loving holy hell. i just called a pair of independent guitar shops to ask if they could place an order to get me an epiphone casino pickguard (epiphone/gibson can't ship direct). i was like, i'll go through a local, indie-owned store instead of sam ash or gutter center. support local business, y'know?

<call main drag music>
"call back in 20 minutes for joe, he just stepped out."
<call back>
"joe's not coming in today."
can you give him a message?
"naw, just call back tomorrow, i got stuff to do."

<call ludlow guitars>
hi do you have any of these used and, if not, can you order one for me?
"we don't deal with gibson, so no."
oh gosh, why's that?
"why is the sky blue? why do some stores carry gibson and some don't? why look for something that isn't there?"
ok goodbye

Of the times I've gone gear shopping in NY, 30th St. Guitars has stood out to me. Nice people, great gear, reasonable prices.

katie, a princess wrote:<call main drag music>
"call back in 20 minutes for joe, he just stepped out."
<call back>
"joe's not coming in today."
can you give him a message?
"naw, just call back tomorrow, i got stuff to do."

<call ludlow guitars>
hi do you have any of these used and, if not, can you order one for me?
"we don't deal with gibson, so no."
oh gosh, why's that?
"why is the sky blue? why do some stores carry gibson and some don't? why look for something that isn't there?"
ok goodbye

NYC guitar shops are going to be in NYC, if you get my Yogi Berra drift. Not much you can do about that.

Although Ludlow Guitars seems to be above and beyond in the cock department. My old guitar player was in the market for ES Gibson and found one there. He asked the sales guy if he could turn up to performance volume and they got into a Curb Your Enthusiasm-esque fight when the salesman refused to allow him that.

I'll add Mazzotti Music on 3rd Ave and President (maybe Carroll?) near the Gowanus in Brooklyn. Very nice and knowledgable women running that place. Maybe you should try them for the pickguard, katie, a princess.

Teacher's Pet wrote:Avoid 48th Street.

Coming to NYC and going there is like visiting Little Italy and eating at the Olive Garden. (The only cool shop on 48th Street is Rudy's Music Stop, and that's more like a museum... $$$$).

I went to 48th to see the gtr shops once, but it was because I was staying at a hotel nearby.

While I was at one of the places, they told everybody to get out, they were closing up early. I had overheard one of the dudes on the phone, so I knew it was because Green Day was coming in.

Ugh.

I was in Rudy's once and Noel Gallagher came in.

He was nice to me.

i caved, walked to guitar center. its only a couple blocks from here... i normally like matt umanov's but its a long walk from me. laziness prevails.

i should check mazzotti next time in carroll gardens, vockins, that place looks cool, run by all-women, pretty rad.

katie, a princess wrote:i should check mazzotti next time in carroll gardens, vockins, that place looks cool, run by all-women, pretty rad.

Last time I was seriously looking, Mazziotti had a beautiful-looking Guild for sale that was more or less in my price range.

I was all "I wanna go to NY and buy a Guild guitar from the no-dudes guitar shop." But I didn't.

just emailed mazziotti asking why they're an all-girls venture. if you're curious, ill post their reply if and when they do..

They (and their brother, I think) are in a band called Pio Mazzotti.

I do not like the band, but I like them.

I have to say I love Ludlow Guitars. I always go there to check out new gear and have always found them to be really friendly and helpful with figuring out hard to find pedals that I'm always looking for. I usually go there looking for specific things but I always see Gibsons, so Im not sure about the "we don't deal with gibson" line that someone mentioned.
Anyways, its my favorite guitar store.

-Paul