Buffalo, NY? Recommendations of places to go for guitar gear (2024)

I'll be in Buffalo, New York for a few days next week and am wondering if anyone knows of any good guitar gear related stops that I should be aware of in Buffalo?

Of course I know Buffalo isn't exactly a big music stop, but I figure while I am down there I might as well make the best of my time, haha.

Thanks!

Jackson Music on Grand Island is a must, great prices and large selection. If you come over through Niagara Falls, it's very close.

A lot of the very cool small mom and pop shops are closed, so, Guitar Center stands FWIW.

I would check Craigs List before leaving, lots of good deals here given the economy.

Of course, House of Guitars is the classic stop, but will be an hour + away from the falls to Rochester.

I used to live in Buffalo, but I suspect that most of the places I used to like are gone. I still like to drop by Buzzo's Music in Geneseo. I haven't been to HOG in decades, but it was quite a place. I'll have to check out Jackson music the next time I'm up there.

There is supposed to be a place that sells Gibsons (don't know what else) in the mall in Amherst/Clarence - can't remember the name, but they are often listed in Gibson's last-Saturday Gibson Day events. Little Kenmore Music (sic?) on Delaware Avenue had a few cool things, including some nice amps, Barber pedals, etc., but I haven't been there recently.

gulliver said:

Jackson Music on Grand Island is a must, great prices and large selection. If you come over through Niagara Falls, it's very close.

A lot of the very cool small mom and pop shops are closed, so, Guitar Center stands FWIW.

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Jack's is a nice stop, for sure. But I just wanted to mention that a lot of mom-n-pops' have simply moved around.

Kenmore Music might have a nice deal on an axe if you catch them on the right day. They're the home of Mark Umphred, who, IMHO, is the best guitar-tech in the area and so all of the used gear there is set up by Mark.

Twin Village Music, West Seneca Music Center, U Crest, The Guitar Factory, Airport Music, The Guitar Guild, etc. are all still around and I know I missed a few.

There are still quite a few and, like any place, if you are in there on the right day at the right time you may find a gem. I don't remember who of the above are interested in striking a deal - it's been a while since I've done an epic store trip locally.

I'd say Jackson and HOG would be the most interesting stops, but if you're anywhere near some of these other places you might try and stop in.

I think, though, I miss the most Daddy's Junky and Music-Go-Round. Those were by far the best places for deals around here.

sizzlemeister said:

Kenmore Music ... Twin Village Music, West Seneca Music Center, U Crest, The Guitar Factory, Airport Music, The Guitar Guild, etc. are all still around and I know I missed a few.

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Good list ... Airport probably has the best selection of higher end stuff out of that list and still easy to get to being near the throughway. Many have light stock, or large inventories of mosty B-list guitars (sorry, Guitar Factory). I guess it all depends on what you're looking for ... Twin Village always has some nice botique pedals, for example.

I miss Daddy's, they had great used gear. I bought a slightly ill '64 Vibroverb there for $600ish. I think I cleared $1000 on it after repairs and a few years appreciation.

tonemeister20 said:

After you finish looking at gear go by the Anchor Bar downtown or some wings. That's why they call'em Buffalo wings.

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Listen to the sun dweller give advice ... those wings s*ck. Any corner bar or pizza place will do.

gulliver said:

Listen to the sun dweller give advice ... those wings s*ck. Any corner bar or pizza place will do.

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Haha! Funny, that's always a debate amongst us locals. Usually people split up between Anchor, Duffs, and La Nova.

Of the three, I still like Anchor the best.

However, you're right: nearly any mom-n-pop pizza and wing joint around here is better than the best outside of WNY! It's like recommending a BBQ joint that isn't in Texas - just ain't the same.

frquent flyer said:

Jackson and,the guitar factory in southgate plaza is a big shop. U=crest music,a small mom and pop store with a small stock of lower end stuff. They will order anything and have it in a week at low cost to you.Twin Village music in lancaster is good too. there is also airport music,medium size store ,grumpy manager,some nice amps. Jackson music on Grand Island is your best bet for a big selection of guitars and amps.;{lots of amps} and decent people.There is a store in hamburg Ny,25 min from Buff with a very good selection of fender stuff,but I don't know the name.RE: jacksons ,I have purchase three guitars from them and always received 40% off retail;hard to match that.

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I remember back in the early 90's (before Guitar Center), all the mom & pop stores hated Jackson Music because their prices were too low to compete against. Their prices are still very decent.

Elmwood music used to get the coolest used gear. Kevin who was the main sales person was probably the most crass human I've ever met in the guitar industry but if you got to be buds with him, you'd get good deals. Heck, he sold me an '81 Les Paul Custom for $675 (incl. tax). They moved to Kenmore Ave., but once Kevin left, I stopped going.

Guitar Center in Buffalo is decent. The manager of the Guitar area is Mike (aka 'Doc'). He's a pretty good guy - not sleazy at all - which is refreshing.

I used to be buds with the owner of the Guitar Factory. Anything I would say about him would get me in trouble so I'll keep quiet on that subject.

I remember Kevin at Kenmore, he'd drop price without the games, then, if you stopped in to see his metal band, he'd buy you a drink. He's quite the speed player if you're into that.

He's now sells stuff through ebay as beavisdogkjb. He's the only person I keep in my favorites as he's always got super strange things up there.

Atrox said:

I live 3 blocks from the HOG and am still in awe every time i walk in that place. which is often

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I'm not sure how much they've changed since the 90's (and the last time I looked at basses and guitars there) but they used to treat their average guitars like crap. They were all jammed in cases up against one another and they'd have to fight and bang them around to get them out. Hopefully they're better. It was still an experience to go in there.

Buzzo's was always a neat little place, but they're pretty short on selection.

Atrox said:

I live 3 blocks from the HOG and am still in awe every time i walk in that place. which is often

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from rochester myself (live in scottsville now). the great great House Of Guitars is well worth the trip and is a bit of a tourist attraction here. many big name guitarists have bought from them and you can run into them sometimes. ozzy bought bernie torme (he took over for randy briefly and played in ian gillians band for those who don't know him) a 62 Strat there. it's also amazing to see a place that is that freaking messy

rchiav said:

I'm not sure how much they've changed since the 90's (and the last time I looked at basses and guitars there) but they used to treat their average guitars like crap. They were all jammed in cases up against one another and they'd have to fight and bang them around to get them out. Hopefully they're better. It was still an experience to go in there.

Buzzo's was always a neat little place, but they're pretty short on selection.

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It's sort of like walking into a hoarders house and the walls are lined with nothing but stacked cubboards with guitars crammed in them.

And yes they do seem to get banged around...the LP's are (or were) in glass cases when I was there though lol.