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.
4. Slow Rick Drums
Address: 160 Kipling Ave, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 , Lompico , California , United States
“Your website is outstanding. It’s beautiful and easy to navigate. The entire process of choosing music, purchasing and downloading was quick and easy. I especially like that you have readily accessible recordings of the music. That is so valuable. The photography and videos of your music were wonderful.” – Merla
I’ve been playing Brillante arranged Christmas and Hymn pieces for many years now. Every time I perform one of their arrangements, I get flooded with positive feedback. One of the most common comments I get from people in regards to these arrangements are how absolutely unique they are. Even though there are thousands of other Christmas and Hymn sheet music available on the internet, the arrangements done by Brillante are really one of its kind. You can’t find anything else quite like it.
It is a challenging piece but it is really well arranged, and with lots of practice the end result is very rewarding. Thanks.
7. Hill Guitar Co
Address: 7362 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 95018 , Lompico , California , United States
Best customer service experience of my life. I got some help and instruction from the owner himself. I very much needed to learn more about working on my guitar. The owner met up with me after hours in the shop at like 10 at night. We finished all work by midnight and when all was said and done he still helped me take it home.
Great,drool worthy selection of new and classic guitars and other string instruments. Knowledgeable staff, and excellent service department.
Sylvan is more like a museum of fine guitars than a shop. They have the best collection of acoustic guitars I have ever seen. They also do amazing work. Albert Markasky is a master craftsman. If you want your guitar set up perfectly, go to Sylvan.
Don’t show up @ 6 o’clock
they had kool stuff but there was this old guy who was a dick. otherwise koolspot
Super nice and my violin looks great with jts new strings
I brought my family violin and bow to this shop. The violin was a student violin but the bow was very nice. We got the violin back but was told that the bow broke and it had been thrown away. We never got our bow back.
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.
Purchased a guitar online. They say they made a mistake and instead of owning up to their mistake they stole my guitar and refunded the money. Then they offered to sell it back to me at their original offer. This is akin to them ripping it out of my hands and throwing my money at me saying this doesn’t count as I attempt to leave the store. I don’t care about the money, this was just a donor body for a build I’m making. The real problem is that if they make a mistake it will be you that has to deal with it. I would recommend supporting a different shop with integrity.
13. The Starving Musician – Santa Cruz
Address: 1003 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Lompico , California , United States
I was surprised at the competitive pricing, I was expecting over inflated everything yet everything was reasonable and I found a guitar I was interested in that I will be going back to purchase
Helpful staff
cool thanks
Great music store in santa Cruz. The staff are usually very helpful and glad to answer questions. They have a large selection of electric, acoustic, and bass guitars. They also have ukuleles, amps, and other electrics. I think they even have drum stuff. Either way, it’s worth a visit if your in the market or need a part for your musical instrument. The prices seem pretty good.
Just visited briefly for the first time today, rating & review could change once I’ve spent more time here.
Starving musicians can’t afford this place. Some cool things on the shelf.
Used selection is not like it was in the 90’s….
Tried talking to staff and got ignored. All I wanted to do was try out one if the digital pianos. Couldn’t even do that. Wouldn’t recommend to those who are “artists ” its clear they don’t care.
Decent selection, knowledgeable folk, calm environment. However, when looking at the effects pedals, I overheard an employee trash talking (I’m censoring myself) another employee who wasn’t even there to defend himself to a customer. Personally, I won’t/don’t put up with that. If you have a problem with someone, take it to your manager, not the customers. Very unprofessional. Ended up going to Guitar Showcase instead and purchased my new player series there.
I won’t be back. I do not accept dealing with craptastic folk like that. I recommend training your employees properly rather.
14. More Music
Address: 512 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Lompico , 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.
cool relaxed shop with great customer service
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!
So very dissatisfied buyer beware
15. Drumskull Drums
Address: 105 Pioneer St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Lompico , California , United States
I stumbled onto Drumskull via the internet in a search for a good djembe. The reviews were positive, and they are based in Santa Cruz, CA, which seemed like a good sign. Their custom shells looked pretty good on their web site. I figured it was worth a gamble.
You know that lingering doubt that can surround an internet transaction? Well, do not worry. This shop is incredible and their drums are **FAN-TAS-TIC**!
The drum I received has such a perfect juicy clean and powerful sound… I’m kind of in shock when I play it. It sounds so good and it looks beautiful.
It may take a few weeks to get your new custom drum made. Be patient. It will be worth the wait.
