I know negative about guitars. I have a nephew graduating from high school this spring and I wanted to get him something meaningful and useful. He plays bass in one of those School of Rock type places and is passionate about it. I called my sister to see if there was anything he could use and she sent me a blurry photo of some kind of board he uses and told me he needs a carrying case. I went to Bananas at Large because of their reputation for being kind and knowledgeable. Their reputation is well deserved. I was greeted right when I walked in, I decided to look around a bit before asking for help because while I don't know anything about guitars, some of the instruments they had on the wall were works of art and I enjoy looking at art. When I was ready, I found the first employee, showed him the photo and explained the situation. He knew exactly what it was and where to find what I was looking for. He then took the case over to where they had the exact thing in the photo to show me how well it fit and other features of the case. He explained the 14-day return policy if it turned out to be the wrong thing and let me decide what I wanted to do. I wound up purchasing the case. I loved that I was nicely greeted when I walked in but left alone to browse. I loved that I didn't have to hunt down someone to help me when I was ready. I loved the general vibe of the place. I loved that they had what I needed and clearly a ton of things I might need if I ever decide to get into playing. I loved that parking was easy. I loved that they were excited to help someone who had no idea what they were doing in a guitar shop, were in no hurry to get me out of the store and patient enough to answer all my questions. I even loved that they accept Venmo for payments. Great place to go if you don't know anything about guitars but love someone who does. read more

Bananas at Large - Wall of guitars - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

This place is everything a music store should be. Yes they have great selection, and yes their prices match anything you can find online (even Reverb, often) but it's their service and relationships they build with you that's special. True stories of what they've done for me even in just the last month: My guitar needed some repairs before a gig, and they fast tracked the service and ordered an uber to bring the guitar to my house! I wanted a tuner pedal that was out of stock basically everywhere in the country, and they took their last one from Santa Rosa and shipped it to San Rafael store for free for me to pick up the next day. Best of all, I was unhappy with my guitar tone and Dan spent nearly 2 hours sitting with me trying different pedals and setups, before settling on showing me some different settings on my own amp, some different plectrums and swapping a pedal I'd bought recently for only a $10 difference! It would have been so easy to have sold me another pedal or 2 that I didn't really need, but the fact he didn't builds complete trust and makes me a customer for life! read more

Been there once the staff are really nice. I believe I was talking to the owner. Really good people. Also a great selection read more

This is a must do for anyone who loves guitars. Ask about who shops there... like Carlos Santana..

Just as I predicted Alan R., the owner of Bananas at Large, gave a novel length reply below refusing to accept responsibility again for the short comings of his store and literally LYING about what happened. (That is his FOURTH reply below btw - Yelp deleted his previous replies because he's breaking rules left and right in a rage. The owner is the type of person who just cannot keep his emotions under control.) And just to clarify I did not message them first, I simply responded to Alan R.'s upset message that he sent me first, concerning my original review below, and I explained to him clearly the issues with this store and employees (and also the fact that his inability to accept any responsibility for any negative review and his approach of attacking the customers that make them, like he's trying to do here lol, prompted me to post my criticisms). Lol at him straight up lying and claiming I said otherwise in the DM. His claim that I came in a week ago when it was two MONTHS ago is also funny - two months because that's when they posted the Martin on Reverb.com which is how I found out about the guitar in the first place and drove an hour to the shop. Lol he literally knows what he's saying is a lie there too. Also lol at "bent over backwards for this customer" when the only guitar I looked at was that Martin and a couple other cheap floor models because your employee clearly didn't want to have to get a ladder to reach the Taylor I wanted to see. You guys did basically nothing. And claiming this is a fake profile when you can literally read my other reviews going back years, again lol. The owner cannot speak the truth to save his life - just read the negative reviews and his ridiculous replies to all of them in which he always blames the customer - it says everything you need to know about this two-bit narcissist. Truly a snake in the grass lol. - Original review - The employees don't really care. I went in to look at a used OM28 Modern Deluxe - the action was way too high and the employee informed me that their hired luthier would be taking the guitar that day to set it up and lower the action. The employee made a deal about it and getting my info saying he would call me in a week when the guitar was set-up. Never heard from them again, typical. Also funny are the owner's novel length responses that never accept accountability. read more

