My favorite music stores

As a public service, this is about a handful of music stores I think it would be worth your while to check out. Remember that I live in central New Hampshire, so all the stores are in that general area. Also remember that I am a guitar player, so the list leans heavily to that end of things.



Also, you should know that I'm not a big fan of big music stores. Although from time to time I do business in them, I never really feel at home in them. It's rare to find one that really knows a lot about everything they have in stock. If you want an electric guitar, you'd better want a Strat or a Les Paul or nobody's going to be able to answer your questions. On the other hand, a good small store with a few product lines can usually give you intelligent answers about everything in the store.



These are laid out in roughly geographic order, from South to North. No other ranking should be implied.



WORKING CLASS MUSIC, Tilton, NH.

Link: http://www.workingclassmusic.com/



This is where just about all of my PA gear has come from for the last ten years. Greg is the owner, and he's a good guy. A little terse sometimes, but straightforward and honest. You may not like everything he says, but you can take it to the bank. Working Class is a long-time Peavey dealer, and if I had to buy anything musical on name alone, I'd lean heavily to Peavey. Their stuff always sounds at least pretty good, and often damn good, and it's tough as nails. Greg's also got a good selection of reasonably priced guitars, which often includes some real gems. He always seems to have a couple of inexpensive Stratocasters I wish I could buy.



They actually have a website again, although Greg's never relied much on the internet for his business. He's notoriously bad about answering his emails, so call him on the phone. He's also got a selection of hand-made jewelry.



VINTAGE FRET SHOP, Ashland, NH

Link: http://www.vintagefret.com/



Dave Coburn is a figure of almost mythic proportions to the local music community. To be sure, some people are disdainful of VFS and Dave. In part, because he's not afraid to ask what he really thinks a piece is worth, and then let it hang there until he gets his price. But also, because he sets the standard for small music stores in New Hampshire. Everybody at some time or another bends the knee to Dave. He's done it all, and still stands head and shoulders above the rest. Most of the proprietors on this list think of Dave as a friend, and even a mentor.



The famous profile of Dave that is the icon of the store shows him with the long beard that he actually hasn't worn in years. I've known him, and shopped with him, since before he could grow it. His store on Riverside Drive in Ashland is a treasure trove of fine fretted instruments, although if you're on a budget he's got something for you as well. His long suit is acoustic guitars, and VFS sells both Martin and Taylor flattops. He's also a Fender dealer, and there's always a bunch of lust-worthy electrics hanging on the walls.



They've also got a world-class repair facility. Yes, Scott thinks everything he touches becomes worth its weight in gold, but he gets away with it because he's very, very good at what he does. I've learned over the years to only ask once what a repair will cost, because every time you ask, the price goes up. You can trust, however, that if you put your precious axe in their hands it will be treated right.

DAVE ALLBEE, Main Street, North Haverhill, NH
Phone: 603-787-6196

Dave doesn't have a website that I'm aware of. I don't even know if he's got an email address. What he does have is magic hands. He is my repair guy of choice. I'm also proud to be able to call him my friend. Even if I have nothing to fix, I try and make it a point to stop by and swap stories with him from time to time.

The biggest thing I ever threw at him was my Guild dreadnaught. It's a 1969 D44 with pearwood back and sides, and it got rather unceremoniously dropped on its heel a number of years ago. Half a dozen good repair people had me convinced that I'd never play it again. One said they'd use the neck and put on another top, back, and sides. Another said they could fix it, but it would cost $1500. Everybody else said simply not to bother.

When Dave saw it, he looked it all over real good. Then, he described step by step how he would fix it. When he'd finished, he quoted me a price of $200. I left it with him. A month later, I picked it up. That was three years ago, and I'm still playing it. The man's a genius, I tell ya. I saw him take an Epiphone ES335 copy with a badly warped neck and straighten it out. I don't care what it is you need fixed, you owe it to yourself to at least let Dave take a look at it.

He also buys and sells various used instruments. He's got a nice selection of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, fiddles, and you can even get the standard accessories there; strings, picks, tuners, cables, etc. He works out of his house, so it's pretty casual. You catch him at home and he's open. His place is just north of the N. Haverhill town building on main street. When you stop in, tell him I said hi.

NORTHERN LIGHTS, Littleton, NH
Link: http://www.northernlightsmusic.com/

Dan Soloman's the principal dude here. Brilliant musician, and a super nice guy. He built this place up from a hole in the wall with his own instruments into one of the North country's premier music shops. He's got a big acoustic guitar room, stocked with shiny new Taylors. The main part of the store has two walls full of a variety of electrics. But the room that knocks me out is the electric room, stuffed to the gunnalls with the best that Fender, Gretsch, etc. have to offer, and lined with shiny new amps.

He's also got keyboards, effects, sheet music, damn, the place has everything. And he's even reasonably priced! Recently, a friend of mine was interested in purchasing a hollow-body electric guitar. We went to a big-name store in the Southern part of the state, found what he wanted, and got the salesman down to his rock-bottom price. They were just about to close the deal, and I pulled my friend aside. I told him that Dan had the identical guitar hanging on his wall for fifty bucks less. The salesman scoffed.

Buddy, if you're reading this, I wasn't kidding, and you blew a sale. Bob loves his new Gretsch, and he really loves the deal Dan gave him. Tempus fugit.

FRIENDLY RIVER MUSIC, Cornish, ME.
Link: http://www.friendlyrivermusic.com/index.htm

I'm tempted to name this place my new favorite, even though I've only been there once. I was absolutely flabbergasted by the selection of guitars and amps this place had. And, it's all housed in a barn attached to a house on a side street near the river in Cornish, Maine. If not for the classy hand-carved sign in the front yard, you'd never know it was there. A hidden treasure, to be sure.

Let's start with the wall full of classic Fenders, Gretschs, Gibsons, Martins, Taylors, and anything else your pit-pattering heart can imagine. On top of that he also sells new Fenders and Taylors. Then, we go to the amps. Fender, Rivera, and Orange amps dominate the floor, including a really sweet collection of old Champs. Yes, he's got some inexpensive stuff, but he's a firm believer in quality. We talked for an hour about amp cabinets, and why he likes real plywood over particle board. "Would you make a solidbody guitar out of particle board?"

From the lakes region of New Hampshire, take US rt. 25 to Maine, stay on 25, and when you get to Cornish keep an eye out for a nondescript sign on the left directing you down a side street. Hint for first-time visitors: Ask to see the Hunt Tele. You won't believe your eyes, or your fingers. And, be sure you check the hours before you go. He's got a day job, and if you get there in the early afternoon you're out of luck.

GREEN MOUNTAIN GUITARS, Bradford, VT
Link: http://www.greenmountainguitars.com/

This is not a music store, but Glen DeRusha makes the best acoustic guitars I've ever played, so I'm giving him a shout-out. His workshop is in his garage. Open his website and you'll immediately hear one of his guitars. He builds them one at a time, and he seems determined to price his guitars below those of every other boutique luthier in the world. It's a case of getting way more than you pay for. You owe it to yourself to go to his house, accept his gracious hospitality, and bless your fingers with one of his git-fiddles. You'll never forget it. For myself, I've been talking to him about building me a 12-string.

'Nuff for now. Keep on rockin'.