Everyone there is so cool both on and off camera. Had a blast. Awesome video Rhett!

The shop employee steals the show

I was in Nashville once and went there and was blown away at how friendly and helpful all the people were. I live in the Northeast and you go into guitar shops in NYC and you have to search someone out to play a guitar. There everything was ready to pick and play! Great place.

That 330 sounded outrageous through my cheap laptop speakers! I plugged it in to a good system and it was even moreso. This looks like one of those stores that you check your credit rating before you walk in. I loved living near Nashville, though I never went to Carters because I knew I couldn't afford to walk out the door.

It’s so good to see McKinely. Used to work with him up in KY. Love to see him in action in Nashville!

OOOF that thundercat them changes drum intro without the payoff was like a stiff kick in the nuts. Gotta listen to it now thanks Rhett

It's been a couple of years since I've been in Carters, but I love that place. If anyone is doing the guitar tourist thing in Nashville, not just shopping I highly recommend checking out the Guitar collection in Belmont's library. Its a museum, but the guitars aren't under glass and they have a couple of significant guitars out you can pick up and play.

You should do more videos like this. I love these videos showing all the different shops and guitars.

I got a 1966 Gibson LG-1 there a few months ago when I was in town to see Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Ryman. It was one of those instances that a guitar player can vouch for. Just picked that thing up and five seconds after I started playing it, it was exactly what I had been searching for in an acoustic guitar. Small and warm, it doesn't want to rip your ears off. Just feels like a warm blanket. :)

One of the coolest shops I’ve ever been in. I took a day and went to every guitar shop in Nashville i could get to in a day. So much fun

'Surprise me'....like a freaking wine list.

That Mustang Bass with the the flats totally had that Thom Yorke “The Smile” thing going on. Love it.

I guess guitar shopping is fun anywhere, Nashville is no exception. The thing is guitar shopping is only fun when you want or need a guitar to buy. Can't say I have in over fifteen or so years. I just seem to have learned to appreciate and enjoy the guitars i already have.

Carter's vintage is a gold mine, not only do any of the workers go out of their way to help you. But they won't stop you. They know that somebody that they see "oh just a kid with no money" nah fam they treated me like a valued customer and walked out with a les paul custom and a JCM800 that was in Beatiful used condition. Customer for life

i was waiting for Thundercat to come in on that intro beat lol

Nashville has some of the best guitar shops anywhere on earth, I was lucky enough to spend a few days there about 6 months ago. Of course Carters was on my to do list! Mind boggling is how I would describe it. I was particularly fascinated with some of the off beat stuff that was in the racks, the more obscure, I was taken with a little huddle of 3 Airline semi's/archtops, all in the same metallic (?) blue. Not desirable to most but they were as cool as hell, and rarely see 1 in captivity let alone 3 next to each other.

I work at Guitar Center near my house and it’s funny Aldi. Small scale bases started coming in and I was like why are we getting so many of these then I played one and said the same thing if you play guitar they’re so comfortable and he’s gonna get around on and just cool as shit.

The price of 330’s are going up and up. Understandable. They are fantastic

I would very much love to visit Nashville just for the guitar and musical experiences alone. Indeed, when it comes to guitar, nothing is quite like Nashville!

carter’s is my favorite guitar shop, i stop by every time i go to nashville! it really is a great environment!

You have to play a vintage 330 to understand how great they are. ❤

Funny thing: 1959 cars aren't better, planes aren't better, audio isn't better, athletes aren't better. But somehow, one manufactured product, made in a factory like any other gadget to make money, was better back then, and in all these years, they can't be produced as well. They must have run out of pixie dust in 1960.

Carter is the best. Nice people, great selection. Worth the trip!

loved Carters Guitars i was there visiting in January 2013 and was treated very well by all the staff wish the shop was here in Australia

My God, the elegance of that P90 Tone! Some Jazz God has oozed the Mojo Sprit into that thing! 😮

Carter Vintage is one of the places I go every time we are in Nashville.... I tested out some Guitars in that exact room you are in, though there were a few vintage instruments that made my heart stop and all the muscles in my body lock up for a sec when I looked at the price tag. 😆 ☮❤🎶

Started to watch this video about an hour and a half ago but figured i should practice first. These videos are really cool.

