Since 1976… 

Originally owned by the legendary Phoenix guitarist Bob Turner, Bizarre Guitar has become a part of Phoenix’s history and legend. The story goes.. Back in the early 70’s Bob was selling guitars out of his apartment through ads in the local paper. It wasn’t until after he had sold a few 59’ Gibson Les Pauls that he would eventually have enough money to open the first version of Bizarre Guitar. And oh by the way.. a couple of those Les Pauls that he sold were to Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley.. ever heard of them?

Once Bob had his store open, business was slow. It was so slow in fact that he thought we was going to have to close down. Then the unimaginable happened.. one day a very well known guitar dealer from Japan, Mac Yasuda walked into the store and bought Bob’s entire stock to bring back to his country and sell. A year later Mac came back and did the same thing. With these major events along with hard work and determination, Bob now had the foundation to keep his store alive for an entire generation. Throughout the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s and all the way to the present, Bizarre Guitar & Drum has been “THE” landmark guitar store in the greater Phoenix area; selling gear to the beginner, novice and professional as well as many well known “Rockstars” to boot!

If you happened to be there at anytime in the past, chances are you saw Bob’s Ferrari parked out front followed by his huge personality when you walked through the door. In 2010 Bizarre Guitar & Drum was picked to be in the Miller Highlife Super Bowl commercial becoming major news around the country. This caught the eye of some producers and eventually a pilot season of a reality show called ‘Amped up!’ was filmed featuring the store, employees, and Bob as the main stars. Sadly, in Sept 2015 passed away before the show could be finished.

Yet Bizarre Guitar perseveres. Years later after his death, there is still not a day that goes by where a story of Bob is not told in the store. The energy of his life still lives on and his spirit remains to remind us all that Rock n’ Roll will never die.. and if you grab a guitar off the wall without help from one of the employees.. well you never know, Bob might just reappear to see if you need some assistance!