Your FLGS (Favorite Local Guitar Shop)

[jmg257]

Alto Music in Wappingers Falls, NY (& Middletown, NY).

[Scriptor]

And a third for Harry's Guitar Shop in Raleigh, NC as my favorite local shop ... my second favorite in the Raleigh area, is Fat Sound Guitars, officially in Cary, NC ... Harry's will have a better selection of acoustic instruments.  Fat Sound specializes in electrics, amps and accessories.  However, a few things to note:  1) They usually have some nice BTO Taylor's, high end Martin's, and others.  2) They try to emphasize "made in the USA".  3) The staff is knowledgable and helpful.  4) Competitive Prices 5) One of the best repair guys in the business for both acoustic and electric.

[Giraku]

Thanks again folks for all of your inputs!

Here is the summary so far:

Ken Stanton Music, Atlanta, GA
The Player's Bench, Crystal Lake, IL
Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center, Wheaton, MD
Elderly Instruments, Lansing, MI
Guitar Rodeo, MN
The Podium, MN
Legacy Music, Lees Summit, MO
Fat Sound Guitars, Cary, NC
Harry's Guitar Shop, Raleigh, NC
Alto Music, Wappingers Falls, NY
Uptown Music, Keizer, OR
Empire Music, Pittsburgh, PA
Pianos N Stuff, Pittsburgh, PA
Martin Music, Memphis, TN
Dusty Strings, Seattle, WA
Dave's, LaCrosse, WI

The 12th Fret, Toronto, Canada

Total 17 FLGSs.
But I know there are more.
My goal is to have at least one listed for each state.
And again, outside US members, don't be shy and post your FLGS here, please.

Thanks!

[not darth]

Another vote for The Podium! 
And, I've not been, but I've heard that Willie's American Guitars in St.Paul, MN is excellent, as well.

-K

[Snydermerge]

Grapevine Guitar Works in Grapevine, TX right by DFW airport.

[AndyFrank]

LA Guitar Sales and McCabe's are my two favorites local shops.

McCabe's (www.mccabes.com) is a local institution located in Santa Monica California a mile or so from the beach. I've been shopping there for over three decades and have never had a bad visit. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and they always have a good selection of acoustic guitars on hand. In addition to sales they offer lessons, guitar rentals, and put on shows most weekends. (check their website for the schedule) McCabe's was the first Taylor dealer BTW. Their shop is not to be missed if you are in LA and if you tell em Andy sent you you'll get a free cup of coffee. 

LA Guitar Sales (www.laguitarsales.com) is more of a boutique operation located in the penthouse of the old Bing Crosby building at the west end of the Sunset Strip a block from the Beverly Hills border. (the view from their penthouse is spectacular btw) The showroom is always packed with hundreds of high end acoustics, in fact there is not another store in LA with as many high end Taylors and Martins on the wall. The owners/operators Ted and Helene are gracious and extremely knowledgeable hosts who are never pushy, any trip to LA should also include a visit to their store.

[michaelw]

here's are a few more that i've heard mentioned & if i were in their 'neck-of-the-woods',
or just passing through, i'd definitely make the effort to stop at any (& or) all of them
(listed in alphabetical order of city & state -  some duplication, as city was added)

Gryphon Stringed Instruments Palo Alto, CA
Guitar Trader / Music Power San Diego, CA
Rick's Guitar Shop San Diego, CA
Guitar Showcase San Jose, CA
Wildwood Guitars Louisville, CO
My Favorite Guitars Naples, FL
Maple Street Guitars Atlanta, GA
Scotty's Music Kalaheo, HI
Tobias Music Downer's Grove, IL
Wilcutt Guitars Lexington, KY
Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe Catonsville, MD
Guitar Rodeo Minneapolis, MN
The Podium Minneapolis, MN
Fazio's Frets & Friends St. Louis, MO
Magnolia Music Center Gulfport & Ocean Springs, MS
Holloway's Music Center Monroe, NC
Wildwood Music Coshocton, OH
The Drinking Gourd Dayton, OH
Cintioli Music Philadelphia, PA
Woody's Music Rock Hill, SC
Gruhn Guitars Nashville, TN
Melodee Music Leesburg & Sterling, VA

hmm ...  how 'bout a UTGF FLGS 'Tour' 
now, that'd be somethin

[mgap]

Spotlight Music- Ft. Collins Co.
Well, never mind.  Spotlight is no longer a Taylor dealer

They have nightly jams at 6:00pm, BluesGrass, jazz, Blues, Acoustic night, and open jams.
so anytime you go something is a happening.

