About The Guitar Bar

Located in Santa Barbara, California, has been designed as a casual place for conversation and connection. They have the knowledgable staff, comfortable furniture, and private demo rooms you need to relax and connect with your perfect instrument.

They sell high-quality products that you’ll be proud to try or own, including many brands that have never before been available in Santa Barbara. The Guitar Bar is committed to team service. With decades of experience, their staff is ready to guide you.

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By Erik Jarvis

I’m in Nebraska writing about a guitar shop in Santa Barbara. I naturally take to the web for my first impression, and immediately I know I am dealing with a special kind of music store. The website for the Santa Barbara guitar bar resembles many of my hip artist friends’ profiles— it’s simple and sleek. Unlike the websites of some bigger name guitar stores, SBGB’s site is not simply a catalogue for finding a product, because SBGB is about so much more than a product. “When you come into the store for the first time, we’re not trying to make a sale, we’re trying to make a relationship,“ owner Jamie Faletti says.

Faletti and his staff accomplish this by emphasizing team-mindedess. Daniel Vasquez, member of Musicpage band The Reignsmen and SBGB employee, mentioned that, as opposed to shops where employees are paid on commission, their staff always seeks out the member best-suited to help a customer, even if it means they don’t get to make the sale themselves. “They’re knowledgeable. The guys that work there are musicians,” says guitar-maker Tom Kelly. Kelly sells his boutique guitars at SBGB, and further demonstrates their success in creating a personable environment when he says, “I chose the Guitar Bar because Jamie is a good guy.”

It’s hard to argue with that sentiment, but having a great staff does not necessarily count for anything without great guitars. Kelly tells me, “It’s the place to go if you’re looking for a fine instrument.” Vasquez adds, “Some people associate the word boutique with high end but most experienced players associate it with quality.” When I asked him if beginners can find a home there, he assures me, “We get everyone from touring artists to kids busking on the street.” Some of the big-name visitors include Brad Paisley, David Crosby, and even actor Christopher Lloyd. As SBGB is located in the Funk Zone, a well-reputed artist haven, celebrity drop-ins are not surprising, and demonstrate how the environment can affect the guitar-shopper’s experience. Kelly says, “If you’re a beginner buying your first guitar and your hero walks in, that can be inspiring.”

Whether you’re buying a guitar, coming to a community lecture, or just looking for that inspiration, Santa Barbara Guitar Bar can fulfill a musician’s needs in a variety of ways. Regardless of why patrons come through the door, Vasquez says, “We hope that we can see them progress and be a part of their musical journey.”