My dream guitar is a cherry red es-330 with the black pickups like Rhett played. Always drooled over them

That 330 is my dream guitar...as it is I'm happy with my Casino and 335 but that's the perfect marriage between the two. I absolutely love P90 pickups and that one sound amazing

By shopping you mean playing 30k instruments that no one can afford ?

I love how Rhett doesn’t just get on a guitar and riff nonsense. He plays to the style of the guitar. Gives that guitar a voice. Tasteful. Cheers mate!

What I’ve known for years, short scale bass is a secret weapon. Plays so much easier, string tension is a lot lower, low end is sweeter, it’s a chunk lighter, easier on your back, many many wonderful things happen when you realize that there’s no reason to play a 34” scale length bass. I have a beautiful Fender custom shop J Bass, and a short scale Squire Mustang bass with a Badass bridge and Aguilar pickups. Guess which one gets played about 10-20x more than the other.

In the late 60's early 70's, my Dad played a short scale Kalamazoo bass with flat wound strings through an amp with a single 15" speaker. I still have it. It's so fun to play. Sits in the mix very well.

i really enjoy your guitar shopping trip vids, and yes that neck p90 on the Gibson is incredible

Yeah I was just at Carter last month. Love just picking up all of the old Gibson acoustics, that are decades old. The aging wood just gives them the most bold and mellow sound. Love!

Nice. I went to Nashville for the first time in November. Stopped at carters and actually spoke to this guy!

I had the chance to go to Carter's earlier this year. I almost didn't go because I saw the prices online, and I thought they wouldn't want people playing their instruments. I couldn't have been more wrong. The vast majority of the instruments were available to play and everyone at Carter's was fantastic. Now I just need a pay raise.

I went to Nashville for the first time back in August and had to go to Carter's. My wife was patient while I played guitars and amps older than me (I'm 42). It was the Mecca! Cheers from Portland, Maine.

these are my favorite videos. i get to guitar shop from my couch.

It may sound simple, but, I don't want a "vintage" guitar - or amp. "Vintage" just means old - rephrased to make it more expensive. 🙂 What I do want is ANY guitar that feels right, sings the notes I suggest with my hands it should do, feels balanced to hold, doesn't look completely ridiculous, stays in tune, and has reliable dependability. That said, brand new guitars do scare me a little since they haven't been around long enough to have worked out any 'wood' problems that time may reveal. A lot can be predicted by understanding the particular wood of that instrument (grain, run-out, density, construction, etc.), but it's less of a gamble with a guitar that's been around and used for a few years already. From there, there is the well-known caution about 70's-into-80's top branded guitars. But aside from that, each individual guitar needs to prove itself to me one-on-one. And then I don't care if it's 10 years old or 70. I can't play 'mystique' or 'charm' or 'history'. I share with the instrument what music I want, and if it sings my song, then we have a partnership and life gets real good. 😀

My three stops in Nashville....Carter's, Gruhn's and Rumble Seat.

Haha, hey Rhett its Pat Puckett again. Pretty funny that i was the guy waiting for that JL and you were filming w it . Oddly eough i played the same Julian Lage song that McKinley did ! Again, it was a pleasure to meet you .

I was in Nashville in March and had to stop in Carter's just to try the vintage '62 Fender Jazz.

Dang McKinley can rip. Those chord voicings he was hitting on that Collings were gorgeous.

diggin the meters on the demo, man! sending love from new orleans!!

i have to go to Nashville for work and the first thought I had when i found out was F*CK YES FINALLY GOING TO CARTERS!! lol

God I miss Nashville. Riding the Wabash Cannonball every weekend until I was dizzy the rest of the day. Going to McGavock high with Dwayne Johnson (didn't know him.. just a huge dude we all thought was a cop in a bad disguise) Playing gigs at the local skating rink And music for days, at every possible corner of Music row. Carters came along well after I left... but they fit perfectly in a town that needs them. Thanks for reminding me of "back home" Rhett... I should get back there again soon.

Thanks for the video. Always love when you go to Carter's. McKinley was the person that helped me buy a dream guitar while I was in Nashville. He was super helpful and just and awesome hang. I felt comfortable to try whatever I wanted for as long as I wanted. It is definitely the best guitar store I've been to.

I just sold a Mustang bass at Carter, but mine was a cool baby blue color. It sold in less than a week. I am from ATL.

Here for the Telecaster content.

