Your Favorite Guitar Store?

[Tig]

Not to open a can of Spam here, but maybe some of us would like to hear about your favorite, special guitar shop that is unique. What makes it so special?

Some shops are worth checking out when we travel to a city, and this could be the place to find out...

[Tig]

I have a pretty cool shop a few miles away called Danny D's Guitar Hacienda (http://www.facebook.com/pages/League-City-TX/Danny-Ds-Guitar-Hacienda/57321027878), and while it is cool and close, my favorite is
Rockin Robin Guitars and Music (http://www.rockinrobinguitars.com/), located near downtown Houston.
I remember their little shop in the late 70's before they moved. High up on the wall was a case, holding a white strat that Jimi Hendrix once owned. I'll have to ask about it next visit.

Anyway, the current shop is one of those places that is full of character, history, great brands (new & used), and has all kinds of vintage gear. The attitude is always positive and friendly, which I don't see every time I visit a GC. They even have surfboards! They also have their own line of Robin guitars.

http://www.rockinrobinguitars.com/Pics/floor1.jpg

http://www.rockinrobinguitars.com/Pics/ladder3.jpg

Did I mention their artifacts?
http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/gear/771869/p1_uyw50tbui_so.jpg

[duhvoodooman]

Around the Capital District area of upstate NY, that would have to be Parkway Music (http://www.parkwaymusic.com/) in Clifton Park. It's on US 9 just off the Adirondack Northway (I-87) between exits 8A and 9. It's a fairly small, independently owned shop with just a ton of cool gear, both new and used, and a friendly and very knowledgeable staff. Definitely the choice of most gigging musicians in this area. I just wish it was closer to me....

[evenkeel]

Used to live just outside of NYC. Mrs. Keel (before she was Mrs Keel) lived just a few blocks from....

http://www.umanovguitars.com/about.html

Never bought anything from Matt but a great place to browse..

[djmcconnell]

In the Dinkytown area of Minneapolis, I'm a big fan of The Podium http://www.thepodium.com/.

In Golden Valley, a first-ring suburb west of Minneapolis, there's a cool store called My Music Store http://www.my-music-store.com/. I take my lessons there, too.

[Algonquin]

My favourite shop in Toronto is without a doubt The Twelfth Fret :AOK:
http://www.12fret.com/

I love browsing the Vintage/Used link to see what's new. The prices for new gear are as good as anywhere, and the service for me has been excellent.

Cheers :beer:

[sumitomo]

Man Tig I'd have to wear some baggy pants there! We have nothing here,well there is one but don't dare pull a axe out by yourself,and if you want to try one well get ready to sign a release form.Sumi:D

[bigG]

There's only two here where I live, both mom n pop shops: Parramore Music and Sound Exchange. And I love 'em both! Both are friendly, knowledgable folks who you can call friends and call you a friend. They go out of their way to help any way they can, and I'm always welcome to just drop by and chat or do some pickin, just like a friend's home. Even if they know I'm stopping in to say hello or just check out some new gear, and not buying, I'm still treated like a welcome friend.

Kinda like that TV show Cheers: where everybody knows your name.

I guess I couldn't have it any better when it comes to guitar shops! :D

[peachhead]

The one that I frequent is good, but small. The folks there are nice and will help you with whatever you want to find, but I just wish they had more of a selection. Nothing like Tig's place- wow.

[sunvalleylaw]

Hmm, does not exist any more: Sunburst Guitars in Ketchum. I guess after that, it would be Old Town Guitars in Boise for anything local. Did not get to spend enough time there, but I loved this little place crammed full of guitar stuff in the Haight, when I was down vacationing. My guitar strap is from there: http://www.haight-ashbury-music.com/index.html The vibe was really great, lots of Hendrix and other summer of love type nostalgia going on, and a good selection, and the staff was friendly and awesome. That place might be my favorite, but I would have to go back and spend more time to be sure. ;) :AOK: :D

[syo]

What used to be a somewhat "local" shop for me was McCabe's in Santa Monica, CA. Never actually bought a guitar there (bought a fiddle though) but it's a great place to hang and try things out. Attended tons of concerts there which it's quite known for. Richard Thompson, Hellecasters, Dave Swarbrick/Martin Carthy, Fairport Convention etc. etc.
http://www.mccabes.com/
My local now has little of the charm of McCabes but has some nice vintage guitars (not cheap) to drool over. Also new Van Zandt's which really out-Fenders Fender. Check out the STV-R2 model which comes complete with "Synchronaized Tremoro". Try finding one of those in the states...:D :
http://www.guitars-shop.com/

By the way Steve, I like that Haight-Ashbury shop too. Haven't been there in years though.

[mjk123]

For the Maryland (Silverspring) area, I head to http://www.wmcworld.com/ or Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center. Thanks to them, I have met John Petrucci and John Myung. Got to meet the makers of the Charvel guitars and countless free products from them. I also got to met THE Paul Reed Smith during a recent PRS factory tour and was there on the day the Sweet 16 amp was unveiled.---good times---

They are not as big of Guitar Center but they take pride in their customers.

[hubberjub]

We don't have much in this area but we do have Audio Classics (http://www.audioclassics.com). They have a small but high quality selection of guitars but they are also one of the biggest McIntosh audio dealers in the country.

[Mymindsok]

Used to live just outside of NYC. Mrs. Keel (before she was Mrs Keel) lived just a few blocks from....

http://www..com/about.html

Never bought anything from Matt but a great place to browse..

Oh Man!!!!

When I lived in Manhattan, I used to drop into Matts place quite often!

I didnt know for a long time, that his is one of the truly great instrument dealerships in America but after buying a couple of not-so-great Martin's over on Statin Island at the "Gimme-the-money-Brothers" shop and at Manny's uptown, I got wise and started listening to what people had been telling me. ""When youre ready for a good guitar, save up your money and then go see Matt Umanov. It won't be cheap but it'll be worth it."

He did the repair on my 31 National after my cat knocked ot off the stand and shattered the headstock too. Fabulous work... It cost as much as I had paid for the guitar 15 years before but it was worth every penny. I just can't say enogh good things about Matt and his staff!

These days, I live in N. Cal and I buy from Zone Music in Cotati California http://www.zonemusic.com/ Kool place, good selection and a truly professional staff.

The thing that I like most about Zone is that when you buy an instrument there, youre treated like a person, not a sales opportunity and youre perfectly welcome to drop in and hang out, most anytime. :AOK: