1 1/2 minute read: On 05/06/2026, Greg Sinclair and I, arrived at NORMANS RARE GUITARS as previously planned by Greg. 1 1/2 minute read Today (05/05/26), ahead of the invitation extended (to me) by esteemed colleague- Greg Sinclair, Administrator of a FACEBOOK renowned Surf Group "TUBES", today I went on a scouting mission. Relying on GOOGLE'S Siri, I arrived around 09:15 hrs m, to find business hours had been slightly rearranged at Norman's Rare Guitar Shop. Not being one to waste time, in the same little strip mall (TOPEKA VENTURA PLAZA) I saw a coffee shop (PEET'S) and decided to treat myself to some (coffee), and I did. I went in, got hot black coffee & a Blueberry Muffin. Before realizing it, it was 11 am. So I mozied'on'over to NORMAN's. The video I took, as I approached the guitar shop main door, will tell you more than words could ever say. Once I was in the guitar shop, I felt a nostalgic Deja-Vu pinching me. The same atmosphere, feel, sounds surrounded me like when I used to go to Sam Ash and other, now gone, guitar & Pawn shops. Be that as it may, I hope my photography will satisfy your curiosity of this scouting mission I went on today and as always ... ... thank you for stopping by! 05/06/26 ... UPDATE As promised, Greg Sinclair drove from Redondo Beach (I think) up to my place in North Hollywood, and picked me up. AS YOU RECALL. Greg has been inviting me to accompany him to go to NORMAN'S RARE GUITAR SHOP. We first had lunch on Venture Blvd at BLU JAM. It was very trendy for me, at least. Then we got to the guitar shop and Greg introduced me to Michael, whom you will see a short clip playing one of their guitars. Greg and I had a very satisfying visit at NORMAN'S, as we strolled around inside. We also met another guitarist who works there-Joey, I believe and if I'm wrong, I will correct my error. They have live music on certain days and as soon as I can get their schedule, I'll share it! All in all, THANK YOU, GREG, for your considerate invitation, picking me up at home, treating me to a fabulous lunch at BLU JAM restaurant, a fun time at NORMAN'S RARE GUITARS, and best of all ... your companionship. Update, 05/17/2026: Click link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02sSQznzKewuHeGR2yfjHRxaA7qc6x88RgkhxcGj3FtyF6DHE6u1HKH878WtavKUvUl&id=1222849448&mibextid=wwXIfr read more

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You don't really find out about a business until something goers wrong and you get to see how they handle it. My co-worked was retiring soon so I ordered him a couple of t shirts because he always would talk about how many great guitars this place had. So I ordered him two t-shirts last month but one of them they sent was the wrong size. So I emailed them the day I got them about it and I got a return email telling me to send them a picture to prove they screwed up and they would then send me a return email detailing the process of how I could get what I paid for. So the same day I got the email I retuned the email with the pictures proving they sent the wrong size in one of the t-shirts and then I heard nothing... So I emailed them multiple times over several weeks with no reply. But then last week I got an email saying sorry we screwed up and your t-shirt will ship out that day. Well, I never got a shipping confirmation and a week later I still have no t-shirt. This has been going on for weeks. Luckily, I didn't order anything expensive from them. If they can screw up something so simple as a t shirt and fail to quickly remedy it, how are they going to treat you when you have spent thousands of dollars and there is a problem?? If you are not famous or in the music business, probably the same way they have treated me. read more

Incredible selection of guitars with expert advice. Great set up/repairs. They treat you like family.

A place like Norman's doesn't need some random person giving a great review, but I do want to share our experience. Brought my 10 year old son who's been really getting into electric guitar and the team couldn't be more welcoming. Goes without saying a store with a collection like Norman's isn't up for just pulling guitars off the wall, but once you ask to play one they set you up with a great spot and work with you to find that right piece. Norman's team helped my little guy out and got him a vintage Strat he will enjoy for years. Thanks read more

Norman's Rare Guitars - Guitar Stores Near Me - Tarzana, California

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Be very carefull with these guys. They will try to rip you off. I brought in my Gibson 1983 exployer Korina custom shop. I was broke and needed money. He told me the guitar was only worth $700 and nobody wants that model anymore. I will never take another guitar there to sell & i thought Guitar Center was bad. read more

This is an incredible guitar store to visit! It's pretty much everything you've heard or seen about it but kind of intimidating for a lesser player like myself. One word of advice, if you find something you like, do it while you're there. I found a guitar I really liked but wanted to think about it. I tried calling and sending a message to buy and ship, but they are so busy and with the limited hours, they don't respond. Don't let that keep you from going, just keep that in mind. read more

