Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly folks. Always have what we need.
Great shop. My favorite people to deal with in the area.
Great instructors!
Took music lessons here once. Paid for 3 lessons and only got two. The instructor cancelled the last one and said he would reschedule but never did
Great music store
Guitarras, pianos, audio profesional, accesorios, clases de música y buenos precios.
Brought my guitar into get work done on it. Neck reset and put new strings on it. They ship it out to the luthier who gives it back in worse condition than I gave it to them in. DO NOT USE!
I ordered Gemeinhardt Flute (2SP) on amazon at this store on September 22nd but I waited until September 28th when I got an email from amazon saying they didn’t get a response from Arkansas Musicworks.I have waited 1 week and now you have just told me I cannot receive my order. why don’t you tell me sooner. I placed this order for my child so my child has for her class. and now my child doesn’t have to study. So how much longer will my child have to wait.If you don’t have one please cancel my order so I can buy it somewhere else.
I am really disappointed with your service. I have been your regular customer for many years but I have never been so disappointed. I need an explanation.I suggest people not buy at this store because their customer care is not good
I thought I would take a chance on them, and bought an AllParts p90 spacer kit. Simple enough, most p90’s dogear covers are the same or very close. The All Parts one is WAY too big for Gibson, Epi, Lindy Fralin, and most dogear p90’s. Had they adequately given the measurements on their ad I would have bought elsewhere. They will refund, but with a %15 restocking fee because I opened it to see if I could make do with it, but it is almost 1/4″ too wide and 1/8 too long. What a waste of time. I went to a nearby autoparts store and bought a set of gasket materials and cut out my own in 15 minutes. Don’t buy the ALL PARTS p90 spacer kit. Or any of the others for that matter get a gasket kit and cut your own for $11, any height you want.
2. Palmer Music Company
Address: 1131 Front St, Conway, AR 72032 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
Been looking for a good shop to take my Martin to. These guys are really professional and know what they are doing. I’ll definitely use these guys again.
Great service!! The guys helped me pick out an awesome Taylor guitar!!
I just moved to Conway, and needed my Martin guitar worked on. A friend who has used Palmers before, recommended I use them. I took my Martin acoustic in because the plug in jack would cut in and out! Ryan took it apart, cleaned the jack with contact cleaner, put it back together and it worked perfectly. The good news is, he did not charge me one penny! Now folks, that is service, and I will be back!
My guitar was in for repairs for about 4 months. Almost no communication was provided about status of the repair work. It’s understandable with Covid making it difficult to have parts shipped, but the lack of adequate communication was uncomfortably disappointing. I don’t blame the young individual who was working on my guitar, but rather leadership who should have provided direction on appropriate and timely customer service communication. It doesn’t matter to me that it would have taken considerable time for repairs. But the lack of communication stating that due to a backlog in parts, and it was just a waiting game, would have been enough. A 30 second phone call every couple of weeks or so to advise a customer that no progress has been made is better than nothing…it would have been enough to have left my guitar there for months longer. The ironic thing about all this is that I really like the store and the people at Palmer Music, so I will most likely continue to purchase my music supplies from them and I hope my experience there was a one-off….
I was looking at electric guitars and they didn’t offer to let me plug any of them in. How are you truly going to know if you like one or not if you can’t hear the sound.
Usually busy because they’re good at what they do!
Went in expecting to buy a new guitar on 01/26/2023. The man behind the counter was very unfriendly & unhelpful.
I found one I wanted to buy but I just didn’t really want to give my money to a person who didn’t know how to smile.
Another employee walked by and was even more emotionless than the other guy. I left feeling very unwelcome.
I will not be back.
Go to GUITAR CENTER instead (you can actually have FUN there).
3. Big Event Music
Address: 149 E Grand Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
Mike thx for explaining the issue with my 38 yr old Yamaha cut- away guitar.. in the future, i’ll get the bar ground down so the strings will be at the same level. i enjoyed the visual explanation, bc it allowed me to understand your comments… This is the second time I’ve been a customer. So far u have made two of my guitars sound better… Very pls’ed with the service, honesty, and flexibility. Merry Christmas.., Kevin
This place had what I needed for my karaoke show. Great guy there as well.
These guys are always willing to help and are really knowledgeable .
