Cool Hand Customs really listens to the customer. Does a professional job and gives you what you want. I will always go to Cool Hand Customs for my guitar needs.
There will be no failure to communicate! Luke is a great musician as well as an amazing tech/luthier. He dialed in my beautiful guitar that had been sitting unused for decades and made it play better than a new Strat.
In addition to fixing my instrument, he is giving me lessons. Thanks Luke!
Can’t say enough about how happy I am with the work Luke did on a 2 older Fender Bass Guitars, completely dialed in!!! Cleaned up, adjusted necks, set up all hardware and replaced parts as needed. More than fair pricing great communication all through process and quick turnaround. Highly recommend. Nate Bradley
5. Siren Records – Monterey
Address: 527 Ramona Ave, Monterey, CA 93940 , Seaside , California , United States
Great Employees, great prices, and a great variety of metal albums.
This place is a hidden gem. Staff were super knowledgeable and there were free promotional posters! 10/10 will frequent again.
Casi no tiene para mexicanos
I like Siren Record store. Their only product is new vinyl records (and a few posters). A big selection of albums, box sets and a few 45’s available. Just about anything new is here. Prices are competitive with other stores that might sell a few new records. My only real complaint is that records are priced on printed booklets available for viewing….which means you have to look up the price of anything you might be interested in. If your just casually looking through stock it can be a bit if a hassle. The disparity in record prices can be pretty significant from one to another. I tend to be a value shopper so it’s a slow process for me. Service is quite good once I’ve made my selections. Otherwise a great record store.
Nice selection of records. Pricing is a bit tricky. Have to look up the LP on a printed list to find its price. Kind of cumbersome to say the least.
HORRIBLE, THESE PEOPLE ALSO OPERATE INTERNET SALES UNDER THE NAME RAREWAVES US & RAREWAVES UK, EXPLAINS THE “F” RATING WITH THE BBB
Very good selection: all new and popular albums. After reading other people’s reviews I figured they’d be the same price online so I decided I’d check this place out. They were right in the sense that no vinyl had a set price on it. When you ring out, the cashier doesn’t even tell you how much each one is just tells you your total. They overcharged around $10 or more on every vinyl. It wasn’t until I had to ask the cashier myself how much it was that they gave me the correct pricing. Cool place I guess but because of the overpriced records, I recommend just buying them online as it would save you a considerable amount of money. Will not be returning.
Rude and seemingly dishonest.
6. The Monterey Music Store
Address: 419 Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940 , Seaside , California , United States
It was amazing. Absolutely glorious. The staff were very easy going, and kind. I really like playing the kawai digital piano they got. Good prices, good quality.
Friendly helpful knowledgeable staff. Great inventory of new & used stock.
The staff here are great and really helpful, there’s also an incredibly sweet poodle mix therapy dog you can go in and visit named Austin who is an absolute treat. I bought an electric guitar from them and they knocked a decent amount of money off the asking price and threw on some extras that made it such an amazing experience. Don’t miss out on this gem. At least go in to see Austin and then decide if you need new instruments or some gear!
Nice variety of instruments, and I’m sure the lessons are good too.
Service is fine and friendly. Prices are reasonable. Place is an absolute dive… So much potential to have a home, trendy music shop downtown. Really depressing to go there.
The store is nice, local and is very friendly. When I was in there, it seemed like a very classic guitar store but had some decent extra vibe to it. I actually saw signatures on specific guitars and thought that was pretty cool.
The bad store trifecta: rude staff, absurd prices, terrible selection. They no doubt survive because they are the only store in the area. Do not shop here. +1 star for the cute dog.
The owner continuously hovered next to me, telling me how great his product was (which turned out to be hogwash), and hurrying me on, rather than allowing me to examine the merchandise on my own and come to my own conclusions. He bullied me into a sale and charged me a ridiculously high price for a poor quality, defective product that I wouldn’t have bought, had I been given the time and space to examine it on my own. It was an expensive lesson learned. This guy is more interested in money than he is in helping you get a good product at a fair price and earning your repeat business. I won’t go back here.
I remember years ago when this place used to be Abinante Music. My uncle used to manage it. I visited the store one time when helping a blind friend that does business with them on transportation to the store. After my experience with this store….. i will never return.
7. KurtHeisig Music
Address: 512 Polk St, Monterey, CA 93940 , Seaside , California , United States
Kurt is incredible! I called Kurt to check out a new instrument I’d purchased on Ebay based on other reviews and his history with other esteemed musicians like Steve Adelstein and Claude Gordon, and I can’t put into words how happy I am that I did!
Kurt knows his stuff, and makes whatever is currently existing BETTER.
