Nashville is holy ground: Carter Vintage and Gruhn Guitars sit within blocks of each other, holding more important instruments than most museums. Around them, a working-player ecosystem — session-grade setups, consignment racks that turn over weekly, and staff who've seen everything twice. Go on a weekday morning and you might have the vintage room to yourself.
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,022 reviews
Huge, corporate chain selling electric, acoustic and bass guitars, amps and drums.
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,587 reviews
Retailer of vintage guitars, mandolins, and banjos also offering repair services.
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,219 reviews
Guitar store featuring new models, a vintage section and guitars for hire (electric and acoustic), plus staff to tune them and even offer lessons.
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,092 reviews
Venerable shop stocking new and vintage guitars, plus ukuleles and appraisals.
4.9 ★★★★★ 436 reviews
Friendly, family-run music store for instruments' sale, rental and repair (clarinet, flutes, trumpet).
4.9 ★★★★★ 270 reviews
Neighborhood destination packed with guitars, amplifiers and effects pedals.
These shops buy and trade used gear: Guitar Center, Bandwagon Music & Repair, GuitarEffectsPedals.com, Fanny's House of Music, Tone Central Station, The North American Guitar. 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, The Gibson Garage, Bandwagon Music & Repair, Fanny's House of Music, Guitar Build Workshop, Nashville Music Co. 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: Guitar Center, The Gibson Garage, GuitarEffectsPedals.com, Guitars To Be Played, Nashville Picks, Rumble Seat Music. 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.
I bought a "used" Epiphone Viola, sight unseen, from the Nashville Guitar Center store. It was described as used but good condition. I had it shipped to California, and it showed up about an hour ago.
I couldn’t be more pleased with my experience at Carter Vintage Instruments in Nashville. This was my second purchase with them, and just like the first time, everything was handled with the utmost professionalism. A special thanks goes to Andrew White, who assisted me with the sale.
I had a really great experience at the Gibson Garage a couple days ago. I was helped by Dylan J. and he got me the Kramer guitar I was interested in, tuned it up, plugged it in and dialed in the amp. I had mentioned that I liked one of the colors that they didn't have in stock at the store.
