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 Cambridge Music Music mega-marts like Guitar Center and Daddy’s Junky Music are the city’s most popular spots, but with an ever-rotating wallfull of axes, this unassuming Porter Square shop will help you realize your inner Yngwie. For $23, you can take a half-hour lesson in guitar, bass, harmonica, sax or banjo — banjo! — and a recent visit revealed a 7-string Gibson, a Chapman stick, a McCartneyesque Hofner bass and a flower-shaped Daisy Rock guitar. 1905 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Porter. Mon-Thurs 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun Noon-5 p.m. 617-491-5433 www.cambridgemusic.com Guitar Stop Out of all the shops listed here, this place is the furthest cry from the guitar shop parodied in “Wayne’s World.” Here you’ll find knowledgeable, unpretentious service and employees who aren’t stoned. Somehow, it’s still cool. We found a used acoustic starter for $75. And when it comes to Fender Stratocasters, this shop has got the competition licked. We counted 35. Up until January of this year you could even buy car insurance here too, we swear to God. 1760 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Porter. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun Noon.-6 p.m. 617-876-0687 www.guitarstop.com Mr. Music This 32-year-old shop not only sells guitars that range from under $100 and up, but they also have CDs, concert tickets and more effects pedals than all of the new progcore bands combined. Oh yeah — for all you Hendrixes and Cobains, Mr. Music’s lefty selection will lift you out of any manic depression. 128 Harvard Ave., Allston. | MBTA: Green Line to Harvard Ave. Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-7p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun Noon-5 p.m. 617-783-1609 www.coolguitars.com Rock City Guitars If we are to believe their outgoing phone message, Rock City is “the only shop in Boston that doesn’t suck.” What they should have added was “for bass players.” Specializing in whacko axes like 8- and 12-string basses (starting at $399), Rock City’s de facto mayor Corey Buckingham says all of the employees play bass. More importantly, their customers are mostly professional musicians, many coming from nearby Q Division studios. They also sell cheapo guitars for as low as $125. 378 Highland Ave., Somerville. | MBTA: Red Line to Davis. Tue-Thurs 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri, Sat 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 617-623-7100 www.rockcityguitar.com Sandy’s Music If you’re the acoustic-and-patchouli type, visit Sandy’s. The big-bearded man himself hosts an “old-timey jam” every Monday night at 8 if you want an excuse to sing about moonshine. You can bring your own or borrow from the trusty, musty stock of cowboy guitars, classical guitars, mandolins, banjos, washboards and ukuleles. 896 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. | MBTA: Red Line to Central Mon-Sat Noon to 6 p.m., open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. 617-491-2812 www.sandysmusic.com |
