Our Mission

Welcome to The Guitar Shop Off Elm Street, where music history and passion for craftsmanship come alive. Founded by Chuck Browder, a classical guitarist with an extensive background in music, broadcasting, and political discourse, our shop is more than just a place to buy instruments; it's a community hub for musicians and enthusiasts alike.

Our goal at The Guitar Shop Off Elm Street is to make your guitar-buying experience the best in Greensboro. We want you to have the personal attention you and your music deserve. In addition, we strive towards an eco-friendly marketplace by carrying vintage and previously loved gear. Buying pre-owned is a painless way to reduce your carbon footprint and support a vibrant circular economy. And by shopping locally, you’re not just saving money—you’re also cutting down on transportation costs and emissions, making a fantastic sustainable choice! We offer the finest selection of locally sourced used and vintage guitars in the area, expertly detailed and ready for a new home.

Plus with our certified repair tech, we’re here to help you breathe new life into a beloved piece of gear, all while making a positive impact on our planet. It's the greener way to experience new music today! And if your concerns are less about going green and more about saving it, we've got you! Our best sellers are quality and value. It's what's at the heart of every deal at The Guitar Shop Off Elm Street.

Located in the heart of downtown Greensboro, our shop offers a personalized shopping experience, enriched by the owner's unique background. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a beginner, our shop provides a curated selection of guitars and gear, seasoned advice, and a welcoming space for all. Join us to explore the world of stringed instruments, share your musical journey, and become part of a vibrant community that celebrates the art of music. Come check us out!

Who We Are

Chuck Browder, owner and sales

Chuck discovered his love for guitar at the age of 12. His formal music journey began in High School at The North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied classical guitar under the tutelage of renowned maestros Aaron Shearer, Kenneth Frazelle, and Gerald Klickstein. Furthering his education at Guilford College, Chuck majored in Music and Political Science, leading to a fruitful partnership producing radio show The World of the Unexplained (WOTU), which hosted intriguing guests such as Jesse Marcel Jr., Alice Krige, and Dr. Cyril Wecht. Chuck then segued into creating, producing and co-hosting the politically charged talk show Third Rail Radio, interviewing influential figures like Senator Mike Gravel, Roger Stone, and Fareed Zakaria. During school, and in the many years since, Chuck performed with the Guilford College Guitar Ensemble and the Piedmont Guitar Orchestra, including a memorable performance at the iconic St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.

Chuck began working in music retail just after getting married to his college sweetheart. Ever the traveler through the musical realm during his many years in the industry, Chuck has absorbed vast knowledge and insights from factory tours with iconic brands such as Gibson, C.F. Martin, Yamaha, and Fender. He has connected with legendary industry figures like Bob Taylor and Christian Frederick Martin IV, deepening his understanding of the artistry behind each instrument. He has worked with countless professional musicians, guitar makers, collectors, and industry leaders, never forgetting the new player next door.

With his 17 years of corporate music retail now in the rearview mirror, Chuck has finally opened the doors to The Guitar Shop Off Elm Street in the heart of downtown Greensboro, NC. This isn't just an independent guitar shop; it's Chuck's rockstar playground, a sanctuary where guitar enthusiasts can tap into Chuck's world of passion, expertise, and electrifying energy. \m/ \m/

Amanda Browder, owner and intendant

Meet Amanda, co-owner of The Shop and Chuck's other half. Hailing from northeast Ohio, she made her way to Greensboro to soak up the college life at Guilford College. With a solid background in administration and sales from her time at big box retailers, plus experience in the medical field, Amanda has honed her customer service skills to perfection. As the head of client relations and marketing, she’s got a of expertise to share. When she's not running the shop, you can find her hanging out with Chuck and their three awesome sons (ages 10, 12, and 14), along with their four cats and a dog. Amanda loves books and music, binge-watching on streaming, and enjoying camping trips in North Carolina's beautiful State Parks!

Chris Teague, guitar technician

Say hello to our talented guitar technician Chris Teague. Chris started playing when he was 11, playing with family at an early age, and playing out with band Imperial Blend for about a decade. He grew up in Greensboro and attended GTCC for recording engineering and live sound recording. He started the guitar technician path around 2012, and started working professionally at 2016. He loves playing and listening to metal, jam bands and all kinds of music. In his spare time, Chris enjoys gardening and hanging out with friends and family.

