Mandolin Brothers

Mandolin Brothers Is a place built out of a love for things with strings. How do I know? Because it is visible from the moment you walk in the door. Their quiet, blissful obsession is visible all over the walls. The place is climate controlled to provide the best environment possible for the instruments. Not many places do that. The first time I went there I was 15. I had just started playing bass guitar and wanted to see what the deal was. Back then you had to walk through an office to get to the showroom. It was just a tiny office piled high with papers that took 3 steps to get through on your way to the next door. It was just due to the original layout of the building and space issues it guess. So not knowing this I went in, saw where I was, got confused and walked back out to look for another door. Mr. Stan Jay himself came out and set me straight, escorting me inside and welcomed me to the obsession. Seeing the showroom for the first time was like a combination of being in Disneyworld, a museum, and the rock n roll hall of fame all at once. Being able to see and play all those instruments, including ones owned by the famous and semi famous was overwhelmingly awesome. The next time I went there I had a brief conversation with him while I was dropping my bass off for a set up. I mentioned feeling like as awesome as the place is I could never afford a bass from there. He suggested that he might be able to get «blemished» parts for a real Beatle bass from the manufacturer and the store would build it, cleaning up the blemishes and I would end up paying about $ 700 for an instrument with a retail value of about $ 1500 — $ 2000 (in 1983 dollars.) I was 15, making $ 3.35 an hour, and not into the Beatles so I didn’t take him up on it then and even though he said the offer was for when I was ready, I never did. I should have, what an awesome story that would have been. Mr. Stan Jay was a generous guy who would hand you a 1954 Stratocaster to play without blinking an eye not because he wanted to sell it to you but because he wanted to share it with you. He is gone now but the store is still there and his family and staff still run it the same way so go there. Now. If you’re reading this that means you’re considering going there. I am telling to stop reading and go. So go. Now. They are consistently rated one of the top 3 stringed instrument retailers on the PLANET and have been annually for years now which basically means that top stringed instrument players WORLDWIDE have either been there or want to go there. If they want to go there then you do to. So go. :-)

My wife’s banjo had started to have problems, and we tried to get it set up at Metropolis Music in Jersey City. HUGE mistake. They may do a decent enough job on guitars, but they have no idea what they’re doing with banjos. The intonation and sound was totally messed up.
We brought it here because of their excellent reputation. Jason Ferguson, their banjo repairman, did a FANTASTIC job. He was funny, kind, and good at explaining everything that needed to be done. He’s clearly passionate about his job and takes pride in his work.
I told him I needed it done today because my wife needs the banjo for Monday art enrichment classes that she teaches. He charged me a rush fee (only $ 40 on top of the $ 60) and got it done in 90 minutes. During those 90 or so minutes, I wandered a store packed full of the best selection of banjos I’ve seen in the NJ /​NY area. Mandolins and some really beautiful acoustic guitars too! There was even a banjo from the 1890s! If you’re a collector, this is a must-​visit store.
My wife’s old Fender banjo feels and sounds brand new. No more intonation problems. I’m betting it won’t be falling out of tune all the time either. I feel spoiled that this store is only 30 minutes away from my home in Jersey City. We will definitely be back.

I went to Mandolin Brothers for the first time in 1989 and bought my first high quality guitar. I was lucky enough to meet one of the Mandolin Brothers. I went there again again last year, and purchased a Martin. Mandolin Brothers always focused on high quality musical instruments, and sold them at a premium. When you were there, it was clear that the Brothers had a deep appreciation for the beauty of each unique musical instrument. Even though you can still sometimes find one of the Mandolin brothers there, now that Stan Jay is the owner, the store has lost its way. They still have beautiful guitars, but it is more about a who’s who of guitar customers. The employees do not know enough about the instruments. They can’t properly guide you to finding the right guitar. From personal experience, I can say that you should NEVER take your instrument there for repair.
The music instrument business can be very tough to run profitably, maybe Stan got in over his head.

Yeah, it’s a beautiful shop with some great guitars to look at and play.
Their repair shop however will never get my business again.
Went there to get a price on a trade in on my MINT condition Guild D40 and after their generous offer of $ 800, I decided to keep it and get it set up. Big Mistake.
After a week and a half, I got my (what used to be mint condition) guitar back.
I immediately flipped it over and there on the back side was a bunch of scratches like someone slid it across sandpaper. The person helping me said «Oh were we supposed to buff those out?» I said it would have been nice if you buffed them out after your shop put them there.
The setup was another story. The action wasn’t lowered and the intonation was off.
It looked like all they did was put new strings on and scratch my guitar.
I took it home and did a better job myself.
Never Again!

