Alley Cat Music

Local, honest, and helpful.
I am a pianist who has decided to pick up the acoustic guitar again after a decade away from the guitar. I was pretty apprehensive about buying a guitar and just going into another realm (guitars) that I do not know much about. Mark, the owner and well-​known local guitarist, and Sarah immediately put me at ease. Alley Cat Music is an intimate shop, with many guitars in my price range (~$ 300), and it felt like I was immediately among old friends. The three of us sat, talked and told stories for an hour or so while I played a half dozen different guitars. In the end, and based on my playing style (that’s using «style» graciously, ahem) we picked out a lovely-​sounding acoustic dreadnought made by Teton. The entire process could not have been more encouraging and assuring. Thank you Mark and Sarah. Here’s to many more years of creating and sharing music for all of us.

Vintage guitars. Small shop vibe. Owner is a great guitarist. Knows his tones. Harmony Sovereigns, Kays from 50’s and 60’s. If you’re looking for mojo or a signature sound, stop in and play his old guitars! A must stop for me when I’m in the area.

I walked into Alley Cat Music (which was a bit hard to find because of the tiny, inconspicuous sign) with my husband who is not a musician. The owner (an older man) was on the phone and the other employee/​repair guy smiled at us. I walked around for a few minutes checking out the instruments while my husband trailed behind, and I noticed a Wurlitzer with tubes for sale and exclaimed to him excitedly (I’m primarily a keyboardist). After another minute, the owner covered the phone, looked directly at my husband and said «I’ll be with you in a moment», apparently not even considering that I might be his customer (I’m also very pregnant, which must also make me incapable of being a musician).
After turning to my husband and saying audibly, «Oh, are you a musician?» with no reaction from the owner, we left.
I have heard of these things happening to female musicians but rarely experience them myself. I was shocked at being ignored despite my clear interest in the products (while my husband who was simply looking around politely was offered service). I will not be returning to this store (which saddens me, because I really wanted to try out that Wurly).