"Must visit" Guitar Shops in the USA

[wguitar]

Just wondering where the "must visit" guitar shops are in the USA ? While I never had a chance to visit, my understanding is that Wildwood Music in Ohio was a "must visit" guitar lover's destination before Don and Marty retired (one example that I've heard about) ... Lots of quality guitars to choose from, play and compare. Any shops like this still around ? Where are they ?

THANKS!

[ascotia]

I discovered last year that The Music Emporium near Boston seems to be a landmark destination. I live about 15 minutes away and yet I've never been due to covid. Another local shop encouraged me to make an appointment with them regardless of my intent to buy on the first visit but alas, that day has not yet come...

[Jeremy]

During a recent trip to Las Vegas I visited Heartbreaker Guitars. It was was my first real-life experience with guitars that I've only read about here and they were great to deal with.

[LeDave]

If you live in the twin cities area in MN, I recommend Bongo's and Bud's. It's like one of those hole in the wall restaurants except this is a guitar shop variant.

[Zissou Intern]

I am only listing shops I have actually visited:

The Music Emporium - Lexington, MA
Elderly Instruments - Lansing, MI
Chicago Music Exchange - Chicago
Dave's Guitars - LaCrosse and Madison, WI
Spruce Tree Music - Madison, WI (very small, but a great atmosphere and staff)
Wildwood Guitars - Louisville, CO
Olde Town Pickin' Parlor - Arvada, CO
Music Villa - Bozeman, MT
Dusty Strings - Seattle, WA

[Wade Hampton]

In Seattle, Washington: Dusty Strings.

In Palo Alto, California: Gryphon Stringed Instruments.

In Lawrence, KS (40 miles west of KC): Mass Street Music.

In Bozeman, Montana: Music Villa.

In Lansing, Michigan: Elderly Instruments.

These are all stores I’ve visited and was impressed by. Some of the best of the best, like Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, NYC, no longer exist. But so far as I’m aware all of these others are still in business.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[TennesseeWalker]

Norman’s Rare Guitars in LA
He’s posted numerous videos with just about every major rock star in LA playing guitar in the shop.

Norm is a hoot but the shop isn’t quite the wild same since Mark Agnessi left and went to work for Martin

Oh, and check out McCabes in Santa Monica, great live back room venues and a fun selection of guitars

[jrb715]

In Nashville:

Artisan Guitars
Gruhn Guitars
Carter's Vintage Guitars

[buddyhu]

In the SF Bay Area: Schoenberg’s in Tiburon; Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto; Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz.

In New England: Northern Lights in Littleton NH; The Music Emporium in Lexington MA.

[dnf777]

Awesome thread! Next, we could plan the “Leave your Wallet in the Car” tour!

[jansch101]

I still feel a tad intimidated venturing into these high tier guitar stores but that’s just me being stupid! Certainly the sales staff at any of these locations can make or break the experience , my first visit was to Rudy’s Music in Soho NYC and they were cool and accepting and low key, Music Emporium in MA would be on my list to visit it being the closest albeit 4 hours from northern Vermont .

[llew]

Originally Posted by jrb715

In Nashville:

Artisan Guitars
Gruhn Guitars
Carter's Vintage Guitars

All the above plus TNAG Nashville.

A lesser know shop in the little town of Burlington, NC...Lowe Vintage Instruments.

[29er]

Down Home Guitars in Frankfort, Il. (south of Chicago) A great place chock full of bucket list acoustic brands. Example: The two Waterloo guitars I've bought there were very much on the low end of the pricepoints of their stock. Good people as well.

[Tnfiddler]

The Music Outlet in Sevierville, Tennessee

[frances50]

Dream Guitars near Asheville, North Carolina. It's a high end showroom for custom guitars but they have the occasional limited edition Martin, Gibson, etc. It's by appointment only but it is well worth the visit and the city is beauiful also. Dream Guitars lives up to it's name.