Ed fixed up my old Stratocaster, new strings, a good overall cleaning and the intonation set right…read morefor the first time in ages. Fixed up a couple of other issues including locking up the tremolo bridge; now I am one happy camper. Well played Ed!

Edward is so great. Fast turnaround, excellent work on my 1968 Silvertone 1483 amplifier,…read morereasonable rates. Can't recommend him enough.

Mike did a great job on my Gibson SG that wasn't staying in tune due to nut issues. I had someone…read moreelse install the nut but they left it cut way too tight and the strings were binding horribly. Mike knew exactly what it needed and now it stays it tune better than I thought possible. Very reasonably priced. I plan on bringing him another guitar to setup. No more having to drive to LA to get guitar work done.

My son has an acoustic guitar that needed a string repair. I called several places and Mike was…read moreone of two that called me back. He was quick, efficient and fair. I would defintely recommend him to anyone looking for guitar repair!

I visited this place last week, nice set of guitars and very friendly. Prices seem very reasonable.read more

Great to have a local music shop I have purchased several…read moreitems over the last few years. Friendly service.

I finally got around to visiting Angel City Guitars and I came at a time where there weren't a lot…read moreof people in the shop which is just fine with me. I got to play in their acoustic room my first Santa Cruz and Collings acoustic guitars, which are very expensive boutique guitars but for a reason. I own 10 acoustic guitars most of which are middle to high end brand instruments. Had a lovely conversation with the owner Olay who comes off as a really decent & happy fellow. Someone it's a pleasure to do business with. Most of their stuff is relatively high-end. Olay wants to stock the good stuff and that's just fine by me since I can afford it. Just a matter of time before I buy a guitar here. They just moved to this new location and I think it's great they exist because their set up is far superior to most any other place I've been to. Not to mention their friendly attitude. No stinkeye like at other places. Plenty of room to try out instruments here.

What an amazing collection of really cool guitars, amps, and everything else you could need to…read moreplay. It's an awesome shop, and if you're looking for something different or unique, look no further than Angel City Guitars!

My first time here and it won't be my last! Loved the intimate space while watching one of my all…read moretime favorite female singers, Jonatha Brooke. The room is normally set up for sales but when a show is on the calendar the staff quickly clears it to set up the chairs for the audience. Since their first impromptu show back in 1968, McCabe's has been hosting the finest in folk, bluegrass, Americana, world music and more. It can accommodate 150-seats and is one of the best listening rooms in the world. The sound engineer was spot at this performance. Most of performers will play one of the guitars for sale here which helps keep this amazing shop going. *Located just off the 405 freeway @Centinela on Pico Blvd *Plenty of street parking (meters) *A few restaurants within walking distance if you want to grab a bite to eat before or after a show. *Guitar lessons available *FYI purchase show tickets online. You will get receive a confirmation email telling you that your name will be on a list at the door (you will not get physical tickets)

I want to be fair here, because this is really a story about two very different visits…read more The first time I came in, I worked with Barry, and he was fantastic. I had never bought a guitar in my life and barely knew what questions to ask. He sat down with me, pulled close to ten guitars off the wall, and played every single one so I could actually hear the differences for myself. He never once rushed me or made me feel like a clueless beginner taking up his time (great player btw!) By the time I walked out I had fallen for the shop and found the exact guitar I wanted, a Taylor 114ce. I was so excited that I could not wait to come back the next day to buy it. I had also planned to sign up for lessons there. The next day is why I'm writing this. Barry wasn't in, and the guy working the guitar repair counter helped me instead. He acted like I was a massive inconvenience from the second I walked up. The store was nearly empty at the time, just one woman trying out a guitar in the back and another customer making conversation up front, both of whom were perfectly friendly when I chatted with them for a minute. The guitar I wanted was a floor model with two deep scratches gouged into the front, the kind that do not buff out, plus a pickguard worn down from being played constantly. It was still priced like it was brand new. When I asked if anything could be done about the price, he went to check and came back offering fifty dollars off. I asked if he could come down to seven hundred and he flatly said no, though he said he could throw in strings. All of it came wrapped in the same cold attitude, like I was lucky he was even bothering with me. I decided to leave and went to another shop that had the exact same guitar, brand new and so pristine it clearly had never been played. I did not even think to ask for a discount because it was in perfect condition, but they gave me one anyway and knocked ten percent off without me saying a word. On top of that they set me up with a stand, a tuner, a capo, a handful of picks, strings, and even a hat, and discounted those accessories too. They were thrilled to help the entire time. I bought my first guitar there and booked my first lesson there too, and I walked out feeling exactly the way you should feel buying your first instrument. So if you go to McCabe's and you get Barry, you will understand why this place has the reputation it does. He was the reason I almost became a customer for life. There was also a gentleman there both days who I believe may have been the manager. The second day he gave me a quick hello and then stepped into the back right as I pulled the guitar down to start the process. I have no idea whether he picked up on how that interaction was going, but I really wish he had been out front for it, because a ready and excited first-time buyer walking out empty handed could have been saved. If this somehow gets back to Barry, thank you for helping me find my first guitar.

