Very disappointed. This place came highly recommended to me as an old-school guitar shop where masters buy, sell, and work on vintage gear. I stopped in to ask about whether they could do some work on my strats, whether that work is by appointment, and approximate pricing. I was treated like I was stupid. Maybe they do great work, but they do not do customer service. Not trusting these jerks with my instruments. read more

Alan in the repair shop was incredibly helpful and amiable. I didn't have the proper tools to reattach a volume knob on a janky T-15 that was collecting dust in my closet, so he did that and replaced a missing strap button free of charge. Also one of the tuning pegs had split in half and was jury-rigged together with a plastic tie (the kind the cops use to handcuff folks when they run out of the metal ones?). Anyway, to remedy that issue, I would have to replace all six tuners which came fixed together in one single piece which would be around $60. He actually told me it wasn't necessary to replace it if it was working for me and stayed in tune, which was the case. His honesty was appreciated since it is primarily a utilitarian axe (and far from my favorite guitar) so I'm not really excited about spending money on it unless I have to. So...Real Guitars has a super friendly staff/environment and I would go here again before attempting an inevitably overwhelming experience at Guitar Center. For their generosity and service, I gave them extra Peavey knobs that someone will probably come in needing one day. read more

I visited Real Guitars for the first time yesterday. I was with a buddy who was picking up his guitar after repair....and is happy with the results. The place is very laid back (as other reviews pointed out), yet the people who work there are very approachable and only to glad to answer questions. They have an interesting collection of inexpensive knock-offs, to vintage guitars as well as a solid collection of used amps. read more

My favorite guitar store in the Bay Area. A great selection of old Fender Amps. Bought my 1966 Deluxe Reverb here. I would recommend it to any serious guitar player. They don't have a good selection of pedals, picks or other junk accessories but they do have awesome guitars and amps. The staff here is very friendly, they have a good sense of humor and most importantly know and love guitars and amps. The turnover of gear here is pretty steady so they always seem to have different stuff! If you want to buy your kid a new piece of junk guitar made by Fender or Gibson go elsewhere, if you are a distinguishing guitarist that is obsessed with old Fenders or Gibsons come to Real Guitars. read more

I have been going to Real Guitars since it's opening some 23 years ago. In fact, I even filled in (worked Saturdays) for a while when one of the original owners, Joe McNamara was in the hospital way back when. I still have a few items I purchased over the years from RG (still play the '57 Fender tweed Champ amp Ben sold me for $90 a million years ago). As another post stated you can probably find something there cool for you. If not, keep checking because the inventory does move... Oh, and let's face it, the days of going into vintage/used shops and finding an incredible deal are loooong gone. Rent in SF like anywhere ain't cheap. Still, the fellas there are at least fair in the pricing (i.e. about the same as anywhere else) and are always helpful and knowledgeable. read more

LOVE this place. It really epitomizes what a rock n roll guitar shop is all about. Small, Dark cramped and filled with some of the raddest vintage gear in the city. Prices are reasonable and they always have an incredibly diverse selection of amps, guitars and effects. Located down an alley, it can be a bit tricky to find your first time out. Don't let that stop you though. This is a spot every musician in the city should check out at least once. read more

They don't jump all over you trying to sell something. They don't treat you like a criminal for looking. I may have bought the least expensive guitar there and they were super nice to me. As a woman this is not my usual experience (looking at you Haight Ashbury Music Center, oh wait, you're gone). read more

This place is awesome. Great selection of awesome vintage instruments, a decent selection of odd and straight forward guitars and basses too. I want money to buy things. I'll ask the president to give me some. read more

There are always some great vintage guitars and amps here. Though the acoustic selection is slim they often have an amazing Martin or Gibson. The staff has always been respectful, laid back and helpful. I've found a few great deals here on consignment. Pedal selection is somewhat lacking, for vintage gear and cool guitars this is the place to go. read more

This is a great place to find some rare, vintage instruments you would never see in, say, Guitar Center. Very small space inside. Service-wise, it seems kind of hit or miss. The guy at the front desk may not even acknowledge your existence, but the guy doing repairs in the back was amazing for me on one particular occasion. I bought a new set of tuners online for my Casino, and brought them in ready to put money down for a repair job to replace my current tuners, in an effort to solve some stability issues on the headstock. But the repair guy basically turned away my business, and gave me a really easy -- and free -- solution on the spot just using a screwdriver. I walked back out with my guitar, and shipped the tuners back to Gibson. read more

