Instrument shops

[PLEASE NOTE: Information listed here was accurate as of March 16, 2005. Please call the business to verify information.]

Guitar geeks love Musician’s Workshop on Merrimon.

As you might expect in the land of mountain music, our region boasts a remarkable array of instrument stores. From handmade acoustic to big band to classical to solid rock, the following purveyors cater to the eclectic musical tastes that abound here, each with their own flavor:

• Acoustic Corner, 105-F Montreat Road, Black Mountain (669-5162; www.acoustic-corner.com) — Offering an array of acoustic, stringed instruments for traditional musicians, and specializing in handmade instruments, including Deering, Ramsey and Cedar Mountain banjos; Larrivee, Huss & Dalton, Beard, Guild, Seagull and Webber guitars. Also offering repair, instruction, rentals and accessories.

• Blue Ridge Music, 828 Hendersonville Road, Asheville (225-3201) — Specializing in bluegrass, acoustic instruments and instructional materials, including Webber mandolins, Deering banjos, Resophonics, and other instruments by Martin, Bourgeois and Gold Tone; also featuring bluegrass CDs.

• Celestial Mountain Music, 16 W. Main St., Brevard (884-3575; www.celestialmtnmusic.com) — Home of Cedar Mountain banjos (Lo Gordon’s hand-built, open-back creations), and specializing in old-time and bluegrass instruments, lessons and repairs; other specialty items include the Crafters of Tennessee line of Dobros, banjos, guitars. Also hosting a weekly old-time jam at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

• Dunham’s Music Company, 1143 Tunnel Road, Asheville (298-4011) — Specializing in instruments for marching/concert bands, but also carrying a broad spectrum of personal instruments, from grand pianos and keyboards to guitars, plus big and small amp systems and speakers.

• The Electric Guitar Shop, 994-D Charlotte Hwy. (U.S. 74), Fairview (628-1966) — Specializing in vintage and collectibles, and carrying a host of electric brands: Gretsch, Dean, Jackson, Hamer and Italia guitars, Peavey guitars and amps, Orange and Headstrong amps.

• The Music Box, 128 W. Main St., Burnsville (678-9596) — The only instrument store in the three-county area of Yancey, Madison and Mitchell carries Angel violins, Samick guitars, plus mandolins and banjos, amps and wiring, and educational materials.

• Music City Asheville, 1408 Patton Ave., Asheville (253-8735) — Specializing in electric guitars: Gibson, Les Paul, Fender Custom Shop; and electric amps: Fender tube and Mesa/Boogie; some Gibson acoustic guitars. Also offering guitar lessons and minor repairs.

• Musician’s Workshop, 319 Merrimon Ave., Asheville (252-1249; www.musiciansworkshop.com) — Featuring instruments and accessories by Larrivee, Alvarez-Yairi, Fender, Ibanez, Tama, DW, Tascam, Ampeg and Yamaha, and a musician-staff for assistance and training; in-house service department led by luthier Josh Haddix; private instructional studios.

• Song of the Wood, 203 W. State St., Black Mountain (669-7675; www.songofthewood.com) — Home of Jerry Read Smith’s Song-of-the-Wood hammered dulcimers and bowed psalteries, and also carrying mountain dulcimers and other instruments by Dusty Strings and Masterworks. Also featuring Celtic harps by Dusty Strings, Stoney End and Triplett, and an extensive CD collection of traditional Irish music.

• Strains of Music, 67 Academy St., Waynesville (456-3331) — Full-line instrument store carrying bluegrass and acoustic instruments including guitars, mandolins, banjos, upright basses (some used); also electric instruments and equipment, band instruments and sheet music; featuring Martin, Fender, Takamine and Peavey guitars; Peavey equipment; Gretsch drums; Roland keyboards.

• Tempo Music Center, 244 N. Main St., Hendersonville (253-0800; www.tempomusiccenter.com) — Carrying a wide range of acoustic, band and orchestra instruments; handling a new line, Alhambra, of handmade acoustics and featuring a line of locally made Rockmace electric guitars (from Marion). Also featuring drums, lighting and sound equipment, books and accessories, and offering new, used and rental instruments and equipment.

— Nelda Holder