Every time I have gone to Swing City, they have greeted me with a smile and ask me if they could help me. When I say I know what I’m looking for, they do the best thing a customer service employee could do: they trust me to look around by myself without them breathing down my neck. I’ve had that issue at many music stores over the years, but they respect personal space and allow me to look around as much I want.
In addition, their prices are on par with the lowest you’ll find online. In my experience, I’ve bought guitars, pedals, drum equipment, and lights from them and they always give me the correct price. No price match or anything, but everything is priced exactly how it should be.
The nicest and most considerate employees work at the Edwardsville location and I haven’t had a bad experience yet in the six years I’ve been going there.
Disclaimer: this review is for Edwardsville store. I haven’t had the same experience at the Collinsville location, but I am still giving them the benefit of the doubt before I write a review about them.
I love Swing City Edwardsville!
Very nice staff were a little unhelpful due to me having to return the next day to exchange a violin (I wanted a viola)
Very good guitar store they got good guitars i had an good experience they guitar were clean and tuned would recommend
Probably my favorite guitar shop
Two location. If they don’t have what you need here try the store in Collinsville.
Staff is nice. Small store, but if they don’t have it, they order it and get it to you within a couple days.
Was at the Edwardsville store this afternoon and one of the employees was very unhelpful and rude. Instead of helping he just told me everything was out of my price range. He doesn’t know me or how much money I had in my pocket. Will never go back!.
I use to be an avid customer. But I am growing more and more frustrated with the management. I feel like I’m going into a sleazy used car dealership most the time and I am treated like a waking wallet. I’ve bought some guitars and amps there, so I am (or was) returning customer . The employees act fake and I feel like everyone is treated like they are a child. I was going in there to look around if there was any new stock, the employee kept on hovering and was forcing me to play the instrument I didn’t want to try.
Honestly, go to mojos. This place is as unpleasant as a guitar center
2. Mojo’s Music
Address: 144 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025 , Madison County , Illinois , United States
Love my Stingray. Since I bought it, they don’t forget who I am when I come in. I also like that they have Peavey bass equipment. The sales associates have always been polite and don’t jump on you as soon as you walk in the door. They let you look first. Great store and great people.
I enjoy going to Mojo’s over any other music store. Great owners and staff with top tier customer service. Honest and knowledgeable. They personalize a sale more than any other place I have done business. They always do right by the customer.
Really nice shop. Nice selection of non standard brands (I didn’t see any Gibson’s or Fenders while I was there). Good prices and the shop has a Luther available.
Lots of inventory and they are willing to deal
Fun shop for sure! Eye candy hanging on all the surrounding walls. The shop’s main focus is guitars so it’s definitely the place to go if that’s your go to instrument. Workers are knowledgeable and always very helpful. It’s no breaking news that guitar shops tend to give off awkward, intimidating vibes (understandably so when you visit any shop with high pricetagged merch) and I do have to try and hide my feelings of squirminess while there, but I enjoy going and will continue to.
After years of taking time off from playing music, band break up really made me step away, I’ve decided to look around for a new guitar and rig, have gone to Mojo’s, have purchase three terrific instruments from them in the past 15 years, never had a bad experience, today, however, was not the same. I walked into a store deflated of its prior pulse, I was seen and ignored, walked around looking for what would be my next stage guitar. Two employees, yet no time to greet, or attempt to make a sale, to show products, I even made an attempt by asking what’s new, even then not a singular spark of interest in my affairs with them was of significance. I walked out of there for the last time, sad to see such a place become so cold and uninviting.
I went in to get my guitar repaired, the staff members sat at the counter and talked and ignored me for several minutes. Then after they finally looked at my guitar it turned out to be a very expensive repair so I decided to just buy a new guitar. One would think this would be cue to start selling a guitar, instead they ignored me some more and made me feel awkward for playing any guitar they had. So I went to swing city music right down the road and they instantly came to help and found a guitar that was right for me.
3. Trusty Chords Record Shop
Address: 1514c Troy Rd, Edwardsville, IL 62025 , Madison County , Illinois , United States
Nice selection and friendly staff that is extremely helpful and knowledgeable.. and if they don’t have it they can find it for you, that is a major plus for rarities
Talked to the owner about records skipping on our turn table. He took the time to explain why we maybe having problems. Never tried to hard sell us anything. Definitely going back once we upgrade our equipment. (It’s not the records, it’s the player)
I went here on record store day for the Taylor Swift release and was not disappointed. They had enough copies and were very prepared and organized!
Cool little record shop. Hard to find from the front of the plaza. Music was a bit too loud. Organized well and clean. Staff was friendly and recommended other artists based on my purchase. Would rate higher but employee did not wear a mask or even attempt to take any precautions.
