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.
Since the doors first opened, AOMS has blossomed 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 where it resides today. In 2006, they expanded yet again to add five new teaching studios and a large performance and workshop space. The store is supported by a very knowledgeable team including Gary, his store manager Evan Leonard and Dave Hatchard, the primary repair and set-up technician. Alison runs the back office and tries to keep everyone in line! In November 2009, Acoustic Outfitters celebrated their Lucky 13th Anniversary and hopes for many more to come.