Robie takes great care in the repairs he makes on all of my fractional size instruments I give to kids I work with in SLV. He also really know his fiddles and made some modifications to two instruments that made then sound 10× better.
Robie’s Fiddle and Banjo Shop is the only place to go in the Santa Cruz Mountains for expert handcrafted repairs and to purchase beautifully refurbished instruments.
2. Bonny Doon Alpacas
Address: 121 McGivern Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Bonny Doon , California , United States
Caries the best guitars anywhere in Northern California.
This is one of the best music stores I have ever seen. Filled with beautiful production instruments as well as high-end Boutique instruments. They have a killer amp selection and a room full of vintage guitars that will make you drool. The staff are all intelligent helpful nice people. What’s not to like.
Great shop
they had kool stuff but there was this old guy who was a dick. otherwise koolspot
Its a good place to get strings… Cost a little much for me
I rented a trombone here, it was a really nice name brand and worked very well. I never had to bring it in to repair, and over all an okay rental price. There was great customer service and I suggest going here.
Only a review on accessibility. I have been looking for a new “serious” guitar for some months. I’ve called three times to hear they are booked up. No thanks. Must be nice. Doesn’t seem they are interested in returning to business or selling guitars.
Drove in from Idaho. Heard the place was legendary. Went in to buy a Santa Cruz guitar, had 6k of cash in my pocket. Indeed there is nice stuff in there, but the arrogance of the employees is a joke. All of them huddled around the computer or on their phones. Asked the kid at the front desk a question about a pedal and he just stared and went back to his phone. Lame. I will find another place to buy a Santa Cruz guitar. Do not waste your time.
Helpful staff. It’s a nice shop and an easy walk if you’re downtown.
Muy bien Instruments
I am the Pastor of our church in Freedom, we had a couple of issues having to buy electric guitar cords over and over. I talked to Stretch (who by the way is the man!) and he recommended a cord that has a lifetime warranty. We have been using them ever since and havnt had any problems. Any microphones, drum heads, piano’s, drum sticks, ……..ect. We will be going to Starving Musician for all our future needs. BTW, all the employees were great as well.
It was fine. I picked up a perfect little practice amp. They didn’t accept my trade in Hartke but ni modo
Lots of homeless people in the parking lot and around the building, and they were not musician. More like a pawn shop feel, instead of a music store. Sad.
I needed a quick replacement for a piece of gear that went down at a local Club I work at sometimes. They had an adequate used device at a great price.
Great staff.
Honestly, if you’re a starving artist, you are not welcome here. The staff makes it very clear that they don’t care about the artists at all. I wouldn’t recommended this place to my worst enemy.
Rasict employees mainly the guys the girl is cute and freindly
They were not very helpful. Told them I was looking for a used electric guitar for my wife to learn on and he didn’t care to take the time and talk to us. All the employees were just hanging out in the front and not really doing anything. We left.
7. More Music
Address: 512 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Bonny Doon , California , United States
Dave H puts the More in Music as he was a true asset in my vintage guitar purchase bringing a lifetime of knowledge to my questions. He delivered exactly what he said he would and More. His seasoned tech Tommy executed a pro-set up on the instrument. You’re in good hands with Dave and company on your next purchase. I’m lucky I found them.
There are lots of types of guitar shops with different vibes. This is not going to be anything like the big-box megacenters. You’ll find things that are great for beginners, but also a huge selection of unique and vintage instruments. Dave is passionate about guitars and will get to know what you are looking for. There are so many great amplifiers; you’ll never be able to check them all out, but you’ll see some amazing ones. Just starting out? Let them know about what you want to learn, what you want to play, and what you budget may be. If you are expecting a mall-like store where you can grab a bunch of modern electrics and sit and blare out loud classic rock riffs, you may not find what you are looking for. But you can get to play some really cool, interesting, and unique guitars. And you’ll probably see something you’ve never seen before.
Walked in by accident while visiting Santa Cruz just because I love guitar shops and trying guitars in general. What a fortunate discovery ! After a couple of minutes looking at various second hand guitars, Dave (the owner I guess) engaged in a very friendly and somehow nicely surrealist discussion and ended up letting me try a few of his old Martins from the 50s and 60s which obviously I couldn’t afford but it was one of these great moments meeting random people who happen to be great persons. For the mood and the guitars but obviously for the people inside this shop is definitely a great place for musicians.
So very dissatisfied buyer beware
Tried to sell some guitars and other music equipment here on consignment. When it had been a couple months and nothing had sold, I went in to get the equipment back and sell it on craigslist. They had “misplaced” both of my guitar cases and all three guitar cables, which they gave me a little bit of cash for as a consolation. They did sell my digitech but did not pay me for almost two months from when it sold. Some of the employees are super helpful and this may be a good music store in some aspects but the lack of integrity in the consignment department made me feel obligated to let people know to avoid it.
Lousy customer service. every time I go in there to shop, I get kicked out of rooms, or asked to move from a certain spot. I’m a customer too!
