Willcutt Guitar Shoppe

Willcutt Guitar Shoppe is truly one of America’s last great guitar stores, one among so rare a breed that my girlfriend and I took the road trip of a lifetime from DC to KY to visit the place and fetch the guitar of my dreams.
I wanted to reward myself with a new Tele when I was waiting for my first book deal (which did come through). But to numb the pain, we drove out to Willcutt to snag a gem of a Custom Shop 67 New Old Stock tele I found on their website, which features hi-​res photos of the instruments from various angles.
Not only did the wonderful staff there drop the price on the instrument for me, they sent me a video clip of the instrument being played through an amp comparable to the one I had at home.
Our visit to the store was incredible, and worth the 1,100-mile drive. We spent all morning checking out instruments. I played a CBS-​era tele and a ’51 NOS Nocaster through a bright and crackly Vibrolux Reverb just for kicks.
When it was time to check out, Bob Willcutt, the owner and a master luthier himself, engaged in a long chat with us about his old DC haunts before he personally checked the intonation of each string and set the action for me. Where will you get service like that these days?
If Willcutt was closer, I’d go every couple of months. The selection of high end Fenders, other guitars, and both classic/​vintage and new boutique amps is unreal. It might be a long drive through the Appalachians from the East Coast out to Kentucky.
But you’ve got to drive through clouds to reach Guitar Heaven.

Went in for some banjo strings while in town. Friendly gentleman working on a mandolin helped out. Looked like a good selection and a nice place if you need some stringed-​instrument supplies.