I took my custom built, $10,000 acoustic Koa cutaway for minor surface repair and this guy did a…read morebotch job, I was horrified, it was worse when I went to pick it up. He handed me my guitar, I was speechless! I looked at him, , trurned around and left. He knew better that to even ask me to pay him. He might be good repairing amps, but I don't think he's really a "luthier", he's not even set up to do finish work.

Brian agreed to work on a 30-year old guitar that no one else would even look at and did a bang up…read morejob of fixing the active electronics. He also leveled the frets and did a setup and now playing that guitar feels smooth as silk with low action, perfect intonation, and no fret buzz even when playing hard.

1 1/2 minute read: On 05/06/2026, Greg Sinclair and I,…read morearrived at NORMANS RARE GUITARS as previously planned by Greg. 1 1/2 minute read Today (05/05/26), ahead of the invitation extended (to me) by esteemed colleague- Greg Sinclair, Administrator of a FACEBOOK renowned Surf Group "TUBES", today I went on a scouting mission. Relying on GOOGLE'S Siri, I arrived around 09:15 hrs m, to find business hours had been slightly rearranged at Norman's Rare Guitar Shop. Not being one to waste time, in the same little strip mall (TOPEKA VENTURA PLAZA) I saw a coffee shop (PEET'S) and decided to treat myself to some (coffee), and I did. I went in, got hot black coffee & a Blueberry Muffin. Before realizing it, it was 11 am. So I mozied'on'over to NORMAN's. The video I took, as I approached the guitar shop main door, will tell you more than words could ever say. Once I was in the guitar shop, I felt a nostalgic Deja-Vu pinching me. The same atmosphere, feel, sounds surrounded me like when I used to go to Sam Ash and other, now gone, guitar & Pawn shops. Be that as it may, I hope my photography will satisfy your curiosity of this scouting mission I went on today and as always ... ... thank you for stopping by! 05/06/26 ... UPDATE As promised, Greg Sinclair drove from Redondo Beach (I think) up to my place in North Hollywood, and picked me up. AS YOU RECALL. Greg has been inviting me to accompany him to go to NORMAN'S RARE GUITAR SHOP. We first had lunch on Venture Blvd at BLU JAM. It was very trendy for me, at least. Then we got to the guitar shop and Greg introduced me to Michael, whom you will see a short clip playing one of their guitars. Greg and I had a very satisfying visit at NORMAN'S, as we strolled around inside. We also met another guitarist who works there-Joey, I believe and if I'm wrong, I will correct my error. They have live music on certain days and as soon as I can get their schedule, I'll share it! All in all, THANK YOU, GREG, for your considerate invitation, picking me up at home, treating me to a fabulous lunch at BLU JAM restaurant, a fun time at NORMAN'S RARE GUITARS, and best of all ... your companionship. Update, 05/17/2026: Click link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02sSQznzKewuHeGR2yfjHRxaA7qc6x88RgkhxcGj3FtyF6DHE6u1HKH878WtavKUvUl&id=1222849448&mibextid=wwXIfr

