our issue. Would avoid them and cannot recommend them at all. Really, really disappointing.
