Contents
1. Acoustic Music
Address: 4 Maple St, Chester, CT 06412 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (203) 458-8353
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.5/5 based on 28 evaluations.
Site web: http://www.acousticmusic.org/
Business hours:
Reviews
Knowledgable staff and an amazing stock of guitars. The most impressive set of archtops I’ve found anywhere!
Excellent shop
Fabulous concerts in intimate surroundings. Guitar lovers’ heaven.
Had a guitar cable when I needed it.
Not many mandolins
Thé Owners are lousy business
No prices listed
2. Middlesex Music Academy
Address: 440 Main St, Middletown, CT 06457 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 344-0525
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.5/5 based on 27 evaluations.
Site web: http://middlesex-music-academy.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
love it
Tienes clases de producción musical por medio de software? Si no es así, están interesados?
Yo soy productor musical, puedo dar clases para básico y avanzado con introducción a mezcla y master
Yo soy productor musical, puedo dar clases para básico y avanzado con introducción a mezcla y master
I’ve had my son’s saxophone serviced here a few times, and not only do they do an excellent job, they also go above and beyond to be helpful. These people are compassionate about music! I’d never go anywhere else.
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).
3. Martel Music Store
Address: 1 Whiting St, Plainville, CT 06062 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 479-5188
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.8/5 based on 49 evaluations.
Site web: http://www.martelmusicstore.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
Great selection of guitars new and used Fantastic local music store it’s a breath of fresh air to have something besides G.C around. Very knowledgeable staff and the owner is awesome.
Had my guitar set up awesome job!
Martel has lots of effects including everything Strymon makes! Nice people.
Interesting store with some interesting gear. They don’t seem to carry Fender or Gibson. They had a stomp box manufacturing class going on when I visited.
As one reviewer already stated. They have a terrible return policy especially with online purchases. Good store as long as you know you’re going to keep the item but who really knows, its musical gear, its hard to tell if your going to dig it or not until you play it with your rig. Returning a pedal (or probably anything) is just not worth it due the return fees. 2 stars because I received it pretty quickly but definitely wasn’t packed that well. Without a doubt this will be my last purchase from this store. There’s plenty of other great stores to choose from that won’t bend you over on return fees. **Edit for response to the owner** Yes you do clearly state your return fees online. “Small restocking fee” is a bit of an understatement…your restocking fee is 10%. If I pay $250 for a guitar pedal. Right off the bat you’re keeping $25 of my return. I couldn’t imagine purchasing a guitar online through your store.
Purchased a guitar for 750, now walking out with 637. Unfortunately I was not told about a very unfair and sneaky return exchange policy until I had asked after already completing the purchase. Also could not see clearly a visible sign inside that states anything about a return policy. When I asked where the sign was upon trying to return this guitar he pointed to have a corner and I still did not see the sign. I do believe that a return policy sign should be at the register for full disclosure. The law does state you are entitled to a full refund if you are not told about the refund policy during the time of the transaction, which I was not informed of that. Limited selection and unfortunately subject to a very steep restocking fee or store credit, if you are a serious musician make sure you know this first as you know that buying instruments is quite expensive and it is hard to want to get locked into something that you do not truly love.
4. Westbury Music
Address: 686 Main St, Watertown, CT 06795 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 274-1556
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.8/5 based on 37 evaluations.
Site web: http://www.westburymusicllc.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
Very epic, I have gotten 3 instruments from there and the people that work their are very nice
Great, friendly and fast service!
Bought a pair of new drumsticks
Staff is very friendly and knowledgable.
excellent store, good Fender Selection, nice acoustics, lessons, and school instruments.
Ordered instrument for my son, was told to pick up the next day, went the following day to pick it up and it wasn’t there. Also bought a box of reefs for the instrument and was given the wrong kind. The gentleman that waited on us was polite, although he didn’t recognize us even though we had just been in the day before!
5. George’s Music Center
Address: 905 New Harwinton Rd, Torrington, CT 06790 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 496-9362
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.7/5 based on 70 evaluations.
