Visited Willie's today at their new address, 1381 Eustis St. St Paul 55108. What a joy. I was met w/ professionalism and curiosity,.. got to play some fabulous Martins acoustics. Even a stupid question was treated w/ kindness (does the sound of that amp come in a pedal?). Incredible selection of acoustics, electrics and amps, all premium, stuff you don't see in other stores. I'll be back next time we're in St. Paul, might buy that Magnatone amp,... read more

I called first to get an appointment to see if they would be interested in selling a guitar for me. The employee told me to just come in before closing and they would look at it. I drove across town with the guitar and went inside. I stood by the counter and two or three employees walked by me without saying a word. Nate was there but he was talking to a different customer; he never even acknowledged my presence. Another longtime employee was at the counter and ignored me. I stood there about five minutes when a really nice employee helped me. He interrupted Nate to ask about my guitar and Nate said without even looking at me, even though I was 6 feet away, "I'm with a buyer, so not today." It was super demeaning. It made me feel small. The nice employee was apologetic and said, Nate makes those decisions, and that he was sorry. I told him that I did call first and was told to come down.I think he was embarrassed too. I have bought and sold several guitars and pieces of equipment at Willie's. Never again. read more

Excellent selection of new and used guitars mandolins and more. I'm an acoustic player. This store has a good selection of different builders and types of guitars; the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The repair service, run by Steve, is exceptional. read more

So highly recommended! NOT! Then I walk through the door and get bush league service. This is the second online compliant I've made in my life! Gave them a guitar to paint. They had it for a year! Shittiest paint job I have ever seen! Not even close to B run! NEVER again. I might as well learn how to paint. Two or three practice runs, I could do better! read more

Willie's American Guitars is one of the best Guitar shops in the country! Not a store for a beginner's parent who is looking for a cheap guitar that your kid will neglect for ever in the corner! This is a shop for the guitar lovers and players who are saving their nickels and dimes to one day have that sweet ass Gibson guitar you saw Wilco play live. Full of vintage classics, both in the 6 string and 4 string variety, both electrics and acoustics and magnificent collection of vintage amps! Their boutique collection of guitar effects pedals is really great as well! If you are looking for strings or a fix up they can help you with that too! I may never had enough money to buy one of these beauties and to be honest I'm not good enough of a guitar playing to think I need one of these beauties.. But a guy can dream right? read more

Willie's American Guitars - Showing Nilsson a tele, keith richards is his fave so he wanted to see one in real life - Guitar Stores Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Still bad service. Still shitty customer service. Still bad attitudes. EVERYTHING they sell, you can buy on Reverb.com for cheaper and not have to deal with a bad attitude. read more

Willie's made a great deal on a Seagull acoustic when I was in high school, which made it possible for me to fall in love with the instrument. They know a lot, but don't be intimidated-- that's the point! I still come here for setups, and when I want to learn something new or don't know what I want yet. Someday I'll get one of those gorgeous Martins in the back room. Someday. read more

Been visiting this store for years. Staff is always incredibly knowledgeable and more than willing to lend a hand/give opinions on gear for beginners all the way up to seasoned vets. Tons of really cool vintage stuff as well, almost always worth stopping in just to take a look around when you're in the area. You never know who you might see passing through as well! Always my number one recommendation here in the Twin Cities. read more

Sorry guys, Willies is a lot of hype. Yes, they have tons of vintage gear, but its all over priced. If you expect decent service, forget about going there on the weekend. The crew that works there on the weekend are DBs who would rather talk amongst themselves than sell something. If you want great selection, fair prices and great service, make the trek to Daves in La Crosse. read more

No conversation about guitar shops is complete without someone mentioning Willie's. Everything about the shop is super cool--the selection, the staff, the energy. This St. Paul shop makes the Twin Cities proud. And you never know who might stop by and plug in next to you. read more

