I stopped in to play some of the nicer acoustics on my journey to buying a better guitar to age with. I also brought my Taylor, which needed a slight adjustment. My guitar and I were both treated with the utmost care and respect. The gentleman even made a point to wash his hands before touching my guitar and left me to peacefully play some of the superb and rather expensive instruments in the shop while he adjusted my Taylor’s neck. If I were ready to spring on a purchase, I would feel 100% at ease to shop here and make an afternoon of playing everything until I was confident in my choice. Superb shop, superb service, superb care for the customer. 5 stars. Once I’ve tried some of the other guitars I need to cross of my list, I will come back here for a Collings or Martin if those guitars win the next spot in my studio.
It’s a no brainer, seriously. I’ve been going here since since I was 16, and used to annoy George with my Stephen Stills impressions. He was patient with me, lol. Anyway, this place is and has always been much more than a guitar shop. Yes, it’s a big part of who they are, but make no mistake, it’s also a place to be inspired, and be around people who truly love the instrument. They are the ONLY place I send folks.
I had one of the most positive guitar store experiences anywhere at Acoustic Music.
I called ahead specifying the guitars I was interested in checking out, arrived with them all ready to go in a dedicated room to play them in. No straining to hear the guitar over other players, no need to feel self-conscious, nobody hovering over me. Huge thanks to Ian for being super helpful, friendly and making it a great experience!
Had a guitar cable when I needed it.
Thé Owners are lousy business
Not many mandolins
No prices listed
2. A Sound Choice
Address: 267 E Main St UNIT 3, Branford, CT 06405 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
Great small business with all sorts of instruments for sale and rent. Sheet music as well. Support your local!
Great prices and great service
Awesome! Just went to Ken to get my Epiphone Dot adjusted and it sounds great. Also picked up a great gig bag for it. He’s outstanding and extremely knowledgeable. Also, lots of cool gear to pick from.
Very convenient
Cool little music shop. Worth going and especially if you need a setup on your instrument.
When I can I prefer to spend my money at mom -n- pop businesses and A Sound Choice is a great guitar shop. Knowledgeable and they have a great selection of music making products. The corporate guitar stores don’t always hire staff that even know what a treble clef is so my advice is spend your money here.
3. Connecticut Music Co
Address: Westbrook, CT 06498 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
Thanks for the great service.
Needed a repair to an electric guitar and was met with great service and a friendly, capable tech.
Chalk one up for Sam Ash in New Haven!
Thanks
Like the selection, staff is very helpful.
Eric and Billy were great. I got exactly what we needed at a great price. I was looking for a smaller drum kit for brewery and coffee house gigs. The QuestLove breakbeats more than fit the bill at a great price Point. Thanks Guys
Staff was helpful and friendly, got what I needed.
Always a solid selection of guitars. Knowledgeable staff that will approach and acknowledge you. For a chain, this store is consistently very good.
It’s always good to play with some gear before you buy it but it’s almost always a little more expensive than you’d hope
Everyone was super helpful until I cordially opted to not provide a phone number at checkout. Jordan was helping me and claimed he needed an address or phone number to process the transaction. I pointed out that Radio Shack usually enters a fake number and he ended up doing the same but his entire demeanor had already changed. He set my card and then the pen (to sign the receipt) down on the counter rather than hand them back to me (seemed deliberate but of course I don’t know for certain). I said “Thanks, have a good day” as we finished up but he turned away and didn’t say anything in return. He definitely seemed to take the fact that I didn’t want to provide any personal information way too personally. Pretty silly, if you ask me.
Not what it used to be.
Used to be a great place to go browse.. now it’s like walking onto a used car lot.. within ten minutes I had 6 people asking if they could show me anything, one guy asking me twice.. I was only planning on buying a guitar stand, but was so annoyed I went elsewhere….
5. Edward B Marks Music Co
Address: 190 Range Rd, Wilton, CT 06897 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
I had a last-minute emergency repair needed for my flute right before a performance, and the staff at Middlesex Music Academy were all so kind and helpful. They fixed my flute in record time, and walked me through the whole process with the highest of professionalism. Thank you so much!
