He’s a great music teacher, positive and encouraging with the kids
Excellent instructors. My son takes drum lessons with Matthew Taylor who is outstanding. My other son is learning guitar with Patrick Hinke. Both sons have excelled beyond our expectations. I would highly recommend this business if you are wanting to learn guitar piano drums voice lessons, etc
Wonderful teachers here!
6. El Cajon Guitars & Music
Address: 172 E Main St, El Cajon, CA 92020 , Rancho San Diego , California , United States
Purchased my beautiful guitar from the owners here. They were kind and considerate. Let me take my time trying out anything I wanted. When I heard this guitar’s sound, I knew she was mine but I was enjoying my visit so much I lingered in the ambiance a while and enjoyed the company before I told them I’d take her. They moved heaven and earth (boxes and bins) to find a case that fit her since she is a traveling size, not full size. I bought her months ago and still remembered fondly how well I was treated. I just had to come find them and make a point to let others know. Please go see them if you are interested in guitars, guitar anything.
Great local guitar shop, a variety of good quality guitars good pricing. They have some 12 string guitars. Friendly shop owner’s.
To start Frank and Maria’s level of customer service is one of the things that will make many people come back. I haven’t seen a store front on Main Street in El Cajon with this much passion in many years. Frank hung out with us for well over an hour and talked with us about anything and everything music related. They are revitalizing downtown El Cajon one very nice guitar at a time. So much more I could say about them and there shop but you will just have to go in and talk with them yourselves. Best of luck to you guys!
7. Organ Stop, Inc.
Address: 543 Front St, El Cajon, CA 92020 , Rancho San Diego , California , United States
This business was in Kearny Mesa when my grandmother asked me to take her there. They were professional and comfortable to deal with, and sold her a Kawai organ, with seat and music booklets. Soon after they delivered it to her apartment in Escondido.
After she recently died, and I was selling all her possessions, it occurred to me that this business might be interested in buying back the organ. I phoned them, and eventually one of the principle persons of the business was able to visit me.
After test playing the organ, he got out a moving dolly and we rolled it to his van. After getting it up and secured in, he informed me that he prints company checks from his computer, so he would have to create and mail one to me. I was surprised and vaguely suspicious that he didn’t bring any payment method with him. But the organ was in the vehicle, and I wanted it gone, so… off he drove.
A few days later, I was pleased to receive his check in the mail, and even more pleased when it cleared into my bank account. If he had failed to pay, I would have had no proof of sale. So, kudos to Organ Stop for being ethical.
I met Ignacio over a decade ago at the infamous Blacks Beach drum circle where he learned to play djembe on this drum. I’ve rebuilt it many times and got it sounding decent but never was happy. His recent complete overhaul with just pulled verticals sounds so crisp and professional that everyone in the circle wants to play it. I almost gave up on it but am super stoked to have a finger tapper of my own.
When it comes to buying authentic cultural instruments or artifacts in a world where indigenous cultures have been stolen from and exploited for centuries, integrity and trustworthiness are among the most important virtues I look for in vendors. This is why I buy from and refer people to Mundo Music.
Ignacio is not just a businessman he is a man of the community. He is not just in it to make money but to also educate people about culture and music from all over the world.
His instruments are vast in variety, high and quality and reasonable in price. I purchased a beautiful djembe that I will likely have for the rest of my life.
I highly recommend investing in Mundo Music for your authentic instrument needs.
Bought some instruments from this wonderful place. Super knowledgeable dude.
10. U J Music
Address: 3911 N Cordoba Ave, Spring Valley, CA 91977 , Rancho San Diego , California , United States
We got our keyboard fixed for a great price. Fast service!
Great service but unfortunately they are no longer in business.
They found out that only the charger of my malfunctioning electronic piano was broken and asked me for nothing but writing a review for them.
I hope they read this review. Their voice mail is full and I can’t get through to leave a message.
No response to my voicemails. Perhaps out of business?
I’m actually not sure if they are in business. I called a couple of times about repairing a Technics synthesizer keyboard. It went to voice-mail. I still have not heard from them.
0 stars. They kept my vintage synthesizer for 6 months with no contact, when I finally called them they had not yet touched it and had excuses about how they had computer problems. They had it another four months, charged me $125, and not only did they fail to fix the problem, when it got back to me it was in even worse condition and completely unusable. These guys are a bunch of overpriced hacks, I’m not sure of anyone else in San Diego who does this kind of work, but you are better off driving to LA than dealing with these people.
edit: Of course they respond with lies and even more excuses. Never was I offered my money back, the fact that they refused to refund my money after effectively destroying the synth was the entire reason I wrote this review chronicling my experience. This place is a scam and I hope they are out of business by now and the incompetent geezer running the place off to a place where he can’t steal from anyone else.
12. Sam Ash
Address: 3418 College Ave, San Diego, CA 92115 , Rancho San Diego , California , United States
Jake was a great help to combining my trade-ins for decent $ to apply to a purchase to a new guitar and amp. Always get great customer service at Sam Ash. They are very knowledgeable on their store inventory and what may be best fit for you.
Friendly & knowledgeable employees
I cannot say enough about the this location of Sam Ash!!!! I was provided incredible service by a young lady working in the band/wind instrument area, despite needing help with a drum purchase. She was patient, accommodating, generous, and flexible. I would ABSOLUTELY purchase from her (and from this store) again!!!
I honestly feel like Sam Ash is the Target to “G.C.’s” Walmart. And this location in particular is like the Nordstroms of the group!
