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Guitar Showcase
4.7 ★★★★★ 161 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in San Jose, California
Guitar specialty shop, also stocking a range of instruments & gear, including a vintage selection.
Plan your visit
- Repairs & setups a repair bench comes up in reviews and the store's own info — call ahead for turnaround, since good techs run a queue
- Buys & trades used gear they buy, trade, or consign used instruments — bring the case and any original parts, and expect trade credit to beat the cash offer
- Lessons lessons come up in reviews and the store's own info — call about openings, instruments taught, and rates before the first visit
- Today see hours ·
- Phone (408) 377-5864
- Website guitarshowcase.com
Hours
| Monday | 10 AM–6 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 12–6 PM |
What's on the wall
“I've sold many guitars and amps via consignment at guitar showcase, and they've recently did some tricky repair work on one of my acoustics.”
“Between 1972 and 1973 I bought two Strats, and new Gibson limited addition Firebird and a Marshall stack at Showcase.”
“Had a great experience getting my daughter's electric bass fixed here today.”
“I've sold many guitars and amps via consignment at guitar showcase, and they've recently did some tricky repair work on one of my acoustics.”
“Guitar Showcase is the go-to place in Bay Area for new or used gear, including custom shop and rare old instruments (make sure to ask Chris to show around).”
“Guitar Showcase is the go-to place in Bay Area for new or used gear, including custom shop and rare old instruments (make sure to ask Chris to show around).”
“I've sold many guitars and amps via consignment at guitar showcase, and they've recently did some tricky repair work on one of my acoustics.”
Brands they deal
“I bought my Fender Strat from this place many years ago, and decided to visit it again to see what's changed.”
“Between 1972 and 1973 I bought two Strats, and new Gibson limited addition Firebird and a Marshall stack at Showcase.”
What players say again and again
“The store is clean and has a great selection of guitars and Amps, also a really great showcase of guitar pedals.”
“Tony provided excellent customer service and Jeremy did a great job on the setup for my Jackson SL7.”
From the reviews
I bought my Fender Strat from this place many years ago, and decided to visit it again to see what's changed. They've had to consolidate everything into a single story (the old practice rooms next door), but the staff is still friendly and the selection is still great for their electrics and acoustics.
Guitar Showcase is the go-to place in Bay Area for new or used gear, including custom shop and rare old instruments (make sure to ask Chris to show around). It's also my go-to when I need setups or repairs to make my guitars sound its best.
This guitar store has the best staff and customer service. One of the workers stayed a little late to help me get a product ordered and shipped out to another state. I tried many dealers for the Legendary Tones tube amp mods. When I called Guitar Showcase, they helped me get this frequently sold out item.
Great guitars, great service. Highly recommended. I had been shopping for a Fender Telecaster for several weeks. All the Fenders I played (cheap and pricey) were set up very well and sounded as best as possible. I was able to really get a feel for what to expect in the guitar I was looking for.
Selling or trading gear at Guitar Showcase
Guitar Showcase comes up for buying and trading used gear — confirmed on their own site. Two things make the trip go better. First, bring the whole package: the case or gig bag, the original tremolo arm or bridge parts, the paperwork if you have it — a complete rig is worth real money more than a bare instrument, and it saves the back-and-forth of "can you bring the case in?" Second, know that trade credit almost always beats the cash offer, usually by a healthy margin — if you're upgrading anyway, price your old gear as a trade against the new one before you take cash. Either way, expect the offer to be below what the gear sells for on the wall; the gap is the store's margin for setup, warranty, and sitting on it until the right buyer walks in.
Lessons at Guitar Showcase
Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at Guitar Showcase. If you're signing up a beginner (or restarting yourself), a quick call ahead answers the three things that matter: which instruments they teach, whether the schedule has openings at the time you actually need, and what a first lesson costs. There's no wrong first guitar — a good teacher will happily work with whatever you walk in with, and a shop that teaches usually keeps affordable starter instruments on hand for exactly this reason.
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