Going to Florida (St.Pete/Tampa area) end of October. Does anybody know some good shops with vintage/boutique guitars/amps/pedals around that area?

Thanks!

well, i don't have any idea how far you want to drive, but i know of some within a few hours from there. there is a place in ft. lauderdale called "m.a.e.". i think it stands for "music arts enterprises" or something. they have a great selection of boutique amps and effects. here's a link to their site: http://www.mae-music.com/

the only other place i'm familiar with is here in orlando. it's a place called the guitar den. it only sells used equipment and they have alot of vintage fender and some vox amps, and a bunch of old guitars. their website stays fairly up to date on what they have there, and you can call them to see what they've got before you make the drive. the owners are cool guys. they're in a beatles cover band, and are total suckers for anything vox. they'll negotiate, and if you have anything of value they'll do trades (that's what the store is all about). here's their website: www.guitarden.com

again, i don't know if you want to drive that far, but those are the two best stores i can think of near there. hope that helps.

In Tampa there's Greenshift Music. It isn't really what I'd call boutique but they sell Burns & Italia guitars - something you don't see every day. They carry MoogerFooger & Maxon & EH as well. They do have a fair collection of vintage amps if you're into that.

http://www.greenshiftmusic.com/

There's a very cool gallery/restaurant over in that direction called Viva La Frida that you could hit afterwards (you guessed it - dedicated to Frida Kahlo).

http://www.seminoleheights.com/storefronts/vlf/VivaHome.asp

For the new boutique stuff I'd have to agree w/ AJ and make the trip down south to MAE (about 4 hours). I've never been but have spoken w/ them on the phone several times and had people recommend them to me - look at their product lineup.

Another place that's supposed to be pretty cool is Blue Angel Music but that's way up in the Panhandle in Pensacola (8 hour drive?)

http://www.bluesangelmusic.com/

Topaz Music in Ft. Myers (2.5 hours south) carries Two Rock amps - no idea what else they carry but you could hit the Thomas Edison & Henry Ford houses (right next to each other) at the same time if that sort of thing appeals to you.

Topaz Music - Tom Weaver: 239-278-4562

How long are you going to be around for?

Thanks for the suggestions gentleman! Much appreciated. I'll be around for 3 weeks.

I don't know exactly what I'm going to do, hooking up with my girl is the most important thing

But I think we'll travel around for a bit. Maybe even go to GA (I have a friend there, and WilleBudda's there too! )..

We even joked about getting married in Vegas in style with an Elvis impersonator in a Star Trek suit.

If somebody has more suggestions: keep them coming!

You probably get your fair share of art over in the Netherlands but a trip to the Salvador Dali Museum might be worth the trip. It's just south of Downtown.

http://www.salvadordalimuseum.org/

Actually, there's another guitar store right in downtown St. Pete on Central Ave.

http://www.steviebs.com/

My suggestion is to first hit Stevie B's and the Dali Museum in whatever order. Have a couple pints at Moon Under Water on Beach Drive (Colonial English/Indian food) sitting outside w/ a view of the Museum of Fine Arts, a bunch of boats, the Vinoy Hotel, the St. Pete Pier, a couple big Banyan trees, etc. And then make it over to "the Garden" on Central Ave ~10pm on a Fri/Sat night for some live jazz outside under a big Banyan tree w/ white christmas lights strewn all about (Miles, Brubeck, Coltrane, etc - not modern smooth jazz). The Vinoy is fantastic but there are a bunch of nice Bed and Breakfasts around that area that aren't too pricey.

http://marriott.com/property/viewallphotos/tpasr?WT_Ref=mi_left
http://www.fine-arts.org/
http://www.stpete-pier.com/

Wow, a complete trip! Thanks very much, CP!

The Salvador Dali Museum was already on our list, snobbish European that I am

The Dali Museum is very impressive. Several (4 or 5) of the huge masterworks and another 100 or so smaller (but equally impressive) paintings. One of my favorites is "Girls With Curls" - make sure you check it out.

The Ringling Museum of Art and the Winter Mansion might interest you too. An hour to an hour and a half south in Sarasota (depending on where you're at in Tampa).

http://www.ringling.org/

University of Tampa is worth a drive by on the way to the Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa. UT looks like a little gilded Kremlin and is right on the Hillsborough River as you head down Kennedy into downtown.

Tampa Theatre is an old indie/foreign/classic movie theater made up to look like an Italian Villa Courtyard complete w/ dark blue roof and little twinkling lights (stars). It's been there since 1926 - which I know isn't very long by European standards but, believe me, it doesn't get much older here in Florida before they tear it down and put a brand new strip mall or grocery store over it.

http://www.utampa.edu/
http://www.tampatheatre.org/
http://www.tampatheatre.org/photos.html

Oh, and if you like STIFF drinks and a good jukebox - the Hub right next to the Tampa Theatre is your place. I once ordered a double Maker's Mark & Ginger Ale - never again.

Feel free to send me an email if you want any more tour tips, places to eat, places to Kayak, whatever - ceterisparibus (*at*) tampabay.rr.com