Plainfield Village: Overview of the top 13 music shops

Ian is excellent and the rest of the crew are excellent as well.
They are very knowledgeable about every instrument in the shop. Very customer friendly and will go the extra mile to make sure you are happy with your purchase.

Had one of the best shopping experiences I’ve ever had. Knowledgeable. Passionate about music. Really took the time to show me the nuances of the guitars for sale. Can’t say enough positive. A++++++++++

I had one of the most positive guitar store experiences anywhere at Acoustic Music.

I called ahead specifying the guitars I was interested in checking out, arrived with them all ready to go in a dedicated room to play them in. No straining to hear the guitar over other players, no need to feel self-conscious, nobody hovering over me. Huge thanks to Ian for being super helpful, friendly and making it a great experience!

Had a guitar cable when I needed it.

Not many mandolins

No prices listed

Thé Owners are lousy business

Great place to learn how to play, excellent repair shop, and good prices on gear. Can’t ask for a better independently owned music shop.

I’ve been a patron of the Middlesex Music Academy for over a decade. This is the place. THIS, is the place. If you’re looking for a tutor, repair or an expert opinion/guidance about music, THIS, is the place. You are not going to get the same care or interaction elsewhere; THIS, is the place.

For instances, their “repair guy” Joe Stereo, is the best. I have trusted him with my most beloved gear and he has treated my gear as if it were his own. He is aces. He’s always gone above beyond the call of duty in every conceivable way. Joe has worked on more than a dozen of my
instruments and I have never been dissatisfied in anyway.

Matt, the store proprietor, is a seasoned musician. He and his dedicated staff are generous with their knowledge and willing to work with anyone on any budget or otherwise to achieve their goals. I can’t say enough about this homegrown and beautiful establishment.

The bottom line, if you’re looking for a music store where you can build a lasting and worthwhile relationship with, then look no further than the Middlesex Music Academy. THIS, is the place.

Love the staff and selections of instruments. I’ve gotten repairs done there with my old drums and my guitars and they have the best expertise when it comes to repairing instruments. Bought my first guitar since 2009 from there and I absolutely loved the feel and playing it. Matt and Jim are awesome.

The sales team made it possible for me to afford a piano for my son

I would give Middlesex Music Academy a 0 if I was able to. I called to inquire about a $150 charge when I haven‘t been confirmed by John the guitar teacher. I made a request to Matt that Tuesday was my preference but John was booked so he scheduled Thursday at 6pm. I received a text and email from John yesterday that he had a conflict for Thursday and offered Friday. I responded via text/email that would not work and inquired if this was temporary or permanent to which I did not receive a response. I let John know this may not be a good fit then. I called today to have the charge refunded and Jim proceeded to call me names, saying I was yelling & screaming over the phone and I was being rude. No need to go into the dramatics but Jim needs a lesson in manners, telling the truth and understanding that being a manager does not give him the authority to behave poorly. Never once did I raise my voice but did correct Jim several times throughout the conversation all because i asked for a refund. Extremely unprofessional and a bad look for Middlesex Music all around. I will be taking my business elsewhere. Inexcusable & theater worthy performance by Jim today folks!!!

I signed up for a piano lesson trial online. Their site is very confusing and it’s not clear if the lesson is in-person and online. I called them, left a message but they never called me back. In the day/time of the lesson, I called them 3 times because I was having problems to contact the teacher. The guy who works there, Jim, clearly doesn’t have any customer service skills. He was rude and unpleasant. He didn’t make any effort to help me, told me a was confused and nobody else had problems. I just canceled the future lessons there. It’s easier just hire a private piano teacher. Hopefully I will never have to deal with this guy again.

I paid $80 for a setup on a guitar and got it back with the strings a mile off of the neck and the floyd rose studs so high out of the body I could park a car under it. The bridge pickup was raised until it was practically touching the strings and the neck pickup was lowered to below the pickup ring. The tech then told me that 10-52 strings don’t exist. They’re light top heavy bottom and aren’t even uncommon strings. Every time I go there they give bad advice and clearly don’t know what they’re talking about. My friend tried to buy a tubescreamer (basic overdrive) and they tried to sell him a phaser instead (completely different thing).