Popped into this great music shop with my son who plays guitar and piano right before his birthday, just to browse and check out a new spot. Everyone was really friendly- we've definitely gone into places that feel pretentious or intimidating- not here! I also spotted quite a few young people coming in and out so it looks like they do a steady stream of lessons. We ended up just getting a few small items, but trying out some of the Roland digital pianos was really eye opening and educational (our acoustic piano is great but not practical to move as my son moves on to his own space). This will definitely be my go to when we're ready to make that step! Great selection, friendly and helpful staff, supporting a local business who supports local musicians - what a win! read more

My son and I stopped by to look at their selection of guitars. Sales person was extremely rude. Acted very nervous when I walked near the electric guitars, my son selected one to try out then after three minutes, the sales person snatched it from his hands took the instrument away from him and said that's long enough. I'll never come to the store ever again. I did buy my son a brand new Gibson SG standard 61 for Christmas, but from another store. read more

Some time ago, I brought in an Appalachian dulcimer in need of a case. The store didn't have any cases specifically for dulcimers, and none of the many cases displayed was a good fit. A young, male staff member told me he thought there might be something in the back, but he would have to dig for it, so please be patient. He wasn't gone that long and came back with a Fender backpack style soft case that worked well for my instrument. I wish I could remember his name. The staff member made me feel as though he was glad I'd come in, and he was very helpful. I'll happily return for strings and picks. read more

These guys are awesome. Amazing service, very knowledgeable, have had very positive experiences buying guitars, gear, etc

I just had another awesome experience at Bananas at Large in San Rafael. Their customer service is amazing-such a difference compared to Guitar Center. The employees are super helpful, knowledgeable, kind, & patient! They went out of their way to help me find what I was looking for. Brad was especially super helpful! Also Cam & Shen. Thank you so much Bananas! You're the best music store in the Bay Area! And I love that you donate thousands of dollars to lots of different organizations. Truly a gem! read more

Very good shop. They have an impressive selection in pretty much every genre and do a great job of being a scaled down version of what guitar center should have been. All the staff are extremely helpful, supportive, and friendly. Truly top notch professionals. Management seems adamant that customers be accompanied at nearly all times and this makes the experience a little less relaxing than it could be. It's a little too car-dealeresque. I know there are yelp Karens that complain about not being acknowledged and blame it on race or gender or whatever, but constantly being asked if you've been helped by everyone in the store is a little too much. There's so much to look at that might generate interest but it's hard to do so when you're being guided towards a purchase at all times. read more

Bananas is a full service music and pro-audio store. Alan, the owner, worked at the store at a young age and then bought the store. Music is his passion. He has a strong love for music in the schools. Unlike the typical music store that has lost their passion, Bananas is vibrant and well known throughout the area. Bananas has a full service pro-audio install team. They are a good resource if you need pro-audio gear or installs. Roland is one of Bananas' major vendors. If you need anything Roland, give them a shout. Roland is often there to answer questions. Alan has done a great job supplying and supporting music stuff. He has a goal to help you buy local without having to spend more than online stores. Unlike many places that just sell and run, Bananas is there to support you. read more

Bananas at Large - Roland keyboard display. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Wish I could give six Stars, They certainly deserve it. Incredible customer service, Been working with Brad for years. He is so knowledgeable, kind, respectful and thinks outside the box. Shen the Roland retail specialist and Drummer and percussionist, as I am to has been A tremendous asset and help to me!! Alan, the owner, Erik, the Store manager(Which he just helped me sell a Slightly used L1 Bose PA.) and the entire staff Thank you from a loyal customer!!! read more

