Considering a SERIOUS acoustic, any shops to check out?

[Mongoloid]

So I have been playing guitar for about four years now. Got all my electric gear down and happy with it. I have a Martin-hd28V, nice guitar but I find myself finger picking about 90% of the time... This is is what really lets my personality shine through in terms of playing and composing music.

 

I listen to a lot of classical guitar, but also acoustic jazz stuff like Al Di Meola (I am not that good though ).

 

I am having a hard time deciding between a Classical or an OM sized steel string. Either way I am going to need to try quite a few out before I decide.

 

I was thinking of heading down to the San Fran bay area and checking out Sonoma Music and some shops around there (dont know any but have heard there are a few.

 

I would love to check out Dream Guitars but that is on the other side of the country for me.... but who knows.

 

Any places preferably on the west coast that you guys recommend? I am looking to keep it under 4k.

 

Thanks

[Mongoloid]

oh and if anyone knows of any websites to anymore shops in the bay area please post em!

[JasmineTea]

http://www.gryphonstrings.com/index.html

 

I've never been there but it's spoken well of.

[knockwood]

Originally posted by JasmineTea http://www.gryphonstrings.com/index.html I've never been there but it's spoken well of.

 

 

Second that. Never been there either but damn, they have a sweet inventory. Also, not sure but I think the place is owned by Frank Ford, the frets.com dude.

 

These guys also have a good rep:

http://www.buffalobrosguitars.com/#javascript;

[ddlingling]

Originally posted by knockwood These guys also have a good rep: http://www.buffalobrosguitars.com/#javascript;

 

 

+10000

 

my home is in san diego, just 20 min from these guys. theyre GREAT, an incredible selection of guitars, real nice people, and they have a 100% lifetime tradeback policy, anytime you want you can go and trade back the guitar for whatever you bought it for, as long as up upgrade to a new one at least 100$ more. great policy imho, basically anything you buy will never drop in value.

[da mayor]

+1 on Gryphon in Palo Alto. This place will knock you over. And, yes, Frank Ford is one of the owners.

www.gryphonstrings.com

In S.F., I like Rocker Guitars, a relatively small (compared to the mega stores, anyway) shop that carries Martin, Gibson, Santa Cruz, Bougois, Taylor, and a few others. About 1000 new and used guitars, great people, very knowledgeable and friendly, and a comfortable place to hang out and try guitars without any of that Guitar Center annoying vibe. 1350 Howard between 9th and 10th, no website. 415-487-1755.

Also in S.F., check out Haight Ashbury Music Center. www.haight-ashbury-music.com. The usual suspects, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Tacoma, Epiphone, plus a lot of used instruments, what you will find almost anywhere, but again a fun place to visit.

Also in S.F., Guitar Solo. www.gspguitar.com. Martin, Breedlove, Santa Cruz, Lowden, Larivee, Ramirez, Takamine, and a whole lot more. Emphasis is on classical instruments, which sounds like it's right up your alley. They have two locations, if you get here, don't bother with the one on Townsend. It's a really small shop, the one on Clement is the one to go to.

Some people say the Fifth String in Berkeley is worth a visit, but I haven't been there, so don't know. 3051 Adeline, Couldn't find a website. Once a musicians mecca with a lot of vintage instruments, but my impression is that's long past. Maybe worth a visit though. 510-548-8282.

Last but not by any means least, one of the best places in the Bay Area is Eric Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon. Check out his website at www.OM28.com. Eric has his own line, plus a lot of custom models by other makers, plus Martin, Gibson, Larivee, Santa Cruz and others. If I could visit only one place in the Bay Area, it would be hard to choose between this and Gryphon.

Have fun.

[lalatingstrings]

because you like fingerpicking so much i would try something with a solid cedar top.cedar is wonderful for fingerpicking.i wont rant about why,just try it and you'll see.also koa is nice,especially in altered tunings.

[min7b5]

I'll second, or third www.gryphonstrings.com. But also, if you are think classical:www.berkeleymusic.com

[Mongoloid]

thanks for all the responses. The real dilemma I am in now is whether to go classical or OM for my fingerpicking. I would love a cedar topped OM but those are hard to find.