Southern Virginia - North Carolina Guitar Stores

[pgurlea]

I thought this had been covered but I could not find enough data to keep me from asking. My son and I are taking a road trip this weekend to visit Fat Sound Guitars and Indoor Storm. I am driving from Northern, VA and I’ll pick him up in Williamsburg. What music stores for guitar and bass do you recommend we check out in Southern, VA & North Carolina?
Thanks,
Paul

[fretless]

Alpha Music in Virgina Beach. It's a big store for a "mom and pop". They've been around for over 20 years. Huge selection of the average brands, but they always carry some "booteek" lines, especially with amps. Overall their selection caters more for the seasoned player and less for the student/teenager (it aint Guitar Center). Guitar wise they always have a fair amount of Fender custom shop stuff, which is notable. Lots of Top Hat, Dr. Z, they also have the new Suhr amps. Great pedal selection as well (some booteek there as well). You should check their website as well. Very good staff who know their stuff.

[whitehall]

Yep, Alpha, and the GC a couple of miles away on the same road is really good for a GC. Say hi to Ron, the luthier there. Otherwise , there ain't squat. Oh , there's Moes Music also on Va bch blvd. But it ain't much.

[Bo Faulkner]

If you make it to Eastern NC you HAVE to check out Greenville guitars...:hide..... Legendary

[pgurlea]

Alpha Music in Virgina Beach.

Yep, Alpha, and the GC a couple of miles away

Alpha and GC. Got it thanks.
Paul

[rickmebe]

Since you'll be in the Raleigh/Durham area you might want to check out Sound Pure. They have a boutique guitar and amp showroom. You'll need to call ahead and make an appointment.

http://www.soundpure.com/index.jsp

[jazzandmetal?]

Alpha and GC. Got it thanks.
Paul

If you DO stop by GC, please say hello.:BEER

[Stike]

Since you'll be in the Raleigh/Durham area you might want to check out Sound Pure. They have a boutique guitar and amp showroom. You'll need to call ahead and make an appointment.

http://www.soundpure.com/index.jsp

That place is nice. Have them give you directions to The Federal, great place to eat.

[greggorypeccary]

You'll love Fat Sound Guitars and Indoor Storm. Two killer shops!


I need to check out Sound Pure myself!

[klatuu]

I was in fatsound a couple of weeks ago and they didn't have a lot of inventory........

[Taller]

Never thought I'd see the day when a query like this wouldn't include Audio Light and Musical in Norfolk. They used to be the shizzle, but alas how the mighty have fallen. Last time I was in there I felt ashamed for what once was.
:cry:
Yup, Alpha and GC are your best bets.

[urbanhiker]

Is Harry's Guitar Shop in Raleigh still kickin'?

[73171]

urbanhiker wrote:
Is Harry's Guitar Shop in Raleigh still kickin'?


YES! Harry's always has a nice selection of Taylors and Martins....and they usually have 3-4 James Goodalls, too. They often get clean Silverface Fender amps on consignment.


http://www.harrysguitarshop.com/



It's dangerous for my wallet..I work only 1.5 miles from Harry's !

[Mark Ray]

Big ups for Indoor Storm!

Mark

[hobbes1]

Never thought I'd see the day when a query like this wouldn't include Audio Light and Musical in Norfolk. They used to be the shizzle, but alas how the mighty have fallen. Last time I was in there I felt ashamed for what once was.
:cry:
Yup, Alpha and GC are your best bets.


yes, AL&M used to be quite good. for awhile i was thinking that they were downsizing to a new location. i know that the old location is history as there is realty sign there and no activity. not sure if they are still around here tucked in to a smaller store. if anyone knows, do tell...

edit: looks like they have also moved to VB blvd:
http://www.audiolight.com/images/ebay.jpg (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhoagie22)

PHONE...
(757) 853-2424

STORE HOURS...
MONDAY - SATURDAY: 10am - 6pm
SUNDAY: CLOSED

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION...
5957 E. Virginia Beach Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23502


they have a website up now. might be worth checkingout.

[Polynitro]

Al&M is ok (too far a drive for me, Im right near Alpha)...Alpha has a good selection (Jazzmasters, Jaguars, RWs, plenty of GIbsons) they have some great amps (VOX, Dr Z etc ) some pedals (Addrock they carry) plus all the MXR and EH pedals...They also have a used section. Guitar Center is what it is...thats pretty much it for VB

[jazzandmetal?]

Never thought I'd see the day when a query like this wouldn't include Audio Light and Musical in Norfolk. They used to be the shizzle, but alas how the mighty have fallen. Last time I was in there I felt ashamed for what once was.
:cry:
Yup, Alpha and GC are your best bets.

AL&M used to be such a great store. Andersons, Bogner...all kinds of good stuff. I really miss A&E music too. It was my second home when I was a teenager. They had a great, friendly vibe that was and still is what I think a music store should have.

[rslowr]

just NORTH of Williamsburg on rt 17, just across the bridge in Gloucester, is Winter Sound. They have a sweet acoustic room -- lots of Taylors, but other stuff as well (I bought my Martin there). A good spread of new and used amps, and always some interesting used electrics. All players' stuff. Good atmosphere too.

you could pop over there on the way to VB and Alpha.

[pgurlea]

If you DO stop by GC, please say hello.:BEER
You got it jazzandmetal dude.
Thanks,
Paul

[rybass]

If you are near Greensboro NC Don's Music and the Music Barn. Don's has a nice little collection of odds and ends including a brown face deluxe and a few second hand gems. Also Don's has there original shop in Burlington but I have never been so I can't speak for the inventory but Don's crew are some of the nicest guys, not the most knowledge but willing to let you take anything for a spin.

