Acton has a new retailer and it's not an eatery. Black Rose Guitar House opened its doors this week at 18 Mill Street East featuring a boutique atmosphere, walls of gleaming guitars and a repair shop at the back of the store.
Peter McCracken had just moved to Acton with his family a couple of months ago when he noticed the For Rent sign while walking around downtown. This is not McCracken's first foray into the music shop business. He has been successfully operating Pine Cone Music Studios in Georgetown since 1992.
But this venture was going to be something different. “I was looking to open a kind of upscale place that would have a very high level of service as well as quality guitars and accessories. When COVID hit, we couldn't do our lessons at Pine Cone and I was getting lots of requests for higher-end instruments. People wanted to learn to play and they were also bringing in their guitars for set ups,” stated Peter
McCracken had already been buying up guitars at the time “I always liked the vintage stuff, but they were hard to get. I had to scrounge and get whatever I could from manufacturers and distributors. Then I moved to Acton, saw the sign, and things just kind of fell into place,” he said.
McCracken cites a number of reasons why Acton is a good fit for the Black Rose Guitar House. “The location is perfect; I've always liked an old main street. In Georgetown this wouldn't be feasible, but opening the store in Acton has minimized my risk. Also the landlord is also great. I like dealing with people rather than corporations,” he said.
Though he's new to Acton, McCracken has a long association with musicians in the area and beyond. The 55-year-old started working at Neil's Music in Georgetown when he was 16 while still attending High School. That's where he first learned the craft of setting up guitars and making repairs.
McCracken's later worked with Eastwood Guitars, and that brought him into contact with many notable performers who would stop by his shop in Georgetown or invite him to their gigs. Over the years, he's made the acquaintance of Emmy Lou Harris, Mark Knopfler and Lucinda Williams among others. And a wall in his home is devoted to guitars he's had signed by the likes of Dallas Green, John Fogerty, Tom Cochrane and Fred Eaglesmith to name a few.
“John Fogerty shares a birthday with my daughter. For years he would always remember to send her greetings on her birthday,” said McCracken.
Black Rose Guitar House features Canadian-made Godin and Seagull guitars, as well as a full line of Epiphone models. The store also carries hand-wound tube amps made by Dave Robinson of Georgetown and a full line of accessories.
“There is a large community of musicians here and the guitar players have already started coming in,” added McCracken. “Music provides a sense of community and it's especially good for kids who are a little on the outside of what everyone else is doing.”
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