CARTER VINTAGE!!! I visit that shop anytime I visit Nashville since 2018

Hi Rhett, love your videos, especially when you are in the shops....discussing things, playing new guitars .... thank you!!! greetings from Germany. Joe

Love that place, headed down in Feb again.

1959 ES-330, I'm done. That is my dream guitar.

This video made me find their site and inquire about something very interesting I saw there! So thanks Rhett, and thanks Carter Vintage (we shall see, anyway)!

man my brain and earholes were not prepared for the stank from the 330. I have to have one.

Should have left the creaking footsteps down the ramp into the showroom in that intro 😂. I’m gonna miss this old place. Hope some of that mojo oozes it’s was across the street to new spot.

I love the way we use to describe sounds when it comes to tones of guitars, The Adjectives are amazing lol. Like Spanky . But there are terms that make sense like a warm tone or clear tone . or these pick ups are hot! Adjectives are just the greatest

Damn thought our boy had done a thundercat collab or somethin

CVG FTW and... That damn Collings acoustic guitar had such a sweet sound.

We were there on Saturday! We stop in every time we’re in Nashville.

That Tele sounds AMAZING

The way how you pointed out the lower output of that tele is so important to have in mind in general when looking 4 a new guitar, i tought low output did not fit my style of playing...but once you use whats you amplifier!!! is actually for, you feel the sun go up on low k Pups ❤love this nerding around soooo much

Cheers Rhett. Was there in Oct/Nov, 8th Ave is the road to travel for all the best guitars, had a ball as I walked that street. There were another couple 330s there both '14s as I recall, gone now and rightly so, good sounding instruments.

My instincts told me that drum intro was Footsteps in the dark/Them changes

I own one of those Julian Lage signature acoustics: in addition to the amazing sound quality, the intonation is outstanding.

McKinley, we see you! Dude is fantastic!

I have a good time watching you at Carter’s ❤ That McKinley guy is really good!

Ok Rhett - I need a video about the guitar style of "The Meters". I keep hearing you hinting at it...

My wife and I were in Nashville in April for vacation. We visited both Gruhns and Carters. Sadly, all I could afford were t-shirts.

Got a '64 ES330 and can confirm the neck pickup is amazing. '64 is a particularly good year. now go see what Little Barrie does with it (he has a red '62).

Saucy dynamics in your playing, Rhett. I like

I really enjoyed this video!! Thanks for sharing your adventure!!

Good tones from that Princeton and that es 330 super classic love it!

I'm in love with that Tele ❤

The 330 sounded amazing but the 58 tele is my dream guitar. I’ve always preferred white guards on tele’s. And the relic looks amazing. Awesome video man.

I heard the drum beat in the intro and I was waiting for it to be "Them Changes" by Thundercat.

Never closed Thomas Raggi at Norman 's so fast 😂

Best shop in Nashville for guitar is either Carters or Rumble seat music. Love those places.

Great playing too brett

nice thundercat intro

Nice rhythms old chap.

What a great scene out there defo on the bucket list cheers man

I could listen to you playing that '59 all day long!

There's an incredible beauty behind Philip at 1:46

The Mustang bass really does sound good!

330 is my dream guitar!

Rhett, you're the only person I've seen with the same right hand technique as me. Great for string skipping, I'm surprised I haven't seen more people playing that way.

I love Carters, my wife had to literally drag me and my son out so we didn’t miss a concert last month.

Anyone else thought that was Thundercat "Them Changes" at the start

I just did this same trip less than a month ago. I tried my hardest to find a cool guitar in all these same shops. I had great experiences, but the market felt more expensive for similar guitars than Los Angeles where I’m from. I tried to deal on an 80s LP custom that I liked, but carters never got back to me if they got ahold of the owner. And everything else I just didn’t really bond with. I ended up at Gibson garage playing new customs and came home with a 68 RI LPC. Great trip, great people, great music stores. Just nothing was scratching that itch. Maybe next time.

Thanks for taking us along! Peace

Hope you bought that 330 , you deserve it. You’re a pro and a collector. It will go up in value and enrich your life. You won’t regret it. Otherwise , that’s twice!

Great playing and great gear. My favorite was the Tele but it was close.

was waiting for that thundercat bassline in the opening

Dude your blues playing especially on the hollow body is so tasteful. I would love a lesson!

McKinley sounds amazing

Love love love Carter Vintage!

One of the things I miss most since moving away from Nashville

Clean as country water. Wild as Mountain Dew. Nashville Cats.