Site web: https://www.georgesmusiccenter.com/?y_source=1_MTI5MDkzODMtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
Business hours:
Reviews
Great music store, helpful staff & if they don’t have it in stock, they can get it for you. It’s nice to have access to local shops versus Big box stores.
Dennis there helps me out often. I’ve recently purchased three Roland products. Over the years I’ve bought guitars and amps there plus tons of accessories and service. Catalog prices on great gear close by!
Great music store! Full selection of electric and acoustic guitars. Went in to get some GHS Strings and ended up playing a dozen or so guitars. Will be going back to pickup a new LTD guitar!
If you’re not looking to go too far to get musical instruments. Look no further. Expensive though. But if you don’t care about prices, go for it. Not much of a selection though.
Nice shop
Meh
After going to this place; I must say I will never go back there again. The owner is so rude and disrespectful. Its not even funny. The owner needs get off his anthropocentric state of mind.
This place is just awful. The owner is so rude to us that i will never go back. We rented an instrument from him because our normal music store didnt have the instrument and when the instrument broke he said it was our fault and that it wasnt covered and then bad mouthed our local music store.
6. The Music Score LLC
Address: 2315 Silas Deane Hwy, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 529-0590
Assessment: ★★★★☆
4.1/5 based on 17 evaluations.
Site web: http://www.themusicscorellc.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
Came here for some guitar strings and the employee was super awesome
Really great place to stop by and get an instrument. The prices seem a bit higher but the quality is surely within the quality you’d expect.
I bought a ukulele here and the quality and sound lived up to the price.
I bought a ukulele here and the quality and sound lived up to the price.
Quality music school with a professional and trustworthy staff.
My daughter is signed up for lessons and her teacher is great (I hear the others are as well). Just try not to deal with the guy that owns it.
Very knowledgeable and friendly.
Arrived at 10:00am (they open at 10am, but not today). I waited and they finally arrived. All I needed was guitar strings, but they had none. What a waste of time.
I tried to return my daughter’s Viola due to the school no longer providing classes. It was a total nightmare to get an answer in regards to my credit. They are very irresponsible and I am very disappointed by the lack of care towards my return which was even misplaced! Mom and dad are not helpful at all and he should really look at keeping them home, they make things worse!
7. Greenwich Music
Address: 1200 E Putnam Ave, Riverside, CT 06878 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (203) 637-1119
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.5/5 based on 35 evaluations.
Site web: http://www.greenwichmusic.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
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.
Ray in the guitar department ws incredibly helpful! spent a lot of time helping me and my son.
If you live in the area, this is the best place to go. Joe is knowledgeable, caring, and just a great person. He has helped my three children with instrument rentals, purchases, repairs, and lessons for all my years in Greenwich. His staff is wonderful and are always happy to help. Please don’t overthink this one…just go see Joe at Greenwich Music!
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.
It’s a nice place! It’s a bit small but otherwise it’s nice.
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.
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…
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.
8. JC Music
Address: 529 W Main St, Meriden, CT 06451 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (203) 630-0234
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.7/5 based on 52 evaluations.
Site web: http://www.jc-music.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
We have been looking all over for piano books and they had a fantastic collection all at reasonable prices. My daughter is playing from one of our purchases right now!
My daughter has taken piano lessons with Brian at JC music for two years. It has been a positive experience all around. We have been very impressed with Brian’s knowledge, ability and patience with teaching young children. I would highly recommend him!
Overall great service and people, I’ve had countless positive experiences whenever I had to have something repaired or modified or had to sell something with their consignment program. Very straightforward and easy. Highly would recommend to anyone!
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.
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.
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.
9. Giuliano’s Music
Address: 406 Westport Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (203) 286-8005
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.8/5 based on 17 evaluations.
Site web: https://www.giulianosmusiccenter.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
Bobby fixed a complicated BC Rich for me when other guitar repair shops scratched there heads.Hes real easy to get along with and I know from experience hes the best your gonna find.
Amazing store with an amazing selection and extremely helpful staff. very satisfied.
