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30th Street Guitars

Opening Hours
Today: 11am–6pm
Tues:
11am–6pm
Wed:
11am–6pm
Thurs:
11am–6pm
Fri:
11am–6pm
Sat:
11am–5pm
Sun:
Closed
Location
234 West 27th Street
Neighborhoods
30th Street Guitars 1 Music and Instruments Chelsea

As a kid, Matt loved to tear guitars apart and rebuild them. He is one of the lucky few that never had to grow up; now he does so professionally, at his own shop, and calls it "repair." 30th Street Guitars sells used and vintage guitars, from beginner level to upper-echelon. Most are electric, but a few are acoustic, and there are a few basses hoping to find new owners, as well. Matt's expertise means that he repairs and "does a lot of fretwork" with guitars, banjos, and basses. But recently it also led him to design his own line of guitars. "Basically," he told us, "I took everything I know about old guitars - playability, what goes into them - and put that into a guitar. The result is guitars that look old, and sound old, but play like new." The customers meandering through the store seemed to agree. Asked what he likes most about his job, Matt responded that his store is "like a bar without the alcohol. People come in, talk, commiserate."

In November of 2015, 30th Street Guitars moved from West 30th to its current location. With his loyal clientele and recognizable branding, Matt decided not to change the name of his shop, though he realizes it can be confusing. He loves his friendly new neighborhood. “It is the safest street in Manhattan,” he explained, mainly due to the high security provided by FIT.

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30th Street Guitars 1 Music and Instruments Chelsea

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