The guitars....amazing. Norm and his staff....well they're the typical cranky, condescending musicians I've encountered throughout my entire life in Los Angeles and New York. I brought my budding musician kids in and Norm and crew eyeballed us suspiciously the entire time. Despite me keeping my kids close and holding their hands so they didn't disturb any of the instruments, Norm kept eyeballing us and saying (multiple times) "They'd better not touch anything." The truth is, unless you're ready to drop a bunch of cash, a famous musician or a young phenom in the making, Norm and crew don't even really want you in the shop. ON THE OTHER HAND - Angel City Guitars isn't too far away (Woodland Hills) and not only do they have a uniquely amazing selection, the owner isn't a total jerk. He welcomed me and my kids in, showed my daughters the pink guitars he had and fun pedal selection. Upon leaving the store one my kids tripped and fell, and the owner went out of his way to come outside and check on her. Just plain old fashioned human decency at it's finest. So if you've got a ton of cash to drop or are trying to get your 9 year old phenom "discovered" by Norm, then by all means check out his shop. But if you're just a "normal" person like me with kids you're trying to inspire with vintage instruments, do yourself a favor and check out Angel City Guitars instead. read more

Like going to Disney for music enthusiasts. Friendly staff, great selection. I didn't pick up a guitar this trip but will come back when I have much more time. read more

Norman's Rare Guitars - Guitar Stores Near Me - Tarzana, California

What an amazing place with vintage instruments everywhere. Definitely worth the trip when you're in LA.

Five stars aren't enough. Walking into Norman's Rare Guitars is like stepping into rock 'n' roll heaven. Even if you're not walking out with a '59 Les Paul or a vintage Marshall stack (those beauties are museum pieces with price tags to match), you're still getting something rare--an experience. The staff? Absolute legends. Not just friendly and down-to-earth, but seriously talented musicians who know their stuff and love to talk guitars. They didn't care that I wasn't there to spend a fortune--they talked shop with me like I was part of the club. We had some great conversations, and I walked away with some fresh guitar knowledge and a couple of killer Norman's t-shirts to remember the day. Meeting Norman himself was the cherry on top. He's every bit the icon you'd expect from someone who's not only a vintage gear guru but also has a Netflix special and a YouTube channel with some of the best jam sessions and gear demos online. This place has history dripping off the walls, but there's no snobbery--just passion and good vibes. Whether you're a serious collector, a weekend warrior, or just a music lover soaking in the mojo, Norman's Rare Guitars is worth the pilgrimage read more

Sweet guitars but you'll pay a Norm's premium. I recently purchased a pretty expensive (for me anyway) guitar from Norm's. I spent a few hours playing a couple of guitars over 2 days. The staff (Rob mostly and also Michael) were really friendly and nice during my experience. I'm a huge fan of Lemmo and he was super cool and friendly and it was fun to hear him play live while he was recording a YT video. He's awesome. I'm not a celebrity or a-lister and I'm not even a good guitar player, but as I said - Rob was nice and set me up with an amp and mostly left me alone and didn't tell me to be quiet as others have mentioned, other than when Lemmo was taping a video. They only had 2 of the guitars on the floor that I was looking for, but I know Norm has a stash and I asked Rob if there were any other similar ones that I could see and Rob said no, that there wasn't anything else available in the same price range. I know they can't take everyone in the back - but it would have been nice and I feel like I had shown that I was a serious buyer and not just browsing. Regardless of that, I ended up buying one of 2 guitars on display, knowing I was overpaying a bit for the 'Norm's' experience. As soon as I made the deal, I felt like I was given a quick goodbye and swept out of the store. I didn't get offered an opportunity to have the guitar 'set-up' or to go through the specs with a tech. I would have thought that when spending this much money on a guitar, the store would at least offer to do a set-up or quick run-through of the electronics. (which I know now I should have asked for BEFORE i buy!). Lastly, while I did get to meet Norm which was a treat, I asked him if he would write a little note to go with the guitar for prosperity and he said he would but then he never did. He's clearly got a huge heart and does so much for the community and artists and kids - but that was disappointing. I know it's just one of thousands of transactions for Norm, but for people like me, this may be the only time in my life that I'm going to buy a guitar like this and want to feel like I made a good purchase. instead I felt like I had just bought a used car and was getting ushered out of the dealership before I found something wrong with it. I'll still watch the YT videos and I hope to enjoy this guitar for many years to come, but probably won't be shopping at Norm's again. read more

I've been coming here for almost 20 years, and it's still the best! Picked up a gorgeous Fender Stratocaster recently--every visit feels like stepping into music history. The vibe is pure L.A.--friendly, laid-back, and welcoming. If you haven't heard of this place, watch "Norman's Rare Guitars" on Netflix and make the trip. A must for any guitarist! read more

Love the vibe. People that work there do not push. They allow you to play the guitars and even encourage it.

