Norman's Rare Guitars

Gibson's Mark Agnesi explains the difference between relic’ing and aging guitars

By Janelle Borg Published 7 August 26

Gibson’s Director of Brand Experience gives his take on aged guitars – and explains why Murphy Lab is closing the gap with bona fide vintage models

You can now watch the Norman’s Rare Guitars documentary online for free

By Phil Weller Published 19 June 26

Featuring all-star interviews and crazy stories, the film charts the rise of Norman Harris’ legendary store and the vintage guitar market boom

When Bonnie Raitt took Melissa Etheridge guitar shopping – and convinced her to swap her Les Paul for a Strat

By Jonathan Horsley Published 13 March 26

Proof that we should always listen to Bonnie Raitt's advice, Etheridge never looked back with the Strat

“With that said, you all can stop asking me if I am buying it now. Muchas gracias”: Joe Bonamassa has his say on the future of Norman’s Rare Guitars

By Jonathan Horsley Published 16 January 26

Once described as a "good fit" for the store, Bonamassa says he is more than happy to see Norman Harris's vintage guitar institution join the Carter Vintage Guitars family

“It's the most iconic guitar shop in the world”: Norman’s Rare Guitars acquired

By Jackson Maxwell Published 14 January 26

The acquisition includes the 1,000+ guitars currently housed at the store, along with proprietor Norman Harris’ personal and private collection

Norman’s Rare Guitars is home to some of the finest Strats in the world – but you’ll never guess which one sounds the best

By Phil Weller Published 22 September 25

The store has waxed lyrical about a mid-priced, made-in-Mexico Strat that’s given its vintage counterparts a run for their money

“A lot of the music stores didn’t want to touch used instruments”: Norman Harris on the nascent days of the vintage guitar market

By Phil Weller Published 25 August 25

Harris turned the used guitar market on its head, despite the skepticism of many industry peers

How Norman Harris helped reunite a Beatle with his long-lost Les Paul

By Phil Weller Published 11 July 25

The Lucy Les Paul was gifted to Harrison by Eric Clapton and used on a score of iconic recordings. When it was stolen, Harris came to his rescue

32 years ago, Jeff Ament rented a ’61 Jazz Bass from Norman's Rare Guitars to record Pearl Jam’s Vs. – and now he’s been reunited with it

By Matt Owen Published 1 May 25

Ament recently reconnected with the vintage four-string more than three decades after using it to track Vs in the early 1990s – and he immediately played it on stage