Which acoustic guitars would you like to see in a new store?

[MetalStrm]

Ok, I've posted this in the other forums but now it's time for the acoustic forum I'm opening a new music store in a few months and I'd like some feedback as to what brands of acoustic/nylon string you'd most like to see in a new shop. Dealerships for Takamine, Taylor, and Martin are already held by other shops in the area, so it won't be viable to get them. I'd also like something appealing to the low end market and something else for the mid-high market... Thanks for the help

 

PS: If you could also suggest some amps for the acoustics...

[TimZ]

Guild, Larrivee, Seagull, Alvarez. Guild has been getting good reviews in both their Tacoma products and their GAD series. Alvarez has very nice entry and mid range guitars. Larrivee and Seagull have nice instruments across the board.

 

I own two Guilds and two Seagulls, no complaints.

[guitarist21]

Larrivee (mid to high end), Epiphone Masterbilt (middle), Guild GAD (middle), and Art & Luthiere (low end) seem to be the most understocked guitars around me and they're the guitars I'd like to try most. The local shop by me stocks a few Larrivees and it has gone well for them. However I rarely see any Larri's, Epi's, or Art & Luthiere's at the local Guitar Center.

 

Crate makes some very nice acoustic amps, as well as Roland and SWR.

 

Good luck! Hope this store is a success for you!

 

Ellen

[brahmz118]

Given the Mediterranean climate in Malta, it might be nice to have some guitars that can withstand the extremes of temperature and humidity: RainSong, CA, Adamas.

[Freeman Keller]

A common complaint that I hear from folks is that there aren't enough stores with Larrivees and that is a very popular mid priced guitar with this forum. Folks here like Guilds and the Blueridge has attracted a lot of attention as an affordable Martin clone.

 

I would also suggest an even mix of traditional dreads and smaller bodied guitars. More and more folks are discovering the joys of an OM or 000 or GA. Ditto quality, but reasonable priced 12 strings - lots of renewed interest in these things.

 

As a resonator player I would love to go into a high end shop and be able to play a dozen different resonators - spiders and biscuits and tricones, roundies and squareneck. Obviously this is a smaller market, but again, there are lots of people thinking about adding one to the quiver.

 

Quality mid priced classical guitars are another sleeper - Godin, Yamaha or some of the reasonable Spanish makers. The large Latino population in my area gravitates immediately to mariachi type of instruments.

 

I'll add a couple more thoughts as an acoustic player - please take care of your stock. They should be in their own room and I like to see a hygrometer on the wall so I know the store is taking care of the environment. Ask people to take off belts before playing and keep fresh strings on everything. Make the room quiet - nothing bugs me more than some 16 year old cranking power chords on a strat while I'm trying to hear a subtle little finger picker. If somebody on your staff can play good acoustic, so much the better - I like to list to a guitar "out front" as well as from the player's perspective.

 

Have a good tech on staff who can set up both new guitars (for free) and customer's guitars to the player's requirements.

 

Do things that appeal to the acoustic player - my mom and pop store have two or three seminars each year featuring factory reps. They give away swag, change strings, and have models that you might not want to stock.

 

And good luck - competing against the box and internet stores is difficult but I believe it can be done with an interesting inventory, quiet space to play, and service service service. I'll shop there everytime.

[redhawks2]

Blueridge, Morgan Monroe, Johnso are all very good clones that deliver the tone and looks at an extremely attractive price. I personally am partial to the blueridge, any model. You won't be able to keep 'em in stock as they'll be flying out the doors as soon as you get them.

[streetknight]

+ 1 for Blueridge.

 

Breedlove Atlas series would also be a choice.

[CorkyII]

Definitely Larrivee.

[ESL94]

 

Guild, Larrivee, Seagull, Alvarez. Guild has been getting good reviews in both their Tacoma products and their GAD series. Alvarez has very nice entry and mid range guitars. Larrivee and Seagull have nice instruments across the board. I own two Guilds and two Seagulls, no complaints.

