Customer Testimonials
We're proud of the work we do, and if you're happy with the service you receive please tell us! Here's what our customers have to say:
"This is the first chance I’ve had to send out a quick email to thank you for the wonderful work you did on my Gretsch 6120. My goodness the guitar plays great now – so much better than it did when I brought it to you. It sounds fantastic, looks terrific – it’s so hard to believe its 48 years old. Your meticulous work is evident and I am very grateful for your skilled efforts in concert with your appreciation of the instrument. I am very, very pleased with the result. What I brought you was a classic in need of some loving attention… what I received back was a fine working vintage instrument in beautiful shape. Thank you so much for resurrecting it! You have my highest regard as well as my unqualified willingness to refer you to anyone that asks. Thanks again!"
Patrick C - Warrenton, VA.
"Thanks for a superb repair job on my Martin, I'm always hesitant to entrust my guitars to anybody but your work on my guitar was impeccable. I'm glad I overcame my nervousness and trusted you with my baby!"
David G - Potomac, MD.
"Graham, it was a pleasure to meet you and I am well pleased with the repair work on the Epiphone. The pickups in the Les Paul blew me away. They take an average sounding guitar and take it to a whole new level. Great work and thanks for setting the guitars up for me. I was very pleased with your service and knowledge about guitars. And yes, I agree Strats rule! But the Les Paul has a sound like nothing I have held in my hands yet."
Gary G - Herndon, VA.
"Well Graham, after reading about Wizard Revelation PickupsI became curious. I just love the neck on my Strat but wanted a brighter sound. You know the sound of pulling the strings and letting them smack against the fretboard. Funky! Chicken' pickin', yes sir. I played your Road Worn Strat and decided right away that I had to have them. I love Fralins and still do but these Revelations are the cat's ass. Don't buy a new maple neck, get a set of Revelations. Thanks!" Steve L - Herndon, VA.
"I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for the recent work you did on my 60th Anniversary American Strat. Your recommendation to install theWizard TweedTone Pickups and the Push-Pull Tone Pot was dead on! As you know, I wasn’t happy with the stock pickups and knew that I needed to make a change. I considered getting Texas Specials (again) but thought I would do some research and see what else is out there. Honestly, thanks so much for taking the time to have me listen to your various Strats. When I heard your Strat with theWizard TweedTone pickups, I knew right away that they were what I was looking for! They seem to have just the right amount of output and not too much “Top-End”. Thanks again for you work, as I have found it to be nothing less than flawless." Dale Y - Fairfax, VA.
"Just wanted to thank you again for the great job you did with my Musicmaster. It feels perfect now."
John D - Reston, VA.
"Just a quick note to say thanks for turning my old Mexican Telecaster into a true twang machine - after much research I still couldn't find a set of Tele pickups I felt right with, but after you recommended the Wizard Country pickups I found they were exactly what I was looking for, giving me all the James Burton tone I could possibly want! Fantastic setup too, this guitar plays like a much more expensive guitar now. I'll be back!" Philip C - Bethesda, MD.
"You asked for a report on the guitar setup. It is great. I've played it more in the last couple of days than I had in the previous couple of months. I specifically requested the action to be as low as possible and you did a fine job of setting it up exactly like I wanted it."
Rick N - Elkins, WV.
"Just wanted to say thanks for your excellent work on my guitars. The Tele hasn't played this well since I first got it about 36 years ago!"
Ken L - Herndon, VA.
"I brought my old Strat in to Jade Guitars for service and was thoroughly impressed. I'm ashamed to say that I don't look after my guitar the way I should, but much to my surprise I did not encounter a judgmental repairman as I have in the past. Instead this mild mannered British guitar tech listened intently to my woes, and helped my old guitar spring back to life again. He's a proper certified Fender tech and as such I'll never take my guitar anywhere else again. I wouldn't take my Jaguar to a Hyundai dealer for service, so the same now applies to my guitar."
Charles G - Washington, DC.
"OK, so at age 53 I've decided (again) to learn to play guitar. At least this time I can afford a decent instrument, and after Graham worked his magic on one new and one used Taylor that I bought this past year I certainly can't blame the guitars for any lack of ability on my part. Now I just have to put in the work - thanks for wonderful setups and advice Graham, now I just have to convince you to give me a few lessons!
