Guitar shops worth the trip in Portland

Founded in 1976, Buckdancer’s Choice bills itself as Maine’s oldest independent brick-and-mortar guitar shop. The floor carries acoustics from Martin, Taylor, Seagull, Guild and Yamaha alongside electrics, basses, amps, pedals and pro-audio gear in new, used and vintage condition. The store buys, sells, trades and repairs, and a 2026 Portland Press Herald feature marked its fiftieth year as the shop many local musicians still favor.

Stinson & Company is a Portland walk-in dealer specializing in vintage Fender, Gibson and Martin guitars along with vintage tube amplifiers. The shop advertises interest in pre-CBS Fender Strats, Teles and P and J basses, with instruments ranging from roughly one hundred dollars to five figures. No appointment is required to browse or sell.