I've been to many Guitar stores worldwide and had the best Guitar shopping experience at the Santa Rosa and San Rafael branch of Bananas at Large. I arrived around the closing time of the store and Jackson at Santa Rosa was so patient and sweet helping me with choosing the guitar I wanted to buy inspite of 30 min beyond his work time. After a few weeks I visited the San Rafael store to pick up the baby Taylor which was on discount for purchasing the Taylor 200 Ltd series. I was attended by Brad and he is the most knowledgeable salesperson I've ever come across. He threw light on the types of guitar I was interested in and helped me nail that 1 guitar I was looking for. Instead of trying to sell the guitar (which happens in most of the place) he understood what I was looking for and helped me settle down for the best guitar. Thank you sooo much Brad brother I really appreciate you help. I want to thank Bananas at Large from the bottom of my heart for making the visit pleasant and hiring amazing staff. read more

Good service. Knowledgeable employees. Grateful for a brick and mortar music store staying alive.

Brad was great! He just helped and didn't pressure me to buy . I ended up buying a used guitar he had transferred from another location.

Alan, Wow! Such a hostile response to my review. I welcome readers to read my original review. Everything I wrote is factual and the only opinion was that I felt shopping on-line was (IMO) was a better experience. Yes it's true I attempted to return the amp for refund, although I did call ahead of time which would have been a good time to tell me that All Sales Are Final but in fairness, it's written on my sales receipt. Let's clear-up some un-truths: Alan-"You tried the amp out in the store for a while and ended up agreeing to the terms of the sale. All parties were happy and in agreement." I never played the amp in-store. Alan-"You claim to want to support local brick and mortar businesses but is this how you show your support? Never buy anything from them, negotiate a deal in good faith then demand them to break the deal and refund you effectively losing the business money or threaten a bad review?" I never demanded anything and actually was quite pleasant. All I did was ask! Alan-"Clearly based on your other review you want to punish stores for things that are clearly your responsibility. Sounds like beat up Starving Musician for a guitar that sounds like wasnt even yours and made them lose money to appease you." I purchased a 1965 Fender Stratocaster from a classmate in 1975 who was the original owner. I played that guitar for 35 years before it was stolen and ended up at a local music store in Santa Clara. Totally unacceptable to publish an accusation that you have no knowledge of. Music stores that are in possession of stolen goods and try to sell them should be outed! You failed to mention in our phone conversation that all I said was that I very much appreciated you calling me personally and yes you did offer a full refund and gave me until the end of the week. I agreed and we left it at that. I decided to keep the amp. I never claimed that your staff was anything but professional but I didn't expect such a nasty response from the business owner. In closing, I'm not admitting my original review was anything but 100% factual and not asking it to be deleted. I want readers to see your hostile response. read more

I went to Bananas at Large in San Rafael today and received great help with my guitar purchase from Jose. I was given time and space to try the guitar I was interested in, and while it was clear they wanted to make the sale, I never felt any unwelcome pressure. Jose answered questions, helped me make the purchase, and called me right away when he found that I'd left my card at the store. I'll be back for sure. read more

Fantastic music store ! New location, easier parking. These handmade phosphor bronze guitar strings were recommended Bc they were out of my go to brand, that I've been hooked on for years. What Amazing warmth ! So Smooth! Heaven!! The gentlemen took a solid 5 minutes walking me through exactly what tone, gauge, etc I was looking for to pair with my guitar. An hour strumming guitar was more grounding than an afternoon of yoga. Thank you guys. Definitely coming back read more

Bananas at Large - Handmade in Nashville - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

