They are the best in town… Price on products and labor are excellent. they do mobile installs and tuning. See ben he knows his stuff. He is my go to at that store. ask for him!!! Ben. Please stop by and check them out. i will say you won’t be dissatisfied!!!! Ben installed all of this and more. all i did is call up the store and he planned the soonest he could. great!!!!
Benji is so helpful when it come to what I needed for my radio. He wasn’t going to stop until he made sure everything was done right. Definitely recommend him and this place for any car audio work and accessories..
Benji installed a slim profile sub under my driver’s seat today and I couldn’t be happier. Benji really took the time and was meticulous with the wiring so my car looks just as good as it did before he started.
Not there..out of business?
2. Carlton Music Center
Address: 1902 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33803 , Fussels Corner , Florida , United States
Solid mom and pop music store. Good inventory and helpful staff.
Awesome place
Love the staff here, always helpful and decent prices and a large variety of instruments. It’s our family’s one stop shop!
Friendly and reasonable prices. Of course my child tells me last minute I need an instrument and I went there and was out the door in 16 minutes with it in hand.
Carlton’s has a great staff.
Excellent staff
Went in there to buy a drum head because Guitar Center wasn’t open yet or I’d certainly have went there instead. EVERYTIME I’m in this store I get watched and questioned like I’m going to steal something. It’s a very uncomfortable environment. No other customer was in there yet, and as soon as I walk in, they’re all stopping what they’re doing and looking at me asking if I needed help, and I said “I’m just getting a drum head…thank you.”, and I wasn’t looking for 2 minutes, and heard another employee say “everything okay over there?”….YES GEEZ!!!! Can someone take a few minutes and decide what product they want!? Just because you’re looking doesn’t mean you’re plotting a GD theft! It’s a $20 drum head! Gimme a friggin’ break! And ya know…much to their surprise…I PAID FOR IT! Guitar Center sucks too, but at least they give you freedom to comfortably browse at inventory without being asked what you’re doing. There’s no excuse for that behavior. Innocent until proven guilty….not in that place, it’s guilty until they see otherwise. From now on, I’ll wait for Guitar Center to open. I won’t spend another dime in Carlton until they get the FBI…I mean, their employees under control…
Their sales associates have the worst customer service I’ve ever seen.
Upon entering, a bald head older male with glasses shot up to ask if I needed help (never mentioned his name). I asked about an instrument since he was the first one up. The guy was short with answers and giving a vibe that he did not want to attend me, throwing a book down back and forth. I watched another gentlemen’s with longer hair pull the same book out and explain in detail with people very nicely. I informed that guy, we were new to this experience and were recommended there by a local music teacher. The guy kept leaving me to go assist other customers, get on his phone to verify our information, stopping to call someone to ask for help and told me if I don’t provide a reference he will charge me a $200 deposit. I was forced to call a reference and put someone down on paper I did not want to. Then the guy left me to decide…
After being alone for a while, another gentlemen came to help & was a great. I explained the situation and how I was feeling. He apologized for the other guy and stated, “I’m sorry for him, that’s just his personality”. I stated to the new guy, he should know if he doesn’t want to fully assist a person and immediately ask another associate to help. He agreed. When the new guy asked the old guy if he already verified my information, he lied and told him no. That’s when I got upset and asked, why he lie like that?
Being a single small business owner for 20 years, a husband, father and grandfather I understand protocol/business. I felt discriminated by this guy & his demeanor, skepticism and unfair treatment which is a huge concern for me. We rented the D grade instrument and left …
After discussing with my wife, we found an A grade instrument and a trumpet and paid cash for them and drove 4 hours to go pick it up. Monday was Labor Day so we didn’t visit the store to return the instrument. I visited the location today to return the saxophone because my wife and I made a decision not to do business with people like RP… RP is the bald guys name I learned today…
Today, I was returning the instrument. Matt was the gentleman that was helping me today. In speaking with Matt, the bald head guy “RP” took it upon himself to continually and rudely interject into the conversation. Stating he needs to call the corporate office to verify return policy. As I was asking Matt questions for clarity, RP took it upon hisself to keep answering for Matt and give me a card when I can return the instrument. I asked RP to excuse hisself from our conversation and allow me to deal with Matt. He rudely stated, go ahead and finish with him and I will write the notes on his file.
As a State Official for 6 years, this gives me the indication that RP wants to attempt control the narrative with our story now and I’m on the defensive side of this situation. Even after being asked not to interject with my conversations, RP doesn’t seem to understand how I’m feeling at this point…
So, from RP calling corporate, I now know there is one & find myself calling the corporate office and spoke with Glen. Glen is working to make things right and once again, on another business day, apologized for the RP’s behavior!
For the guys that are picking up the scraps for RP, I’m giving a 2 Star Rating.
