I literally had no idea that Ames even had a music store in town. After a recommendation on Facebook while trying to find a guitar (I want to play TODAY!), I decided to check out this place. It's a nice little shop with a lot of stuff for sale including standard musical instruments, guitars, pianos, and a lot more. It's located on Main Street next to a Salon. I had no idea what I was looking for, so when the owner asked me how he could help, I told him I wanted a beginner-friendly guitar that didn't cost too much. It's obvious it's a passion of his as he was happy to give me as much information as I wanted. He explained the various price points of guitars as well as what you get for each price point. He doesn't carry any guitars under $200 since most of those are absolute garbage, but when I mentioned that that was over my budget, he gave me a couple brands and suggestions for something that would be okay until I was ready to upgrade. After that, he recommended a fantastic tuner that I ended up purchasing as well as taught me the differences between guitar picks and how it would effect my playing and the sound. He even gave me a couple guitar picks, free of charge, to try out and figure out which ones I'd like to come get more. Throughout the entire transaction, he was extremely friendly, very understanding of my questions, and pretty much was the ideal experience of customer service. Final thoughts: The owner seems to be a great guy, and I had a seriously amazing experience. If I end up loving the guitar, I'll be back to purchase a higher-quality one from here. I'm impressed. Plus, I love supporting a local Ames business! read more

Frank Rieman Music - Storefront - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I've only been here a few times, but someone always greets me as I walk in and asks if I need help finding anything. This may not sound like something to get all excited about, but consider how many times you've walked into a store...and it almost seems like the staff is AVOIDING you! Good customer service is a feature worth raving about. While usually I do opt to search on my own, the one time I was in a hurry and did accept assistance, the person helping me was able to take me right to what I wanted. She showed me the various options in the category of item I needed, and I was able to make an informed decision and get right on my way. Everyone working at this store is always friendly and available to help, and--at least in my experience thus far--they always have what I need. All in all, it's a pleasure to visit this location. read more