My son’s love coming here. The staff knows what the kids are into and find what they need and more every time .
Todo lo que ocupaba para mis hijos en música
The go to. Spot for quality musical instruments
Love this place! Staff and stock was really low though. Great deals, loved the savings on the new gear . Wow was it a wait though, waited 30 minutes for help (after asking for assistance) and even then the poor cashier was having to multitask helping other customers at the same time. He handled it fairly well however, props to the frontline staff .
Clerks we’re not very friendly nor helpful.
Good luck getting someone to help you. I’m a frequent customer and have been since I was teenager, however now I try to avoid this location as much as possible which sucks seeing how it’s right down the street. Literally every time I’ve been in I have spent most of my time waiting on an employee. One time a employee went in the back to look for something that wasn’t on the sales floor, 45 minutes passed! And I waited since I was in need of the item, finally I ask another employee on the status of finding the item, come to find out the employee went on lunch all while I sat like an idiot waiting for him. And today I waited 30 minutes for a return and watched the employee help 3 other people while attempting to do my return, best part… they couldn’t do the return at their location for some reason so I’m writing this review on my way out to Mesa. Get you’re priorities straight guitar center
Overprices
3. Firepower Music
Address: 3400 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
Great guy! I traded some pedals and even played guitar with him.
Click subscribe to his youtube channel “zimm’s guitar”
Mid range shop, good deals on used gear. 5 stars for his YT channel.
Excellent small guitar shop one of the best on town
Nice guy. Mostly cheapo brands. Lots of pedals. Guys deals in used gear. I have found a few cool items there. But you need to stop in every week or two as inventory changes.
Great guitar shop, probably why Phoenix keeps rating it so high. The owner is informative and, if not busy, will happily converse. Plus, you have a shot at meeting interesting customers there, or at least I do. Nice selection of gear, new and used at fair market prices, which is why I go. I pass 3 other shops to get there and would drive twice that distance if needed.
Heard good things about them, but don’t advertise that you are open hours that you are not open, maybe I’ll change my rating for it when I go in there and they’re actually open when they say they are
Showed up right after 5:30pm and they were closed. Hours say open until 6pm.
5. The Music Store
Address: 2630 W Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
Brandon in repairs was very personable and down to earth.
He Fixed My P.O.S. Guitar.He Did a Great Job. Fast & Efficient.
I Didn’t Have to Give An Arm or a Leg to Pay For it. Very Reasonable.
I Still Want The Blue Ibanez Hanging on The Wall!. L☺L
Always have pleasant experience with this place. Whenever I call to check on specific music books availability which my child’s teacher needed us to pick up for the lessons, staffs here always response politely and hold it for us to pick up. When we pick up at the store, it’s always efficient during check out. We never encounter any issues.
Fui una vez a ver las guitars
Great verify of sheet music and ukuleles and an awesome luthier.
The instruments we have rental have been pretty worn but still work well and it is an OK deal for the price. Customer service is helpful and friendly. We have been pleased with our violin rental over this past year and will continue renting here into the next school year.
Absolutely the worst service I’ve ever had, 3 people working and not one of them tried to help me whatsoever and 2 of them didn’t even acknowledge I was in the store! Very poor service
They have nothing for the drummer! Maybe some sheet music? But nothing more!
DO NOT shop here, the employees are rude, the owner is rude, their selection sucks, not even half of what they had even a year ago. Quality has gone way down hill. It won’t be long till they’re gone.
6. Acoustic Vibes Music
Address: 2070 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
Great experience! I bought a very high end guitar at a fair price. They set it up and shipped it the same day. Great place to do business.
I will use them again
This has the best collection of quality guitars around. Friendly vibe too.
My first experience at Acoustic Vibes and I see why it was so highly referred! Amazing staff and amazing guitars. Could not be happier with my experience 🙂
Best acoustic guitar selection I’ve seen
Best music store in the area to peruse some of the best acoustic instruments by selected boutique and mainstream builders. The stock is priced between $3 and $10k but the reward for spending more is finding the equivalent of a Steinway (beautiful tone, resonance and playability) in a steel or nylon string guitar. Cheaper instruments are available, but comparing them to the better ones is motivation to indulge yourself or reward yourself for hard work in getting better. Better sound makes you play at a higher level. Check this small store out!
Nice acoustic design,
all acoustic guitars top shelf brands.
