A thick cloud of incense hangs just above your head, catching your attention the second you step through the brightly painted doorway. You inhale deeply, with closed eyes and a sigh; the heavy smoke puts you in the perfect mood to stretch your fingers and strum.
Almighty Guitar Planet, located on East Main St, is a small, independent guitar shop which Ventura has embraced for over twenty years. The shop is home to several guitar teachers, who teach about 120 students of all levels.
“This was the shop that I always came to growing up, when I was learning guitar myself and as a teenager,” said teacher Bruce Kimmell, just after a lesson. “Guitar Planet was always like the ‘hip’ store, that everybody went to and everybody talked about.”
“People just like coming in and hanging out. Students will come in early just to hang out with Ganon [Owner of Guitar Planet], and shop,” Kimmell smiled.
Beautiful acoustic and electric guitars hang over every square inch of the tiny shop, along with tins of guitar picks, walls of strings, amplifiers, and cords.
Behind the counter sits a small, but functional workbench, where customers can leave their instruments to be enhanced or repaired.
The shop is unique in its dark, heavy, but still stunningly friendly atmosphere. “Other stores are more corporate,” said Kimmel fondly. “They’re bigger, so you don’t have the same kind of relationship with the students and their parents… It’s a cool vibe.”
Guitar Planet is located at 1822 East Main Street and is open from 11 am to 6:30 pm daily. Lessons can be scheduled with one of three teachers based on availability; please call (805) 648-4633 for more information.
