The Laboratory

What The Laboratory does

The Laboratory is an independent music retail and services business operating a single brick-and-mortar showroom at 12 Somerdale Road in Blackwood, New Jersey, complemented by a global e-commerce storefront. The company sells electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, synthesizers and keyboards, drums and percussion, audio and recording equipment, and a deep accessories catalog from brands including Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Yamaha, Roland, Boss, Vox, and D'Addario, with prices spanning roughly $1.99 for individual strings to over $5,999 for high-end instruments. Beyond retail, it generates revenue from per-day gear rentals (including PA systems and instruments), recurring music lessons for guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, and drums, professional instrument repair and setup services, and a distinctive gear borrowing library.

The underlying technology stack is a standard SMB commerce configuration: an Odoo e-commerce website with Stripe payment processing (since 2011), Google Analytics for site usage tracking, Synchrony for interest-free Buy Now, Pay Later financing, and the Opus1 platform for lesson management. The company is owned by Farron Music LLC, an independent private entity with no external investors, no parent company, and no public listing. Customer segments are primarily individual musicians and hobbyists plus music students of all ages, with secondary support for local schools, music education programs, and small-scale event organizers renting sound equipment. Founded in 2007, the business operated a Deptford store until 2017, ran online-only for five years, and reopened its current Blackwood showroom in 2022, staffed by approximately four to five core personnel including Founder/President Aaron Barbarics, General Manager/lead technician Stefan Hojnacki, E-commerce Manager Sam Harasink, and newest hire Gavin Miele.

Name

The Laboratory

Legal name

Farron Music LLC

Website

https://thelaboratory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Laboratory is an independent South Jersey music retailer selling guitars, amps, drums, keyboards, audio gear, and accessories through a single Blackwood, NJ showroom and e-commerce site, while also offering instrument rentals, repairs, music lessons, and a gear borrowing library to individual musicians, students, and local event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instruments and Music Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument & Pro Audio Retail (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAIAJAH), Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent) (CRALAEAC), DJ Equipment & Electronic Music Gear Retail (CRALAEAD)

Keywords

• Musical instrument retail
• Music lessons
• Instrument repair services
• Audio equipment sales
• Gear rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Musical Instrument and Gear Sales: One-time sales of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, synthesizers, keyboards, digital pianos, recording and live sound gear, microphones, drums, electronic drums, cymbals, percussion, and all related accessories. Products range from budget-friendly to high-end instruments (prices from $1.99 to $5,999+).
2. Gear Rentals: Rental gear available for instruments and audio equipment including PA systems, speakers, and musical instruments. Per-day rental pricing shown (e.g., Bose L1 Pro8 from $75/day).
3. Music Lessons: Music lessons provided for all ages covering guitar, bass, ukulele, piano/keyboard, and drums. Instructors include Stefan (guitar all levels, ukulele beginners) and Sam (bass all levels, guitar beginner/intermediate, piano/keyboard beginner/intermediate).
4. Instrument and Electronics Repair Services: Repair shop services for instruments and electronic equipment including guitar setups, restrings, soldering work, and general repairs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Laboratory operates a physical music retail showroom and e-commerce store selling electric guitars, acoustic guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects pedals, keyboards, synthesizers, drums, cymbals, recording and live sound gear, folk instruments, and related accessories and parts from brands such as Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Yamaha, Boss, Roland, and D'Addario. The company also offers music lessons for all ages, instrument repair services, instrument and PA system rentals, and a unique gear borrowing library.

