Brook Highland: Overview of the top 14 music shops

WOW.. being from out of state and working in Birmingham I enjoy seeing new music stores and Bailey Brothers in one of the best in the country for sure. An amazing assortment of instruments and amps from the highest level to beginner.. no other place like it.. and the staff is fantastic!! friendly and knowledgeable.. unreal.. I purchased a few needs but will be back for sure.. cant say enough good things about this place.. !!! (great used gear as well!!)

Great place to purchase.

Best guitar store in Alabama! Took my Les Paul in for a pickup swap and they fixed three other problems with it and didn’t even charge me for it! I was so impressed that I bought an amp the same day! Thanks guys!

Good selection of musical equipment. Be prepared because they strictly enforce the muzzle mandate inside. They make you wear masks.

Good service. Knowledgeable staff. Wish there was one closer to us!

Great customer service. Great selection. However, I was NOT thrilled to see their logo custom printed onto the snare head I bought. Would have received 5 stars if not for that. Going to remove it with some acetone.

I explained to them thoroughly what I needed and they sold me the opposite! It all about sells and f**k the customers needs! Stay away from the southside location!

I would use profane language, but it would not adequately describe the crap this company pulled. Basically, I took my brother to trade a PRISTINE first-owner amp, and we could prove it, in for a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, used, which is of equal value….and my brother coughed up $100.

I took off work to take him to initially buy the thing. I took off work to bring it in for repair when we discovered sticky crap on the power tubes, and I ended up working until 10PM thanks to these guys. They wanted me to take off work again, after having spent 5 hours in their store. I basically spoke up and said, he might be the customer, but I’m the wheelman, and I’m furious. I mentioned the fact of the wasted gas, wasted trips, and the at least 6 hours of driving they were expecting of me.

They checked OUR amp out very thoroughly, and even treated my brother like a criminal, saying they are getting his DL in case he stole it. SERIOUSLY people….

I tried to talk some business sense with them, asking them to do something for the trouble, and it would not have taken much. They said no. Then I asked if they can just reverse everything since ALL of the stuff was still in the store…. The guy made up a story of a law, which actually doesn’t exist, then claiming he has to charge extra to reverse it all. Guitar Center evidently doesn’t know about this (fake) law.

Not ONLY that, but the smug, d-bag attitude that the guy gave me when pushing my brother, his CUSTOMER aside to say “you don’t think we’re trying to rip you off do you?” He did this to put me on the spot, and tried to make me look like the bad guy.

In the end, my brother spent another $170 to get a new model. In the end, he got what he wanted, but we are both appalled by how the guy behaved to our faces. Beware, their used gear has NO warranty, but they represented at sale that they would ensure the gear works if something went wrong like the day we get it… Well… it did.

You don’t take someone’s $700 amp + $100 and then give them junk, and not try to do something proper after dragging someone thru hell. That’s the bottom line. I tried more than the guy at this store. You won’t catch us in that place again.

Considering the tens of thousands that my brother spent with other companies, Bailey Brothers missed an opportunity… Not good business. Dishonest, rude, and outright condescending. Smiled at us when we expressed our frustration with the runaround….

Waited 15 minutes for someone to help me but instead was ignored. Ended up leaving empty handed. I literally just needed drumsticks and the person at the front was aware. Will never go back.

Excellent customer service! They were so helpful with fixing my son’s guitar and went above and beyond to make sure his guitar was fixed and tuned! Adina and Tim both helped us so much and were especially kind!

Awesome President.

John is a super nice man to work with, and is very knowledgeable at what he does! Great, clean shop with a nice selection of instruments, accessories, and pretty much anything else you’d need for your violin or cello! This was my first visit, and I ended up renting a violin. Thanks John!

John takes his time and explains everything to you about your violin. He does not recommend an upgrade (bow or strings) unless he truly thinks it is absolutely necessary. He is a outstanding luthier.

John is very knowledgeable and friendly. Quality luthier work and excellent instruments

Very friendly

They don’t make ’em like this anymore. Best place in town for quality acoustic instruments and service.

Do not recommend, was extremely rude over the phone and continued to interrupt me.

Great product, great guys!

They have a huge selection of guitars and amps and everything you could ever want or need for your guitars.

I dont know

Got a good deal on a used Vox guitar amp. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. I fully intend to return.

Guitars are really overpriced, but the guy behind the counter was courteous.

Gotta catch the right people in.. but good little music store..

Twice treated very rudely by staff. I’m over it.

I left this store just a moment ago after being asked to leave because I had not yet made a purchase. I had originally intended to pick up a few packs of strings for my acoustic, now I’m glad I had not. I stopped by today with my friend who had told me about this store. He has been a customer of this store before and had always told me the staff here was friendly and that they have great service. We spent roughly 45 minutes in the store before the man at the counter, whom we had previously overheard talking to another customer about us saying, “What’s the deal with these two jokebags?” told us to get out of the store because we had not yet bought anything. We promptly left the store and I soon received a text from my friend saying that he had gone back inside to try to clear things up with the man that was working the counter and he told me that the man said he was not feeling well and is looking to close the store early. So if his goal is to minimize the business they get to close up early, he is doing very well.

Pretty darn rude staff, including the owner, Don. After 40 years in business I guess they’ve earned the right, though.

i love this company because the assistant manager once saved my life, literally, not figuratively. i got into a car accident once and Kyle showed up at the scene and gave me CPR for 7 hours until i was revived. he wouldn’t stop even though everyone insisted i was surely brain dead. not only that but then he set me up with his brother who is now my fiancé. now you may ask, what does that have to do with music? well, he played “staying alive” on repeat to give him the perfect beat for chest compressions. thanks kyle!!