I signed up through a coupon website for my four children. They enjoyed it very much!! I felt like my kids were in good, capable, knowledgeable hands and I would have continued lessons except for the distance, we live about 30 minutes away. Thank you Turnpike Music Garage!!

I have taken my guitar and bass here to be setup a few times. I was very happy with the time it took and the results. It averaged about a week for the turnaround and the playability was great. I can’t speak for the lessons or major repair work, but for simple things this guitar/music shop is perfect.

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

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

Very knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Why is a guy in Melbourne, Australia giving a music shop Southington, Connecticut a five star review? Well I grew up in nearby Bristol and got a number of the guitar books I still use from the Music Shop about 20 years ago. But the real reason I’m giving a high rating is for the help they’ve offered my mother. I left my Les Paul behind in Connecticut and during Melbourne’s Covid lockdown got back into guitar. I asked my mother if she could send me my LP, and, having no idea what to do, she went to the Guitar Shop. They helped her pack it up and told her exactly what to do to make sure it arrived safely, and it did! Then, a few months ago, while cleaning out my late grandmother’s basement, my mother found an old parlour guitar. She went back to the Music Shop and they gave her advice about whether it was worth fixing up and shipping. That guitar just arrived at my door today in great shape.
Thanks so much guys!

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.

The bartenders are nice and they have everything to make my favorite drinks which most places dont!

Free Pool, Beer Pong on Wednesday. TouchTunes Jukebox. Excellent service. No food but local business deliver. Beer on tap and Liquor. Walking distance from Staples Distribution Center. Fun, Fun, Fun.
Liquor store 1/2 block away

Great place to plan and have a party if you’re in Plainfield! Hall is free and the owner, Dal is usually on site if there are any problems. Crowd is big & a little “young” in the bar for me lol, but we had a great time!

Good for a local brew ha ha

Played pool on my league. No food available.

Not too many options there and not a good place to go if you’re going there for lunch during work hours because everything takes so long to get to your table

I only gave this place a 1 cause I had to we had a party of 10.. 5 of us got sick so make sure you don’t waste your time or your money here take the drive and go somewhere else…

15 mins to get a drink on Saturday night

Our five grandchildren have been part of the wonderful musical experience at The Music Center of North Haven. It is a life changing program for us and a chance for them to grow individually and as a group as they play together. Their teachers are incredible, very talented, patient and professional. It is an investment in our youth which is very much needed. They can learn responsibility, a sense of accomplishment in achieving goals, positivity, accountability, confidence, commitment, work ethic, creativity, morale, overall uplifting and safe experience. They perform in concerts and in front of other audiences, which enhances self esteem. They also perform for friends and family and enjoy doing it. Everyone should check out the variety of musical programs offered at the center. Owners Mark and Mary are great, as is the entire staff. Just a little note from the Miller Family.

We’ve been going to the Music Center for years, and the owners are consistently great people. They also have incredibly trained and talented teachers.

My kids enjoy their piano teachers

Great place. Definitely stop in.

Great instructors. Great atmosphere.

Great place to get music!!

UPDATE: To clarify, the small bag of “trash” was a small bag of shirts and pants that were out grown and not trash which the owner stated several times and now denies. He also forgets that I was sitting there in my car for several minutes trying to figure out what the poorly sprayed wording actually stated or if it was just covering up something and i even took out the clothes in the bag and showed it to him but he didn’t care and continued to argue with me. Again, I had donated to this location before it was deemed abandoned and was accused repeatedly to get my trash out of there. I did go down the street and donated the clothes to Goodwill. The issue I have is how the owner handled the situation and the accusations that were thrown at me even when confronted with the proof that they were wrong and I was clearly trying to donate a small amount of clothes and left when asked. Move this very prominent former donation bin to the back our your lot or put a proper sign up, chain close the handle or just politely tell someone its closed.

This music center used to have a clothing donation bin out front which I have donated to many times before. It has since been painted over with illegible spray paint saying bin closed. I was standing by the bin trying to figure out what the writing said and employee came out and screamed at me to take my trash somewhere else and was extremely rude shouting at me like I was doing something illegal. He told me to bring my trash to Goodwill. Would never bring my kids here for their music needs with staff like this.