Product overview

The Laboratory is a brick-and-mortar and online music retail store offering a comprehensive range of musical instruments and audio equipment. The core product portfolio includes electric guitars (Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Jackson), acoustic guitars (Yamaha, Takamine), bass guitars, amplifiers (Vox, Peavey, Roland), effects pedals (Boss), keyboards and synthesizers (Roland), drums (Roland, Yamaha, Tama), cymbals, audio gear (microphones, interfaces, monitors, mixers), and extensive accessories (strings, picks, cables, tuners from D'Addario, Dunlop). Services include music lessons for all ages taught by professional instructors, instrument repair and setup services, and instrument/gear rentals. The company also operates an innovative gear borrowing library. The business model combines traditional retail with services, operating since 2007 with the current Blackwood, NJ location opened in 2022.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Guitars Solid body, semi-hollow, and lefty electric guitars from manufacturers including Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Jackson, and custom builders, sold to individual musicians and hobbyists for personal use, gigging, and recording.
• Acoustic Guitars Acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars including 12-string variants from brands such as Yamaha, Takamine, Seagull, and D'Angelico, offered to individual musicians and students.
• Bass Guitars Electric and acoustic bass guitars in 4-string and 5-string configurations from brands such as Ibanez, Sadowsky, and Sterling, sold to bassists and students including through 5-string and acoustic variants.
• Guitar and Bass Amplifiers Combos, heads, and cabinets for electric guitar and bass from brands including Vox, Peavey, Roland, Randall, and Darkglass, along with acoustic, keyboard, headphone, and mini battery-powered amps.
• Effects Pedals and Multi-Effects Pedals for electric guitar, bass, and acoustic guitar, plus vocal pedals and multi-effects/modelers from brands including Boss, Behringer, and Airis Effects, along with pedal boards, power supplies, patch cables, and pedal parts.
• Keyboards and Synthesizers Digital pianos, portable keyboards, synthesizers, and controllers including the Roland Juno series, along with stands, benches, cases, bags, cables, power supplies, and keyboard parts.
• Drums and Percussion Electronic drums, acoustic drum kits, and percussion instruments including the Roland TD-30KV, with brands such as Yamaha, Tama, and Powersonic, plus hardware, sticks, heads, parts, dampeners, practice pads, and drum keys.
• Cymbals Crashes, hi-hats, rides, chinas, splashes, and cymbal packs for drum kits.
• Audio Gear and Recording Equipment Dynamic, condenser, and USB microphones, audio interfaces, studio monitors, headphones, outboard gear, mixers, speakers, wireless systems, in-ear monitors, and accessories such as stands, cables, adaptors, and cases for recording and live sound applications.
• Folk Instruments Ukuleles, mandolins, harmonicas, and other folk string instruments for students and hobbyists.
• Guitar Accessories Strings, picks, cables, cases, stands, capos, maintenance products, wireless systems, tuners, straps, slides, and guitar books from brands such as D'Addario, Dunlop, and Ernie Ball.
• Guitar Parts Replacement parts including knobs, switches, electronics, pickups, bridges, tuners, and tremolo systems from Allparts and other manufacturers.
• Amp Accessories Tubes, amp stands, repair parts, and footswitches for amplifier maintenance and operation.
• Music Lessons Recurring music instruction for all ages and skill levels in guitar, bass, piano/keyboard, ukulele, and drums, taught by professional instructors Stefan Hojnacki and Sam Harasink.
• Instrument Repair Services Professional repair and setup services for guitars, basses, and other stringed instruments, including soldering, electronics work, full setups, restrings, and general repairs.
• Instrument and Gear Rentals Rental program for instruments and audio equipment including amplifiers, PA systems, speakers, and musical instruments, with flexible per-day rental periods.
• Gear Borrowing Library Innovative program allowing customers to borrow gear, unique among music retail stores in South Jersey.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ernie Ball Music MancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 April 2022Authorized dealer for Ernie Ball Music Man Guitars and Basses, including both the USA line and Sterling by Music Man. Approximately a dozen USA models were expected to arrive starting September 2022.
• Knaggs GuitarscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 April 2022Authorized dealer for Knaggs Guitars, described as amazing axes that are works of art as well as pro-grade instruments. Approximately 10 instruments were being built for The Laboratory.
• Etherial GuitarsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 April 2022Australian guitar builder. First model was in transit with additional models in the pipeline to be made in coming months.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processor and gateway partner since 2011. Stripe accepts credit cards and electronic check payments safely and securely for customers.
• Farron Music LLCcoreOthersParent company. Copyright © 2021 Farron Music LLC.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Guitar Center: The largest US brick-and-mortar musical instrument retailer with hundreds of locations nationwide. Directly competes in guitars, amps, drums, keys, and pro audio, but operates at a vastly different scale with deeper SKU breadth, financing programs, and used-gear trade-in infrastructure that independent stores like The Laboratory cannot match.
• B&H Photo Video: Major US retailer of electronics, audio gear, and musical instruments with a large New York showroom plus robust e-commerce. Overlaps with The Laboratory in the pro audio and recording equipment category and competes for the same project-studio and live-sound customer with broader inventory and stronger logistics.

Direct peers

• Wildwood Guitars: Colorado-based authorized dealer for premium and vintage guitars (Fender Custom Shop, Gibson Custom, etc.) with a strong online sales operation. Directly comparable to The Laboratory's boutique/premium brand strategy (Ernie Ball Music Man, Knaggs) and customer segment of serious players seeking high-end instruments.
• Zzounds: Online musical instrument retailer known for interest-free payment plans and free shipping, similar to The Laboratory's Synchrony partnership and shipping policy. A direct competitor in the online channel for the same individual musician customer base.
• Elderly Instruments: Lansing, Michigan-based independent music retailer with deep selection across guitars, fretted instruments, and pro audio, plus an established online store. Closely comparable business model to The Laboratory as an independent, community-driven store combining retail, lessons, and repairs.
• Chicago Music Exchange: Independent music retailer with a strong brick-and-mortar presence in Chicago plus a national e-commerce operation, specializing in new, used, and vintage guitars. Comparable to The Laboratory in curation, premium brand focus, and online reach, and a direct competitor for high-end guitar sales.
• Sam Ash: Long-standing US musical instrument retail chain with both physical showrooms and e-commerce. Closely comparable in product assortment and service offerings (lessons, repairs, rentals) but with a multi-store footprint that exceeds The Laboratory's single New Jersey location.
• Rudy's Music: Boutique New York City guitar shop specializing in high-end and vintage instruments from makers like Collings, Nash, and Fender Custom Shop. Comparable to The Laboratory's premium guitar strategy and authorized boutique brand partnerships, particularly Knaggs and Ernie Ball Music Man.
• Sweetwater Sound: Largest US online retailer of musical instruments and pro audio gear, headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN. Directly comparable to The Laboratory in product mix (guitars, amps, audio gear) and customer base (individual musicians and pros), though with far greater scale, more aggressive free-shipping/financing offers, and a national reach.

Emerging players

• Reverb: Online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments and gear, owned by Etsy. Not a direct retailer but a major competitive channel for The Laboratory's customer base, particularly for used and boutique instruments where The Laboratory's brick-and-mortar experience must compete against price transparency and massive selection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thelabmusicstore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-laboratory-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Laboratory