Piatra: Overview of the top 15 music shops

Would rate higher if it was possible. I got my first guitar here fifteen years ago and haven’t stopped coming since. The staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and always willing to go the extra mile. Best music store in the area, no question.

Awesome staff to work with! They went above and beyond to help me out with my sound system !!!

Great customers service and knowledgeable,lot of instruments and teacher available in the store.

The staff are super helpful and friendly. The store needs remodeling, very drab decor not bright or inviting.

No Gibson Acustic gutairs wanted a j45

Went into store to get music stand for table top. Metal with grippers on feet to stand music upright upon table top None available. Have knowledgeable staff and very helpful.

Employees are not interested in serving customers.

Drove 25 minutes to the store only to find out it doesn’t open until noon. Utterly rudiculous! Just close your doors for good if you’re going to have such restrictive hours!

Very, very limited assortiment of MIDI keyboards, and very unhelpful staff

We had a great experience at the music shop in Southington. We went in to buy a guitar for our son. Tyler was really helpful and answered all our questions patiently. Thank you Tyler!

Used to go to guitar center all the time till one day the worker wasn’t there, gave a chance over here and wasn’t disappointed! Gave me help on my Billie joe Armstrong replica by installing a new neck and saddles and I have to say this has to be the best set up I’ve ever played, I feel like I’m playing a custom shop on a squier! Such great help, friendly faces and now my go to for setups and help! Have a custom Strat there being worked on and I can’t tell you how tired there gonna get of me bringing in guitar after guitar to get setup in my collection one comes back to me and I give them another the same visit haha, thank you Scott, Jackson and Tyler!! Feels like a family and not business and that’s the best type!

– Michael

I’ve been taking saxophone lessons at The Music Shop for a couple of years at this point, and I can’t say enough good things about them. I’ve had a few different instructors here, all of whom have been friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. The lesson times are convenient and the pricing competitive. I often say that learning a new instrument as an adult is one of the best things I’ve done for myself, and I’m glad I chose The Music Shop for this purpose!

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.

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.

Hi Donny

Thank you turnpike music garage your the best we can always count on you got my baby girls cello for the orchestra right on time. Amazing place.

All ways the best

A little hard to find, but owner was very helpful in my search for a solid-woods Classical guitar. Looked at a very nice A/Yari. Has some nice guitars, but he is limited by space constraints. If the f-ups in Washington and the greedy sob’s on Wall St would all drop dead, this store would have a good chance of growing.

Had an excellent selection of strings. Plan on visiting again soon.

I got My sons cello at this store and the bridge was broken and the stand

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.

Great customer service. Friendly and knowledgeable. I purchased a guitar online. George promptly answered numerous e-mails and was very flexible with different methods of payment. The guitar was shipped out immediately and I received it the next day, (I live a few States away). I have to say the Guitar arrived in mint, right out of the box condition and plays like a dream. Georges music also carries higher end guitars that will not be found (if even carried) at the average Guitar Center.

Wayne S Cooper

Best place around for any of your musical needs. I have been coming here for 20 years now. Wouldn’t go anywhere else!

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

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.

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.

I love this store. Ian and Dan are very knowledgeable and made my shopping experience one to remember. I was able try many different guitars and was able to find the guitar that was right for me.

Highest quality guitars, sold by a great staff at very competitive prices!

This is the best location for spec/maintenance in Connecticut Ma and RI I have worked with these guys for years and I’m always blown away by their service and customer support.

Had a guitar cable when I needed it.

Not many mandolins

No prices listed

Thé Owners are lousy business

Nice selection of instruments and related items. Staff was very helpful and knowledgeable.

The people that worked at Guitar Center were very attentive and helped me with all of my questions and issues. One man at the front desk even helped me carry my equipment out to my car! It was a great experience;

Very good experience, first time there and impressed!!!

Got a great deal on a used guitar amp. Store is pretty empty on a weeknight, no one blasting metal so you can’t hear what you’re trying out. Staff gives you what you need then leaves you be. Good experience.

Fun to go here and play all the instruments

Nice place but not good on latest gear.

I bought a Fender Player series HSH today and the kid checking me out says: “HSH…a nifty guitar…” I know this sounds petty but I don’t give a flying f#%^ what you think of my purchase especially when I’m at the register. And this isn’t an isolated incident: at all the guitar centers in CT there’s this air of smugness and sales fatigue and offering way below wholesales when selling used. Walking into Sam Ash is such a different experience: super friendly and welcoming staff, brighter atmosphere, sales reps are awesome and happy. I love buying at Sam Ash in New Haven: Jordan shaved off the sales tax on a used amp because I am a veteran….thank you Jordan. Guitar Center is large enough to ignore their business for the next five years and still safely exist as one of America’s largest music retail stores. Next time go to Sam Ash or your local music store. They’ll probably actually talk to you and engage as a real person would.