Great people, over priced used stuff. Knowledge staff with understanding across most instruments. Some nice and not so nice used guitars in stock. BEM is part of the problem in this online society, people will come here to see things in person, then go to Musicians Friend to buy. Give it a try, but you will probably end up buying somewhere else. Jeff
I bought everything from guitar cases to a JBL top of line PA from them before I found out they are totally BOGUS! Sold me used merchandise as new, then got an attitude when I called them on it! Cuss me out when you’re a thiefing liar? I don’t think so! I wouldn’t buy a guitar pick from these people!!!
I bought a lot of things from Brent when the store sold instruments and amps and was always happy with them. Unfortunately, things have changed. I brought a guitar in that needed a rewire job. I was aware they were busy with festivals but they kept my guitar for 2 months and finally called and told me they didn’t have time to fix it. Needless to say, I wont be back.
Not enough inventory
4. The Musician’s Exchange
Address: 2221 Alma Hwy, Van Buren, AR 72956 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
I just began visiting this place, having met the owner’s wife while she had yard sale.
They were wonderfully patient with my novice level knowledge. They also offer half-price guitar strings!
Slinkies for less than $7!
I already love this place!
Had a hard time trying any of the basses or bass amps….nothing was even plugged in…..had to run extension cords all over the place . Then the basses and amps were so crowded could not move to even try the gear out. Didn’t feel like rerunning power to the whole department to try any other amps out. Shame would have tried more gear out….but just wasn’t expecting to hook it all up myself. Sorry guys you lost a sale….take ten minutes plug In couple bass amps everyday instead of sitting out smoking…..dude you know who you are….you shut the door on my wife as you went back in after your cig break….seriously….Shame store has potential
It’s guitars what’s not to love. Good folks here.
Interesting selection of mostly used gear. Friendly folks!
Dropped a guitar off for the owner to look at. He told me over the phone he’d give $150 for it and only a few hours later when I came in to get the money he prints me a ticket off and hands me $100. I reminded him that wasn’t what we agreed on and all he said was “that’s all I can do unless you want me to undo the transaction”. Not good business in my opinion. He lost a customer over 50 bucks. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And now he’s calling me a liar. This isn’t some story I made up when I was bored, it actually happened. Remember the guitar was dropped off so it could be appraised. I don’t enjoy writing bad reviews but this one was earned.
Unfriendly staff
Bought a brand new acoustic guitar here after years of using this store for my musical needs. The guitar wasnt staying in tune and i noticed the intonation was a little off as well. I took it back 4 days later and they offered me 100 bucks for it. It was brand new and i spend 400 on it and bought a 150 dollar case as well. Thats not the way you treat repeat customers. I will never be returning to this store again.
5. Clarinda’s Crafts & Music
Address: 3 Trina Loop, Greenbrier, AR 72058 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
I had been eyeing Clarinda’s websites and instruments for quite a while, about two years. I went to the west coast for a technical program for 9 months, and saw one for sale in the local ads even up there. Since I apparently could never escape, I had to commission something.
If you’re used to playing on cheap, starter mandolins from factories, know that a lot of them are overbuilt out of thick plywood for the top. They tend to be more plonky, less ring, less resonance overall. A lot of them are also not set up very well, which makes your job of learning the instrument even harder.
Do yourself a favor; spend a bit more and get something that will not just sound great, but play easy. I commissioned an F-style oval hole mandola, pitched below a mandolin. Love it. Highly reccommended.
Well now Clarinda is the gal to do business with and maybe learn a thing or two about that special instrument you’ve been looking for. Even if you’re not player. Yet.
Inspiration is where it all starts. You’ll need a quality instrument that is comfortable to you ear and to wear. Because after all, that instrument you’re wearing is a part of you. Linked right to your heart. That’s it. Music.
Clarinda has good taste. Her selection of instruments are about the best values you’ll find. Value. Clarinda’s knowledge of selection. An instrument you’ll look forward to playing. Her personal attention to detail makes all the difference.
I bought 1 Loar LM-700-VS mandolin from Clarinda. I wanted a pick up installed. No problem. Done. I also bought an original version stock Loar LM-700-VS. Plugged in or not these mandolins are top notch! Will knock down your doors and the dogs will come runnin’ in! So to speak… couldn’t be happier. – Steve Kletzel – In Portland Oregon
Bought a beautiful Loar LM-600 from Clarinda. Great set up, great playing mandolin and a great price.
6. Guitar Center
Address: 160 E Joyce Blvd, Fayetteville, AR 72703 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
The whole crew there is very helpful. That want to make sure you get what you want, if they don’t have it there, they will find it! Great customer service! Beau also did an awesome refret for me!
