Fredericksburg/DC Guitar shops?

[japetus]

I am going to be in Fredericksburg next month for a couple weeks, and I was looking for some advice on guitar shops...especially used/vintage shops. Don't care too much about high end only shops. Any other good advice for things to do around that area other than the regular touristy stuff? I am into brewing and craft beer as well.

 

[romanianreaper]

Hey man, I used to live in D.C. Head up to Chuck Levin's guitar shop which is north of the city. They have some great amps and guitars. I say that but haven't been there in about 15 years. LOL! Still should rock though. I used to get stuff from Melodee Music in Sterling, since I lived in Reston, VA.

There used to be a pretty cool pub in Alexandria, just south of the city. I just pulled up Google Maps and looks like there are a bunch of breweries around Fredericksburg. Man, I haven't been out in that area for so long.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

+1 on Chuck Levins
Several GCs in the surrounding area... some good, some bad.

 

[itsme]

Sadly, Chuck Levins isn't what it used to be. 10-15 yrs ago, they had everything: Andersons, PRS, Diezel, H&K, Bogner, etc... It was mind blowing. You could spend a day there. I went back two yrs ago and was severely disappointed. No high end guitars and just low end Marshalls, Blackstars, and such. Waste of a long drive. I guess online shopping took its toll

 

[japetus]

Sadly, Chuck Levins isn't what it used to be. 10-15 yrs ago, they had everything: Andersons, PRS, Diezel, H&K, Bogner, etc... It was mind blowing. You could spend a day there. I went back two yrs ago and was severely disappointed. No high end guitars and just low end Marshalls, Blackstars, and such. Waste of a long drive. I guess online shopping took its toll

Do they have used stuff though? I am not really looking for high end stuff.

 

[itsme]

There was some used stuff. Unfortunately their website sucks and doesn't show their current inventory. If you're real close, it's worth a pop in, otherwise I'd call or email about what they have

 

[Rick Lee]

Action Music in Falls Church or Arlington is what you're looking for. And Atomic Music in College Park was pretty good about 15 years ago, but that's the last time I was there. The Rockville GC can be great. It used to be Veneman's, which really was great.

 

[errrrrl]

Sadly, Chuck Levins isn't what it used to be. 10-15 yrs ago, they had everything: Andersons, PRS, Diezel, H&K, Bogner, etc... It was mind blowing. You could spend a day there. I went back two yrs ago and was severely disappointed. No high end guitars and just low end Marshalls, Blackstars, and such. Waste of a long drive. I guess online shopping took its toll

The last time I went to Chuck Levins was in 1985 and they were the shit back then. Sad to hear they are not doing so good.

 

[BSRIAudio]

All the recommendations in this thread are ~2 hour drives from Fredericksburg so keep that in mind before setting out for any of them. If you want the unique experience you don't really find elsewhere then Atomic Music in Beltsville can be worth that drive if you have time to kill.

Fredericksburg has a GC and a handful of other music stores as well as a bunch of pawn shops. If I were you I would make the rounds to those and then peruse Craigslist to see if there is anything cool within an hour or so.

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

I live in Fredericksburg and highly recommend you pay a visit to Picker's Supply in downtown Fredericksburg on Caroline Street: https://www.pickerssupply.com/

Walking into the back room is like walking in a museum of acoustic guitars. Their stuff is amazing!

 

[japetus]

Just a bump, gonna be in town from the 13th to the 24th. If anyone wants to jam/have a beer/whatever let me know. I am a decent enough drummer (nobody needs another guitar player in their life) but down to jam some amps or whatever!