Willie's is a landmark in the music world. If Willie's had been around in the mid 1960s, I guarantee the Beatles would have stopped by for a visit. Most of the times I've been there have been window shopping trips, and Willie's does not disappoint. Tons of great guitars from all the big names, and some from companies you might not be familiar with unless you're a guitar nerd...and frankly, the majority of people who go there ARE guitar nerds. They have a $55,000 Gibson from 1954 (the all black Les Paul with the alnico pickups) which is pretty sweet. I remember once they advertised a 1950s Fender Broadcaster with a serial number of 000018! I think it went for around $18,000. Anyway, while those are super-rare guitars, deserving of an exorbitant price, some of their other items are equally high-priced. For example, I went there looking for a good acoustic guitar that I would hang on to for the rest of my life. I knew I wanted a Gibson, but I hadn't quite settled on new or vintage. I played a nice little B-25, which is a small-bodied student model guitar (ie, cheap guitar) from the 1960s. Normally these guitars can be had for around $700-800 in really nice shape, but Willie's was asking a mind-blowing $2400 for theirs, which is insane. It wasn't even in pristine shape or anything like it, nor is it a particularly desirable model of Gibson. But then, isn't that kind of the point? Oogling and fondling guitars that you'll probably never be able to afford? And when the urge to do so comes over you, Willie's American Guitars will be there to help you get your fix. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and they don't hover like they do at Guitar Center. Even better, they don't pretend to be your buddy just to try and grease the skids for an easy sale. If you want a really great customer service experience, talk to Molly Maher in the acoustic room. She's a seasoned Twin Cities musician with great talent, delightful personality, and a love of guitars. She even remembered me from previous visits. read more

Amazing selection with nice and encyclopedic staff who would rather have you wait and buy exactly what you want than force a sale. They carry new gear, but the used and vintage is why you should visit them. There are always those pricey amazing condition vintage guitars going thousands and thousands of dollars, but right next to them are players guitars. Vintage guitars which are not so pretty or not from a prime year which play amazingly and are affordable. Note that affordable is relative. You will not find a sub $100 used guitar at Willie's, but your money will go a lot farther for a quality instrument. read more

This has to be the Best Used Vintage Guitar Shoppe in the Midwest. Unreal stock. I once saw the 18th Fender Telecaster ever made on display there, yep #000018, unreal............. Their list of customers is a variable who's who in music history. Just look at the wall of autographs to the owner Nate !!!!! So run do not walk to get to this place. Tell em the ZERO sent ya. read more

I'm a certified strummer (read: hack) but I have a pretty good ear and a passionate appreciation for gorgeous acoustic tones. I've now purchased two guitars from Willies: my first basic Martin (purchased new about 6 years ago) and a mid-60s vintage Gibson beauty I picked up recently. Here are a few observations about doing business with Willie's: First of all, make no mistake - this place exists for professional players and collectors. There's no coddling of amateurs, but in my experience the staff has been unfailingly courteous even if you exude an amateur vibe, which I'm convinced these guys can read as easily if it were stamped on my forehead. The staff members are not overbearing hard-sellers, so you have freedom to play around and experiment, but they are readily available to answer questions. But once you engage and show interest, they do their jobs as salesfolk. In my case, once I voiced initial interest in the vintage Gibson, I was offered a 24-hour hold and, when I returned the next day to confirm my interest, my guy brought out the guitar's case unsolicited to help tip the scales. So they know the tricks to closing a deal, but don't hammer you over the head. Concerns about Willie's pricing voiced in other reviews are valid. I ended up paying a good 500 bucks more for my vintage Gibson than I could find anywhere online for a guitar advertised in similar condition. Willie's is known in the local music community for its willingness to negotiate on price, but they took a hard line with me. The insecure side of me wonders if it was because I'm an obvious hobbyist as opposed to a pro who is "in the club," but the logical side of me recognizes that these guys understand the supply-and-demand dynamics of vintage instruments much better than most. They also understand that as I do that it would be idiotic to buy a similar instrument online based on a few photos and seller promises, especially knowing the wide variations that can exist in tonal quality between guitars of the same vintage. So, I left Willie's knowing I had paid a premium, and a little bummed about that. But I left with a guitar that I had held, inspected and played - and with a tone I absolutely love. I also know that Willie's will stand behind my purchase and help with adjustments, advice etc. in the future. So it's a worthy trade-off in my mind and maybe he next time I walk in I'll feel more like I'm "in the club." read more

I've been doing business with Nate and Willies since they opened 20+ years ago. Consistently high quality staff-knowledgable players who are there because they are really into guitar stuff. Never high pressure, and my experience is that responsible folks are more than welcome to play anything in the store. And Nate is the best. Very fair and straight shooter as well as hopeless guitar geek and genuine good guy. They aren't a huge inventory Guitar Center type place-that's by design. But if you're serious about higher quality guitars and amps, and want to visit a place geared toward that, Willies is a place you need to visit or contact. Also a great place for repairs, setups, or any kind of work your guitar might need. Steve Morgan, who runs their repair shop, is as good as they get, and an A1 guy as well. Highly recommended. read more

