The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 04-17-2021, 02:05 PM
Neal Pert Neal Pert is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Among the Coastal Elites
Posts: 584
Default 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?
__________________
+ Gibson J-15
+ Martin OOOC Nylon
+ Recording King ROS-16 12 fret
+ Reverend Double Agent OG
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-17-2021, 02:15 PM
whatitis whatitis is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 63
Default

You could go to Maury’s and also right to the Martin factory when they open back up for tours etc.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-17-2021, 02:21 PM
JoeYouDon't JoeYouDon't is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 98
Default

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!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-17-2021, 02:23 PM
Gabby84 Gabby84 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: New England
Posts: 199
Default

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
__________________
2021 Iris CH sunburst with ivoriod binding
2018 Guild M 20
1996 MIJ 50th Ann. Tele Deluxe
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-17-2021, 02:48 PM
pmichael pmichael is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Western New York
Posts: 268
Default

Fretted Buffalo in Buffalo for the alternatives... Bourgeois, Huss & Dalton, Furch, Avalon.
__________________
----
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-17-2021, 02:57 PM
handers handers is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,672
Default

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
__________________
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)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-17-2021, 03:08 PM
bmw2002 bmw2002 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Madison, CT
Posts: 85
Default

I just visited Acoustic Music in Guilford, CT this week, and ended up buying a new Collings 002H. Had a nice experience ...
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-17-2021, 03:17 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Staten Island, NY - for now
Posts: 14,983
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeYouDon't View Post
...Don't have any PA or NJ experience to recommend. Best of luck in your hunt!
Vintage Instruments in Philly - as well as the local GC/Sam Ash branches (the King of Prussia Sam Ash used to be excellent - haven't been there in years, though) - and the 8th Street mail-order operation's showroom in not-too-distant Pennsauken (NJ) is open to the public by appointment. Don't know what their current stock situation is, but the Sam Ash branch on Route 27 in Edison (NJ) is a great place if you're looking for a take-your-time, low-key vibe with all the inventory/services of a big-box store (my last band used to do a monthly road trip for expendables, and to check out what's new); if you're in the Route 78-22 Springfield/Summit/Westfield area you have not only Sam Ash and GC, but archtop specialist Guitars-N-Jazz and vintage dealer Golden Age Fretted Instruments, and if you find yourself in the Paramus/Teaneck vicinity Lark Street is a must-stop (along with the ubiquitous GC/Sam Ash branches)...

That should keep you busy for a while...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool"
- Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-17-2021, 03:22 PM
Maryc-k Maryc-k is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: north of Boston
Posts: 1,233
Default

The Music Emporium and Acoustic Music in Guilford, CT are both by appointment for the foreseeable future.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-17-2021, 03:27 PM
The Old Gaffer The Old Gaffer is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,195
Default

Parkway Music in Clifton Park, 20 min north of Albany on I-87. For current inventory, go to

https://www.parkwaymusic.com/
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-17-2021, 03:29 PM
wguitar wguitar is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,810
Default

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!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-17-2021, 07:32 PM
sstaylor58 sstaylor58 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 877
Default

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.
__________________
---------------------------------
Martin OM -15 Custom
Taylor 314ce
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Yamaha AC1M
Yamaha FSX800C
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-17-2021, 08:02 PM
Ralph124C41 Ralph124C41 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southern Tier, New York
Posts: 2,342
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sstaylor58 View Post
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.
Dang. You beat me to it. But I'm about 40 miles away. (David Boreanaz of "Angel", "Buffy the Vampire", "Bones", "Seal Team") was spotted there.
__________________
Martin X1-DE
Epiphone AJ500MNS
Alvarez AD30
Alvarez AD710
Alvarez RD20S
Esteban American Legacy
Rogue mandolin
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-17-2021, 11:54 PM
Jimi2 Jimi2 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,185
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabby84 View Post
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
Manchester Music Mill is awesome. Huge acoustic room with lots of Taylors,
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
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-18-2021, 03:10 AM
Ds114 Ds114 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 287
Default

Alto Music Middletown NY
__________________
Yamaha FSX5 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Yamaha CSF3M 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Gretsch Jim Dandy
Charvel SoCal 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Charvel San Dimas 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Epiphone 335 𝅘𝅥𝅮 Telepartscaster
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=