Buying a guitar is an exciting journey for any musician, whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned player looking to add to your collection. Not long ago, the idea of buying a guitar online was uncommon. Today, however, the landscape has changed dramatically. Many traditional music stores have successfully transitioned to the digital world, offering enhanced customer experiences, competitive pricing, fast and often free shipping, flexible return policies, and an extensive inventory spanning numerous brands and models. This evolution has been incredibly beneficial for guitarists everywhere, providing more options than ever before when considering Where To Buy A Guitar.
For those fortunate enough to live near a physical music store, online guitar retailers offer a fantastic way to explore a vast selection of instruments from the comfort of your home. Online platforms are invaluable for research, comparing deals, and reading reviews from fellow guitarists of all levels. This blend of online convenience and offline accessibility provides the best of both worlds.
However, the allure of a physical music store remains strong, and for good reason. The most significant advantage is the ability to personally try out your soon-to-be-owned guitar. This hands-on experience, combined with the personalized guidance offered by knowledgeable staff, is a crucial element in making the right purchase.
In this guide, we will explore the best places to buy guitars, highlighting the essential features that distinguish top retailers. We’ll delve into what to consider when searching for new or used guitars, along with the necessary gear and accessories. Read on to discover the best options for purchasing your next guitar, complete with valuable insights to enhance your buying experience!
Key Considerations When Choosing Where to Buy a Guitar
When you’re on the hunt for a new guitar, several factors can significantly impact your purchasing experience and satisfaction. Whether you’re buying online or in a physical store, keep these crucial aspects in mind to ensure you make the best choice.
Extensive Range of Instruments and Brands
A fundamental aspect of any reputable guitar retailer, whether online or brick-and-mortar, is a great catalog of instruments and brands. A wide selection encompassing electric, acoustic, vintage, and bass guitars is essential. A diverse inventory increases the likelihood of discovering a guitar that perfectly matches your preferences and budget, potentially introducing you to models you might not have initially considered. The sheer variety can be inspiring and help you make a more informed decision based on the available options.
Beyond variety, the presence of major industry brands is a hallmark of a quality store. Guitarists seeking top-tier instruments often look for brands like PRS, Taylor, Ernie Ball Music Man, Suhr, Tom Anderson, Duesenberg, and Santa Cruz. These brands are synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. Furthermore, remember practical necessities such as a durable guitar case, and be sure to inquire about refund policies and warranty coverage.
While online retailers like Sweetwater excel at showcasing high-end guitars and a plethora of models online, the tactile experience of playing different guitars with various amplifiers to find your ideal tone is a compelling reason why many guitarists still prefer physical stores. The ability to test drive instruments is invaluable.
High-Quality Guitar Gear and Accessories
Your journey in where to buy a guitar should also include careful consideration of the instrument’s build quality and components. A thorough examination involves assessing various aspects: How comfortable is the guitar neck? What kind of pickups are installed? Does the bridge feel right under your hand? Does the guitar’s weight feel balanced and comfortable? These are critical questions that directly relate to the instrument’s value and suitability for your playing style.
The best places to buy guitars also offer a comprehensive selection of music gear, including amplifiers and effects pedals. There’s immense satisfaction in pairing your new guitar with top-quality effects to enhance your sound.
Exploring pedals featuring effects like vibrato, delay, fuzz, and reverb, alongside a premium amplifier at a competitive price, can significantly elevate your playing experience and take your sound to the next level.
Flexible Rental Programs
Leading guitar retailers often provide rental programs as part of their services. Let’s face it, musical preferences can evolve, and sometimes trying out different instruments is the best way to solidify your choices.
You or your family members might be uncertain whether an electric guitar is the right fit, or perhaps you might discover that an acoustic or classical guitar is more appealing.
Rental programs offer an ideal solution, allowing you to experiment with an instrument without the commitment of a full purchase. Some programs even feature high-quality, name-brand instruments—available new, used, or refurbished—providing access to premium gear at a lower initial cost.