I am a huge fan of superstores like guitar center and even then I've ditched most for Amazon.com But I love supporting local business owners and I heard about this spot. They have great offerings and unless it's brand they don't carry you then go elsewhere I.e I wanted an orange amp Was in the market about getting a new acoustic and I was hooked up with this Taylor acoustic in their mid line with a Victoria cut out make from koa. They do have a 14 day return policy and also price match guitar center and others in cause you find it cheaper. I did a lot of online research and reviews with videos and everyone had ravings to say about it. I also brought in my Gibson sg for a return to stock fresh up polish and. Ew strings Theresa does have a decent back log but her work is awesome. Now The acoustic I got from Shen and he had great ideas send me email links to do my own research since the guitar was out of stock. He even helped me upgrade from a 20w orange amp to a boss Nextone 40w because it was in my price range and was just what I needed. And through the company you get rewards so I got 50$ off the amp and will now have another 50$ credit which I'll use for some new stands and chords I can't say enough about how glad I used my bonus this year on stuff which can be played from the heart and on these great pick ups and it's due to Shen and Theresa and their company. As long as it's something they can get I will always buy from these awesome dudes and dudettes read more

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I've been a customer of Bananas since moving to Marin (approx. 5 years). I have purchased a Gibson V, a Martin 12-string, an American Fender Jazz bass and loads of odds / ends. Very high quality instruments and the flying-V was a STEAL price-wise. The depth and breadth of their new inventory is excellent and I always enjoy browsing their used gear for gems when I stop in. Reps are highly knowledgable. I'm a life long player, former NYC Columbia records and Sony Music studio guitarist: now just the occasional professional gig here and there. The only thing I'd love to see is more community events. read more

Bananas At Large Music Stores, a must, for YOUR next level GIG. Demo Roland V-Drums Acoustic Design 5PC Electric Drum Set VAD 506. OVER THE TOP SOUND & FEEL. Take your drumming to the next level. Excellent service & knowledge Staff. David #ROCKR TUMBAO Patocchi read more

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would sell my left sock for another harmonica great customer service you guys are the best

There are a couple of music shops in San Rafael, and I usually go to the one in Northgate. My friend said to give them a try. Here's my story. I was given a guitar by the same friend I just mentioned, and it was a display piece from a wine company. The guitar had no label inside and all it said was Rockbridge on the head. I called Bananas at large and spoke to a very helpful person named Jose. He was very polite with his responses to my questions and asked if I would like to bring it in and see if management could take a look at it and see if they could find any information on the guitar. I thanked him and was very pleased with how helpful he was. Fast forward a couple of days later. I drive over and walk into the store. I was met by an employee named Scott. I told him I called a couple of days ago inquiring about the guitar I had just carried in. I opened the box and he gave it a quick glance and said he never heard of this brand. Then proceeded to pick it up and stated it "doesn't look well made". Now, I understand that this is a display piece, and wasn't expecting it to be a top-of-the-line guitar. I was expecting that he may have given a rat's ass about helping me find a model number or anything about the guitar. He asked if I did any research on the brand. I did. I said it was a brand that Dave Mathews uses, as the display piece the guitar came from was from his winery. Again, he stated he never heard of the brand, and said he could not help me. I placed the guitar back in the box, thanked him, and walked out. Never to return again. I will say the gentleman I spoke to on the phone was fantastic, hence the three stars. I think I will be using the music shop located in Northgate from here on out. read more