Greg C - Clifton, VA.
"Graham, the Jazz bass really kicks ass! You've given it a new lease on life, and I'm really digging it. Also you polished it up. What did you use? I've never seen such a clean guitar."
Chris B - Herndon, VA.
"Well - I can't blame it on my '57 re-issue Strat setup anymore - Graham fixed all the "adjustments" I had been making over the years! It has never played better - like butta! When I picked it up I could not believe how he made it look so nice as well - it was beautiful. Graham - I am telling all my guitar playing friends about Jade Guitars and the excellent work you do - thank you so much. Cheers!"
Will M - Reston, VA.
"I have brought a total of 13 instruments to Graham for setups and various other adjustments. He is a true craftsman and I am totally impressed and pleased with the quality of his work. Being both a guitarist and bass player he knows how the instruments should sound and feel regardless of suggested spec settings.My electric basses, electric guitars and acoustic guitars all play and sound superb.Not only is Graham professional he is also very personable. We have spent hours talking about guitars, amps and our endless quest for “Vintage Gear”.You can count on Graham and Jade Guitars for high quality work, very reasonable prices and quick turn around on your treasured instruments."
Denny B - Sterling, VA.
"I hadn't played my old Strat for years because I could never get it to play or sound right, and other techs I've been to never made it play the way I wanted it to, so I just gave up on it. All that changed the day I met Graham, he's a total Strat aficionado and he gets the job done quickly, efficiently and with minimal fuss. It was well worth the drive up to Herndon, and I'll be back with more guitars. Thanks Graham!"
George D - Alexandria, VA.
"I'll never take my guitars anywhere else after visiting with Graham at Jade Guitars. He is thoroughly knowledgeable about all types of guitars and provides you with detailed explanations for the work he performs. He has a very obvious love for Fender guitars, particularly the Stratocaster (which is handy for me as I own eight Strats!), and gets it absolutely right each and every time. If you want your Strat set up to play and sound the way Leo intended it to, Graham's your man."
Paul J - Annandale, VA.
"Thanks for the great job fixing my bass guitar with no delay and at a reasonable price."
Khai N - Manassas, VA.
"My guitar sounds awesome. The new Callaham bridge seems to put a fine point on each note. It gives me a real sustain now... if I push it it really starts to sing. And the new black pickguard makes it all very cool. You did an awesome job as usual. Thanks again!"
Dwight P - Great Falls, VA.
"Just a quick note to let know how happy I am with my Gibson SG. The T-Tops you installed really made the guitar – killer tone – I can once again nail the tone from Billy Gibbons to Jimmy Page – just outstanding!! You did an amazing job at a reasonable price."
John L - Herndon, VA.
"I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how happy I am with my guitar. You did an excellent job on the volume pot replacement (as well as cleaning the other pots and touching up the input jack). I couldn't put it down when I got home last night. I think it sounds even better now than when it was brand new. I'm so glad I ran across your ad. If I have any other needs with my guitar I will surely be coming back. Thanks again!"
Brenton D - Reston, VA.
"I played it for a couple of hours tonight and I'm real pleased with the action. It's been so long since I plugged it in that I never even knew it had a battery, because it always just amplified. It sounded good to play it through my Fender Deluxe Reverb with a new battery."
Mike S - Herndon, VA.
"I was pleased and grateful when Graham took the time to help me with my decision to purchase a high end guitar. I settled on a used Taylor 614ce and was reassured after Graham checked it out for me that my purchase and investment were solid (phew!). It is great to have someone you can trust help you with every aspect of owning a guitar, from pre-purchase to helping you take care of it over the years. Graham is very responsive and goes out of his way to help his customers - his knowledge and assistance are invaluable."
Lisa M - Ashburn, VA.
"My second visit to Jade Guitars was no less impressive than the first. I wanted something better for my Epiphone Les Paul '56 Goldtop, so Graham recommended a set of Wizard Epsilon P90 pickups. All I can say is WOW! Not only does my guitar sound like it just quadrupled in value, I can get all the tones I've ever dreamt of and then some. I've never heard such excellent pickups, with sheer tone and definition that puts them head and shoulders above all the rest. If you want a true guitar wizard to cure your guitar of all its ills, bring it to Graham, let him wave his magic wand, then go home and be humbled by the tone of your instrument and amazed by the excellent service you received at Jade Guitars!" Neal W - Oakton, VA.