Love the staff and selections of instruments. I’ve gotten repairs done there with my old drums and my guitars and they have the best expertise when it comes to repairing instruments. Bought my first guitar since 2009 from there and I absolutely loved the feel and playing it. Matt and Jim are awesome.
Great service – they fixed my instrument while I waited, gave clear instructions on follow up care, and I was all set for my gig that night.
The sales team made it possible for me to afford a piano for my son
I signed up for a piano lesson trial online. Their site is very confusing and it’s not clear if the lesson is in-person and online. I called them, left a message but they never called me back. In the day/time of the lesson, I called them 3 times because I was having problems to contact the teacher. The guy who works there, Jim, clearly doesn’t have any customer service skills. He was rude and unpleasant. He didn’t make any effort to help me, told me a was confused and nobody else had problems. I just canceled the future lessons there. It’s easier just hire a private piano teacher. Hopefully I will never have to deal with this guy again.
I would give Middlesex Music Academy a 0 if I was able to. I called to inquire about a $150 charge when I haven‘t been confirmed by John the guitar teacher. I made a request to Matt that Tuesday was my preference but John was booked so he scheduled Thursday at 6pm. I received a text and email from John yesterday that he had a conflict for Thursday and offered Friday. I responded via text/email that would not work and inquired if this was temporary or permanent to which I did not receive a response. I let John know this may not be a good fit then. I called today to have the charge refunded and Jim proceeded to call me names, saying I was yelling & screaming over the phone and I was being rude. No need to go into the dramatics but Jim needs a lesson in manners, telling the truth and understanding that being a manager does not give him the authority to behave poorly. Never once did I raise my voice but did correct Jim several times throughout the conversation all because i asked for a refund. Extremely unprofessional and a bad look for Middlesex Music all around. I will be taking my business elsewhere. Inexcusable & theater worthy performance by Jim today folks!!!
I paid $80 for a setup on a guitar and got it back with the strings a mile off of the neck and the floyd rose studs so high out of the body I could park a car under it. The bridge pickup was raised until it was practically touching the strings and the neck pickup was lowered to below the pickup ring. The tech then told me that 10-52 strings don’t exist. They’re light top heavy bottom and aren’t even uncommon strings. Every time I go there they give bad advice and clearly don’t know what they’re talking about. My friend tried to buy a tubescreamer (basic overdrive) and they tried to sell him a phaser instead (completely different thing).
7. The Music Shop
Address: 405 Queen St, Southington, CT 06489 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
My kids have been going to The Music Shop for 8 years and their experience has been flawless. The ownership and instructors are very professional. The instructors personalize each lesson to keep the kids engaged in wanting to learn and practice on their own. There is no other place to go, stop here.
GREAT SERVICE !!!
Used to go to guitar center all the time till one day the worker wasn’t there, gave a chance over here and wasn’t disappointed! Gave me help on my Billie joe Armstrong replica by installing a new neck and saddles and I have to say this has to be the best set up I’ve ever played, I feel like I’m playing a custom shop on a squier! Such great help, friendly faces and now my go to for setups and help! Have a custom Strat there being worked on and I can’t tell you how tired there gonna get of me bringing in guitar after guitar to get setup in my collection one comes back to me and I give them another the same visit haha, thank you Scott, Jackson and Tyler!! Feels like a family and not business and that’s the best type!
– Michael
Great place but website could be better such as pics of some used equipment. I’m a drummer and would like to see what they have for new and used cymbals,stands,drum kits etc. And prices. I have done business with them and always had a great experience the reason for three stars is the website doesn’t do the music shop justice. All and all great store great people.
The cellos were in not in good shape and we had to pay a luthiere to redo repairs that were poorly done when we received the instrument.
8. Greenwich Music
Address: 1200 E Putnam Ave, Riverside, CT 06878 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
I highly recommend Greenwich Music for lessons, gear, and repairs. Friendly professional staff and service.
I was considering the purchase of a guitar for my grandsons birthday. I found the staff at Greenwich Music very helpful and courteous. They even offered a free lesson with the purchase. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a musical instrument and/or music lessons. I did purchase a guitar, and his first”free” lesson is next week! Great place to shop.
It’s a nice place! It’s a bit small but otherwise it’s nice.