Good selection, but weird atmosphere and left me feeling unwelcome. One might think such a ‘high’ tier guitar store would offer a ‘high’ tier experience, but that wasn’t the case for me. When I first entered the building I was met by a few older customers and employees and got nothing but a sour face by everyone just by opening the door, no greeting, nothing- super awkward, everybody literally stopped talking to look at me with an irritated look, as if I had interrupted something. I then had to excuse myself past the small gathering of what looked like employees talking to customers that wouldn’t move just to get to the first guitar room. I then was greeted by a salesman who instead of letting me tell him what I’m looking for, proceeds to go into a shpeel on all the different Martin models, basically making me interrupt him to tell what I’m looking for. The salesman also told me HD28s don’t come with dot inlays yet here I am looking at older models with them all over the internet. There was nobody else browsing the store in the guitar sections. I was then told I could play guitars, but the adjacent rooms are used for things like Banjo, which made it so I couldn’t even hear the guitars I was trying to play because somebody was in there clawing away. I really don’t think I’ll be visiting again, regardless of the selection. I’ll spend thousands of dollars somewhere else that takes every customer seriously. I went to Milano music right after and was treated respectfully and seriously without hesitation, and I didn’t need to schedule a high-pressure sales pitch and waste an hour of my time.
Very unfortunate visit, coming in to try out and buy a steel string guitar. We were greeted with passive aggressiveness and a magazine thrown across the main entrance before entering the guitar room from the shop keeper, young guy. incredibly rude and 0 customer service.
Made the whole stay unpleasant.
Monday 11:10am
7. Zia Records (Mill Ave – Tempe)
Address: 3201 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
This is the spot for .50 cent books and comics and used electronics plus games for super cheap.
GREAT CUSTOMER SEVICE… THEY DIDN’T HAVE A CD BUT HELPED ME WITH ORDERING IT
The staff were nice and helpful
Always courteous staff that are very helpful and knowledgeable. A lot of variety of things In the store . If it’s not in the store , it can be ordered in with no problem.
Very cool spot. Like going back in time. Vinyls, cassettes, CDs. A lot of cool merchandise, too.
Great place to ger vinyl.
Kind of a cluttered mess.
Wasted a trip due to the staff not being knowledgeable. It made for a wonderful two hour round trip. Thanks…
In an age where the easiest route for purchasing something is to go to Amazon — the consumer has to make a concerted effort to pause and shop at a brick-and-mortar. Zia Records is the most annoying place to shop in the Phoenix area.
This place just aggravates me. It makes shopping at Kohl’s seem peaceful.
Sales here are never really sales –
there is nothing like seeing signs posted which say 20% off books …. and then finding out at the register that you can take this sale discount on only one of your books.
I find this place irritating — and I’ll actively choose to shop elsewhere for pop culture things.
8. Jeff’s Local Guitar & Instrument Repair
Address: 943 E Guadalupe Rd, Tempe, AZ 85283 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
I took my 50’s Gibson J50 with a few issues into Jeff’s shop and he made it like a new instrument. Everything about the experience was positive: price, repair, quick response. I couldn’t be happier with the result.
Jeff knocked it outta the park. Knowledgeable, friendly, and communicated everything that needed to be done with the set up! Would highly recommend him to anyone. Thanks again Jeff. You made my son’s birthday!
Great job on repairing my guitar!!
Absolutely disappointed in the work that was done with my instrument. An absolute hack job. Frets aren’t leveled, polished, crown or seated correctly. There’s glue all over my fretboard. The fret ends are sharp, not flush or even beveled. My neck pickup wasn’t removed when leveling the board and there’s marring on my pickup ring and pickup. I asked for a bone nut and got a molded plastic nut. He charged me for pulling studs, but the originals are still in the guitar. He quoted me 2 weeks, but took 5 1/2 weeks. When I tried to get my instrument, he kept giving excuses that he had something come up, or he had to leave town. Originally quoted me $300, but charged me $425, total. I do not understand how a luthier could let an instrument leave his door like that. I’m beyond dumbfounded at his professionalism.
9. Melody Music Studios (Music Lessons In-Home or Studio)
So much amazing clothing and comic book related merchandise
Hay de todo
The employees are very friendly and eager to help with anything when asked. The store is nice and neat with everything in placed order in sections of the store.
Good customer service
It’s been nearly 20 years since I visited and I gotta say I’m sad to see the majority of music and movies vanish only to be replaced with pop culture Asian things. I’m not gunna lie, I love the merchandise…but I miss what they once had.
cool stuff! More than in other FYEs
Basically a higher end dollar store
Got there I was excited for the kpop section. Since I like kpop. They barely had any kpop albums. Like a few or they haven’t stocked. But ended up getting a Kinho of Monsta X. Happy about that but I wished they stocked up so I could’ve brought more.
I bought my daughter a $25 BTS shirt from here and it was too small. Took it back to return it and was told that I couldn’t return it without giving up my email and physical address to build a profile. Ended up keeping the shirt and I will never return and will warn people about that to avoid this place. To make it worse we were just looking for store credit so my daughter could by more from them.
IMO Greatest folk group of the ’50’s & ’60’s, best 3 part harmony ever heard asuded from Crosby, Stills & Nash I ever heard, great musicians, Gaurd Stewart renditions unmatchable IMO. Folk singer myself same era and everything I musically and instrumentalley I attribute to the Kingston Trio…love ’em then and now!