"Graham, thanks for doing a great job on my P Bass. Its back in working order again. (BTW, you are the only other person to have ever done any work on it except for me)."
Dean D - Haymarket, VA.
"I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me! The routing job looks amazing and the guitar plays and sounds wonderful! Service was excellent and I will most definitely come back if I need anything else (thinking about replacing the neck pickup down the road). An excellent job by an excellent tech!"
Brian R - Fairfax, VA.
"Graham, thanks again for performing such a great setup & saddle adjustment on my Martin, and for turning it around so quickly. It honestly plays better than the day I bought it - I can't put it down! I'll definitely be back in the future and will be sure to send referrals. Thanks!"
Robert S - Fairfax, VA.
"Thank you for building me a superb Custom Stratocaster guitar. I truly never imagined that I would ever find my 'dream guitar', but you've helped me do that and then some. The most impressive part of the package has got to be the Wizard Texas pickups - these are honestly the best pickups I have heard, and it's no surprise to me that the word is spreading about them. They are just fantastic, and I'm truly grateful to you for recommending them to me. I've now got the searing SRV tone I've always dreamt of but been unable to find in any other pickups, many of which were far more expensive. Great work, great everything!" Nigel R - Arlington, VA.
"Just wanted to say thank you for the exceptional work that you did on my guitar and for the quick turnaround. I will be coming back to you for all of my tech needs."
Lenny P - Leesburg, VA.
"Graham, just a follow up on the bass - I can't believe this is the same guitar. With the Acoustic 360 amp I feel like Jaco Pastorius... I'm having a hard time putting down the bass to get through my daily guitar work :) Thanks for doing a great job."
Dan C - Centreville, VA.
"I thank you for the work on my two guitars, the service was excellent. I will definitely recommend your sevices and I will be back."
General V - Oakton, VA.
"Graham’s done it again. I have been trying to get a certain sound for sometime. I thought I’d talk with Graham about his thoughts on sound and its source: my MIM Strat. After telling him that the sound I was after was along the lines of David Gilmour with some Walsh and Clapton and a little Knopfler thrown in, he recommended that I try replacing my stock pickups with Wizard TweedTones. I agreed and, once I got my Strat back with the new Wizards installed, I plugged it in and WOW. Even through my little amp, the sound came alive. I’m nowhere near as good a player as any of the guys whose sound I was trying to find but at least the sound of my rig is much closer now to the point where practicing is more inspirational, more rewarding and more fun than ever before. Thanks Graham, great call as usual." Dwight P - Great Falls, VA.
"Just a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate the great work that Graham did with the nut replacement and setup on my Epiphone DR-500RNS. The guitar sounds better now than it ever did and gives me a reason to practice even more. Thank you Graham."
Chuck O - Clifton, VA.
"Since I've been leaving guitars with Graham to take care of them I've realized I don't need to explain how I'd like them setup. Graham gets to know what your style, feel and ideas are about and he hands your guitars back to you to fit like a glove!! I picked my 72 Gibson Deluxe up the other day, OMG! Thanks Graham, you're awesome!!
Conrad R - Manassas, VA.
"The Wizard pickups are awesome! They provide me with the perfect amount of variety and tone. The 'Racer' humbucker has tons of power for the music I play and is a great addition. I'm just in shock that my guitar sounds as good as it does, it sounds like a new axe altogether. Thank you very much for installing them with the mod." Devin S - Chantilly, VA.
"Just wanted to let you know how happy I am with the Wizard TeleTweed pickups that you recommended and installed in my Telecaster. They sound fantastic! The improvement over the stock pickups was obvious as soon as I plugged in. These TeleTweeds are incredibly articulate and capable of a wide range of tones, from warm to very twangy. Just what I was looking for. I actually thought that the stock pickups were fairly decent, but in comparison, it's like I was playing under a blanket before. So great recommendation and thanks for doing your usual great job on the installation!" Joe D - Reston, VA.
"I am impressed with the service at Jade Guitars, they have a knowledgeable and efficient repairman who only does what's required. He actually talked me out of spending more than I needed to, and offered me logical and cost-effective solutions to my problems. Now that I've found a repair service I can trust I'll only use Graham, and I'll be bringing my LP back for some new pickups next month.
