

Whether you’re a professional musician or you’re just starting to learn the guitar, San Diego has a variety of music shops and guitar stores to choose from.
Anyone looking for guitars in San Diego will have a plethora of choices, from smaller shops specializing in locally made guitars to more national brands offering a wide range of different six-string instruments and other musical gear.
To help you out, we’ve selected some of the best guitar stores in San Diego and its surrounding communities.
The best way to buy a guitar is to actually sit down and play it, so a good course of action would be to travel to at least a few of these shops and test out a few six-strings yourself. Luckily, if you’re looking for a guitar shop in San Diego County, there are plenty of options to suit your needs.
Those looking for a new ax to play in the coastal North County area will have several shops to choose from. Here are some of the best.
American Music Exchange is a music shop located in the laid-back surfer town of Encinitas, California. It specializes in a range of musical services, including new and used products, instrument repairs, and music lessons taught by world-class instructors.
This Solana Beach-based boutique music store offers a wide variety of guitars, drums, keyboards, and other instruments. In addition, Music Mart also provides music-related services like gear repairs, instrument rentals, and music lessons.
Moonlight Music is a unique music store in Encinitas that specializes in lessons, special events, and a rock band camp that allows local kids to learn their instruments and play on stage. In addition, Moonlight Music also buys, sells, and trades musical instruments.
If you’re looking for guitar shops further inland, there are many in the inland North County area. These are our picks.
Kiesel Guitars is a great option for those looking for San Diego guitars — as in, guitars made locally in San Diego County. This Escondido-based guitar maker is known for producing custom guitars and basses that can be tailored to each player’s individual tastes and preferences.
The Ramona Music Center is a guitar and music store based in the inland San Diego County town. It features a wide range of six strings, as well as other instruments and music gear. The location also provides both lessons and music-related services to customers.
Bertrand’s Ozzie’s Music is a Poway-based music store that specializes in lessons, sheet music, and repairs. While it doesn’t focus on guitars, this location does feature guitar lessons alongside teachers of other instruments like violin, clarinet, cello, and piano.
Looking for a new guitar in the central San Diego area? There are plenty of music stores in San Diego where you can pick up a new instrument.
Mark’s Guitar Exchange is a locally owned and independent music store that stocks a plethora of six-strings and other instruments. Along with its massive inventory, Mark’s Guitar Exchange also offers an in-house luthier for expert repairs and music lessons for those new to guitar.
This family-owned chain of music stores has pretty much anything you’d need as a musician. You’ll find guitars, basses, keyboards, microphones, and pretty much any other gear you can think of. In addition to new and used guitars, Sam Ash also offers student rentals, music lessons, and expert advice.
Sometimes you don’t need to buy a new instrument — you just need to repair one that you already own. Jason Bechard Instrument Repair in San Diego offers expert service on classical instruments like violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, ensuring that your instrument can get back to tip-top shape.
If you’re looking for guitar stores in San Diego, you’ll find several options in the eastern portion of the county. These are our top picks.
You’ve heard of Guitar Center. This large chain of music stores stocks a variety of guitars, basses, drums, amplifiers, and accessories. Whether you’re in the market for a new amplifier or just some acoustic guitar straps, Guitar Center will undoubtedly have something to meet your musical needs.
This La Mesa-based location is serious about guitars. You’ll find a slew of acoustics, electrics, basses, lap steel guitars, and amplifiers. In addition, they also offer excellent guitar repair and music lessons, as well as a fully-stocked selection of guitar effects and accessories.
Mr. Joey’s music is run by Mr. Joey, a man who is both knowledgeable and passionate about both musicians and music. This small-but-mighty location offers sales, lessons, rentals, and repair services for guitarists and other musicians.
The South Bay area has some excellent San Diego guitar stores, including these top-notch picks.
Harper’s Music Store in Chula Vista doesn’t just stock guitars — they also have band and orchestra instruments, percussion, and keyboards. However, you’ll still find a range of electric and acoustic guitars to suit pretty much any taste and preference.
If you recognize the name Mark’s Guitar Exchange, it’s because this local chain has multiple locations. The company’s Chula Vista storefront is just as stocked with awesome guitars and also offers repairs, lessons, and other music-related services for any customer.
Guitar Choice in Chula Vista is known for its guitars, including acoustic and electric options. However, despite the name, the store also stocks folk and traditional instrument, drums and percussion instruments, and a lot more. It’s a great option for any musician.
As you can see, there’s an abundance of guitar stores in San Diego. From locally owned and operated businesses to national franchises, America’s Finest City has no shortage of places to pick up a new instrument.
Whether you’re looking for an acoustic, an electric, or something else entirely, any one of the aforementioned stores will undoubtedly have something for you.
Copyright © LaJolla.com 2022. All rights reserved.