Norman’s Rare Guitars Acquired By TNAG Global
Ben Montague and Norman Harris
Norman’s Rare Guitars, the L.A. vintage guitar shop owned by industry legend Norman Harris, has been acquired by TNAG Global, the Nashville-based parent company of Carter Vintage Guitars and Cotten Music Center.
The announcement comes a year after the release of the Norman’s Rare Guitars documentary on Netflix, which highlighted the shop’s future and Harris’ legacy in the music industry. Since acquiring Carter Vintage Guitars in 2022, TNAG Global has maintained the culture, caliber and legacy of the shop and its founders, and increased sales by 233%. With the acquisition of Norman’s Rare Guitars, TNAG Global plans to continue the 50-year legacy built by Harris.
“I’ve always known there would come a time when I needed the right long-term partner to carry Norman’s Rare Guitars forward,” says Harris, founder of Norman’s Rare Guitars. “I couldn’t imagine a better steward for the shop and its legacy than Ben Montague and TNAG Global. The goal has always been to share my love of great guitars with the community, and this partnership allows that community to grow,while protecting everything that makes the shop special. I feel a deep sense of comfort knowing the shop, its history and its values will still be here for future generations of my family and for guitar lovers around the world.”
The TNAG Global acquisition includes the store’s full inventory of more than 1,000 guitars, as well as Harris’ personal and private collection, which spans over 50 years. Norm’s customers will now have the opportunity to consign their guitars with Carter Vintage Guitar’s revered consignment and authentication model, maximizing their profit while reaching an unmatched audience. Through TNAG Global’s proprietary instrument management system, The Exchange, Norman’s Rare Guitars will become accessible to a global audience of buyers, sellers and collectors.
“Norman’s Rare Guitars is the most iconic guitar shop in the world, and we are honored to help extend its story into the future,” says Montague, founder and CEO of TNAG Global. “Our responsibility with this acquisition is simple: Protect what makes the shop special, ensure the business thrives beyond its founder and give Norman the freedom to step back whenever he chooses, knowing the legacy is secure.
“California is one of the most important guitar markets in the world, and we believe there is enormous opportunity to bring a truly dialed-in, trusted consignment model to the West Coast. At TNAG Global, customer obsession is the driving force behind everything we build. We create environments where guitar lovers, collectors and musicians can walk into an iconic store —in Nashville or Los Angeles —and feel taken care of at the highest level, both in person and online.”
Harris will remain actively involved in the business as founding ambassador, continuing to source instruments and welcome visitors to the shop for as long as he wishes. The team at Norman’s Rare Guitars will remain in place, continuing to offer the same expertise, personality and community atmosphere the store has been known for since its founding.