Couple of things I was missing lately was an acoustic guitar. Not that Francis, short for the Franciscan brand I had, did anything wrong...we'd outgrown each other and we just had to go our separate ways and so when my brother eyed my guitars and pointed out for the 3rd time that I had 2, I gave him Francis. Fast forward to the present, a lot of things have been playing on my mind and I remembered how strumming the guitar was actually pretty therapeutic for me. Like how fidgety people need to keep their fingers busy, I liked the vibration and sound that came from an acoustic guitar and how you can feel its resonance across your body depending how you play. So when I was looking through music stores at yelp, I stumbled onto Bananas at Large. That name alone had me laughing and convinced me that I had to drive out there to check the store out. Just before heading out my friend calls me: "What are you doing?" "I'm heading to Bananas at Large." I said "What?" I could see his scrunched up face already. "Exactly!" The moment I walk in the store my eyes focus on the guitars and I'm hypnotized. I start wandering to the left side of the store where I was inundated with so many choices, brands, colors all around that if there was Tinder for guitars I would be swiping right like crazy. I also love that they have enough of a variety to accommodate all price ranges. Not even a minute Skyler comes over and offers his assistance. I ask his recommendation for an entry level guitar because let's face it, I was rusty and haven't played in over 2 years, I strum and am not the best picker and remember only the most basic of chords and have to break my fingertips in with new calluses. Skyler picks an Ibanez that is mahogany in color. It's lightweight, has a different sound than what I'm used to. I ask for another recommendation and he directs me to another guitar that was beautiful, sleek, shiny and black. "It feels and sounds like my old guitar," I commented. "Is that a good thing?" He points out. It made me think of why I let Francis go. Why would I want the same guitar that I let go of? I was looking for something more organic. I liked the feel of the Ibanez being more natural with no slippery shiny finish but most importantly, I liked the sound. So I made my choice, picked up a case and a clamp (or capo as I was gently schooled in) and went on my way with Ben (Ibanez). All in all, definitely a great place to go to if you have a love for music and play an instrument or are looking to learn. Upstairs they offer classes, which would be great for someone more local to the area. (I wish I was) There was a vast array of other instruments that were spread out through the store like drums, ukuleles, banjos, and the keyboards almost tempted me to stay longer. The sales associates are musicians as well so they do know what they're talking about and will guide you to make choices appropriate to your needs and budget without making you feel small and unworthy (sorry just getting flashbacks from another place where I had a guy with Robert Smith hair eyeing me wearily back when I was a teen LOL) read more

Bananas at Large - Guitar lust... - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Since moving ,the acoustic drum dept is minuscule. Mostly electronic sets that while unique,are not my cup of tea. The cymbal selection (Dream) they had in the past was quite nice,but now everything is just meh. I rarely buy cymbals on line with out testing them,and these folks had some interesting ones to check out. read more

Best. Music. Store. Ever. And thanks to Dan Petruzzella and Mike Whitworth, I am always greeted with a kind smile and eagerness to help a budding musician such as myself. Thanks much Bananas! read more

COLOSSAL waste of my time. I've only bought cords here before, and they only wasted 15-20 minutes of my time, because they are always "under staffed" but this time, LoL, i wasted 3 hours, because i was going to consign some gear, i had emailed them about, and they told me to bring in, they would be interested. So i drive, over an hour to the shop, to get told that they "aren't interested" because this ROLAND keyboard, is missing a cap, that a ROLAND DEALER can't replace, and this is not some vintage SH101 it's an e.Piano i think they still make. But here's the REAL kicker. Erik tells me that one of the sliders is "crackling" like it's not in good shape, on a DIGITAL e.Piano. His EXACT words. If you need to know why this is IMPOSSIBLE, then you don't deserve to have this conversation. So not only did they WASTE MY TIME! But they also, don't know what they are talking about. I took it home, tested, no "crackling" NO jumpy sliders, dude literally made up some bullshit to tell me I wasted multiple hours of my life. I SHOULD have gone to guitar center, at least they would have made me a lowball offer, and not COMPLETELY wasted my time. I'm adding more, after reading Alan's response. I was 100% a regular, nice, professional customer of this store, UNTIL they wasted my time. Citing literal bullshit (lies) as the reason they didn't want to consign my keyboard. I've EXTENSIVELY tested ALL of the faders on this e.Piano and there is NO problem AT ALL with any of them, not "jumpy" not "scratchy" just missing one cap, that a ROLAND DEALER should EASILY be able to replace. LMAO, please, get out! The owner is ALSO absolutely full of shit, about everything other than me muttering to myself and giving him the bird as he chased me thru their parking lot, after wasting my time. I didn't talk to or say anything to other customers, i just let store employees know what a bunch of shit they are full of. And there were ZERO "children" around as i exited the store, so full of shit. read more

