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Alt text: Farhad Soheili, NYC’s guitar repair expert, working on a guitar in his Greenpoint studio, FS Lutherie.
In the bustling city of Los Angeles in 1994, a 14-year-old Farhad Soheili received a Fender Stratocaster copy from his mother. “It was a really nice guitar, still is, but it was essentially a budget version of a high-end instrument,” recalls Soheili, now situated in his Greenpoint, Brooklyn Guitar Repair workshop, FS Lutherie. Donning a Sub Pop baseball cap, he recounts his teenage reaction: “I’m not sure why, but I immediately felt it wasn’t good enough.” In a moment of youthful frustration, he dismantled it.
His mother’s reaction was understandable dismay. Together, they sought out a local repair technician. “He was genuinely shocked by the state of the guitar,” Soheili remembers about the repairman. However, the repaired guitar suffered the same fate at home, initiating a cycle: repair, destruction, repair, destruction. “As a 14-year-old, I had this unrealistic desire for a $30,000 guitar, which was just absurd.”
This obsession was equally challenging for his mother. “Eventually, my mom reached a point where she simply dropped me off at the repair shop, and I became immersed in their world. I felt like I was constantly observing and learning,” Soheili explains. “By 16, I was handling all my guitar setups and most of my guitar maintenance. And by 18, I was tackling fret work and more complex tasks, even crafting string nuts from scratch.”
As he speaks, Soheili holds a vintage red electric guitar, the afternoon light illuminating his studio. It’s hard not to comment on the patience—and perhaps frustration—of his mother. “She was definitely not happy,” he laughs, “but ultimately, I think it all worked out.”
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Alt text: Close-up of skilled hands performing guitar repair work at FS Lutherie, a top-rated guitar service center in NYC.
Soheili might not proclaim it himself, but by every measure—the sheer volume of weekly guitar repairs (averaging 30, often exceeding 40), the breadth of services offered (“I’m prepared for any guitar repair job”), and the caliber of his clientele (Brooklyn and Manhattan guitar stores, recording studios, and renowned musicians)—he is widely recognized as the leading figure in guitar repair in New York City. Entirely self-taught, he has mastered intricate techniques that few others attempt, including neck resets and lacquer-color-matching, the latter taking him four years to perfect. All this expertise is housed within an unassuming third-floor studio workshop on Lorimer Street in Greenpoint.
The Reign of New York City’s Guitar Repair King
While his early experiences might suggest a predetermined path, Soheili, now 35, clarifies that it wasn’t quite so straightforward.
Upon relocating to New York City in 2007, Soheili’s initial ambition was to establish himself as a professional guitarist. He engaged in studio work and taught guitar lessons to supplement his income. However, by his late twenties, he grew weary of this path. He had also been involved in bands but found it unfulfilling. Yet, he consistently provided a crucial service to his bandmates: technical guitar repair. This realization sparked a career shift: “I was already doing guitar tech work constantly, so I thought, why not try to make a living from guitar repair?”
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Alt text: Interior view of FS Lutherie guitar repair shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, showcasing a variety of guitars and repair tools.
The initial stages were gradual, demanding significant effort in networking and ensuring client satisfaction. He initially offered his guitar repair services at very competitive rates. Gradually, word spread: Soheili was the go-to guy for reliable guitar fixes. “The longer you’re in this field, the stronger your reputation becomes, allowing you to set appropriate rates and attract clients who value your expertise and bring in quality instruments,” Soheili explains. “Word of mouth is incredibly powerful in this business; it’s the primary driver of growth.”
The Uncommon Skill of Expert Guitar Repair
“Word of mouth is incredibly powerful in this business; it’s the primary driver of growth.”
This begs the question: Is Soheili’s expertise so unique? Is the level of skill he possesses truly uncommon in the realm of guitar repair? When such questions are posed to top professionals, the answers often converge on themes of dedication, passion, obsession, and time investment. Soheili’s response resonates with these common threads.
