LA is the deepest guitar city in America: Norman's Rare Guitars in Tarzana (the celebrity vintage mecca), boutique amp builders, session-player consignment racks, and every chain flag. If you can't find it in LA, it may not exist. Traffic math applies — pick your corridor and make a day of it.
4.8 ★★★★★ 10,713 reviews
Indie music lovers' hangout for free live shows & an eclectic stock of new releases & vintage hits.
4.5 ★★★★★ 3,528 reviews
Long-running retailer for guitars and other musical instruments with repair services.
4.2 ★★★★☆ 469 reviews
Spacious music retailer provides a diverse selection of instruments, audio equipment & used gear.
5 ★★★★★ 339 reviews
Guitar tech offering lessons and repairs of all kinds, plus vintage models.
4.7 ★★★★★ 234 reviews
Store specializing in guitars, with handprints and memorabilia from famous artists.
4.8 ★★★★★ 161 reviews
Resale shop featuring a range of vintage musical instruments & records, plus repairs & lessons.
These shops buy and trade used gear: Amoeba Music, Guitar Center, Rockwalk, Los Angeles Violin Shop. Read our selling guide before you walk in — expect roughly 50–60% of resale value in cash, ~70% in trade credit, and bring the original case. The full national list lives in the sell-your-gear directory.
For lessons — yours or the kid's — these stores teach: Guitar Center, Nomadic Guitar Repairs And Lessons, Rockwalk, Adam's Music, Candelas Guitars, Vazquez Guitar Shop. Our lessons guide covers the $25–40 half-hour going rate, what age kids can start, and why the squeaky first months are normal — or browse the full lessons directory.
The vintage and rare-gear walls worth the trip: Amoeba Music, Guitar Center, Rockwalk, Caveman Vintage Music, Los Angeles Violin Shop, Mikey's Hook Up - Silver Lake. Our vintage buying guide covers what drives value, the fakes problem, and why reputable dealers earn their premium — and the vintage directory has the full state-by-state list.
Amoeba Music is an absolute classic and still one of the best record stores around. Huge selection across vinyl, CDs, movies, and merch—you can easily lose an hour just browsing. Staff is knowledgeable and the vibe is exactly what you’d hope for from an iconic music spot.
We had a really positive experience at Guitar Center recently. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, making our visit enjoyable and helpful. They were true experts, ready to answer all our questions.
International House of Music knows Los Angeles, and they know what we need for performing and playing in LA their prices is beat Guitar Center without even trying and their service is unbeatable! They bend over backwards to make you happy and stretch your dollar out.