I need to thank Alan at Bananas in San Rafael, CA for helping me solve an instrument change and sound production problem. Changing from banjo to uke and back was a headache. He recommended a mute switch on a preamp as well as an in series tuner that I can even read at sunlit gigs. I know I was hard to convince, even skeptical, full of questions that put Alan in the position of needing to explain why I needed to spend $450. He was thorough, it solved all the problems, and I, and the band, are completely happy with my new toys. Thank you Alan! Tracey E~ PS - the only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that I have had not so great experiences at Bananas (some people don't listen as well, are less respectful of women). read more

Only complaint is they aren't super tuned in (pun-intended) to what you're buying. We purchased a pedal only to find out it did not come with a power cord, only battery-capability. When playing two full sets no musician would rely on a battery-powered pedal. read more

I wanted to swap out 3 pickups in my Jackson. Which involved chiseling out the seat for the neck and middle single pickups. Hugo did this masterfully. It looks like it came from the factory. Just amazing work here. If you got an electric guitar mod going on, don't hesitate to give it to Hugo! read more

Bananas at Large - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

We went here to look at some guitars for my son who has recently learned how to play the guitar. They have quite a selection of musical instruments to look at. They even let him try a couple of guitars that he liked. They asked him several questions to determine the best starter guitar for him. He got a quote for one and is earning the money to purchase it. We will be back to purchase it once he saves up. read more

Bananas at Large - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

I love this place, the staff is beyond welcoming, helpful, honest and accommodating. As an on and off again guitar player for decades, my skills are admittedly limited. I appreciate that the staff spent time answering my questions and offering recommendations based on my wants, needs and budget. I was even thanked for taking my time to drive up from the city. Truth be told, it was my pleasure. Cool folks, nice shop, nice inventory. read more

I rarely write reviews but I gotta say that Bananas really goes out of their way to help you. Dan is amazing! He helped me get my pedal board set-up, select the right pedals and dial it in so it sounds great. He's incredibly experienced and gave me super valuable guidance on how to get the most out of my sound. Even though I'm not an advanced player, he made me feel respected and helped me in the ways that made a big difference. Great guy! read more

I enjoy shopping at Bananas at Large or just browsing around looking at the latest instruments and gadgets. It is a local business and I believe in supporting the local shops. The customer service is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about their business. I purchased several items and so far I have no complaints. I would recommend them to anyone who is looking to learn a new instrument (they have great teachers) or whoever is in the market to purchase something cool like an electric Nord Keyboard or an awesome guitar from a diverse selection. Good Luck! read more

Had my first guitar lesson & although I was very intimidated internally they made me feel so comfortable & the online booking process is super easy. Love their little music rooms & cant wait to go back soon. read more

Could not say enough about this place. Nicest staff, always friendly and eager to help. Every experience is like visiting friends. I know how hard it is to be an indy owned, family run business in these times. Everyone is "so want it all and want it now!" Their prices are the same as every where else (many times better when they run sales), their selection is amazing, they curate indy and boutique builders, they quality of the stuff they get is better than Guitar Center and they have onsite services for dummies like me! Today I got to use my rewards points and got a cool ukulele for half price! Chose local! Chose Indy! Chose my fav Music Store! read more

Bananas at Large - Really cool selection of Ukes! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

Very friendly and helpful staff. I have bought 2 guitars here. Good selection and fair prices.

Don't come here if you're looking for acoustic drums, cymbals, hardware, etc. They have one tiny shelf of sticks and 2-3 dusty off brand cymbals. No drums to be found unless you want electronic drums. Thought they might have gotten better since moving, but it's actually worse. Pretty messy store too. Also a pretty defensive odd response from the business. Apparently they think acoustic drums are no longer in demand and everyone wants the eight grand Roland e-kits. Anyway, yikes. read more

It's like walking into a car dealership. Search for other music stores. I wanted to improve my guitar, and all they wanted me to do is to buy a new guitar putting down my own guitar. I will never walk into that trap hole again. The Magic flute in Terra Linda is the best Music Store in the area. read more