Just a cool guitar shop with cool people and a great vibe.
Andy was super friendly and helped me record my very first recording.
Best music store! We met Dub who sold us a rare drum kit, gave us alot of help and equipment to get it road ready, even down to a pair of diamond sticks that ended up being awesome sticks!! Very cool place!
Great help and service. Instruments were priced Right and in great condition for being used.
Knowledgable, sincere staff who are working diligently to provide an alternative to the big box stores. They have a ways to go, but headed in the next direction.
They don’t sell reeds…
Stood there for almost 20 minutes waiting for the staff to get off of their “smoke break”. Then ignored for another 20. Then blown off for an additional 40 minutes.
Won’t be doing business there again.
Talented man with music skills. Awful business techniques.
Ordered a Christmas gift for my husband from this place last year, and I’m still waiting. I called them 3 times about it and was told it was on order and they would call me. Never received a call. Very unprofessional. I believe in shopping local, but not at this Boise business.
5. The Record Exchange
Address: 1105 W Idaho St, Boise, ID 83702 , Boise , Idaho , United States
This is a one of a kind music store in Boise. They have anything you would want on vinyl. And if they don’t have it they will order it for you. I think the prices are a little high but there is nowhere else to find what they have. The staff is not the friendliest but they are not rude. It is certainly worth your time to go see. Give yourself awhile to browse because they have a lot of stuff. I would recommend The Record Exchange.
I like looking at and getting some music and videos here. This time staff was friendly but the girl at coffee bar seemed put out that I came up to check out.
I was seriously underwhelmed by this place. Vinyls great if you’re not looking for any deep tracks. Staff is eh, if you want a cup of coffee and pretentious chit chat. I asked if they could find something for me, laughed at what I was looking for, then took me to the same place I looked and said ya no. Ya man, I know my alphabet. I wasnt even going to ask them to check online and order it. It was an awful shopping experience. I assume they dont like regular types in there, you have to be a hipster, or the like. I’ll never go in there again.
#wannabePortland/Seattlehangout
The Halloween music is really bad and made me feel physically ill…. And don’t smell the baking brownie incense, it also contributed to the physical illness.
I couldn’t stand to be in there for more than two minutes. Besides the fact that you are literally assaulted with mask signs (I’m guessing there’s a minimum of 30 signs), you don’t feel welcome if you have a different belief set than they do. I’ll bet I could walk into 50 conservative-owned establishments in Idaho, and you would never feel like you didn’t belong there, regardless of your beliefs. Not at the Record Exchange though. If you don’t think like they do, you are not welcome there, and every inch of that store screams for you to leave unless you are super-woke.
6. Jam Session Record Shop
Address: 2516 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702 , Boise , Idaho , United States
Nice, knowledgeable owner with fair prices and extremely generous trade in offers. It’s a great alternative to the Record Exchange .
It’s a smaller store but has a pretty good selection and better deals than the bigger stores. I always find something good when I visit them
Great VENAL selection, rear and vintage.
Good Store, decent selection. Looks like this place will get more and more better as time goes on.
If your looking for old records and tapes or also trade this is the place to go. The inside is small but can fit a lot inside. You can spend hours just browsing and not even know it.
Lots of new records
Very limited selection
7. Music Center Studios
Address: 2232 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702 , Boise , Idaho , United States
Great experience friendly worker named Kristen was knowledgeable and kind. She helped me choose a great acoustic guitar and sold us on one when we only walked in to browse . Would recommend.
Great instruments and even better customer service
Great staff, helped us alot
We’ve all heard the rumors about how horrible Guitar Center can be. People around the nation have reported finding bashed in Gibson Les Paul’s. I hope my local GC doesnt do such heinous acts against gear. So far though, I’ve seen nothing but a friendly and knowledgeable staff who are eager to help. Fred and Lauren are two very great assets that this Guitar Center has. The only reason I didnt give a five star review was because this location has cut back on inventory. They scaled back to make room for guitar lessons.
good bargains on music but the Boise store does not have full size 88-key keyboards they do not really have the room to stock them,but you can place an order with them online for whatever you’re looking for
Took grandson to get picks and strings
Beware steven the guitar tech, damaged the neck and headstock veneer on my Gibson les paul did not apologize did not make it right and refused to take responsibility could not even be bothered to put a simple nut on correctly or even use the correct nut for that matter the guitar action is sky high and cannot be playedabove the 15th fret on every string.. Did not disclose repairs made to the guitar or parts installed, tried to shaft me for extra parts he installed without calling me and was overall inattentive and aloof. Do not use their tech services.
Nothing their tech takes lunch at 430 he leaves at 5. I rushed to get there only to be left waiting and wondering what happened. Turns out him and Co workers witnessed him calling me back and my new galaxy s6 is turned off. At least ally lost my businessthat’s what I’m told by the girl who works the front desk. So yea totl
I have been a GC customer for about 30 years now in all that time I have NEVER received any kind of recognition for the (at this point) hundreds of thousands of dollars I have spent in the various stores I have been in.The GC in Boise is perhaps the worst of the lot,the repair department is a joke a simple pickup replacement takes well over a week to complete and there is no contact unless initiated by you on the progress of the repairs,the set ups are questionable with new buzzes and problems after a weeks wait.The staff is woefully ignorant of most of the gear whether it be functionality ,price,availability.Since Boise is not a major hub ,product availability itself is slim,you have to either order it and wait for it to come in and then return it or just take your chances online.I will be seeking other options for my musical purchases and have made inquiries into other local repair technicians who are not so overwhelmed!!