Cannot recommend this store enough!
Painfully average. Staff is non engaging.
They have a good selection of stuff, but everyone is either a punk rocker or a hipster. I don’t feel safe, but rather I feel intimidated when I go there.
Plenty of good products, customer service bad as expected, good to have a huge music store around.
No prices on items without asking. High end acoustics being scratched up by idiots with no customer assistance.
I Asked questions about some gear, and the burn-out-stoner-wanna-be-rock-star employee just wandered off.
Guitar Center is the worst music store on earth……I hope Sam Ash isn’t trying to emulate them ….smh.
If you’re a person of African decent don’t waste your time going here! I was highly disappointed w/ the lack of customer service I received on July 16th last night. The store was FAR FROM BUSY! And I received far below the expectation of standard customer service. I ended up buying online because the guy kept me waiting for 30mintues while he did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT THE COUNTER HE WAS AT! And when I finally went back up to him because he was taking forever he said OH, OH let me check on that, well what were you doing this entire time while I watched you, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! So sad! That will be my last In store visit 🙁 ! Really nice stuff, horrible staff
I bought a $200 piano and none of the salespeople told me it also needed a power plug sold separately. I was very frustrated cause I live 40 minutes away and then I come again and this is what I see on the door the second time. They closed and a lot of customers were outside upset cause no one knew they would be closed
Anthony played at our wedding and made our day really special. Our guests loved his music.
Ryanito has been playing at our restaurant Bistro SF Grill for the last 2 years. He is one of the best flamenco players in the city for sure , but what really makes him super special is his personality . He is the friendliest guy around . He always brings a positive spin to conversation . And that in combination with his good looks, makes Ryan a very great companion . You will always feel safe around him. Seni SF Grill
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15. Starbucks
Address: 2986 Jamacha Road Plaza Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, CA 92019 , Rancho San Diego , California , United States
The morning crew rocks!!! I visit this store on an almost daily routine, since moving to the area in March 2022 and I really liked how for the most part, everyone here has treated me like I’ve been coming for years.
Parking: Plenty of parking.
perfect place
Good
This must be the slowest Starbucks on the planet. A lot of people, a few people, it doesn’t matter. You will have a minimum of a fifteen minute wait. Place is like any other Starbucks and your order gets in Pronto, but man, slowest baristas ever. You could wait a half an hour in the drive thru alone. I went inside and it wasn’t any better. Turns out they’re known for being less than speedy. Wish I had known sooner
It was really nice but the service felt dry.
It was crowded and really slow
Not the best customer service. It took them a while to take my order although I was standing by the register. They got me the wrong drinks and when I asked them for the right one they rolled their eyes. I understand the fast food industry is hard but I wasn’t been rude to them.
I ordered ice coffee with extra 2 shots and slow roasted ham Swiss and egg sandwich and I got the coffee was very nasty I had the straw paper in side the coffee and I got the wrong one which is sausage, cheddar and egg sandwich. That Was my first and last time coming to this Starbucks.
This Starbucks has gone down hill since reconstruction and getting a seemingly new staff. They always appear disorganized and I’ve waited upwards of 25 minutes for a simple black coffee. I gave 2 stars because the staff are generally friendly and apologetic, which I appreciate, but waiting so long for a drink when you’re on the go is frustrating. I think this Starbucks would benefit from some additional training to boost efficiency, and I do hope they can turn it around!
16. Alan’s Music Center Inc
Address: 8510 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942 , Rancho San Diego , California , United States
Helpful and friendly people. Will give discounts on music books for teachers
Excellent, thanks !!
Really great variety and great customer service!
Workers very knowledgeable
Great service and good choice for buying my first ukulele
I’ve been going here for music lessons for years. It’s a very small and quiet place. Not sure about all the instruments they have, but they seem to have a large selection. The building is quite old, so it doesn’t have a current feel to it.
The staff always seems bothered when you come in. Also over priced.
Alan’s has been our one-stop-shop for music, instrument rentals and instrument repair since our daughters started taking piano lessons 18 years ago. In the years since, we’ve taken flutes, saxes and a trombone in for repair. Often, Bob would do it on the spot – and would refuse payment. Most times it was quick, professional and fairly priced. And, I’ve posted appropriately complimentary reviews at that time. Our girls are away at college now, so we haven’t been there in quite a while, but this week’s experience was markedly different. Last Wednesday, I joined a community concert band (first ensemble in nearly 40 years). On Thursday, I took two flutes in for adjustment. On Friday, I called – as directed. Bob advised that he hadn’t even looked at them yet, but said that he would call me back. Today – Tuesday, I called and was informed that I was “moving up the list”. I understand (now) that they have more work than they can handle, and I don’t begrudge them that. But, it would have been nice if they would have said, “We won’t be able to get to your instruments for a week, or a month, or until 2019”, rather than leading me to believe that I should expect the same service as I’d always received in the past. And, when I picked up the instruments this morning, I asked for a recommendation to another shop that might not be as busy. But instead of extending that professional courtesy, they said they didn’t know, since several shops had closed. The 2 stars is for that. So, I guess it’s not surprising afterall, that no one in my section had ever heard of Alan’s Music. I will take my leaky flute into tomorrow’s rehearsal and ask where my fellow musicians recommend I take it for repair.
Walked in today and the whole upstairs smelled like sewage!! I used to love this place. Please, please fix this. I cannot come back with that smell!!
