Been coming here since I was a kid and they were on ocean street, bought and sold several instruments through them, and it’s always been a positive experience. The employees are more than willing to help you find what you need and are very encouraging to beginners. Plus there’s always funky instruments in there that are fun to mess around with. This store just has a great vibe.
great selections
Un lieu où l’on peut trouver tout ce dont on a besoin, y compris pour les batteries ! Un accueil professionnel et sympathique
There are some good deals on used gear to found here. But NEVER give them anything to fix, as you might not see it again for half a year.
I was starving and they refused to provide me with nourishment 🙁
I also only saw a couple eagles and not even one pelican , kind of behind the times if you ask meeeeeee &%$
Good selection, good prices, the only catch–and you might like this kind of thing–is that there were so many people in there trying out instruments that you could hardly hear.
Not so starving anymore. Welcome to Guitar Center II, complete with attitude and disdain. Wonder what the owner is starving from? Sales people who want to be there,and not looking at the clock wishing for you,it , and a late sale to all go away.
Nuff said.
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.
Honestly, if you’re a starving artist, you are not welcome here. The staff makes it very clear that they don’t care about the artists at all. I wouldn’t recommended this place to my worst enemy.
2. Sylvan Music
Address: 1521 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
I have bought two acoustic 6 strings, one 12 string, one electric, and a 5 string closed back banjo from this store. They sell high quality instruments and the employees are very kind and often helpful. This is my favorite instrument store I have been to.
It’s reminiscent of the music stores I visited when I was younger. Instruments everywhere. A staff who seems to know what they’re talking about.
SOOO MANY CHOICES! The staff was pretty chill, definitely coming back ASAP!
They sold me a great guitar and made it play awesome.my grandfather recommended this store and I’m proud to State he was correct. I had to trade up and spend more and take it back in a few (3) times and make sure I got a good deal (that’s why four out of five stars) but they eventually made me a proud owner of a great guitar.
Don’t show up @ 6 o’clock
Workers were very helpful
overpriced instruments and bad service!
Not helpful with violin, violas, cellos. Not recommended for those looking for set ups or bow rehair.
The old guy with grey hair is RUDE and Stingy. T
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.
3. More Music
Address: 512 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
I have been very impressed by Dave and his staff Phi and Paul. I have had 2 experiences with Dave, and can assure everyone that he is determined to get the right guitar for you. i can speak for his honesty and his vast experience. I recommend More Music without reservation or hesitation. I am very glad I became a customer and will certainly do more business with them AD ANDERSON
There are lots of types of guitar shops with different vibes. This is not going to be anything like the big-box megacenters. You’ll find things that are great for beginners, but also a huge selection of unique and vintage instruments. Dave is passionate about guitars and will get to know what you are looking for. There are so many great amplifiers; you’ll never be able to check them all out, but you’ll see some amazing ones. Just starting out? Let them know about what you want to learn, what you want to play, and what you budget may be. If you are expecting a mall-like store where you can grab a bunch of modern electrics and sit and blare out loud classic rock riffs, you may not find what you are looking for. But you can get to play some really cool, interesting, and unique guitars. And you’ll probably see something you’ve never seen before.
Walked in by accident while visiting Santa Cruz just because I love guitar shops and trying guitars in general. What a fortunate discovery ! After a couple of minutes looking at various second hand guitars, Dave (the owner I guess) engaged in a very friendly and somehow nicely surrealist discussion and ended up letting me try a few of his old Martins from the 50s and 60s which obviously I couldn’t afford but it was one of these great moments meeting random people who happen to be great persons. For the mood and the guitars but obviously for the people inside this shop is definitely a great place for musicians.
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
4. Guitar Shop
Address: 926 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
This is a gem of a shop. Good people. They did a great job rewiring my Les Paul and setting it up. Plays and sounds great. I am going to send all my guitars here
Took my Tele in for a setup and Steve had done a wonderful job, he’s a real pro. He’d been recommended to me by More Music and had recommended him to a friend (who also had a rave review). Steve helped me out a few years ago getting some humbucker covers I needed, he didn’t have to do that. I’ll be a customer for life.
