New Archtop Guitar Dealers Added to FineArchtops.com

Fine Archtops recently unveiled our archtop guitar dealers page, which started with three of the most prominent dealers of archtops. Now, we’ve expanded the page to feature seven dealers, and hope to continue to keep building on this momentum.

New additions to the dealers’ page include:

Stan Jay

With friend and partner Harold “Hap” Kuffner, Stan Jay started Mandolin Bros. in 1971, setting up shop in the heart of Staten Island. Hap left the store in 1982, but Stan has continued the store, becoming one of the largest dealers of vintage and new fretted instruments. The shop was named as “the best guitar store in New York” by New York Magazine, and Mandolin Bros. has sold instruments to top musicians like George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. The store does not carry just anything, as Stan is careful to choose only the best instruments from top manufacturers and the finest of today’s luthiers.

John Reynolds

John Reynolds won’t display a guitar he himself doesn’t want to own. Whether it’s new or used, John’s shop, Golden Age Fretted Instruments, displays some of the finest guitars imaginable. In recent years, John has developed an appreciation of modern, handcrafted guitars, and he has formed business affiliations with several FineArchtops.com luthiers. For John, it’s all about relationships, from the customer’s relationship with Golden Age to their relationship with the instruments.

Dave Rogers

Beginning in July 1982, Dave’s Guitar Shop in La Crosse, Wisc. has gone from featuring 17 guitars of Dave Rogers’ own stock to becoming one of the nation’s largest and most reputable guitar shops. Dave’s Guitar Shop is 20,000 square feet of new, used and vintage electric and acoustic guitars, amplifiers and accessories from top manufacturers and independent luthiers. The shop has done business with many guitar luminaries, including Joe Walsh, members of Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Keith Richards and Vince Gill.

Buzzy Levine

Guitar players, collectors and aficionados have trusted Buzzy Levine for over 30 years. His long list of happy and satisfied customers include legends like Billy Gibbons, Jackson Browne, Robert Plant, Eric Clapton, Brian Setzer, Bucky Pizzarelli and more. From its humble beginnings performing all aspects of stringed-instrument repairs, Levine’s Lark Street Music now features new and used acoustic and electric, while continuing to specialize in repairs, restorations and appraisals.

Nate Westgor

Located on a quiet Saint Paul street corner, Willie’s American Guitars and owner Nate Westgor have formed close relationships with many of yesterday’s and today’s biggest starts, like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Eric Clapton and more. Over the past 24 years, the store has become a popular destination for touring guitarists and bands. It’s become a gathering place for local guitarists and musicians to find unique and hard-to-come-by instruments.

Pete Wagener

The only job Pete Wagener has ever had has been working at Lavonne Music, the business started by his father when Pete was in grade school. For over 20 years, Pete has been the store’s owner. His passion has been to collect archtop guitars, and has included every archtop made by Gibson, in every color. His collection and inventory features archtops from Epiphone, D’Aquisto, Stromberg and many, many more. Pete is respected as a leading archtop authority. 

Archtop Guitar Dealers Now Featured on Fine Archtops

Fine Archtops continues to grow and become the Internet’s No. 1 resource source for archtop guitars, and as a result, we’ve expanded our purview to include archtop guitar dealers.

Now, visitors are able to find information of some of the most prominent archtop guitar dealers. The three we’ve added so far have a great deal of experience in the custom archtop market, and has an excellent track record in selling custom archtops.

Many of the luthiers at Fine Archtops have had long-standing relationships with individual dealers, and new archtops may be commissioned and sold through these vendors.

Here are the dealers now featured on FineArchtops.com:

Larry Wexer

Larry has over the past 25 years gained notoriety for being an expert with vintage and luthier-built guitars from D’Angelico, Stromberg and D’Aquisto to the finest, modern luthiers. Larry has always had a passion for archtop guitars, which can be seen by taking a visit to his website, which is a cyber journey into his Manhattan shop. Additionally, he done freelance consulting for Christie’s Auction House, evaluating acoustic guitars in Eric Clapton and Richard Gere auction sales.

George Gruhn

For over 50 years, George Gruhn has made himself known as the one to see if you’re looking to buy a stringed instrument: new, used or vintage. Customers to Gruhn Guitars have included some of music’s heavyweights, including Clapton, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney and many, many more. Visiting his website will take you to diverse inventory of luthier-built archtops, vintage guitars and other, fine fretted instruments.

Tom Van Hoose

As a world-renowned expert and collector of custom and vintage archtop guitars, Dr. Thomas Van Hoose is well known among archtop guitar fans for his expertise in custom and vintage instrument history, assessment and valuation. In 1991, he founded Van Hoose Vintage Instruments, which is dedicated to bringing the finest guitars in an open, friendly and honest manner. 

International Guitar Month | Fine Archtops

April is International Guitar Month. It began in 1987 by the National Association of Music Merchants and the Guitar & Accessories Marketing Association as a way to help retail guitar shops generate interest in their stores. Today, International Guitar Month is celebrated, without sponsorship, by guitar enthusiasts around the world. International Guitar Month is a special occasion to celebrate the vast and wonderful world of guitars. It is a time when all guitarists can connect, no matter what type of guitar is their specialty.

Study Something New About Your Guitar

If you play a guitar, celebrate International Guitar Month by learning something new about it. Learn a new technique on it or educate yourself about the history of your guitar. Find out how the type of guitar you play is made. You might be surprised!

Learn to Play Guitar

If you don't play a guitar, International Guitar Month is the perfect excuse to learn how to play one. Research some local music shops and take a guitar lesson from someone in your community. Read a book or watch a video about guitars. There are many resources on this history of guitars, how they are made and more.

Share Your Knowledge

Share your knowledge about guitars with someone who has not taken the opportunity to educate themselves. Passing information around may inspire someone new to pick up a guitar. Motivate others to enjoy future International Guitar Months as a guitar player.

Together we can spread the joy of playing music. Pick up your guitar and play it or teach someone else how to play it. Learning new things can enrich anyone's life.

Start your education today by visiting our website www.finearchtops.com. Learn about archtop jazz guitars and the luthiers who have dedicated their lives to producing such a fine product.