If you walk into Flemington Guitar Shop looking for a guitar, expect to leave with a story, too. The independent music shop and school is owned and operated by lifelong musician Anthony Gemignani, who works alongside a team of friends and fellow professionals. A rock musician, teacher and longtime guitar enthusiast, Gemignani has turned decades of experience into a place where musicians of all levels can explore their sound and find an instrument that feels right.
Gemignani began playing guitar at age 12 and was performing professionally by 16. He later graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, formed bands, signed record deals and moved between New York and New Jersey while pursuing a career in music.
After years of performing, touring and working as a studio musician around the world, he decided to bring that experience home. In 2003, he opened his first music school in Flemington. Today, Flemington Guitar Shop is his fourth and largest school and store, attracting musicians from throughout Hunterdon County and beyond.
And yes, there are plenty of guitars—more than 300, ranging from beginner instruments to professional, vintage and specialty pieces. But for Gemignani, the goal is not simply to sell a guitar. It is to help someone find the one that feels right.
“Every instrument has their person,” Gemignani says. “It’s just a matter of them finding it.”
Customers are encouraged to pick up an instrument, play it and see whether there is a connection. The shop carries new, used and vintage guitars, with prices ranging from about $100 into the thousands.
“Most people bond with their instruments, and you get attached to your tools,” Gemignani says.
That idea becomes even more personal through Moxy Guitars, Gemignani’s custom guitar company. Moxy creates instruments around the individual player, offering custom builds, modifications, finishes and other details. Customers can also get a closer look at the process and, in some cases, participate in creating their instrument.
The experience at Flemington Guitar Shop extends beyond finding the right guitar. The shop offers setups and repairs, while its music school provides private lessons and jam sessions designed to give musicians opportunities to learn and play with others.
For Gemignani, teaching is an important part of the business. He especially enjoys working with beginners and watching students develop confidence as their skills grow. The school welcomes students with a range of abilities and learning needs, with instructors adjusting lessons to meet students where they are.
Over the years, Gemignani says he has seen music become an important form of expression and connection for students. Some have gone on to form bands of their own, while others have found a place where they feel comfortable communicating and creating.
That welcoming atmosphere is intentional. Gemignani and his team want the shop to feel less like a traditional retail space and more like a place where musicians can spend time together. Customers can grab a cup of coffee, pick up a guitar and occasionally find themselves playing alongside someone they have just met.
Gemignani also brings decades of experience in the music industry to his teaching. He knows firsthand that building a career involves much more than playing well. Touring, recording and performing have taught him about adaptability, relationships and the realities of working in a constantly changing industry.
Sometimes, that means traveling hundreds of miles for a show only to discover the sound system is not cooperating.
“You just have to smile and rock out,” he says.
Those experiences have shaped the advice he gives aspiring musicians. Gemignani emphasizes self-respect, choosing the right collaborators and paying attention to the environment surrounding the work.
“First, having self-respect, and the second is working with people you resonate with,” he says. “Environment is everything.”
He also reminds young musicians that success can be difficult to predict. Finding an audience often depends on persistence, relationships and connecting with people who genuinely believe in the music.
“When you are in a band, everyone is someone’s favorite band,” Gemignani says. “Everyone has a chance. You just have to follow through.”
That philosophy carries throughout Flemington Guitar Shop. Whether someone walks in looking for a first guitar, a vintage instrument, a custom Moxy build or a lesson, Gemignani wants the experience to begin with a shared interest in music rather than a sales pitch.
After decades spent performing, recording and teaching, he has created a place where musicians can slow down, plug in and see where the next note takes them.
For more information about Flemington Guitar Shop, its instruments, lessons and services, visit flemingtonguitarshop.com.