The store was founded by Norman Harris and officially opened its doors in 1975. Harris started out as a musician and then moved into vintage guitars, spotting the value in older American-made instruments from the late ’50s.

Over decades, the shop built a reputation not just as a retail space, but as a destination for collectors, professionals and guitar-fans alike.

The inventory includes high-end vintage guitars such as original Gibsons, Fenders and Gretsches as well as new and used pro-quality instruments.

There is also a sort of “secret vault” or private stash of ultra-rare instruments — museum-grade pieces that aren’t always on the showroom floor. For example, the guitar known as “Amos” (a 1958 Gibson Flying V) was once in Norman’s collection.

Norman’s Rare Guitars
18969 Ventura Boulevard
Tarzana CA 91356