10. 12th Fret Music
Address: 2164 S Broadway Ave, Boise, ID 83706 , Boise , Idaho , United States
Rob brought a real music store back to Boise, great instruments, and pro gear, plus actual amp and instrument repair!
Such a congenial man that helped us…will definitely return.
Wonderful, local, mom and pop music store. Friendly owners with no-pressure atmosphere. Store is mostly used guitars and amps with some intermediate level new guitars. They also carry some percussion as well as consider trades for current stock.
Used stuff !! Cheap…
Daryl sold the business to new owners and they are not very knowledgeable about guitar repairs or timely about getting back to you. I had to take my guitar repairs to somewhere else to get it done right. But being a local shop, they are still better than a chain store in many ways.
Found the place to be a mix of junk and overpriced items. Might be the only local music shop in town, but it won’t be getting my money, given the owner’s criminal history, not a great place for kids.
Really bad service. I left and went to Guitar Center and spent $1700.00 at Guitar Center. Terrible place.
Rude, vague and dismissive. 0/10
11. Dorsey Music, Boise
Address: 5015 W State St, Boise, ID 83703 , Boise , Idaho , United States
Larger selections of instruments with very knowledge employees
This place is a hidden gem! The staff was fun, knowledgeable and so patient with my kids. They were thorough and not pushy at all as we made our choices. I will definitely go back for future musical needs. Thank you for the fantastic service!
Very friendly and helpful to buy my music things there
Great place for everything instrumental! Parents don’t forget to shop here for things ahead of presents… support local, not chinese plastic!
Staff was not very knowledgeable when it came to anything electric guitar related but had a good selection and decent pricing
Visited store for first time. Had a very nice conversation with Sam about Dorsey’s. Sam is very personable.
I was very impressed by the store layout and Sam’s knowledge.
Thank you Sam. Glen Whatley – Mars Amp Repair
Poor customer service. Made to feel stupid for asking questions- would never go back. In conversation with a male employee that clearly needs to find a different position out of the public setting.
Took my instrument in to get 1 pad replaced, never heard back from them, After 2 weeks I had to call to see if it was ready- it was, and they never let me know. Got the job done, but pad too big and sticks out….
Poor customer service. Another store that makes you feel like your kids shouldn’t be there to learn and appreciate music.
Derek has done a most excellent job in his endeavor and I am proud to know him. He takes extreme pride and holds no prejudice in his inventory, hence there are always a few gems that you will unexpectedly find in stock. He has a keen sense of musicology and is sensible in how he doles it out to patrons in a comforting and non-abrasive fashion. It is obvious that his love for music has been a lifelong friendship. Whether you are a local or an out-of-towner…this is a MUST stop while in Boise.
Do yourself a favor and check this place out! The owner was very kind and has an awesome passion for this stuff. All the records were clean and cared for with new sleeves, and priced very fair! I will happily be coming to this place more in the future. Great record store!
Really good selection need to go back when I have more time to spend.
Clean, good prices
Cool place and the staff was AMAZING. I’m a country girl and they didn’t have much…..but that’s ok!
I’ve been playing guitar for many years (over 40) and have had many many guitars. But had never owned a premium made in USA acoustic. After doing some research decided on a Taylor 312. I wanted a non-cutaway, no electronics.These proved to be harder to find than I thought they would be. Then I came across Nick’s site Tune Up Guitars, and he had one listed in “mint” condition. After talking to him I decided to go for it. I’m glad I did because it’s as close to new as you can get, and it saved me $400. I could not be happier with my purchase.
If I find myself in the market for another guitar I’m defiantly going to check with Nick before I buy anything.
Absolutely great place. Excellent communication, perfectly described guitar and the shipping was extremely well done. Can’t recommend highly enough.
I ordered a Larrivee 000 online, on a Sunday. Nick shipped out the next day, and it was in my hands in Portland Oregon on Wednesday. What I saw, was what I got. Nick sent me personal emails letting me know about my order’s progress.
18. Telford & Sons Violins
Address: 4910 Gage St W, Boise, ID 83706 , Boise , Idaho , United States
Ryan seems to really know the history on violins. He gave an appraisal on my grandfather’s violin and what it was going to take to fix it and how much. He also gave me an estimate of how much I could sell it for on Craigslist. All of this was greatly appreciated! Very nice man, nice staff, & clean and professional business.
Staff are knowledgeable and suggest reasonable solutions for you child’s instrument. I’ve heard them make suggestions to parents thst cost less.
Needed a string fixed for my son’s violin and the got it done very quick while I waited.
Telford & Son’s in the front, Sanford & Son’s in the back.
Very reasonable prices for services; they absoluetly know what they are doing. If you can get past the somewhat aloof owner, then I recommend you do.
Reasonable rental pricing
took my advanced violinist daughters violin to be repaired when we got it home we realized they had not turned it before it left their facility. I called in to make them aware and was rudely told that the car ride home probably made it out of tune. never heard of that before.
on friday my daughter took it to school for orchestra and as she was opening the case the “d” string broke. when I called them to find out what I should do Ryan was rude and it was one excuse after another. I only wanted him to apologize and tell me to bring it back in.
19. Entertainment of Tanzania music
Address: 123 S Latah St, Boise, ID 83705 , Boise , Idaho , United States
