Plucking without pretense: The ethos of Orphan Guitars
Dwight Weeks wanted to open a guitar shop like the ones he grew up visiting.
You won’t find many big, legacy brands like Fender and Gibson at Orphan Guitars, a tiny storefront in Carroll Gardens. Instead, Weeks favors playable, affordable, oddball instruments. The proceeds from the sales go toward music lessons for local kids.
“You should not have to spend a fortune to get an awesome guitar,” Weeks said. “When I was a kid, you took your eighth-grade graduation money and you mowed lawns … and some smelly, old rock-and-roll guy helped you buy a cool used guitar. But that’s really hard now. I just wanted there to be a store like that.”