Best of Tucson 1996: Best Cool Guitar Store

Best Cool Guitar Store

STAFF PICK: We recently observed a refugee from either the Gospel Rescue Mission or the Berklee School of Music (not sure which) amble into Rainbow Guitars, 2512 N. Campbell Ave., and loudly announce, "Dude, I wanna play like Hendrix!" Well, as he may or may not have known, he stumbled into the right place. For as anyone interested in cool guitars knows, cool means Fender, and Rainbow is the place for everything from brand new custom-shop beauties to classic vintage Stratocasters. Telecasters, you say? There's the paisley James Burton model, a funky, well-used survivor from the '50s; and for the erstwhile Hendrix wannabe, they've got a mauve-colored left-handed Tele signed by rocker Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos fame. This, plus Jimi instructional books, videos, and probably private lessons as well.

Oh yeah, they've also got Gibsons, old and new Martin acoustics, totally bitchin' lap steels by National and Rickenbacher, and all the trimmings: strings, an excellent repair shop, stompboxes, maelstrom raisers, and a friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful staff. Cool guitars, cool amps, cool place.