I love small guitar shops like this place. Everything is used so you never know what you'll find. It's pretty much hit or miss, which is something I like. The last time I was there I was lucky enough find a really great Strat that revealed some nice surprises. Besides getting a good deal on it (and a Fender amp) it turned out that it had some sweet Fender Custom Shop pickups in it and some other cool wiring modifications. The service was really great, too. I don't know the name of the guy who was working there but he was very friendly, answered all of my all questions, and never pressured me to buy anything. This is a fun place to check out from time to time, as you never know what you might find there. read more

Update: i just bought a sweet overdrive pedal from Chris yesterday. it was a super deal and just what i needed. he was really helpful and funny too. Great used guitar shop but be warned, you are usually invisible to the staff. Chris Cobb is L.A.M.E. and here's why. I live 2 block away from this place, being a fan of vintage gear and odd guitars i stop by every now and then to see what they have in stock. now I've boughten a few 12 string electric guitars from this place and traded a couple more in, not to mention random pedals here and there. but this one time i go in at around 5:30 pm and i find Chris behind the counter talking to two other gentlemen about upcoming shows or whatever, and i wait, and wait, and wait (now i know this place closes at six, in fact i was racing over from work to catch it). i know he can see me looking around his shop but he doesn't say a word and continues his conversation. "No worries" i thought to myself, "be polite, just wait your turn," after all there are plenty of distractions hanging on the wall, what better way to kill time. well finally i get tired of waiting after all, i was just gonna purchase a set of strings for my 12 string guitar, a five minute interaction at the most. so i stand right by the counter for about another five minutes and he turns his head slowly and says to me, finally "Can i help you man?" and i say " yeah sure, i just wanted to grab a set of strings for my 12 string electric." " yeah...we might be out of them, and what's worse we closed about ten minutes ago." He turns, for the first time, not to check his inventory, but gestures to the clock behind him, and then back again. 6:10 it says, and casually continues his conversation. i walked out shaking my head, totally impressed. unbelievable but true. to be honest, i still go in but i try to avoid this guy at all cost. What can i say they've got good shit. if you're looking for service this isn't your place. however if you're looking for an aged rocker totally convinced he's the center of the blues universe. Chris Cobb's your man! PS. the dudes in Gary's repair shop including Gary and the lutheir in the back are very nice and extremely helpful. read more

The place to go in Northern Californian to have your guitar set-up. Expect to wait a few weeks. Always a few vintage treasures lying around to check out while your dropping or picking up your guitar. read more

I bought my first Gibson Les Paul from Real Guitars in 1990. It was a 1974 Standard, with a repaired headstock, for $550! I was initially sent referred there from another shop on VanNess, which was at one time Leo's pro audio right afterwards. Years later I'd purchased a Gibson Les Paul DC, for $800...at which point I also traded in an Ibanez Les Paul copy, for $250, 50 more than what I'd paid originally at the pawn shop I'd bought it at. There have been a number of other acquisitions I've been fortunate enough to get there, and a lot more I'd wished I'd HAD GOTTEN!!! Regardless, if you go to the shop, it may seem a bit strange to some, but to me it couldn't make any better sense. Sure the owner might seem like a weirdo, BUT SO AM I, and if he's WEIRD, THEN I'M A FULL BLOWN LOON!! I'd just found out, that 6 months ago, one of my other reviews hit the Channel 7 news...accusing me of being a fake!!! Unfortunately I was unable to know anything about the HOOPLAH, because I was being detained for some months courtesy of my parole agent.... Real Guitars is really cool...The management, isn't tripping out on the customers, or even the potential clientele. Furthermore, they aren't trying to blame any negative reviews on YELP for their own poopoo KAKA...(like some other guitar shop I reviewed....) All in all, while cool guitars are what i'm looking for, a cool attitude seals the deal...sure they've got some PRICEY SHIT, but it's all within perspective.... read more

Chris was very nice and extremely helpful! One of the best things about the store is the freedom and trust they give their customers. For example, I asked nicely if I could pull a 62' strat off of the wall and he let me. At Guitar Center, you don't get that freedom...especially with fine vintage guitars. Next, they have a good selection of not only high end guitars, but unique, cheaper vintage guitars such as Kay and other similar brands. It's a great store and I would highly recommend! read more

Most of my gear came from here. THE place for vintage gear, both the collectible and affordable. Fender and Marshall amps from different periods're well represented, as well as their current reissues AND 3'rd party 'boutique' versions. Guitars from 30s-40s acoustics to a constant stream of Fenders, Gibsons and others. The assortment of pedals include the Zvex line and some rarities like the 'Talkbox' (think Peter Frampton). The proprietors are knowledgeable, informative and randomly prone to anecdotes. read more