RP needs training on empathy, customers service & how to discern when NOT to service a customer AKA stay out of it! I hope he takes the courses to become better at what he does someday. We forgive you buddy, we just won’t ever do business with you!
Excellent customer service, very friendly and informative. Answered all our questions and sent us on our way with everything we needed for my sons school instrument.
Great music store! We were visiting from out of state and I needed some new strings for my guitar so we stopped in. They had a huge selection and exactly the ones I needed. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This place rocks!
This is the Only place to bring your busted electronics
I gave them 4 stars because there stuff is a bit overpriced. The staff is amazing and very helpful. Would highly recommend.
Parking stinks
Girlfriend brought in flutes to (possibly) sell. Each of them were bought for over $1000 and one was $2200 and a guy said he’d give her $150 for all 3. Didn’t think that was cool, considering they were all in good condition. Regardless, the store itself was cool.
Guy at the front counter was attempting to flirt with my girlfriend and told her was a virgin? She was creeped out, honestly i wasn’t that mad i almost felt sorry for him for how pathetic he was coming off. Prices are also high regardless, try to higher some staff with some sort of social ability.
My ex wife rented my sons french horn from here they were helpful. Then the ex quit paying on it. After trying to take over the account they sent a collectir to my sons school to harrass him then stalked my home till he came home and harrassed him while he was alone till he gave it back. Then i call to find out why any good business would talk and harrass children without an adult present they got rude with me told me i should apologize to them for being behind on account thats not mine after i offered to the manager gary to take on the debt. They claimed an adult was present however i have the video of the person talking to my son. Not good business people. Lost a potential customer ove a french horn they claim was worth thousands i have pictures of the beat up thing and i had to have it serviced by a reputable music company. I dont recomend people who would threaten and scare children. If you chose to do business here i would run checks on the people i would let around kids. Its really sad they came highly recommended.
Don’t waste your time! Shop at Guitar Center, better service, better prices, and better warranty’s.
7. Jimmy’s Vintage Music
Address: 108 Main St, Auburndale, FL 33823 , Fussels Corner , Florida , United States
If you are into vintage guitars & amps you will love this place. Looks like the owner runs it by himself so you may have to wait to get served. There was a windbag customer there when I walked in so I had plenty of time to browse. The windbag dropped a few thousand bucks so I can’t fault the owner.
Prices could be a little better but staff is always helpful and knowledgeable
Pretty neat shop, some of the stuff is dusty but in good conditions.
Worst service than Guitar Center
Im never buying from this store ever again. I bought a Tele and when I took the tele to my guitar tech for a setup he found out some frets were not even with the rest. I told Jimmy that I wanted to change the tele for another one in his store that was the same price. He tells me that he takes the guitar back but I needed to give him $100. I tell him that Im not selling the guitar back to him for a trade.. Im returning the guitar and I was gonna get another guitar that was at the same price. He then started to ask me about my guitar tech.. assuming my guitar tech was the one that damaged the guitar. I ended up paying to get the guitar fixed. Very unprofessional and it speaks volumes when an owner of a store is willing to loose a client over $100. Never coming back.
I felt like I was bothering the owner because I was interested in guitars under $500……..
My son had the bridge on his violin fixed here. Great service. Very accommodating. I rent a violin and it’s half way paid off but I would have purchased one here at a fraction of the cost had I realized how much I’d save.
Family music stores are the best!
The only music store that had quality affordable tuning machines for my acoustic guitar! Great job
Loved it….
12. UBM Studios
Address: 1329 N Combee Rd, Lakeland, FL 33801 , Fussels Corner , Florida , United States
Nice store. Great service great selection. Priced right
Great place to buy!
We had a blast and the staff let us play and even joined in. We did karaoke and laughed so much! It was a great time!!!!
Just go to the Tampa store. Much more accommodating and Gavin doesn’t work there.
I love going in and looking at the acoustic guitars and testing them out however most are wherever in tune. Thankfully I know how to do that.
Didn’t go for me. Store was clean and nicely set up
I am kinda torn. I have had a couple of stale experiences at this location, 1 experience that was neutral and bland, and 1 pretty decent shopping experience here. All in all they get 2 stars for an inconsistent pleasurable shopping experience. I believe if they enthuse their entire staff ( not just the super friendly guy at the front register) to be more proactive in welcoming and helping their shoppers, this 2 star will turn into a 4 or 5 star.