My group Windsor Creek Trio ’67
12. Ghost of Eastside Records
Address: 45 W Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
This place is what every beat maker wants to see. I spend at least one hour digging through the 1 dollar trays. I should point out if you buy the 1 dollar trays you will need to clean them up since they might be dusty. All in all, there are a lot (I mean everywhere) vinyl records to chose from. Prices are super fair and you are supporting a local business. If you buy bulk they will give you a small discount.
If you are a music producer this place is the way to go to get your hands and clothes dirty 🙂
This store is not for everyone and that is fine by me. It has a musty funky smell and isle are overflowing with bins. But the selection and prices where some of the best in Arizona. It is worth the dig and owners were knowledgable and fair with hard to find options.
Great place to find stuff that you forgot about.
Countless old albums, stereo’s, speakers, and even cassettes and DVD’s, etc. They even have vintage clothes, posters, and comic books! One should expect to spend several hours just looking to see what things they have.
Decent vinyl collection but the shop was way too cluttered and dirty.
Little old disorganized place with a huge selection and chill vibe.
Not easy to find or access, although ample parking. Highly recommended…. But not by me.
This place had a great selection and the prices were good. I just found the store unorganized with a lot of junk lying around. It could also use a little cleaning.
This place has super potential. Its a collective with variable merchants and lots of super great records. Pricing seems fair by all…for the most part…. Why i gave it a 2….the place is disgusting. Multiple food bowls of variable stages laying around the floor, it stinks and can take a while to navigate around. Last time i was there i literally tripped over a random dog water bowl and spilled it everywhere. Thats what made me look around and find all the answers as to why this place smells so bad. At least with covid, you should be wearing a mask and that will help in your hunt
13. Music & Arts
Address: 2663 W Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
My daughter just started school orchestra this week. On Saturday we went to the other well known rental shop on Main Street because that’s what we’ve always done since I was a kid. Got a violin and that was that. Well then Tuesday rolls around and another kid at the bus stop has a violin from Arizona Fine Violins. The case is what caught my attention. A professional, rectangle case with room for accessories and a thin book or two on the outside.
Today I went to Arizona Fine Violins, got a violin in like new condition (10x better than the other one we rented from the other place) I paid up front for the whole school year and it came out to be way less per month than the other violin that we will be returning.
Veronica was very sweet and helpful, I was in and out in less than 20 minutes. My daughter has a far superior, better looking instrument and a functional case to learn with. I am now telling all the other parents at school to go to Arizona Fine Violins. We will for sure be back.
Absolutely amazing service for my 9 year daughter. Highly highly recommend!!!
Loved this place! Steve was so awesome and he spent time explaining how to properly care for my daughter’s viola! I am happy we decided to rent her viola from Arizona fine violins.
I rented a cello for my daughter the 2017/2018 school year my experience with this company was very easy stress-free affordable and they were always available for any questions I might have had at one point I actually had a hard my daughter’s cello repaired and I paid nothing out of pocket because when you a instruments it includes the warranty if you’re looking into renting an instrument for your child I would definitely recommend Arizona fine violin
Horrible place… Go across the street, they rent junk 100 dollar violins. If gonna do that buy one off Amazon. Like I said go across the street, they are honest, Unlike this place.
Returned a Viola 1 day late and was charged for the entire month. Pathetic that they are willing to lose a customer for 1 months rental fee. Good business ethics are priceless. Unfortunately this place is trying to squeeze every nickel. Do yourself a favor and go to a place recommended by a friend.
They keep trying to charge me every month for a guitar I never received. I filed multiple disputes with my credit card and won. Still they keep trying to charge me. Their customer service is unreachable yet they keep sending notices, asking me to pay for something they didn’t deliver. Fraudulent business.
I’m leaving this review with the hope that someone would reach out from customer service or management.
14. Milano Music
Address: 38 W Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
My only place to go to for anything guitar, bass, ukulele and equipment. AWESOME staff John & Fred.
Great customer experience.
Such excellent service. It’s a wonderful place to go if you enjoy music at all. So many things that nowhere else local really sells anymore. 100x better than online, especially the uncaring, full of junk and scams Amazon. Here you get people that care, and you can enjoy with all 5 senses the awesomeness of a great music store. 🙂
It was okay. I’m sure for most people, you’ll find what you are looking for.
Easy parking in the back. This store has everything a musician could ever want or need.
Affordable prices for guitar beginners.
They have charged my card for my brothers Instrument twice even after I told them to take my card info off the account. Obviously they lied about doing so because they just today charged me again. They can’t keep their files in order and because of them my bank account is all screwed up.
