Carter Vintage Guitars

I had an absolutely fantastic experience at Carter Vintage Guitars. With the help of the wonderful salesperson Noah, I purchased my very first vintage Martin guitar. Noah was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the entire process—spending time with me over two afternoons to help me find the right instrument. I truly valued his guidance and never felt rushed or pressured. Thanks to him, I walked away with a guitar I absolutely love. This was a 10/10 experience, and I’ll definitely be back in the future!

I absolutely loved this place. Much more to see than in any other guitar shop. As a traveler from Brazil I wasn't particularly on the market in this trip, but I had to make a stop and buy a Nashville's iconic guitar at Carter's. The world of music is happier with Carter among us. If you're musician a music enthusiast, make time for a stop and go visit "The Vault" at Carters. You won't regret.

Nick was great to deal with. This is the first time I’ve bought a guitar of this stature totally online without checking it out in person. Nick was punctual and accurate when answering any questions I had. He handled everything from my trade-in to shipping my “new” guitar. My Frampton Phenix Les Paul is even better than what I expected. It is used but looks and plays like brand new. Thanks Nick!

If you're into guitars, THIS is the place for you. My husband wanted to check it out before we left town, and it is truly an impressive place. Large, clean, and bright, they have hundreds (at least) of guitars on display for sale. I can't pretend to know the first thing about guitars in general, but there were plenty of knowledgable staff members floating around. There's also "The Vault" with the rare and expensive stuff that is interesting. Overall, a cool experience.

I recently purchased this 1963 Fender Stratocaster from Carter Vintage Guitars. I worked directly with Zach Daves, and I had a great experience. Zach provided all the details I needed in a timely manner. He was friendly and helpful throughout the process, and he followed through to be sure the guitar arrived safely. The instrument is amazing. I recommend Carter (and Zach) when you're in the market for an instrument. My experience was terrific.

I just received my 2005 Buddy Guy Strat from Nick and the quality of what was advertised was more then expected. Carter Vintage had exactly what I was looking. Nick provided me with a DEMO of the guitar...It was his Blues playing, spotless guitar appearance and I was sold. The whole transaction was impressive. When time comes again to purchase another vintage guitar, I have no worries in working with Nick and the Carter Team.....

Literally heaven on earth. The selection was amazing and staff was so helpful. Everyone talked to me and my family and helped us with all the guitars. It’s not guitar center or gibson garage where a $2000 guitar is locked in place. You can go into carter and pick up an original 52 gold top and play it. I ended up getting a R0. Zach helped me and my brother out in getting our dream guitars. Awesome spot to visit!

Zach at Carter Vintage was incredibly responsive, helpful, knowledgeable, and professional. He helped me with all my questions, sent all the additional photos I requested, took measurements, and accurately conveyed the “feel” of a 1963 SG I had my eye on. Just days later, it was safely in my hands, packed better than just about any guitar I ever received, and set up to the exact specs I gave him for my preference. HUGE WIN! See ya again soon, Zach! Hope to swing through and shake hands sometime. I’m very grateful.

Look no further than Carter Vintage Guitar. This is the best place for guitars and amplifiers. I have made 2 amplifier purchases, both great. Carter's has the absolute fastest, safest shipping. A special appreciation to Noah Pelty in Sales, and Zack Allen their amplifier man. Both are the best, and a credit to Carter's. I received communications, and service after the sale, attention. A rare thing these days. Highly recommend this fantastic store, and their staff team !

When I bought a Martin J-40M I did not realize that Walter Carter really had sold the business. Carter Vintage Guitars has gone down hill and I will not shop here again. When Walter was there I bought a few vintage Fenders and Gibson's from him...he was great. Last time I quickly stopped by and picked up a Martin and had it shipped. When I got it I realized it needed new a neck reset and new frets ( half the price of the guitars cost) . The new ownership's response. Tough keep the guitar you are out of luck. When this happened at George Gruhn on a 1950 D-28 I bought form them several years ago they gave me a credit for a neck reset from my Luthier in San Francisco Gary Brawer. Need less to say I will not come back and will not shop here again. I recommend you go to Gruhn's as they respect the customer

The new location is STUNNING. Definitely in the top 10 guitar stores in the US. It's so fantastic to have the opportunity to try so many guitars that many stores never have in stock. Staff is friendly and helpful. Definitely give yourself at least an hour. There's a lot of cool guitars to take in.