Very nice customer service! And a awesome collection of vintage fender amps! Got to test a collection of guitars! Keep ut the good work ;)

I had purchased a '64 Gretsch for my boyfriend for his last birthday from a secondhand seller. While the guitar was in beautiful condition, it needed it's neck reset and a few minor tune ups! I went to see Gary and Fernando here at real guitars and immediately felt comfortable to have them work on it! We took it in and a few weeks later we picked it up and man.. Good as new!! Can't give this place enough praise! Gary and his guys do amazing work and Fernando was so kind and easy to talk to about the repairs! Don't take your guitars any where else!!!! read more

Fantastic guitar shop probably my favorite in the world!!! Really really great prices. Tons of good acoustics and electrics with a nice selection of semi-hollow Gibson's and amps galore, best amp shop I've ever been in period. Want a vintage fender amp?a newest one? An old Marshall? They have it. Or they will soon.... Just bought a 65 twin reissue and I'm in love with it... read more

These guys are awesome. I love hanging out and looking around there. I'm a lefty, so it's hard to find stuff, but they normally have a few in stock, which is nice. The guys there are cool and friendly and fair, and they have great gear. In addition, Gary Brawer guitar repair is in the back of the shop! What more could you ask for? read more

My absolute favorite guitar shop. Its the absolute opposite of the corporate guitar-sploitation at Guitar Center. Racks of old beautiful guitars hanging all around, some gorgeously weird (they currently have a strat covered in actual python skin), new stuff every time I go in, and a really friendly and knowledgeable staff. The guitars here come with souls. And the repair shop in the back is the gold standard in guitar repair, there's really no reason to ever use anyone else. read more

This is the best place to find rare, vintage, and obscure guitar amplifiers, bar none. I delight with every visit in finding something that I never knew existed, and sometimes, probably shouldn't have been made in the first place (Greg Heil's 30" largely useless woofer comes to mind). The staff know their history and have been ever helpful in the eighteen years I've been going there. read more

Real Guitars is hands down the best place to get a guitar or amp in San Francisco. You'll always find a good deal and some fantastic vintage guitars to drool over here. The staff allows you to try just about anything you want, no questions asked, and don't make you feel stupid or annoying, unlike those jackasses over at Rocker. Chris (one of the owners) is one of the friendliest people I've ever met, and incredibly knowledgeable on all things guitar. He is willing to help any customer out with what they need, and is flexible with prices. Come down to Real Guitars to experience one of the last true independent guitar shops-a welcome change from the cacophony of Guitar Center. read more

They have a lot of cool used (mostly vintage) guitars and amps in the shop. Most of this stuff is for PLAYERS, not collectors. If you want a tweed or Blackface Fender or some ancient Les Paul or Tokai come here before ebay. You can plug the stuff in and play it without any sales pressure and find something cool. Prices are a little high compared to the ebay or CL market, but at least you know who you're buying the instrument from, and that that person will be in the same place tomorrow if you have an issue (keep reading). Prices are for the most part negotiable. Most importantly: ASK QUESTIONS and EXAMINE CLOSELY WHAT YOU ARE BUYING. Things can get a little tricky here. Here's my story. I came in to pickup a guitar that was being repaired by Gary Brawer (who operates out of the back of Real Guitars but is in no other way associated with them). Real had some Telecasters that I was interested in, so I sat down with a Deluxe Reverb ( after asking nicely!) and proceeded to plug every one in until I found a guitar that hit the spot. It was a beat up white Japanese Telecaster 1985/86. The thing played and sounded fantastic. I asked the proprietor if it was all original. He said YES, except for the pick guard, which was aftermarket (this was apparent, because Japanese sizing (metric) is slightly different than American, and the pick guard was ill fitted.) I ended up buying the guitar (he took $100 off the marked price) and left feeling good about my purchase. When I got home, I decided to examine the guitar more closely. First, I removed the pick guard and found that someone had done a poor job drilling additional holes in the body in order to install the new pick guard. I then removed the neck and found that it too was not original (although it was an American made maple Fender neck, signed "Chavez," who is apparently a renowned Fender luthier). On top of that, probably the same idiot who installed the pick guard had also drilled the bolt holes in the neck and made a few mistakes in the process. So I took the guitar back the next day, to let the guys at Real know, and to see if they might compensate me for selling me a guitar that was not as advertised. Long story short (er), they chuckled a bit when I told them about the drilling and said "Look, man, we can refund your money if that's what you want." I told them I still wanted to keep the guitar, to which they responded, 'Well, then what do you want from us?" I suggested maybe some cash back. They said, "How much?" I said, "I don't know, you're the guitar experts. What's it worth now that this new information has come to bear on the transaction?" They said, "What's the guitar worth to you?" I said "$50 less than what I paid." So they took out an envelope and counted out the cash. Overall, things turned out ok. The neck is stable and the holes in the body are small, concealed (though ugly) and have no structural impact on the instrument. I think Real Guitars knew about the holes in the body, but not about the aftermarket neck. It's slightly disconcerting to know that they were ignorant about what they were actually selling. Especially considering the severe attention to detail paid to instruments, concerning issues of authenticity and condition, by the many guitar players on guitar forums I've spent some time on. You'd think that a shop specializing in vintage stuff would do more than look up the serial number on the bridge plate of a guitar, in order to verify it's origin. The first thing a guitar player on a Harmony Central forum will tell you is to check the neck pocket and neck butt too! For whatever reason, and to my frustration, Real guitars did not make such an effort this time. Fortunately, they were reasonable about what happened and willing to satisfy an upset customer. I think for the most part they are honest, knowledgeable and well-meaning people, so give them a chance, you'll find some cool stuff, but BUYER BE AWARE! read more