Had the best guitar teacher ever! Kevin is so kind, patient, and understanding.

Started taking guitar lessons last year at the ripe old age of 79 at Greystone studio. Having wonderful experience with teacher and staff. I am sure my learning is much slower than the kids that I see there, but I really enjoy it. As I wait for my lesson time I see a lot of interaction between various teachers and young students, and it is all very positive. My teacher understands my pace of learning and structures my lessons and time accordingly. Overall, very enjoyable and productive,

My son has taken guitar lessons at Mason for about 7 years, & my daughter piano for about 3. I can’t say enough good things!

Special ordered a guitar through these guys. Took longer than it normally would due to the pandemic, but they were professional and communicative throughout the whole process. Will definitely be shopping with Mason again.

I have absolutely loved taking lessons through Mason Music. I was worried that it would be weird to take lessons as an adult, but it is a wonderful environment and the staff go above and beyond!

Awesome crew! I realized I made an error on a purchase and they were very helpful, patient, and understanding and made my return process easy. Very nice staff and manager named Branden.

Love my best buy.But sometimes have to go to other stores to get what i need.

Staff is always helpful. If a person is unfamiliar with your request, they will find someone who is knowledgeable and can assist.

Recently I went in looking for a particular item but the associate suggested a different item which served my purpose better and cost less as well.

I like Best Buy but it’s not amazing. It’s really just your standard electronics store. Nothing amazing nothing bad.

Normal electronic store

Fun outing

Salesman lie just to make a sale!

I have been on hold. Waiting for them to “assist” other customers. It has been 2 hours and still going. I could be hunting Pokemon right now. But noooo!

I had the worst experience here. I will never come back here. The whole time I was there. I was being watch like I was a about to steal even when I left security was outside looking at me . One even took my picture. I work in retail and I was not doing anything to even think I was stealing I will never go to this best buy again I will take my money else where

Good

Got everything I wanted.

I have purchased 100% of my guitar stuff from Guitar Center Hoover, most of it from Zack. He has never treated me like the beginner that I am, but always listens to understand what I am trying to do so that he can help me purchase the right stuff, and has also talked me out of buying the wrong stuff more than once.

I also take my lessons there from Brandon. Brandon is always willing to help me work on whatever I am struggling with. He takes the time that I need – sometimes our lessons run a little over. He is not a clock watcher.

I have huge respect & appreciation for the people at this store. Me & my money will not go anywhere else.

The store itself is pretty good. I can usually find what I’m looking for there and the prices are usually competitive. I don’t mind paying an extra buck or two to buy locally, when the item is right there and I can play with it.

The problem with this store has always been their staff. They are all arrogant and rude. The main manager has a downright mean attitude and demeanor. All of the staff has a holier than though attitude and they make you feel like you are imposing on them when you want help. Oh, sorry I bothered you. You know what? Nevermind. I’ll get it on Amazon for less in two days.

I have bought a lot of gear at this store and still will, but it’s definitely not because of the staff. It will strictly be due to convenience. I shop in several departments, so it’s not just a department-level thing, either.

Get your act together, folks. Wearing a laminate all day doesn’t make you a rock star.

Es un buen lugar donde puedes conseguir casi todo en instrumentos, musicales , las personas son muy amables

Bought a cajón the staff was really helpful and friendly.

I called in and a salesman agreed to match another stores price on an item they had in stock. We drove 30mins to come get it and at checkout the manager rudely told us that I was lying about the price and he wouldn’t come down whatsoever! Very rude, terrible way to treat a professional customer like myself. I will NEVER go back to Guitar Center!!

i came and bought a $500 dollar jackson guitar from them. my fault for not noticing but 1 of the strings wasn’t even attached i noticed this when i was trying to tune it. (shouldn’t have to notice this if i’m spending $500 dollars on a guitar)

Ok this is by far the worst experience ever. I bought a microphone that was sold as new. The expert stated I couldn’t bring it back for some odd reason but I opened it today because I got my other equipment and was about to setup. I’ve purchased a baby bottle microphone before elsewhere and gifted my little brother but this time I noticed in my packaging it was missing the blue stickers and original paperwork and etc. I get to the microphone it’s defected with gauges bent on the switch toggle. And this guy who sold me the equipment sells me a shock mount that’s absolutely unnecessary and states a shock mount doesn’t come with the microphone which I knew it did and I told him it does but he convinced me to buy it because it doesn’t and since he’s supposedly the expert I purchase it to be on the safe side. Ok fast forward, I finally open my microphone today and behold there’s a shock mount made just for the baby bottle and not the one he figured would work. So in conclusion this will probably be my last time shopping at the Guitar Center in Hoover because I feel like I’ve been swindled. And on top of me getting a defected microphone the send me some defected pioneer headphones that only works on one side from there online store. I am livid because I live a hour away and have to travel once again to handle the situation and wait once again to get some proper working equipment.

I’ve been going to see Herb at Fretted Instruments for the past 33 years. Simply put 33 years should tell you something. Herb is straight froward, honest, great banjo player and an all around great human begin. There is absolutely no other shop that comes close to what Herb has to offer. Go there, sit down, chat and pick and grin for a bit. You’ll become part of a family of musicians.

They are Very Knowledgeable on their expertise!!!

Best acoustic instrument dealer in town, and the nicest owner/banjo teacher on the planet.