Lake Forest, CA

[Stuball48]

Any members around Lake Forest, Ca? Need opinions on "Rare Guitar Gallary" and your impression of it. Are their descriptions accurate? May be interested in an acoustic they have - just waiting on promised pictures. Will wait a couple days before I look elsewhere.
Thanks

 

[davismanLV]

Lake Forest, CA is in Orange County south of Irvine next to Mission Viejo in case anyone is wondering where abouts it is. All south of LA. Just FYI.

 

[Stuball48]

Lake Forest, CA is in Orange County south of Irvine next to Mission Viejo in case anyone is wondering where abouts it is. All south of LA. Just FYI.

Thanks Tom - all I know is it is a long way from Dickson, TN.

 

[JohnW63]

I'm not near it, but I've been there. I haven't heard of the Rare Guitar Gallery. I think the name would imply high prices and scare me off.

Do they even have a showroom?

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm not near it, but I've been there. I haven't heard of the Rare Guitar Gallery. I think the name would imply high prices and scare me off.
Do they even have a showroom?

Same for me. I've been a few times to Lake Forest in the past as I had friends living there but I never had heared of "Rare Guitar Gallery". They seem to operate out of a private house but arrange for private visits to play the guitars in person. And according to the webpage they call themselves: "Apothecary of Fine Instruments".
The webpage has beautiful pictures however.
Not sure when that business was founded. "We are owned & operated by musicians that share the love and dedication to quality of tone, aesthetic beauty, superb function and craftsmanship."
One of the owners is guitarist Robert Guilarte-Mantellini who also owns Sunspot Records and another Reverb Shop "Sunspot Guitars" in Lake Forest.




And the good news:
@awagner bought a guitar there in 2020 and was a happy customer as it sounds. I guess "Bob" was Robert.

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/several-guilds-for-sale-on-this-site.203702/post-1903445

Ralf

 

[Stuball48]

Thanks for all the feedback and their website does have some fine guitars listed under "Guitars Catelog." This is where I found the one that peaked my interest. I talked with Rob and very nice sounding fellow just waiting for him to do what he said he would do -- send more pictures of requested angles, maybe today?
I looked at several guitars and all photos were taken against a gray backdrop - which made me think they are in same location - and regular hours leads me to believe there would be some kind of showroom.

 

[fronobulax]

Google thinks the geoloc is 25882 Vicar Way, Lake Forest, CA 92630 which sure looks like a business operating out of a residence to me.

23122 El Toro Rd. Lake Forest, CA 92630 does look like an industrial park location that could service customers with appointments.

My impression, formed by web searches, is that they are legit, will strive to describe instruments accurately, will do things their way (non-FedEx shipping might not be negotiable) and are not a place for bargain shoppers.

I'm not finding Sunspot Guitars on Reverb.

It looks like rareguitargallery.com was registered on 2019-10-28.

I'm guessing we are looking at an evolving business.

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm not finding Sunspot Guitars on Reverb. It looks like rareguitargallery.com was registered on 2019-10-28.
I'm guessing we are looking at an evolving business.

Well possible it was called Sunspot Guitars in the past.

They have a nice Facebook page (you can visit without login):

Rare Guitar Gallery

Rare Guitar Gallery. 11 likes · 1 was here. Larrivee Guitars Orange County Dealer. BadCat Amplification ,Endorphin.es Eurorack, 4MS , Erica Synth

www.facebook.com

Some of their Google images look like a large Storage Unit, so I guess they have the guitars stored elsewhere and not at the given residence address (would be too risky anyway).

EDIT: It seems to be at


I see a Guild and a two Guild cases!



Also they posted a work desk:



Ralf

 

[Stuball48]

I contacted Rob (owner) and Dan about the "Crafters of Tennessee Flat Top" dreadnought before Christmas and told them I would be in touch after Christmas.
I talked with both today and Rob sent me pictures of every angle and bracing I requested. They could not have been nicer and more willing to help. This Crafters of Tennessee guitar was not built by my friend Chris Bozung so I declined.
But, I can assure you, I would not hesitate to do business with Rare Guitar Gallary in Lake Forest, CA. They went beyond what was expected.