“I continue to be so impressed with this place. Gerard is a master of guitar setup and problem solving, all my guitar issues are gone. And he's willing to explain everything in great detail (thanks Gerard I've learned so much). The invoice is written with the highest detail like something you'd see from a doctor's office (plus they keep these notes in your service history) and they've made the place so charming, their waiting room is a delight if you get there before your time starts. Carolyn will brighten your day with her smile and friendly greeting and is awesome with running the operations, and of course they are both talented performers. But beyond that they also have some serious business savvy. They make sure there is good work flow, working by appointment only, in and out, no bottlenecks. On your day and time, you get all the attention and focus, you and your instrument with no distractions. As a result they work efficiently, and the work gets turned around in a timely manner. Oh yeah, and then there's this other little detail, they have a frcking Plek machine and know how to use it! Seeing my neck on the computer screen after the scan was fascinating, and the layers of information made it clear where improvement was needed, eliminating any mystery. I love this place. Highly competent, efficient, warm and friendly, and a Plek machine to boot. What a team they are. Guitar service heaven.”

- Ted Porter, owner of many guitars

*****

“I’ve had House of Twang set up a Strat and a Squier Telecaster for me, both were fairly new purchases. They used the PLEK machine on the Tele and it plays like a completely different guitar, so good! Both guitars came home playing and sounding great.  Super nice local people with a great shop, and their work is very thorough and detailed. Highly recommend.”

- Matt Moreno, Strat and Tele owner

*****

“Gerard and Carolyn are super warm and friendly, and their services are top-notch! My husband and I have brought a few guitars for them to work on and are extremely happy with how each of them turned out and how well and smooth they play. The House of Twang has become our go-to for guitar work, and we highly recommend them!”

- Christine Murphy, Washburn and Dean owner

*****

“Dropped my telecaster partscaster off here for a full set up and Plek if needed. The guitar needed the Plek service and was back in my hands 1 week later. Fast turn around time and very professional. Make an appointment and your guitar will play and feel awesome after!!!”

- Christopher Brooke, Tele owner

*****

“Great work. Great customer service. I love how my guitar plays now. Such a big difference.”

- Daniel Phelps, Gibson owner

*****

“I took my Takamine in to House of Twang for evaluation and set up. They did a great job and made it so much more enjoyable to work on my playing ability. Thank you guys so much.” 

- Ken Heredia, Takamine owner

*****

“I am very pleased with my experience with The House of Twang. Every step in the process was just wonderful. I got set up with an appointment right away. At my appointment Gerard talked to me to find out my needs and playing style and gave me a quote and date of when to pickup my guitar. I was notified via email of the completion and final cost shortly before the completion date Gerard gave me. I was able to pay online with ease. The feel of my guitar is just fantastic and it sounds so good. Thank you Carolyn and Gerard for a very wonderful experience. I will be back.”

- Rudy Leon, Ovation owner

*****

“Gerard Egan and Carolyn Sills did a fantastic job on my old battered Taylor 410 guitar. My old friend had been worked near to death. The frets were worn down to the fingerboard, intonation was way out and the action needed serious adjustment. They replaced the frets, put my 410 on the amazing “Plek Machine” and dialed it in better than when it was brand new in 92. That guitar has never played or sounded better. Huge thanks to Gerard and Carolyn at "The House of Twang" for their fantastic service resurrecting my Taylor, their camaraderie, and Cowboy, the best shop dog ever to keep ya company when you visit. Couldn't recommend them more highly.”

- Ben James, Taylor 410 owner

*****

“Bravo! Recently brought a problematic guitar of mine to The House of Twang and it now plays so wonderfully, it is amazing. Gerard is world-class and has such a fine understanding of the instrument and science with fine set-ups and repair. Transformative and more fun to play were his words when describing the benefits of the set-up and that could not be more accurate. Dang son! Thanks a million to Gerard, Carolyn and ol' Cowboy. Keep it up y'all.”