At first when you walk in, you may be thinking the guys are sharks or seeing what you wanna buy .... I was greeted twice . First by Rob and then famous Lemmo. I'd gone in 2 separate times after falling in love with the Greco Strats they had. Took my time. I didn't even have enough cash for one of them but they offered me a good price on both. These guys went out of their way to help me knowing I didn't have a lot of $$$ and still got goood service and Info. In the end they even helped me with a guitar case for the strat, added!!! It needed a setup and I came back with strings , left it and I picked up the guitar and it plays like freaking butter. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Rob was the dude and Lemmo was very kind in greeting me just like anyone else! Hope to get a 2nd guitar one day again and I'll return read more

Norman's Rare Guitars - Guitar Stores Near Me - Tarzana, California

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Had to see it and was lucky enough to catch Norm. If you're a player, ya gotta see it..

Norman's is a dangerous place to visit if you are a musician like myself! It is a place of wonder, and magic when you see the wall-to-wall axes begging for you to take them home! In all seriousness, for a small mom-and-pop shop, you can't beat Normans in the West Valley (over those corporate music shops). The staff is not pushy at all, very helpful when asked, and the knowledge... Oof, amazing! Again, don't go in there, you may walk out with an axe (or two!) read more

Tried calling the store multiple times during their limited business hours about a 1987 SG custom I was looking to sell and the phone just rang and rang without anyone ever picking up. Guess they were too busy filming guitar of the day videos or hanging with Bonamassa to answer their phone so I ended up selling my SG to another dealer who actually picks up the phone when it rings. What a joke! read more

Norms is a cool store to visit, with lots of history. Generally, the staff are initially friendly, but unless you are an A-Lister or look like you are ready to throw down some serious money on something very expensive, they are not really going to give you much attention, and if anyone like that comes in, you will not so subtly encouraged to shut up and let that person do their thing in the store. I say this as the type of person who actually has put down significant money on more expensive guitars. Neither Norm nor the sales staff seem keen to negotiate much off the listed retail on the tags, so don't expect any good deals here. They seem to expect you to pay list for the privilege of buying it from Norm's. The selection of guitars is decent though nothing too special out front. I've seen much more interesting stuff in other boutique shops around California and other states. In the back there's more interesting stuff. For such a shop that is generally seen to cater to significant artists, it's surprising that gear like attenuators provided are not the best. I would have expected a Fryette Power Station to help preserve that pristine tone, but they use a fairly old and used looking Ox box, which to me sounded like you put a bag over the guitar tone, and made me lose interest in the guitar I was trying, which would have likely sounded better straight in or through an FPS. Some of the t-shirt designs are decent so maybe pick one up as a souvenir. read more

Norman's rate guitars in Tarzana CA is bad business. Brought my LPB 62 reissue Strat to Norm's guitars for a simple set up and left with damage. When I brought it back to show them the damage, Norm was there to deny they had anything to do with it and basically calling me a liar. I understand that guitars get damaged and this isn't anything to cry about (which is not the point) but a guitar store should take responsibility instead of calling their customers liars. I should be the only one adding dings and dents on my guitars not a repair shop. Make sure you document your guitars before taking it to norms because just because they have expensive nitro guitars doesn't mean they'll treat yours like one. Norm you can go f yourself. I'll never buy a guitar from you. read more

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Don't shop here if you don't act like you can spend at least $5,000 on a guitar as an impulse buy. Asked me to get off of my amp so a richer-looking customer could try their guitar (this might surprise you but they actually had other amps in the store to use), insanely terrible and stuck-up customer service read more

This place is amazing love it was lucky enough to get a guitar from Norm and let me tell you this place is professional you walk in or treated like family lright off the bat and it's a real vibe all not like other guitar shops read more

I'll be honest my experience at Norms comes in waves. If Norm is working, we shoot the shit, talk guitars, and it's a no pressure, enjoyable visit as we travel thru time talking music: When he isn't there, there is some stuck up rep who tries to push guitars on me. They don't care when I ask what I'm looking for, there's no charm, it's just a bummer. Now objectively, they have all the hard to find pieces you could ever want for your selection. For that we thank you, but the hours are a joke, and the new hires that aren't Norm make the experience abysmal. read more

