So Cow, there are some decent places in Greenwich Village where you can still get a good deal if you're willing to spend some time looking and haggle a little bit. Just get off at the West 4th Street stop (A,C,E or B,D,F,V) and wander around. The specific place I have in mind is on Bleecker, close to 7th Ave. South (I don't play, but my wife got a good deal on her guitar there), but I can't remember the name offhand.