Business Details
Your Trusted Guitar Shop in Milford, CT
Route 1 Guitars has been serving the Milford, Connecticut community as a premier destination for guitar enthusiasts since our founding. We specialize in offering a diverse inventory of electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, alongside essential accessories and equipment for musicians of all skill levels. Our commitment to quality extends to our professional guitar setup services, which include restringing, action adjustments, fretboard maintenance, and intonation calibration tailored to each instrument's unique requirements. We pride ourselves on providing personalized music instruction through experienced educators who teach guitar, bass, drums, and piano, catering to students with flexible scheduling options.As a trusted local business, we maintain partnerships with Creative Music Rental to facilitate school instrument rentals and offer competitive pricing on both new and preowned instruments. Our shop has gained recognition as the 2025 'Best Music Lessons' and 'Best Specialty Retail Shop' in the Milford Region, reflecting our dedication to musical excellence and customer satisfaction. We actively engage with our community through social media platforms and have even hosted film productions for Disney+ projects. Our team combines technical expertise with a passion for music to deliver exceptional service, whether customers are seeking instrument repairs, lesson programs, or performance gear.
Services
Guitar Sales
Music Lessons
Instrument Rentals
Guitar Setups
Repairs
Online Shopping
Pickup Installation
Fretboard Maintenance
Instrument Accessories
School Programs
Highlights and features
- Awarded 'Best Music Lessons' and 'Best Specialty Retail Shop' in the Milford Region for 2025
- Offer pay-as-you-go music lessons with flexible scheduling options
- Feature experienced instructors including professional musicians and recording artists
- Provide comprehensive guitar setup services starting at $39.99 with transparent pricing
- Maintain partnerships with Creative Music Rental for convenient school instrument programs
What people say
Best music lessons
Knowledgeable instructors
Competitive pricing
Quality instrument selection
Services
Guitar Sales
Route 1 Guitars offers an extensive selection of electric, acoustic, and bass guitars from renowned brands alongside specialty instruments like True Temperament models. Our inventory features both new and preowned instruments with detailed specifications provided for each. Customers receive expert guidance to help select instruments matching their skill level, musical style, and budget requirements.
Music Lessons
We provide personalized one-on-one music instruction for guitar, bass, drums, and piano from experienced educators with professional performance backgrounds. Lessons are available in 30-minute or hour-long sessions at flexible times six days weekly, with a 24-hour cancellation policy maintaining instructor compensation fairness while allowing makeup scheduling.
Guitar Setups
Our professional setup service includes restringing, action adjustment, fretboard cleaning/oiling, fret polishing, and intonation calibration for various guitar types. Pricing starts at $39.99 with additional charges for specialized instruments like 12-string guitars or those with tremolo systems, ensuring optimal playability and sound quality for each instrument.
Instrument Rentals
We facilitate school instrument rentals through Creative Music Rental partnerships, offering convenient online contract processing and in-store pickup options. This service provides students access to quality instruments with flexible payment plans, supported by our staff's assistance in selecting appropriate equipment for educational requirements.
Repairs
Our repair services include pickup installations, fretboard maintenance, and general instrument repairs using professional-grade tools and materials. We handle both simple adjustments and complex fixes while maintaining transparency about additional costs beyond standard setup procedures, with specialized services like Fishman pickup installations available through partner providers.
People
Michael Nunno
Bass/Guitar/Piano Instructor
Recognized as one of the region's top musicians, Michael Nunno brings extensive performance and teaching experience across multiple instruments to his instructional sessions.
Michael Barile
Guitar/Piano/Percussion Instructor
Versatile music educator specializing in guitar, piano, and percussion instruction with comprehensive knowledge of various musical styles and techniques.
Joey Concepcion
Guitar Instructor
Professional guitarist for Arch Enemy offering specialized instruction in advanced guitar techniques and performance-oriented playing styles.
Questions
What lesson packages do you offer?
We offer flexible pay-as-you-go lessons with 30-minute sessions at $30 or hour-long sessions at $60, with no prepayment requirements.
Can I rent instruments online?
Yes, we partner with Creative Music Rental for online contract processing and in-store pickup of school instruments at our Milford location.
What setup services are included?
Basic setups include restringing, action adjustment, fretboard maintenance, and intonation calibration with pricing starting at $39.99 based on instrument type.
Are pickup installations available?
We install pickups at $49.99 per unit (excluding Fishman models) with additional setup charges applying for specialized installations.
What are your store hours?
We're open Monday-Thursday 1pm-7:30pm, Friday 1pm-6:30pm, Saturday 11am-6pm, and closed Sundays with occasional weather-related adjustments.
Reviews (7)
Joel Gramajo-Alvarez
Nov 24, 2021
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Sent my guitar (Fender Jazzmaster) for connection electric issue. After roughly a week and a half guitar was done just for it to have the same issue. What a disappointment
Ian Olow
Oct 27, 2021
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Brought a Strat in for a setup. They were great to deal with and had a quick turn around. Will definitely be back.
Peter Mclean
Jun 15, 2021
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The owners are great. Gail and her husband john know everything when I comes to the axe ( guitar ). If your just looking or buy ing please go there leave the big stores alone. Much much better service than and chain store.
Katia Zirretta
Nov 16, 2020
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The staff is awesome and the products are very good with affordable prices, the owners will do their best to make costumers happy
See you tomorrow and thank you again very much
See you tomorrow and thank you again very much
Chris Ryder
Jun 13, 2020
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Gail Bruno one of the best caring shop keepers in the area. Refreshing to see fair prices and a happy experience every time we Buy, Sell or repair guitars, and any musical instruments always a delightful experience Great Job Guys CC
Robert V.
May 12, 2020
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I have always wanted to learn to play guitar. I decided to finally give it a try and have not regretted one minute. I always like to support my local businesses so I decided to give Route 1 Guitars a try. the moment I walked in there, the owners especially Gail and the staff have been very help full and supportive. I also used them for tuning up and servicing my guitars with no issues and they adjust them they was I like them.
Would highly recommend them for your next guitar, amp, and service. I'm also told if they don't have a guitar in stock they can get it. There is a reason why this local business has been around for a while. Support local. Buy local.
Would highly recommend them for your next guitar, amp, and service. I'm also told if they don't have a guitar in stock they can get it. There is a reason why this local business has been around for a while. Support local. Buy local.
Michael Macisco
May 08, 2019
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Excellent store! This is your classic music store. They offer lessons and sell a little bit of everything. Staff is personable and passionate.