I have to change my review after my last visit. I love everything about Norm's. I love their youtube videos, their instagram uploads, I follow their website and reverb store, I just read Norm's autobiography too...I'm a fan! A friend and I went in yesterday. My friend was really looking for a ES335. After about 10 minutes of casually browsing, picking up a guitar for maybe a minute and placing it back with extreme care because I respect this business, one employee asked if my friend would like to plug a guitar in. He spent a minute tuning the guitar, played a handful of notes very quietly through a low volume amp. Then I swapped out that guitar for another. He took a minute to tune. Played 11 notes, very quietly. Then Rob comes over and says hey, "Are you gonna buy today? This place gets crowded and I got a guy over there playing some expensive acoustics. If you're not going to buy today...." This was after about 15 minutes of browsing and 2 minutes of a clean guitar going through a soft amp. I greeted Rob as soon as I walked in. Last time I was there I thought he was a really nice guy. We work in a similar industry. But after he said that, I told my friend that I felt that was rude and we should leave. It really bugged me. It bugged both of us! And we both made revenge purchases because of it. I just purchased a brand new LP jr doublecut in cherry for $3800 from Sweetwater and he purchased a $2800 ES335 from a person on Reverb. This all happened while he and I drove up talking about how cool it is to go to a brick and mortar store with such a rich history. I wanted to make it a regular monthly visit to Norm's where I check out a few guitars, say hi to employees and buy a guitar once a year or something. But, now I won't buy from Rob. I felt like I was a poor person trying to shop on Rodeo drive or something. I'll continue to like Norm's and I'll go here and there. But this little interaction is uncool. read more

Their customer service and the way they handle business could use an improvement and the way they conduct their business on handing people things or getting things and telling you oh I'll have it at the register for you and have some trust in the customer not everybody's a crook read more

A visit to Norman's Rare Guitars is always fun and rewarding. Especially if I find a guitar I like and thought I would never be able to find in such great condition. Norman's staff are helpful and friendly. Norman is one of the best people on this planet. Highly recommended without any reservations. If you like guitars, then why wait go to Norman's. read more

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Just bought a relatively inexpensive A.E. at Norms over the online store and I'm really pleased at the condition and quality of my purchase! I'm 2 states away and couldn't make an in-person buy...Love the online store, Norm! read more

So this was the first time walking through the door to Norman's Guitars. Professional and knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic employees were helping me find exactly what I wanted to purchase... and that I did. I was very happy with the Woolson Soundcraft Custom acoustic that I purchased from Norman who kindly repaired small crack on the spruce top at no charge. Repair technician explained precisely what he was going to do to fix it to make repair in a couple of weeks. Reading through some reviews makes me think that some customers haven't taken the time to research their own needs prior to going to buy. Any case, if nothing else, it's so much fun looking at all the wonderful guitars he has in his store. I highly recommend going to Norman's. read more

Norman's Rare Guitars - My Woolson acoustic purchase - Guitar Stores Near Me - Tarzana, California

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I just saw the documentary on Norman's Rare Guitars. At first I thought cool, Norm has a lot of really great guitars. Then later in the film I thought, wait a minute here's a guy who's hording hundreds of original rare guitars charging $20,000 or more per guitar, some of which are literally turning to dust in wood crates. This does nothing for older guitars other than drive up the price and let some of them waste away. Sorry Norm, I get turning a hobby into an occupation but further fetishizing an already ridiculously fetishized instrument isn't doing guitar players any good. I think a great way to get these guitars back in circulation and benefit L.A. would be to auction off some, if not all the "hidden" guitars to support families who lost their homes in the recent fires. Now that would be worth something. read more

Update: I picked up this custom spec'ed Trini instead from another place that's actually nice to its customers. read more

Norman's Rare Guitars - 64 Gibson ES-335 Trini Lopez Reissue Custom - Guitar Stores Near Me - Tarzana, California

My experience visiting this establishment was disappointing. The layout/merchandising of the store was poor. Most, if not all of the new instruments I picked up were dusty or looked shop worn, and the staff was a tad pushy. Not the most inspiring place to audition an instrument. As far as pricing goes, they are not competitive at all. In the end, I had higher expectations for this business. It's unfortunate I couldn't recommend it. read more

