About
Acoustic Outfitters Music Shop was founded as a sole proprietorship in 1996 by Gary Filgate. Gary, a life long musician and accomplished banjo player, started the business out of his home, selling musical accessories and instruments at Bluegrass festivals throughout New England. At the end of the 1996 summer festival season, he and his now wife Alison Magill, found their basement full of merchandise needing a home. Together with their friend Brian Ashford, the trio decided to open a retail music store in Stratham.
Gary had nearly a decade experience at other music stores, including a stint with Liberty Banjo in CT, where he learned to make and repair banjos. Over the years, he developed strong relationships with musical instrument vendors and the knowledge needed to operate a musical instrument shop. Using his relationships and his experiences, Gary started his business, opening the day after Thanksgiving in 1996. “ We literally painted the wall that morning at 8am then opened the doors at 10”, Gary recalls. The shop started with a few used instruments, some Kentucky Mandolins and a Santa Cruz Tony Rice model in stock. They quickly secured the dealerships from Martin and Taylor guitars and were on their way.
Over the next decade, the shop grew into a full-service music facility featuring not only instrument sales but a full repair service, instrument rentals and music lessons by some of the region’s top musicians and performers. By 1998, they had outgrown the original 1200 sq ft space and moved to the 2600 sq ft space. In 2006, they expanded yet again to add five new teaching studios and a large performance and workshop space.
The economic down-turn in 2008 combined with escalating fuel prices, rising overhead expenses and increasingly difficult dealership requirements, made it impossible for Acoustic Outfitters to remain open. Sadly, they closed the doors to their retail location in August 2010.
The new configuration is simple and affordable and located in the basement – just the way it all started in 1996. Sometimes things come full-circle for the better! Although the store is gone, Gary and Alison still welcome friends and loyal customers to their home-based shop for repairs, rentals, lessons and good conversation. Give us a call and stop by to say hi!