Came in today on 5/31 and was looking around as well as buying some things we needed. As we were in the guitar area our daughter found a pink guitar that she had wanted and fell in love with and carried it around with her the entire hour or more we were there. After getting the other stuff we needed we headed to check out and when we gave them the guitar she wanted they said it was not able to be a sold until June 28th because it was an intake as a PAWN… because the associate said they just bought it on a pawn.. it was 25.00, and he clearly stated they were a “pawn shop” WOW. If it was up for PAWN.. they shouldn’t have had it on the floor to begin with. You are a store who sells guitars.. not a pawn shop so we thought. Not to mention we asked for help with other things in store and were completely ignored. Will not be returning, and I hope another little girls heart doesn’t get broke over 25.00.
Go to Carlton Music Center at 1902 Harden Blvd.
16. TR Music & Voice Lessons
Address: 4180 Cobblestone Dr, Lakeland, FL 33813 , Fussels Corner , Florida , United States
when I asked him to provide more structure and incorporated music theory into our lessons. I have found his in class videos to be especially helpful when practicing at home. Through the lessons and practice, I feel that my guitar playing has improved substantially.
I hadn’t been to TR Music & Voice Lessons in ages and ages, but since I’ve started taking flute lessons I’ve needed a few things so trekked on over. I’ve been there twice in a month. Customer service is outstanding from in-person interactions to telephone calls.
My guitar playing has changed dramatically thanks to the music instructor I found through this company. They always make the lessons fun and interesting, are patient, and knowledgeable.
17. Papos Alarm & Sound
Address: 4824 US-92, Lakeland, FL 33801 , Fussels Corner , Florida , United States
Had my car tinted last month the service and attention was great, the staff very friendly shop is clean great prices recommend 100% thank you guys
Very nice people
PAPI LOS MAS DURO MONTANDO EQUIPO DE MUSICA GRACIAS A TODOS… HOY LE MONTARON A MI HONDA CIVIC SI 2015 4 BOCINAS 6.5 MARCA TIMPANO Y UNA 8 PULGADA REMPLASANDO LA SUDWOOFER 8 PULGADA Y UNO TWUITER PIONEERS Y UNA PODEROSA PLANTA STETSOM 3000 WATTS PONIENDOLAS A SONAR VIEN DURO EL EQUIPO SE OYE VIEN FINO ASI QUE LOS RECOMIENDO A LOS DURO PAPO FRANKIE Y LOS MUCHACHOS..SI QUIEREN UN EQUIPO DE MUSICA QUE SE ESCUCHE VIEN FINO VALLAN A PAPO ALARMA EN LAKELAND NO SE ARREPENTIRAN.
Nice people, lots of choices
Good place but short of staff !!
Papo the owner is a awesome human been and what can I say about he’s crew they are beautiful guy’s always willing to go the extra mile for the customer
I wouldn’t recommend this place. So expensive and no guarantee, at least in installations. Drivers blowing out every time and they didn’t fix it or replace in guarantee.
Bol i took my car back twice i spent a lot of money and my car still not right one of there guys stole some of my things all kind of engine noise they are a joke especially Danny
Cut my brand new seat without my knowledge, hooked up an amp that pushes to much power and started the subs in my trunk of fire and has a live wire by my gas tank and on my battery.
18. TR Music & Voice Lessons
Address: 5115 N Socrum Loop Rd #324, Lakeland, FL 33809 , Fussels Corner , Florida , United States
During the 4 years I took lessons from Melissa I learned so much. The first time I met her I recognized that she was very talented and that her rates were very fair considering how accomplished she is. Through her lessons I was able to expand my vocal range well over high C as well as to support my low notes since that is harder for my voice type.
If you’re in search of a vocal guru, look no further. This instructor’s guidance has transformed my singing. Their techniques, knowledge, and unwavering support have made all the difference.
Fantastic specialty store that’s tucked inside of a laser repair shop. Some of the coolest gear is nestled inside all sort of expensive technical laser equipment. It’s the exact opposite of big chain guitar stores. Very simple and to the point. The best part is the guys who own/operate the place are bassists, not salespeople. They are interested in the bass and the people who play it. Never have I felt so satisfied or listened to inside of a “instrument store”. I’m extremely glad I purchased a dealer exclusive Warwick from them. Truly a gem that has earned my future business.
A professional and excellent guitar player, my teacher works around what type of music you like, your weaknesses, and finds the best way for you to learn. He is also very patient, and knowledgable in all types of guitar music.
The violin lessons my son receives here are of the highest caliber. The instructor’s methodical yet entertaining instruction inspires the student to practice the violin and advance.
If you want a current well-rounded education about the industry and some Amazing mentors and opportunities, this is definitely the place to come to.
I have my two boys (6 and 8) enrolled currently in the Rock 101 tract at School of Rock. I can’t say enough about what a great time they are having. Their teachers Mario and Will are so great with motivating them and keeping them interested in the instrument.
Just a great experience. Quality. Fits my personality in that so much to learn but not competitive. No gimmicks or hype. Owners personally respond to questions. Great fit for my needs and just fun in the final analysis
