If you’re looking to plan a future guitar-geeky vacation, look no further than this incredible city. Whether you’re into historic venues, shopping for guitars, or memorabilia, get ready to take a virtual vacation of THE Music City!
On this episode of Acoustic Tuesday, I’m taking you through the top 10 guitar-geek destinations within Nashville, Tennessee.
Besides taking a trip through Nashville, you’ll hear plenty of historical tidbits and trivia, such as why Johnny Cash was banned from the Grand Ole Opry, how Gruhn Guitars got started in Nashville, and inside look at Carter Vintage Guitars.
Nashville is an absolutely incredible city. There are few cities I would recommend more to a fellow guitar geek. That being said, I’ve created a list of the top 10 reasons you need to visit Nashville. So, be sure to watch the whole video!
Let me know if I missed anything in Nashville. I’d love it if this became a resource for all guitar geeks looking for the best things to do in Nashville!
As always, you can catch Acoustic Tuesday at 10 am every Tuesday in these four places:
- Acoustic Life YouTube channel
- We Play Every Day Facebook Community
- Get show notes emailed directly to your inbox.
- Listen to audio-only below or in iTunes
Show Notes
10.) Johnny Cash Museum
https://www.johnnycashmuseum.com/
9.) Bluebird Cafe
https://bluebirdcafe.com/
8.) Artisan Guitars
https://artisanguitars.com/
7.) Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop
https://www.etrecordshop.com/
6.) RCA Studio B
https://studiob.org/
5.) Station Inn
https://www.stationinn.com/
4.) Carter Vintage Guitars
https://cartervintage.com/
3.) Country Music Hall of Fame
https://countrymusichalloffame.org/
2.) Ryman Auditorium
https://ryman.com/
1.) Gruhn’s Guitars
https://guitars.com/
How about Austin next?
For Nashville food… I go every year for AmericanaFest. First, Monell’s, family-style, you share a large table with strangers and pass food around till you’re stuffed! For hot chicken, I like Hattie B’s, casual, not too hot. And, right across the parking lot from Carter’s Guitars is Arnold’s “meat & 3”, breakfast and lunch only. John Prine was a regular here, he loved their meatloaf, all homemade, deli-style. Loveless Cafe, out of town is also good. That’s just a start, not sure about Covid situation at these places. Be safe!
Don’t miss Loveless Cafe for breakfast.
Didn’t realize the light breaking actually got him banned. When he was on the show, he went well over his allotted time. Little Jimmy Dickens said he would never be back to the Opry. Minnie Pearl told Johnny, “Don’t you worry about him, you come back anytime, you tall, good-lookin’ man”.
OMG I love Johnny Cash!!! I will definitely going!!
One of my favorite cities to visit. I like your list. Been to Gruhn’s and Carter’s. Prefer Carter’s. Didn’t buy any guitars but got t-shirts from both.
Tony and crew,
Loved the show as always. It created an overwhelming desire to pack my bags and head to Nashville at first light. However, because of other commitments, I’ll have to put that off. A Nashville trip is definitely on my bucket lists. Thanks for a great, inspiring show, as always. Guitar geeks unite!
Not really a guitar geek thing, but more of an old country music geek thing: take a tour with Bill DeMain, of Walkin’ Nashville. We went to Tootsies, saw where Printers Alley was, where Jimmy Hendrix played when he started out, and Skull’s Rainbow Room where Johnny Cash would take his guests after his show. The Woolworth on 5th (a restaurant now, but is where black college students started some sit-ins at the lunch counter in the 60s). Was an interesting tour.
And thanks for highlighting my guitarsenal on today’s episode. But I do have to fess up to one thing. In true guitar geek fashion, I meticulously checked the sound holes of all the instruments to verify models and look up years of production from serial numbers where possible, noting every one in the description. I made one glaring omission, however. I forgot to introduce my wife (ole whatshername). Allow me to introduce my lovely wife, Mary. I may now owe her two more guitars or another mandolin.
Cash was a no show. That is why he was banned.
Having lived in Nashville from 2000 to 2005 and returning there for visits to family and friends regularly since then, I really loved this show. I’ve been to most of today’s Top Ten, but will have to cross off a few others next time we get to go. I give a hearty second to William P Frater’s Monell’s recommendation. Be hungry when you go, cause it’s down home good! There are a few locations, but the original in Germantown is located in a historic home with beautiful gardens . . . unless it was damaged with much in Germantown in the awful tornado in Nashville several months back. I also agree with William’s Arnold’s Meat & 3 recommendation, but Meat & 3s are a Nashville thing and there’s more of them. I never ate at one that wasn’t good. The Puffy Muffin in Brentwood has puffy, delicious muffins and just about any kind of baked good from cookies to cakes and everything in between. It’s also an excellent restaurant serving great food with a Southern twist. For family looking for fun beyond guitars and country music, the Frist Art Museum is outstanding, and don’t miss Hatch Show Print that dates back to 1879. Their Haley Gallery displays restrikes of original posters from the collection, as well as contemporary interpretations of Hatch Show Print’s classic wood blocks created by national and local artists. All of the restrikes of iconic posters, in addition to all of the new work inspired by the celebrated blocks, are available for purchase. The quaint, fun little town of Franklin, about 15 or so miles south of downtown Nashville is filled with antebellum homes, antique shops and great cafes and restaurants. I could go on, but it’s making me hungry and homesick to go myself. Ya’ll can’t go wrong with a visit to Music City!
Just saw show # 151 great.i want to go to nashville.i have never been there,but I get deja Vu like,I have been there before.i love country music alot.and the history of country music.i wish to visit all the places you mentioned.i think the station in is my favorite place to see all the magic.thank you Tony have a good week.😷😁👍💡🎼🎸🎤☕
Hi Tony, another good show. I’m a TAC member and a regular AT viewer. (although I never get to view live).I got to visit Artisan Guitars last time I was in Nashville area. At that time they were in Franklin, Tennessee in an old building that was once a Stove factory, great place to see and Franklin is a great town to visit. Keep up the good work.
Hey Tony, me again! I forgot to mention, while in Nashville I’ve also visited he Bluebird, Ryman Auditorium and Gruhn Guitars. I feel very fortunate to have visited 4 of your top 10. Will have to work on the others next time. Thanks again.
Ok Tony, last time I promise. You asked about places to eat. Try the Loveless Cafe, great breakfast, homemade biscuits and jams and with a little luck some live music may break out.
Thanks again.
Tony, you said those new style Guitarsenal shirts would be up on the website. I’ve looked every day so far (this is Friday evening) and THEY ARE NOT THERE. What about an “all acoustic” Guirtarsenal shirt?
In order to maximize your acoustic habit, you need to have a 2 Monday Night wrap around. That will allow you to see the Act called “New Monday” at the Station Inn and then catch the “Time Jumpers” at 3rd and Lindsley. Both are the standing Monday Night shows at the respective locations. After seeing these two groups made of Nashville’s best musicians having fun, you will need a decompression chamber. Check them out on YouTube. 3rd and Lindsley is reservation, Station Inn – get in line, first come, first served. Be in line by 6 for the 9:00 show. More than worth the wait!!
Why is everything coming out of America do you people think we have no one in Australia that can play guitars
And when we look up anything about guitars it all comes from the USA and everything has to be payed in US dollars that cheeses me off even more