Guitar stores worth visiting in SF or LA?

[El Twango]

I'll second Trutone for electrics. amps, and some acoustics. Believe it or not, the GC in Hollywood has a decent acoustic room. There's also LA Vintage in Van Nuys, and a cool store in Montrose (north Glendale) called Grayson's Tune Town. You could hit that easily if you're going to Pasadena.

[jaymarsch]

Mighty Fine Guitars is wonderful and I just went there a couple of weeks ago. Check in advance about hours, etc on their website.
Schoenberg's is also great as is Gryphon's and Sylvan.

Enjoy your visit!
Jayne

You've heard about the close ones to SF. There's also Guitar Showcase down in San Jose and Sylvan in Santa Cruz. Those two places are where I've bought all my guitars.

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by SuperB23

A little more in the middle but Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz has a great stock of Santa Cruz and Goodall guitars. The Goodall instruments alone make it worth the stop.

This would be my top choice, with Schoenberg's a close second. Never been to LA Guitar Sales, but visit their website from time to time, and think it would be worth stopping in. Gryphon is also a great shop...bought a used Collings D2HG from them, and was pleased with the way things went.

[hillin]

WOW now I'm flooded with all your great suggestions... thanks folks! This must be a fruitful journey[emoji8]

[hairpuller]

Let us know about the trip when you return back home!
Scott

[hillin]

Originally Posted by gfa

Will you have a car, or relying on public transit/Lyft?

I think I will have a car, at least for all these alluring guitar stores

Originally Posted by hairpuller

Let us know about the trip when you return back home!
Scott

Sure! Hope I can get one or two NGDs

[hairpuller]

Jealous! Wish I could ride shotgun with you! I get almost as much pleasure watching someone else satisfy their GAS as when I do...well, almost.

Scott

[hillin]

I've made a Google Map list and a spreadsheet containing all the suggestions in this thread. Hope this will be helpful for future tourist!

[justonwo]

Schoenberg is known for vintage, but they actually have a very large selection of luthier-made guitars, small shop, and a good selection of high end Martins. It's my favorite shop in the SF Bay Area.

Gryphon is great as well. Guitar Showcase is awesome if you like electric guitars. Same thing with Gelb.

In LA, McCabe's is a must. Truetone Music in Santa Monica has a fantastic electric guitar and amp selection.

[justonwo]

Originally Posted by hillin

I've made a Google Map list and a spreadsheet containing all the suggestions in this thread. Hope this will be helpful for future tourist!

This is what you're looking for right here. Great list! I would add Gelb in the Bay Area.

[Brent Hahn]

Ventura Music in Studio City is interesting and fun. All used. Usually not much in the way of vintage acoustics, but I did get my wonderful 70's Ibanez dread there for next to nothing. Lots of "player" electric guitars and basses and oddball stuff. And almost next door to Fox and Hounds, second-best British Pub in LA.

[tippy5]

Originally Posted by hillin

I've made a Google Map list and a spreadsheet containing all the suggestions in this thread. Hope this will be helpful for future tourist!

Thanks for the fine map.
I would add TrueTone and Westwood Music near McCabe's. And Hollywood GC 10 miles away. Also sometimes you can find really good deals in Craigslist LA if you want to cold call a private party?

LA is nice in the winter. Less tourists and slightly less traffic. You might want to coordinate your searches to the traffic patterns. The traffic can be agonizing at the wrong time of day. Also summer is not a great time to travel with a high end guitar locked in your car. I was born and raised in LA but at 19 had the good sense to leave. There are 8 million people there and another 7 in Orange County. It's a nice visit especially for instrument shopping. Acoustics and antique cars fare better in So Cal than in most parts of the country. Enjoy the hunt.

[M Sarad]

Steve Swan in Burlingame near the SF airport. He always has vintage Martins and Gibsons galore.

[Cambria boy]

Originally Posted by hairpuller

I second that one! Super nice staff, too! Also, have some killer vintage Martins and nice Larrivees.

A bonus is you're close to Monterey and the beautiful central coast, so cruise down Hwy 1!!

Scott

Sadly, Hwy 1 is still closed due to the slides that buried a good part of the road. Can't get from Monterrey to SLO county on the 1.