San Diego guitar shops

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:46 pm

For the next ten days, I'm visiting here in San Diego (staying up in La Jolla), and after taking in a couple of Padres-Giants games at Petco on Saturday and Sunday, and the U.S.S. Midway, it's time to move on to the finer guitar shops in the immediate area.

Or are there any? 18 months ago, while on business in NYC, I ended up buying a brand-new 360-12, even though I only entered the store to buy Rickenbacker strings.

Now, with my wife on this trip to visit family, that scenario most likely will not be repeated...though you never know.

Regardless, I'd love to feast my eyes on some fine Ric guitars, and maybe get to play one-or-two.

Any suggestions from the fine folk in Southern California?

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:00 pm

Give Bonds a good heckling for me, will ya?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:32 am

Bonds is here in SF for a home series.

Mick, take the Taylor guitars tour. It is given every day at 1:00 at their factory on Gillespie Way. Pretty interesting...and weird...

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:39 am

Don't miss the Museum of Making Music just up the road from La Jolla in Carlsbad. Even though the current main exhibition is featuring ukeleles, there's still some great guitars to see and you'll learn a lot more about how musical instruments have been shaped by- and shaped- American culture.

Got some kids along? Park 'em next door at Legoland.

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:30 pm

Hey, we are indeed going to Legoland, this coming Monday afternoon. (Got some $7 dollar-off each admission thing).

I will indeed check that out! I will also look into the Taylor guitars tour.

Any shops I should check out?

Thanks everyone.

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 4:33 am

Since you'll be in Carlsbad, the only RIC dealer I know of that far south:
Buffalo Bros. Vintage Guitars
4901 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92008-3748
(760) 434-4567

There is Bass Alone near Sea World. http://www.bassalone.com/

Guitar Trader - www.guitartrader.com
7120 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego - (858) 565-8814

Guitar City - www.guitarcity.biz
6530 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego - (619) 286-7716

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:49 pm

Great! Appreciate it.

porge · Post by **porge** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:21 pm

As a regular visitor, I can also recommend Freedom Guitar. Lotsa nice stuff, prices a little high...can't remember the address, but pretty sure it's in El Cajon (heck...I'm an Australian and have been chauffered there in the past)

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:19 am

I was able to pop into Buffalo Brothers Vintage Guitars (while on the way to Legoland on Monday), and wow, it was a fine place to pop into.

Thanks for the suggestion. I couldn't (painfully couldn't) scoop up the Ric bass and the couple of Ric's hangin' around, though I did stock up on Ric 12-string sets...which I can't seem to find in Toronto.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:17 pm

Glad you made it to BuffaloBros! Great shop! The people there are very friendly, and it's easily the best guitar shopping experience in San Diego. If I'd have known you were going, I'd have met you up there.

I'm very close to La Jolla and I work nearby in Del Mar. Speaking of that, have you been to the horse races yet?

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:40 pm

I still kick myself for not buying a new 620 BB VP that Buffalo Bros. had a couple of years ago ... I went back three weeks later and it had been sold.

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:54 pm

No, couldn't find the time for a number of things. Arrived back in Toronto last night. Now, gotta go to Montreal for the weekend.

Already miss the palm trees and the beaches. And yes, Buffalo Bros. is a fine, fine guitar store. I may have to order from there.