We were kindly helped in the store, but we were buying a guitar for our son and we don’t live in the US. We were having problems with internet so we couldn’t research correctly at the moment, but they assured that the amp could be used in 220 current. We arrived home and we connected the amp and it didn’t work. So the amp was burned. Apart from that the price was a bit higher than the same thing in other stores, it’s not nice to pay 50 dollars more, but that is just business and anyone can charge what they want. It was our fault that we didn’t do a good research before buying. But the very kind person that assured us that it would work because he used to be an electrician, and it only needed a basic adapter, was totally wrong and now we are home and we lost an amp, so we paid extra for the set and it didn’t work. You were very kind indeed, but please if you are not sure about something, don’t sell it. Because we lost money and we can’t go back because we don’t live there.
Terrible customer service. Called and said I would be by in 10 minutes for an emergency repair. Guy was nice on the phone. When I arrived 5 minutes early they had closed up and locked. Super helpful…
Their hours aren’t very convenient and I was having a guitar strung and I dropped it off and I didn’t get a call before the store closed and then they were closed the next day Sunday so I didn’t get my guitar until Monday and that was extremely inconvenient. They also have a very small selection of basses.Update, they aren’t even open a couple hours on the 4th of July so I won’t get my guitar till Tuesday I am very upset with this store.
Rudest customer service I have ever encountered. The man I spoke to on the phone yelled and hung up on me. When my daughter went in person to drop off the instrument for repair at the agreed upon time, he remained upset and kicked my daughter out of the store. Strongly encourage anyone looking to have their instruments fixed to look elsewhere. Disappointing experience to say the least.
9. La Salle Music & Sound
Address: 993 Main St #2233, East Hartford, CT 06108 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
Very curtious and quick service went to fix guitar ❤
Stopped in store for first time to get a couple guitar related things. Super friendly and knowledgeable
Cool little music store with a certain old-school, pawn-shop vibe. Found a cool, used Kustom powered monitor/mixer and a short mic stand, useful items at a great discount. Enjoyable experience, since the staff was cool and helpful, letting me borrow a mic and cable to test my purchase before buying.
First, the employees were excellent; friendly and helpful. I was extremely disappointed in the store itself. This was basically a dark, messy pawn shop, not the store I was familiar with from years ago. My only reason to go back would be to pick through dusty items to find something I might be in search of, more of an adventure.
Ordered lugs for my snare. They sent me receipts and invoices and never shipped my lugs. I called and emailed multiple times and never got a response back after leaving numerous messages. Been 2 months and I still don’t have my lugs and am out $60.
Went in to sell my cello, the woman that was working there was amazing and very professional. She had to call the owner to ask about the selling price. He had her look up what my model last sold for on eBay (it’s 2021 my dude) and there were no matches so he had nothing to go off of. I paid $1400 for it, I was looking for around $500. He wanted to give me $50. An absolute joke. I’m not looking for top dollar but I’m also not looking to get completely ripped off.
Was a dj for 30 years and bought and sold equipment all over Ct . I stopped in at lasalle music in east hartford it was a nightmare . Equipment from the seventies store a mess and the staff looked like a Grateful Dead fan with colored hair . So glad I moved on with my teaching at a high school
10. DuBaldo Music Center
Address: 881 Main St, Manchester, CT 06040 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
I’ve never been more comfortable trying out guitars in a shop. I drove over an hour to get here and the customer service made it completely worth it. They have an incredible selection of great sounding instruments and went out of their way to make sure I found the guitar I wanted. Highly recommend this place.
Phenomenal shop that really personifies customer service! Pete is a great guy to deal and talk shop with. My guitar arrived safe, secure AND quickly. I can’t recommend DuBaldo enough, just give them a call or stop by already!
Great store! Love the selection of Ernie Ball Music Man instruments.
Great service
11. Music & Arts
Address: 989 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06107 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
The seller was nice and did a generous discount for us. Guitar prices are good compared to online sources.
Customer Service. Period. Chris, Alex & staff are dedicated and attentive. Prefer this place to others because of personal feel/vibe. They are knowledgeable and not forceful. Great stuff here.
Great store and affordable items
Yeah it’s good!
I have condensed my original rant down to the following- we really like our children’s teachers- but the front desk needs saving
Limited retail space, but the staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Music lessons are offered on site.
