Denver / Boulder Music Stores?

[Mr. Jelly]

I am planning a trip to Colorado and started to look at the music stores in the Denver and Boulder areas and I am not seeing anything of note to visit. Any suggestions?

[catndahats]

I never made it when visiting my kids out there, but Old Town Pickin Parlor in Arvada sure looks interesting.


https://www.picknparlor.com/

[Chipotle]

Wildwood Music in Louisville posted that they had not been damaged by the recent fires. Great selection, although much is warehoused next door to the actual shop and you have to know to ask them to go grab what you want to play.

[zmf]

Too bad the showroom at Wildwood Guitars in Louisville appears to be still closed, but maybe you can work something out with them. Great inventory.

In Longmont, Guitars Etc. usually has a good selection of Collings, Martin, Breedlove, Taylor.

In Boulder, try Windsong, but check ahead for their inventory.

[Shortfinger]

Denver Folklore on Pearl has Collings, Eastman, etc.

If he'll let you in, Wildwood in Louisville has a large inventory of new and used high end instruments. Froggy Bottom, Martin, Gibson, lots more. Owner is afraid of the you-know-what. Almost all sales are telephone. I almost bought an HD-7 Martin from him, the Roger McGuinn signature 7-string (doubled G) all dressed up in D-41 bling.

Guitars Etc. in Longmont has lots of instruments in the $2K and up range. Martin, Blueridge, Taylor, more.

In Boulder, Woodsong's always has some nice Martins.

In every single location, there is a nearby dispensary selling legal things, so you can get relaxed and enjoy playing some possible new acquisitions.

[Birdbrain]

Originally Posted by zmf

Too bad the showroom at Wildwood Guitars in Louisville appears to be still closed, but maybe you can work something out with them. Great inventory.

In Longmont, Guitars Etc. usually has a good selection of Collings, Martin, Breedlove, Taylor.

In Boulder, try Windsong, but check ahead for their inventory.

Guitars Etc. goes beyond those common brands. I was by there a year or two ago when they were building a new high-end acoustic room. All the guitars were laid out on the floor in their cases, and tags included several MacPhersons and other boutique makers. They had a a wall with probably a dozen PRS electrics, too.

[Birdbrain]

Originally Posted by catndahats

I never made it when visiting my kids out there, but Old Town Pickin Parlor in Arvada sure looks interesting.


https://www.picknparlor.com/

That's a well-curated collection, heavy in Martins and Collings. Excellent archtops and mandolins, too. If you're lucky, you'll catch the owner practicing with his swing band. It's also the only Denver guitar shop accessible by light rail.

[Birdbrain]

Victor Guitars on South Broadway is primarily a lutherie, but there's always several high-level acoustics on consignment, plus a few from the luthier, Edward Dick.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Chipotle

Wildwood Music in Louisville posted that they had not been damaged by the recent fires. Great selection, although much is warehoused next door to the actual shop and you have to know to ask them to go grab what you want to play.

I was in Louisville a month and a half ago and their show room was not open. I would call before you go there.

[catt]

Originally Posted by Birdbrain

...If you're lucky, you'll catch the owner practicing with his swing band...

I bought my first upright bass from Kit. Glad he's still in business

[rbock]

Wildwood in Louisville has, by far, the best selection. Check out their website, then call for when to visit. The Folklore center in Denver, and Pickin' Parlor in Arvada are worth visiting just for the history and ambience of the last of the real brick and mortar guitar stores. Unfortunately, both are a shadow of what they were 20 or more years ago.

[StringMeUp]

Originally Posted by Birdbrain

Victor Guitars on South Broadway is primarily a lutherie, but there's always several high-level acoustics on consignment, plus a few from the luthier, Edward Dick.

This is what I was going to suggest too. It is close to the Denver Folklore Center.

[pagedr]

Everybody else has already hit the major ones - Olde Town, Folklore and Wildwood are my favorites.

Colfax Guitar Shop is similar to Victor in that it's a small shop and primarily a lutherie/repair shop, but they always have some cool guitars hanging around that are for sale/on consignment. Was just in there the other day and there were a few old Martins, couple old Gibsons, etc.

[Mr. Jelly]

Thanks everyone. Allot of these types of things are difficult for me to pick up on by visiting web pages. Thanks again.

[scotchnspeed]

Overall, Denver is a little tough for the guitar market considering its size.

Robbs in Boulder closed, Woodsongs seems to have downsized.

As mentioned, Wildwood is by FAR the best shop in the state, but closed showroom.

Denver has some classic stores with little brand diversity. The Folklore Center is a gem to visit, especially if Harry is hanging around. The Pickin Parlor has a large, open, relaxing space, but mostly (great quality) consignments and Collings. Victor Guitar is very small, but a cool open bench design with a range of low to mod level consignments.