After meeting with him and looking over my newly purchased instrument, I decided to leave my older (yet loved!) instrument with Kurt to “freshen up” as well. He understands the instrument more than modern makers and corrected an ongoing issue other specialists couldn’t. He gets the physics involved in the instrument – it’s insane!
I also decided to take lessons with Kurt, since I’d played for a little over 20 years, but felt like I had plateaued. My first lesson was eye-opening. In the first two measures, he’d stopped me with suggestions on interpretation I’d never been able to think of on my own. Kurt doesn’t just teach how to play music, but how to interpret and portray music to an audience. He has completely lived up to my expectations, blown me away, and more!
Lastly, Kurt’s pricing is old school in the best possible way. My “half-hour” lesson is really the time it takes – some weeks, an hour; other weeks, two and a half hours.
Kurt cares about supporting up and coming musicians with the lessons of accomplished musicians. I not only get his guidance, but the guidance of those astounding musicians Kurt has had the honor and pleasure of working with. I am forever grateful for his knowledge and experience!
Thank you, Kurt!
I just walked in and was welcomed by Kurt, would love to spend more time and a few drinks w this gentleman.
He’s very intelligent on making instruments play their best and adapting them to do so.
Kurt is flute knowledgeable and that is remarkable. His experience lies in Saxophones as he is an experienced player.
I find this to be a gem of the Bay Area. The owner is extremely personable, knowledgeable and is a business I have no problem supporting by patronage.
Don’t get trapped in a 2 hour conversation you won’t want to have.
8. Recycled Records
Address: 604 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, CA 93940 , Seaside , California , United States
Very interesting/ organized setup of sweet vinyls and cds. Great selection: new employee was very helpful and insightful with regards to music.
Will definitely visit again 🙂
Everything a music lovers can enjoy
I found tons of interessing stuff in here. A lot of Jazz and Westcoast psychedelich in good conditions and for fair prices.
Recommended!!!
Good finds today, appropriately pricing.
Recycle Records use to be my go to store for vinyls but not anymore recently stoped by and visited the store I was disappointed by their selection of music in cds there really isn’t much of a selection on the other hand their vinyl selection is solid loads of content from any genre of music difficult to find parking near the area prices are ok
No. Don’t go to this place. First off, I couldn’t find anyone to help me for 10 minutes. When I did get help, the owner is cranky and isn’t friendly. I asked for help and he blew me off. Not to mention, the store was messy and it smelled. I won’t come back.
Store is very messy and used records are usually pretty beat with laughable asking prices. Owner has a major attitude like people owe him something for existing. He has no sense of building community and is kind of a jerk. I try to spend money here but dealing with the owner is not worth it. If you’re gonna support a local record store I’d advise checking out Bob at Vinyl Revolution so you can talk to someone that is actually passionate about music and knows his records.
I guess it depends on what you’re looking for but this place doesn’t hit it for me. Prices are high – especially on the “collectible” records. Which BTW are kept separately from the jackets so if you want to look at something, you have to ask. They seem nice enough but it doesn’t wow me.
9. Redbox
Address: 1391 Fremont Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
Always excited to see what new house plants are available and the variety of pots..
Always able to find what I need here! Love the “hold” music and cat dancing GIFs.
They got everything they’re like Barbie
It is a home depot, got some good plumbing help today, nice. Good inventory
Only place I go for home improvement.
Horrible service. Worst Home Depot I’ve ever been to
Shopping at Home Depot is never all that pleasant, but if you really want to scrape the bottom of the barrel and witness the most braindead, uncaring employees on planet earth, the Seaside Home Depot location is for you. What’s really fun is watching all the customers standing in the self check out line while all the employees hang around the area, none working a register. Yes, the customers have to stand in line to check themselves out while employees watch. No cashiers. If you have to spend time in this place, I feel deepest sympathy for you. If you are employed by this corporation, you have made a fatal life mistake.
Unfortunately, Home Depot has failed multiple times just this week. First of all, I went to the store to get an item stated to be in-stock on their website. The item was not in the aisle and bin as stated. Asking multiple staff members, none of them could locate the item for me, nor connect with the appropriate manager to address the situation properly. After the third sales clerk, I was told to wait 10 minutes for someone else to come off their break, as maybe they would have information. I had to go to work, so after 30 minutes at the store, I left empty-handed. Later in the day I proceeded to order the same item online, since their website stated I could do that and receive in two days. It has now been the two days and it still shows the order is processing, with nothing being shipped. Home Depot has failed in several ways. They have taken my money and not given me anything in return. Additionally, customer support of the staff at the local Sand City store is subpar. I have been very dissatisfied with Home Depot now several times and will no longer be a customer of theirs, nor recommend them to anyone. Save yourself the trouble and do not shop at Home Depot.