Crazy Great place for the guitar lover. 1000s on display at all price points. It seems always busy. The staff are professionals and it seems the customers are too. Carter's has an international following. Parking is mess in the area. Good luck on that.

Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville is a treasure trove for any guitar aficionado. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by a stunning array of instruments that spans generations and genres. The staff's passion for guitars is evident in their knowledge and willingness to assist, whether you're a seasoned musician or a novice seeking advice. The selection is unparalleled, with vintage gems and modern classics alike, each meticulously maintained and ready to be played. Whether you're in the market for a new instrument or simply looking to immerse yourself in guitar history, Carter Vintage Guitars is an experience not to be missed. A must-visit destination for any music lover visiting Nashville.

Gotta go with David G's review, down below. Carter has enjoyed a sterling reputation and, even after the sale of the company it looked to be very promising. And maybe it is, in person, but for online sales I would NEVER buy from Carter again. Now, they come & rebut all this but. believe me, I am being 100% truthful. I bought a 2005 OM-35 (a dream guitar I've been chasing for 20 years), described as set up per Martin's spec and at a very enticing price; it was a GOOD deal. Almost... Well, I got the guitar and right off the bat, the case was not in the best of shape but the guitar looked great and it sounded amazing BUT the setup was not even REASONABLY close to what they told me. Luckily, I'm handy with tools and after a few days of "a little here, a little there" it played like a dream. Unless I played above the 12th fret. Dead! Figured the frets might need some leveling (just had another 20 year old guitar "ramped" last week) so I brought it to SF Guitarworks to get PLEK'ed. Oops! Looks like it's been leveled before, frets above #12 were below the PLEK limit (Martin spec: .037", PLEK minimum: .036 (IIRC) and mine were at .032". They were obviously & visibly low). Turns out, the fretboard "tongue" had lifted away from the guitar top. Reason #2 that PLEK was not viable. So, now, it needs to have the tongue glued back down, then get refretted, THEN PLEK'ed. Oh, the nut needs to be reslotted, too. This will all increase the cost of the guitar by 50%. A fair chuck of change. Now, to be fair, after a whole string of denials, Carter offered to partially reimburse me for the work... UNTIL the saw what the cost was. Then more strong denials until they just offered to give me a discount if I shipped it back to them for the work. The shipping would add another couple hundred bucks and Carter got it wrong in the first place. Why should I trust them again??? They feel I am being ripped off. They don't believe I need new frets ( I DO need at least SOME replaced, might as well get them all done & start fresh). They think it's too much money. Well, it's not my first Martin refret done in the SF Bay Area and it's not cheap, no, but that's the price for living here (and I gladly pay it). Sorry, I don't live in Tennessee, folks. Or want to. In the end, I will have a phenomenal guitar. It just didn't come to me that way. Phooey! on Carter. All I ask is, don't lie to me. They promised to comp me a T Shirt & a hat... then I had to BEG them to send it to me. They're just not a friendly place to deal with. I'll stick with Gryphon.

Big selection of guitars, amplifiers, and various equipment. Friendly, knowledgeable staff who are more than willing to help you make an informed purchase.

What a great store. Such a relaxed and laid back atmosphere. In town visiting from Los Angeles. With my granddaughters. We tried out a bunch of instruments and everyone was totally cool with young kids (2&6) handling instruments. Special thank you to Henry, the salesman, who took me in to eyeball the '51 Broadcaster. Just a 5star memorable visit.

Their new location is on the second floor tucked in the back of a long, narrow courtyard. Once I found the place (walked by it twice following iPhone directions before spotting a small sandwich board on the sidewalk), I had fun looking at the extensive collection of guitars, even tested one in one of their soundproof rooms. The general layout is similar to the old space and there is a "back room" with 5- and 6-figure instruments right there in plain view. Before leaving, I showed a staffer a picture of an old Gretsch my grandfather used to play and asked how I would go about appraising its value. He took one look at it, identified it, and gave me an estimate on the spot. When I asked if he needed to check a serial number and/or some kind of database, he said they don't have or need one because they have seen so many guitars they have a pretty good idea of what I could get for it if I wanted to sell it. I like this place better than Gruhn.

