Best Musical Instrument Store

Even the most hip and independent musicians shop here sooner or later. Some never admit it. Some go to their favorite local store, get a price and then head off to the "musicians planet" to make their purchase. Why? It's the unmistakable force of gravity — created by cheaper prices and huge volume. It's Wal-Mart for rock stars. The hipsters slide in and slide out and hope nobody recognizes them, until their cover is blown when they realize that the salesman was the drummer in their first band and the guy behind the counter is a former employee of the place where they used to buy all their stuff. less...

Sure, it's a big corporate chain store, but it scores major coolness points for putting a classic image of Duane Eddy on its giveaway postcard/coupons. Guitar Center's selection and buy-in-bulk prices are mighty hard to beat, even if some of those deep-discounted Fenders are cheap imports from South of the Border. Besides, we love seeing those giant images of Brian Setzer and Jeff Beck on their outside walls as we drive past. less...