Skip Navigation Website Accessibility
    John and Pat Dietz, newly married to Sue and Carol, moved back to Manhattan Beach in 1976 after studying music at University of Oregon and Berkeley, CA. With new families in tow and in need of work, John secured a job teaching guitar at the South Bay Adult School and Pat got a steady gig at Barnabey’s Hotel in Manhattan Beach 2-3 nights a week. They also joined several local musicians at Music West, formerly on the corner of Duncan and Sepulveda (what is currently the Skechers building), to teach private lessons. 

    By 1981, after two years playing local South Bay restaurants and watering holes with Richard Hastings, John was playing at the Bonaventure Hotel five days a week and teaching on Saturday. Pat was teaching full time and playing classical guitar gigs at night. In 1981 they moved their teaching studio to Gene Leis Guitars after it was purchased by Korki Lowry, a local legend. They remained there until 1988, performing full-time as the Dietz Brothers Band and teaching, before deciding to open their own shop.

    The first location was on the corner of Pine and Manhattan Beach Blvd. It was mostly a teaching studio but they eventually pooled a little money and bought some guitars to resell. In 1991, the McCormick’s, of McCormick Ambulance fame, were building on the corner of Duncan and Sepulveda and wanted Pat and John to move into the retail space downstairs. They moved into that space and opened up studios for more private teachers, such as Richard Hastings, Richard Schwagerl, Paul Stevens, Devitt Feeley and many other greats. Over the years the business expanded to over half the building, with John and Pat eventually purchasing the whole property in 1999, after the passing of Robert McCormick.  

    Over the last 25 years they have had the pleasure of working side by side with their wives and kids, all playing a part in the building of the business and carrying on the Dietz tradition of teaching and playing music in the South Bay. 
 
    After Pat’s passing in June of 2023, his son, Erik Dietz, who managed the business for close to 15 years and farmed in Oregon for 8 years, purchased the business from Carol, John and Sue Dietz. John is still actively gigging in the South Bay and occasionally you can find him in the shop telling stories and consulting with Erik.  

    Alongside Erik, you will find many long-time employees and managers, some of whom have been here since the beginning or took lessons here when they were kids, helping run the business. We consider ourselves blessed for the continued support and patronage from our surrounding South Bay community. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.