Lil’Demon Guitarists’ Pro Shop

I brought my Strat in for a fret levelling, after about a week they call me to come in and pick it up, I give it a once over and my maple fretboard is covered in scratches! They took steel wool to my frets without even putting tape on the fretboard protect it– either he got a completely unqualified employee to do it or he did it himself and just didn’t care.
The weirdest part is that when I pointed it out and asked him about all these scratches on my fretboard, he denied that they even existed– then went through a strange theatrical display where he kept inputting the wrong price into the register, like 4 or 5 times, then proceeded to act so flustered and unable to deal with the situation that he told me the job was free.
Amateur place, definitely avoid.

Prices are okay, though he charges you out on his phone in some weird way and it shows up on your credit card under some bizarre name. Pretty sure he didn’t charge me sales tax, so he’s got some loophole he’s working. Whatever.
I’m not sure if he really knows what he’s doing, but I got my guitar back fine. It did take over twice as long, and when I called about it one week after he said I’d get it back, after not bugging him at all about it, he gave me attitude.
He then called me back and said it was ready that day. Odd.

I have been taking my guitars to Gene at Lil Demon for 4 years. I have a lot of guitars and know how to set them up and maintain them, but anything beyond my skill — it goes to Gene. His prices are reasonable and has a quick turnaround. He’s taken ‘Dog Stratocasters’ bought online and turned them into ‘Custom Shop’ play-​ability machines. I’ve brought him acoustic guitars, basses, electrics, mandolins, you name it — he’s also sold a lot of my guitars on consignment. He sells unique used stuff out of his shop you won’t see anywhere else — like vintage Japanese guitars.
Although he’s right around the corner from the Dakota, he doesn’t have any of that Queen Street Country Mafia snobbery other repair guys do — including the excruciatingly long turnaround times to repair.
Lil Demon is the neighborhood barber shop of guitar repair, bring a coffee have a great conversation with the characters that wander through.
Gene knows his stuff, his prices are reasonable and his turnaround time is quick. He’ll also be honest with you and advise if something isn’t worth it.
He’s the best in town — and I’ve tried them all.

this guy is a dickhead
talked to him over the phone about finishing a guitar (touch up… whatever)
told me he could do it that he would do it when HE LOOKED AT IT in store and then he changed his mind
wasted my fking time i had to carry this stupid 20 pound guitar with me downtown
do not recommend
he probably can’t do anything else either