I went to the store to check my new guitar, which I had bought elsewhere, they were very kind and professional, explaining the problem to me and also making some adjustments to my guitar to mitigate the faults that my guitar has from the factory. Bobby and Andras are the kind of people you want to deal with if you have problems with your guitar!
I went needing a pack of guitar strings to find out that they were closed. Their hours online say 12-4 on Saturday. Their door said the same. Lights off no one answered the phone. The time I went you ask? 3:25. EDIT:I have since gone back and they have been very nice and kind. Which has let me to update my rating.
Everyone was insanely helpful from who I spoke to on the phone for customer support, to the guy that helped me out when I came to pick up the amp in store. Giuliano’s Music takes care of its customers. Will definitely be returning for anything else I need in the future.
Good service, very nice staff and management!
10. Rayburn Music
Address: 22B Andover Dr, West Hartford, CT 06110 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 953-8846
Assessment: ★★★½☆
3.7/5 based on 12 evaluations.
Business hours:
Reviews
Very helpful.
Very friendly fast and efficient service! I love shopping local
Excellent Quality of both service and instruments.
Fast and friendly service
STAY AWAY from this company! I rented a cello early 2019. We returned the cello in Aug 2019 and are still getting billed for it! I’ve called and left messages since no one picks up the phone in the Milford office where I rented and returned the instrument. No call back and monthly payments for the cello are still getting charged off my bank card. Had to file a complaint with my bank to stop payments. Terrible terrible business practice!
We rented a viola from Rayburn. The first viola wasn’t put together right (something to do with the bridge). after switching to another viola we realized the bow doesn’t quite fit with the viola.
we rented from the music store in the center and it was a great experience but pricier. though Rayburn isn’t cheap either
they will be replacing the viola once more, lets see how it goes this time…
we rented from the music store in the center and it was a great experience but pricier. though Rayburn isn’t cheap either
they will be replacing the viola once more, lets see how it goes this time…
In store service is good but can never call the Hartford Rayburn Music. Electronic voice prompts to dial 0 for an attendant but when do so it says “Your call cannot be transferred” been a customer for about 3 years. Never could get done anything over phone. Have to visit store for everything.
11. The Music Shop
Address: 405 Queen St, Southington, CT 06489 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 628-7878
Assessment: ★★★★½
4.8/5 based on 39 evaluations.
Site web: http://www.musicshopct.com/
Business hours:
Reviews
Absolutely amazing, kind, and genuine people. Was going to drop off my guitar for a repair. Did not need to drop it off, the gentleman at the counter took my guitar apart and fixed it on the spot, under charged me and would not take more money. Truly an exceptional experience. Highly recommend
Brought in a trumpet with a stick mouth piece. They were very nice and were able to remove the mouth piece quickly. Great customer service!
Why is a guy in Melbourne, Australia giving a music shop Southington, Connecticut a five star review? Well I grew up in nearby Bristol and got a number of the guitar books I still use from the Music Shop about 20 years ago. But the real reason I’m giving a high rating is for the help they’ve offered my mother. I left my Les Paul behind in Connecticut and during Melbourne’s Covid lockdown got back into guitar. I asked my mother if she could send me my LP, and, having no idea what to do, she went to the Guitar Shop. They helped her pack it up and told her exactly what to do to make sure it arrived safely, and it did! Then, a few months ago, while cleaning out my late grandmother’s basement, my mother found an old parlour guitar. She went back to the Music Shop and they gave her advice about whether it was worth fixing up and shipping. That guitar just arrived at my door today in great shape.
Thanks so much guys!
Thanks so much guys!
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.
12. Music & Arts
Address: 99 Executive Blvd S, Southington, CT 06489 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 276-5861
Assessment: ★★★★★
5/5 based on 24 evaluations.
Site web: https://stores.musicarts.com/ct/southington/music-store-8551.html
Business hours:
Reviews
The desk staff are welcoming, very nice, and patient.
My son meshes well with his piano teacher. She lets him play the kind of music he wants to play which I believe is important for helping to maintain interest and desire to play. His skill has improved greatly with her.