My dad was a huge fan of Carters Guitars, every time he visited Nashville he would make a point to go. After he passed we inherited a large collection of guitars that we weren't sure what to do with, some of which he purchased from carters. We called ahead and gave them a brief description and they gave us the go ahead to bring them in for consignment. When we arrived we were greeted by a rude and disinterested women, who passed us on to someone else. The next individual was equally as disinterested and ultimately said they didn't want anything. Desperately, we asked if someone could at least help us identify what some of the guitars were to which she said, yeah for 150 dollars and you would have to leave them here. Overall, extremely disappointed with their customer service.

This place was very cool. Lots of vintage guitars most are pretty pricey. You need an appt for Sat and Sundays but they were not busy so they let us in. If you appreciate guitars it is a place of history. Lots is old guitars, amps etc.

Carter's has a lot of unique, vintage guitars, banjos, ukuleles which are great to look at and play with, but out of the price range of most people. We spent about 15 minutes in the shop, bought some picks, and then left.

This store is WOW! The customer service is top notch and the selection of vintage gear is amazing! We visited over the weekend for my husband's birthday and had a great time! I'd like to specifically give 10 stars to the amazing staff! While we were there a very self-entitled family were also there. There two sons were extremely disrespectful to the gear and the boundaries set in place a store like this. Going in places were signs were out stating "do not enter" or "don't touch". Basic rules for a place that has expensive items such as this. When one of the staff members said something to one of the kids (who looked to be about 12-13), the mom snapped! The staff member was very polite and matter of fact about the rules in place and was simply enforcing them. Props to him! We'll definitely be back when we come back to Nashville!

One of the finest guitars I have ever seen, the are friendly and treated everybody the same. Beginners to experienced players are welcome.

Great place for guitar geeks. Staff is smart, gets you whst you need. My only gripe is you gotta be rich to shop there, so I can only dream

You can't go to Nashville without going to a music store! Carter's vintage guitars has any guitar or you can ever think of. They have vintage guitars, amplifiers, new guitars, basically anything you need to be an entertainer. We really enjoyed coming here once a year when we were driving through Nashville.

Great guitar shop. They actually let you look around and play the instruments without any hawking or hassles. Best place I've ever been.

Hit this place up on a whim while vacationing in Nashville. My son (age 11) has been playing guitar for a few years now and figured it wouldn't hurt just to take a look at a full size for him. Upon entering the store, you get the sense that this place really loves guitars. Racks upon racks of amazing guitars, old and new. You could try any of them out in a private room. Erik, one of their amazing employees, was just fantastic to work with. He struck up a conversation with my son, and kept bringing him different guitars to try out (all within the agreed upon price range). We wandered in for what we thought would be a 30 minute visit, and stayed there for 90 minutes just playing with guitars, hearing about Erik's extensive knowledge of each, and learning just what might be a great lifelong guitar for my son. After narrowing it all down, we selected just the most beautiful guitar, but had one major problem, getting it home. Erik took care of all of that, and got us set up with a quite reasonable shipping cost, and it arrived within 3 days of us heading home. Overall, this store is just amazing, you owe it to yourself if you play guitar to head on over here at least once in your life.

If your into vintage or new guitar this is the place. It has huge selection of guitars from Gibson, fender, Rickenbacker, Taylor, Martin, etc... It's like a guitar heaven.

Best Guitar Store in Nashville Great selection on Vintage Strats and Les Pauls , Martin's , etc Also great selection of more " affordable " guitars as well for beginners and those that are not looking to spend $10,000 - $25,000 on a vintage guitar Located close to downtown Nashville and Music Row , Close to to many Studios in the area My only gripe , I was in Nashville last week and thought I'd stop in I was bummed when I showed up and they were only letting people in by appointment . The last time I was here I walked right in Maybe it's because of the COVID thing I hope that changes Can't wait to come back

I bought a Benedict Groovemaster from Carter Vintage Guitars. Now, I owned 3 Benedict guitars in the past and I know of Bill Hager's work. This guitar did not arrive as described on their website. Stated in overall great condition with only a couple small dings on the back and slight discoloration around the switch on the pickguard from use. The the guitar looked like it went through a refurbish. The top and back was dull, but the top and back dark burst was scratch all over. Talking to Carter Vintage it was a nitro cloud. Why didn't the edges of the cloud over? This guitar was sold with false list / advertising. I returned it with 2 hours and had to pay a 3 1/2% restocking fee due to their fault. Guitar received by Carter Vintage the next day via FedEx. Why should I pay a restock fee due to false advertising.

