Best Music Shops In Orange County
In Orange County, the music stores add their own flavor to the local music scene. It's not uncommon to find owners who hire employees as knowledgeable about classic vinyl as they are. Some locations focus on music lessons, repair and instrument sales. A few even began as music labels and continue to bring new music to Orange County. If you march to the beat of a different drummer, the OC has a music store for you.
Kenny's Music Store
24731 La Plaza
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 661-3984
www.kennysmusicstore.com
Calling his place the "biggest little store" in Dana Point, owner Kenny Williams and his instructors offer bass, brass, keyboard and guitar lessons as well as vocal instruction. Kenny's Music Store also is a place to go for instrument repair, rentals and trade-ins. Williams stands behind the quality of the instruments and instruction at his place of business.
Creme Tangerine Records
2930 Bristol St. C-103
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 932-0552
www.cremetangerinerecords.com
Located in the LAB (Little American Business) Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa, Crème Tangerine Records lives inside a sky-blue Airstream travel trailer. The store buys, sells and trades records, tapes and all sorts of music gear and memorabilia. Also a record label, Creme Tangerine releases—in the store owner's words—vinyl records and cassette tapes of artists that they love. The proceeds from the sale of records and tapes are split evenly between the owners and the artists.
TKO Records
21405 Brookhurst St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
(714) 962-0500
www.tkorecords.com
Specializing in punk rock, TKO Records carries those rare, hard-to-find and collectible pressings as well as CDs and DVDs. Starting life as a San Francisco-based record label in 1997, TKO moved to an Orange County storefront location in 2007. The label still issues new releases and reissues classic punk recordings.
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Port of Sound Record Shoppe
1500 Adams Ave. #102
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 444-2337
www.portofsoundrecords.com
Located in Costa Mesa, Port of Sound Record Shoppe carries a wide selection of new and used vinyl records. This is also the place to find new and refurbished turntables as well as preservation supplies, tapes and CDs. For $2.50 per item, the store will even clean 12, 10 and 7-inch vinyl records.
13th Street Guitars
7391 Warner Ave. Ste. F
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 596-5050
www.13thstreetguitars.com
Owned and operated by Hugh Thomas, 13th Street Guitars caters to music lovers from beginners to professionals. Factory authorized for several guitar manufacturers, the staff can repair, restring or setup most instruments. 13th Street also manufactures Clockwork custom guitars for approximately $1,000.