As always service here was stellar…even though they didn’t have the totally obscure item we were looking for, they searched the web for us and found several options. Thank you Guitar Center Fayetteville!
Always very well stocked with the options you are looking for.
No selection…..the store is nearly empty.
Actually bought a Remo Dumbek for $100. Great selection of everything you need, if it’s drums, or guitars.
Friendly helpful service, and I’m very happy with my drum.
High prices but a decent selection.
I drove over an hour to GC with cash in pocket fully prepared to purchase an electric drum kit. Sadly, GC was so understaffed that nobody had time to assist me or answer a few simple questions…… You guys missed a good sale…… Thats a bummer for both of us.
Showed curbside pickup and in stock for an item, drove 30 min to store and they apparently don’t have any in stock. Waste of time.
Good
7. Shuffield Music Company
Address: 610 Main St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
Very nice people and great selection of electric guitars
Love J.R.
Because they are moving this place was a mess.
Great atmosphere, wonderful staff!
Over priced merchandise. Didn’t enjoy my visit at all. I purchased what i needed because it was my only choice but at a price three times what it should have been.
They had barely anything and it was all used. They were very rude to me because I was a teenager!!!!!!!!
Selection is sub-par and overpriced. You are always able to talk them down on the price however and the staff is serenely helpful and extremely knowledgeable. You can find a few brand name guitars and a large selection of drum kits. I think it deserves repeating the staff is fantastic!! (no I don’t work there) ha
9. Back Beat Music
Address: 613 Southwest Dr, Jonesboro, AR 72401 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
As a first time buyer I received amazing service from the staff. How great you ask? So great that I walked in with a $200 budget and walked out with a $1,000 limited edition black and gold Fender Stratocaster without even as much as a sales pitch. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a new or used instrument.
I can’t say enough good things about this place. The entire staff has always been extremely helpful and knowledgeable. They’re always willing to help me with trade ins and if they don’t have something in stock, they will help me find it at a great price. I even have all my instruments serviced here and they always do a fantastic job.
Very nice place with everything you need. Come in and hang out. Play something, get what you need, some stuff is from China. Try to avoid those products if you can. Good bunch of guys.
I have been coming here for years as most of the reviewers. I have always had a decent experience. I’m just an amateur guitar player who doesn’t practice much and i don’t know much about music. I have to be fair and mention that, yes, the staff has at times, seemed curt and disinterested but I’ve never had an out-and-out bad experience here. It’s possible that they were simply just distracted or overwhelmed, it happens! I got lessons here from a swell guy several years ago. I wish i could remember his name. They seem to have a large variety of items like accessories-tuners, picks, strings, stands for your chords, chord books, guitar cases and guitars. They offer stringing services, although I’ve never used them. I think I’ve seen a few banjos and mandolins for sale over the years, although those may have been instruments taken on trade, i don’t know for a fact if they stock and sell those instruments. I also don’t know if they do trade-in as I’ve never had anything to trade. I have seen ukuleles there for sale. It is possible that they have expanded the lessons they offer into other instruments, such as wind instruments but I am not sure. That would depend entirely upon there being any such instructors available here in Jonesboro that don’t already have their own business giving lessons. That’s a lot of “maybes”. It would be good to call and just ask, if this is important to you. I do know that they used to give drum lessons, it’s possible they still do. If you are a musician or have a musician in your life, check this place out!
Great place to shop,
However one small issue I had there was when I was wanting to repair my Fender Guitar. The guitar was beat up a bit, had no strings, paint was damaged, and the knobs for the tuning were gone and the plate was cracked. My friend found it in an abandoned place and it was a decent guitar it was just badly damaged.
I went there to the receptionist and all I got was, “You are better off buying a new guitar” Etc. He was insistent on me just buying a new guitar. It was a very arrogant moment.
There are good thing’s about the place but from my only experience on this It was a huge waste of my time trying to repair, love the shop, the staff is pretty chill but I believe there can be changes.
Yeah, I like the shop, but didn’t have the best experience. I brought my classical guitar in from out of town, and called first to specifically ask if they could restring with nylon wound. I brought another electric guitar in as well, since it needed new strings too. When I picked them up, they were both restrung, but my classical guitar was restrung with steel strings, not what I asked. They said they were out of nylon strings, but that these would work. It really changed the whole sound, and was not what I wanted. They didn’t show me the package, or indicate what type of strings for either guitar, but the invoice for both was almost $100! No set up, or anything, just a re-string. And I have no idea what they put on there. I guess it’s probably my fault that I have no time to put on my own strings, so let that be a lesson to me.
