We love having a part in crafting the sound of this city.

Fountain City Guitarworks started with two brothers who couldn’t stop taking things apart.

Mark got his start the way a lot of people in this trade do: he picked up guitar repair in his early twenties while working a dead-end delivery job at the time, and never put it down. In 2011, he started working evenings with Dave Seuferling of Seüf Guitars, learning the craft the old way: by doing it, over and over, until it was right.

A few years later, Shaun moved to Kansas City from Columbia, looking for something to do with his hands. He’d always been a tinkerer; swapping pickups, modding pedals, making adjustments for himself and his bandmates. Mark and Dave needed someone who could help out in the shop, as demand for our services was growing. That was the beginning.

Dave retired in 2016 and passed the torch to us. In 2017, we built Fountain City Guitarworks. In 2018, we opened the doors.

The mission has stayed simple ever since: get it right the first time, every time. Every guitar that comes through the shop gets a full evaluation, not just the thing you asked about. We take everything into account. We’ll tell you what we find. We won’t do anything you don’t agree to. And it won’t leave until it plays the way it should.

We’ve been fortunate to learn from some genuinely talented people in this community, and we still consider ourselves students of the craft. Especially now. That’s how it works when you take this seriously.

We also run Seüf Guitars, where we build custom instruments that pay homage to old world craftsmanship with modern playability. If you’re looking for a new guitar rather than a repaired one, that’s where to find us.

In the meantime if your guitar needs work, bring it in. We’ll take care of it.

Repair Menu

Meet the Shop Crew

  • Mark Penechar

    Guitar Tech, Co-Owner

    I got my start in luthiery the same way many of my colleagues started: by being a disgruntled pizza delivery guy/college dropout turned musician. When I was younger, I always imagined i’d grow up to be in academia or education as a career, but the guitar had other plans for me. In 2011 I started working for Dave Seuferling of Seüf Guitars and haven’t looked back since. 

    I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to learn a lot from and build close relationships with some talented people in the luthier community, and for the last few years I’ve focused my efforts on making some of the finest electric guitar pickups on the market. 

    I feel that in this business, community is everything and I will always consider myself a student of the craft. 

    When I’m not at the shop, I enjoy playing in my band Doubledrag and eating wings.

  • Shaun Penechar

    Guitar Tech, Co-Owner

    I got started in guitar repair after moving back to KC from Columbia in 2013. Mark had been working with Dave Seuferling at Seuf Guitars for a few years at that point and they needed some extra help doing some wet sanding on new builds. I had always been a guitar tinkerer before - swapping pickups and modding my pedals and making adjustments for myself and bandmates, so it was nice to get the opportunity for some formal training. After getting proficient at wet sanding, Mark and Dave showed me the ropes on basic repair stuff and eventually building. In 2016, Dave retired from Seuf and left us to carry the torch. We formed Fountain City Guitarworks in 2017. Since then, I’ve enjoyed learning as much as possible from anyone who will teach me. I’ve been an active member of an online community called the Looth Group since its inception in 2020. 

    When I’m not at the shop, I enjoy playing in my band Doubledrag and eating wings.

  • Matthew Frush

    Guitar Tech

    I grew up in Olathe, Kansas, and taught myself how to build electric guitars in 2017. After years of setting up and repairing my friends’ guitars, I attended the Brian Gallup School of Lutherie in Big Rapids, Michigan where I received my Master Luthier Certification. I joined the crew at Fountain City Guitarworks in 2021. My focus is neck resets, structural repair, and acoustic guitars.

  • Grant Johnstone

    Guitar Tech

    I’ve been playing guitar since I was 8 years old. I love Gates BBQ, 3D printing, 311, pointy guitars and hanging at home with my 3 cats and my fiancée. Even after almost a decade of guitar repair, I’ve learned that there’s always more to learn, adaptability is a must and to never settle for less than the absolute best!

Book a Repair

Featured in the Press

  • The Pitch

    Toggle Switch: How the Penechar brothers became the wizards behind Fountain City Guitarworks and Seüf Guitars

    Read More

  • The Pitch

    Best of KC 2023: Fountain City Guitarworks is tuning up the town

    Read More

FROM OUR CLIENTS

FROM OUR CLIENTS

  • "These folks are some of the friendliest, most amazing people you'll meet--and that's BEFORE you get your axe reforged."

    It's hard to describe the feeling of getting your rig back from FCG, but I'm going to try. You know that magic moment when you hold something and it feels the way you'd always dreamed it had? Then you take a look at the thing and you can't believe you've never seen its true beauty until that exact second? That's it in a nutshell, and it happens every time. I should know, I'm a repeat customer who refuses to go anywhere else.

    — Steve Gardels

  • "If I could give more stars I would!"

    Had a head stock repair to a 50s Gibson Les Paul and it was FLAWLESS. I cannot even see where the break happened and it was a bad diagonal break. You can’t feel a difference in the neck when playing. Very impressed and happy with the outcome! If I could give more stars I would!

    — Angela Cheadle

  • "These guys are the real deal."

    Two long-time musician friends recommended Shaun and Mark […] as the best choice for doing the repair [for my rare and highly sought after vintage electric guitar], specifically mentioning the reverence the brothers have for vintage instruments, their attention to detail, and their ability to accomplish a major repair on an instrument while taking the utmost care to preserve its playing characteristics. I wound up taking my friends advice and I'm so glad I did.

    Shaun and Mark, what an outstanding job you did. Thank you. Everyone else, these guys are the real deal and their prices are fair. Use them. You'll be happy you did.

    — James Watkins

  • "Couldn't be more pleased with the quality craftsmanship and artistry from these guys."

    Can't tell you how pleased I am with the work you guys did on my bass! De-fretted my new Spector and filled the slots with matching ebony slats. This bass plays smooth as silk and looks fantastic!

    Fretless conversion and setup on the blue Spectorcore, another wonderful job from FCGW! Dark rosewood fingerboard is smooth as silk, set up to my specs is absolutely superb! Thanks guys!

    — Don

  • "These guys absolutely nailed it (as always)."

    I just had a full refret & PLEK done on my 1974 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe and these guys absolutely nailed it (as always). I’ve been bringing all of my guitars to FCG for the last few years because they are incredibly knowledgeable, they take pride in their work, and are just all around great people and easy to work with!

    — Shane Ochsner

  • I will not let anyone else touch my guitars moving forward. My guitars have never played better.

    “These professional luthiers worked on my entire guitar collection over the past few months, bringing them all up to factory spec and beyond. I travel 200+ miles to get to their shop. It is well worth the trip. I will not let anyone else touch my guitars moving forward. My guitars have never played better. I highly recommend their services. Thanks guys!!!”

    — Paul S

There’s more where these came from

See for yourself ☞

Find 

in Historic Squier Park

(yes, we’re in a house)

3617 Virginia Ave
Kansas City, MO, 64109

fountaincityguitarworks@gmail.com
816.363.9211

Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday CLOSED
Monday CLOSED

 

Work

With