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A Shop Near Me (Northeast US) for Trying Acoustic Guitars
I live in the middle of NY State, not far from Utica, NY. I'm about a 5-hour drive to Boston, Toronto, and Philadelphia and a four hour drive to Buffalo and New York City.
Throughout the entire pandemic I've been saying that once we got vaccinated and things started clearing up that I want to find a very well-stocked guitar shop and really find the right "main" guitar for me. I've been doing well with this Gibson J-15 I've been playing, but I want to figure out if it's really the best thing for me. None of the shops within an hour of here is particularly well-stocked. I'm tired of buying online in order to try stuff. So, if I want to try a bunch of Martin and Gibson models and a few other companies, where should I go? I'd happily go anywhere in NY State, anywhere in PA, Massachusetts, Vermont. Heck, I'd even go to New Jersey. . I'll be heading to Washington, DC this summer, too. What are your suggestions for very well-stocked shops with good staff in the Northeast?
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+ Gibson J-15 + Martin OOOC Nylon + Recording King ROS-16 12 fret + Reverend Double Agent OG |
#2
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You could go to Maury’s and also right to the Martin factory when they open back up for tours etc.
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#3
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With the willingness to drive around you have a ton of options at your disposal.
I'd recommend hitting any Guitar Center in between wherever you're going - there are still a ton of them and they typically have Martins and Gibsons stocked to some degree. Even if you don't find what you're looking for there, you'll get more frame of reference to make judgments on. For the upper crust stores relatively nearby, these are what come to mind: Bernunzio's in Rochester Rudy's, Retrofret, and I don't even know how many in the NYC area. The Music Emporium in Lexington, MA Northern Lights Music in Bethlehem, NH is a tremendous store, but way the hell out there. Don't have any PA or NJ experience to recommend. Best of luck in your hunt! |
#4
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Music Emporium in Lexington,MA. Or, with an appointment, Northern Lights Music in Littleton, NH. Littleton is on the VT border. Last one-The Music Mill in Manchester, NH
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2021 Iris CH sunburst with ivoriod binding 2018 Guild M 20 1996 MIJ 50th Ann. Tele Deluxe |
#5
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Fretted Buffalo in Buffalo for the alternatives... Bourgeois, Huss & Dalton, Furch, Avalon.
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#6
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Rudy's Soho is very special in my experience. Haven't been in several years but they usually have a boatload of great acoustic guitars.
Same for Music Emporium. Don't guess you're gonna get to Toronto soon for reasons related to COVID but 12th Fret Guitar Shop in Toronto is a great shop to visit. Great website too, like Music Emporium and a few others. hans
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1971 Papazian (swiss spruce/braz RW) 1987 Lowden L32p (sitka/ind RW) 1992 Froggy Bottom F (19th cent. german spruce/koa) 2000 Froggy Bottom H12c (adir/ind RW) 2016 Froggy Bottom K mod (adir/madrose; my son's) 2010 Voyage-Air VAOM-2C http://www.soundclick.com/hanstunes (recorded on Froggy H12c) |
#7
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I just visited Acoustic Music in Guilford, CT this week, and ended up buying a new Collings 002H. Had a nice experience ...
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#8
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Quote:
That should keep you busy for a while...
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#9
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The Music Emporium and Acoustic Music in Guilford, CT are both by appointment for the foreseeable future.
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#10
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Parkway Music in Clifton Park, 20 min north of Albany on I-87. For current inventory, go to
https://www.parkwaymusic.com/ |
#11
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Here's a couple to consider in NY State ... I've been to all of them (before Covid) and they have a good amount of guitars to try. Check websites and /or contact them for brands and inventory.
https://www.dickscountrystore.net/ On on Route 11 in Churubusco, NY https://www.houseofguitars.com/ In Rochester NY with a large selection of acoustics https://stutzmansguitarcenteronline.com/acoustic Smaller shop in Rochester area -- less inventory but they get some quality guitars in there. The Fretted Buffalo (in Buffalo) is a small, by appointment only shop due to Covid) -- with high end brands like Furch, Bourgeois, Huss & Dalton, Avalon and McIlroy. Bill is great to work with! Good luck with your search! Cheers! |
#12
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My home town shop in Ithaca usually has a nice selection of Martin’s, Taylor’s, Alvarez...www.guitarworks.com
Ithaca Guitar Works, ask for Chris or Ash.
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--------------------------------- Martin OM -15 Custom Taylor 314ce Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Yamaha AC1M Yamaha FSX800C |
#13
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Quote:
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Martin X1-DE Epiphone AJ500MNS Alvarez AD30 Alvarez AD710 Alvarez RD20S Esteban American Legacy Rogue mandolin |
#14
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Quote:
Martins, and a good number of Breedloves. I wasn’t aware of Northern Lights, though I’m sometimes in the area. Will have to stop in and look at all the guitars I can’t afford |
#15
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Alto Music Middletown NY
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Yamaha FSX5 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Yamaha CSF3M 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Gretsch Jim Dandy Charvel SoCal 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Charvel San Dimas 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Epiphone 335 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Telepartscaster |