Confessions of a Vintage Guitar Dealer: The Memoirs of Norman Harris

by Norman Harris

In Confessions of a Vintage Guitar Dealer, Norman Harris tells how he became the world's leading seller of vintage guitars. As founder and owner of the legendary store Norman's Rare Guitars, he has sold some of the finest fretted sting instruments to the biggest stars in the world, including George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and many others. In 1970 Harris moved to Los Angeles in hopes of hitting the big time in music. His first plan was performing, but plan B was buying and selling guitars, and he had no idea how much opportunity for this there would be. Many groups came to LA also hoping to hit it big, but those who didn't might have to sell their instruments. This helped make early-1970s Los Angeles a haven for beautiful vintage guitars. At the same time, Hollywood was beginning to realize the value of time-correct instruments in film, and the recording industry recognized the high-quality sound vintage instruments produced. The value of these instruments has grown dramatically since the '70s, and the vintage guitar market has become an international phenomenon with Norman Harris at the center of it all. Filled with fascinating stories and insights into the entertainment business, Confessions of a Vintage Guitar Dealer is an intriguing memoir from a man who has spent a lifetime getting extraordinary instruments into the hands of extraordinary artists.

Genres: Music

308 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2016

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Norm's life in the vintage guitar business. It's not a book about the history and background of actual vintage guitars. Norm tells his story of how and why he got into business and the many ups and downs through the years. There are many interesting tales about the wheeling and dealing of guitar collecting business. Norm touches on his early start in the music business and his many celebrity encounters. An interesting read if you're curious about the music business.

[Brian Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the closest I'll ever get to any of the amazing guitars, amps and other instruments in this book. There's also a bunch of stories about Harris's time playing in bands, meeting and dealing with famous musicians, and his involvement in the Midnight Mission homeless outreach organization. He recalls various deals made and regrets of those not made, buying guitars back for more money, and a number of famous guitars. Harris's growth in business and guitar knowledge become apparent in his progression over the years. The stories of various deals are rarely just a transactional recount. He shares insight into the people he's met and gotten to know over the years as well. It's cool to see glimpses into what kind of people some huge rockstars actually are, and heartening to see how good they are. Harris tells a pretty negative story about one person, but keeps them anonymous to not tear them down or profit from what might have been a hard time in that person's life.
I really enjoyed Confessions of a Vintage Guitar Dealer, and would have liked more.

[Ray Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Norman Harris has been the Los Angeles area's premier vintage guitar dealer for decades. As such, he has owned and sold many of the most famous guitars in the history of the instrument. He has not only handles such instruments but has dozens of stories of buying and selling from some of the most famous artists of the last 100 years. The pace is fast and the tales entertaining. Harris provides a window into a world behind the scenes or music, film and instrument development that is mostly hidden. As Fender and Gibson release "vintage re-issues", it has been Harris providing originals as reference. When movies want period accurate instruments, Harris provides them. When rock stars want vintage gifts, Harris is the man. When George Harrison wanted a stolen guitar recovered... The stories are great and a real thrill for guitar enthusiasts and fans. If you love the guitar, you'll enjoy this book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no music talent. Seriously, if you can measure musical talent in negative numbers, that would be me. But, I love guitars, especially vintage ones. I love the way they sound in the hands of master, and I love the way they look. And Norm Harris is certainly one of the best and most known brokers of vintage guitars in the world. In this wonderful memoir, Harris details his own musical journey and his adventures in guitar collecting and selling. The stories are wonderful, reflecting his encounters with some of the most amazing axe men in the business. Even better, though, are the pictures of some of the standouts, both in his own collection and those he has bought and sold over the years. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy the history of American music and guitars.

[Anna Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a nice glimpse into Norman's world. I enjoyed the descriptions of the guitars as well as the stories behind them. His passion for the industry is prominent in his stories and the tone of the book comes off as genuine and sincere. I'd never really considered the value of vintage guitars but after reading this I've found myself going down the rabbit hole of researching 60's Stratocasters. This is a good casual read and feels very accessible to people who are only vaguely aware of the guitar world.

[Naz Grimaldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guitar nerds should read this one.

Norm is a national treasure himself, I do not where these beautiful instruments would be if he had started to collect, educate and start this vintage eco system.

[Vivek Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It's a collection of fun rock'n'roll stories candidly told. It's not a detailed guide to vintage guitars as some other reviewers were expecting - but the title is pretty self explanatory there. I believe the author has other books which deal exclusively with guitars.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 star book.

My dream job would be to work at Norm’s. Unfortunately I don’t know enough about guitars and I would never live in LA (again).

Read this if you like the subject matter. Norm is who he is for a reason.

[Dave Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will probably not be enjoyable to most people, but if you are a guitar player who has a curiosity about vintage instruments and collecting, this is a very fun read. It's a memoir, so it helps to know who Norman Harris is (and his store), but it's very entertaining.

[Shawn Persinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

[Daniel Blasingame · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love vintage guitars, you should read this book. I had the opportunity to meet Norm pre-COVID and he has some great stories: many are detailed in this book.