NYC Guitar Shops?

oldangelmidnight · Post by **oldangelmidnight** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:04 pm

I'm going to have some free time in New York around Thanksgiving. Does anyone know any interesting guitar shops? Or record shops? Or anything else worth checking out?
We have family in Chelsea so I end up there a couple of times a year, usually with some idle time.

Chankgeez · Post by **Chankgeez** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:07 pm

Do you actually potentially wanna buy something or do you just wanna look around?

DRodriguez · Post by **DRodriguez** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:10 pm

For looking Rudy's used to be the best. Smaller shop, but not a bad piece of gear in the shop. They used to be right by the studios too, but they moved moved. Good thing for my paycheck because I'd always end up there on payday.

Records, Rough trade is cool, but only when there is a show. I tend to like finding the smaller junky shops. I can feel less pretentious in them. There's one in Greenpoint, I think it was Record Grouch, I was nerding out in because they had a bunch of old stereo test records and interesting things like that. Old sound effects libraries on vinyl.

smallsnd/bigsnd · Post by **smallsnd/bigsnd** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:54 pm

oldangelmidnight wrote:I'm going to have some free time in New York around Thanksgiving. Does anyone know any interesting guitar shops? Or record shops? Or anything else worth checking out?
We have family in Chelsea so I end up there a couple of times a year, usually with some idle time.

main drag music for gear, rough trade and captured tracks for records and stuff.
when you going to be there?

oldangelmidnight · Post by **oldangelmidnight** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 10:52 pm

Thanks so far.

Chankgeez wrote:Do you actually potentially wanna buy something or do you just wanna look around?

Probably just look around.

smallsnd/bigsnd wrote:when you going to be there?

Maybe Friday afternoon; most likely Saturday; maybe Sunday.

Chankgeez · Post by **Chankgeez** » Sat Nov 21, 2015 11:24 pm

oldangelmidnight wrote: Probably just look around.

In that case, go to Ludlow Guitars. That's where I go to look around. Would never buy anything from them though.

Rivington Guitars always has lots of interesting guitars.

I like Matt Umanov, but that's probably just nostalgia. They haven't had such a great selection the past few times I've been there. So, you can probably skip it if you don't have much time. They do have some fine high-end instruments there though.

Carmine Street Guitars is also worthy of a stop in.

casecandy · Post by **casecandy** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:00 am

Or anything else worth checking out?

I dig Image Anime. If you're into collecting action figures or any anime/manga shit, it's a great little shop. Maybe not worth a detour or anything, but if you're in Midtown it's a cool place. Right across the street is a neat little vintage guitar shop... no clue what the name is, they make their own guitars too

Bowery Ballroom is a great concert venue, if you're there when anyone's playing

HorseyBoy · Post by **HorseyBoy** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 4:49 pm

I'm going to cut and paste and edit an answer I posted at OSG to the same question. I was in NYC in October so my recommendations are at least up to date.
If you can get out to Brooklyn (F train will do it, get off at Carroll), go to Retrofret. It's a little out of the way but it was my favourite store by a huge margin. In fact it's one of the best guitar stores I've ever been to, anywhere in the world. Why? Because the staff are fantastic and not only do they not mind if you play any of the fabulous collection of guitars they have, they encourage you to do so. Pick a guitar you like, pick an amp, knock yourself out. They love guitars, they love talking about them and their prices are pretty much bang on. They charge what the guitars are worth and if you're not looking for a "holy grail" guitar, there's some great value there. And if you just want to look, they'll let you look all day,
So yeah, if you can only go to one shop, make it Retrofret. Southside and Main Drag in Williamsburg have some nice stuff and are worth a look, but I'd probably head to the lower east side first and do Rivington Guitars (nice stuff, crazy prices), Ludlow Guitars (good stuff, good guys) and another store I really liked, TR Crandall Guitars. They're all within easy walking distance. TR Crandall (http://www.trcrandall.com) would be my pick of all the Manhattan stores. It's like a smaller version of Retrofret - really nice guitars, great staff, and the guitars aren't overpriced. Really worth a look.
Like Chank, I like Matt Umanov in the Village, too. Probably for the same reason he does: nostalgia. But I didn't get there this time around so can't say whether it's worth a look or not.
And for records, try Other Music (othermusic.com).

Chankgeez · Post by **Chankgeez** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 5:20 pm

Good suggestions, Horsey. Totally forgot about Retrofret. Don't think I've ever been to TR Crandall. (I think most NYC guitar shops have cray prices.)

Other Music is a great record shop.

HorseyBoy · Post by **HorseyBoy** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 6:47 pm

^ You'd dig TR Crandall, Chank. Head in next time you're in NYC. It's very close to Rivington and Ludlow. I spent about 40 minutes in there playing a 1961 Carvin SGB and chatting away. Good gear, good dudes.

Chankgeez · Post by **Chankgeez** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 6:53 pm

Nice, thank you, I'll check it out.

Now, oldangelmidnight's got lots to do.

oldangelmidnight · Post by **oldangelmidnight** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:15 pm

Chankgeez wrote:Now, oldangelmidnight's got lots to do.

Seriously, these are great. Thanks.

K2000 · Post by **K2000** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:03 pm

Links below:

I didn't like Rough Trade for records (huge, under-lit space with relatively little merchandise) but if you're going there (Williamsburg) then check out Earwax, just a block away from Rough Trade. It's a tiny record store with choice stock. Elsewhere in Bushwick is Heaven Street records, another tiny shop with a fairly specific selection.

I haven't been there for ages, but 30th Street Guitars was a fun place to browse (Manhattan). (Oh, they moved! Not on 30th street any more). I also like and recommend Main Drag in Williamsburg (home base of Schumann effects, back in the day).

Hard to find good deals on gear here, so plan on mostly browsing.

If you want to go out for a drink, Saint Vitus bar and The Acheron (Anchored Inn) are legitimately good places for metal and punk. Check if there are any shows you're interested in. (Brooklyn). Anchored Inn has good hamburgers, and both have good beer.

If you're interested in modular gear, maybe check out Control (I've never been there, I'm just reporting).

http://www.earwaxrecords.net
http://www.30thstreetguitars.com
http://maindragmusic.com
http://www.saintvitusbar.com
http://theanchoredinn.com
http://www.ctrl-mod.com

Chankgeez · Post by **Chankgeez** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:15 pm

Well, if you're gonna be going to Brooklyn, go to Academy Records. They used to be in Williamsburg and now they're in Greenpoint. I could spend all day in there.

casecandy · Post by **casecandy** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:29 am

K2000 wrote:I haven't been there for ages, but 30th Street Guitars was a fun place to browse (Manhattan). (Oh, they moved! Not on 30th street any more). I also like and recommend Main Drag in Williamsburg (home base of Schumann effects, back in the day).

HEY! THESE ARE THE GUYS RIGHT ACROSS FROM IMAGE ANIME! They moved? Google Maps doesn't indicate this...?

ilovefuzz.com

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