- Amoeba - Upper Haight - One of the biggest and the best in the Bay Area
- Aquarius Records - Mission - Great indie shop with lots of psych, experimental, indie world and metal among others.
- Lark In The Morning - located in The Cannery at Del Monte Square (map) 2801 Leavenworth and Beach at Fisherman's Wharf - a great place for all kinds of strange and unique ethnic instruments.
- Haight Ashbury Music Center - Upper Haight - Specializing in guitars and percussions with some electronics.
- Guitar Center - Van Ness near Market - Massive chain store for all your needs.
Venues
- Audium -
- Bottom of the Hill - Portrero - excellent, small club with tons of great indie acts of all kinds.
- The Fillmore - Fillmore - an SF institution and a great place to see a show
- Great American Music Hall - Tenderloin - my favorite medium sized club in the city. It's like a mini Fillmore of sorts.
- Slim's - SoMA - another good medium-small venue featuring all kinds of indie acts.
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