Guitar Stores in Washington DC

[bicktrav]

Anyone know any good stores in the DC area with a nice selection of boutique gear?

[sausagefingers]

Chuck's (Washington Music Center)

http://www.chucklevins.com/

Authorized PRS dealer, local institution.

[Cornbread]

http://www.actionguitar.com/

[FirstBassman]

Some believe that The Guitar Shop in DuPont Circle is the be-all and end-all:

http://www.theguitarshop.us/ (http://www.theguitarshop.us/)


I have never been there.

Apparently all the "good stuff" is hidden in the back room.

So they say.

[GovernorSilver]

Action Guitar in No. VA.

Crossroads Guitar, also in No. VA (http://www.crossroadsguitarshop.com/) strikes a nice balance between quality gear for working players and booteek.

Chuck Levin's is an institution, but you need to know who to talk to - the last guy I dealt with in the Pro Audio dept. was obnoxious - but the guy who sold me a bass in the guitar dept. was nice enough

Atomic Music (http://atomicmusic.com/) in MD is better known for used gear, but you might find some used booteek gear

[Jet Age Eric]

Some believe that The Guitar Shop in DuPont Circle is the be-all and end-all:

http://www.theguitarshop.us/ (http://www.theguitarshop.us/)


I have never been there.

Apparently all the "good stuff" is hidden in the back room.

So they say.

Up a flight of stairs, behind a locked gate. Have fun! :P -E

Action Guitar in No. VA.

This is pretty much IT. -E

[whitehall]

Chucks, Acton, Bills and about a 1/2 dozen GC's. None of them are remotely near each other. Atomic has 2 junk stores so throw that in. All the rest went out of business long time ago or are not worth bothering with. Do a search, this comes up quite a bit. For an area with more money than most of the country we suck for guitar stores.

[Guitar Josh]

If this was less than the 10th thread on this very subject in the past 2 years I'd be surprised.

[KidArchitect]

Big ups to Action. Nice guys in there. Nice stuff in there as well.

[Bluedawg]

Action Guitar in No. VA.

Crossroads Guitar, also in No. VA (http://www.crossroadsguitarshop.com/) strikes a nice balance between quality gear for working players and booteek.

Chuck Levin's is an institution, but you need to know who to talk to - the last guy I dealt with in the Pro Audio dept. was obnoxious - but the guy who sold me a bass in the guitar dept. was nice enough

Atomic Music (http://atomicmusic.com/) in MD is better known for used gear, but you might find some used booteek gear


Is Brian Meader still at Chuck's in the guitar department? Worth asking for if he is. Good guy to deal with.

Lot's of junk at Atomic, but treasures can be found there.

Garrett Park still looks like a good place to go if you're in the Annapolis area.

If you're in the Baltimore area Bill's music can be worth a visit and there is a nice acoustic shop just down the street (Appalachian Bluegrass).

Have fun

:banana

[mcknigs]

Lot's of junk at Atomic, but treasures can be found there.

Not a boutique kind of place. That's why I like it. :)

Garrett Park still looks like a good place to go if you're in the Annapolis area.


ISTR getting something from Garrett Park recently saying they were changing locations? Might be worth a call before going to any addresses you might find for them.

[Bluedawg]

ISTR getting something from Garrett Park recently saying they were changing locations? Might be worth a call before going to any addresses you might find for them.


Garrett Park moved every two years the last time I lived in Maryland.

:bonk

[hclapp219]

Some believe that The Guitar Shop in DuPont Circle is the be-all and end-all:

http://www.theguitarshop.us/ (http://www.theguitarshop.us/)


I have never been there.

Apparently all the "good stuff" is hidden in the back room.

So they say.

I've been in there once, and I was afraid I would be crushed by all the shipping boxes seemingly thrown about at random. I got out of there before anyone working there spoke a word to me (although I got the impression the had no plans to no matter how long I stayed).

[CharAznable]

Last time I went to the Guitar Shop I was a broke college kid and got treated as such. I sort of hustled my way into trying a vintage AC30, but I could tell they really weren't happy about it.

I wonder what it would be like now, 10 years later and a couple of tax brackets higher. Maybe I'll borrow a Rolex or something from a friend.

[Snowdog]

Is Brian Meader still at Chuck's in the guitar department? Worth asking for if he is. Good guy to deal with.

Brian is still there - and, as the Dawg said, he is a very good guy to deal with. If Brian is not there at the time, talk to Tim Fizer. Another really good guy, and an excellent bass player.

[Ben S.]

Chuck's is a great place and I have passed up too many good deals at Atomic, another great place.
The Guitar Place is special and odd. Not like your average guitar shop. They store a lot of stuff off sight and do a lot by appointment. They have one of the best acoustic guitar collections you can find, but they can be very intimidating to tire kickers -- be prepared for "What price range are you looking at?"

[cmatthes]

I work two blocks away from the Guitar Shop in DuPont Circle.

