I remember when this place was actually located on Highland Avenue. Waaaay back when I was a…read moreteenager and my friends and I would get a ride there just to stare at the vintage guitars and hang out and learn about equipment. That must have been 20 years ago or more. So...they've been in business in Birmingham for over 20 years. That's saying something in and of itself. Since then, the same guy, Don, has run the place and over the years all the interactions I've had at the store have been favorable. I must have traded amps, pedals, guitars, bought amps, pedals, and guitars here a dozen times...and I've spent plenty of time here over the years just stopping in here and there to look around and see what they have. Friendly people, honest business, and long running expert employees who probably know more about what they're selling than anyone you'll find anywhere else. These guys aren't just selling equipment...they're in love with the stuff and have been for years. This is not your basic guitar store...this is a museum of vintage amazingness where the best stuff is to be found. Looking for an old Les Paul or Strat? Need to have a vintage tube amp diagnosed? Rebiased? Retubed? They do all that in house. No shipping your stuff out and waiting around in anxiety. No exorbitant prices. Just honest to God expert tech work right here in Birmingham done by guys who've been doing it forever. I've had guitars set up and repaired here, and in most cases it happens within a day. They've got a nice layaway plan if you're in dire need of a 70s Strat but don't want to drop your whole tax return at once. Long story short, this is quite possibly the best place for a real, adult musician to go for the things that they need and to see some vintage stuff that they can truly appreciate. They're not selling starter kits and all the latest gimmick effects as their primary business. If you're in town and looking for Birmingham's best collection of rare and or hard to find guitars and equipment, then you've got to go to highland to see it. Even if you're not in the market, it's worth it to stop in just to marvel and some of what they've got. If you're looking for the last guitar you're ever going to buy...don't order it sight unseen from the internet...go to highland and let them hook you up. You'll be glad you did. A museum where everything's for sale. 5 stars.

Good selection with lots of cool stuff coming through…read more Harold is a wiz at all I've needed for setting up my boutique bass. Non pushy sales but they're there if you need help.

Bailey Brothers Music Company is an independent music store located in Inverness, Alabama. The…read morestaff was friendly and knowledgeable and overall, it is a cool music store to check out. Bailey Brothers Music Company is a welcoming business in a world where the monolith music companies are becoming the only game in every city or town. All in all, Bailey Brothers Music Company is a great place to check out and soak in the whole music store experience. I will give it five stars overall and I would definitely recommend Bailey Brothers Music Company. Go check it out.

Guys up front helped me out tremendously with finding the best acoustic strings for the tone I…read morewanted! Would absolutely recommend to friends.

I was looking for a new piano. I walked in, answered all my questions and did not pressure me at…read moreall. I made 3-5 visits before purchase. They were wonderful to work with and very knowledgeable! They delivered the piano. It was obvious they were well experienced! I highly recommend Ellis Piano!

Music is essential. At least that is what my family teaches so we all play an instrument. My…read moredaughter and I play the piano and my old one from childhood is worn out. So Jason and Cory Ellis (sons of the owner) let my daughter play almost every piano twice until we found the one for us this past weekend. They have been working with us and our budget and we couldn't ask for better customer service. Our new piano will be delivered next week and we can't wait. They also keep a lot of music books and pieces on hand for all the local students. Please go by and see them. This is the best representation of a small family owned business that needs our community support!

The best violinist for events in Birmingham! I hired Karen for both my anniversary dinner at my…read morehome on solo violin and for my daughter's wedding with her string trio. She played all my requested songs at my private dinner and surprised my husband when she played his favorite Beatles tune Blackbird on violin. For my daughters wedding, Karen gave us a private consultation (you'll pay extra for this - but totally worth it) where our daughter could discuss and hear songs played on the violin. I thought she would want Traditional wedding march like I had when I got married. She asked Karen if she knew Elvis Presley Cant Help Falling in Love, All if Me, Cohens hallelujah and Mozart Eine Klein Nachtmusic. Karen did not blinkj an eye and said yes to everything. We did not mind paying a little more for special services like the amp and playing a little longer for the prelude and after for cocktail music. Karen suggested an amp for the cocktail music which was perfect for our venue. I'd highly recommend Karen for your event. She is highly professional offering more than expected and playing beautifully.

I hired Birmingham Violin duo for my outdoor wedding and they were perfect! Karen made a violin…read moreduo arrangement of Here Comes the Sun for the bridesmaids and played Game of Thrones theme for me and the grooms to walk down the isle. Although the weather did not cooperate and the wind was blowing everyones hair they did not miss a beat. She recommended amplification and brought her system. I would strongly recommend this group!