Be careful here. They have good stuff and you might not be able to leave without buying something you should not afford. I would give them five stars but I hate how good they are! Plek anyone? yes they do. read more

I've frequented this place forever and they're the best. They always bend over backwards to make everything right with every purchase and they certainly have the best selection of vintage guitars and amps in the bay area! read more

Great service. Taught me how to string a guitar and charged me almost nothing for the lessons and the strings.

Amazing Guitar Shop! No pressure and great equipment. I'm really new to buying guitar equipment and I never felt like they tried to get me to buy anything. They limit the amount of amps on at once to ONE. Very cool. Other places can get annoying with everyone practicing at full volume. I've asked tons of questions and they've always patiently given me great answers. Can't say enough good things. Gary's repair shop is also great. Straightforward, honest, helpful and informed. Real musician's helping you out. They stand behind their work and want to make you happy. It's what I'd always imagined a guitar shop should be like. Go here before you go anywhere else. read more

I found my new favorite guitar store! You won't find brand new guitars here, but the guitars you will find are high quality and unique. The staff is absolutely wonderful. You won't feel intimidated at all, and the staff is quick to help you and make conversation. I came here to find a Christmas present with my mom, and our price limit was $500, there were plenty of guitars well within our budget. The staff is happy to pull down countless guitars for you to try. They also carry amps, strings, loop pedals, and anything else you'd need to fulfill your guitar needs. They even threw in a free set of strings with my guitar! They also do excellent guitar repairs. Like I said, the staff really made the experience. My mom was talking to Fernando (awesome pink hair, by the way) while another very nice staff member helped me try guitars to my hearts content. Definitely recommend this store! read more

Simply the best.. at everything! Real people dealing with and repairing lovely equipment. Seriously I can not express how much I appreciate the folks that own and run this lil gem. Keep it "Real", that's what they do, no kidd'in! read more

This is a hidden treasure in SF! They are down a tiny alley, but worth the trip! They have vintage equipment for sale at great prices and an excellent repair shop. They take care of your baby like it's one of their own! These are real musicians who treat people and their gear like family. read more

This place is magic. Turn down an unassuming street and duck into a world of weird guitars! I traded my strat for a 1947 Harmony Patrician plus the difference! They do buy reissues (mine was from 2007) so it ain't strictly vintage. Very helpful and relaxed dudes. You know that feeling when you're making a large transaction and maybe you make a stupid decision because you forget who you are and why you went in and then the guy stops talking to you and then you start thinking about what other people in the store are thinking and if you're going to regret buying the thing or maybe you should just leave cause you have to take a dump out of sheer anxiety? None of that here. There's something Real about this place ; ) It smells like history!! read more

Great collection of gear for those that don't mind paying for high quality vintage stuff.