My child joined band program at her school in West Hartford. Using their online system, I placed an order for instrument rental and a book for the program. The date I placed my order, they charged my credit card.
However, they never delivered the instrument until I called and confirm the status. The book was never delivered with the instrument. A week later, I called them to confirm about the book. They told me that it was back ordered. Since the book was available in Amazon for next day delivery, I asked Music & Arts to cancel my book order.
After few weeks, I still did not have my credit back for the book. I called them to ask for the refund, and the customer service told me that I have to return the book (which was never delivered!) in order to get the refund and hang up on me. I used the chat function on their website to explain the situation. Here, the customer service told me that they would never charge the credit card unless the item is delivered, and conversation did not go anywhere. (Again, my credit card was charged on the date I placed order!) Not knowing what to do, I called the store in West Hartford, left my phone number with an employee so the manager can call me back. No one called me back. I sent polite email to the manager, and also emailed the customer service. No response from anyone.
I will NOT order anything from this business in the future.
Absolutely horrible service by the staff. Our son took lessons for two years and store failed to call when teacher couldn’t make it to lesson and even refused to acknowledge that his instrument had been returned when it was sitting in front of them. Sadly, these small shops are disappearing and so it is hard to walk away from one but the staff and management is really just that bad.
The worst company in the world!!!! If I can give anyone advice it would be to stay away from this place. Their thief’s and I will never do business with them again.
12. JC Music
Address: 529 W Main St, Meriden, CT 06451 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
My son has been taking drum lessons with Keith for a little over a year. He started with Keith when he turned 5. Keith is AweSome all around and an Amazing drummer and teacher. He is super patient with children, he does a great job at getting on their level to learn and have fun. My son LOVES this guy and always looks forward to his weekly lesson. Also, the staff is great. Helpful, resourceful, talented and pleasant. We will be coming here for years to come.
Overall, excellent service and very friendly people. I have had positive experiences every time I needed something or had to sell something with their consignment program. Very simple and easy. I would highly recommend it to anyone!
My son and daughter both took lessons here. They have outstanding teachers. They also sell and rent instruments
Would like to obtain some nice brushes and some type of top hat set used and very sturdy since I break percussion instruments all the time when I perform?
My son, Roberto Luis and Rosa live in Meriden. Are you far from the mall? I have spent a lot of time jamming in Puerto Rico to salsa, merengue, etc but my favorite is funk like Buddy Miles.
My grandson really enjoyed the music lessons and they are very professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommend them.
This was a horrible expierence. They need to get their stuff together, they had already-sold instruments on shelf. They had an amazing guitar sale and when I went to buy, it was already sold! They got my hopes high and let it down and I will not give them my money any longer.
Completely disappointed. I placed an order in store on a instrument that was never placed with JC music. The customer service was poorly displayed and the options they gave us was not acceptable. I asked to speak to the owner several times and would not get on the phone and made his new employee talk to me. I ended up going somewhere else that was amazing
Never have any of the literature or instrument parts I’m looking for. Took 3 months to repair a trombone. I tried to return an item and they wouldn’t give me back the cash to go to another place. The owner has blatantly disrespected my mother on several occasions and doesn’t have much knowledge of much of anything outside of rock music. As far as i’m concerned, this is the worst music store i’ve ever set foot in and would not recommend to anybody.
13. Bethel Music Center – Instrument Sales, Rentals, Lessons and Repairs
Address: 273 Greenwood Ave #101, Bethel, CT 06801 , Ascó , Connecticut , United States
Ordered a Kala Baritone Ukulele in from them and they got the order in right away and for a very good price. The one that initially arrived from the manufacturer was damaged either from the start with or during shipping to the store so they immediately sent for a new one. The next one that came was spotless. The store handled this incident very well and I love my new instrument; the customer service was excellent and I cannot recommend this place enough. If you are in the area, buy from here and not from Amazon!
My son has been taking lessons here for a little over a year and we absolutely love it. Very accommodating if you have scheduling issues or need help renting/buying the instrument. I did wish they had more instructors but that seems to be an availability of teachers issue not a store issue. Highly recommend.
Cool
Just stopped by quick. Had a great hour. They are the best
