One of Orange County’s most unique museums is inseparable from its founder, Andy Moffitt, who co-owns what appears to be one of the largest collections of guitars on public display anywhere in the country – hundreds of primarily electric guitars ranging from adult to child models, as well as amps, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, banjos, speakers, mixing decks, and much more. Located in a San Clemente business park, the sprawling Orange County Guitar Museum occupies multiple rooms across two floors, stretching to include a performance space with its own green room, seating area, and bar, as well as a warehouse-like repair and storage space. Guests are welcomed to pull down and try any of the instruments, which have been collected over four decades and notably do not include the owners’ higher-end guitars. Moffitt offers personal tours of the space on request.
Though official hours are posted online and at the door, the museum is actually only open when Moffitt is there, so calling ahead and leaving a message is advisable. Parking is free in a lot surrounding the building; a fully stocked merch store and more sophisticated recording equipment for podcasts and audio are expected to be added in the future.
