Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Guyute) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:03:18 PST

Guyute wrote:
He did at one point. Haven't been by there in quite a while, though...IIRC, he was kinda meh on the acoustic selection. I was always under the impression that he was sort of walking the razor's edge re: staying in business for the last 10 years.

I went by the place where he used to be today (on Contra Costa Blvd.) and no longer there. Seems he has moved to Oak Park Blvd in the last year or so.

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Highlander) — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:13:06 PST

Hello,
I just got to know Guitar-o-rama in Oakland at 6116 Telegraph. Pete is the owner for 16 years.
He is a very smart, extroverted yet perceptive person. He has been around the world.

While I could see how the perceptive piece of his personality could be hard to deal with, but I was there for business and he had what I came there for (a pair of 60's pickups)

Store Info:
http://www.guitar-o-rama.com is under construction.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/guitar-o-rama-oakland
His new phone will be published soon. I could pass his cell phone to those who need it (I didn't ask him if he would like it posted, so I am not posting it just out of respect for privacy).

By the way, the place is a hall-in-the-wall as stated by yelp posters, and yes, it is a mess there, but I was there for business...

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Guyute) — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:14:18 PST

He did at one point. Haven't been by there in quite a while, though...IIRC, he was kinda meh on the acoustic selection. I was always under the impression that he was sort of walking the razor's edge re: staying in business for the last 10 years.

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Tricone) — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:59:57 PST

Does he have an actual storefront?

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Guyute) — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:48:53 PST

Wow, is he still in business? Hasn't he moved a few times, too?

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Tricone) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:46:39 PST

Thanks for pointing out Guitar Heaven, cosmicfriend! I'll add it to the list of Bay Area dealers.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!!

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Tricone) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:46:34 PST

Thanks for pointing out Guitar Heave, cosmicfriend! I'll add it to the list of Bay Area dealers.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!!

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (cosmicfriend) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:37:23 PST

Guitar heaven in Pleasant Hill I have been there a total of 2 times and the first time to make a deal and finally to strike the deal the Owner Frank Is awesome to talk shop. Over the years( I read VG and he advertises there But doesnt have a website i did some backtracking with old issues.) he has had phenomenal stuff go in and out of his shop.. Go there keep him in business and lets keep this guy here and around for crazies like us. GUITAR HEAVEN PLEASANT HILL.

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Guyute) — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:41:12 PST

Yeah, it's definitely something to worry about!

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Tricone) — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:23:42 PST

Guyute wrote:
Actually, the only thing I don't like about Eric's shop is that the acoustics in there make every guitar sound fantastic LOL

I've never been there, but been meaning to go. I'm just thinking that I probably should leave my wallet at home!

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Guyute) — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:45:40 PST

Actually, the only thing I don't like about Eric's shop is that the acoustics in there make every guitar sound fantastic LOL

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (guitpl4evr) — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:55:35 PST

babow2 wrote:

The Mule wrote: I've also heard good things about Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon.

Eric is great! When it comes to old Martins and Martin influenced guitars, he is a wealth of knowledge. He also is great at appraising and evaluating vintage guitars. He is completely open with advice and input, and you can plunk down and play any of his instruments, which mostly are luthier built or high end acoustics. He has done two neck resets on old Martins for us. He also hosts occasional traveling pros for small "concerts". Get on his mailing list, as he probably hosts 1-2 shows per month in his little shop.

I second Eric, a great guy to talk to and buy from. Laid back and honest about his advice. I once went onto his shop and compared two guitars, one being 1000 more than the...

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Capnhank) — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:10:03 PST

Showcase is a good place for used gear and for checking out new stuff, but their pricing really is pretty wonky. Nice people, though, and that back room is amazing!

As far as Guitar Center goes, here's my Yelp review for the SJ branch:

"It's Guitar Center, need I say more?

OK, I will.

