Exclusive selection: The top 7 music shops of Guilford

This guy is the Only person I would even consider let touching my guitars for a few decades now.. I bring them from Providence just to have him work on them… He is second to none.. If I say make it like this he always does it just right. I know if it’s a wire issue or a pickup or just a neck and bridge adjustment or whatever, it will be done Right.. thank you.

George Youngblood is incredible. If you instrument deserves the very best in repair craftsmanship and luthiery, he’s your man.

George is the best!

I’ve been renting a 1/10 size violin for my six year old daughter. The Audubon staff has always been friendly and helpful. It’s a wonderful store, full of beautiful instruments and knowledgeable people–one of several cultural gems on Audubon Street in New Haven. I’m really glad it’s there. If there are problems with online or mail-order business, I’m sorry; but my experience with them is entirely positive.

We have been customers at this New Haven store for over three years and have had a good experience. The staff is always friendly and helpful. We needed to update our son’s viola to a larger size and the transaction was timely and courteous.

Long time customer. Loved their service through the years, and they’re always helpful & friendly.

They are pleasant at the shop. However, they billed us for a cello we returned a year ago, and since they have limited hours, it took 3 messages and an email before they sorted it out.

I ordered 2 Pirastro Oliv violin strings online from this place on Oct. 6, 2016. It is now Nov. 4, 2016. I still have not received them. These are not obscure strings and usually readily available at most places. I have called Audobon Strings numerous times during business hours. They do not answer their phone during business hours. I have left voicemails. No answer. I also sent 2 e-mails. I finally got one reply at the end of October saying they had to backorder these strings and would get back to me on the status of the order by the following week (which never happened). They list items on their website as ‘in stock’ that they do not carry. This to me seems very disingenuous and misleading. This is by far the worst customer service I have ever experienced anywhere. I get better service at a McDonald’s in all honesty. You can count on me to share this review to all of my friends and many followers on social media. Judging from reading the other reviews here and on Yelp, I am not the only person who has experienced problems with this business.

Edit: regarding the reply posted below by the owner, Audubon Strings never offered me a discount of any kind due to the delay. That is a complete lie. I had to call my credit card company to file a dispute and have my money refunded to me

Honestly, what the hell is wrong with this place? Every single bad order or review on this place is always backed up by some excuse of an “error” or something that wasn’t their fault. You people don’t respond to emails, phones, your shops are closed when they are open. It seems like the people working at this place takes this job as a “favor” and don’t have responsibility for anything people have to do.

Purchased from their website then received an email a few days later stating that they wanted more money for the item than what I had paid. Strange way of doing business and I would avoid them.

Love the experience there. Had my sax tuned up there for a couple of years. Judy Gebler is very knowledgable on what needs to be done. Prices are worth it.

If you are a saxophone or clarinet player in Connecticut, you should know Jim Gebler’s name. Jim is a talented and meticulous repairman who has worked on dozens of clarinets and saxophones for me and my students over the years. If something is not right with your instrument, he can find the problem and fix it, no questions asked.

Dedicated, knowledgeable folks, who really care! I am impressed with the professionalism and time that I was given when speaking with Fine Band Repairs recently about an instrument repair. Would not hesitate to bring all our band instruments to them!

Great burgers

I was trying everybody to restore the sound my violin once had but Charles was the only one who finally succeeded. I’ve since seen him make many other instruments sound far better than their owners ever thought possible. He explains things carefully and clearly, never any pressure and never charges more than he says he will or cuts any corners. Every instrument and bow he’s ever showed me for sale has been identified accurately and certified when appropriate and any condition issues are disclosed immediately. He has demonstrated his honesty and skill repeatedly. Highly recommended.

He is an expert Luthier with a lifetime of experience. He was able to adjust and tune my daughter’s cello (which before we sent it to him, we would nickname it “FireWood”). He made it sound so much better. We now have to come up with a better name for her cello.
He is a master craftsman.

What a great place. The owner, Chuck, is very kind and helpful. Extremely reasonable and fair rates and flexible with school rentals. Definitely oriented towards making the customer happy. Highly recommend!

Great old school customer service

So glad to have found this place. Super helpful service to help me dial in my guitar. He can get anything but more importantly helped me understand the right style and kind guitar for me.

Excellent customer service. Will surely return.

A Gem. The Owner Ken is hands on and very helpful.
I brought in a Bass a couple weeks ago for a neck adjustment and he set it up so well and finished the same day. I was amazed at the adjustment job. It felt like A brand new instrument and played like one too. I will bring all my basses to him for set ups.
I bought my first guitar from him when I was in middle school in the mid 90’s using piggy bank coins. Very nostalgic times. Great memories and still great service. A classic store through and through and we’re lucky to have him in Branford. Support local.

Such a nice little store, Owner is very kind and helpful, i really enjoy going there for my guitar needs.

Very convenient

Cool little music shop. Worth going and especially if you need a setup on your instrument.

When I can I prefer to spend my money at mom -n- pop businesses and A Sound Choice is a great guitar shop. Knowledgeable and they have a great selection of music making products. The corporate guitar stores don’t always hire staff that even know what a treble clef is so my advice is spend your money here.