- Darren Lee,  Guild owner

*****

“I recently took a couple of my guitars to The House Of Twang. I was greeted by Cowboy the dog who is very cool. Then Carolyn brought me into the workshop and I met their guitar tech expert Gerard.  I told him of my fret cancellation and bad action. He analyzed them both on the Plek machine which tells you what is wrong and how to make it right. They both needed fret re crowning which makes the fret levels all even. Then a set up which included, nut, bridge, and truss rod adjustments, along with new strings that suit your gauge preference. When I got them back and played them both I realized that these two guitars played so well at every fret that I had been missing so much of what they had to offer. The action was great but I like it relatively low so Gerard brought it down just a little more and they played even better. I have played guitar for over 50 years and been to many guitar techs but Gerard is without a doubt the best guitar tech I have ever met. He is The Guitar Whisperer. The House Of Twang puts the fun back into guitar playing. These people will take your guitars to a whole new level which makes your guitar the best it can be so you can play your best ever. I highly recommend The House Of Twang. They are highly skilled, friendly, and very professional.  Thank you, The House Of Twang, My guitars thank you too.”

- Kevin Conley,  owner of multiple guitars

*****

“Gerard is a highly competent, highly skilled, knowledgeable professional who absolutely knows what he is doing. Additionally he has that intangible what I call “the touch.” He does not give you that “rock star” attitude or shuffle as some have the custom. Very approachable and down to earth, he is. Gave me a detailed explanation of what was wrong with my Les Paul and SG. Then addressed and fixed each problem. Both guitars are 34 yrs. old (coincidence). Heavily played and neglected. Both guitars play and sound better than they ever have. If you have ever been disappointed in a setup or repair (I have been many times over the decades) entrust your guitar to Gerard, you will not be disappointed. I have a third guitar I will be bringing in pretty soon. And kudos to the entire team which includes Carolyn and Cowboy.”

- Peter Heflin, Les Paul & SG owner

*****

“The House of Twang is everything that you want and then some when it comes to care and maintenance for your guitars. Not only will you receive the highest quality work/attention to detail, it'll be tailored to your preferences and style - not just a cookie cutter setup spec. On top of that, you'll receive just as excellent customer service, from communication to timeliness, all at a fair price.  As someone who is reluctant to trust just anyone with my instruments, I can say that I am extremely grateful to have Gerard and Carolyn as folks I can count on here in the Santa Cruz area.” 

- Rhett Carlsen, Strat & Les Paul owner

*****

“I first met Carolyn when she was at Santa Cruz Guitars where she was so helpful and friendly. When I found out about the House of Twang I had two guitars that needed adjusting so I took them in. It was great reconnecting with Carolyn and meeting Gerard. Gerard is a masterful in getting instruments back into tip top shape. He attended to my guitars quickly and when I picked them up I was blown away with the results. Both guitars played like butter and sounded amazing. He found incredible sustain that previously wasn't there. Needless to say I will be back when the need arises. If you are in need definitely go see them. BTW, if their band gets near your area you must go see them. They def have Twang. Thanks again you two.”

- Bill Welles - owner of many things with strings

*****

“So far, I have taken three guitars to the House of Twang. Gerard is a world-class guitar tech with a long list of impeccable credentials. The Plek machine is amazing in what it can reveal (and improve) about a guitar, but it is only a tool - a highly complex tool, and the operator of the tool is critical. Gerard brings decades of experience in hands-on luthiery and I trust him thoroughly to make my guitars as good as they can be. If that wasn't enough, Gerard and Carolyn are stellar professional musicians, and wonderful people. But the real reason I go is Cowboy 🐶... We are lucky to have them in our area.”

- Joshua Gordis, owner of multiple guitars

*****

“Thanks so much for the work on my Tele. Even with the 11 tops still on, it plays like a different instrument now.  I am so glad to have found someone who specializes in guitar setup and is excellent at it.”

- Greg Milligan, Telecaster & D’Angelico owner

*****

“Carolyn / Gerard - I’m delighted to report that the Kinnaird is playing beautifully now.  I’ve played it more in the past 4 days than I did the prior 3 years I’ve owned it!! Thanks for the super tune up!!  PS/  Now I have a new problem……I’m in love with 3 guitars!!  :)

- Frank, owner of multiple acoustic guitars

*****

“Having met Gerard and Carolyn at one of their amazing concerts in 2019 I knew of Gerard's luthier skills and recently sent one of my guitars with problems I couldn't get fixed locally. Gerard used his PLEK machine and his professional setup to make my guitar everything I had hoped, It is now a pleasure to play and sounds great. Carolyn kept me informed through every step of the process offering options and suggestions to achieve my goals. I can't say enough about their expertise and professionalism. I highly recommend The House of Twang and professional luthier services they offer. They are bar none the Best!!!”