Jon C - Rockville, MD.
"Graham, thanks again for the work on the resonator. It feels much better. Now I just gotta learn how to play it."
Jerry H - Chantilly, VA.
"Been about a month since I picked up my bass player's Fender Precision Bass from Graham. When I dropped it off it was very hard to play. The relief in the neck was very bad. The action was high & stiff. Now - nice neck adjustment, action is low, the only way to say it is buttery, smooth & easy on the fingers. Thanks again."
Conrad R - Manassas, VA.
"I brought my Gibson Les Paul to Graham for a setup. I had recently bought it used and wanted someone to look over it to make sure everything was in good working condition. Graham is honest and a real professional. He is very knowledgeable of guitars and I am pleased with his service. Thank you."
Will W - Chantilly, VA.
"Graham, thanks for the great repair work on the pickguard and the set-up. That guitar hasn't felt so good in years!"
Tyrone C - Vienna, VA.
"I am thrilled with the service, professionalism and prices! I am not a guitar player and couldn't explain in technical terms what was wrong with my son's guitar other than "it doesn't make sound when hooked up to his amp, and he thinks this top switch is broken." Graham gave me a little education on the guitar "lingo" without being condensing, just informative and friendly. I now can say "My son has an old D'Agostino electric guitar (that had been under a bed for 15+ years) dusty, dirty and with old strings and pickups not working." I dropped the guitar to Graham around 10am and he had it back in tip top condition before the end of the day! Graham only did the work needed, didn't try to get me to do unneccessary costly repairs and gave me an estimate on the actual value of the guitar. Very cool, to know this as we couldn't find out much online. My son now loves the way this guitar sounds and feels and I would not ever consider using any other repair service. Thank you so much."
Kathryn G - Lansdowne, VA.
"I just bought a used Strat and wanted a professional to go over it, ensure things were working properly/correctly and set up the guitar (action, intonation, etc). Graham did a superb job on all accounts. My Strat feels good to play and sounds great ... it's probably even better than when it was new. Graham's a true artiste and his advice on 'care and feeding' as well as ideas on customizing my guitar to my tastes going forward was a real help. I will continue to do business with him in the future and will recommend him to my friends."
Dwight P - Great Falls, VA.
"My Mexican Anniversary Fender Stratocaster sounds and feels every bit as good as my American Strat since you set it up for me. It was definitely worth the drive up to Herndon from Woodbridge. Thanks for a wonderful job, I'll be back again with my USA Strat."
Will J - Woodbridge, VA.
"Just wanted to follow-up with you in regards to the setup job you did on my American Strat - you did a fantastic job... the devil is in the details, to be sure, and your fine tuning made all the difference... the tune-up made an otherwise "shop" guitar feel like a professional instrument. I'll be back with more axes! Cheers."
Dan C - Centreville, VA.
"You've taught an old dog some new tricks and made his guitar sing again - thank you Graham for bringing my DeArmond back to life and re-booting my interest in playing it."
John E - Fairfax, VA.
"I would recommend to anyone with a Fender bass that they should have their technical work done by Graham at Jade Guitars. Graham modified and set up two P-Basses for me, displaying an attention to detail and an understanding of the equipment that you could only expect from somebody who has played bass professionally. Graham knows Fender equipment and it shows in his work. He even engineered a side project I requested, constructing a "Frankenstein bridge" out of the choice parts from two old bass bridges. Graham's prices are competitive, and reflect his dedication to craftsmanship in the sense that you'll get what you pay for."
Peter D - Silver Spring, MD.
"I brought in a bass that belongs to Thad, the bass player in my band, to get set up by Graham. After he saw my excitement at having my guitars worked on by Graham he asked me to take one of his basses to him. Well, to say the least, he is sold on Graham's abilities, as we all are! Thad had his bass on for three solid hours... no need to say anything else. Thanks again Graham!"
Conrad R - Manassas, VA.
"A wonderful first impression: My first visit to Jade Guitars was to drop off a US made Peavey Reactor. Over the last several years it had spent more time under my bed collecting dust than I'd care to admit. After a couple of days with expert tech, Graham, my Reactor now looks, sounds, and feels like a world class guitar. Graham is a genuinely friendly guy with an obvious love for guitars. Thanks! I'll be back!"
