About us

Virgil Lay started Lay’s Guitar Shop in Akron, Ohio, in 1962. Our store has been serving amateur and professional musicians nationwide ever since. Virgil worked on instruments for such players as Jack Bruce, Phil Keaggy, Joe Walsh and bands such as Bad Company and The Outlaws. Jimmy Page‘s Les Paul #1 had its neck shaved in our shop.

Dan Shinn, the current owner, started working for Virgil Lay in 1979. He acquired the guitar repair shop from Virgil in the late ’80s and to this day upholds the reputation for high quality repairs and restorations that have been the hallmark of Lay’s Guitar Shop. Under Dan’s management, Lay’s Guitar Shop has not only upheld the high standards set by Virgil Lay, but has expanded the business to accommodate an international market. The is due to our finish and restoration department, headed by Joel Shinn for over 25 years.

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