Professional Guitar Repair Services
Selling guitars is only part of the equation; offering comprehensive repair services truly sets a guitar shop apart. While online marketplaces like Reverb facilitate the sale of used and vintage gear, opting to buy from retailers that provide repair services is a wise decision. Look for shops that handle band instrument repairs, audio equipment servicing, restringing, setups, and adjustments with efficient turnaround times.
Crucially, confirm whether the repair staff are authorized to work on official warranties. This ensures that your instrument remains protected and that repairs are carried out by qualified technicians.
Community Events and Live Music
As communities reopen, live music and events are making a comeback and are becoming a unique offering in some guitar stores.
In-store performances and events are excellent opportunities to connect with other musicians and learn more about different instruments. These gatherings provide a perfect setting to seek expert advice and build a valuable network within the music community. Some physical guitar stores, like Danville Music, even feature in-store stages and regularly host live music events, creating a vibrant community hub.
Exceptional Customer Support
Excellent customer support is paramount for any guitar shop. It can save you considerable hassle and provide invaluable assistance when purchasing a new instrument. To gauge the quality of a store’s customer service, check online customer reviews and try to speak with people who have previously made purchases. Specialized online forums can also offer insights into customer experiences.
Responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful customer service can make all the difference, especially for first-time buyers or those seeking specific advice.
Transparent and Free Shipping Options
While you might initially visit a physical store, you may still want time to consider your purchase before making a final decision. In such cases, understanding shipping costs is crucial, particularly if you decide to buy online later.
Many contemporary guitar retailers offer free shipping on domestic orders, reducing the overall cost, especially for larger items like guitars and amplifiers.
Explore the retailer’s website or inquire directly about shipping business days and their return policies. Clear and customer-friendly shipping and return procedures are signs of a reputable seller.
Knowledgeable Sales Staff Who Are Musicians
One of the most vital, yet often overlooked, aspects to consider where to buy a guitar is whether the sales staff are musicians themselves. When the people behind the counter are also experienced musicians, it provides customers with a sense of assurance. Their advice is rooted in real-world musical experience, whether as guitar players, producers, or other music professionals.
As a result, you can trust that the guidance you receive from these salespeople is well-informed and practical. They can provide professional and detailed answers to your questions, ensuring you make a well-considered purchase.
The Best Places To Buy A Guitar – Top Retailers Ranked
Considering the factors discussed above, here’s our curated ranking of the best places to buy a guitar. These retailers stand out for their selection, service, and overall customer experience.
1. Danville Music
Danville Music is a leading music store located in the San Francisco Bay Area, renowned for its extensive selection of high-end and signature guitars, along with top-tier music gear. With over 70 models in stock at any given time, they offer brands like Paul Reed Smith, Yamaha, Suhr, Tom Anderson, Ernie Ball Music Man, Duesenberg, Music Man, Santa Cruz, Sennheiser, Shecter, Taylor, Lakland, and more.
Danville Music caters to a wide range of musicians, selling electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, ukuleles, drums, amps, and pedals. They also distinguish themselves with a rental program featuring new and used guitars, professional repair services, lessons, and in-store events. Whether you’re looking for your first guitar or a top-of-the-line model, Danville Music is an excellent choice both locally and online.
Danville Music guitar store staff
As a PRS signature dealer in Northern California, Danville Music boasts an impressive collection of Core, Private Stock, Limited Edition, and Wood Library PRS guitars. They even offer the unique opportunity to build your custom dream guitar through the PRS Private Stock Program, with expert artisans to guide you. Conveniently located for residents of Walnut Creek, Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton, Danville Music is a premier destination for guitarists.
2. Sweetwater
Sweetwater is one of the world’s largest music instrument retailers, based in the United States. While primarily an online retailer, they operate a massive physical location serving as their warehouse and operations hub. With 480,000 square feet of warehouse space, Sweetwater boasts an enormous inventory of guitars, amps, and pedals.