Jason T - Ashburn, VA.
"I brought in my cheap old Washburn for a setup and got back a different guitar! At least it feels that way - the quality of the setup job is great and the guitar plays so much better now. Graham is a reliable and knowledgeable guitar tech, and he even tells you how much your guitar weighs. How cool is that?"
Marcus K - South Riding, VA.
"I'm so glad that I discovered Jade Guitars. Graham has helped my entire family of guitars from the thick, warm Gibson semi-hollowbody ES-333, to the searing Gibson SG, and my Ibanez RG770 for the hottest, heaviest sounds. He has a special love for Fender Stratocasters, so I was excited to get his opinion on my most recent aquisition. He is well versed in what each component of each type of guitar does. He has helped me optimize all types of guitars, as we have upgraded pickups, drop tuned and reset, and even brainstormed seemingly impossible broken guitar situations. Graham's honesty and efficiency has saved me money, and has made Jade Guitars my primary "guitar doctor" for all my needs. Pick his brain on anything from the best pickup, to the best pedal for the sound you seek. He'll set you up!"
Josh S - Leesburg, VA.
"It's been a couple of weeks since I dropped my SG off to Graham & picked back up. Any guitar I take to Graham for a setup becomes my main guitar. Such madness. Thanks Graham."
Conrad R - Manassas, VA.
"Best decision I made, bringing my Epiphone to Jade Guitars for servicing. I like the fact that as a girl I got treated like an equal, just like Julie of Vienna said she did. It was her testimonial that encouraged me to call Graham, and I'm happy to say that the service, price and turnaround time were all spectacular."
Katie R - Centreville, VA.
"The difference in my Jay Turser mandolin before and after taking it to Graham is like night and day. I wouldn't have thought it possible for a cheap $100 mandolin to play or sound this good. I'm amazed and impressed by this guy's skill and level of service."
Roger E - Oakton, VA.
"Thanks again, Graham. Dropped my '82 Custom to you and just said set it up. You set it up and now it's an angry tone machine once again! I'm trying to decide what to bring over next."
Conrad R - Manassas, VA.
"Graham did a superb job with my VW Garage Master - aside from setting it up to play like a much more expensive guitar, he repaired a malfunctioning onboard preamp I never knew was there. Great work, great pricing and fast turnaround, who could ask for more?"
James K - Centreville, VA.
"I'm having fun learning to play on my Hummingbird. It sounds nice, thanks for your help with setting it up!"
Lisa M - Ashburn, VA.
"I wanted to thank you again for your work on my Breedlove. It sounds great compared to how it did when I brought it in."
Todd S - Herndon, VA.
"I am really chuffed with what you did to Cecil (my Surf Green Stratocaster). Cecil bloody plays better than he ever has!"
Thomas H - Oakton, VA.
"Thank you for a great setup job on my Epiphone Dot. It sounds and feels like a proper ES-335 jazz guitar now, and gives my playing a real John Scofield vibe. And all within 24 hours - cheers!"
Keith W - Arlington, VA.
"I purchased a Les Paul 5 yrs ago from a pawn shop, very cheap (the headstock had been broken & repaired). Recently pulled it out and put in Graham's hands for repair, with no idea of outcome. Well, buttery feel, no more fretting out, it's like the guy knew what I wanted! Graham is my guitar tech whether he wants to be or not!"
Conrad R - Manassas, VA.
"As a female guitar player it's hard to find a male guitar player who will take you seriously and not talk to you like you're stupid. Luckily, I came to the right place to have my guitar set up and repaired. Graham spoke to me with respect, listened carefully to my needs and requirements and treated me like an equal, something very few male guitarists know how to do with a woman. I love my Les Paul even more now, it plays superbly and sounds the business. To any girl guitarists out there I say go to Graham to have your guitar work done. He's the best."
Julie S - Vienna, VA.
"My Washburn plays great now, thanks for a great setup and for the amazingly quick service. I'll happily recommend your services to all the other players I know."
Karl H - Washington, DC.
"Thanks to your expertise, my Taylor 214ce sounds great! I truly appreciate your quick turnaround and professionalism. I knew I took it to the right person when you diagnosed the issue in less than a minute. You've made a believer out of me. My Taylor and I will see you next time."