I first ventured to Willie's in February after purchasing a used Martin D15 with a fractured headstock and in need of a lefty conversion, with the goal of it being my first "nice" guitar (I've been playing about two years now). The store itself is quite impressive with an amazing collection of guitars, amps, pedals and more. I admittedly was a little intimidated, but the staff made me feel welcome and well taken care of. The repair and conversion were flawless, Willie's also installed a sound hole pickup a few weeks later, and I've gotten many compliments on how good the guitar sounds, both plugged-in and unplugged. I couldn't be more happy! Since that first visit I've purchased an amp and a couple of pedals, had an electric guitar set-up, and I stop in quite frequently just to see what's new. Even though many of the guitars in the shop are beyond my means and much of the talent who comes in the door surpasses my own, the shop is always a welcoming place where I can ask questions, learn and see incredible guitars. The last time I stopped in I was able to check out a 1953 telecaster that had just arrived--the guys explained the differences in the type of strings and finishes they used then compared to today, and how you can still find the signature of the person who assembled the guitar in the factory. How cool! I also recently ordered a new Martin acoustic from Willie's, and had no-pressure, expert help in picking out the right guitar for me. Going to Willie's with that broken Martin has turned out to be just one stop of many at this wonderful shop. Great guitars, great people and highly recommended! read more

I have mixed feelings about Willie's. They really do have a great selection of guitars and amps. It's a cool little shop, with tons of unique and boutique gear along side some of the best classic guitars of all time. There's always something new to see every time you visit. Inventory is changing all the time, which is great. The selection never gets stale at Willie's. Also, they aren't really catering to the novice player, so it couldn't be any further from the "guitar center" vibe in there. Which is nice. Nate/Willie has always been great to me. He's a genuine, nice guy, who wants his customers to have a positive experience. I only wish he would hire people with the same customer service ethic. I have been consistently turned off by my interactions with his staff over the years. Getting someone in the store to pay attention to you is difficult enough. Once you do, they are generally dismissive, rude, or too stuck up to offer any sort of real help. Highlights (lowlights) of my customer experience over the years include the following; 1. Numerous visits to the store where not a single employee said hello to me. 2. After chatting with Nate about a guitar I was interested in, he got me set up with an amp to test it out. The guitar was on consignment, but Nate said, "we could probably move a little bit on that price." I had been playing it for a few minutes when the woman who was working came up to me and aggressively said, "SO, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU DOING??" Startled, I said, "um, trying out this guitar?" To which she replied, "Well, it's on consignment, so that's the best price we can do." Then walked away. Wow. (FYI, I ended up buying that guitar) 3. After purchasing a Fender Sub-Sonic Baritone Telecaster (directly from fender), I went into Willie's to ask about different options/gauges of baritone guitar strings. The guy "helping" me, proceeded to argue with me about my guitar... saying that Fender made no such guitar. I tried to tell him that I bought the guitar from Fender, and it was currently at my house... so, I was pretty sure I knew what I was talking about. He continued to tell me I was wrong, and never showed me any baritone sets. I left without buying any strings, obviously... since apparently the guitar I had purchased was a figment of my imagination and didn't actually exist. Thanks, buddy! The reputation of the staff at Willie's is well known in the Twin Cities music scene. If they're not too busy ignoring you, they're usually not friendly. Maybe if I were a celebrity, a super hipster, or a 55 year old businessman who had money to blow on guitars they'll never play, I would get better service. It's really too bad... because this store is awesome in terms of inventory. A place I would love to frequent if I would just get treated a little better. read more

Awful service. Brought my grandpa's 1960's Harmony in for repair (it hasn't been played in 20 years) and the guy behind the counter just looked at me like I was retarded. After a week of not hearing anything from them, I called to check the status. They said it was done. Thanks for the call. I picked it up and all they did was restring it and tell me one of the pick ups was dead. They didn't fix it...they didn't even ask me if I wanted it fixed!!! That's why I brought it in!!! I'm irritated when I leave and the same disinterested jerk that was there when I dropped it off made sure to make a remark about the 50 year old case that I was carrying. As far as I can tell, the only thing these guys did for me was waste my time, my money, and encourage me to tell everybody I know NOT to go there. read more