Probably one of the worst guitar shops I've ever entered, and the guys who loiter around behind the counter are total pricks.

Don't waste your time there...

[paulrocker]

Anyone remember Rolls Music?

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/432778.html

[FFTT]

Yes I remember Rolls Music!

Thieving bastards stole my '73 SVT head when they were supposed to
hold it for repairs.


This after our band had purchased $24,000. worth of PA gear through them.

It's no wonder so many musicians in the Washington D.C. area wanted him
out of business.

For a pretty darn good selection of better Fenders, you might also
check out Melody Music in Leesburg or Sterling, VA.

[Tonekat]

Anyone remember Rolls Music?

Yeah, stupid return policies, and bitter, twisted salespeople.

One time they wouldn't even let me play though a multi-effects floor pedal I was interested in! I had to just listen to the schmuck salesperson play! They deserved to go out of business.

[FirstBassman]

If this was less than the 10th thread on this very subject in the past 2 years I'd be surprised.


Yeah, I thought that too.

[dannopelli]

Action Guitar in No. VA.

Crossroads Guitar, also in No. VA (http://www.crossroadsguitarshop.com/) strikes a nice balance between quality gear for working players and booteek.

Chuck Levin's is an institution, but you need to know who to talk to - the last guy I dealt with in the Pro Audio dept. was obnoxious - but the guy who sold me a bass in the guitar dept. was nice enough

Atomic Music (http://atomicmusic.com/) in MD is better known for used gear, but you might find some used booteek gear

One thing about Chuck Levin's, (Washington Music). There is some KILLER stuff NOT on display. Talk to the guys in the guitar section a bit, and ask if there is anything else in storage.

[Jet Age Eric]

I used to work a few block from there as well, and it made me nuts to walk over during lunch and know the good stuff was out of sight. (So I stopped walking over there.) -E

I work two blocks away from the Guitar Shop in DuPont Circle.

Probably one of the worst guitar shops I've ever entered, and the guys who loiter around behind the counter are total pricks.

Don't waste your time there...

[sonicD]

Chuck Levins – I don’t know what it is about that place, but every time I go in there, 15 minutes later I can’t wait to leave.

Crossroads – I like this place, but it’s a small shop. That Plek machine takes up waaayyy too much room! I’d hate to work there and spend my whole day maneuvering around it! LOL! Great owner btw, and I think they might be the only Reverend dealer around DC.

Atomic – They’d be fine if they took half their inventory and tossed it in the dumpster where it belongs. I can’t imagine anybody, and I mean anybody, paying real cash to buy some of the junk they hang onto in there!

Action – These guys are the real deal as far as “boutique”. Worth a visit just to ogle. Oddly, I’ve never actually bought anything from them. They’ve never had what I’m looking for on any given visit. I guess eventually the stars will line up and I’ll drop some cash there, ‘cus it’s a great shop. Just hasn’t happened yet.

Melodee – Not exactly in or even near DC, but a good shop. The older Leesburg store has the better selection of boutique stuff. The Sterling store is kinda like what a GC might look like if it was family owned.

Classic Axe Guitar Gallery – also way the hell out into the ‘burbs (Gainesville). One of the few dealers I’ve ever visited that actually stocks a decent selection of Rickenbackers.

Somebody mentioned this earlier, but the point about the DC area having so few guitar shops – be thankful you don’t play drums! Not a single dedicated drum shop in this town! You have to go south to Fredericksburg or north to PA.

Rolls Music – LOL!. The late, great Rolls... Always kinda sleazy Rolls was, but I did manage to get a pretty good deal on my LP Classic Plus there back in ’92. Still have that guitar and play it at least once a week!

[mcknigs]

My friends and I mostly boycotted Rolls for reasons mentioned here.

Disagree that much of Atomic's inventory is dumpster fodder. Some of us enjoy access to the inexpensive stuff. :)

[CharAznable]

Classic Axe is less than a mile from me. If you want a Rick in NoVA, that's the place to go.

Action Music is awesome. Amazing collection of vintage amps. If you want an old Plexi, that's the place.

[FFTT]

Drums Unlimited has become one of the major back line rental providers.
not far from Chuck's in Rockville MD.
I can only guess whether they actually have a strong collection of drums available.
Haven't been over that way in decades.

There's also a mom and pop music store next to Sully's in Chantilly VA
that has a pretty good drum centric showroom.
Can't remember the name of the store.

[cottoneyedjoe]

Brian is still there - and, as the Dawg said, he is a very good guy to deal with. If Brian is not there at the time, talk to Tim Fizer. Another really good guy, and an excellent bass player.

Have purchased several guitars from Brian. Usually you have an idea of what you want, call Brian, and go. He will pull several, buy the one you like. Easy.

Great service. Good guy.

[enharmonic]

Brian is the man. Turned me on to Tele Jr's which IMO are still the coolest Tele's Fender ever made...or stopped making.