Your Hometown Music Shop for 25 years!
We're a curated Hometown Music shop in Harrisonburg, Virginia, dedicated to helping you along your musical journey!
"Whether you're starting out, stepping up, or a seasoned player looking for your forever instrument, we're here to help you find the right thing...FOR YOU!"
We're with you for your whole music making life.
Harrisonburg is a musical place and has been for a long time. We're excited for you to join the ranks of those who have gone before you.
The heart of the Harrisonburg music scene has been creating music and supporting artists in their pursuit to make music and play it live in Harrisonburg and the larger music scene of the Valley. Musicians before you were supported by great guitar shops like Whitesel's Music, Wonder Records, The Guitar and Amp Center, Breckenridge Music, and Ace Music.
We're proud of being a Hometown music shop that gives music makers everything they need to create music.
The hardest part of being a musician in Harrisonburg has always been playing music live and recording that music for the world to hear.
That's why we've created Hometown Music. We are your unfair advantage to make your music a reality and to get that music out into the world.
Come see our shop, and talk with our knowledgeable staff so we can get the right instrument in your hands.
Vinny
What's your main instrument?
Guitar
Who's your favorite musician?
Waylon Jennings
Did you take lessons?
No
What is your desert island instrument?
My Gibson J-45
What's the best advice you've heard when buying an instrument?
Always play it first! You may find that the guitar you think you’ll love, isn’t the one for you after all. Or it might be perfect. You just have to try it and see.
Chris
What's your main instrument?
Drums
Who's your favorite musician?
Ouch, just one?! Ben Gibbard
Did you take lessons?
Yes. Piano and drum lessons.
What is your desert island instrument?
My Yairi DYMR-70
What's the best advice you've heard when buying an instrument?
Believe your body when trying things out. If something feels and sounds right to you, it's probably right for you.
Steven
What's your main instrument?
Guitar and Bass
What's your favorite musician?
Alexi Laiho and Dimebag Darrell
Did you take lessons?
No, self-taught.
What is your desert island instrument?
Jackson DXMG, Made in Japan
What's the best advice you've heard when buying an instrument?
If it makes you better, buy it.
Jeremy
What's your main instrument?
Guitar and Mandolin
What's your favorite musician?
Neil Young or Jason Isbell.
Did you take lessons?
Yes! Bart Reardon, Eric Headrick, and Perry Blosser.
What is your desert island instrument?
My 1957 Gibson Country and Western or my Northfield A5 Special Mandolin
What's the best advice you've heard when buying an instrument?
Don't practice, but play guitar every second you can.
John
What's your main instrument?
Keyboard and Saxophone
Who's your favorite musician?
Both of my kids!
Did you take lessons?
Yes! Elementary through college.
What is your desert island instrument?
A full grand piano
What's the best advice you've heard when buying an instrument?
Pick the instrument you're excited to play instead of what other people say you SHOULD get. That's the best way to know you're going to get your money's worth out of it.
What kind of music do you want to make?
How do I find the right instrument?
Play Everything!
We'll ask you critical questions to find the perfect guitar for you.
Narrow the Search
A few instruments will stand out.We'll give you space to hear which one is right!
Find the One
You've done it! The right guitar is a faithful friend for life.
Thrive as a music maker
With the right gear, you'll be able to make music and community
We're just a part of the history of Music Shops in Harrisonburg
Whitesel Music Opens
Whitesel Music was in business from 1948 until 1978 and second only to Glen’s Fair Price as
the longest running business in the history of downtown Harrisonburg. Early Whitesel’s was
primarily focused on pianos, church organs, sheet music, band instruments and band
instrument rentals.
Chuck purchased his first guitar
A freshman at JMU, Chuck worked evenings at K-Mart to buy his first guitar.
Ace Electric Company Opens
Ace fixed Chuck's stereo and sold him his first electric guitar amp. This sparked a curiosity for electronic retail in Chuck.
Breckinridge Sound
Guitar and Amp Center Opened
Warren Dovel opened The Guitar and Amp Center in Harrisonburg. His family had owned Shen Valley Band Supply on Liberty Street.
Chuck was made Manager at Ace
After graduating from James Madison University, and working full time for Ace Music, Chuck became manager of the store.
Ace moved to South Main Street
Growing and expanding, Ace Music moved to South Main Street.
Ace Music closed and Hometown Music was born
Hometown Music opened and sold Alvarez, Ibanez, Tama, Zildjian, and other brands of guitars, basses, and drums.
Hometown moved to Miller Circle
We relocated our store to be closer to downtown Harrisonburg, and also be close to the soon to open Blue Sprocket Sound recording studio.
The Explosion
A natural gas leak caused an explosion and completely destroyed our shop, the Blue Sprocket studios, and several other businesses at our Miller Circle Location.
Joined the Blue Sprocket Family
Hometown Music moved into 1594 S. Main Street and formally joined the Blue Sprocket family. This new space is intended to be a hub for music in the Shenandoah Valley!
Chuck Marks Retires
After 45 years helping musicians buy guitars, drums, keys, and accessories, Chuck Marks retired in March of 2024.
Hometown Music is lead by Chris Jackson and his team.
Since purchasing Hometown Music, we expanded the shops offerings to include Yamaha, Eastman, Showalter Guitars, and extended the range to include professional instruments from Fender, PRS, and Alvarez Yairi.
You can't afford to buy the wrong gear...
In your life, you're going to own a lot of gear. Some gear will help explode your playing and growth but some will make you question who you are and why you ever started playing music at all...
Those are hard to walk those off and you can't take too many hits before you'll give up on music all together.
We know what it's like to buy the wrong instruments...it's awful. That's why we've created a system to make sure you buy the right guitar the first time. We know what questions to ask and what specs to prioritize.
Good music shops have the thing you need in time for your show but great music shops have a culture and community around them...and they'll be front and center at your show too!
We want to be the best music shop in the Shenandoah Valley. We hope you belong to the community and that years from now, you'll look back on your time in our shop and with those friends as the most vibrant time in your life and it helped you create something beautiful and timeless.
Come see us and let's get to work.