GUITAR SHOPS IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

[Kandinskyesque]

Mrs K is is going a wandering with work again after it stopping suddenly in March 2020 for some reason..
It's the usual trip next month to Carlsbad Ca for some head office meetings.
Usually my kids and I give her a shopping list for her days off, but I've now got enough pairs of Converse, well made 501s and Brookes Bros boxers to see me well into my 80s (God sparing).

There's a couple of guitar related items I'd like her to pick up for me, in particular a certain model of Levy's guitar strap that is next to impossible to buy this side of the pond without being utterly robbed.

Is there any decent guitar shops in Carlsbad where I could get her either to drop in and pick some items up or even send to her hotel while she's staying there.

 

[AAT65]

You should blag along on the trip some day!
The NAMM Museum Of Making Music is in Carlsbad. Worth a visit, I was there a few years back. But my favourite music place to visit in the San Diego area is the Taylor factory in El Cajon (which is east rather than north, I realise..!) - might be good things to pick up in the gift shop there also…

 

[Kandinskyesque]

You should blag along on the trip some day!
The NAMM Museum Of Making Music is in Carlsbad. Worth a visit, I was there a few years back. But my favourite music place to visit in the San Diego area is the Taylor factory in El Cajon (which is east rather than north, I realise..!) - might be good things to pick up in the gift shop there also…

We were meant to be both going for a couple of months back in August/September 2020 but global events plus my health put a stop to it.

There's a months trip in early Spring 2023 on the cards plus another one in Waltham Ma in the summer. If my health follows its current trajectory, then I'm on for a blagging.
It's been a decade since I've blagged myself on her travels, or even sat in a plane and there's plenty air miles in the tank.

No doubt, I'll be on here looking for a guitar flavoured itinerary with a whole month's worth of kicking around these places on my Jack Jones for most of it.

 

[Matt Sarad]

Drive up to Santa Ana/Tustin and visit Organicsoundsguitars.com

 

[Texicaster]

Too bad Buffalo Bros is long gone! That was something special!

I visit the area every couple years and unfortunately most of the good shops have closed.

I guess I haven't been there since Wildcat Guitars opened in Escondido and it looks pretty cool and I'm going as soon as I get nearby!

WildCat Guitars - Paul Reed Smith, Fender, Gibson, Suhr - the finest guitars in the world!

WildCat Guitars for premier unique Paul Reed Smith, Fender, Gibson, Suhr crafted custom electric and acoustic guitars.

wildcatguitars.com

 

[MickM]

We were meant to be both going for a couple of months back in August/September 2020 but global events plus my health put a stop to it.

There's a months trip in early Spring 2023 on the cards plus another one in Waltham Ma in the summer. If my health follows its current trajectory, then I'm on for a blagging.
It's been a decade since I've blagged myself on her travels, or even sat in a plane and there's plenty air miles in the tank.

No doubt, I'll be on here looking for a guitar flavoured itinerary with a whole month's worth of kicking around these places on my Jack Jones for most of it.

Kicking around on your Jack Jones? Boots, Clothes? What are Jack Jones?

 

[Cali Dude]

James hood guitar in Escondido CA has some great stuff often. Some of the staff used to be at Buffalo Bros..

 

[Kandinskyesque]

Kicking around on your Jack Jones? Boots, Clothes? What are Jack Jones?

"Oan yer Jack Jones" is a Glaswegian turn of phrase that translates to "On your own" in English.

With @AAT65 living around halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh I was assuming he'd know exactly what I meant.

Being out on your "Jack Jones" also suggests a sense of untethered freedom to choose how to spend your time.
There's been many a time when I've had downright jealousy when I hear of a friend going on holiday on his "Jack Jones".

I used to enjoy junkets with Mrs K is the past, especially when she travelled to Dublin or Amsterdam for work. They were a reward of sorts for being the stay at home parent/ free house renovation labour.
It's been a decade since I've been anywhere despite Mrs K's half dozen US trips per year. Mainly for health reasons recently and before that keeping out of temptations way when my addiction recovery started.