11. Seaside Trading Post Inc.
Address: 743 Broadway Ave, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
Great showroom with lots of inventory! Ryan was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Awesome customer service and great selection of instruments (moslty guitars).
Nice guy. Decent selection. Worth taking a peek.
Talk to Noelia she is very helpful.
I haven’t had many experiences here but just the couple times, and so far I can say, they were nice and reasonable. I personally think they ought to take less than an oz of silver at a time, and definitely make it more than a .25 a g. But hey, that’s just me. Overall, they were good to me and I’m appreciative of what they did do. Thanks Seaside Trading Post.
Friendly courteous staff
If you’re looking to sell your silver, this is not the place to do it. Was offered about 33% below spot price, with the employee telling me their vaults were full and they expected the price to go down. Went over to Monterey Gold and Coin exchange in Pacific Grove, and was paid within 5% of spot price.
I had a horrific experience at Seaside Pawn. Because of this experience, I will never go to Seaside Pawn again, or their affiliate, Salinas Pawn. In 2020, I purchased a gold bracelet on layaway. As the pandemic went from bad to worse and I had gotten deathly ill, I realized I could not afford the bracelet after all. Explaining my change in circumstances, I went to close down the layaway and obtain a refund of the $300 I had put down. I was treated so badly by one of their managers, Jose. He was inexcusably rude and did everything he could to try to keep the deposit. What surprised me the most was that I had been a loyal and good customer for over 25 years! When the chips are down, Seaside Pawn shows no loyalty or compassion for their good and faithful customers. There are other reputable places I can do business with that will appreciate 25 years of loyal patronage. I do not recommend Seaside Pawn.
They gave me $75,.loan and held it for one week and and charged me $22.50
This is the biggest ripoff ever to hit Monterey California
And the manager told me they were only going to charge me $12 and then he outright lied to me.
12. Redbox
Address: 1212 Fremont Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
nice local record store, great place to buy spare guitar strings too!
recently discovered music zone and it is a excellent music shop for how small it is love the CD selections it gets me excited walking in there because you never know what might turn up owner is super nice the store will order you a album incase you haven’t found it yet or really want it highly recommend any music lover to go down there and check it out they also carry vinyl
Nice little shop. Great CD selection, a small but good vinyl selection. If you like twelve inch singles, then you definitely need to make a visit here.
This store has a wide variety of CD’s, cassettes, and vinyl records to choose from. And while the selection is great, I felt as if me and my aunt were ignored by the owners and/or workers in this store. It felt as if they didn’t even know we were even there and did not even mention anything as simple as a hello or anything. They were simply too busy talking with others about other things. It confuses me since others who entered the store were greeted upon entering, but me and my aunt were not acknowledged at all. Me and my aunt ended up leaving without buying anything, but that shouldn’t prevent you from checking out their store, there is a great selection of music there, I just did not like the experience that we had.
14. Walgreens
Address: 1055 Fremont Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
Best pharmacy ever and front cashier kosina was very helpful . nice job Walgreens .
I like the music this walgreens played. Every single song is so good.
And I really appreciate all the staff here, especially Daniel a Mexican, to let me stay tonight when I could not find any place to sleep. You are really nice people, if you can see this message, welcome to visit Taiwan. It’s my honor to show you around how nice Taiwan is if you guys came. Thank you so much!
Excelente servicio
I have always had decent service at this store. I mean what can u expect? I’m giving a 3 instead of a 4 because they did not have what I went there for and they didn’t give me any encouragement or advise where I might find anywhere else. 🙂
Good selection
Staff are a mixed lot: some are very helpful, and others are rather hostile. Store is okay, but please, please, please install bicycle racks! Gas prices are rapidly increasing, global warming is wreaking havoc and there’s nowhere to lock your bike. Amber, could you please do something to rectify this? TAMC has money.
No one that works here could be dumber. Especially the pharmacists. Avoid this joke at all costs
Awful, absolutely awful. . Been the second car in line at drive through for 30 minutes without anyone checking on us. Went inside to see if anyone in the pharmacy is alive. Saw one person who said he’d get to us. Asked to speak with the manager but not in the store.Person I spoke with said staffing at the holidays is a problem. Perhaps the managers should be in the store helping out. Able to write this and still no no one helps us. Assuming my prescriptions are filled in my lifetime these are the last ones at Walgreens. I’ve used Walgreens for 30 years but no more. One star is too high.
