Laguna’s very own Guitar Shoppe opened in 1972 and is owned and operated by partners Jim Matthews and Kirk Sand, providing lessons, guitars and more to the community.
“We are not really a music store, we are a guitar ‘pro shop, ’ ” Kirk explains. “We have 10 professional teachers that are world class; several are published music educators. We consider the Guitar Shoppe to be more a ‘School of Guitar, ’ covering playing, repairing, building and vintage guitar history.
“Our repair and restoration service is second to none and is headed up by luthier Mark Angus, a California legend, ” he continues. “People send us guitars from all over the country to have their special instrument worked on by our staff.”
Kirk Sand, Laguna Beach, Ca, 1996
The Guitar Shoppe has also been building custom instruments for world famous guitarists for more than 30 years. “My electric nylon string guitar designs have been utilized by prestigious companies like Gibson USA and are now being sought by Fender Musical Instruments, ” Kirk says.
“This year is The Guitar Shoppe’s 40th anniversary, ” he adds. “It has been such a pleasure to live and work in this beautiful art colony on the coast of California. It just doesn’t get any better than this.”
KS: I grew up with a guitar in my hands. Starting with the folk scene in the early ’60s and then of course the rock ‘n’ roll era. Things drastically changed in 1964 with the British invasion. I went on to study classical guitar, jazz guitar, and now I am too busy building guitars to practice. I now play guitar as a hobby and build and sell guitars for a living.
Attention: L.a. Guitar Geeks!
I think the thing I love most about operating the Guitar Shoppe is meeting all the great guitar players and keeping up on all the latest guitar technology.
JM: I thought it might be an interesting job for four or five years. That was four decades ago! My graduate degree in psychology has been put to use many times in dealing with special customers or visitors, employees and myself. I should have got the Ph.D.! Be careful about making your hobby your career. Many people jealously think Kirk and I sit around and play guitar all day … we nurture their fantasy and wish it were true.
Mr. Guitar himself, Chet Atkins, was here several times. I built several guitars for him over the years. Chet even came to the shop and put on a private concert for us, followed by a Q&A from all the guitarists lucky enough to be here that evening.
Review: Laguna Playhouse's 'once' Plays & Pulls Heartstrings
Jose Feliciano has been a very loyal patron of the Guitar Shoppe and visited us often over the last 30 years. We have built him many guitars. We are proud to have a new Signature Jose Feliciano model coming out soon. There will be a very limited number built, and they will be sold exclusively through Jose himself.
Richie Sambora has been a long-standing customer of ours. We have built a few guitars for him and done a lot of other guitar business with him as well.
John Sebastian stopped in once to buy a harmonica. That was fun, if you are old enough to remember Lovin’ Spoonful. Multiple Grammy Award-winning Lauryn Hill had a couple custom guitars built for her here. When she came by for a visit one day, her tour bus took up the entire block. There was no parking in front of the Guitar Shoppe that day. We still had throngs of people stopping in and calling to see whose huge tour bus was at the Guitar Shoppe.
Laguna Beach City Guide
Besides the aforementioned guitarists, the list of famous players we have served is very long. Jerry Reed, Kevin Eubanks, Lenny Breau, Doyle Dykes, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Wariner to name a few. Of course, many stars dress down and don’t announce themselves. The dropped jaws of customers are often our clue!
Guitarists from [The] Black Crowes, Korn, Green Day and Foo Fighters, and Donovan Frankenreiter are just some of the young virtuosos who frequent the Guitar Shoppe. Unfortunately due to our advanced age, Jim and I don’t know them as well. That’s when young guitar playing store managers save the day. Ben Wagner and Sean Copeland manage the Guitar Shoppe and are the true superstars in our book!
KS: We have had several of our students become professional musicians. Tom Dumont is one example. He took lessons from Will Brady. He is now the guitarist in No Doubt and has a Grammy to show for it. Other students have gone on to play in the orchestra pit in the large theaters around the country. Some have made a career of playing in Las Vegas. The number of professionals we have started in a professional career are numerous, but the number of students we have started on a lifetime of musical enjoyment is countless.
Shop Local From Home
KS: The Guitar Shoppe has evolved over these 40 years into a guitar player’s heaven. We haven’t used anyone else’s business plan to be successful. We just followed our gut instinct and did it all for the love of our favorite instrument. Jim and I are very fortunate to have a great crew of young guys to keep this unique business going for what we hope will be many decades to come. The combination of products and services that we offer to beginners, hobbyists and pros is simply not available on the Internet. Thankfully, it never will be.
JM: It’s all really like episodes of “Cheers” or “Friends”; people come into the Guitar Shoppe story and others drift away. Some stay on and become a part of the next season. You’re welcome to stop by … you might find it hard to leave. LBMSince 1972, the Southern California beach population has been lucky to have a true guitar haven right in its backyard. The rare distinction of a guitar–only store is apropos of The Guitar Shoppe in Laguna Beach. With an address on Highway 1, just yards away from some of the finest coastlines, you won’t find keyboards, PA’s or drums. What you will find is some of the finest collections of great brands and one of the most extensive collections of Guild Guitars. “People love seeing how many Guild’s we have. From the big jumbo 12’s to the full line of dread’s, orchestra’s and more, there’s nothing quite like a Guild. The unique personality of Guild guitars have maintained their popularity for decades. This personality is very special to Guild owners which is why you will rarely find someone parting ways with their Guild, ” says Ben Wagner, manager of The Guitar Shoppe.
There are a few other important reasons why so many people visit The Guitar Shoppe. “If you work at The Guitar Shoppe, there are some requirements. You either have to be a player, a builder or a teacher” Ben adds. When you walk into this rustic, living room–type setting, someone who is all three will likely greet you. There´s no big sales hype, no pressure and no attitude. “We´re here to help if you need it. The rest of the time, we hope you just enjoy playing the guitars, ” he adds.
For Sale: Kirk Sand Nylon String Guitar
Owned and operated by long time partners Kirk Sand and Jim Matthews, The Guitar Shoppe is recognized as the home of some of the finest custom designed guitars and instruments on the planet. Their skill as guitar builders and restoration experts set this group of people apart from most guitar stores. Top pros continue to rely on Sand and Matthews, along with their fine crew of craftsmen, players and teachers to provide them the highest quality workmanship and service ever assembled.
Because The Guitar Shoppe has an active teaching staff (many of them local college teachers and top pros), they’re likely to have a 12–year old and a 72–year old beginner walking through their door. But at the core of the customer base are serious hobbyists or touring professionals who often travel from quite a distance just for the chance to be a part of The Guitar Shoppe experience. “That´s where our experience as builders and players really shine. We understand the nuances of what our customers are looking for because we know what we want in our own instruments, ” adds Ben.
Guild guitars are amply and proudly displayed at The Guitar Shoppe. “We only carry instruments we know our customers want and need. Guild´s are perfect for that player looking for that ‘one’ guitar that will deliver night after night, gig after gig, ” says Ben. “People love seeing all the Guild´s on the wall and it´s clearly one of the guitars that people pick up and play.”
Stef And Steve Play Live In Laguna Beach!
So if you´re lucky enough to visit Southern California, and should you want to be a part of the Disneyland of all things guitar, don´t miss a trip to The Guitar Shoppe.The Guitar Shoppe, est. 1972 is owned and operated by partners, Jim Matthews and Kirk Sand. The Shoppe is located one block from the Pacific Ocean in beautiful Laguna Beach, California. It has been our goal for over FORTY
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