These days if the health continues to improve, then next year I feel that I can trust myself to start travelling again. Only this time I'll substitute Dutch Coffee Shops and Dublin Bars with guitar based pilgrimages.

 

[Texicaster]

James hood guitar in Escondido CA has some great stuff often. Some of the staff used to be at Buffalo Bros..

Oh that's cool!

I know James! He had bought Buffalo Bros but something went sideways. He kept his repair operation going but I was unaware he started selling guitars again! That's great news!

Good guy!

 

[AAT65]

With @AAT65 living around halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh I was assuming he'd know exactly what I meant.

And indeed I did! Who’d have thought other people were trying to understand our conversation??

 

[Kandinskyesque]

And indeed I did! Who’d have thought other people were trying to understand our conversation??

Sometimes I forget I'm in international cyberspace.
The self awareness pills don't kick in until later in the day.

 

[tele_savales]

Moonlight Music in Encinitas is the closest place I can think of to Carlsbad. Right on Pacific Coast Hwy.

 

[Cali Dude]

Oh that's cool!

I know James! He had bought Buffalo Bros but something went sideways. He kept his repair operation going but I was unaware he started selling guitars again! That's great news!

Good guy!

Yeah, totally agree. He is awesome. He does all of my guitar maintenance. They sell vintage, used guitars and amps. Not sure if he got back into selling new stuff again.

 

[tele_savales]

Bonus: My brother had a Olympic White Strat on consignment in the very early 80's at Moonlight Music and Buddy Miles bought it, and his check bounced.

 

[nvilletele]

There used to be one of the best guitar shops in Carlsbad, Buffalo Brothers, but that is long gone. I spent some time there, back in the day, and got my all time best ever acoustic from them.

A guy named James [can’t immediately recall his name] sort of continued at or near that location, I think, but never with the same amount of stock. My memory is a little hazy on this one. I’ll see if I can find out more and whether he is still in business. [EDIT: Shoot, I should read the prior post more carefully . . This was already covered: James Hood]

There is an independent music store in Encinitas, I think it’s called Moonlight Music. [i see now it was mentioned above] Not a big store as I recall, but maybe worth a trip.

I know you didnt say you were looking for guitars themselves, but . . . . At the southern bit of north county is a place that is thinking of selling a pristine sunburst 8502 Tele, and a 1989 Strat Plus. It’s in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego. Not so much a shop as an individual. I know him very well, you might even say he’s everywhere I go. Handsome devil. Even willing to meet at a convenient location.

EDIT: some additional info:
James Hood is now based in Escondido. Not too far from carlsbad. See https://www.jameshoodguitar.com/

Dusty’s Guitar is in Carlsbad. https://dustysguitar.com

Carlsbad Village Music is in Carlsbad. https://Carlsbadvillagemusic.com

Guitar Center is in San Marcos, not too far from Carlsbad.

San Diego Music Exchane is in Vista, not far from Carlsbad. HTTPS://sdmusicexchange.com

san Diego music studio is in San Marcos and seems to be a store, not just a studio. HTTPS://sandiegomusicstudio.com

American Music Exchange is in Encinitas. Close. https://amxmusic.com/

Music Mart is in Solana Beach, not far from Carlsbad at all. HTTPS://musicmartonline.com

Good luck!

 

[mycroftxxx]

There’s a place in Carlsbad in the so-called Village called Carlsbad Village Music; never been in there but they did have a Tele hanging in the window last time I drive by.

There’s a place in Escondido, WildCat Guitars, that from their website appears to have a lot of cool stuff. I’ve never been in it or even driven by though. Their website gives hours but also says “appointment recommended”.

And of course Buffalo Bros. has been closed for several years. A prior post said the guy who was associated with BBros, James Hood, had opened a shop in Escondido. Wasn’t there some controversy about the guy who bought out BBros (named James, may or may not be the same guy) stiffing people who had guitars he was supposed to be repairing?