 

 

 

Larrivee's - are great to play & hard to put down - can't go wrong w/the L series (L-09 & OM-05 on my wish list)

 

Seagull's - great price point on S series, even when you go to their higher end models. Have never been disapointed with any of my S & M series models.

 

Guild - GAD series - lots of bag for you buck. Solid spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, mahogany neck, wood binding and special pearl inlay. (GAD 30 on my wish list too)

 

Alvarez - very playable guitar from their low series to high end Yairi's. My Yairi has great tone, playing @ home or playing @ a gig

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

"Good Luck" with your store!

[Hudman]

Yamaha, Fender and Washburn are great. You should be able to get electric and acoustic guitars from all three companies. Those are the three companies I would start with if I owned a store.

 

Yamaha makes nice entry level guitars all the way up to professional level guitars. Washburn is very similar. Fender acoustics are starting to get more respect. They make decent, inexpensive acoustics. I would mainly want them for their electric guitars.

 

Fender and Crate amps are great.

[MetalStrm]

Given the Mediterranean climate in Malta, it might be nice to have some guitars that can withstand the extremes of temperature and humidity: RainSong, CA, Adamas.

 

F'in right! It is mighty humid here. Feels sticky all the time. Where you from?

 

I'll add a couple more thoughts as an acoustic player - please take care of your stock. They should be in their own room and I like to see a hygrometer on the wall so I know the store is taking care of the environment. Ask people to take off belts before playing and keep fresh strings on everything. Make the room quiet - nothing bugs me more than some 16 year old cranking power chords on a strat while I'm trying to hear a subtle little finger picker. If somebody on your staff can play good acoustic, so much the better - I like to list to a guitar "out front" as well as from the player's perspective. Have a good tech on staff who can set up both new guitars (for free) and customer's guitars to the player's requirements. Do things that appeal to the acoustic player - my mom and pop store have two or three seminars each year featuring factory reps. They give away swag, change strings, and have models that you might not want to stock. And good luck - competing against the box and internet stores is difficult but I believe it can be done with an interesting inventory, quiet space to play, and service service service. I'll shop there everytime.

 

Thanks Freeman, great tips . I have the advantage that my country is an island, so anyone buying items off the internet will have to pay some heavy shipping fees. I think I should be able to offer very competitive prices, especially considering that there are no GC-like stores around here. The market is not huge definitely, but the competition is even smaller, and guitars sell quite well around here.

 

I'll be looking at Larrivee and Blueridge. What do you folks think of Lakewood?

[Etienne Rambert]

Seagulls, Guilds, Yamaha and Dean.

 

I think Dean Guitars - notwithstanding the terrible electronics, can be set up to be really impressive guitars. I've been impressed with my son's Exotica. The Exotica series is now offering solid hardwood guitars. Back, top and sides on Exotica models come in Black Walnut, Flamed Maple, Koa, Quilted Ash.

 

 

 

 

Yamaha makes some really fine nylon string guitars. I have an APX6Na that is wonderful.

 

Don't forget the used market. I think there may be more profit margin in used guitars than in new guitars. I'd sure like to get one of those solid Mahogany Martins. That's the only Martin I've ever liked well enough to buy.

[MBWendel]

Huss&Dalton, James Goodall, Collings.

[guitarcapo]

There might be some sense in going high end. You really can't compete with the big music stores in that 800 dollar acoustic market. I've heard that there's less mark up in acoustics too. Bottom line is I wouldn't sell anything that you can get easily mail order, ebay, or from a big concrete box musi store like Guitar Center.

My favorite lower end acoustics are those Epiphone Masterbuilts.

But yea, Goodall, Collings, Santa Cruz, Lowden..those guitars might draw in some people.

[jerime]

Walden.

[drnihili]

 

Walden.

 

 

+1

[guit30]

Blue Ridge

Walden

Alvarez

Morgan Monroe

Johnson

_All good afforadable stuff

[Treborklow]

Blueridge. I never see them in this neck of the woods.

