Business Details
46 Years
experience
Trusted Stringed Instrument Sales & Repair in Madison, WI
Spruce Tree Music & Repair has been serving musicians since 1980, specializing in stringed and fretted instruments. Founded by Wil Bremer, our shop combines decades of repair expertise with a curated selection of new, used, and vintage instruments. We prioritize preserving original craftsmanship while offering objective evaluations of every instrument we sell. Our services include professional appraisals, restoration, and repair work performed by experienced technicians. We maintain strict quality standards by refusing to sell instruments in 'as is' condition without thorough preparation. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, we operate from a historic 1926 building that has become an integral part of the local music community.Our commitment to transparency extends to all transactions, whether purchasing outright, accepting trade-ins, or offering consignment services. We believe in maintaining the integrity of musical instruments while making them accessible to players at every skill level. Our extensive inventory includes guitars, violins, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and specialty instruments from renowned manufacturers. With over 40 years in the same location, we've built lasting relationships with customers through reliable service and expert guidance.
Services
Guitar Sales
Violin Repair
Instrument Appraisals
Vintage Instrument Sales
Banjo Restoration
Ukulele Repairs
Mandolin Sales
Stringed Instrument Consignment
Fretted Instrument Repairs
Acoustic Instrument Appraisals
Details
- Year established: 1980
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of specialized expertise in stringed instrument repair and sales
- Our technicians provide objective evaluations based on extensive repair experience
- We maintain strict quality standards by preparing all instruments before sale
- We offer comprehensive appraisal services backed by decades of vintage instrument expertise
- Our historic shop combines traditional craftsmanship with modern service standards
What people say
Expert repair work
Extensive selection
Knowledgeable staff
Quality vintage instruments
Excellent service
Services
Stringed Instrument Sales
We offer comprehensive selection of stringed instruments including guitars, violins, mandolins, and banjos. Our inventory features new instruments from premier manufacturers, carefully curated vintage pieces, and specialty instruments. Every instrument undergoes thorough evaluation to ensure playability and structural integrity before being offered for sale.
Instrument Repair
Our professional repair services address all maintenance needs for stringed and fretted instruments. With over 35 years of experience, our technicians specialize in structural repairs, neck adjustments, and electronics maintenance. We prioritize preserving original craftsmanship while implementing necessary repairs using traditional methods.
Vintage Instrument Appraisals
We provide written appraisals for vintage and antique instruments based on extensive market knowledge. Our evaluation process considers historical significance, condition, and market trends. Appraisals require physical examination to ensure accurate assessment of each instrument's unique characteristics.
Consignment Services
We offer consignment services for instrument owners seeking professional representation. Our process includes expert evaluation, competitive pricing, and marketing to qualified buyers. We handle all aspects of the sales process while maintaining strict quality standards for instruments offered through our shop.
Instrument Restoration
Our restoration services focus on preserving original instrument features while addressing structural issues. We employ period-appropriate materials and techniques to maintain historical integrity. Each restoration project follows our principle of minimal intervention to preserve the instrument's original character.
People
Wil Bremer
Founder
Wil Bremer established Spruce Tree Music in 1980 after operating repair shops in Ohio and Indiana. With over 50 years of experience in instrument repair, he continues to oversee operations while maintaining hands-on involvement in complex restoration projects.
Questions
What types of instruments do you specialize in?
We specialize in stringed and fretted instruments including guitars, violins, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and specialty instruments from both modern and vintage manufacturers.
Do you offer repair services for all instrument types?
Our repair services focus on stringed and fretted instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars, violins, mandolins, banjos, and related instruments.
How long has Spruce Tree Music been in business?
We've been serving musicians since 1980, though our founder began working with instruments in the 1970s through earlier repair shop ventures.
Can you help with instrument appraisals?
Yes, we provide written appraisals for vintage and specialty instruments based on our extensive market knowledge and repair experience.
Do you accept instruments on consignment?
We accept instruments for sale on consignment with our standard quality evaluation process to ensure all offerings meet our strict standards.
What makes your shop unique?
Our combination of repair expertise, vintage instrument knowledge, and commitment to preserving original craftsmanship distinguishes us in the industry.
Reviews (7)
Taylor Binder
May 12, 2022
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Fantastic place! Got my old guitar repaired and sounds perfect! Great knowledgeable people. I also bought another guitar from them to add to my collection, it is beautiful and sounds amazing not a very expensive guitar but great quality. Honestly no complaints guys, God bless you all
Ben M.
May 08, 2022
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Nice shop but if you are a gigging musician be wary of their estimated repair times. My instrument sat for many weeks without being worked on after a 10-14 day estimated wait time. I ended up taking it back before anything was done
Russ Coff
Jan 29, 2022
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I needed a very small repair to my classical guitar. They were able to fix it while I waited at a very reasonable rate. Other stores either didn't have a tech on site or didn't answer their phones.
Julian VandenBerg
Dec 22, 2021
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I brought my Strat in for a setup and they absolutely botched it. I took it back in 3 times (within a day or two) for them to fix obvious screw ups. At first, there was a massive uneven notch in the nut for the G string which made the string audibly and noticably crack back and forth. It was obvious they hadn't actually played the guitar after "setting it up". I brought it in and they filled the notch in and gave it back, only for the G string to be WAY HIGHER than all other strings on the neck!
I brought it back a third time and they filed the notch out a bit. It fixed the level issue, but the string still cracks back and forth. This happened almost a year ago but I'm still irritated. I'm going to have to bring my guitar to Dave's for someone who actually cares to take a look, because I'm getting tired of hearing my G string crack every time I bend it. 2 stars because they were nice enough when I was in the store looking to buy a mid range acoustic. Glad I didn't end up buying one there.
I brought it back a third time and they filed the notch out a bit. It fixed the level issue, but the string still cracks back and forth. This happened almost a year ago but I'm still irritated. I'm going to have to bring my guitar to Dave's for someone who actually cares to take a look, because I'm getting tired of hearing my G string crack every time I bend it. 2 stars because they were nice enough when I was in the store looking to buy a mid range acoustic. Glad I didn't end up buying one there.
Tiffany Virag
Nov 25, 2021
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DO NOT TAKE YOUR GUITAR HERE! My limited edition essentially new Taylor guitar sustained significant damage to multiple parts. Owner failed to resolve issues only attempting to cover them up. AVOID!
Cat Quintanilla
Oct 28, 2021
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Forget guitar center, spruce tree music should be every musicians place to go! The owner is knowledgeable, attentive and his experience honest and direct. Iam so glad to have googled this place for a tune-up for my travel guitar! I highly recommend this beautiful music store!
Kyle Elsbernd
Oct 26, 2021
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Been dealing with Will for years. Though I've moved hours away and have tried other shops, my loyalty remains with Spruce Tree. This summer I stopped by on a whim after a gig in which my Taylor guitar underwhelmed. Sure enough, Will had the exact right, perfect instrument for my needs: a Larrivee 12 fret dreadnought guitar. Remembered my name after having been gone for years. Fair price, no nonsense. 40 years in Madison -- I'll be sad the day it's gone. The passing of an era.