Tony G - Ashburn, VA.
"Graham at Jade Guitars was fast, knowledgeable and most importantly, easy to talk to. Truly a wonderful experience dealing with him and I will be using him for all my guitar needs! My guitar plays better than ever."
Mike D - Reston, VA.
"Thanks again for the excellent setup on my Mustang. It feels really great now!"
Joe D - Reston, VA.
"Billy was thrilled with his guitar. His sister has picked it up a few times as well...."
Sharon S - South Riding, VA.
"Thank you for the quick turnaround time on repairing my Stingray. I'm amazed that you can do such a great job so quickly and still be way more affordable than the other people I called for quotes. My bass plays a hundred times better now, and sounds totally awesome with the new Carvin pickup installed. I'll be coming back to you next week with my Fender Precision Bass."
Kevin J - Reston, VA.
"I'd heard good things about Graham's abilities from a friend who had used his services, so I decided to bring my guitar to him for some repairs and a setup. I came all the way from Baltimore, and it was definitely worth the drive. My Telecoustic plays fantastic now, and I love the new preamp/EQ. I'll be passing by Herndon on business later in the month, and I'll be bringing in my other two guitars as well. Stellar work!"
Chas D - Baltimore, MD.
"I met Graham through Craigslist and learned that he was a guitar tech with a love for the Stratocaster. Since that time I’ve used him to set up my guitars. He does an outstanding job, is meticulous about his work, and when you get your guitar back, it looks new and sounds great. He’s taken a Cort guitar of mine and enhanced it to sound just like a Fender Strat. I highly recommend using Graham for all your guitar tech needs. Just mention Pink Floyd and watch his eyes light up."
Bobby H - Culpeper, VA.
"JADE GUITARS was recommended to me by a friend, the quality of service I received was outstanding. Keep up the good work!"
Nathan G - Falls Church, VA.
"I'm very happy with how my Schecter Model T 5-string bass plays and sounds now - Graham has made it play like a bass twice the price!"
Bill J - McLean, VA.
"Awesome job. I just got my Mexican Strat back and it's come alive with the new pickups in it. A pleasant surprise was the fact that my guitar came back to me cleaned and polished at no extra cost. I highly recommend Graham's services to anyone who wants to improve their guitar. He's very reasonably priced, and I got my guitar back the next day."
Robert S - Sterling, VA.
"Thanks so much for the great work you did on my guitar. After I picked it up, I took it to our rehearsal and played it for four hours straight. I can safely say that it now plays as sweet as it sounds! It will be my primary guitar at our recording session next week. I'll definitely pass your name on to my guitar-playing friends. All the best."
Charlie P - Vienna, VA.
"Thanks for the quick friendly and accurate service on installing pickups into my Telecaster. It was a pleasure doing business with you and I will be sure to refer you to anyone in the market for guitar repair. You had my guitar fixed and returned to me within 24 hrs and that is unheard of in this area.
Great work!"
Matt W - Chantilly, VA.
"My Epiphone Junior had a broken pickup, it's not really a great guitar but I like it. Graham not only installed the pickup, he actually ordered it for me (saving me a lot of trouble) and he delivered my fully repaired guitar to my home the day after he'd received the pickup in the mail. I think he's a very friendly and efficient repairman with great customer service, I'll definitely be back."
Richard M - Herndon, VA.
"Thanks for fixing up my old Teisco guitar, I was going to throw it out but now it sounds great. I'll definitely be keeping it now. You rock!"
Paul F - Herndon, VA.
"Thank you for the excellent work on my Jay Turser 12 String - it was in a terrible state when I brought it to you, it played badly and had no working pickup, but you've made it play and sound like a Martin or a Gibson. Super job."
Chris T - Annandale, VA.
"After seeing the modded Squier '51 on your website I knew I had to get mine upgraded. I'm especially grateful for the quickness of your service. Another guy I went to told me it'd be at least three days and he was going to charge me almost twice as much money for the same work. You knew I had a gig the next evening and you had my guitar back in my hands within 24 hours. Astonishing!"
Neal W - Oakton, VA.
"Nice work on my SX. Now it plays like a Strat instead of just looking like one."
Michael W - Reston, VA.