Our Independent Instructors

At the Guitar Shop Off Elm Street, we have vetted a number of skilled and talented music professionals to start or continue your music education. The instructors listed below each specialize in various instruments and techniques. We take all lessons requests from potential students and match your availability and instrument. All of our pros maintain their own schedules and pricing, and we will happily put you in touch with the best fit for your needs.

The Teachers

Brandon Walker, Fridays

Brandon Walker earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022 at Guilford College. While attending, he studied classical guitar and jazz double bass, performing in guitar ensemble, jazz combos and various chamber groups. He began studying guitar in 2007 at age 8 and developed a passion for all styles of music. He has since placed in many classical guitar competitions including first prize at Eastern Music Festival and Appalachian Guitar Festival in 2018, and first prize at Southern Guitar Festival in 2022. Brandon also participates in various non-profit organizations such as the Piedmont Classical Guitar Orchestra and the United States Guitar Orchestra.

Brandon began teaching guitar, bass, and ukulele in 2017 and has developed a love for helping students of all ages and skill levels grow as musicians and have fun along the way. All styles of guitar, bass, and ukulele are welcome. Brandon's main goal is that the student feels they are in a safe and comfortable space to learn, experiment, and enjoy the process.

Dr. Paul Failla, Wed /Sat before 2p

Dr. Failla, a veteran music educator and performer, offers piano lessons to students of all ages and experience levels. With over 25 years of teaching experience and a doctorate in music composition from Northwestern University, he brings a thoughtful, well-rounded approach to his music instruction.

Dr. Failla taught a wide range of courses at DePaul University between 2004 and 2012, and most recently, built a comprehensive music program at IHM, a local pk-8 school, between 2019-2024. His piano students have benefitted from a personalized approach that incorporates breakout topics like music technology, harpsichord, clavichord, composition, history, theory, and ear-training.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Failla has performed extensively on piano, harpsichord, and organ, and brings that professional experience into each lesson.

Christopher Wolf, Wednesday afternoons

Christopher Wolf has been a Bass guitarist for 25 years. He is an experienced performer, writer, instructor, and recording artist in genres ranging from blues, r&b, bluegrass, and country, but he speializes in rock and metal with a passion for retro tunes.

Christopher thinks playing music should be fun and interesting, so booking a lesson with him is a sesion - musician to musician - where he helps all bass players of all skill levels learns, progress, and connect to their style of playing.

Sessions range from Intro to Bass, where he covers all the basics including tuning, simple progressions, scales, and more, to Intermediate Bass, where students get more in depth experience with music theory and writing their own music. He also offers Intuitive Sessions for more Intermediate to Advanced students that are personalized to their unique goals. For those just wanting to learn a song, he offers sessions where he helps students to learn a song of their choosing, with more limited availability.

Steve Parsons, Tuesdays

Steve is a seasoned guitarist based in Greensboro, NC, with over 20 years of playing experience and more than a decade of teaching under his belt. He began his musical journey in 2001 and has explored a wide range of styles including classical, rock, metal, and blues. At 18 Steve took up classical guitar, eventually earning a BA in Classical Guitar Performance from Guilford College in 2014.

As a teacher, Steve emphasizes proper technique, smart practice habits, and personalized learning. Whether you are diving into your favorite songs or mastering the fundamentals, his lessons are designed to help you grow as a guitarist while keeping the process fun and rewarding.

The Downtown Parking. . .

parking map

The small red X's indicate some of the public parking options nearest to our shop. More information is available by clicking the link below.

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ACCESSIBILITY As a company, we are fully committed to accessibility for every guest who wishes to visit our shop. We welcome all, and will accommodate all reasonable requests due to accessibility. Our shop is in an old building, and therefore has limited options for making our entrance more accessible to those with mobility issues. If this affects your ability to enter the store, please give us a call. We do have an alternate entrance for our clients who need assistance. We are committed to making your experience a pleasurable one for every one of our guests, and if there is anything we can do to help, please let us know. 743-867-8910