Celebrating their 50th year in business, Norman’s Rare Guitars is a unique and renowned vintage guitar shop in Los Angeles. It evolved from Norman Harris’ side hustle of buying and selling guitars, initially as a way to supplement his income as a musician in Miami. His store’s history is intertwined with the rise of the vintage guitar market, fueled by the music industry’s demand for historically accurate instruments and the growing appreciation for their unique sound. Norm is beloved by the “who’s who” of the most famous guitarists in the history of rock ‘n’ roll and has met and found guitars for everyone from George Harrison to Joe Bonamassa, Slash, Eddie Van Halen, Tom Petty, Orianthi, Richie Sambora, and hundreds more. Norm is respected not only for his collection of vintage instruments but also for his ability to pair the right guitar with the right player. Many would credit him as a seminal pioneer in the vintage guitar industry.
Norman Harris, a Hammond organ player and occasional guitarist, began buying and selling guitars in the late 1960s in Florida. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, initially pursuing a music career but soon focusing on his guitar business. In 1975, Harris opened Norman’s Rare Guitars on Ventura Boulevard in Reseda, CA. At the time, the concept of “vintage” guitars wasn’t widely recognized, but Harris recognized their value, especially with the growing demand from musicians and the film industry. As Hollywood and the recording industry embraced vintage instruments for their unique sound and historical accuracy, the market for these guitars grew, with Norman’s Rare Guitars at the center of it all. The store has become a haven for musicians. Norman’s Rare Guitars has been featured in documentaries, books, and numerous articles, solidifying its place as a cultural institution and a testament to Norm’s passion and expertise.
Norm’s long history was recently featured in Norman’s Rare Guitars Documentary, now running on Netflix. Kiefer Sutherland executive produced the film, and if you love guitars and rock ‘n’ roll, this is a must see. Norm’s brushes with film have been around for many years. He famously supplied the vintage guitars for the 1984 cult classic, Spinal Tap, as well as the Marshall amp that’s volume control went to “11.” Christopher Guest, who plays Nigel Tufnel, requested the unique instruments. Norman’s Rare Guitars also supplied the “Norman’s” t-shirt worn by Nigel in the film and even his t-Shirt is a part of R&R lore. Tourists from all over the world make Norm’s a destination when in L.A., as there is often a scene at Norm’s where musicians and tourists hang, play music and chat, take pictures, and hope for celebrity sightings. And even if they don’t buy a guitar, they usually buy an NRG t-shirt with a choice of dozens of designs.
Norm has been actively involved in giving back and supporting charities in L.A., both with musical instrument donations and events. Norm says, “We’re very involved with the Midnight Mission, which is a homeless charity. One day I was watching the news, it was Christmas Day, and they were handing out toys to homeless kids. And I went, you know, ‘the city’s been really good to me, next year I’m going to rent a van, I’m going to load it up with toys, go down there and just give them to the kids.’ So, I did that the following year, and when I did that, I got emotional about it, and I wanted to do something for the Midnight Mission. I said, maybe I could put together some concerts and we could raise some money for the mission. The very first person I called was Richie Sambora. And I was waiting for Richie to basically, and if he would have said no, I might have given up on it, thinking, no, but he’s going to do this. But I said, ‘Richie, you know, I’d like to do a concert for the homeless.’ And Richie said, ‘I’m in.’ And when he did that, we ended up getting Laurence Juber, Jackson Browne, and Los Lobos. We also had Don Felder from the Eagles. Tom Petty did it three times for us and promised to do it again. But unfortunately, you know, we lost Tom. So we’ve done a number of concerts, raised millions of dollars for the Midnight Mission. Last year we did one with Jackson Browne, with Vince Gill, Albert Lee, Dean Parks. And Joe Bonamassa has done several for us. I call him my nephew, who I love, Joe. And he is probably the guitar hero of this generation. He is on the highest level. He’s incredible. And anybody who goes to one of his concerts, it’s a lesson.”
Norm survived a severe and devastating blow of cancer in 2023. Thousands of Angelenos and musicians reached out to Norm via his social media which kept fans apprised of his progress. The outreach, love and messages to Norm were spectacular. His condition was updated on a daily basis and it was clear that the love people feel for Norm went beyond him being a guitar dealer. Now, Norm has returned to his store with an eye on the daily operations as well as the future.
Norm is hoping that the store will continue with his legacy when he is at some point ready to cease his involvement, although he intends to keep going as long as he can. His staff operate not only as a business, but as a family. Norm is outright proud and affectionate of his employees and was happy to tell Music Connection what the strengths and assets of each member of his team are. Each one is a guitar specialist in his own right. Norm loves social media and his YouTube channel, where he features the amazing musicians that frequent his store with performances that spontaneously happen there. Also featured is the guitar of the day where Michael Lemmo, a multistylist and extraordinary guitarist, showcases guitars in the styles there were meant to be played.
“Norm Harris is a visionary, who was among the first people to recognize that ‘old, used guitars’ were special. He always has the best stuff, and he also had the vision to salt away incredible instruments for the future in his legendary warehouse. Accordingly, he asks for—and gets—top dollar for his instruments. What many people don’t realize about Norm is that he is also a true music fan, with great ears for talent. He also has a heart of gold, and while he is a fierce negotiator as a businessman, he is also a great big old softie, who would give you the shirt off his back if you really needed it. I love Norm to pieces!” - Grant Geissman, Chuck Mangione, L.A. Studio Guitarist.
“I have known Norm Harris since the ‘80s, when he had his first shop on Tampa Ave. I always love visiting Norm. I consider him a dear friend and always feel so at home in the friendly, open atmosphere in his shop, so different from a big box music store. Love ya Norm!” -Elliot Eastman, lead guitarist of The Cars
Visit Norm’s Rare Guitars at 18969 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356. (818) 344-8300
Open only on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or by appointment.
