Carl the tech did a great job on my Epiphone Les Paul, it was in bad shape but when he was finished it was like a new guitar. A++

What happened??! I generally shop during the fall for holiday gifts, and the friendliness is dead. Couldn't get anyone to even make eye contact. The selection is meek with mostly basic guitars then excessive signature models. There's minimal middle ground. The guys that were here like 8 months ago are all gone. The bathrooms are gross as well. This is super sad. read more

Took an old guitar in I was gifted to be restrung. Guitar was in relatively rough shape... hadn't been touched since the 70's. I left the store with what appeared to be a new guitar. I believe who I worked with his name was Freedom. My hearing is quite poor so my apologies if I heard wrong. First time in the location and won't be my last. I was treated like family. He made my guitar look brand new compared to the condition I brought it in and did his best in the short amount of time he had it. Very professional, very friendly. 10/10 experience. read more

First time at Guitar Center with my son who is new to guitar and it seemed great! We loved walking around! They were very busy for a Sunday I was told by an employee, but even though they were stressed, they were so nice! Looking forward to seeing my son grow as a musician and hitting up this location some more! read more

This place is becoming more of a joke every day. Yesterday, I stopped at the Florence, Kentucky store to pick up a drum accessory and to check out other items I was looking to potential get. I walked in and five employees were huddled together. One of them said hello, but none of them asked if they could help me or what brought me in. I walked into the drum section, and of course there was no one there to help me. I looked behind the counter at the accessories and saw what I needed (a ring for a kick drum port). I stood there for about five minutes, and not one of them came to check on me, or to see if I needed help. I finally just went behind the counter and got what I needed. I stood behind the counter for about another five minutes, checking out the other accessories. Then I went into the cymbal area (I'm always on the lookout for a good-sounding cymbal, new or used, doesn't matter). I found a stick and started checking out the cymbals. I'm an aggressive player, so I was definitely hitting them loud enough for the employees to hear. No one ever came back. Then I walked around the rest of the store. I found a used monitor in the live sound section that I was interested in, but there was no one to hook it up....so scratch that. Then I walked into the used guitar section (I also play guitar), walking right by employees; not one said a word to me. I then walked to the checkout counter, laid the kick ring down, and told the guy I was going to leave it there and walk around some more. He never even acknowledged me. After about another five minutes of being ignored, I had had enough. When I approached the checkout counter to pay for the ring, the guy asked, "Did you find everything you needed?" I said, "Why do you care?" He laughed. I said, "I've been walking around this place for about 40 minutes or so, and not one person asked if I needed help. The place is in shambles, with stuff thrown all over the place; no wonder Guitar Center is in trouble." He apologized and said, "I know, it's terrible. I used to work here when the place was a lot better, now they just have the two of us working here tonight, I'm really sorry." I guess the other three left. That might have been true, but there were only three customers in the entire place, including me, and they weren't helping any of us. So, instead of standing around, yapping, they could be straightening the place up, getting stuff off the floor, or at least finding out if the few customers they have need help. With crappy service like that it's completely understandable that companies like Sweetwater and Amazon are leaving you guys in the dust. Who wants to subject themselves to that kind of experience? read more

See all

Very friendly staff. Nick was very helpful in determining the value of my son's guitar. Very patient and understanding with our situation. I will definitely use their services again. Highly recommend! read more

Always helpful and they have a good inventory. I like to go in and look and they leave me alone but are readily available if I need something. I have started taking lessons and the instructor has been very helpful and patient. read more

The staff is friendly but the issue with this location is the guitar tech. You call the store and many times the tech does not show up this has been going on over a year. So if you buy a guitar from them and if it has any issues good luck with it getting looked at since the tech is hardly there. read more

Absolutely incompetent and unprofessional. I ordered a used Martin guitar over the phone, paid with card, got an email confirmation. Five days later the guitar still hasn't shipped and now order status is "backordered", I call to find out what's going on and they tell me it was sold to a walk-in customer the next day. Not even an apology offered. What a joke. read more

It's guitar center. Don't expect too much. They're not luthiers, and you won't find SRV's old guitar tech working there. It's a big box store looking to move product for mass manufacturers. That being said, this location is pretty good. Too many locations just go for employees they think fit the look. Too many times you walk into a guitar center and find the bearded hipster, with sleeve tattoos, who probably could tell you more about the fermentation process on a double IPA than they could about a guitar. Not this location. The staff are friendly and helpful without being overbearing. They leave you alone to look around, but are there to answer questions if you have any. I prefer this style over some other locations where they're all over you and trying to push you try and buy stuff. This location also has staff that actually know a little about the instruments they're selling. read more

