Choosing a Friendly, Local Guitar Store

If you’re interested in learning guitar, you need a local, friendly guitar store. You need a store where you can visit, ask questions, buy materials, and occasionally buy guitars. For me, my local store is Rare Birds Music in Chicago at 3350 N. Milwaukee Ave which is two blocks from my home.

Why do you need a local Guitar Store?

Three reasons.

1. Play guitars they have for sale.
2. Ask questions about guitars, amps, etc.
3. Buy guitar materials such as guitar cleaner.
4. Buy a used or even new guitar.

If your guitar store has friendly staff, that’s what you want.

What did I learn today at Rare Birds Music?

1. Harmony electric H802. I asked, “Why is this 40 year old guitar so expensive?”.
   • Sometimes, the buyer market just dictates a preference for a guitar. The Harmony H802 is such a guitar.
2. Adjusting a guitar’s neck for lower action. I told the guitar technician that I was adjusting two electric guitars to lower their action or height from the fret board.
   • The guitar technican said, “Is it a bolt on neck?”.
   • I said “yes”.
   • He said, “Unbolt the guitar neck and use a shim on the bolted neck. You can control the angle in that way.”
   • Now that I know this technique I’ll keep it in the back of my mind for future work.
3. How do I record my voice and guitar playing more clearly, simply.
   • I am not yet ready to mix audio and video.
   • The owner of Rare Birds Music advised I just find a good microphone for my Android. Great idea, I’ll try it.

The Shoshin Guitarist keeps on Learning

So just a simple visit to my friends at Rare Birds Music gave me answers to two questions and advice on a 3rd technique.

Shoshin does mean “beginner’s mind” in Japanese.

Thanks for visiting Shoshin Guitarist today

Thanks again for dropping by.

All guitar players are beginners, even the great ones.