- Philip Green, Thinline Telecaster owner

*****

“Great Service and attention to detail. I recently brought 3 of my bass guitars for set up to this shop based off a friend recommendation. I could not be happier with the service I received. Booking my appointment with Carolyn was easy. They were able to work around my schedule coming in from SJ each for appointment which was super helpful. My instruments are playing better than they ever have. The attention to detail was second to none. Gerard showed me Plek Machine readout on all of my guitars and was able to set up each bass to match. That was one of the coolest parts of the set up and consultation was Gerard explaining in detail all the data and how they use that to make sure your guitar is set up perfectly. It was pretty mind blowing to see the differences between the instruments. After a few days of playing one of my guitars I noticed something was off. I reached out Gerard and Carolyn for help. They made time for last minute consultation. I brought my bass in, we tinkered until the issue was resolved and took very good care of me. This kind of care and attention to detail is why I will be bringing all of my instruments to the House of Twang from here on out. If you want your instrument to receive the best care possible I highly recommend you bringing your instrument there. To Gerard, Carolyn & Cowboy. Thank you for getting my rig set up and ready for tour!”

- Jared Rohde, bassist for Counterpunch

*****

“Gerard and Carolyn run a smooth operation. Carolyn is incredibly communicative and always responsive; and Gerard has my guitars playing better than they ever have.
Gerard is extremely thorough in his notes and went over the Plek scan results with me in detail when I picked up. 3 guitars truly transformed to the point I’ll be sending the rest of my guitars their way shortly.  Also in an industry where turnaround time can be a little loose I was pleasantly surprised with the tight turnaround with no slip.
11/10 would recommend.  However all of this praise pales in comparison to the superb lobby job that is done by resident shop dog Cowboy.”

- Ashton Bjaranson, owner of multiple guitars

*****

“My experience couldn’t have been better. Carolyn was great at responding to my email and set up an appointment right away! I walked into the store with a guitar that wouldn’t stay in tune and buzzing on the frets. Both Gerard and Carolyn were so warm and friendly and helped me so much. I saw a demonstration of what the Pleck machine could do and in combination with a master Luthier, my guitar is now playing so well, I just can’t put it down! Thank you so much House of Twang! Looking forward to hearing the Carolyn Sills  Combo too!”

- Stephanie Gelman, Cabrillo Music Faculty

*****

“Wow! What a shop! These guys know what they are doing. If you want to put your guitar in the hands of absolute pros as well as revolutionary technology ( ask them about the pleck machine) then you have found the spot/people. They are super honest and have great communication and cowboy the shop dog is a good boy too. Bothe my guitars sound and feel better than new!”

- Eyes Like Lanters/Josh Cremer, Martin & Taylor owner

*****

“I didn’t think my 75 year old guitar could ever play so smoothly. Gerard is a real pro and both he, Carolyn, and Cowboy are as nice as can be. Did I mention their prices are incredibly reasonable?”

- Jeff Bee, 1949 Gibson L7 owner

*****

“Over the past few months I have brought both an acoustic and electric guitar into the House of Twang for some much needed care and the quality of work was excellent. Gerard and Carolyn own and operate the business and I found them to be genuine, friendly, and trustworthy. Highly recommended!”

- Tom Western, Santa Cruz Tony Rice and Yamaha LP Special owner

*****

“Gerard is the best guitar luthier out there, super knowledgeable and skilled at making all my stringed instruments sound and play better than ever. Fair prices and quick turnaround. Carolyn and Gerard are the most friendly and kind folks and their dog, Cowboy greets you at the door. Dust off that old guitar you have not been playing and get Gerard to bring it back to life.” 

