About us

Christie and Walter Carter founded Carter Vintage Guitars in November 2012 with the vision of providing a comfortable place for fine fretted instruments and the people who appreciate them.

Christie spent 25 years in the vintage guitar business selling high-end guitars. During that time she built a reputation for honesty, full disclosure and all-around good advice.

Walter Carter has 25 years of experience in the vintage guitar world, including 10 years as Gibson’s in-house historian and 12 years at a vintage dealer. He has written a dozen books on vintage guitars and guitar companies, ranging from Gibson: 100 Years of an American Icon to Gruhn’s Guide to Vintage Guitars to the 40-pound coffee-table book The Guitar Collection.

Store

Our 8000-square-foot store features an expansive showroom with vintage fretted instruments as well as select, high-quality new instruments. Customers are welcome to try out instruments on comfortable benches or in private rooms.

Through merging with The North American Guitar, we've also incorporated select inventory from small workshop luthiers to try out in our boutique room. The same TNAG team who's sold these guitars are still here to help you find the right instrument, including Kim Sherman.

Location

Carter Vintage is located near downtown Nashville at 625 Eighth Ave. South, just three blocks south of the roundabout at the Nashville Convention Center, in the Gulch retail area.

Easy directions

From I-40 or I-65, take either the Broadway or Demonbreun St. exit and turn east, toward downtown. At Eighth Ave., turn right (south). At the convention center, navigate the roundabout to continue south on Eighth. Look for us on the right after you go under the railroad bridge.

From I-24 north of Nashville, take the Shelby Ave. exit. Turn west, toward the Titans’ stadium and downtown. Cross the river, continue past the convention center and navigate three-quarters of the way around the roundabout to Eighth Ave. coming out heading south on Eighth. Look for us on the right after you go under the railroad bridge.

From I-24 southeast of Nashville, take the exit for I-40 and then the exit for Demonbreun St. Turn right on Demonbreun (toward downtown). At 8th Ave., turn right. Navigate the roundabout to stay on 8th. Look for us on the right after you go under the railroad bridge.