I was looking to buy a higher end digital piano. This was the best instrument buying experience of my 65+ years. Grant and the women working in the store were very helpful in my evaluating different keyboards. They brought in additional keyboards more than once for me to try from the warehouse. I was not rushed in making a decision. Their feedback as to tone, feel etc were spot on. Great overall experience!
Rob has been fantastic helping me with my instrument rental and purchase. He was very attentive at listening to what I was looking for and researched several options to me to select from. He was very knowledgeable and was able to provide great insight and recommendations. He went far above and beyond my expectations and made the process so easy. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending working with Rob to anyone!
I whould l8ke to buy aking or yamaha euphonium
13. Music & Arts
Address: 50 Main St, East Hartford, CT 06118 , Castell-Platja d’Aro , Connecticut , United States
Phone: (860) 568-0692
Assessment: ★★★★☆
4.1/5 based on 44 evaluations.
Site web: https://stores.musicarts.com/ct/easthartford/music-store-0089.html
Business hours:
Reviews
I went to the East Hartford Music & Arts store upon the recommendation of a music teacher. Was in need of a saxophone repair to an antique student-level model. I decided to buy a beautiful entry-level professional model saxophone. The sales person was very knowledgeable, courteous, and friendly. Quite impressed, and I absolutely love and enjoy my beautiful saxophone.
Great service and great people. Over the last few months I was looking for a new trombone, and had a lot of technical/financial stuff to look into and take care of. Speaking with four people, including the manager, they helped me find a great trombone and were super kind to me about helping me out and financing it. Go here! You won’t regret it.
Great Staff
Cool place, very expensive
Good selection and price
I had been taking lessons at this location since March 2019. One of their instructors stopped teaching in June 2019 and took the summer months off. The store called me in August to say the instructor was not returning in the Fall and my account would be closed but if I wanted to begin with a new instructor I could. To my surprise upon starting with the new instructor, my account incurred a new student fee of $30 which is out of order since I am a continuing student; I asked the store to provide a credit and they recently did so. The new student fee is inappropriate due to no fault of mine.
This store was not respectful of my time or my commitment, and I cannot recommend this business to others. As busy professional with children making the commitment to return to regular practice was a significant dedication of my time. After discussions with the staff at the store we found a time and an instructor who would work for me, and with my schedule. At my first lesson the instructor was surprised to see me (although my name was on his list) and I said “I didn’t know a new student was starting today.” and “I don’t really play Bass that much…”. After a lackluster lesson which I was willing to write off as a miscommunication, I returned a week later only to find that the instructor had scheduled over my time with a different student. The staff confirmed I was on the schedule for the day. I promptly asked for my money back, including the new student fee. The manager kindly returned it, but that was the ONLY redeeming thing about my experience. All in all, this wasted about 2 hours of my life.
I recently went to the Music & Art store and asked about my child’s school instrument payment plan. We leased the instrument two years ago; but due to COVID-caused remote schooling and summer breaks, there was little use of the instrument despite monthly charges including insurance and fees.
The store manager told me that I can pay up from lease to own, but refused to give me the payment breakdown, saying everything “in their computer”. When I asked for my contract copy, he didn’t have it. I remember the contract sent from the school was very complicated with different group plans and unfamiliar billing terms, and the store ended up filling up the paperwork over the phone for us. The contract has carbon copies and the store told us they would send us our copy but never did. Now they were telling me that they didn’t have the original copy of the contract for me either.
I decided to pay up the rest to own the clarinet. Just be aware that the receipt won’t have details of what portion is for the instrument and what is for insurance and fees, and no information about the original price and the final total payment. I ended up paying more than $200 just in insurance and fees up to now. I also found out that I had overpaid >$500 for a beginner instrument that the store billed for an intermediate model, as I compared the market price for my exact model. Since I don’t have the pricing info. nor the contract, I cannot really do anything at this point.
I have since found other online complaints against Music & Art regarding the rent-to-own school instrument plan. The lack of transparency and their practice of overcharge and under-report seem to be common experience of their customers. I feel that there is an element of complacency on the school and parents ends since the service is “for our children”, but where is the accountability?