To be honest, I'm a fan of this location. I've never had a bad experience with any of the employees and in fact have become friends with some of them over the years. I've probably come to this location 50 times or more over the last decade they've been open and have spent well over $10,000 in that time. In the last year the store has changed a lot and I think most of the change is for the better. They have re-organized the store significantly and now offer lessons. Plus the accessories like guitar picks and strings are no longer 10 feet up on the wall behind a counter. The only reason I have decided to this review four stars instead of five is due to the following things. First, the store is a little outdated compared to newer locations I've visited. I think some fresh carpet, paint, and new checkout counters would go a long way. Secondly, the selection of high end gear appears to have gone down over the past couple of years. I understand that the average customer is not coming to purchase a $5,000 custom shop Les Paul, but a higher selection of gear or at least a larger variety would be appreciated. Otherwise dislocations fantastic and I would recommend stopping by for your guitar needs. P.S.- This last year guitar center discontinued it's 'String club' and 'Stick club' cards. These were wildly successful and I've personally had two of them every year for the last five years. This is a corporate issue and has nothing to do with this location. So if someone who works at guitar center HQ reads my review, please take this into consideration. I am very disappointed that you no longer offer 'String club' cards. It personally brought me into the store every month... which in turn had me spending more money. Thanks! read more

I bought a used PRS SE online from this store. Before buying, I asked their salesman about a case or bag. He told me it came with a PRS gig bag. They shipped the guitar with no bag - loose in the shipping box. Multiple calls to the store asking that they deliver what was promised were met with half-truthis and downright lies. They finally said they got the guitar without a gig bag so they weren't providing one! This after telling me more than once that the bag was shipped and should arrive any day. I've not given up but it's a shame they don't try any harder given their already shaky reputation. read more

These guys are great! Went in with a strange ukulele problem and the whole team worked together til it was resolved. Super nice folks!

This place was great. A little background, I walked into this music store with a bunch of teen anxiety. Back when I was learning an instrument - the clarinet in middle school, then guitar then banjo in high school the only music store in my little town was the crappy little place full of rude old men. Later in my 20s I found the mega music stores full of 20 somethings angry that their musical genius wasn't recognized by the rest of us so they took it out on customers by being judgmental when we didn't want to invest our paychecks in the best. But I've not picked up an instrument in a long time. And my 9 year old has decided to learn the guitar. And we needed a first string. So I walked in expecting a lot of sighs and eyerolls from the staff because I had some simple questions. And what I got were heavily tatted, heavily pierced nice guys. Treat my kids nicely and I'll pretty much love you forever. I approached one guy with massive gauges in his ears and asked about strings. He asked my daughter if she was learning and when she nodded yes he congratulated her and then pointed HER to the guy she should talk to telling her to ask any questions she had. We walk over to the other dude who has what looks like a bull ring through his nose and he tells us both what strings he'd recommend and why and then - this was cute - play with different picks to see what thickness she liked. And then asked what color she wants. Seriously, not what I was expecting from a 20-something guy with a bull ring in his nose. Bottom line: I walked in planning to spend $5 on strings but because I was put in a good mood and they suggested a couple other things that I could probably really have done without I spent $35 and conquered my fear of the snooty music store dudes. read more

I've traded and purchased some high end equipment from Dave. He and the store manager have treated me with the upmost respect and exhibited true customer service. I have dealt with many mom and pop locally owned stores and haven't been treated as awesome as I have here. It's nice to be appreciated as a customer! read more

See all

I've been in the store probably 8-10 times now, and every time I've gotten good service. Twice I've had to return an item, and didn't have a problem. I needed to exchange an item that was purchased more than 30 days prior, and they handled it with ease. They've got a great selection on all fronts, knowledgeable staff, and a good location. This is my Guitar Center. read more

I've been a customer at this Guitar Center for over 4 yeas now. Never had a bad experience. The employees have been very helpful with questions I had on how to build a guitar and what wood to use, pickups, strings etc. These dudes know their shit. However I am sometimes disappointed when I walk in there hoping to try out an EVH guitar and finding out that "oh, sorry man we don't carry those but you can order it online".... I'm sorry but I don't want to pay $800 for a guitar I haven't even held yet. Would you buy a car before you test drive it? Other than that great place. Please start carrying EVH read more

