DUSTY'S GUITAR

06/18/2026

So y'all drive past the old shop on Coast Hwy and I ain't there no mo'! Dry your tears...to quote Mark Twain, 'the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated". Ok, let's quote Johnny Winter then..."still alive and well". Jeez, where else can you get so much musical bull*hit? So, left the shop as retail sales became quite boring to be honest with y'all. So, I sold my stuff to some gents and grab my Conn strobe-tuner and set-up shop in the beautiful Bonsall hills. I promised the missus i would take at least a month off before getting back to what I do best...I MAKE STRINGED INSTRUMENTS PLAY BETTER THAN THEY EVER HAVE. It's a fact. 47 years on Coast Hwy is proof enough. The Dusty's Guitar website will come down and be replaced by a new site "Dusty's Guitar Workshop". The new phone number is 760-645-6567. I am in the work shop a lot but if I don't answer, leave me a msg. and I'll get back to you. Meanwhile...you want some flame? I got your flame right here! 1964 Kay M1 Blonde 3/4 upright bass. OMG!....I am doing a complete overhaul as it has sat unused for prolly 40 yrs. or more. Almost finished with cleaning & polishing. Took 4 hours to remove the tarnish from the tuning keys! Will probably have new strings on it tomorrow afternoon. Then, I have to re-set the sound post. Uhgg! Yes, I can do it I just don't like doing it. My son, the real Dusty, used to set sound posts for me because he knew I had no patience. This is a magnificent instrument. American made to last a lifetime. 64 yrs. old and not a glue joint loose, neck is straight, top is perfect and when you hit a note and pull it into your chest....oh yeah, the vibrations are a cure-all for whatever ails you. Keep an eye on my FB stuff. It is sure to be an exciting summer!! Peace out....Dusty.

05/20/2026

10/28/2024

I am so broken hearted. The passing of Phil Lesh cuts deeply. Oft times taken for granted, hell, with Jerry Garcia in your band it's easy to understand. However, Lesh was integral to the Dead's big ass tone. Just listen St. Stephan. His use of chordal 2 string intervals makes this tune move!! Listening now to Uncle Johns Band...listen to how he makes Garcia and Weir sound better. Because that's what great bassists do! They are the link between the rhythm section and vocals/keys/guitars. Few did it better then Lesh. I can only hope that when he hits Heaven he runs into Chris Squire. Oh yeah............"Ripple" is playing now. Tears. Jerry & Phil both gone. Or are they?
This was supposed to be a short post but damn it, I am sad and pi**ed off.

04/21/2024

I will start this post with a foto of myself high atop a 300 ft. rock escarpment in Joshua Tree @ 1972 (or maybe '73) Went there often to stretch the boundaries of my guitar playing, rock climbing ability and other items best not mentioned here. Oh, my posse, they called themselves the Sons of Annihilation. I believe at least half of them are still alive. (notice the cat holding the Pignose amp) I believe his name was Steve or Stevie. Think he was maybe 15 or 16 in the pic. He ended up being one hell of player! We were all pushing the boundaries of what was expected of lower middle-class social rejects.
So, you ask, what the hell has this to do with Dusty's Guitar? A lot my friends, a lot!! My last post was of the shop closing and us blowing out what was left. Well, the gods of corporate America shined their light on Dusty's and have given us a new lease!! How 'bout that huh?
So, after months holing up in my underground Bonsall bunker, like the groundhog, I have emerged unto the sun and green grass. Dusty's Guitar has never been this well stocked up with stuff and doing repairs like crazy. That's all well and good, but to me, it gives me a few more years to try and nurture the talent that oft times lies dormant in the fingers and minds of the shy, quiet person who no one really ever talked too, the Wounded Warrior trying to put the pieces of his life back together, the child who comes in with mom or dad and finds the sound of a gently plucked ukulele puts a smile on the face and shine in the eyes. These moments are priceless to me and I will take each and everyone of those brief interludes to my grave.
Dusty's Guitar is more than just a place to shop for stuff. It may be the last real guitar shop at least in this county. I cannot tell you how many folks saw our "moving sale" sign and would come in and how much they miss us. Brings tears to my eyes. It's no longer about the money, it's all about the guitar: those that play them, those that wanna play them and those that want their guitar to play the best it can.
45 YEARS ON COAST HWY, STILL RUN BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
Will post some old store pics following this post.

11/10/2023

Well, it's been said that the only certainty in life is change. So true. After 44 years on Coast Hwy. it looks like come next spring we will be moving on....NOT CLOSED! But in another location here in No. County. I am looking at all options from Temecula, Vista and the French Riviera (that's a joke!) With over 350 guitars and 100's of amps, accessories, sound systems, pedals, etc. in stock . WE DON'T WANNA PACK THEM UP COME NEXT MARCH....so, for the next 4 months come in and find something you can't live without and make us a low ball offer. We might just take it! It's either sell it or pack it up for the move. Still open 7 days a week, open at 11am.
For over 44 years Dusty's Guitar has been the place where guitars rule. And yes, we are still buying gear, mostly guitars and amps. Our amp and guitar repairs are hot as heck and we will be heavy into making your guitar/bass/mandolin/banjo, etc. look and play their BEST! ps...we have kept our hourly rate the same as it was 10 years ago, not only the best, but also easier on the wallet.
Times are tough, I don't need to tell you that. If your active duty military, Wounded Warrior, special needs player, or you just don't have a lot of dough to spend. COME IN AND TALK TO US!! OMG, the last 44 years you folks have kept us in business and if can return the favor, it would be my pleasure. With the Holidays coming, please come by and sort thru the hundreds of guitar/amps, pedals, cases, tuners, cords, etc, etc. Mention you read this on FB/META and you'll get another 10% off!

An eclectic collection of new & used musical instruments from the distant past to the latest in design. Accessories/parts/service & repair.

01/20/2023

Jeff Beck and now David Crosby! Whew....what the hell is going on? All I can say is this: if you like their music: buy some tickets and go see 'em. Cuz you never know! I got tix for Marshall Tucker next week, only 1 original member but it's Marshall Tucker Band!
"It's getting to the point, where I am no fun anymore...." Suite Judy Blue Eyes, RIP brother David....Peace out.

01/12/2023

This really caught me off guard! If not the finest rock guitarist ever, has to be in my top 5 for sure. Jeff Beck has left us. If you've ever held an electric guitar and tried to play it, then listened to Jeff Beck. You probably wanted to put away saying "I am so not worthy". None of us were. Tone, technique, speed (only when it was needed!) and the ability to take one note on the fingerboard and make it sound like 3 or 4, just wiggling those fingers and that ever present trem bar. God I am so sad....fav album? "Blow by Blow", Beck tearing up a Les Paul. Want technique? Listen to "Cause we ended as lovers" on that album. That'll bring tears to your eyes.

10/04/2022

This old b&w photo shows what we believe to be the only picture of the original Dusty's Guitar circa 1930-35 in Indianola Mississippi. The man in the the doorway was Earl, a trucker who would stop to top off the tank and grab a cold Dr. Pepper. The other folks were local players who would sit outside and hustle for gigs, etc. One would assume that there was some one inside manning the place, but who knows? History shows that this place closed right before WW2 and they moved it out West somewhere.