Such a welcoming, nice shop. We had a nice conversation while the owner let our daughter try a guitar she spotted. We were in the market and even though we didn't get one here, the owner was such a nice guy. Definitely will be visiting again when we're looking for a nice vintage guitar.

Carter, Carter... Carter. What to say about you. If you were a girl in high school, I'd ask you to the prom. If you were the Titanic, I'd move an iceberg for you. If you were a guitar shop in Nashville in a sea of music stores, I'd pick you every time. All of the above is absolutely true. I take in my Yamaha FG-180 every 6 months for a proper setup. There is never a dumb question with these guys. They always make you feel like you are a top priority, and are super informative on the work they perform. Do keep in mind they are always about 7-10 days on a turnaround, but if you're cool with the wait then you're OK! A couple of months ago I also had the pleasure of purchasing a Fender Special P-Bass. Kickass setup with jazz pick-ups, on consignment. I made an offer, Carter graciously contacted the owner, and they accepted. Carter Vintage is our local vintage Nashville guitar shop that has quality, vibe, and stellar stock - without the pretentious vibes. It's also conveniently located on 8th avenue, sharing neighborhoods with Party Fowl and Third Man Records. Dig it!

I recently traveled to Nashville to attend a concert. While in town I wanted to check out some of the music stores and friend of mine suggested Carter Vintage Guitars. I had not heard of or had known about this store because I have only shopped at Corner Music so this was new to me. First off, WOW!!!! There are actual sales people walking around the floor, answering questions and providing help. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Also, they have most of the instruments (many of which are $4k+) just sitting on the floor begging to be played. Secondly, the selection of instruments ranges from vintage to new acoustics and electrics, bases, resonators and mandolins. There are some incredibly beautiful instruments there that are cared for and in great condition. They also have everything from picks to pedals to slides and many other interesting items any musician could want. Lastly, when I informed them of my new Les Paul purchase and my dissatisfaction with the Burstbucker Pickups in the 2005 Les Paul they also came to the rescue. Beau Carter talked with me about the Oxford (OX4) pickups that are exclusively designed for Carter Vintage Guitars and talked about how clean, clear and resounding these pickups are. And, to top it off, when I asked about a specific guitar pedal I had been looking for Beau informed me that they didn't carry that brand but suggest a Wampler pedal instead. When I got back to LA I had the pickups installed and couldn't be happier. The Les Paul sounds so much brighter and interesting and the Wampler pedal is superb. Christie and team at Carter Vintage Guitars are wonderful people and I will be buying from them again (even sight unseen) because I trust them, their knowledge and their ability to make their customers happy. Thanks Carter Vintage. You now have a dedicated, loyal customer.

Amazing guitar shop! Amazing staff and great deals! Many instruments for a great price! By far my favorite guitar shop. Highly recommend!

Felt a lot smaller than George Gruhn, more crowded. Nice mural on the side of the building. Gruhn is more acoustic focused, Carter seemed to have more electrics, and LOTS of amps. Test rooms were fine, if a little noisy. Great to see these independent shops thriving yet.

Huge assortment of guitars, mandolins and everything you would need to get started or kick it up. Employees were gracious and helpful with me as I do not play but considering a gift. No pressure to purchase a thing but quite informative. Block out some time and look over their inventory!

This place is Nirvana in Nashville! The guitar murals outside this cool brick building herald the experience of sheer bliss that awaits inside. Carter Vintage has a mind boggling selection of all sorts of stringed instruments - vintage and new. It's such an eclectic array of instruments that I've not encountered anywhere else. There are reasonably priced guitars here to some that are 5 and six figures! This is definitely the place I will ultimately buy a pre-war Martin from when the time is right. When I visited the store last January, my son and I got to play a 1939 Martin D-28 that haunts my mind still! The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, too. Just last week, I bought a Scheerhorn dobro from Carter over the phone. The transaction was perfect and I have zero qualms about buying from them over the phone or in person. This place is amazing!