8. Union Grove Music
Address: 1574 Soquel Dr ste g, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 , Bonny Doon , California , United States
When you are ready for a Martin acoustic,this is the place to go.The staff knows their product, and they won’t be happy , until you are happy.My guitar of a lifetime was the Martin HD-28.If you are looking for a fine instrument, Richard,Tom,and the rest of the Union Grove staff,will be there to help you. I’ve bought a Martin vintage 12 string,and my new HD-28 in the last two years. Great instruments,and a great store.Thanks for being in Santa Cruz !
They’re really nice and knowledgeable. Got a mic stand for my Theremini and they throw in an adapter for nothing! Definitely will do my future purchases here, it’s local and it’s better than online shopping in every sense.
All the guys and gal is always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Every time I go here they have been very helpful, resourceful, and honest. I’ve gone in a couple of times wanting one thing and asked them about it, but they recommend something that will work better for what I’m looking for and they’ve always be right about why the other item is better than the one I wanted.
Staff is always friendly. Wish there was a little more selection.
Very knowledgeable staff. The prices are a little higher than other stores around for the same item, but they also have more higher end items. Almost exclusively guitars, very little of any other instrument.
The kids loved it!
I’m an older woman who plays electric guitar. Have purchased top-line new guitars there and sold some equipment there, and they did the job. But I have never been comfortable there. The boss is angry, curt and dismissive and the staff doesn’t seem relaxed or happy. There are unwritten rules about how long you can stay, what you can touch etc. Not for me any more.
I really tried to give this place a chance. When I ask for help, the staff gives me the distinct feeling that I am wasting their time. The selection is not good, and quite frankly I did not feel welcomed any of the times I have gone there.
Look, I get it. You’re right in the middle of downtown where all the vagrants pass through, but the attitude has got to go. I used to occasionally stop in here whenever I needed strings, picks, etc. And every time I felt like I wasn’t welcome. Avoid like the plague
Visited many guitar stores and was not really helped. I set an appointment with Kenny and he set up five different guitars floor me to try and spent time with me showing the best features of each and helped me make my choice. I love my new guitar and find Kenny to not only be an accomplished Luthier but also a wonderful musician and excellent sales person. Kenny builds some of the finest guitars in the world.
I purchased a pre-owned 2004 ‘Fleta’ model by Kenny and from the first moments was shocked at the Volume and the beautiful Tone of this guitar. I’ve never heard the kind of resonance that this instrument has. It’s almost as if it’s being miked with reverb effect from an amplifier. Never heard this in any other classical guitar.
I have heard that this is characteristic of actual Fleta guitars, which can cost up to Fifty Thousand dollars! So, it’s amazing that Kenny has copied so well the structure of actual Fletas, and so even the various tones of his copies of guitars by the classic makers mimic the originals.
Bought pre owned Hauser ‘37 model. I have tried a lot of guitars before visiting this store and nothing impressed me more than this guitar. Kenny Hill builds great guitars with the nicest tone I have ever seen.
11. Guitar Shop
Address: 926 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 , Bonny Doon , California , United States
Really glad to see Steve Crisp expand his guitar shop to the Soquel Ave. location and offer a range of very nice guitars and basses. I’ve gone to Steve a few times in the past for repairs and he’s always done them expertly, quickly and for a reasonable price. I walked into his new shop yesterday and he made time in his schedule to do a quick repair and set up, again it was quick, very well done and reasonable. Steve’s got his own style, which all good guitar store owners should have, but you appreciate his directness. The shop has a great line of new mid-range-plus guitars and basses and really fills the gap between the low end shops in town on the one hand and the vintage shops on the other. I compared prices when I got home and The Guitar Shop prices were better than what I found online. Plus, who wants to buy a guitar or bass online without getting to dig in and hear the tone? They were very accommodating letting me try out some great-sounding basses. Great to have this new store in town.
Awesome owner, great vibe, very friendly!
Excelente servicio
Nice little place, a little slow on the customer service.
Quality merchandise, was surprised how low some of the prices were.
Recommended.
Professional
I had the feeling that this wasn’t a legitimate business. The guy knows his guitar strings and he didn’t rip me off or anything, but I won’t visit again.
Didn’t return phone, email/website inquiry from a week ago…nobody is that bitchen. At least return a message letting me know you’re to busy and cool to accept more business work…
12. Streetlight Records
Address: 939 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Bonny Doon , California , United States
Awesome place and cheap CD and movies.the workers there are very nice and friendly.huge selection of movies and music
Great selection, less than helpful staff. Always some weirdos in there, if you don’t see any, then the weirdo is you.
Great dairy store with broad selectipb
Great section on music cd and records
Musicians, don’t waste your time. I was on a West Coast Tour and had been emailing their “booker” for months. We had the date confirmed, when he totally fell off the grid. We headed to Santa Cruz the day of and I called once again to try and get some more details on the evening and I discovered that our show was not even on the calendar. He hadn’t even marked the date, though we had confirmed the show. We ended up with no show that night. It was such extreme unprofessionalism, and totally unacceptable to flake when we were planning on holding up our end of the bargain.
This shop has never done much for me. I usually leave without buying anything. Also, I can enter and leave without a Hello or Goodbye from an employee. Not a good experience.
The employees always nice and very helpful,I only go to them for movies,for me and my Grandsons.Thank you streetlight.
13. Stewart’s Music Co
Address: 10090 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 , Bonny Doon , California , United States