This a decent vintage place. If you walk into a vintage shop you expect and hope to see a decent selection of old school stuff. You would love to see them priced cheap too. So right off, you will never see cheap here. You will, however, see decent stuff. Having been to too many vintage shops over the last 30 years to count, I get a little bummed walking in some and seeing old Stellas with the strings an inch off the warped board tagged at $200, and really relieved to see more than two 60s Fenders. They have a really nice selection of vintage gear, a great selection of new boutique level amps, a few new things. The acoustic room is typically really nice. Over the years the bass selection has wavered from horrid to ok at best. I know many old Fenders are suspect as far as parts and finish these days, but I would never worry about that here. The prices are high. They are definitely in the same league as Mandolin Brothers and near Chicago Music Exchange. Gruhn is actually much more affordable, with stuff that is ultra rare and working musician priced better than here, and has a much better bargain bin. There is nothing like that here. Their traditional low-rent stuff (Harmony, cobbed Fenders and Gibsons, 70s stuff) is a small part of the stock and priced crazy high. They basically hand that end of the market to Twin Town, Encore and Music Go Round. Service - as mentioned by others - is pretty awful. It's not an unusual attitude for vintage shops to be honest, but even by that standard these are some less-than-outgoing people. They have for years ignored anyone who walks in. They do not have any desire to work a deal. I say this as an actual customer and someone who did work in a guitar shop years back. They have in the past been of the "screw you" mindset when I have tried to haggle - ok they did try to sell stuff right after the recession hit. It feels like unless you are Rick Nielsen they think no one is coming in to buy. Or you're beneath wasting their time. Having dropped some serious cash on a guitar there, I can personally say the experience was so awful and prick-like that I haven't spent a dime in there that I can spend elsewhere in years. I do pop in a few times a year, and the selection is always interesting ( except for basses). I won't say I would never buy from them, but they would have to have something that would be amazing. That's the problem: they do get those kinds of guitars and amps. But they also act like you are not worth looking up at, so I have and continue to walk in and out of there with my cash in the wallet. So, if you're looking for something really solid, you can look elsewhere and do better, or find it here. You may. Then be prepared to wade into some serious stuff. Nothing is easy here. read more

They can not be trusted. I had found the instrument I wanted and settled on a price with the salesperson. She even checked with someone on the price to make sure. The next thing I know the owner Nate comes by with a holier-than-thou attitude, looks at the instrument and jacks the price up. When I asked him about the price I was quoted he said it doesn't matter. Stay far away from this store or at the minimum stay away from the owner Nate. He really is not a good person. read more

Not too bad a shop really. They have some esoteric gear that is waay over priced, but also have some fair prices on some decent guitars too, along with some great amps here and there. They generally also have some great Rickenbackers extremely well set up I might add. (eat yer heart out GC) Rarely are guitars ready to go out of box, but most at Willies ARE ready to go! A VERY nice touch if you're trying to evaluate a guitar. Pretty tough, when they come with factory towing cables for strings, as is usually the case. I've found these people to be fair, and offer a unique slant on selling guitars. They pretty much dispense with entry level gear for the most part, and offer professional equipment. Much better use of a small shop space I'd say. GC has to sell a boatload of entry level stufff to offset the space costs they incur. Their store is swamped with noisemakers instead of musicians as is the case at Willies. Most of their customers are experienced players, so this explains the lack of junk. They have a pretty wide selection of pedals as well, and not so much the Roland/Boss crap again, but higher end pedals mostly. If yer looking for that RIC 660/12....Willies IS the place to go! If yer looking for a great playing Tele, look no further! If yer a collector, they just might have it! If yer a player, you can cut through the crap and narrow down yer choices much faster because mostly they have some great playing axes, new and used. I bought my Ric there, and would do bizniz with them again. I was treated fairy and honestly. What more could you ask? I'm sure they have less time on weekends to discuss all your life's wishes with you, but if you know what you want, and know what it's worth before coming in, (DO YOUR HOMEWORK) you can get what ya need in pretty short order usually! read more

Willie's is a Guitarist's guitar store - a gear-head's haven, a 6-String nerd's playpen. I bought a National Steel guitar here 2 years ago, and recently purchased a Fender Strat and Amp from them. Although the prices were utterly fair, I didn't care much about cost. What makes Willie's the only Minnesota store I'd buy a guitar from is the credibility of their advice. Owner Nate Westgor urged me to avoid buying effects pedals from Willie's until I've mastered the new Strat first. Another employee giving me the name of a nearby store to buy a vocal mike from. Willie's counsel on guitars and equipment (usually by performing musicians relaxing behind the counter) is candid and driven, clearly, by a love for the music. read more