This is a review for the musical forest cafe. I wish I could have enjoyed the food at this place, but this business is a mess. I came here a month ago on a Tuesday and they were closed out of the blue, so they granted me a 10% discount coupon for my trouble. I decided to give this place a try once again today so I called in advanced, but no one picked up the phone. I then googled their hours and noticed it said they opened at noon (I tried calling at 11:00 a.m.) but that they were opened today. To be completely sure about that, I checked their facebook page that stated, in fact, that they were open. When I arrived to the restaurant the owner greated me and stated that they have been closing on Fridays for the past 9 months and that I should have checked their facebook page prior to coming in here (REALLY?!). After explaining to him that I DID checked facebook he apologized and said he will change the facebook hours for his restaurant and offered to give me another discount coupon. I didn’t even bothered to take the coupon and left very disappointed by the lack of reliability and professionalism of this place and won’t ever be coming back. Places like this just reinforced my belief that going out of business is a conscious effort and wouldn’t be surprised if this happened to this cafe in the near future.

I came in for my introductory ukulele lesson. The place was a mess. The chair I was told to sit on had metal pieces sticking out the side. The AC was not on. The instructor informed me he had been playing uke for about 3 years. I was charged $50 and it was the biggest waste of money. I was highly disappointed.

If you live in the area, this is the best place to go. Joe is knowledgeable, caring, and just a great person. He has helped my three children with instrument rentals, purchases, repairs, and lessons for all my years in Greenwich. His staff is wonderful and are always happy to help. Please don’t overthink this one…just go see Joe at Greenwich Music!

I highly recommend Greenwich Music for lessons, gear, and repairs. Friendly professional staff and service.

A fantastic environment all around with great employees to teach of all levels. Would recommend them every time!

We were kindly helped in the store, but we were buying a guitar for our son and we don’t live in the US. We were having problems with internet so we couldn’t research correctly at the moment, but they assured that the amp could be used in 220 current. We arrived home and we connected the amp and it didn’t work. So the amp was burned. Apart from that the price was a bit higher than the same thing in other stores, it’s not nice to pay 50 dollars more, but that is just business and anyone can charge what they want. It was our fault that we didn’t do a good research before buying. But the very kind person that assured us that it would work because he used to be an electrician, and it only needed a basic adapter, was totally wrong and now we are home and we lost an amp, so we paid extra for the set and it didn’t work. You were very kind indeed, but please if you are not sure about something, don’t sell it. Because we lost money and we can’t go back because we don’t live there.

It’s a nice place! It’s a bit small but otherwise it’s nice.

Terrible customer service. Called and said I would be by in 10 minutes for an emergency repair. Guy was nice on the phone. When I arrived 5 minutes early they had closed up and locked. Super helpful…

Their hours aren’t very convenient and I was having a guitar strung and I dropped it off and I didn’t get a call before the store closed and then they were closed the next day Sunday so I didn’t get my guitar until Monday and that was extremely inconvenient. They also have a very small selection of basses.Update, they aren’t even open a couple hours on the 4th of July so I won’t get my guitar till Tuesday I am very upset with this store.

Rudest customer service I have ever encountered. The man I spoke to on the phone yelled and hung up on me. When my daughter went in person to drop off the instrument for repair at the agreed upon time, he remained upset and kicked my daughter out of the store. Strongly encourage anyone looking to have their instruments fixed to look elsewhere. Disappointing experience to say the least.

Love these guys, great honest advice. Won’t try to push your budget. My daughter loves taking Viola lessons from Katherine. By far the best music shop experience I’ve ever had.

If you like to be abused and treated like a piece of meat, by all means drive north for 10 miles and go to Guitar Center. If you want to be treated like a musician, comrade, and treasured customer/student/member of society, go to Ridgefield Music.

These guys have been consistently helpful and courteous and on top of things. Don’t let the tats fool you into thinking they are less than good professional business people — I would recommend them over say Bethel Music Center (nice folks and all there too, but in my experience not quite as timely when you need something taken care of ASAP).

A musician’s dream!

This store has every piece of sheet music you can imagine. The staff is friendly and always willing to help. If on the off chance they do not have what you are looking for, they will order it for you. Cannot wait to visit family in Jersey to shop here again!

Great service and expertise…and always very friendly!

I don’t have a interest for it. It can be a great place to find music on CDs and records.