Whether you’re a vintage guitar aficionado, have always loved the deep twang of a retro instrument, or simply love the unique look of old guitars, the best vintage guitar stores in Sydney have you covered. Here, you’ll find a rare, character-filled guitar that is musically and aesthetically on point, but you can also shop for old-school classics from a significant era and find something that looks and sounds better than your off-the-shelf options. Simply pop into one of these stores and let the knowledgeable staff find your perfect pitch by guiding you through the hand-crafted, history-laden, music-porn-producing instruments adorning their shop walls.
Best Vintage Guitar Shops in Sydney at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following options:
- Best overall: Pete’s Musicians Market
- For Fender guitars: The Guitar Lounge Sydney
- For vintage guitar repairs: Gladesville Guitar Factory
Now you’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
1. Pete’s Musicians Market
Sadly, only a few vintage guitar stores in Sydney remain, but it’s great to see the legendary Pete’s Musicians Market still serving some of Sydney’s best new and used guitars. Here, you’ll find everything from custom Fender American Standard Stratocasters to the new Francisco Domingo FG16 Classical and everything in between. Pete’s been in business for more than 25 years, and he doesn’t sell anything he wouldn’t play himself, so if you have any questions, you know he’ll have the answers. He also sells vintage guitars on consignment, so if you’ve got a gem that you want to move, let him know!
Address: 494 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-4pm
Phone: (02) 9550 1416
Shop at Pete’s Musicians Market
2. Gladesville Guitar Factory
Gladesville Guitar Factory is your go-to vintage guitar store in Sydney for a vast range of guitars and accessories. They also have a repair shop, guitar school, rental options, clearance items and package deals. Their used and vintage guitars range from Collings’ mandolins to a Martin & Co. vintage 1964 to a National Resolectric Resonator.
Address: 280 Victoria Rd, Gladesville NSW 2111
Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri 9:30am-5pm, Thu 9:30am-6pm, Sat 9:30am-4pm
Phone: (02) 9817 2173
Shop at Gladesville Guitar Factory
3. Downtown Music Sydney
First established in 1957, Downtown Music Sydney has a rich history of providing people’s favourite new, old vintage guitars from what was commonly referred to as Sydney’s ‘guitar strip’ in Annandale. With three rooms of new, preloved, vintage and rare guitars, amps, and accessories you’re bound to find something that’ll hit just the right chord. You’ll find everything from a Tom Anderson Crowdster Plus 2 Left Handed to a 1994 Fender 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Limited Edition and everything in between. That includes new guitars!
Address: 141 Parramatta Rd, Annandale NSW 2038
Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-5pm, Fri-Sun 10am-4pm
Phone: (02) 9569 2744
4. The Guitar Lounge Sydney
The Guitar Lounge Sydney considers themselves to the ‘home of tone’. As the only dedicated Fender specialist in Australia, they are definitely in tune with specialist guitars. They stock exclusively Fender, Gretsch and Maton guitars, which is what sets them apart. As one of the most comprehensive vintage guitar stores in Sydney, they also provide valuations, amps and spare parts.
Address: 259 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm
Phone: (02) 9264 1978
Shop at The Guitar Lounge Sydney
5. Guitar Factory Parramatta
Sift through the musical treasures at Guitar Factory, the Western suburbs’ longest continuously trading music store, and let your heart run free with the ample stock. The experienced staff at one of the best guitar shops in Sydney are all musicians themselves, so they are happy to run you through the irresistible and quirky range of rare guitars in Sydney they have on hand.
Address: 255 Church Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-6pm, Sat 9:30am-4pm
Phone: (02) 9635 5552
Shop at Guitar Factory Parramatta
6. Mannys Music
Previously known as ‘Big Music Shop’, Mannys Music in Crows Nest has a dedicated showroom full of electric, acoustic, and bass guitars. There’s a focus on new guitars here, with everything from your entry-level Ashton Joey to your rare and sought-after Gibsons, including a very expensive Adam Jones Flying V Collector’s Edition Murphy Lab. If you’re looking for a guitar shop that also repairs, Mannys recently renovated their guitar tech workshop and has plenty of guitar techs inside for basic to more advanced repairs.
Address: 85 Alexander Street, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm
Phone: (02) 9157 8450
Alternatives to These Guitar Stores in Sydney
- Premier Guitars (appointment only): According to customers of Premier Guitars, this is easily one of the best vintage guitar stores in Sydney for collectible pieces – maybe the best in Australia. It is an institution in the Northern Beaches with no shopfront, just an invite-only showroom (you won’t find them on Google) where clients can inspect and play any instrument by appointment. They specialise in acoustic, electric, unique, collectible, rare, vintage or weird and wonderful. They are a commission-based sales agency, charging a ~20% commission and offering prime storage and broking services.
- Vintage Guitars Australia (appointment only): The name of Vintage Guitars Australia is pretty self-explanatory. Founder Tony Sheedy collects mostly pre-1970 Fender and Gibson vintage guitars in Sydney and 1980s vintage USA reissues, seeking only the best, most original examples that well-known vintage experts inspect. Sheedy has dealt with some of the world’s leading vintage guitar dealers, making this one of Sydney’s best vintage guitar stores. Founder Tony Sheedy collects mostly pre-1970 Fender and Gibson vintage guitars in Sydney and 1980s vintage USA reissues, seeking only the very best, most original examples that are inspected by well-known vintage experts. If you’re after something he doesn’t have listed, he can almost certainly help you find it.
- Guitar Jungle (appointment only): Leo, the owner of Guitar Jungle, has been collecting, repairing, servicing, and selling quality guitars for over 25 years. He’s also jammed with legends Joe Walsh and Jim Marshall, so he must know about a well-strung guitar. Guitar Jungle has both contemporary and vintage guitars, acoustic, electric, and bass. Combine this with a local, friendly touch, and it easily qualifies as one of Sydney’s best vintage guitar stores.
- Global Vintage Guitars (online only): From Ibanex Tubescreamers to Fender Stratocasters, Global Vintage Guitars stocks all your favourite vintage guitar equipment online after closing their Annandale store in March 2024, after 15 years of business. You’ll be in for a treat if you need a left-handed guitar or wouldn’t mind a rare Japanese make at a world-competitive price.
- Matt’s Vintage Guitars (appointment only): Matt Snashall is an expert in vintage and secondhand American guitars, having collected and traded them for over 20 years. If you want to browse his unique collection, you can do so online, but picking his knowledgeable brain by booking an appointment would be our recommendation.
Article originally posted on: https://manofmany.com/entertainment/music/best-vintage-guitar-shops-sydney
