John Pedersen

John Pedersen is a master repair technician with a focus on stringed instruments. John found himself in the position of purchasing a music store with his wife back in 1983. The wonderful mom and pop operation, Amazing Grace Music, is located in San Anselmo, California, some 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. John began playing the banjo and fiddle as a young teenager with family members. He began playing on his grandfather’s tenor banjo and later on his Aunt Doris’ five-string banjo. Having that five-string banjo inspired John, who went on to perform in the Fennigs All Star band for local events and dances and Folk and Bluegrass festivals for many years. Since his grandfather had a wood shop, John was introduced to the art of instrument repair at a very young age, a skill he turned into his craft. In 1975 he was hired as the repair tech for The Fifth String Music Shop in San Francisco before the opportunity for him and his wife, Judy, to purchase Amazing Grace Music. Their son, Quinn, has apprenticed under John and is how repairing and managing the store along with his parents, a fact of which Judy and John are very proud.