I called in to refill my seizure meds because I was out of refills. The person who answered the phone literally said they’re probably just going to deny, you’re out of refills. I told her that it is extremely important and that she’ll refill my meds no problem. She snickered and hung out like I was asking her to fill a narcotic prescription.
I called my doctor the next day and she said she never received a refill request! That blew my mind, this pharmacy has steadily gotten worse and this was the last straw. I always thought they were to help, not hurt in the pharmacy.
BEWARE! Unfriendly and some of them are unwilling to do their job. If you can use a different pharmacy, you should. After 11 years I just moved pharmacies, STAY AWAY!
15. Seaside Liquors
Address: 1290 Broadway Ave, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
Not only is this place very clean and well stocked, it is also the most reasonably priced convenience store in the area. Definitely not tourist prices
Friendly employees
Walked in momentarily for change and the vibe was nice! Didn’t end up getting change from the register, but another customer had some. So I actually just filled up my water jug outside, but I appreciate that I wasn’t charged an arm and a leg for using a card. Parking is convenient, plus sufficient handicap parking.
Clean
A good store for all beverage needs. Lottery Scratchers too.
I think your prices are overweight too high the beer is never cold and the cigarettes are too high
Vulgar music blaring.
This use to be mine and my husband’s regular go to place for small items we needed quickly close to our house. Now, I will never step foot back in this place after how the manager treated me today. I have absolutely never been carded at this store for tobacco products. Today the new clerk asked for my id but I left it in the car as I have never needed it before. When I came back in I mentioned they never asked for my ID before. The manager behind the clerk had helped me numerous times before and even made some jokes with each other a few times in the past (never once asking for ID.) The clerk says well I want to keep my job and I don’t know what others have been doing. To me, that was a fair response. Then the manager had to be completely rude and said ” that’s right, you tell them!” I found her statement completely hostile and totally unnecessary! I looked at her and said you have helped me plenty of times before so I don’t know what your problem is. I told them I would never return to this store again. How absolutely terrible to treat customers that way! I get the ID thing, it just surprised me because they have never asked before. I get that its the clerks job to ask. What I do not get is why the manager acted that way toward me. I have already told my mom, aunt, husband, grandfather, and friends what happened today. They have also decided to just go to Mals Market instead where we aren’t treated like this. Just WOW!
16. Goodwill Central Coast
Address: 729 Broadway Ave, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
Really nice people and found some great stuff here! Very clean as well
Good selection.
I have visited this “Good Will”several times. Always have found the items I went looking for and the store always seems organized and clean. Keep up the good work.
H.Madrid
Nice, spacious, clean and tidy store. Fairly good selection of goods but nothing too amazing when I visited.
This Goodwill is a bit small from my experiences. I don’t think the store can help that; it just comes down to rent prices. That said, the selection of men’s items seems to be lacking. The household items also seem to be shoved on the shelves in no particular way. I’ve been to a lot of thrift stores. This one isn’t the worst, but it’s not the best. Also, check your clothes carefully before you purchase them. On more than one occasion, I either found a hole or a stain that I didn’t notice on first look.
I went there yesterday last 15 minutes before the close didn’t find anything I liked so when they announced that there was 3 minutes left I decided to leave right behind me not even a minute later a worker follows me outside and looks at me and my car I proceed to ask her can I help you? She completely ignored me and walks away but side eyes me I walk back inside and ask why she followed me and was looking to see if I stole something she ignored me again I told her that I hadn’t stolen anything if she wanted to check me and my car she could. she tried saying she wasn’t looking at me that she was looking at a man that just walked out that she thought stole something, that isn’t true I was the only person that walked out at that moment. This truly angered me and I hope she knows she was wrong.this woman is rude to everyone she has a snarky attitude I will contact corporate about her.
Meh…
It was like the locusts had passed through…very little stock, and what was there was really worn.
Maybe because it was mid week after work?
The 2 stars are for the really nice employees.
Worst experience at a Goodwill store to date the employees lack customer service skills are rude and treat literally every customer as if they’re going to shoplift. They really could use a revamping in management.
17. Sacred 8 Studios
Address: 1536 Del Monte Blvd, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
Amazing customer service and one of the only places around with such an amazing selection of comics and collectibles. Plus his tattoo work is clean and professional!
Awesome place and great people.
Amazing comic books and incredible selection. Atmosphere is uncomfortable and the tattoo talent is 11/10
DONT DO IT!!! Their quility sucks so bad!!!id post the pic but it’s embarrassing!!!the good reviews are only cause the older brother in the shop can tattoo portraits …I recently went to the shop and the man know as “X” (the older brother),at the time had no clients and still lets his still learning younger brother tattoo me and my wife…mind you I’m a tattoo artist myself and this was my wife’s first tattoo so I watched carfully, only putting them on blast for your safety. They are not clean! They are talented! All they can do is copy and draw!