If you like guitar, love guitar, play guitar or listen to guitar - stop in and see this shop. It might be one of the only times you see (for free) can hold (better be serious), and may be even able to play (better be really serious) a $10-$20,000 guitar. Guitars; acoustic and electric, basses, mandolins, banjos, amplifiers, cases and accessories are everywhere. This is the real guitar center.

I had them sell a guitar on consignment for me, I worked with Bo, a salesman of theirs... the process was easy and they got the job done fast, they are definitely a trusted safe way to sell high end gear...

Nice place and many guitars to choose from. If you like Fender or Gibson, then you have a good choice of guitars to pick from. I am a PRS guitar collector and my choices were limited.

Really enjoyed Carters! We were in Nashville for a college visit and googled "best guitar shops in Nashville" and this came to the top of the list. They had an amazing selection of American guitars from multiple eras. Were especially impressed with the huge selection of Gibson Les Pauls (dozens and dozens of them and our sons favorite) The staff was very friendly and amazingly helpful. Our son was able to "plug in" and play many of their guitars.

Carter vintage is a great store. Not as known as Gruhn Guitars, but they have an incredible selection that rivals and a vintage store in the United States. Walter and Kristy run the place and it's a must see while in Nashville

Carters is a must visit guitar store. Amazingly helpful and knowledgeable staff (ask for Shane and Keith!). They have an amazing selection of vintage guitars, modern used guitars, new (high end) guitars, and new effects pedals. In my search for my "dream strat" was able to experience and play Fender Stratocasters one after another from 1955, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1979, 1983, 2006, & 2018 one after another within the course of an hour because Carter's allows customers to pull down and try out guitars in a self-service way. This made it an amazingly enjoyable and efficient way to experience lots of high end gear in a short period of time. In addition to guitars, their selection of pedals are amazing. They have so many amazing boutique brands to sample. Make sure to ask Shane and Keith for recommendations on special ones to try. I'd recommend trying out the Mythos pedals, the Origin Effects pedals, and the Greer pedals (I bought the Lightspeed among several other items during my visit) . I wish I had more time to sample their inventory before they closed. Before you leave check out their great selections of picks and straps. Every aspect of this business makes you want to come back. I'm looking forward to visiting again!

There is just no downside to this place. From the wonderful art guitars on display when you walk in the door to the talented musicians of all ages trying out the instruments, this place just oozes great music and great instruments. On my visit there, I saw instruments I'd only heard of or seen in magazines. And no, it isn't just the big name brands represented, there were plenty of smaller product lines represented that were absolutely amazing. Joe Bonamassa frequently discusses a thing called "Guitar Safaris" or going places where the new and unusual will be. Carter's definitely occupies that place and I guarantee you will walk away wondering when you can go back to buy your next great instrument. Love this place as well as the kind and unassuming people that work there and the quality instruments, pedals and accessories that are part of the heart of the business. By the way, this is one of the few places that has great cases from companies like Mono. I am a big Mono case fan and whenever a store carries them it tells me that they are thinking way outside the box. I move my instruments around and cases/bags and carrying stuff are a big deal when they don't work well.... Go here, you will not be disappointed.

I really can't emote how gorgeous a place this is. But I will try. Being into guitars isn't one of those things you are just on the cusp of. I mean, if you love guitars, you LOVE guitars. And while visiting this town, being practically the Mecca of guitar music, I HAD to stop in. The murals outside, esp of the Gibson Les Paul, are a beacon signal to all guitar lovers. It's a shame living in SoFla, that we only have one local shop (that is so terrible i've never returned) and Guitar Center/Sam Ash to choose from. Now I get to experience Carter's and it's like going to Disneyworld. You really get a feel for the culture and heritage of guitars here. They have all forms of the instrument and accessories but also offer rare/classic pieces I would never have the opportunity of seeing much less picking up and playing. The staff was very attentive, friendly and not pushy at all. They offer if you want to try anything out (in your OWN room if you want), let you know any special sales and what has come in of interest. Very relaxed vibe to be able to soak it all in. Other guitar lovers making music... it makes me want to move to this neighborhood so I can come once a week! This is sooooo living it up in Music City!!

