Celebrating over 38 years in business, Lightning Joe's is family owned and operated. We pride ourselves in giving the best customer service around and treat all of our customers as if they, too, were family. It is also equally important to us that you find the right instrument, gear and accessories so you can walk out of our shop ready to rock. We are home to over 1,700 new, used and vintage guitars and fretted instruments serving San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and beyond. Your excellent hosts, Lightning Joe, Marelene, Joseph, Ashley, Savanna, Joey and Christian look forward to helping you on your quest for tone.
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Located only fifteen minutes' drive from Lightning Joe's, the Ernie Ball Music Man factory is crafting some of the world's finest guitars and basses. Thanks to our convenient geography, we're lucky enough to drive to the factory doors to personally retrieve them when they're finished with each build.
Here at Lightning Joe's, we have one of the largest inventories of Martin guitars on the entire West Coast. With over 100 different models to choose from, there's sure to be a perfect Martin guitar for any acoustic enthusiast. We are passionate about the incredible history and enduring growth in quality of Martin guitars since they were established in 1833.
Lightning Joe's is proud to showcase the breathtaking designs of Paul Reed Smith Guitars here at our shop. We supply the public with access to all levels of PRS guitars, including Core, CE & Bolt-On, S2, SE electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, as well as PRS amplifiers, on-hand at all times. It is our great pleasure to offer the streamlined feel, fine-tuned sound, incredible craftsmanship, and beautiful aesthetic of these fine instruments. No matter the price, great or small, the reward of owning a PRS instrument can be a lifelong treat.
Lightning Joe's is home to a stupendous selection of Taylor guitars-more than a pair of eyes can see without glancing sideways, up, and down! We stock Taylor guitar models from the beginning price points in the Baby Taylor series, all the way up to Builder's Editions, Koa series, Custom Shop creations, and all series in between.
Reviews (10)
Sam Roberts
May 21, 2022
Marco Giovacchini
May 21, 2022
Lightning Joe's is the best guitar store in the area, hands down, and we take the whole band here before any show and sometimes just use practice time to get new pedals, tuners, amp heads, different picks, etc etc. I recently took a guitar here to buy a part I didn't know was even purchasable but they had it, and offered to install it right then and there for a great price.
Love this place and if you are getting in to guitars or have been playing for your whole life, there's always something to see here, and with the knowledgeable staff there's always something to learn too.
Love this place and if you are getting in to guitars or have been playing for your whole life, there's always something to see here, and with the knowledgeable staff there's always something to learn too.
SniperSam
Apr 29, 2022
Bought the Dean Soltero honey flame burst from there. Half off of 800.00 so I should've known there had to be a flaw in it. I was so stoked that they fed off of that knowing I'd most likely buy that guitar, I assumed they just wanted to get rid of that older model. Took it home and noticed a buzz towards the 12th fret and on and on both 6, 5, 4, and 3 strings. Raised the saddle and bridge a bit but still a buzz. Took it back a day after the 3 day return policy because it was my only day off that week. and the owner proceeded to tell me it was a environment thing that the change in temperature made the neck bend.
He adjusted the neck but still to no avail. He went on and on as if To tell me I didn't know what I was talking about and insisted it was the weathers fault. Still spent close to an hour trying to adjust the truss rod but still did not remedy the buzz. Then he kept telling me I play too hard on the strings and that he couldn't hear nor feel a buzz, almost to the point where he was almost implying that I was stupid.
I kinda alluded to exchanging the guitar but he insisted it was me. Needless to say I loved the guitar and had hoped it can be fixed. Now I moved a good 10 hours away from SLO and I'm stuck with a guitar that buzzes no matter what I do. Nice selection of guitars though. Curse this shop if I can't get this buzz out and end up having to take it to a professional. Buyers beware.
He adjusted the neck but still to no avail. He went on and on as if To tell me I didn't know what I was talking about and insisted it was the weathers fault. Still spent close to an hour trying to adjust the truss rod but still did not remedy the buzz. Then he kept telling me I play too hard on the strings and that he couldn't hear nor feel a buzz, almost to the point where he was almost implying that I was stupid.
