Where to Buy a Guitar in Wichita Falls
Despite the state of the industry, it's still possible to buy a six-string from a brick-and-mortar store
Things have not been great for owners of brick-and-mortar stores in recent years, no matter the industry. With endless selection and savage price wars coming from online stores, physical retail locations face daunting competition, and it doesn’t take a lot of looking to find stores forced out of business by big box stores, online marketplaces, and custom order shops. All of that is especially true for sellers of guitars and musical instruments. The closure of Hayley Music in Wichita Falls (a planned move that was hastened by a burglary, we’re told) is a recent example of the challenges faced by musical instrument retailers.
However, there are still three retailers in our city selling quality musical instruments at fair prices, and TheFUSE spent some time visiting each of them to see what they have to offer. Whether you’re looking for your next axe to facilitate your rock & roll dreams, or a trumpet for junior’s birthday, we’d encourage you to check out one of these fine retailers.
Kelly Jackson Guitars
The namesake of Kelly Jackson Guitars is a well-known musician in Wichita Falls and frequent performer at Hook & Ladder Coffees and Wine downtown. Kelly is also a respected guitar teacher in our city, and he has his guitar store in a small space where he also gives lessons, at 909 8th St, Suite 105 — the same building as 8th Street Coffee.
Kelly immediately strikes you as an easygoing, kind person, and we had some great conversation, which is really the benefit of visiting a brick-and-mortar store, right? Yes, you can buy something and go home with it that day, but it’s the experience that sticks with you. If you visit Kelly Jackson Guitars, ask Kelly to tell you the story about his unexpected opportunity to buy a bunch of vintage 1930s and 40s guitars.
Kelly carries guitars and basses and accessories, too, so if you find yourself in a pinch, check with him before you hit Amazon. You can get to Kelly Jackson Guitars via the entrance shown above, and there’s a door from inside 8th Street Coffee, too.
Music Makers Shop
Music Makers Shop is what a music store used to be, before Guitar Center started taking over the business — a full-service music store with guitars and drums and cymbals and amps, both used and new.
Stop in to Music Makers Shop and you will likely meet Dan, the owner, who will be happy to sell you a quality starter model guitar for a fair price. We were surprised at the number of really nice looking guitars he had on his wall, many priced in the $300 or less range. He had a selection of used guitars, and even a couple of left-handed models, which usually fly right off the shelves.
Just like with our visit to Kelly Jackson Guitars, Dan had a fascinating story to tell about getting the unexpected opportunity to photograph the crew of Apollo 11 when they returned from the moon. Again, it’s the experience.
Sam Gibbs Music
Sam Gibbs Music might be the best known of the remaining music stores in Wichita Falls, with a fine selection of musical instruments, including horns and strings and grand pianos. Repair is a part of their business, as well.
We spoke with Cullen during our visit to Sam Gibbs Music and he told us about the challenges faced by both stores and consumers in the current era. There have been instances in recent years in which stores ordered instruments for a customer who prepaid, only to be greeted with a bankruptcy filing from the manufacturer, leaving the store in the middle of a messy situation — unable to get the instrument the customer had ordered and paid for.
While situations like that were thankfully rare, it’s one more reason to patronize our local retailers and go home with a quality instrument right off the showroom floor.
The next time you’re looking for an instrument (or accessories, or an emergency cable adapter) we’d urge you to check with one of these fine local retailers before you hit the internet. Let’s do what we can to lift them up and help them succeed.
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