Do I really even need to leave a review on how awesome Norm's rare guitars are he's the best staff is the best the guitars they get are exquisite everything about this place is awesome read more

Norman's Rare Guitars - Guitar Stores Near Me - Tarzana, California

These guys are rude. I go in and what do I do I pick a nice guitar and the first they say to me is a yell saying that I need assistance. And they super rude but they nice guitars but mostly go to a place who treat there customers like people instead of money. read more

Really excited to go into this place. Too bad it was a complete disappointment. I took in three high end guitars to have fret work done. I called before hand and the guy said, "No problem, bring them in. We are a little behind on repairs but bring them in and we will take care of them." I drive 45 minutes to get there and it was RUDE CITY from the moment I walked in. 1.) They have a sign out front that reads "MASKS REQUIRED." Mind you, this is November of 2022. Masks haven't been mandated for many months. I walk in and the guys tell me I have to have a mask on. I look around. There's at least a half dozen people walking around the store without a mask, the others have a mask half hanging off their faces. I say, "There's a lot of people without masks on." They replay with, "It's our policy." 2.) The guys then tell me that they are so backed up that they can't work on my guitars. I wish they would have said that, after I told them that I was coming from 45 minutes away. By the way. The guitar tech, who feverishly shook his head no, regarding repair times, had his damn mask half off his face. They tried to tell me that I could go next door and buy and mask and come back. The customer service was so bad that I'll never go back, never recommend them and i'm embarrassed to even give these guys any kind of feedback, negative feedback included. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Norm's has some wonderful relics. It would be a real pleasure to try these multi-thousand dollar intruments AND be treated with respect. As someone coming in hoping to buy, it was really hard to see if they even wanted my business. I would highly recommend steering clear of Norm's if you're just a regular person looking to buy. read more

Sales staffs refused to fix my bridge saddle with a jammed tremolo bar on my strat only a week after I bought it there even-though the issue was due to the bar they gave me that had wrong thread size. The repair staff who heard me argue with the head staff offered to help and the issue was fixed eventually. I wanna give a better review for the man who came in rescue, but it still was a terrible buying experience for me read more

Came all the way from Utah to buy my son a guitar for his 13th birthday from here and got greeted with a "hey guys you gotta have a mask on" which I get and understand but turned to look for some and they said I have to go next door and buy them from the smoke shop for $2 a mask.... After that we came in and looked around for 40 mins and not a single person asked if we needed help. We were both really looking forward to this experience and this just kinda bummed us out read more

We drove here on Saturday October 28th '23 all the way from El Monte, not more than 1 minute inside the door a pushy salesman (remember how guitar center USED TO BE) came up and started bombing me with a 1000 questions, actually asked me what my budget was to spend...none of your business buddy! No time to just browse???? Actually I was there to sell them a guitar and the pushy salesman said "why didn't you just say so!" WOW! (My girlfriend witnessed this whole thing, and said she felt uncomfortable and felt like walking out) anyway they cut down my guitar for sale and said it was only worth less than half of what other pros had told me. They have decent guitars but pricey...I won't ever waste the gas to go to this place again. read more

Great store and staff! Brought my 1975 Stratocaster in to have the original Fender pickups re-installed. I brought it on the weekend and on Tuesday I got a call that it was ready. I didn't get back to the store til Friday to pick it up. The Technician that did the work (sorry I don't recall his name) did an awesome job! Not only does the guitar sound incredible now, he went above and beyond in cleaning it up. It now looks like a new instrument other than some scratches and dings here and there that I caused over the years. The grime and dirt on the volume and tone knobs was even cleaned up. in addition, all the staff I spoke with were friendly and helpful, even the man himself, Norm Harris. Thank you Norm's Rare Guitars! read more

I have mixed feelings about Norm's guitars. First of all, it is absolutely a cult classic. They have all the crazy stuff to the high end staples. We recently sold some guitars to them. For most of the pieces, the prices offered were real lowball offers. They would barely budge on the offers, citing pandemic business and such. They turned around and are listing them online at normal prices. I mean, I know business is business, but we're talking a 100% profit margin on the cash they were offering us. Left a bad taste in my mouth. By the way, Michael L, who does the guitar of the day videos, is a real asset to the outfit. Straight shooter and great guy. read more

Unless you are a full blown Rock Star, don't even think about going here. They are so arrogant and good luck getting anyone to help you. I went w $4000 cash to buy a Gibson, but these guys wouldn't get off that coach to help. If you're an average JOE like most of us, there are much better shops out there that are passionate about helping you. read more