I stopped in here for a few hours while visiting from out of town. The shop has a great selection of vintage guitars and related equipment (amps, funky Moog gadgets, etc) that you can play around with. They have mostly electric gear, so as someone who has played mostly acoustic, it was a real treat to be able to try out guitar after guitar. I ended up not buying anything on that trip, but this would definitely be a place I would visit again as I expect they have an ever-changing inventory and would probably be a place where I could find a guitar that just feels *right* for me. Fair warning: The overall feel of the place was like being in a friend's garage (or your friend's dad's garage maybe?). If that makes you feel nostalgic or you think that just sounds really cool, right on! If it turns you off and you would rather go into a spotless showroom, then this is probably not the place for you. read more

I have quite a large collection of vintage guitars, mainly from the 60's. So as a visitor to San Francisco I was interested to check this store out and went in last week. There is a good collection of interesting guitars. I spoke briefly to the owner about some guitars I am looking to buy. He gave me some fairly cursory answers and didn't seem too interested. In fact sometimes he didn't even look up from his guitar magazine as he spoke. From my experience guitar store owners are normally a little bit more friendly but maybe it was just me! I won't rush back there, which is a pity as looks like he stocks a wide range of vintage guitars. read more

On a lark I decided to check out this place and Rocker Guitars at the same time. I'd never been to either and had heard both recommended recently, and they're only a couple blocks apart, so what the hey, right? For some reason I thought they'd be pretty similar but the two stores are like night and day. Real Guitars is a true hole in the wall--if I hadn't heard before I went that it's hard to find, I likely would have given up. It's true the place doesn't announce itself with grand flourishes...or at all. A faded, tarnished sign below the front window is the only indication that this little storefront on a tiny alley between Mission and Howard is the spot. So what's it like? It pretty faithfully recreates the ambience of an old-time pawnshop, I'll say that. It'll take your eyes a moment or three to adjust to the dim light after the glare of the street. Once they do, you'll see lots of no-name dingers and beaters hanging on the walls, and amps stacked around so as to create makeshift walkways through the small space. All of the gear here is used--and well-used at that--but that doesn't mean there aren't some good finds. The drawback is that the good stuff is priced accordingly, and often over-priced at that. I know a blackface Fender Twin Reverb is the holy grail of amps, but the one they had was way too whupped-looking to justifiably ask $2K for. As with all used gear stores, the inventory likely fluctuates a lot and so what you'll find when you drop in is a matter of serendipity and/or persistence, but if you know what you're looking for and are knowledgeable about music gear, this could well be a worthwhile place to hunt--just be prepared to pay for your treasure. Real Guitars, it is worth mentioning, is also the homebase for both Gary Brawer (SF's most reputable guitar tech) and Dan Ransom (one of the city's best-known custom luthiers)--both excellent at what they do, but my review relates more to the in-store inventory here. read more

Great with guitars, not so much with appraisals. My friend's musician Dad died recently and she was tasked with liquidating his musical stock. He'd told her that his guitars, of which there were about thirteen, were valuable. Since she didn't know how to value them I contacted a music store that I trusted and was referred to Real Guitars. The man to whom I spoke seemed very knowledgable and encouraged me to upload photos of the guitar front, headstock and serial numbers. I uploaded five of them, one of which was a vintage Gibson (c.1963) in pristine condition. A few days later I was given an appraisal price of $2,500 for the lot. Needless to say I was shocked! He said that they would purchase them for $1,500. My son said 'Ma you need to get a second opinion. That seems very low.' So, EC Music Works referred me to Gruhn Guitars' online appraisal site. This time I just uploaded two guitars for review; the vintage Gibson and the Gibson Les Paul Special. The appraisal from Gruhn was nearly $3,000 for just these two guitars. So, while I am sure that Real Guitars is a great place to hunt for, repair and buy vintage guitars I'd think twice before going to them for an appraisal. I do appreciate that they tried to help me but I'm so glad that I got a second opinion. Whew! Catastrophe averted. Now, we'll upload the rest and put these beautiful instruments to bed. read more

Don't make a special trip. If you live in the area, maybe. Lot's of junk, not even vintage cool junk.

This is the best guitar shop in SF. The owners, Ben and Chris, are nice, knowledgeable, and fair. Great inventory, great prices, always happy to trade and they have onsite repair services (I think they do amps too). I trust them completely and go here before anywhere else for any stringed instrument issues. This wonderful place should be known by every musician in the Bay Area, thanks for being awesome Real Guitars!! read more

I visited Real Guitars on a recommendation from a reputable professional musician. This shop has an amazing selection of vintage guitars and amps. I was interested in purchasing an acoustic on a very limited budget. Chris and Fernando were both extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Chris helped me choose a guitar and kept within my monetary limits. And, I got a beauty! As I am just learning how to play, Fernando also gave me a quick lesson. How awesome is that?! These guys were so friendly, non-intimidating, and nothing but enthusiastic. read more