[WaveRay]

I couldn't know how it might play in Malta, but I really like a guitar store that has, among many of the guitars listed already, a fine selection of used Martins, SCGC, Collings, H&D and the lot. There are lots of players that would opt for a used great guitar rather than a new good guitar. I don't know, however, how easy it would be to compile a stock.

 

Good luck with the store.

Let us know how it's going.

 

ray

[Jon Hiller]

Lots of good advice here already, especially with the higher end stuff, so I'll concentrate on entry to mid level stuff.

 

As a dealer, I can tell you that you'll make money with Samick. Their 4 and 5 series are pretty darn nice for the money, and their minimum advertised price policy is very mom and pop friendly. You can discount a bit below it and still make money, so beating any mail order stores that might have it is easy without breaking your wallet. AND, Samick has a 100% satisfaction guarantee to the dealer, if you're not happy with something they will make it right. For customer service, they're the best company I've ever dealt with in going on 15 years in business.

 

I would also add a +1 for Walden. I borrowed one from a local rep for a week a little while back, and that WILL be the next acoustic line I will add. The one I borrowed was the least expensive model in their line, and I was very, very impressed with it for the money, great bang for the buck.

 

Also, the Blueridge stuff is very nice, and their parent company, Saga, has a lot of nice product besides the Blueridge guitars. You can use them for Kentucky Mandolins, a wide variety of cases and gig bags, and they even have concertinas and Bodhran drums, as well as classical guitars and string (orchestral) instruments.

 

Make sure you put a heavy emphasis on service and you'll do fine. I set up all new guitars I sell to customers for free, and I do lifetime adjustment on trussrod and action for those customers as well. As long as they have the guitar they bought from me I will do that service. All the small things you do are what will both keep your customers and win you new ones when your customers' friends brag on your service.

[MattSkibaIsGOD]

 

Yamaha, Fender and Washburn are great. You should be able to get electric and acoustic guitars from all three companies. Those are the three companies I would start with if I owned a store. Yamaha makes nice entry level guitars all the way up to professional level guitars. Washburn is very similar. Fender acoustics are starting to get more respect. They make decent, inexpensive acoustics. I would mainly want them for their electric guitars. Fender and Crate amps are great .

 

 

you trying to help this guy or sink him?

 

I would love a store that carried Blueridge, Morgan Monroe, Larivee and Stonebridge.

[Tony Burns]

Im not sure about your location and whats the price range your customers could pay - If your starting this in your home and its not your primary source of income you could get a few mid range with mostly upper end stuff , in other words build on a good reputation for only selling quality - This might be Larrivee, Taylor , Collings etc. If your going to fed yourself and your family plus having the added exspense of renting a store front , you have to carry mostly low to mid range with one or two upper end stuff - which means you have to turn a profit , but a lower amount per sale , but make it up on volume - ex, make 25 to 50 per instrument . Plus carry alot of assorted goodies , picks , strings ( many different brands ) , straps , cases , amps ,stands, music etc. that a upper end store might not be as involved in .

[jconway]

For amps, I'd suggest Crate, Marshall, and Fender.

[Bernie P.]

Fender-great elec gits/bass's.Always sell so long as price is competitive.

Yamaha-you name it they make good ones.

Larrivee-growing in popularity and dealers are few and far between so you should have those looking to buy to yourself.

Epiphone-decent to excellent at very reasonable prices.

Washburn-not sure how well they sell but I've been very impressed with those I've tried.

FWIW-I would rather see a wide selection of models from fewer brands than a few models from many brands.They never seem to have the ones I'm looking for in stock .

[simplygoodmusic]

Get some of the newly hyped chinese solid woods- Guild GAD, Epiphone Masterbilt or Blueridge- and some larrivees (seem to be hyped a lot), as well as at least one or two "high end" acoustic, such as collings or santa cruz, and you'll be just about fine.