This guitar thing

caperrob · #1 08-14-2022, 08:24 AM

I had a dental appointment yesterday and had to stop at a grocery store afterwards. There happens to be a music store between point A and B, so of course I had to drop in.

As I was leaving, I thought about how since I was maybe 20 years old, if I was in the vicinity of my local guitar shop on a Saturday afternoon, I would always drop in. I am 56.

Old habits

TBman · #2 08-14-2022, 08:25 AM

Now I talk myself out of going to one. I'd probably end up getting GAS for something and buy something I don't need or have room for,

RichardN · #3 08-14-2022, 08:36 AM

If I'n within 5 miles of Huber and Breeze I'll drop in, same with Motor City Guitars or Elderly.

But I can drive by a Guitar Center easily.

sinistral · #4 08-14-2022, 08:42 AM

I’ll do that too—see if there is a guitar store near my destination. And sometimes, the guitar store is the destination. Yesterday, with the nice break in the weather, I did a “walking tour” of guitar shops in Manhattan. TR Crandall, Rudy’s, Carmine St., Rivington, Guitar Center, 30th St., Sam Ash.

sinistral · #5 08-14-2022, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardN

If I'n within 5 miles of Huber and Breeze I'll drop in, same with Motor City Guitars or Elderly.

But I can drive by a Guitar Center easily.

While they don’t carry any boutique brands, the Guitar Center in Manhattan is pretty well stocked for Taylors and Martins (including a D-45 and a D-18 Authentic 1939).

caperrob · #6 08-14-2022, 09:25 AM

My jaw is on the floor......I can see why you shouldn't go in LOL

For the record, I played a jumbo Gibson - with the sound hole in the side. G series. I really liked it a lot.

rllink · #7 08-14-2022, 09:33 AM

Nice place. If I'm visiting somewhere and I have time to kill I like to check out all the funky guitar stores where I happen to be and that I've never been to before. That is always interesting. Otherwise though, I don't go to them unless I'm looking for something specific, even if I'm in the neighborhood. I'm just not a good shopper.

Bob from Brooklyn · #8 08-14-2022, 09:52 AM

Guitar stores need signs like this.

Silly Moustache · #9 08-14-2022, 10:04 AM

When I moved into my little Roman city, there were three or four music shops.
We have a college and a university in this town but no guitar shops.

There is a small one in the next city along.

There are two or three more serious dealers about forty miles away, but that is a 1-2 hour trip on our roads and the same back.

I honestly can't remember the last time I went to a serious guitar dealer, probably November 2016 when I bought my Waterloo.

Ive bought two Eastman guitars in 2019 and 2020, but both were bought online - one from London and one from the Netherlands - not so easy since we formally left the EU of course.

Glennwillow · #10 08-14-2022, 10:18 AM

Yes, dropping in on our favorite music stores seems to be fun for a lot of us musicians. I have been doing it for years!

- Glenn

Rogerblair · #11 08-14-2022, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardN

If I'n within 5 miles of Huber and Breeze I'll drop in, same with Motor City Guitars or Elderly.

But I can drive by a Guitar Center easily.

HB and Motor City are dangerous places for me to enter. Haven’t been to Elderly in about three years, but I started going there 40 years ago.

For another treat, try Detroit Guitar in Birmingham.
Rb

EZYPIKINS · #12 08-14-2022, 10:23 AM

In my life, what saves me is.

I can't find guitars at a guitar shop, that are anywhere near as playable the ones I have at home.

Silly Moustache · #13 08-14-2022, 10:34 AM

Another thought: back in the early '70s, I lived in West London. Six or seven stops on the tube got me into the west end where all the guitar/music shops were - Denmark street, Shaftesbury Avenue etc.

It did it every Saturday that my girlfriend(s) didn't want to go to King Road or south Kensington.

Nowadays - IF (big if) I am looking for a guitar it will be a certain make and type and I'll zone in on it online rather than wander around shops looking at the stock.

Looking at my "list" I think it was 2007 since I wandered into a dealers and found something that I liked and bought (my Weissenborn and my Mandolin).

lowrider · #14 08-14-2022, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistral

While they don’t carry any boutique brands, the Guitar Center in Manhattan is pretty well stocked for Taylors and Martins (including a D-45 and a D-18 Authentic 1939).

Is that 14th St?

AcousticDreams · #15 08-14-2022, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBman

Now I talk myself out of going to one. I'd probably end up getting GAS for something and buy something I don't need or have room for,

Ay Linda Amiga = What a lovely acoustic guitar piece. a Haunting guitar melody that really lets the mind drift into the realm. Love the way the guitar accentuates the riffs. Great Job TBman!