They've got pretty good day-to-day prices on strings and straps and cords and such, but their "super blow out green tag everything must go" sales events are about the only time it's worth suffering through the "customer service" to buy anything more expensive. My roommate worked at GC in Oakland (yes, there was one in Oakland, back in the covered wagon days) and it hasn't changed much since. It's a minimum wage, commission-based sales job that attracts "professional" musicians who just want to hang out and practice on the clock or show off their hot new licks to the awestruck teenagers who mill about...

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (babow2) — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:55:58 PST

The Mule wrote: I've also heard good things about Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon.

Eric is great! When it comes to old Martins and Martin influenced guitars, he is a wealth of knowledge. He also is great at appraising and evaluating vintage guitars. He is completely open with advice and input, and you can plunk down and play any of his instruments, which mostly are luthier built or high end acoustics. He has done two neck resets on old Martins for us. He also hosts occasional traveling pros for small "concerts". Get on his mailing list, as he probably hosts 1-2 shows per month in his little shop.

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (The Mule) — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:29:25 PST

I have 2 problems with Guitar Showcase:

a) They don't have guitar cords around. You have to ask for one at the counter. Sometimes they are busy, sometimes not.

b) They do "funny" things with their pricing. I was looking at a Fender Tele QMT a little while back. Was my default guitar for checking out amps at that time. (2 humbuckers, mahogany body, yup a Telecaster!) For the longest time, that guitar was marked at $1400. Cool. I had played that thing so many times I was starting to think about buying it. (Serial number was from 2004. So either they had it that long, or someone returned it.) Anyway, all of the sudden, they had a new tag on it, that the list price was $1600 (which was wrong, by the way, it's a 5 year old discontinued guitar!) and that it was "marked down" to ... $1375. Oh boy !!

I suppose I could have asked about it, but their Custom Shops Strats are all priced too high too, once you start to look around.
...

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Bonedaddy) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:15:49 PST

Can't speak for those other retailers closer to the City, but I've always been able to play anything I wanted at Gutiar Showcase. I never get a hassle and I always get great service from them.

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (basstard) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:08:28 PST

Thanks for sharing your retail experiences. It's like finding a good mechanic... word of mouth is the best advertisement.

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (The Mule) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:39:01 PST

These are from a friend of mine, and from a Google search I did not too long ago. Stores in/near SF:

o If you want to stay in the city, check out Guitar Solo on clement and 16th Ave near the Golden Gate park.
o Real Guitars in the South of Market area always has some vintage Martins, but it's mostly vintage electric gear.
o Gryphon
o Steve Swan's shop
o Rocker Guitars on Howard street, Real guitars a few blocks away (in an alley)
o Guitar Center on Van Ness

OK, most of these are on the 1st list. I've also heard good things about Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon.

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (The Mule) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:23:01 PST

Also, I really like Guitar Center and there's a simple reason why: they let you actually *play* the instruments, and they don't hassle you while you're doing it. They have guitar cords all around the store, so you don't have to go up to the counter and ask. The higher priced instruments are higher up on the walls, so you'd have to ask to play one of those, but if you're tall, you can pretty much get to everything.

I have 3 year old twins, and one of the cool Daddy/kid things we do, is to hang out at GC for a little while. They get to play the keyboards, drums, and guitars, and I don't get hassled about breaking anything. Of course, if they destroy something, I'll pay for it, but you don't have to constantly remind me of that!

I really hate those places where the sales people are in your face every second and they're constantly pestering you to buy something. If anything, GC is too laid back, but I'd rather have that...

Re: Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (The Mule) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:13:48 PST

I have a list at home of SF centric places. I'll post that tonight.

I 2nd the good things about Keith Hollands. He's doing a "Shred-caster" for me right now. He just got all the parts in.

Bay Area Guitar Dealers . . A List

feeds@yuku.com (Tricone) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:08:26 PST

Here's a budding list of Bay Area Guitar Stores & Dealers. Please feel free to suggest an addition to this list, or notify me of an outdated link. I'll add them as I get them.

B Street Music (San Mateo) website
Bananas At Large (San Rafael) website
Bear Paw Fiddles (Alameda) website
C.B. Perkins Co. Guitar Shop (San Jose) website
Carmel Music Co. (Carmel) website
The Fifth String (Berkeley)