I kinda alluded to exchanging the guitar but he insisted it was me. Needless to say I loved the guitar and had hoped it can be fixed. Now I moved a good 10 hours away from SLO and I'm stuck with a guitar that buzzes no matter what I do. Nice selection of guitars though. Curse this shop if I can't get this buzz out and end up having to take it to a professional. Buyers beware.
Matthew McGillivray
Apr 27, 2022
This is the greatest guitar shop I've ever seen- Joe stocks everything from 7 string multiscale shredders to the finest classical guitars made. Boutique pedals, uncommon amps, custom parts, etc. Everything in here is priced lower than retail, and everything was personally set up by Joe which increases the value in itself. I could not recommend an establishment more firmly than i do for lightning Joe's guitar heaven!
Jim Oliphant
Feb 06, 2022
Ronald Raade Ron
Dec 23, 2021
Ken Cope
Nov 15, 2021
Luthier Lightning Joe does great work for a modest price; not only did he rapidly resurrect an unplayable beginner acoustic guitar for me by shaving off the height on the nut and saddle, he inspected and fine tuned my first effort at modding an old Squier Affinity P-bass, on which I learned how to drill holes and solder wires and managed not to make it worse.
I'd been so obsessed with selecting new pickups and electronics, a custom pickguard, and a new bridge, I failed to look up the proper way to thread the tuners to string it. Ultimately all it took was stringing it properly and fine tuning the intonation at the bridge. Every time Lightning Joe finishes adjusting any electric instrument, he takes it out to the front, plugs it into an amp and listens to his work in an impressive performance, to make sure there aren't any other adjustments necessary, but also, to show how well it can now be played.
When I entered the shop he was checking out his repairs on an Ibanez bass. He only played the Ibanez for a minute or two, but he gave my bass a lengthy work out, really listening to how it had never sounded before, exploring the full tonal range on my new instrument before presenting it to me. He told me that while I'd never see any kind of monetary return on the work I put into this, the reward would be in learning about and playing the instrument that it is now.
I'd been so obsessed with selecting new pickups and electronics, a custom pickguard, and a new bridge, I failed to look up the proper way to thread the tuners to string it. Ultimately all it took was stringing it properly and fine tuning the intonation at the bridge. Every time Lightning Joe finishes adjusting any electric instrument, he takes it out to the front, plugs it into an amp and listens to his work in an impressive performance, to make sure there aren't any other adjustments necessary, but also, to show how well it can now be played.
When I entered the shop he was checking out his repairs on an Ibanez bass. He only played the Ibanez for a minute or two, but he gave my bass a lengthy work out, really listening to how it had never sounded before, exploring the full tonal range on my new instrument before presenting it to me. He told me that while I'd never see any kind of monetary return on the work I put into this, the reward would be in learning about and playing the instrument that it is now.
Holly Blessing
Jul 31, 2021
Caleb Willoughby
Jun 20, 2021
Lightning Joes is one of the best shops you'll ever do business with. Its one of the last really great family shops in the United States, all while operating at pro-level. I found the guitar that I had dreamed about here and Joseph went over and above when we had some issues to overcome. They will go the extra mile. *Highly* Recommended.
Blacky Lawless
Feb 18, 2021
Hey.they dont call it heaven for nothing. What can i say.ive been buying and selling guitars and musical equipment with Joe since he was in that tiny little booth down at the nipomo swap meet over 30 years ago. He knows his trade and has passed it on to his wife and children who are just as knowledgeable and helpful as Joe himself. You would have to be Stark Raven mad to get ur funky doodads and gear anywhere else. Theres only one guitar shop around here for a reason. We dint need nothin else Joe got all the best stuff and some rare odditys too check him out you wont be disappointed. --Ronnie DiGirolamo. Arroyo Grande Ca.