I love music stores, and this little gem in Edwardsville is no exception. Great selection of music on vinyl, CD, shirts, posters, etc. If I had any criticism at all would be the somewhat lean offering of used vinyl. This is getting harder to find, though. The owner is also very friendly and loves to talk music and about his business. Stop in the Montclair shopping center, have a Panteras pizza and buy some records, and heck why not a new turntable also!
I stopped in just passing through town. Being a collector, I google search for record shops anywhere I’m at. There was a decent selection for a smaller shop. I thought prices were especially reasonable on used LP’s. I walked out with a few more pieces for my collection. I will definitely stop in again.
The owner is absolutely disgusting. He likes to yell at teenagers all b cause they don’t know how to use a card reader (that he should have be using to begin with not them) and then accuse them of theft after they left a bad review. This place is a joke. Don’t shop here.
Would NEVER recommend. Awful owner. Just simply unprofessional
Also- I have visited, this review is based on PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. Thank you. Your response is unnecessary.
No selection really.
4. Swing City Music Co
Address: 1811 Vandalia St, Collinsville, IL 62234 , Madison County , Illinois , United States
Good local music store. Excellent selection of guitars, basses, amps, drums etc. Staff seemed very knowledgeable on gear in stock.
This place is way better than any other shop around here. Really friendly staff as well, and killer variety of stuff.
Awesome store reasonable prices on most things. I think the store closes to Early though but that’s OK and its in my area.
It’s a really good place. Sorry, we were the ones that crashed intk the building
A good old school music store.
They hate drummers. Lost a sale because they were condescending to a young man I was with. We’ll be taking our business elsewhere.
I am in a spot where I need a bass today. I came in 10/8/22 ready to buy. After 10 minutes, a sales associate said hi from across the room. After another 12 minutes, every staff was chatting with the one other customer in the store, ignoring us. No wonder the place is empty every time I drive by. I hate going to guitar center, but places like this leave you little choice when you’re ignored and not helped at all. I couldn’t reach the bass I was going to purchase, so I’m just done waiting for the chatting giggly employees hanging in their “clicky” circle.
You are crazy if you think these people would for some reason actually try to help a guy who has in the last year has spent a great deal of money with them. I plan on telling every musician I come across to stay away. Don’t wast your time with them or there repair men. Terrible
Dan is an excellent drummer. Even though he has not given me lessons personally, our band has hired him on numerous occasions for private and public gigs. Dan has always been professional, friendly, and accommodating. He shows up to gigs on time and is prepared to play the songs on our set list. He is an excellent drummer and has what we feel, is a natural ability to pick up on the rhythm of songs. We are a band at the place at least three times a month so we have a lot of experience with various drummers. Dan has always been one of the best and one of the first we call when we need someone.
I took lessons from Mike a little over 10 years ago. I responded to an ad that mentioned he had played with Meat Beat Manifesto, The Wolfgang Press and (I think) Consolidated…all bands I loved. He would come by my apartment in the Mission. He was always on time and always prepared. The lessons went by very quickly and sometimes things were very rushed at the end when I would want him to write out what we had just done so I could practice it, but that wasn’t his fault. He really helped me take my playing to the next level.
My daughter Sophia absolutely adores her voice lessons, at TR Music and Voice Lessons! Ms. Lewis is a teacher who truly nurtures the talents of her students fostering their creativity and empowering them to express themselves
Our son had his first lesson with Caleb…he had so much fun. Caleb really catered piano lessons to Max’s personality, age, and interests. Great experience so far!
7. Fornaszewski Music Online
Address: 3009 Nameoki Rd, Granite City, IL 62040 , Madison County , Illinois , United States
Excellent one stop shop for all your guitar needs. Scored an awesome gig bag at a reasonable price as well as a decent starter Austin amp. Stan the Man was more than helpful and went above and beyond to take care of my purchases as well as answer my questions. It’s customer service attitude makes you feel at home. A very under appreciated local music establishment that makes you want to come back the next time around which I will be doing.
I love these guys they will get you anything you need ….unbelivable customer service!
Excellent people who above and beyond to help and answer all questions.
8. Omega Music
Address: 1371 Niedringhaus Ave, Granite City, IL 62040 , Madison County , Illinois , United States
Although my son was unable to take piano lessons yet, the staff was very friendly and helpful about answering my questions. He gave me great recommendation and in due time I plan on going back.
I love this store. A great family owned business. They will treat you great, and the in stock schecter guitars are some the best you can play!
Great music shop and staff !
Great place to get your instruments to have layaway and they have plenty of musical things going on
Staff is friendly and ready to help!
Great people. Great merch. Fair prices.
9. Mark’s Music
Address: 209 Sturbridge Blvd, Glen Carbon, IL 62034 , Madison County , Illinois , United States