The staff is great and eager to help, buying there is always a pleasure.

[Gutch]

Forgot about Fazio's. Great store and really knowledgeable and friendly staff. Bryan is a great asset to their team. I try to stop by at least a couple times a year to see what's on the walls...

[Steely Glen]

As a resident of Las Vegas, I'm sad to say that there isn't a decent acoustic shop in this town.  Maybe it's the lack of humidity?  One has to drive to LA or San Diego to see the good stuff....

[flaggerphil]

When I lived in St Louis it was Fazio's Frets and Friends and Music Folk.  I haven't found a favorite here on the Space Coast yet.

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

I'll second Chuck Levin's and Melodee Music (in latest issue of W&S).

I got my 516 from Chuck's and Bill in the acoustic room is fantastic in my book.  They guys at Melodee are top notch as well, Chris is usually the one I talk with there.

Wanted to add The Music Villa in Bozeman,MT and Mountain Music in Hamilton, MT.  Music Villa has a fantastic selection of Taylor's, Martin's, and of course Gibson's (since the acoustic plant is right down the road) and last time I was there I got to see "the ROOM".  All I can say is WOW!!!!!!

Mountain Music is a small store that is trying to get some Taylor guitars.  A young couple owns it and it's where I picked up my Terz guitar last month.

[Giraku]

It's about another summary time!
I combined Michael's list together (thanks, Michael!) and marked the shops that got recommendations from multiple members with asterisk:

Gryphon Stringed Instruments, Palo Alto, CA
Guitar Trader / Music Power, San Diego, CA
Rick's Guitar Shop, San Diego, CA
Guitar Showcase, San Jose, CA
McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA
LA Guitar Sales, West Hollywood, CA
Spotlight Music, Ft. Collins, CO
Wildwood Guitars, Louisville, CO
My Favorite Guitars, Naples, FL
Maple Street Guitars, Atlanta, GA
Ken Stanton Music, Atlanta, GA
Scotty's Music, Kalaheo, HI
The Player's Bench, Crystal Lake, IL
Tobias Music, Downer's Grove, IL
Wilcutt Guitars, Lexington, KY
Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe, Catonsville, MD
Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center, Wheaton, MD*
Elderly Instruments, Lansing, MI
Guitar Rodeo, Minneapolis, MN
The Podium, Minneapolis, MN*
Willie's American Guitars, St.Paul, MN
Music Villa, Bozeman, MT
Legacy Music, Lees Summit, MO
Fazio's Frets & Friends, St. Louis, MO*
Music Folk, St. Louis, MO
Magnolia Music Center, Gulfport & Ocean Springs, MS
Fat Sound Guitars, Cary, NC
Holloway's Music Center, Monroe, NC
Harry's Guitar Shop, Raleigh, NC*
Alto Music, Wappingers Falls, NY
Wildwood Music, Coshocton, OH
The Drinking Gourd, Dayton, OH
Uptown Music, Keizer, OR
Cintioli Music, Philadelphia, PA
Empire Music, Pittsburgh, PA
Pianos N Stuff, Pittsburgh, PA
Woody's Music, Rock Hill, SC
Martin Music, Memphis, TN
Gruhn Guitars, Nashville, TN
Grapevine Guitar Works, Grapevine, TX
Melodee Music, Leesburg & Sterling, VA*
Dusty Strings, Seattle, WA
Dave's, LaCrosse, WI

The 12th Fret, Toronto, Canada

Total 44 FLGSs.
Thank you folks. Hope we get more!

[djl1]

Edinburgh, Scotland!


GuitarGuitar  I bought my last guitar here (Taylor 414ce) - very knowledgeable staff who tend to leave you on your own to play as many guitars as you want.  Also do next day delivery for out of stock items (if in any of their other shops). Sound booth, good selection of acoustics particularly Taylor, Martin and Freshman.  Great guitar tech who did a wonderful setup on my Taylor.
Scayles Great independent music shop with a wonderful selection of folk instruments - leaning more to acoustic/traditional instruments than electric.
Reddog Music Music shop in Edinburgh's historic Grassmarket.  Huge selection of acoustic, electric, bass, drums, keyboards, amps and everything and anything else you need. Staff a bit "Hey Dude" if you know what I mean, but helpful enough.

[asahi]

Martin Music in Memphis TN. Eric Martin and his store are featured in the latest issue of W&S:

http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/

i remember doing a double take when i saw martin's selling taylor's in the last issue.  definitely brought a chuckle to me.