- Joshua Lowe, Irish bouzouki and Gibson mandolin owner

*****

“Gerard and Carolyn are AWESOME! Super friendly, super accommodating, and extremely skilled. My guitar was ready for a 30-year checkup and Gerard treated it with the utmost care and consideration. The guitar is now back to BEAST status and I'm in love with it all over again. Their approach is very singular--I had Gerard's full attention and all the guitar's needs were discussed until we had a clear understanding of what was to be done (and, just as important, what didn't need to be done). Work was done in a few days, (on time, as promised) and there were no surprises. On pickup, we spent time checking it out and making final adjustments until it met my complete expectations. I would trust any high-end acoustic instrument with Gerard and Carolyn. The House of Twang is a musician's repair shop. If people ask me where I take my guitar, I tell them I have a guy... “

- Andy Shaw, SCGC Vintage Artist owner

*****

“Gerard and Carolyn have worked on several of my dreadnaughts, including a new D18, a Collings CWMah, and a 1989 SCGC Tony Rice model.

Each time I am in the shop Gerard works with me to understand what repairs and what I want out of my guitar. Every time the work exceeds expectations. I no longer have to worry about my guitars playing or sounding right, Gerard and Carolyn always know exactly what is needed and get the job done in a timely fashion.”

- Ian Ly, guitarist in Crying Uncle and National Flatpicking Champion

*****

“Had Gerard and Carolyn take my two most precious guitars to the spa with the Plek machine and they both had different degrees of work to be had. One he revived from near life support and she sings like an angel now. I would recommend the House of Twang to anyone who needs a proper scientific diagnosis and set up with the utmost care. Great shop to work with. They treat the instruments as their own.”

- Amee Chapman, Gibson and Takamine owner

*****

“Gerard and Carolyn work magic at the House of Twang. I brought in a single-builder instrument that sounded great and played well but needed adjustment to realize its full playability. I'm delighted to report that Gerard & Carolyn delivered wonderfully from start to finish.

When I first brought the instrument in, they listened closely to the concerns I had. They measured the guitar closely in comparison to another instrument that played the way I liked, and proceeded to make a series of suggestions and a work plan that carefully took all of the concerns into account. And, as I said above, they delivered and more.

They pleked and adjusted the frets and took the guitar from the stiff side of ok to super playable. In the process, they cleared up a couple of odd buzzes related to the original hand-dressing of the frets, cleaned up the nut action to make first-fret playing much better, and adjusted the saddle so that intonation up the neck is now spot on.

It's become clear that they've mastered the entire scope of the art of setup, ranging from adjusting nut action, to adjusting intonation, to the intricacies of the Plek, and other manual adjustments. In their hands, an instrument can be measured, pleked, manually adjusted, and made to play better than most of us have ever experienced.

Plus Gerard and Carolyn are simply wonderful to work with. They're both excellent musicians and have a deep and abiding interest in and understanding of players' desires to have their instruments working as well as possible. They listen closely, pay attention to detail, and treat their customers, friends, and their instruments with a very high standard of care.

I recommend The House Of Twang without reservation. I'll be back with more instruments to set up.

- Matt Hayden, owner of multiple instruments

*****

“Just pulled the guitar out a few minutes ago and wow. This is like butter now. You did an amazing job, and the bridge itself is beautiful. Plays like never before. I’m keeping it for a while now. What a well spent repair.”

- Peter Clark, 1959 Gretsch 6120 owner

*****

“My experience with The House of Twang has been fantabulous. Gerard Egan's masterful set up of my guitars is on the highest level. The Plek machine refined the playability of my favorite Telecaster. Suggestions for hardware upgrades were most helpful and the added sustain proves he was accurate in the recommendation. Having access to this quality of work is unique for the Santa Cruz area and it's worth a drive to come here for the medical care your guitar deserves.

- Barry Pearlman, owner of multiple instruments

*****

“Just wanted to let you both know how much I am loving my now-perfect Tagima.  It was good when I brought it in, but now it is just flipping perfect.  Action is exactly where I like it, tone choices and variety are amazing…my fingers are the only limitations now.  It’s making me want to play way more than usual.”

- Fred Hamilton, Tagima owner

*****

“Gerard Egan is an excellent guitar technician as well as an awesome guitar player. His knowledge and history of the construction and repair of guitars combined with his perspective of being a professional musician make him an invaluable resource to those of us who play these instruments for a living”

- Keith Greeninger, Gibson and Santa Cruz Guitar owner