The Story of Atlanta Vintage Guitars
In the late 1980s, Frank Moates embarked on a mission that would shape the music scene in
Georgia. Starting from the basement of a friend's home in East Marietta, Frank had also cut his
teeth at Dixie Guitars on the famous Guitar Row in Smyrna, known for its lineup of music stores:
Music Mart, American Music, Amazing Music, Dirt Cheap Music, and Dixie Guitars.
When Dixie Guitars closed its doors, Frank seized the opportunity and founded Atlanta Vintage Guitars (AVG). Though the shop unofficially opened around 1990, AVG was incorporated in 1998. Frank quickly became known for curating an incredible collection of vintage guitars. Ads in Vintage Guitar magazine featured AVG’s stock of Gibson, Fender, and Martin guitars that would make any enthusiast's head spin.
AVG’s reputation attracted rock legends. The Joe Perry Les Paul that Slash eventually acquired passed through AVG, and icons like Jimmy Page, Devin Townsend, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top visited the store. Billy even snagged an early 1950s blackguard Esquire from Frank.
Over the years, Frank downsized AVG to a cozy wooden house nearby, focusing more on his love for playing the blues. During this time, he bought his dream guitar, a 1963 Gibson ES 335, from Steve Marriot of Humble Pie and the Small Faces.
In the mid-2000s, Frank faced a battle with colon cancer. Despite the illness, he continued running the store and playing music until his passing in July 2009. Greg Henderson, who played with Frank at his last gig, took the reins. With the help of Frank’s friends, Greg sold much of the inventory, eventually purchasing AVG on June 28, 2011. He moved the remaining stock to climate-controlled storage units.
AVG relocated to Hwy 92 in Woodstock, GA, for four years before settling at its current home at 3778 Canton Road Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30066, in August 2015.
Since 2011, AVG has thrived thanks to our loyal customers, who we consider dear friends. Our dedicated team, including Spencer Kirkpatrick, Ron Ferguson, Greg Montgomery, J.P Heinz, Jerry Farr, Eric Henderson, and James Myerscough, ensures that AVG remains the go-to spot for guitar enthusiasts. We offer great deals on new and used gear, appraisals, professional repairs, and setups, with trusted artisans for specialized work.
Looking ahead, we plan to relaunch our charity, Guitars for Hearts, and enhance our unique service, The Guitar Registry. Stay tuned for our new, user-friendly website!
Thank you for supporting Atlanta Vintage Guitars. We are committed to preserving what you love about us and continuously improving. Here’s to many more years of being “Where Guitar Lovers Shop!”
When Dixie Guitars closed its doors, Frank seized the opportunity and founded Atlanta Vintage Guitars (AVG). Though the shop unofficially opened around 1990, AVG was incorporated in 1998. Frank quickly became known for curating an incredible collection of vintage guitars. Ads in Vintage Guitar magazine featured AVG’s stock of Gibson, Fender, and Martin guitars that would make any enthusiast's head spin.
AVG’s reputation attracted rock legends. The Joe Perry Les Paul that Slash eventually acquired passed through AVG, and icons like Jimmy Page, Devin Townsend, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top visited the store. Billy even snagged an early 1950s blackguard Esquire from Frank.
Over the years, Frank downsized AVG to a cozy wooden house nearby, focusing more on his love for playing the blues. During this time, he bought his dream guitar, a 1963 Gibson ES 335, from Steve Marriot of Humble Pie and the Small Faces.
In the mid-2000s, Frank faced a battle with colon cancer. Despite the illness, he continued running the store and playing music until his passing in July 2009. Greg Henderson, who played with Frank at his last gig, took the reins. With the help of Frank’s friends, Greg sold much of the inventory, eventually purchasing AVG on June 28, 2011. He moved the remaining stock to climate-controlled storage units.
AVG relocated to Hwy 92 in Woodstock, GA, for four years before settling at its current home at 3778 Canton Road Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30066, in August 2015.
Since 2011, AVG has thrived thanks to our loyal customers, who we consider dear friends. Our dedicated team, including Spencer Kirkpatrick, Ron Ferguson, Greg Montgomery, J.P Heinz, Jerry Farr, Eric Henderson, and James Myerscough, ensures that AVG remains the go-to spot for guitar enthusiasts. We offer great deals on new and used gear, appraisals, professional repairs, and setups, with trusted artisans for specialized work.
Looking ahead, we plan to relaunch our charity, Guitars for Hearts, and enhance our unique service, The Guitar Registry. Stay tuned for our new, user-friendly website!
Thank you for supporting Atlanta Vintage Guitars. We are committed to preserving what you love about us and continuously improving. Here’s to many more years of being “Where Guitar Lovers Shop!”
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