I watched him lose half his stencil during the tattoo then have his brother come finish the lines! Very unprofessional.. I was very overcharged take note he starts the clock when he starts talking to you and he never shuts up! So enless your pockets are fat and you want some art your ganna have to fix later I’d find another shop
18. Counterpoint Coffee
Address: 565 Broadway Ave, Seaside, CA 93955 , Seaside , California , United States
I really enjoyed the atmosphere. They have great artwork, fun books to look through and for purchase. The coffee was very good and well made. I also appreciate their earth friendly products!
Great coffee combined with a welcoming environment.
Great coffee and a very cool atmosphere. Loved the records and books!
Very good coffee and prices, ok service, limited parking. Finally found the person who has the fancy writing style
3 stars by default because the shop is gorgeous. I’m an iced mocha person and didn’t like it. It’s all in the chocolate. Ovaltine is not the right chocolate, and it was all on the bottom. The espresso didn’t seem right in the drink either. I’ll go back just to try the espresso, but this would be 2 or 1 stars if the shop wasn’t so nice.
I am staying at a nearby hotel. I asked my friend to pick up some good coffee (Starbucks isn’t my preferred coffee place). I wanted a large cup with oat or almond milk. Good news is that they had almond milk. Bad news only one size cup and my coffee is barely warm. Sad.
Got a latte here a few times. Milk smelt faintly spoilt and tasted mildly sour each time. Looks like they keep all their milk outside in a bin with ice, but the ice had run out. Feeling a bit sick after drinking the coffee. There were little bugs on the items in the display case. Unhygenic.
Definitely not everybody’s cup of tea, but maybe that’s what they’re going for. Kind of a strange vibe; inside is decorated nicely enough to be kind of a hip, relaxing place; but it is offset by the strange punk atmosphere and music. I can see how that may appeal to some people, though.
The merchandise was kind of weird, but if you’re the type of person who thinks it’s funny and quirky to have random obscenities on your cups/notebooks etc.–usually involving coffee–then they have what you want. They also sell wine and beer.
None of that is enough to warrant a bad review, though. What really bothered me was the random guy who came in and sat on the serving counter the entire time he was there without being told to sit somewhere else. It appeared that he knew the two working behind the counter. I have no idea why someone would think it is okay to sit on the very counter that people are served their orders on, nor do I understand why the employees would tolerate it. We had to squeeze by him to grab our orders. If that is acceptable then you can only imagine what else might be going on.
Worst coffee house I’ve ever been to. Super judgy staff very rude, super expensive for coffee and don’t offer different sized drink. Go to ACME Coffee down the street much better coffee, prices and staff!!!
19. Mark’s Records
Address: 471 Wave St, Monterey, CA 93940 , Seaside , California , United States
Really nice selection of used records, much much better than your average booth at an antique mall (and rivaling some other close-by shops). All genres are mixed in a simple A>Z format.
Condition for the ones I looked at (and bought) was quite good, and prices are fair. Can’t say how often they re-stock, but it was a nice dig on a quick visit from out of town!
20. Bookmark Music
Address: 307 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 , Seaside , California , United States
The rumors about a gremlin infestation are true. This store relies on gremlin labor to avoid paying benefits.
Spent time playing guitars with a friend. Staff was super kind and helpful, no problems at all. Will definitely be visiting again.
They were very knowledgeable and helpful. I highly recommend them for all of your musical needs!
Good selection. The customer service may be poor at times, so I would recommend having an idea or a list of items to support your search efforts. The sheet music is very disorganized, so I would plan to spend a few extra minutes searching for genre labels.
Friendly place and, if you want a ukele, this is there placed to go.
Great selection. Very friendly and helpful.
Required to sanitize my hands before entering her shop. I did not enter her shop! ( Had my vaccine, both.)4/12/23 No one wearing a mask in shop. There was no greeting hello etc just pointing to a bottle of sanitizer and saying you need to sanitize your hands first. I have been playing for 30 years and never handle someone else’s guitar or musical equipment unless my hands are washed. Just flat out rude. Seemed more concerned with flirting with the person at the counter. This is why more and more people are ordering on line. I always give locals in Pacific Grove first shot at my business and if a bad experience like with you , I order on line. Because of on line business, store ownes should be going above and beyond. On line is providing better prices, service and slection. Will be going to Amazon for my musical needs. As I was leaving your store I found a bag of marbles just outside of your door? Look familiar?
