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Mom and Pop Guitar Shops

gjohnson441496

gjohnson441496

Dec 14, 2014
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#1
I was driving around and found a new guitar shop called[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and boy do they have a lot of gear. There were some very nice vintage Fenders and more vintage Gibson bass guitars than I've ever seen. I played a 73 Tele bass through a Bassman head. It rumbled.
Then I went down the street to Gruhn Guitars because a TB member went there recently and took pics of a slew of MusicMan Bongo Basses. So went there next to check them out. When I was interested in a Bongo bass there were none around, now there's a ton in every configuration (H, HH, Single coil/H). I tried an HH and the pickups were hot. Playability wise, it was nice.

This got me to thinking about how great it is to have mom and pop guitar shops in the neighborhood. Do any of you have a mom and pop guitar shop, in your town or one you visited, to let us know about?
 
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#2
Bill's Music House, 743 Frederick Road, Catonsville, Maryland 21228 (410) 788-8900 nice place, that's where I go for repairs I'm too lazy to do myself. BIG selection of Fender, Gibson, Kala, above average selection of Rics.
 
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#7
I've been going to guitar shops pretty much on a biweekly basis for 25 years. Good guitar shops are the center on every local music scene. They're a source of information, a place to meet other musicians and the really good ones curate guitars you'd never have a chance to try just like a good wine shop.

I'm happy to spend a little extra there to keep them in my community.
 
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#10
catcauphonic said:
No shortage of places in and near Seattle, WA :thumbsup: Though i was pretty devastated when BassNorthwest closed their doors 2 years ago. Thankfully, ex BNW co-owner Chad Beeler (<sic his last name?) opened The Bass Shop nearby soon after
Click to expand...

I wish they'd extend a little farther north. I'm up past Poulsbo, and the nearest thing is [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] in Silverdale, whose selection is rather small. Next closest thing is GC in Tacoma, which I'd rather not go to unless I have to.

I understand Jared Dines frequents The Guitar Store in Seattle. One of these days I'll have to make the trek out there and check it out.

Actually this has put me in a slight predicament. I'm interested in a Squier VM 70's Jazz, which Ted Brown doesn't have in red. I'm torn between having them order one in for me and buying it through them (support the local shops) or just buying it myself online.
 
#11
Old Town Music

West Deptford, NJ, in the Southwood Shopping Center.

I (actually my mom) bought my Westone Spectrum there as well as my Peavey Basic 40 back in 1985 or so, and took some lessons there, too. Still there, still open. Guy who owned it when I was a teenager 30 years ago sold it off and retired some years ago but it's still there. Unfortunately, the gear selection is not what it used to be.
 
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#12
I'm completely in with elgecko on The Fret House in Covina, CA. Whether you're looking for high end or bargain basement, they can serve you. They know what they're doing, they know what's in the market and I've never come upon a more honest person in a music store than Fret House owner Tom Seymour.

Yes, there are some great mom and pop shops around.
 
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#18
I really miss my old local mom n pop music store...it was called Jamm Music and was located in Islip, N.Y.
A nice enough guy named Jim used to own it, I say nice enough because he tolerated my then young grubby hands
touching almost anything in the store. it was a small store but he had really nice offerings from beginner level to
the occasional Alembic, Smith etc. for us bassists and plenty of guitar and drum equipment as well.
Heck I even got to meet Stewart Copeland who was a "regular". It seems all the good locally owned shops on
Long Island have disappeared, and I for one lament their passing.
 
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#19
Banko's in Ansonia, CT. Still going after all these years.

And now…a moment of silence for the defunct G Guitars of New Haven, CT. Easily the best shop the little state of CT ever knew.
 
#20
Still lots of independents here in NYC. Some great ones have closed, but others keep popping up to replace them. East Village Music has always been a favorite of mine. Main Drag in Brooklyn, 30th Street Guitars (which is now on 27th St) and, another all-time favorite; Rogue Music. Carmine Street Guitars and Matt Umanov, which are right around the corner from each other, are 30+ year institutions.

Yeah, I suppose you could go to Sam Ash or Guitar Center, too, but there are so many good small-time options here. I only mentioned my favorites. There are quite a few others.

Also, over on the Jersey Side, there's NJ Guitar and Bass Center in Edison, NJ. Jay's been in business for more than 30 years, stocks a ton of great basses and is a very nice guy.
 
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