Oh my goodness how I love this shop. It’s easily the best guitar store in New York, and arguably the country. And because the USA is the world capital of acoustic guitars, that means possibly it’s the best shop in the world.
The owner and founder, Stan Jay, is there every day, personally working with customers. The service shop is as good as anyone in the business; they repair and restore priceless vintage instruments every day, so that can easily do whatever your modern instrument needs. Their service is expensive, because it is worth it.
The selection of guitars is mind boggling. The new ones from Martin and other, smaller, high-​end builders, but especially the vintage instruments. Some of the rooms feel more like a museum than a store, but if you are a serious buyer, they can all be played and purchased.
The prices on the guitars are fair and competitive. The sticker price is not the price — negotiate, just like buying a car.

The Best Guiitar Store I Have Seen
Me — Playing bass and guitar for 25+ yrs. This place is the best. Not the largest selection, but fantastic quality and value in every area. Just a fun place to visit. I will be back.

Huge inventory of everything from entry-​level to sought after vintage rarities. Too bad it’s all the way out on Staten Island.

Used to be amazing for service and setups but not anymore. Last time I brought a guitar with a broken neck and got it back in same condition with some epoxy on top of crack.
The inventory is sparse but the instruments are really nice. They have some decent low end epiphones and guilds but not that much. The used stuff is mostly vintage fender and Gibson.
The last few times I dropped guitars to be set up they did a terrible job and didn’t bother to follow my requests even though it was printed on my receipt. Such as tuning and string gauge.
They advertise that they want I to play every guitar in the store but seem annoyed if you frequent the store but never buy a 3000 dollar instrument.
By far the best real guitar store on system island anyway but beware of services.

I recommend this as the place to find THE excellent acoustic guitar. The service & help you require to find the best instrument for you is here. Up untill your purchase, service is premo but afterwards there is a distinct & obvious lack of interest/​support. So keep this in mind and don’t select your guitar in an off hand way & some sort of feeling that the exceptionally initial friendly good will of the place extends past your purchase. When you make your purchase think and rethink and buy like it is a business transaction & YOU ARE SURE. Afterwards they will not be as flexible to your whims & pretty much all business and relatively rigid. This can be very disappointing if you require the instrument to be set up in a very accute way etc.
I bought two choice guitars and brought my friend out and railroaded him into a purchase in 1988 – 89. They also handled a couple of guitars I had for sale in the 90’s in the most excellent manner. But I do not believe in they’re repair guy.
More recently. Having gradually fallen on to less prosperous times in the new millenium I did not consider instruments untill we were forced to sell our house.
As some consolation to the forced sale of our beautifull home I built up an intention to buy some choice guitars. I went to Mandolin Bros quite a few times to try guitars and developed the feeling that I owed the owner/​store my custom for the intended guitar (s). With this in mind, I took the liberty to ask for a small «service» so to speak.
I brought in a 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar which I have had for 30 years to ask what would I expect in a sale if he handled the sale of this guitar in his store. He refused to offer any opinion of its value. He insisted that he would have to take it apart and do an official appraisal which would be $ 150. As it may not be all original.
I explained to him as an instrument I use, and find perfectly set up, I did not want it taken apart (for authentication) unless I was resolved to sell it… which at that point I was not. He mocked my sentiment as invalid. I reasoned with him that he has seen me for 20 years and if the guitar is «as it seems».what would it sell for. Certainly it would do no harm to give me his opinion. He refused to offer an opinion, stands back holding up his arms and refuses to so much as touch it. Then he points at a sort of blue book & tells me to look there. After a L O N G .S L O W. ride to go all the way there. to a person who has actually bought guitars there and greeted with a familiar welcoming smile. I was humiliated. I was humiliated because I assumed foolishly that I was more than just a dollar bill and also because of my weak financial standing.(I went there to prepare for the possibility that house may not sell & that I would have to sell that guitar for need).
Anyway when our house did sell a few months later i placed my order for 3 custom made guitars elsewhere. Two Masterbuilt Fenders Stratocasters & a Brazilian Rosewood Lowden which had to be specially voiced by Mr. Lowden himself due to my specific unusual details. oh yes. and a Fulltone Tape Echo (Echoplex).
So there is my full review.
The first part is my observation quite seperate from the second. A great place to compare guitars and find that special one. If you blindly buy a guitar without trying it as for example from the big chains you are shorting yourself. Mandolin Bros can do at least as good a price (probably better) than those horrible chain stores but they also offer you every guitar to compare it to… and it is family owned. The chains offer.“we will match any other price”.but they do not have the decency to give you the best price up front. Mandolin Brothers does. and should be supported for it.

The finest string instrument store I’ve ever seen. They are best known for flat tops and bluegrass-​oriented instruments. But they have a small but decent collection of classical guitars, and a truly drool-​worthy room filled with gorgeous archtops.
You won’t get a «bargain» here, but why should you? Just visiting here is an experience for any acoustic lover, and you’ll find instruments here you won’t find anywhere else. Oh, the staff is great, and Stan Jay is a gentleman and a scholar.

Five Stars without question. I wish they had rooms then you could stay, like 2 – 3 days. The instruments are yours to try, without anyone hassling you, for a decent try-​out not just a quick strum. The range of instruments; acoustics, electrics, lapsteels, dobros, mandolins, banjos etc., is mind-​boggling. The sales people are passionate about their work and really know their stuff and my dealings with them have been just a real pleasure. If you have ever been to McCabe’s Guitar store in Santa Monica you’ll recognize the same level of excellence. They also have a repair shop that is well-​respected and many a famous player has made the trip to Staten Island. Travel Tip: I take a taxi from the ferry and get them to call one for me on the way back. The bus took me off to some ‘burg called Linoleumville which was frightful.

if you love string instruments they got em here and more. actually i consider this place more like a museum. there are pieces here that you can only dream of having and if you had them you’d wantt o keep them stored in a glass showcase in your personal library.
easy to get to. lots of sheet music. staff is very cool.

From the outside, Mandolin Brothers looks like a nondescript two-​story converted brickhouse, but once you get in the front porch, you soon realize that you have entered the six-​string Shangri-​La of the East Coast.
The Mighty Mandolin Bros is the finest music store specializing in rare, vintage and custom guitars, ukuleles and the like. The staff is fanatical about their instruments, service, and wacky shirts, and are nothing short of sagacious in their knowledge, history, and construction of acoustic instruments. Look, Sir Paul had his violin bass personally flown in here for servicing and George Harrison once stopped in to play around and pick up a uke. What else do you have to know?
They don’t sell junk, but as expensive as their pieces are they are just too cool about letting you fiddle around with anything you desire. You can easily lose entire days here just trying out every beautiful ax on the walls. I once got to compare a $ 5K Martin with one from the 1940’s that was worth 8 times as much! I then played a vintage archtop worth the price of a BMW landshark and they didn’t hawk me at all, unlike at chain shops where they give you dirty looks for even thinking about touching the Taylors. Just an amazing place, this is.
The sad thing is, the expense of many of these instruments is so prohibitive that the type of musician that can really appreciate the quality of product here would find a hard time affording same — most are really collector’s or dream items, so I offer this caveat: If you are a serious musician, you must be very wary of this place. You will fall in love, and you will have your heart broken.
I first checked this store with my old hippie gee-​tar playing uncle when I was a teen, and back then I told myself that someday, just someday dammit, I will buy a guitar from here. I’ve saved a little here and there, and last summer I just completely fell for a handmade Goodall that put some voodoo shit over me, so I closed my eyes, bit my lip and took the plunge. The service and purchase was beyond smooth, they answered every question I conceivably had and even saved me a few shekels on shipping. Ever since, my new girlfriend, uhh, I mean guitar and I couldn’t be any happier. Hell, she may as well be my girlfriend, I bet you could find mail-​order brides out there for cheaper.
Getting here is kind of a hike. Too bad the Mecca is buried in the depths of SI but hey, I guess we have to give them something.

Even if you don’t play guitar, banjo, or ukulele… get yourself over to Mandolin Brothers with a friend who plays an instrument and enjoy yourself. It is a brilliant concept: the most beautiful instruments are available to be seen, played, heard in a store where the sales people love what they do.
This is the opposite of Guitar Center. Where badly stored cheapo instruments are sold to kids wanting to play Metallica riffs (not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
You have to take the Staten Island Ferry to Staten Island, but it is so worth the trip. Then there is a bus that takes about 15 minutes. But trust me, if you love guitars and other stringed instruments, check out this store. Just make sure you have a T shirt on underneath any shirt with buttons as they make you take a shirt with buttons off as the buttons will scratch the finish of a guitar.
The owner sits in front of the store as you come in, he looks you in the eye and smiles and then lets you gawk at the beautiful instruments and lets you play them if you are interested. Joni Mitchell wrote her song «Song For Sharon» with a few lines about Mandolin Brothers!
«I went to Staten Island… to buy myself a mandolin…»
I mostly but music books and small instruments here, but every trip has been memorable and nothing beats playing a uke on the Staten Island Ferry as the wind whips around. The store also does a small discount if you pay in cash.
They have electric guitars too, but the acoustic instruments are what makes the musicians swoon.

I will admit that I have never been in the Mandolin Brothers store however I have spent lots of time on the website browsing the inventory. As the name implies Mandolin Brothers specializes in Bluegrass instruments but they do have a large selection of electric guitars.
The website has lots of pictures and write ups for almost every guitar. A guitar head could spend hours on the site. You can buy on-​line as well and they offer a cash discount.
I have not been in person because I do not like to go north of the Drucill Bridge on my weekends. Is not that I do not like North Jersey it is just that with all the traveling I do my weekends tend to be very valuable and I do not like to spend unnecessary time driving.
I am completely surprised that I am the first person to review. This place is famous.