I live right down the street from Carter vintage so I take all my guitars and amps over to get set up. they always do an excellent job and make everything I own sound 10 times better than it did before I went in there! super friendly staff and obviously a dream of incredible instruments to be bought.

If you love guitars or just music in general you have to check this place out. It's a museum for musical instruments that you can also buy. I highly recommend stopping by and just soaking in the beauty of all the guitars. And make sure to buy a tee shirt. Your friends will think you rock.

Amazing store and selection. Tons of brands I had never heard of on the high end side. Picked up a original picture of John Lennon.

Astounding collection ! This store is full of rare gems . Staff is all smiles . I was able to play some items I've only seen in magazines or pictures . Worth a visit if your a musician . Guitars , mandolins , bass, acoustics, cellos, amps, pedals..

Who doesn't love to stop into a shop and explore the vast world of guitars and music?! We all know Nashville is best known for it's live music scene; however, it's another thing to see one of it's foundations to curate such a setting. Carter Vintage Guitars features everything from acoustic and electric to banjos and one-of-a-kinds. You'll see custom made banjo "faces" and guitars that have been deemed to be own by some of the greatest in the scene. The only other instrument you'll catch here is the Bass (part of the orchestra world) but it's a staple instrument in the country world. No matter what your budget is you'll catch pieces from the low-end to guitars that range a few grand! The staff is super friendly and very attentive. You can tell they're appreciative of their craft. If you're ever visiting Nashville take the time to swing by and get to know some history and unique instruments of the game.

I heard that while traveling to Nashville this is a place that must be seen if your'e into guitars, which I'm not...However, my daughter and husband are so we had to go check it out... Freaking amazing!!! Not only is this place full of guitars, floor to ceiling, but its so eclectic and fun to look around. We seriously just came here to look around, touch/feel, and see guitars that aren't found in your typical Guitar Center but my daughter ended up purchasing a used guitar here too. This place should be on every Nashville tourist map.

Got brushed off cause I wasn't going to spend at least $500. Left standing in the rain. Buy an awning!!!

Quality guitars and service. Repair service for guitars: will re-string and tune with 24 hour turnaround.

Great selection of guitars new used and vintage, kind of difficult to look and play because of very limited room. If you are looking for a very unique guitar trust me they have it if you are looking for the lowest price on new guitars probably not gonna find it here.

I went yesterday and saw a amp i was interested in buying. the young man with glasses and long black hair went to get the amp but didn't want to tell me anything about it or speak in general. I ask if i could hear it through the cabinet and he said it doesn't matter what cabinet you play through, but its a pair I said and its my money. He was not cool but he was trying so hard to look like it.

4-Star selections. All seemed marked-up for what they offer, but they were willing to negotiate based on valid concerns, such as obvious cosmetic damage (where price was over a mint-condition alternative, price was adjusted accordingly.) 2-Star customer service. Very specifically asked about satisfaction return policy, as compared to other retailers. Were told 72-hour maximum for return with receipt. (Sam Ash used used guitars have 30-day.). This was acceptable to us, as we felt comfortable knowing it could be reversed, if we had a change of mind... totally understandable to not run nearly as long as a major store... however, that being said, with a return, for dissatisfaction, was grilled about why not, and then made to feel intimidated by the person processing the return. That's just not good business. Yes, we did get our money refunded. The items were returned in the condition they were carried out from the store, in less than 48 hours. Averaging between the 4 and 2 stars, a fair review at 3 stars. Not wanting to trash them. If we had kept what we bought, I suspect they'd keep a pleasant attitude. Our return was ultimately resolved, but we won't have fond memories of a good dealing, and won't go back. There are so many other ways to buy a guitar in the world.

This place is super cool! So much to see. Guitars of all types and sizes it's a must stop and see kind of place if you are in Nashville

Truly a staple of Nashville and the music community. An incredible collection of vintage guitars showcasing some amazing points of history! Owners are personable and truly care about each and every person who enters their store. Be sure to check out the stack of vintage amps and cabinets in the back of the story! Eye Candy!