Sweetwater provides a vast selection, including starter bundles for budget-conscious shoppers and financing options. Brands like Squier, Epiphone, and PRS SE are readily available, along with an extensive catalog of guitar gear. For more advanced players, they stock major brands like ESP, Ibanez, Jackson, Gibson, Fender, and Martin.
A standout feature of Sweetwater is their knowledgeable customer support. Their expert advisors offer product information, specifications, configuration advice, and even remote assistance for music software, making them a reliable choice for both beginners and professionals.
3. Reverb
Reverb is the leading online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments and gear. Unlike general marketplaces, Reverb is specifically tailored for musicians, eliminating the need to sift through unrelated products.
Reverb is a treasure trove for finding high-end and unique guitars, often at competitive prices. While some listings might be for premium-priced instruments, Reverb can be an excellent platform for acquiring top-tier gear at potentially reduced prices.
A significant advantage of Reverb is the potential to find guitars that have been upgraded by previous owners with high-quality components. This can sometimes result in acquiring a customized, high-spec instrument for less than the cost of upgrading a new guitar yourself.
4. Musician’s Friend
Musician’s Friend is a well-regarded online retailer, originally a small accessories business that grew into a major online presence before being acquired by Guitar Center. Despite the acquisition, Musician’s Friend has maintained its distinct brand identity.
Musician’s Friend shares inventory with Guitar Center, providing access to a vast selection of instruments and gear. Notably, Musician’s Friend offers a “Stupid Deal of the Day,” featuring significant discounts on select items, adding an element of surprise and potential savings for shoppers.
5. zZounds
zZounds, based in Chicago, operates exclusively online and is known for competitive pricing and stocking guitars that may be sold out elsewhere. While not as large as some competitors, zZounds offers a solid selection of major brands, including Fender, Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, ESP, Jackson, and Ibanez.
zZounds aims to provide guitar enthusiasts with the right instruments and gear at the best possible prices for every level of player. From entry-level guitars to premium models like Fender Stratocasters, zZounds is a strong contender. However, customer reviews regarding their customer service are mixed, suggesting it’s wise to research recent feedback.
6. Sam Ash
Sam Ash boasts a long-standing reputation as one of the largest global guitar retailers. For those who prefer in-person shopping, Sam Ash has numerous physical stores across the United States, alongside their robust online store.
Sam Ash offers a comprehensive range of products, from beginner starter packs to high-end electric guitars, bass guitars, and other instruments. They frequently feature limited-time special offers and financing options to facilitate purchases.
With options for free shipping and in-store pickup, Sam Ash is a reliable choice when considering where to buy a guitar. Customer reviews generally highlight positive experiences, making Sam Ash a reputable retailer.
7. Guitar Center
Guitar Center is a dominant force in the US with a widespread network of physical stores. Established in 1959, Guitar Center’s longevity and extensive inventory make it a go-to destination for guitarists.
Guitar Center is a comprehensive resource for all things guitar-related. Their vast selection can be both inspiring and potentially overwhelming. Whether you’re seeking an electric guitar for live performances, vintage guitars for studio projects, or a classical guitar, Guitar Center offers a wide array of options, including guitar lessons and various deals.
Your Ideal Guitar Awaits at Danville Music
Finding where to buy a guitar at a competitive price while receiving exceptional service doesn’t have to be challenging. Danville Music combines the advantages of large retailers with the personalized touch of a local store. They offer the benefits of big-box retailers, coupled with a friendly, long-term staff dedicated to helping you find your perfect guitar. Located in the SF Bay Area with a convenient online store and free shipping, Danville Music stands out.
They provide outstanding service, including complimentary adjustments for the lifespan of your instrument, and boast top-quality instructors for lessons. If you seek a high-quality guitar and music gear from a full-service music center with extensive experience and customer-centric service, Danville Music is your next destination.
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