I frequent Guitar Center Hoover often, as I am a full time musician. I have purchased many things…read morefrom there. I had a Martin 110 SE guitar that I loved however it couldn't be repaired and the warranty I purchased from there covered it. Kilgore and Brandon were amazing with their help and Ron is an excellent tech. They told me what I needed to do and I was able to get a new guitar. Kilgore was there to guide and answer my questions and decided to get the Martin Streetmaster junior. I LOVE this new guitar. Highly recommend Guitar Center Hoover location. Everyone is knowledgeable and willing to help and answer all questions. If they don't know the answer they will find it out. Thank you for always being there for us musicians!

I haven't been to Guitar Center in forever! There was an ad for a free guitar lesson/open house and…read moreI will forever do something random that is free. The air wasn't working and Jacob (my instructor) and I were definitely sweating like we were in a sauna. Lol He was great though as far as answering questions and being patient. I didn't necessarily get far, but I did get an idea of how to play a few notes on an electric guitar and I actually had fun learning. He also helped me pick out a couple of starter guitars that were cheap if I wanted to just grab something, but not feel like I wasted money if I didn't use it often. The manager, Brandon, checked in before my lesson and after. Both individuals were personable. Tip: Go ahead and have an idea of what you would like to play and have a song in mind. I was under the impression that they had select guitars that they would allow you to use and that there were set songs to choose from but I was wrong. It is nice that you have choices though!

First of all, I would highly recommend Fred Song, he is an amazing piano instructor at Birmingham…read moreSchool of Music. We loved the instruction he gave my son and the growth my son displayed over the past year on piano with the school. Thank you, Fred. However, I was shocked at Russ Maddox, the owner of the Birmingham School of Music's response to my statement of cancellation. We had previously had a very positive relationship when he supported a sound project my son was involved in and I even wrote him a great recommendation for his website and gave him a gift for the time he spent helping us. However, I was totally taken aback by Russ' unprofessionalism and threatenting remarks that were made to me when I told him I was terminating our contract with the school. I gave him a 30 day cancellation notice to immediately terminate my son's existing contract (which I was told we could cancel anytime). This decision was based on multiple factors. The BSOM's business model requires you to be a part of the performer program that charges more each month and also charges parents and family members to attend the performances each month that they perform. They also elect who performs and how often they perform. It really wasn't working out for us and I wanted to return to regular lessons as a result and not incur the additional charges since the benefit didn't outweigh the cost for me. Over the year and quarter we were there, and a part of the program, my son only performed 4 times. I told Russ we were willing to go back to regular lessons without the performer status at the original price and he said they don't offer that option. There was no flexibility in his business model, so I told him that we will need to cancel immediately, since he was unwilling to compromise and I was never told we couldn't go back to the original rate. I had already paid for the month of November (since the notification was on Nov 3) and we would end it after that. He then told me I had would have to pay for the month of December too after giving them a 30 day notice at the top of November. Really! I responded by saying: "When does anyone have to give a 2 month cancellation notice for any service when I was clearly told at registration it was 30 days?" As a result, I told him we would not be taking lessons through to the end of December and to cancel the subscription immediately and only pay for the month of November, as I had given him a 30 day notice. Russ responded by saying:" You don't have the money, it's a Money thing." And then he threatened to report me to the Credit agency for not paying. . . like, WHAT? What business professional would tell someone they don't have any money and threaten to report a client who has been in great standing for over a year and never missed a payment. AND BTW, it's not a money thing, Russ! It's YOU, and the business processes you put in place. You are working on getting the most you can out of your exisiting client base instead of being flexible with your business model to accomodate your clients needs. We were being overcharged for a service that wasn't what we wanted to continue as the value was NOT outweighing the cost. Instead of increasing charges on existing customers you might benefit by focusing on customer retention and drumming up new business. This mother knows you catch way more bees with honey vs. vinegar. No where on earth do you HAVE to give a music school 60 day cancelation notice, we've been to a few. You may also benefit by actually sitting in on the sessions of your students to understand the caliber of talent you have in your school instead of just announcing them on performance day. Note, threats directed at me or any of your clientel will not and should not be tolerated - it's offensive at best.

Birmingham School of Music does a great job working with students ! Great Teachers…read more They are patient and do a great job explaining the process and keeping kids interested