Lightning Joe's Guitar Heaven

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CLOSED NOW - Opens at 11:00am

If you need something and know what you want they are probably a good place to go, but if you need a consultant or someone to help you decide then they are the last place you should go.

I went to Joe to help me find which guitar I could get to do what I needed for a $2,000 budget. He stayed open late to sell me one. He said that it needed to be adjusted to be tuned down lower, so he did it free. Then 2 days later it sounded like crap so I took it back as part of their 2 or 3 day return policy. Then he said that it was totally fine it just needed to be adjusted again. 2 days later sounded like crap again and now I'm stuck with a $2,000 Martin guitar that doesn't do what I need it to do.

Then to make matters worse, I plugged the buzzy guitar into an amp the guitar is apparently tuned too low to be picked for this type of guitar which I had made clear to Joe how important it was. I took it back to him and he toyed around with it and said that it's as good as it's going to get.

He told me exactly what I needed to get the sale and he got the sale. He's a salesperson.

Joe is an awesome guy so is his family who all work with him. Some amazing guitars for sure.

Guitar Heaven says it all. Whether it is a guitar accessory or a professional grade instrument, you will find it there at Lightning Joe's. The store is a locally owned, family business catering to musicians of all levels. Every time I have gone into the store, I have seen and/or learned something new about guitars. I have purchased several guitars and a couple of vintage amps from Lightning Joe's over the past few years and have always been impressed with the service after the sale. Joe is a wealth of information and a factory certified master guitar technician. I know that whether I need a new set of strings, a setup, or neck adjustment, or all of the above, I can trust my instruments to Lightning Joe’s expertise.

The events, clinics and workshops are an added bonus to the already magical energy that pervades the store. I have attended guitar demos and clinics that Lightning Joe’s has hosted from both Martin and Taylor Guitars, where factory reps have explained and showcased their wares, answered questions about manufacturing, and discussed the tonal characteristics of the various woods used by their factory luthiers. As an added treat, some of their instruments were demonstrated by nationally renowned musicians allowing for first-hand appreciation of these tonal nuances. Of course if you prefer, one can sit and play them and compare their differences yourself.

Be sure to go upstairs to visit the Museum and gift shop. It is a truly amazing archive and collection of vintage instruments, amplifiers, and music memorabilia.

Again, the friendly, knowledgeable, personal attention offered by Lightning Joe and his family are complemented by the presence of the above-mentioned magical energy or “vibe”, as many of the ‘60s love generation called it. During my travels up and down the West Coast, I have been in many music stores from Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA and nothing comes close or compares to this establishment.

I highly recommend that you come and check out this piece of Guitar Heaven on earth located on California’s Scenic Central Coast.

This is the areas oldest and most established music store. Joe and his entire family work in the store, are the nicest people. They are knowledgeable, helpful and honest.

I would not hesitate to recommend this store to any musician, beginners or professionals. This is the best place to go for guitars or guitar supplies and parts. There is none better in Central Coast California.

An associate at a local music store gave them such a high recommendation that I made a 130 mile trip to have my father's guitar appraised and was not disappointed. These guys are real pros and very pleasant to deal with. I've seen offers for online appraisals for thirty-five to fifty dollars but they charged me nothing. Personally, I have little use for a guitar but was still hugely impressed with their inventory displays. If you have need for a guitar or amp, it would be worthwhile to give them a look.