I've loved every music shop I have ever been in. Lie! Some shops just cry out "we're stuffed shirts, don't touch our instruments, trust us and buy what we tell you."

First folk oriented shop I entered was The Foghorn in Baltimore. I remember they had a coffeehouse downstairs which I attended twice: Judy Henske and later Jesse "Lonecat" Fuller (I feel blessed still today that I went to his concert).

I bought a few records there and they repaired my Martin after my father rolled out of bed and onto it. This was in 1966 I believe. Two tuning pegs were bent. They replaced all six with the new enclosed Grovers. I still wonder if I was wrong to agree to that. I just figured new was better (actually, the new Grovers were easier to tune with).

I suppose they sold instruments. I was too shy to finger browse and I didn't need to buy. The Foghorn closed decades ago.

Nowadays, I shop the House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park (a suburb of DC). I don't think they are cheap, but they seem to have everything (lots of exotic instruments) and are quite helpful. A good collection of folk-oriented CD's. They are very supportive of their customer base, promoting acoustic music in many different ways. They love the music, so I love 'em back.

I have mentioned Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe in another thread. Warm friendly atmosphere. A small collection of instruments in a wide price range. Reasonable prices. They lean heavily on Taylor guitars and they have a smattering of other stringed instruments. Good instructors if you like acoustic string music.

Locally, we have Coffey's Music who caters some to acoustic music. Mike, the owner, is into jazz so they have lots of electric stuff and sell to young kids in garage bands. Coffey's used to be in one small room, things hanging off the wall, hardly any place to sit. Their new digs are more amenable to sitting around and playing their guitars.

I have played many an acoustic guitar in the Guitar Center and in the MARS store. They leave me alone which is the way I like it. Prices are discounted, but not steeply discounted. They have already put Gordon Miller Music out of business. The two stores are about a half-mile apart and Gordon was inbetween them. He didn't have a chance. But I never felt they catered to the acoustic musician, oh no, it's only rock and roll.

I was on vacation in Maine last year and stopped in a store that catered mostly to guitars and violins. They had some nice vintage guitars and some nice handmade guitars. I spent about a half an hour in the two room store, played a few guitars, drooled some, and never saw an employee. The door was open, but no one was there. They may have been upstairs.

Roger in Baltimore