You don't really find out about a business until something goers wrong and you get to see how they…read morehandle it. My co-worked was retiring soon so I ordered him a couple of t shirts because he always would talk about how many great guitars this place had. So I ordered him two t-shirts last month but one of them they sent was the wrong size. So I emailed them the day I got them about it and I got a return email telling me to send them a picture to prove they screwed up and they would then send me a return email detailing the process of how I could get what I paid for. So the same day I got the email I retuned the email with the pictures proving they sent the wrong size in one of the t-shirts and then I heard nothing... So I emailed them multiple times over several weeks with no reply. But then last week I got an email saying sorry we screwed up and your t-shirt will ship out that day. Well, I never got a shipping confirmation and a week later I still have no t-shirt. This has been going on for weeks. Luckily, I didn't order anything expensive from them. If they can screw up something so simple as a t shirt and fail to quickly remedy it, how are they going to treat you when you have spent thousands of dollars and there is a problem?? If you are not famous or in the music business, probably the same way they have treated me.

I am super grateful for the singing lessons that I took through the Knauer Music School. While I…read morehave been singing my entire life, I sought out lessons because I knew I was capable of more. The good people at Knauer matched me with Emily Greene, who has been a phenomenal vocal instructor. I appreciate her knowledge, her passion for singing, her sense of humor, and her patience with a pupil who brought up the average age of her students by a decade or two. I recommend Knauer and Emily to anyone who wants to step up their game. And if you ever get a chance to hear the band I've joined, Run Screaming, be sure to say hello!

I've been taking mandolin lessons with Ron Munn for several months now, and it's been a great…read moreexperience! I've been learning not just how to play my instrument with different techniques, but also music theory and even some song writing. Every time I'm done with a lesson I want to go home and keep on playing!

Been doing zoom banjo lessons with Ethan and couldn't be happier! Was skeptical of the zoom aspect…read moreat first, but I've learned so much in such a short time and the convenience of being able to take classes from anywhere that I have an internet connection and a laptop has been great for my crazy schedule. Ethan is super patient. He structures his lessons around learning songs, which I love. I tried to learn clawhammer on my own for years with little progress. The fact that I can play several short songs already is just crazy. Couldn't recommend Red Pelican more.

I took my first clarinet lesson forty-six days before my sixty-fifth birthday. Yep, out of the…read moreblue, at sixty-four, without any music experience at all, I decided to learn to play the clarinet. Does that sound crazy to you? It did to me. I wasn't even sure if it was possible. I searched online for clarinet instructions. Keep in mind, this was the middle of the current COVID-19 quarantine, so I wasn't surprised that all lessons were being held on zoom. My Google search gave me a couple of options, including Red Pelican Music. A couple of emails and phone calls. Later, I had my first class scheduled through Red Pelican with Ari Silberman, zoom lesson, of course. And it turned out great. Ari is engaging, supportive, patient. We've had twelve one hour lessons. I've gone from having never played a note to learning songs. In between classes, Ari is available to answer email questions, even over the phone, when my practice sessions became especially frustrating. When I started with Ari, he asked me what my goals were. I told him since I could not play at all right now, I'd like to be able to play badly in a year. Ari thought I was kidding, I wasn't, and he was confident he could have me playing badly in a short period of time and then we would work on playing well. So, what happened? I've made more progress than I thought I could. I won't be auditioning for the New York Philharmonic anytime soon, but now if anyone asks me if I can play an instrument, I can say "yes." In twelve short weeks, Ari has gotten me from learning notes to learning songs. This is a long review with a short point, Ari is great.

A few months back I purchased an intermediate violin. The price was reduced and I got an amazing…read moredeal on such a beautiful instrument. The owners are great people and the quality of bow/violin is just amazing. The more I play "break it in" the better it's sounding. Give this place a try if you're looking to purchase new instruments!

Deana was super nice and answered all our questions!! Very lovely place and such lovely peopleread more