Horrible service staff snobby

Guitar center is downhill, everything is overpriced unless you find something damaged and even then it’s an arm and a leg, repairs are costly.

Cool

Thanks to Sarah, I was able to get a mouthpiece while being 2.5 hours away from home on a gig where I left my mouthpiece pouch. Came through in the clutch for me with a shew lead piece.

Had some issues with a trombone purchased at another store and Bethel Music agreed to work on it and contacted the manufacturer because it was warranty repairs. They even called the manufacturer and arranged for the horn to be sent back and replacement sent to us at no charge. Cant go wrong with Bethel Music.

Instrument rentals are great for their prices

Just stopped by quick. Had a great hour. They are the best

Good info from employees

It’s always good to visit

Great!

Fun place

Its good. They still let you play with the drums

As musician it is like my second home!

Nice small Guitar Center.

extremely and consistently poor service. registers are empty more often than not, because for some reason every employee in the store answers the phones! in addition i’ve seen them talk badly about customers out loud at their registers (in fact they’ve talked badly about me right in front of me not knowing i was the person they were talking about)

would rate 1 star but their selection is very good. not really worth it though considering it takes at least 30 minutes to go through one register every time i go in there

Hot tip (It’s worked on two separate occasions for me and, by extension, others standing around wondering if anyone works here)- Take whatever you need be it a return, purchase, or simple human contact to the back where the live sound, keys, and other digital items live. There, hidden, is a helpful employee.

These guys just thwarted THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY!
I attempted to return/exchange a 12 pack of Fender Medium guitar picks because I use Heavy. Just an even exchange — I did not have the receipt but I figured it would be no biggie. Not at this store!!! No way, Jose! I thought I could get away with a fast one but these guys are SUPER SHARP (and they know I can only get these at about a million other places). I’m lucky to have sped away before the SWAT Team showed up.
Maybe when they go bankrupt, I’ll bid on some lots of Fender guitar picks, just for schadenfreude. (Of course, I am required to give at least one-star so I will make the worn-out statement that they don’t even deserve that.) Now, onto amazon.com!
(UPDATE: These guys can’t even get my name right! In an email, they apologized for the “typo” but they have not corrected it, which leads me to believe it was NEVER a typo to begin with! Avoid this chain and buy local!)

Great customer service! Came in for a repair a month ago and the same piece broke again and I thought all hope was lost. I came back hoping I’d just be able to get my money back and left with a fixed guitar without having to pay again! So happy!

JC Music offers wide selection of products at very reasonable prices. They also have a great lesson program. Whether your a beginner or a more advanced student the teachers can tailor your lessons to that of your needs. I have been taking voice / guitar lessons at JC Music for a little over a year and could not be more satisfied. In addition to the lesson program they also rent instruments so that you can find what best suits you with out the expense of buying an instrument outright. Or if your looking to buy or sell any used instruments you can take advantage of their consignment program. Overall it is a great place with excellent products and a variety of services that are hard to find elsewhere.

I brought in some guitars and amplifiers to sell on consignment. The staff has a high standard, is very professional, kind and polite. I’m very happy that the items I brought in have found homes.

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.

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.

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.

Buena atencion

Very helpful

helpful staff , now rentals are online only and pickup in store.

The prices are ok. The parking can be tough. The person working the desk was dismissive of my questions. Not a lot of inventory on display. They seem more about instruction.

Sales staff were not super knowledgable. We rented our son’s violin for school through them and billing was always an issue even though it was on monthly automatic payment. Glad the saga is over.

Thank you for your service n attention. Thank guys for helping me to pick the perfect gift for my wife.

WARNING! WARNING TO PARENTS!! DO NOT USE THIS SHOP FOR RENTALS! Should be ZERO stars.

We rented from here for 5 years, the first 4 went off without a hitch. This year has been an absolute nightmare. We rented two instruments, same address, same name, same payment. ONE account had no issues, the other the local store put in the wrong address (where we have never lived). Over the last 4 months I have called their headquarters, left messages, emails, etc. trying to get a paper bill MAILED so that I could pay whatever was owed. They were incapable of sending this, and every time I called in could not even find the right account or would tell me everything was fine and they did not know why I was being contacted. When asked why they could not have looked at our other rental account for the correct information they were stunned into silence. Absolute incompetency from the sales staff all the way up to the billing department supervisor who assigned our missing “account” to a collections agency and then gave us the WRONG agency. Save yourself the trouble and stay far, far away from here.

Very bad and rude customer service, hang up my phone.

Don’t rent any instrument from this place. People are very rude. Calling customer service takes forever to get someone on the phone. Unfriendly customer service, supervisors don’t want to talk to customers. Find another place to rent instruments for your children.

Great service and super helpful! Everything you need for your musical needs.

Good prices and very friendly and professional people working there. I’ll always check them when interested in buying something

I bought a new guitar at the store. I dealt with Chris who is very helpful and knowledgable. The customer service and overall experience were great.

