There are a lot of factors to consider when shopping for a guitar. Choosing the right model, finding the best prices and ensuring that you’re getting the most value for your money are all important considerations. But it’s just as important to buy your new instrument from a reputable store that offers a high-level of customer service and a wide selection of music gear, including amplifiers and pedals, to go with your guitar. This is particularly important if you’re shopping online, as there’s a not-insignificant risk that your instrument could be damaged during shipping.
The best bay area guitar store should also be able to offer a full range of repair services, including restringing, setups and adjustments. They should have a staff of expert musicians who can help you select the right equipment for your needs and who are familiar with the different types of guitars on the market. In addition, they should be able to provide a wide variety of music accessories, such as strings, picks and capos.
When looking for a good bay area guitar store, you should always check the website to see what type of products they have available. Often, large retailers will carry the same guitars and other music gear that you’d find at smaller shops, but their websites can be much easier to navigate and are more likely to have special deals and promotions. Additionally, large retailers are likely to have more reliable returns policies than smaller shops and individual sellers.
Located in San Francisco, Gryphon Stringed Instruments is one of the region’s leading sources of steel-string acoustic guitars and mandolins as well as classical and nylon string guitars. They also stock a large selection of sheet music, with an especially extensive collection of classical guitar methods, studies and folios. In addition, they have an impressive calendar of workshops, with musicians from across the Bay Area coming in to give group and private instruction on topics like improvisation and alternate tunings.
Another popular retailer is Sam Ash, which has a strong brick-and-mortar presence with multiple physical locations throughout the United States. They have an excellent reputation among guitar players and are known for their wide selection of instruments, including everything from starter packs to high-end professional models. Their return policy is 45 days, which is industry standard, and most orders over $49 qualify for free shipping.
Zzounds, which is based in Chicago, is another well-known online retailer that sells a wide range of guitars and other music gear. They’re known for their low prices, and they also have an excellent selection of brands, including Fender, Yamaha, Gibson, Ibanez, PRS and ESP. In addition to their extensive selection of guitars, Zzounds also carries a large variety of music accessories, from amps to pedals. The company was founded in 1996 and is a top-rated musical instrument store. Their customer service is excellent, and they are always willing to answer your questions. The company offers both free shipping and store pickup on all orders over $49, making them a great choice for any musician looking to save time and money.