Master luthier Ryan Lynn has nearly 30 years of experience and provides comprehensive maintenance and repair services of the highest quality at Eastside. A graduate of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of acoustic and electric fretted instruments and their many models.

Ryan’s path to the bench runs through music itself. He’s deeply involved in the Pacific Northwest rock scene and has played in several Portland bands. He’s a former bass player with the highly acclaimed band Federale and a former member of Mission Spotlight, where he played pedal steel, lap steel, and guitar. He has also worked as a guitar tech for The Decemberists, M Ward, Metric, among many others.

Before founding Eastside, Ryan honed his skills in the finish department at Breedlove Guitars in Bend, then spent several years managing the instrument repair department at Trade Up Music.

That mix of playing, touring, and bench work shapes his approach to every repair. Ryan brings meticulous attention to detail and craft to every job, whether it’s a routine setup or a complex restoration.

Early in the journey that led him to guitar repair, John fixed friends’ and bandmates’ instruments on side stages and in his bedroom. In 2022, he went pro as the resident technician at Old Town Music, and in 2024 he joined Eastside Guitar Repair and Hank’s Music Exchange. For John, making music and maintaining instruments are one and the same. He’s been tinkering since he picked up his first electric guitar in 2010, and since joining the team at Eastside Guitar Repair, he has become an integral part of the shop. He has mastered the art of setups and fret work. Catch him live with death metal outfit Unspeakable Carnage or power pop upstarts The Cherry Peels.

Hank's Music Exchange is right next door to Eastside Guitar Repair. Buy, sell, and trade your music gear at Hank’s! Owner Hank Failing, a pillar of the local music scene for over 25 years, specializes in buying, selling, and trading guitars, amplifiers, effects, keyboards, synths, and recording gear. The friendly, knowledgeable staff are accomplished Portland musicians in their own right.

Chico was our greeter and shop manager. He ensured that we stayed in line and our repairs were done to his standards. He worked for treats, scratches, and belly rubs.

We lost Chico on 10/13/2018. RIP Buddy. We miss you.