Just got back from Milano, had mistakenly picked up parts for tenor sax instead of alto sax on 3 pieces out of over a 200.00 order. Instead of allowing me to trade those two out (I was buying several other pieces of music on top of that) the front desk person said no “how could we stay in business if we did that?”. HORRIBLE customer service. BTW when I was there last week for the first time the gal rang up my 200.00+ order THEN told me about a discount program. No I couldn’t use it on the stuff I just bought, but it was a 20% discount. Since I buy a LOT of music for myself, family, and my students I paid the 20.00 (?) anyway, only to be told that they don’t keep your information online for the discount or instore. Instead they hand you a shirt. You must bring that shirt in every time or you don’t get the discount. The store is obviously designed to make the most money while giving the least amount in return. I’ll go back if I really need something quick and no place else has it, but not unless I have to. My son will need a new sax next fall as he goes into HS, think I will go to Milano? Not likely…..
Walked in yesterday carrying my daughter’s violin in the case. Her music teacher referred us to Milano to repair/replace the fine tuners. The first question I was asked from this young lady at the front is whether or not I bought it from Amazon. I told her I did. She said they can’t work on these because the parts they use are not compatible with the violin’s sold on Amazon. She continued by saying that these violins on amazon use whatever scrap parts they find to build these violins. Now this conversation took place without her even looking at the case I was carrying let alone the violin inside. Sure there are $60 violins on Amazon. But there are also $2000+ violins on there too. Hec, a good sales person would have at least attempted to help, maybe even have me consider buying something from there. But I was completely turned off by the snobby attitude.
15. Redbox
Address: 1519 W Baseline Rd, Guadalupe, AZ 85283 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
They did a great job getting my Strat up and running after it sat for so long. They have worked on all of my guitars and they all are still working as great as the day they left the shop. Very professional and quick turnaround on setups and repairs .
Bruce did an amazing job fixing up a beat up bass guitar my son was using. I was really happy to find someone with such a high level of skill and attention to detail – and reasonably priced! I would definitely recommend Brindley’s.
Bruce is the best! He’s worked on multiple guitars for me and his quality is top notch. Careful, trustworthy work on vintage instruments. He’s my guitar guy!
Fix it for the most part. Still feels as if the instrument is leaking from somewhere on the lower register. Still hard to push low notes without struggle.
Good music store for those looking for something specific…not much to look at for those who want to look around or window shop (especially for drum equip). Other than that, it’s a good local music shop. They used to make their own brand of drumsticks, which were GREAT, but last time I went they said they no longer make them. Bummer!
It was very awesome service but milanos was cheaper books were 8.00 and care kits were10.00 and at brindleys it was almost 16.00 and for book it was 10
Sold my 6 month old Guild OM240 cuz I was struggling financially. I paid $425 for it at Bizarre Guitar. Owner tells me there’s major work needing to be done cuz wood was dry and neck was tweaked. He said he’d hafta put in humidifier for couple weeks and he MIGHT be able to repair. He offered me $150. I had to plead with him to give me $160…The very next day he listed it on Offer up for $375. Call it smart business. Call it shrewdness.
I call it dishonesty. Only Guild I could ever afford and I’m humiliated. Regret going here.
Beware DO NOT RENT from them. They lied about insurance. They RENT beat up instruments then make you pay to fix them. Was told it would be $20 per repair then at register charged $25 per repair. Will never go back. Take my advise and take your business elsewhere
Terrible. The service is great but. 13 dollars for 1. 1 Bari sax size 3 Reed is way to expensive. I could get 5 for 30 on Amazon. That’s a amazing price. The sax repairs are way to expensive. 100 for a check up. When you Could go down the street to superstition mountain music and get everyone about 50% cheaper.
18. DreamHed Records
Address: 3116 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85283 , Guadalupe , Arizona , United States
Absolutely wonderful staff and music teachers for lessons. We had piano lessons there for several years. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Awesome and friendly staff , go see the best music store in the area !!!!!!!!
Mike and his staff are the best
Absolutely love this location! Mike and crew r very knowledgeable and friendly!! Thank u for helping Jayme get into her violin just before school starts!!
It’s a good shop with kind staff and great teachers. But it’s missing some TLC. Cello bow options are limited and there’s this huge tent inside that is just in the way
Definitely not as friendly or helpful as the Power location.
This place is a great place. They are helping navigate being the mom of an orchestra student and it’s a task! They are so nice about helping me figure out what book I need to get him and what size chin rest he needs. They’re super nice.
Hi owner don’t reply to this also
11 5 star ratings and
Sour experience with customer service
We came in to buy a guitar, and was referred by a different location for more inventory selection. We were the only folks in the store with 1 employee. Although both of us were wearing masks, the employee corrected my mask positioning not once, not twice, but three times in a 10 minute period…. Small face problems and I guess a nostril was showing? Anyway not feeling very welcomed at that point or like they wanted our business, so we left to spend our money elsewhere.