“It’s not necessarily a rare skill, but it is incredibly meticulous work that demands a specific type of personality. It’s not for everyone. But then again, not everyone can be a banker either, right?” he points out. Furthermore, he notes that many guitar shops do not dedicate the same resources or space to guitar repair as he does. Over years, he has meticulously built his workshop and amassed a comprehensive collection of specialized tools.
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Alt text: Assortment of guitar repair tools at FS Lutherie, highlighting the specialized equipment used for professional guitar maintenance.
Managing over 40 guitars weekly, with workdays exceeding 12 hours, is a workload that surpasses what one person can reasonably handle. Currently, Soheili employs two apprentices and one part-time assistant. This close working environment is essential for training and quality control. “If they make a mistake, I can catch it in real-time,” Soheili says. However, he emphasizes a gradual training process: “I don’t entrust them with guitars until they’ve undergone significant training. It’s less about mistakes and more about guiding them toward more efficient techniques.” He reiterates that guitar repair is a self-selecting profession. “Apprentices don’t always succeed, but some truly excel.” His current part-time employee is a testament to the latter, having started as an apprentice.
Soheili’s expertise extends to all stringed instruments—violins, mandolins, banjos—though his preference lies with guitars, both acoustic and electric. Much of his daily work involves routine guitar setups, “like getting your car serviced,” and electronic repairs. These quick-turnaround tasks are frequent and form the core of his revenue. However, he also undertakes challenging procedures like neck resets, a guitar repair service avoided by many due to its complexity and time commitment. Yet, Soheili embraces these intricate repairs.
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Alt text: Guitar neck undergoing repair at FS Lutherie, demonstrating the intricate work involved in guitar restoration and maintenance.
The only guitar repair work Soheili avoids is that which could diminish the value of a vintage instrument. Refinishing a high-quality, aged guitar can negatively impact its inherent worth. In such cases, he sometimes advises clients against certain repairs. Ultimately, however, the client makes the final decision. “If it’s worth it to the customer, that’s the deciding factor.”
On his workbench sits a vintage guitar adorned with exquisite mother of pearl inlays. When asked about repairing a hypothetical missing inlay, Soheili’s response is immediate: “Absolutely. We would carve a replacement from a large piece of pearl using a Dremel tool. We’d match the size precisely, remove the old inlay with a heated chisel, and seamlessly insert the new piece.”
He also mentions his studio’s recent acquisition: a CnC machine, a computerized router capable of cutting precise shapes. While a significant time-saver, he acknowledges it as a luxury item, “I only invested in that after 15 years in the business. It was a major purchase.”
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Alt text: Modern CNC machine in FS Lutherie workshop, used for precise guitar part fabrication and enhancing guitar repair efficiency.
This advanced machinery hints at a natural progression: guitar manufacturing. “We’re on the verge of launching a line of custom guitars. That’s partly why I invested in the CnC machine, to streamline the production process,” Soheili reveals.
While the custom guitar line is yet unnamed, the designs are complete. “They’re essentially modern interpretations of vintage guitars, embodying how I believe they should feel and play.”
Echoing his 14-year-old self, driven by a vision of the perfect $30,000 guitar, Soheili now possesses the tools and expertise to bring that vision to life. However, the years of intensive labor have taken a physical toll. “I often joke that I have the body of a 65-year-old,” he admits.
Finding Balance as a Guitar Repair Expert
“I used to only take Sundays off. Now I’m treating myself with two days.”
Despite the demanding nature of his profession, Soheili is making positive changes. He prioritizes daily walks and has expanded his weekend downtime. “I used to only take Sundays off. Now I’m treating myself with two days.” He even hosts guitar repair seminars in his studio on Saturdays, though these are brief, “only about an hour.” For Farhad Soheili, the Guitar Repair King of NYC, that’s practically a break.
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Alt text: Farhad Soheili smiling in his guitar repair studio, highlighting his passion and dedication to guitar craftsmanship.
All Photos by Jane Bruce