Thank you Sahar!!!
I went to Drumskull with my husband to pick up his drum, and ended up buying one myself. I have never drummed before. The passion for refurbishing and for keeping drums “alive and being loved and played” was so central to everything I saw, heard and felt while waiting, it pulled me in. I looked around and instantly fell in love with a small drum, one of many that had been used at a school. It was already beautiful.
I got the call, my drum had been completely refurbished: the wood lovingly oiled, a new skin put on top, the perfect colored ropes affixed to it, but the fires were threatening Santa Cruz and evacuations ordered. The final act of true love – amidst all the other things that needed to be done – my drum was packed along with many others waiting for pick up and mailed safely to me rather than risking the fire ever getting to it.
She is beautiful. The workmanship so expert. And now, I will learn to play her.
Awesome work on my djembe repair, Matt. It’s refreshing to know that there are folks willing to take you through the process and explain the why’s; I learned a lot. Most importantly, I love how my Djembe turned out.
16. Guitar Shop
Address: 926 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 , Lompico , California , United States
What can I say – I recently purchased a PRS Silver Sky that played great out of the box. Nonetheless I wanted to make sure it’s setup hadn’t been affected during shipping so I brought it on up to The Guitar Shop and wow! Didn’t think it could feel or play that much better but I was wrong. The team here knows their trade. They’ve earned a customer for life and I highly suggest to anyone who wants their guitar to get the setup it deserves to look no further.
I purchased a Taylor 814ce in 2013 and always felt that it just wasn’t quite right. I took it to the Taylor certified shop in Palo Alto a couple of months ago to see what could be done and was told that there was nothing wrong. A couple of weeks ago I found Steve Crisp at his “The Guitar Shop” and after talking with him brought it in for his opinion.
He went through it and the result was that I now feel like it plays and sounds like it always should have. I feel like I have a new guitar! It plays like butter. It sounds great. I couldn’t be more pleased.
Helpful and knowledgeable staff
Professional
Nice little place, a little slow on the customer service.
Quality merchandise, was surprised how low some of the prices were.
Recommended.
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…
17. Union Grove Music
Address: 1574 Soquel Dr ste g, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 , Lompico , 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 !
I love this place. The guitar repairs are superb and nobody knows vintage instruments like these guys.
Incredibly easy to work with. Vast array of quality merchandise. Fair, honest, responsive. Richard is a true professional and knows his stuff. Handled a significant transaction flawlessly and got the guitar in my hands cross country expeditiously and at a reasonable cost. Highly recommended!
Staff is always friendly. Wish there was a little more selection.
The kids loved it!
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.
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
18. Santa Cruz Piano
Address: 315 Juanita Rd, Boulder Creek, CA 95006 , Lompico , California , United States
For reference, I am a private piano teacher with a BA in music. I play both classical and jazz piano and play multiple hours of piano every day.
I cannot recommend this store enough. I had Jeff Potter tuning my pianos for years as I rented houses and went through free pianos over many years. He became too busy and recommended his apprentice, Robin Whitehouse who is also amazing and whos passion really shows when he talks about the history of the pianos, his knowledge when tuning, and general love for his job.
When I moved out of California and finally purchased a house in Nevada I drove back to CA and visited many large piano stores. The state of the pianos I saw was pitiful. Brand new pianos that were not tuned, overpriced old pianos that needed A LOT of work.
Then I went to Santa Cruz Piano. I tell people it is like if you bought a used car from a mechanic(SCP), versus a used car lot(big piano stores). Robin took an hour out of his day to show me around and let me play all of the pianos, telling me about each one until I settled on a Yamaha C7. I loved every piano at their shop, and would have been happy with ANY of them! I cannot say the same for the stores I had visited previously, where I might be only content spending way too much.
After fixing out the financial details, I paid to have it moved from Santa Cruz to Nevada. This was maybe 6 months ago and I can still say I have not played a piano I like more.
Please, if you are piano shopping, compare the pianos at SC Piano to any “used car lot” style piano stores and I promise you will be glad you did.
Gorgeous pianos and friendly and knowledgeable owner.
Jeff was great! Super helpful… knowledgeable and pleasant. Not at all pushy.
Simply the best concert pianist I’ve ever heard. I’m excited her music site is up. I just played a download in my car on a trip down the coast. Fantastic.
20. Rory Koshlaychuk, Songwriter
Address: 9801 CA-9 Unit 5, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 , Lompico , California , United States