Had a horrible experience renting with this store, they refused to help and to give me a refund even though it was their fault, and they did not processed the return properly. DO NOT RECOMMEND!

Disappointing experience with stringed instrument rental. Picked up an instrument, brought it home for child (experienced player) to try and a string immediately broke, likely wound too tight or already compromised at the store. Brought it back the very next morning and was told I needed to buy a new string and have someone else attach/retune. Poor way to treat a customer.

Found a bass that changed my life, come for the instruments, stay for the customer service.

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!

The artists who work here are very helpful and patient my partner and I will be back for sure and special thanks to the sweetie with Pink hair and the curly cutie for all your help

I whould l8ke to buy aking or yamaha euphonium

Very friendly fast and efficient service! I love shopping local

Excellent Quality of both service and instruments.

Very helpful.

Fast and friendly service

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…

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!

trying to reach the store for the past 5 months. they are not responding to email or phone call. The phone service is also disconnected now.
we are left with no response and no refund.

Love their bohemian bass (ply). I hope they drop the price a little and continue to keep the quality high – both are ever so important. Plus It’s my hope that inhouse financing can be achieved through their company. outside financing is always so expensive. Besides, they should finance what they sell.

Two years ago Upton Bass reset the neck and performed a minor tune up on my 1942 Kay bass. It has performed so well since and certainly so much better than before, and we are talking about a 75 year old plywood instrument. Imagine what they can do with a hybrid or fully carved instrument. My sincerest thanks to the Upton crew.

Brilliant craftsmanship. Passionate musicians.

I purchased a ply bass that had issues out the door. The geometries where all wrong (e.g., the neck was too thin and was not pitched to the back of the bass) and it had a buzz coming from the fingerboard and bridge setup. They were unable to resolve the buzzing sound and I took it it to a local luthier to have the problem resolved. I ended up donating the bass our school district and purchasing a Shen.
Also do not purchase bows from Upton. I purchased a $2000+ bow made by J.R. Silva, Brazil, which developed a splinter just above the frog within 6 months and Upton would not warrant the bow. I now have a $2000+ paperweight.

Update, 10/28/2023:
… as to your reply, yes, I initially thought this was a great bass until I started using it for rehearsals and the buzzing appeared. I thought it was something I was doing or even due to the new bow. I drove 4 hours one way to your location to have your staff address the buzzing issue and they shaved a high spot on the fingerboard near first position and the buzzing did not appear while I was there. When I returned home and started using the bass again for rehearsals the buzzing reappeared. I wasn’t about to drive an other 8 hours to give your staff a second chance at addressing this. Instead, I took it to a local luthier who fixed the buzzing through a combination of reshaping both the fingerboard and bridge (the bridge was set up for jazz, even though I had told your staff that I play mostly orchestral music). While working on my bass, the luthier pointed out the other issues that I mentioned in my review. I am not a luthier, so I would not have necessarily recognized these issues except that through pro-longed use I might have developed muscular issues.

It also wasn’t until your staff responded last week that they could not help me with the issues with my bow that I decided to post this. I don’t like to post negative comments, but I wanted to warn other potential customers of my experience. Your staff could not even help with how I might get in touch with Mr. Silva. If you sell someone’s product, I would think you would have some form of contact information. I spent a lot of money on this bow ($2000+) and NO I DID NOT CAUSE THIS SPLINTER TO APPEAR. I do not appreciate you implying so by your comment. Had your staff handled things differently, I would not have posted this review.

You, as an owner, could have handled this differently as well. You *could* have contacted me by phone about this, instead of responding to my review in the manner that you did, and I might have considered removing this review. You could have even contacted me directly before I posted this review, as several days had lapsed between my speaking with your staff and my posting this review. At this point, based on the content of your reply, I will not remove this review.

Went in just to look around and the guy working ended up teaching me a ton about what to look for when buying a piano and was super fun to talk to. Shoutout to whoever that was!

We stopped in right before closing while walking to a restaurant, but the guy working was still super nice and offered to stay and told us to take our time. We’ll be back again, we were impressed

Great store with really professional and knowledgeable employees.

Limited retail space, but the staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Music lessons are offered on site.

I have condensed my original rant down to the following- we really like our children’s teachers- but the front desk needs saving

Yeah it’s good!

When ever I place an order for a left handed Guitar it takes like 6 weeks for it to get to me horrible ordering process

Make sure you ask questions. I signed my son up for instrument lessons over the phone and the woman asked me if I preferred West Hartford or East Hartford. I chose the one closest to my home, on the day of the first lesson, I brought my son to the store for the lesson and they tell me its an online lesson. An ONLINE lesson? No one ever said a thing about an online lesson and why would you ask me which store Id like to go to if the lesson was online!?

Go to the one in East Hartford much better . They only want to help when you make major purchases.