I try to order everything off line now due to the ridiculous amount of time it takes to check-out at Guitar Center. The last time I was there it took me no less than 30 minutes to buy 2 packs of strings. Why would it take so long? Well it took 1 person to get the strings from behind the counter, who had to call the manager to log him into the computer, which resulted in him asking for my name, birthdate and address. Why does it require a manager to sell 2 packs of $4.00 strings? Unfortunately, I've had to visit Guitar Center multiple times for strings or picks and I always count on 30-45 minutes. read more

...if only you could have an express lane. Too many hoops to jump thru for a pack of strings. You really need to know my name, address,birth weight and mothers maiden name? read more

I don't know what happened in this store, but it was really a bad experience. I was treated basically like I was invisible. I finally walked around the store with 2 ukuleles in my hand until someone finally looked in my direction. It wasn't like it was busy, but I was the only older woman there. Ageism? When I bought the instrument, the very condescending guitar salesman said they had NOTHING to put it in since I didn't buy their special insurance, and sent me out into the freezing rain with no bag, or any cover of any kind for this really nice instrument! I also know they have a ukulele class scheduled in a week or so, but the salesman said nothing to me about that. For shame! Don't go there! read more

So another positive quality Guitar Center experience: so at this point the naysayers and doomsayers eyes are probably rolling in their heads...why that's impossible..somebody has a positive experience? Yes, it happens and honestly with the exception of a now and then almost every time I go in there...first off let me tell you who I am...72 years young..former touring musician from the West Coast with a very hefty CV...retired and back home in Independence, KY..I have been to dozens of Guitar Centers in my time..usually shopped the one in Sherman Oaks, Ca...or Daytona Beach, FL on Speedway..I invariably go to Guitar Center for little things..the usual stuff we players always need...strings...picks..that kind of stuff..including amps now and then and guitars when the occasion merits it..buying a NEW guitar....today I went down to the Florence Guitar Center with a couple of quality used Gibson's out of the gear closet in my studio to trade for a new product...a 2012 ES 335 from the custom shop and a l991 MIII Deluxe Superstrat...we could not reach an accord on the MIII but that didn't stop us from getting there....saw Christian and after a bit of reasonable back and forth purchased what I went in there for: a new Modern SG...one fine axe believe me...and I will return for a Les Paul Modern when there are some in stock...although it takes a while for this kind of transaction to transpire I find I am always treated with respect not only in deference to my age but also the kind of respect accorded to a customer who shops with respect as well..as usual my experience was without fault, and Joe who does guitar set-ups, a week new there, was polite and helpful..I just handed the guitar to him and asked if he could set it up for me on the spot...he graciously took on that task and while waiting for the purchase process to complete itself was handed a perfectly set up guitar...thanks Joe..just want to give a shout out to the staff at the store..and thank them for always giving me great, respectful service which matters to my generation..why we go back...unlike anywhere else if you go there intending to trade and buy with the understanding that you are going to reach a compromise then I guarantee you will leave happy...guitars are tools...just as keyboards are tools...we need tools to ply our craft..Guitar Center gives us the necessary assistance to retire an old tool or one that doesn't work that great for us and provides the opportunity to purchase a new one to put through its paces...I'm just very happy to have found a Guitar Center near me with personnel who provide the one thing I find lacking today in retail (service)..thanks Christian and Joe and the other staff who helped me leave happy.. read more

Have you ever had a brush off? A little background on me. I'm a man, 54, bored out of my skull and wanted to learn to play guitar. I know the basics from earlier in my life but never had the time to follow through. I went into guitar center today with the intention of buying am acoustic guitar and probably more. what a disaster. the salesman finally saw me wandering around, and asked if i was all right (?) I told him what I was looking for, he took me to the acoustic room, pick up a guitar, said he recommended this one and started playing it. Never offered me to hold it, as the customer. It was as if I was selling it trying to engage the customer instead of the other way around. I was the one trying to make conversation. He told me, he recommended lessons and a card was by the door where I came in. Didn't even bother to get me the card. If this is the level of service they offer, how are they in business? If they don't want me $500+, so be it, someone else does. So much for my foray into the world of guitars/music. I doubt I will darken their doorway again. If I decide to learn, I'll buy on Ebay. You get better service. read more