Rawson Music in Oklahoma City: A Full-Service Guitar Dealer with Repair On-Site
Rawson Music is a single-location guitar and bass shop that stocks new instruments across multiple price tiers, carries used stock that rotates regularly, and operates a repair bench with a technician on staff. It sits in the mid-range of Oklahoma City's guitar retail landscape: larger than one-man luthier operations but smaller and more specialized than big-box music chains.
What Rawson Music actually is
The shop carries both acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitars, and related gear (cables, straps, tuners, strings, picks). New inventory is dominated by entry-level to mid-range brands; used stock includes instruments at every price point. The repair operation is the practical differentiator: rather than directing customers to external techs, the shop handles setups, fret dressing, electronics diagnosis, and hardware replacement in-house. This matters because repair turnaround and quality vary sharply across Oklahoma City's options.
Services and pricing
New guitars range from under $200 for beginner acoustics to $1,500 for solid-body electrics and mid-grade acoustics; exact pricing shifts with inventory. Used guitars typically undercut new by 20 to 40 percent depending on condition and brand.
Repair work is charged by the job. A basic setup (string height adjustment, intonation, cleaning) typically costs $40 to $60. Fret dressing starts around $80 and rises with extent of wear. Electronics diagnosis is usually $20 to $30, with repairs running $30 to $150 depending on whether a component needs soldering, replacement, or rewiring. Strings run $6 to $12 per set. Repair turnaround is usually one to two weeks for non-emergency jobs; verify current lead times when dropping off an instrument.
How Rawson Music compares to other Oklahoma City guitar options
Guitar Center's Oklahoma City location (Edmond) stocks deeper new inventory and deeper discounts but operates as a staffed warehouse; repair turnaround there is longer and often routed to external contractors. The Acoustic Corner, also in Oklahoma City, specializes in high-end acoustics and custom builds; prices start higher and cater to serious players and professionals. For used-only browsing, Vintage Stock carries some guitars alongside vinyl and media, but selection is unpredictable and repair is not available on-site. Rawson Music sits between those poles: accessible pricing on new stock, consistent used rotation, and immediate repair access without shipping or long waits.
Choose Rawson Music if you want to buy a guitar and have a setup done the same visit, or if your instrument needs diagnosis and you want to talk directly with the tech. Choose Guitar Center if you need the widest selection of a specific model or brand. Choose The Acoustic Corner if you are investing $2,000 or more in a quality acoustic or exploring a custom build.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
This shop works well for beginner to intermediate players shopping for their first solid-body, a second acoustic, or an affordable bass. Parents buying for kids benefit from in-house setup and the ability to bring the guitar back if it needs adjustment. Players needing fast repair on a working instrument find real value in a local tech and short turnaround.
It does not serve musicians seeking rare vintage stock, high-end boutique brands, or the full range of professional-grade gear. It is not a music lessons hub or an amp and effects destination (stock is limited in those categories).
What the first visit involves
Walk in with or without an instrument. If you are shopping, a staff member will typically ask what style of music you play and what you have played before; they will pull a few guitars in your stated price range. If you want a setup or repair, bring the instrument, describe the problem (action too high, tuning will not hold, tone is thin, output cuts out intermittently), and ask for a quote. Turnaround expectations depend on shop load; ask before leaving.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Rawson Music operates Monday through Saturday during standard retail hours; verify current hours before visiting, as retail schedules sometimes shift seasonally. Street or lot parking is available. The shop is compact, typically staffed by one or two people, so calling ahead if you are bringing in a repair can reduce wait time.
For Oklahoma City players who value repair speed and straightforward new-and-used selection at accessible prices, Rawson Music fills a practical niche that neither big retailers nor high-end specialists fully address.