I was charged $60 for strings and when I got my guitar back I had to tune it.I also feel they were a bit rude.
I usually do not write reviews about businesses, but I had to about this store. The customer service is absolutely horrid. There staff is arrogant and condescending. If you have any questions about a product, do not be surprised if they are rude and treat you like you do not know what you are talking about. They do not have that bad of a selection for a store that size, but all there items are overpriced. If you are looking to buy a reasonably priced product, buy it online from somewhere like Amazon or Sweetwater, and save yourself from a bad experience.
If you are looking to do a trade in, be prepared for them to give you as little money as possible. You might as well sell it online or sell it to a pawn shop. You will earn more money that way. They will find the lowest price online of the item you are buying, and that is what they will offer you. It does not matter how bad the condition of the product online is, or what condition your item is in.
This is one of the only local music shops in Jonesboro besides Allstar Music. I will not be returning to Back Beat Music. If you are trying to decide whether or not shop there, I will save you time: DO NOT! It is almost worth driving to Memphis to buy a product. I know this review seems very one sided, but I can not think of a single good experience I have had there. I wish there was something good I could say, but there is simply not.
10. High Note Band Instrument Repair
Address: 211 N Pruett St, Paragould, AR 72450 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
Love the selection and staff here. Their selection of Aria classical guitars is lovely, and their prices are fantastic!!! Everyone whom I have had the pleasure of visiting with has always been a delight to talk with as well. Was first referred up here by Josh over at Hippie Palace. Stop in and check them out; you will be pleased you did
Wonderful teachers very flexible schedules and I always feel at home being there!
Arrived around 1:00p.m. and doors were locked but lights were on. Luckily there was a kitchen gear store across the hall with the sweetest ladies running it (seriously, give them a visit they’re so nice) killed about 30 minutes in there before waiting on the hall an additional 20. Dude showed up and unlocked the door, I got excited, then he turned off the lights and relocked the doors. I just wanted some guitar string and a string winder… So yeah, Valley Piano was great, just go there
I’ve been by here twice to buy a guitar case and sign my kid up for lessons. First time they were closed (not a holiday) and the second time, they were open but no one was inside.
12. Music City
Address: 5121 Warden Rd Suite A1, North Little Rock, AR 72116 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
Had them check and tune my squire now it plays with the quality of a fender will have them work on all my stuff extremely satisfied
Rebecca is extremely knowledgeable about string instruments. She went out of her way to make sure I was taken care of, She’s one of the great reasons to shop local!!
Her pricing is very affordable as well, I will be back again!
My family and I have been there a couple of times to purchase a violin and guitar. We felt very comfortable and they were courteous and helpful. We will be back and do recommend this shop.
Was very dissatisfied to find out these guys aren’t honest people bought a guitar and case in there and it had only been took out of case to look at it still has tag I had receipt where I purchased it due to unforeseen circumstances I took it back in to sell back to him he was rude an only wanted to give me less than half what I had paid few months back it still has tags and I have receipt thought was pretty sorry not very honest he is a rip off I will tell everyone I know not to deal with them they are crooked like I said it still has tags and I got receipt I could have understood if it had been messed up but was just like I carried it out of the place then the jerk had the nerve to ask me to leave it there and see if he could sell for me I may not be very bright but not stupid I guess I was stupid for buying it there to start with
Brought in a basically new saxophone and he only offered me $150 when A brand new saxophone is $1000 no scratches no dents like do you know how to run a pawnshop??
14. Independent Music Services Inc
Address: 9851 Brockington Rd #6, Sherwood, AR 72120 , Arta , Arkansas , United States
Went to find out the value of my flute. They were very nice and the dude had a cool mustache and beard lol. The other customers before me were also very happy with the deals they got on instrument repair. I do recommend this place.
Very helpful and informative
Did excellent work on my old trombone, very nice people!
I came in with a horn to have repairs done to it. I needed to have my saxophone’s neck recorked. I needed additional repairs, but above all needed the recorking. The repairman came up, looked at the instrument brand and said he could do nothing for me because if he broke something, he would have to make a part. I thanked him and walked out. I thought by the ratings that this would be a location with skilled craftsmen, but instead feel like it’s people prone to mistakes so they can only work on standard brands and not all instruments. I’d consider calling before coming. They are the only place around for quite a distance and driving over 60 miles to be treated like this felt very awful!