Steve is a wizard! Put a new bone nut on my Martin tripolo 28EC and dressed the frets.
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…
5. Streetlight Records
Address: 939 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
Best music store around! The people are polite & well read in the music Industry. If they don’t have what you’re looking for no worries they will help you find it!!
Streetlight records is great. They have a wide selection of music, videos, and games on a variety of platforms. Items can be be bit pricey but they do have discounted and clearanced items. I wish I could afford all of the metal vinyls they had had for sale. They have cool posters and memorabilia. Overall, it’s an impreasive local landmark with a welcoming atmosphere.
Such friendly and helpful staff! They have every type of music you can think of and great prices.
Great shop for finding vintage treasures
Wow, is about all I can say. Extraordinary store filled to the brim with used vinyl, cds and DVDs. They even have cassettes, who carries cassettes any more? Could easily spend an entire day just looking through the racks. Plus, the staff is incredibly seasoned and knowledgeable. You’d have to be to work here. One of the last shinning beacons of the Santa Cruz counter-culture. Make sure to visit before it’s gone.
Love the selection but music is played way too loud.
Doesn’t even deserve one star. The buyer sells all quality records on discogs and puts out all of the trash for the people who actually go to record stores to dig. No respect for record store culture. It is buyers like this that are ruining vinyl culture. Only go here if you want trash cheap records.
Selection is shoddy at best. For an old school classic record store the 80s selection is garbage. Nothing rare, nothing collectible and nothing worth stopping in for. Don’t waste your time.
This shop has never done much for me. I usually leave without buying anything. Also, I can enter and leave without a Hello or Goodbye from an employee. Not a good experience.
6. Drumskull Drums
Address: 105 Pioneer St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
I received my Premium drum today and i’m absolutely blown away by the quality of the build. This is a real musical instrument, not a tourist drum. I’ve been paying the Djembe for more than 20 years now, and during that time i’ve owned several good quality Lenke drums. However, the quality of my new DSD drum is on a whole new level. I would also like to mention the high level of customer service I received from DSD, they were so attentive to my needs and ensured that I received the drum that I wanted. I would highly recommend anyone to buy there drum from this company.
Wow! I just got my profeesional djembe restored with new rings, ropes and head. I can’t keep my hands off of it! From the customer service to the finished product I could not be more happy. Thank you Drumskull for bringing my drum back to life!!
Always a pleasure there. This is the place to go for your drums! New hides going on! 🙂
7. Union Grove Music
Address: 1574 Soquel Dr ste g, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
Lovely folks there at UGM, now an online store only, who are ready to answer all your questions and help you with anything you may want to purchase from their web store. You can even set up an appointment to test out any of the many high end guitars they have for sale. Best place in town (and out) to get a Martin!
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 called asking to hold a guitar I really liked a lot until I could get there THAT SAME DAY…they said ok, no problem, it is on hold only for me. When I arrived THAT DAY a salesman said they sold it THAT MORNING. I felt very disappointed.
Came in with a fat wad of cash to by a new guitar and the older woman that is always there walked up to me and said, “If you aren’t going to buy anything you shouldn’t be in here.” My guess is she assumed that, based on my appearance, I was just another 20 something about to play all the guitars and leave. This is was not the first, but it was the last time I received bad service there as I have never returned.
8. Redwood Records
Address: 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
Has all the vinyl records I’ve been looking for as well as a wide variety of record players and record player parts
best record store in town- hi metavynyl!
Great selection.
Good selection
My fave of the 2 places in town. Kind of small. Found some cool stuff digging in the dollar bins.
A little bummed they were closed at 2:45 on a Saturday. No note & tried to call the number but unfortunately out of luck. Ubered out to them as they were highly recommended. Hope they reopen soon.
9. Bright Guitars
Address: 120 Otis St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 , Santa Cruz , California , United States
