Strings on 23rd - Chelsea Guitars

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On 23rd Street, Chelsea Guitars is hard to miss even though the entire store could fit inside some people's walk-in closets. When open, you're greeted by a ukulele playing Marilyn Monroe, who smiles at you rain or shine. Through the doors is one of New York's most unique and interesting shops.

As the sign on the glass says, the store is all about guitars, both electric and acoustic, along with some mandolins, banjos, and ukuleles. I'd passed the storefront for many years as a neighborhood resident, but being musically challenged had never walked in until my son took a music class and needed to buy some picks.

Dan Courtenay, the owner, was very welcoming and generous, spending time with us explaining the advantages of different kinds of pics. I can't imagine too many store owners spending that much time on a purchase that would amount to about a dollar at most. In New York I'm always surprised when people go the extra mile to be friendly and courteous, and Dan was all that in spades.

On another occasion, I stopped by the store to shoot the breeze with Dan, who is a great storyteller by the way, only to find that he wasn't there. Minding the store was a young man named Dean Gordon, who was (and still is) a luthier, meaning someone who makes, repairs, and maintains guitars and other stringed instruments.

Dean has his own business making guitars, but also works for Dan. When I was there this past August he was working on a metallic guitar he had made for a client (see below). Dean felt the store was special because of the knowledge and experience of the staff, and because you could stop by and talk guitars and even play while you were there, something you would not experience at the big box stores.

Chelsea Guitars is definitely one of the places that make New York City special. Check it out, and you won't regret it.