My local guitar shop is closing.

[Music&Chaos]

The shop that opened when I was 15 is closing it's doors next January. The owner is up there in years and has been a success for 40+ years in the industry across various locations. Went in a couple days ago and its already basically empty. Hurts my heart!

That shop is in a pretty solid location, and part of me is thinking about taking over the lease and keeping it going.

Probably would just do lessons and setup/light repair and mod as well as sell various accessories but would stay away from actually buying/selling instruments for awhile.

I think the market could sustain it. Then again, I could probably rent out a smaller place and achieve the same goal or something, I just don't want strangers coming around the house for that stuff.


Idk. A lot to think on overall. Several people asked me if I was going to 'take it over' when he announced his retirement.


The retirement party/jam is this weekend, should be fun. Will prob take my old beat up LP and try to play some regular people music for awhile.


Praying and thinking on what the best decision would be. You never know......

 

[OldGtrGuy]

Idk, if youre in it for nostalgia or keeping the store going for those types of reasons go for it.

If youre looking at it from a business standpoint and dont have a ton of extra money to lose it seems like guitar stores are not very sustainable this day and age.

 

[Rackman]

I'd think accessories are the worst part of the guitar business to be in. People want to demo a guitar or amp if possible, but have no need to check out strings, picks, or tuners in person. Those get bought on Amazon or Sweetwater.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Idk, if youre in it for nostalgia or keeping the store going for those types of reasons go for it.

If youre looking at it from a business standpoint and dont have a ton of extra money to lose it seems like guitar stores are not very sustainable this day and age.

Yeah I would have to look at it as a business standpoint for sure. My lesson book was always full to the brim with clients and there are so many people flooding in for simple setups and buying strings and such it makes me wonder....... thank you for your input.


It would shock you how many people cannot simply change strings or come in asking for one string to buy and pay you to put it on for them.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Hell, if I am just going to do lessons and setups - surely I can find a cheaper way to go about it.

Lessons can be done online - just wondering how to do the setup services w/o people coming to my home. I would feel weird just leaving my guitar at a guy's house anyway.....hm.....lot's to think about.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I'd think accessories are the worst part of the guitar business to be in. People want to demo a guitar or amp if possible, but have no need to check out strings, picks, or tuners in person. Those get bought on Amazon or Sweetwater.

Yeah prob just focus on lessons and setups primarily. Good point.

 

[blackba]

My local shop closed a few years ago in October, it sucks. They had mostly guitars and amps on consignment. The problem was they let the seller set the price and applied their markup. Problem was, people came in and thought the store had high prices, but it was just delusional consignment sellers.

I am currently supporting a local shop about 35 minutes away, got a great deal on NOS Russian 6N14N (EL84) tubes that I used on a repair.

I know it sucks when these shall shops close, feels like a part of me was closing when the one near me shut its doors. The Shop was invaluable to me in my divorce, even if I medicated with gear. Hang in there, it sucks.

 

[OldGtrGuy]

Yeah I would have to look at it as a business standpoint for sure. My lesson book was always full to the brim with clients and there are so many people flooding in for simple setups and buying strings and such it makes me wonder....... thank you for your input.


It would shock you how many people cannot simply change strings or come in asking for one string to buy and pay you to put it on for them.

If the math works then it works. For me I've just watched most smaller shops close over the years wherever ive lived. There are still a couple near me and one of them is always busy, guitars line up down the wall for repair/setup at all times so it definitely is not impossible. I just see most of them closing.

 

[BABMusic]

So sad to hear this, as I know the feeling. But at least in this situation, it sounds like it's not because of demand. People do get too old and if there's not a good person to hand it off too, it makes sense.

 

[njshred]

It’s a job, with all the downsides of entrepreneurship.

No one gets rich selling guitars these days, you can probably make more with less risk doing dozens of other things.

 

[midnightlaundry]

Mine died in the mid nineties when guitar center came to town. It was a family owned business and they lived in the house next door on site. She was up in years or at least to my young mind when it happened. They were a full service store.They sold everything. Some of my friends worked there.

 

[Fusionbear]

It’s a job, with all the downsides of entrepreneurship.

No one gets rich selling guitars these days, you can probably make more with less risk doing dozens of other things.

Yep, I was a Partner at the old Tone Merchants boutique shop here in the OC. After all the bills were paid and employees paid. My former business partner and I would average 1k a month in pay. Definitely needed another job to keep things going.

 

[mentoneman]

a cool local music store near Waikiki just announced closing at the end of the year. such a bummer.

 

[Texsunburst59]

I personally would never consider taking over a big music shop

If you’re going to do lessons and set ups and repairs M&C, I’d just find a small shop and start new.

I’d still really do the numbers to make sure it’s really worth the effort.

 

[skoora]

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[dooredge]

If you have the resources (time, money, passion) to do it, do it! Best of luck if you jump at the opportunity!

 

[SFW]

It sucks to see the mom-and-pop shops close. They simply can't compete with Guitar Center and Sweetwater. Hell, even Guitar Center is having trouble competing with Sweetwater. My repair guy converted a van to do mobile setups and work. Shows up at your house, does the work in your driveway and hands it back to you when he's done.

 

[griff10672]

if you want to stock the showcase with some pedals ..... let me know

 

[harddriver]

It sucks to see the mom-and-pop shops close. They simply can't compete with Guitar Center and Sweetwater. Hell, even Guitar Center is having trouble competing with Sweetwater. My repair guy converted a van to do mobile setups and work. Shows up at your house, does the work in your driveway and hands it back to you when he's done.

And how many times has Guitar Center filed for Bankruptcy now?

 

[rsm]

Honestly, I don't think brick & mortar are the way to go for certain products.. websites with warehouses will always have a greater inventory than a single retail location.

big box music shops have generous return policies. I buy nearly all my new guitars and keyboards from MF; working with the same sales rep for well over 10 years. She knows I want new in the factory sealed box from the warehouse. I've only returned one guitar in all these years. I do my own set-up and intonation.

I don't buy new guitars from SW because of their mandatory 55-point inspection; and now with a retail store, you may get "new" floor models with use, rust and dust. No thanks.

Physical stores might be good for beginners who are learning about care and maintenance but that's probably going to be a low margin market. Many younger players are used to buying things online, so try before you buy isn't something they expect IMO.

I'd love to have a good amp repair shop within an hour drive of my home; but not sure that's sustainable. We have a good luthier, open a few days a week, the rest he's by appointment only so he has time to actually do the work


"for the times they are a-changin'" - Bob Dylan