Willies is a place where allot of my dreams take place a massive selection of vintage Fender and Gibson guitars as well as others great selection of high end amps and effects and a top notch repair shop I have brought friends from Dokken ,Great White & Night Ranger and they all love the place as well as I do read more

You can tell that these guys dont get a comission. Whatever you want to know, there more then happy to help. I can play a guitar without anybody breathing down my neck. really cool atmosphere and even better people. read more

Best selection of vintage acoustic guitars and that I've seen. Also a great selection of funky oddball guitars. Staff was couldn't have been more accommodating. Definitely stop by. read more

Even though I live in Chicago, I always buy my guitars from these guys. I've been to tons of vintage shops all over the country, but they always seem to have the best guitars at the best prices. I just bought a 62 Gibson SG Jr. from them and the price was a third of what they wanted at Chicago Music Exchange (do not buy anything from these guys if you're just looking for a "player" guitar) Straight shooters with great pieces. read more

It saddens me to give this review. But it's a must. I brought in a 67 Gretsch to be brought back to snuff. I had taken the strings off to put away. I knew I wouldn't be playing it for awhile. In the 3 years of moving around and moving it around. I lost a couple of the tuner spacers. It apparently is something they don't address, and just restring w/o them. I called back. They told me to bring it back in. So in explaining to Steve, I don't understand why you would do that, now the tuner is bent. He replied. They do that all the time. That it wasn't bent, and that it was bent when I brought it in. Are you catching the double talk? The no accountability? I didn't even get to the part where he raised my pickup and butted the bridge right against said pickup. My guitar has never sounded like such garbage. So just because you sell guitars for a fortune doesn't necessarily mean their tech is above average. Sorry not sorry Steve. I told you i'd tattle. read more

Willies is a fine shop serve's was good and they know there guitars for sure. I took a old acoustic in to find out what it was and if it was worth repairing. Steve in the repair shop was extremely helpful along with the staff. Repairs where done in the time Steve said they would be done and for the price quoted. read more

Excellent vintage guitar shop. We are so lucky to have it here. Prices are high but quality of product matches . Never disappointed with what I have bought and the service of the product is outstanding. Hope it is here for decades to come. Thanks Nate and staff! read more

I cannot recommend this shop. I brought in a Fender Jaguar Baritone to have some work done on it. Right away the guy working the counter is implying that I'm some kind of fool for wanting to put Bass VI strings on this guitar. He had an abrasive condescending attitude from the start. Actually the Fender Jaguar Baritone originally shipped with Bass VI strings, but what do I know, I don't sell guitars for a living. So I leave the guitar at the shop anyways. And five days later I get a call from the service tech, asking if I had the pickup covers. I said I didn't have the covers, and could they order them, he said sure. Then 2 weeks later I get a call saying they cannot find the covers for sale anywhere. I look on Google and I find and buy some covers in 5 minutes, seriously! Conclusion: Working on my guitar was evidently beneath them. I can do all the guitar work I was having them do myself, but I'm busy with work, and I like to support local businesses. If you want an example of a great music store with great customer service, check out the Podium in Dinky Town. Peace. read more

Well I didn't buy anything, wasn't presently a buyer. However, the selection is very good, has some incredible rare finds, which are as expected, very pricey. THe staff seemed helpful, the owner was extremely nice, letting us try anything and everything. I didn't buy, so I cannot comment about the flexibility on prices, however, the prices on some of the lower end stuff, was in line with what I was accustomed to. Worth a visit. read more

So if guitar center is your idea of heaven.. this place isnt for you. If finding that elusive tone, a cool old amp, some rare guitar part... or if you just want to feel cooler that you really are... head on over and plan 30min plus just to play, listen and soak up the vintage vibe of an honest to goodness old school guitar store. read more

Great guitars. It's true that the staff don't approach you when you enter to see if you need help. But the people I dealt with were very friendly and *very* accommodating when I found a guitar that was a little out of my price range. I would definitely shop there again. read more

Staff is terrible.....explained what I was looking for, got zero help. Researched online for a week for info and bought a $3400 Martin. Guitar was neither set up (as promised) or even wiped down for me. I wouldn't go back for any reason.....ever. read more