 

[nvilletele]

There’s a place in Carlsbad in the so-called Village called Carlsbad Village Music; never been in there but they did have a Tele hanging in the window last time I drive by.

There’s a place in Escondido, WildCat Guitars, that from their website appears to have a lot of cool stuff. I’ve never been in it or even driven by though. Their website gives hours but also says “appointment recommended”.

And of course Buffalo Bros. has been closed for several years. A prior post said the guy who was associated with BBros, James Hood, had opened a shop in Escondido. Wasn’t there some controversy about the guy who bought out BBros (named James, may or may not be the same guy) stiffing people who had guitars he was supposed to be repairing?

This discusses James Hood taking over, but not any controversies. (They came later, maybe? I have no idea.)

Buffalo Brothers Guitars Reinvents Itself with a New Owner

Same big chicken, same great selection of instruments, but a new owner and new vibe permeate two of San Diego’s venerable music institutions: Buffalo Brothers Guitars in Carlsbad and New Expression Music (Now Buffalo Bros Guitars South) in North Park. Founded by Bob Page as Traditional Music...

sandiegotroubadour.com

 

[nvilletele]

Wasn’t there some controversy about the guy who bought out BBros (named James, may or may not be the same guy) stiffing people who had guitars he was supposed to be repairing?

Was it maybe related to him filing for bankruptcy and then not paying off consignors or others whose guitars he had?

I found mention on his Yelp page of someone accusing him (in 2014) of retaining the money he collected from the sale of her late husband's electric guitar ( money was intended for my kid's college tuition). She said he filed Bankruptcy to avoid paying her back.

He responded to say that there there were two businesses in this building, with his part only handling guitar repairs, and he was not involved with any of the sales. The other business did file bankruptcy.

I can imagine that there may well have been a number of other folks in the same situation who lost out and blamed him. I have no knowledge one way or another though about any of this.

 

[Texicaster]

There’s a place in Carlsbad in the so-called Village called Carlsbad Village Music; never been in there but they did have a Tele hanging in the window last time I drive by.

There’s a place in Escondido, WildCat Guitars, that from their website appears to have a lot of cool stuff. I’ve never been in it or even driven by though. Their website gives hours but also says “appointment recommended”.

And of course Buffalo Bros. has been closed for several years. A prior post said the guy who was associated with BBros, James Hood, had opened a shop in Escondido. Wasn’t there some controversy about the guy who bought out BBros (named James, may or may not be the same guy) stiffing people who had guitars he was supposed to be repairing?

There was some "mix up" in the sale. I used to work at Buffalo Bros but was gone by the time of the sale. I heard several stories but know Page bros (the Buffalo Bros) and James and they were all very stand up people.

I'm glad to see James still at it!

One of the Page bros had resurrected Buffalo Bros there for a spell at guitar shows but has since dropped the effort.

Buffalo Bros had quite a history! I recall as Traditional Music in Leucadia, CA. I went in and there were maybe 12 guitars all the wall of a small shop.

A few years later they had 100's of GREAT guitars in the shop. You could check out a dozen Goodalls, 2 dozen Collings, 50 Martins, 100 Taylors...100's of electrics when it became the Bros!

They had THE coolest "100% Buy Back Policy" Buy a guitar from them and they would give you 100% of what you paid towards another guitar! I worked up to a Collings D1A from an $300 Alvarez in about 5 guitar steps over a couple years!

Saw a BUNCH of great bands there too; kinda house concerts for $10. Workshops and all kinds of great stuff. I think I spent every Saturday for years there jamming and trying guitars!

 

[Texicaster]

Bonus: My brother had a Olympic White Strat on consignment in the very early 80's at Moonlight Music and Buddy Miles bought it, and his check bounced.

There was a dude named RJ (Or JR) who ran the place as I recall...coulda been the owner.

I took my first guitar lessons there, with Ron Jackson.