If you are near Concord; Mullis Music has a tremendous collection of used and vintage and is also an Orange and G&L dealer. Great guys too.

[fuzzbomb]

If you make it a little farther south check out Coleman Music in China Grove, NC. (about 30 minutes north of Charlotte.)

+1 on Mullis Music in Concord. Nice people, an ex-girlfriend bought me a Simon & Patrick acoustic from them.

[Polynitro]

AL&M used to be such a great store. Andersons, Bogner...all kinds of good stuff. I really miss A&E music too. It was my second home when I was a teenager. They had a great, friendly vibe that was and still is what I think a music store should have.

are they not there any more? Last time I went was maybe 2 years ago and I went specifically because they carry Kustom and I wanted to check out a Coupe '72, they also had a Gretsch Corvette I remember playing.

BTW why doesn't your GC carry Jazzmasters and Jaguars (avris)? And Teles You've got a Nocaster, 52RI, baja Tele and a few more but no 62RIs?

[hobbes1]

see my post above for the new address for AL&M. i was just by there this morning, to locate exactly where they are (in a small strip shopping center next to CompUSA). they were not open for business that early but they do have a place now, open 10-6pm m-sat.
(i'm not affiliated with them just have shopped there off and on for many years).

i am interested in what they are carrying these days. the stock selection, IMHO, had dropped off in quality and quantity in recent years. i hope they can figure out a good mix of stuff to carry to differentiate themselves from Alpha and GC so that they can survive. the more stores we have to choose from the better we all are, IMO.

[jazzandmetal?]

are they not there any more? Last time I went was maybe 2 years ago and I went specifically because they carry Kustom and I wanted to check out a Coupe '72, they also had a Gretsch Corvette I remember playing.

BTW why doesn't your GC carry Jazzmasters and Jaguars (avris)? And Teles You've got a Nocaster, 52RI, baja Tele and a few more but no 62RIs?

Nocaster is LONG gone. You haven't been in a while.:)

We had about 10 Jazzmasters and Jaguars when they came out. Still stock them too.

[Polynitro]

Nocaster is LONG gone. You haven't been in a while.:)

We had about 10 Jazzmasters and Jaguars when they came out. Still stock them too.

Not AVRIs..or I've never seen them...I've played that one Nocaster a bunch of times, thought it sounded good but didn't like the relicing, get a Closet Classic or NOS and I'll be all over it.

[fretless]

I visited AL&M this afternoon while out running errands. I hadn't been to their new location. In fact, I hadn't been to their old one in years, as they were fading sometime back. WOW, what a waste of time! They had 6 electric guitars, 5 acoustics, and about 10 amps. The electrics were 1 Epi Les Paul, 2 Jay Turser Strat copies, and a few of the new import Hagstroms (which were actually fairly nifty). Acoustics were all Chinese Alvarez's and Ibanez. Amps were all solid state Kustoms, except for a Traynor (20 watt tube combo) and a whipped silverface Twin Reverb that didn't have a grille (dented speaker dust caps as well) (??!!). I couldn't believe it actually. Sadly, I see no reason at all to ever return. They still have Kenny, the guitar tech, who is a great repairman though.

[jazzandmetal?]

Not AVRIs..or I've never seen them...I've played that one Nocaster a bunch of times, thought it sounded good but didn't like the relicing, get a Closet Classic or NOS and I'll be all over it.


Sorry, I just read RI. We had one AVRI for a little bit. Sold fast and we never got another. Have only seen a few used ones come through.

[Polynitro]

I visited AL&M this afternoon while out running errands. I hadn't been to their new location. In fact, I hadn't been to their old one in years, as they were fading sometime back. WOW, what a waste of time! They had 6 electric guitars, 5 acoustics, and about 10 amps. The electrics were 1 Epi Les Paul, 2 Jay Turser Strat copies, and a few of the new import Hagstroms (which were actually fairly nifty). Acoustics were all Chinese Alvarez's and Ibanez. Amps were all solid state Kustoms, except for a Traynor (20 watt tube combo) and a whipped silverface Twin Reverb that didn't have a grille (dented speaker dust caps as well) (??!!). I couldn't believe it actually. Sadly, I see no reason at all to ever return. They still have Kenny, the guitar tech, who is a great repairman though.

Damn that sucks, sounds like another 'Moe's' :messedup

Last time I went they had a bunch of Vox amps, a Fender Supersonic, a Twin, etc; Their location was kind of wack IMO, IIRC make a right off military circle and they were on the left on a service road.

[pgurlea]

Michael and I returned safely from our road trip to North Carolina. The weather was terrible. It rained Friday night and Saturday but we had a great time. The guitar I had my eye on, Vinetto Tele #6, sold by the time we got to Fat Sounds. I did get to play it and somebody scored a sweet Tele. Still they had a great selection of guitars and amps and Mike was happy to climb the ladder to pull down guitars I wanted to try and discuss tone and build.
Eddie at Indoor Storm was great. A true gentleman. Michael jammed on a Sadowsky bass while I tried out a variety of Baker, Suhr and Anderson guitars. I really dug the Suhr Tele.
For those who live in the Raleigh/Cary region NC, you are very lucky to have two great stores in your area, filled with the gear we love to talk about. Luckily Fat Sound and Indoor Storm and great internet dealers as well.
I am in no way affiliated with either store.
Take Care,
Paul