BEST MUSIC STORE EVER. YOU CNA PLAY WHATEVER YOU WANT!!! There is bass guitar that you can play, there is many instruments you can play. It's pretty cool. read more

Guitar Center - Guitar Center - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

Went to the store today to trade in an amplifier for another one. Scott took care of me and made the process simple and easy. He even carried it out to my car for me. Perfect experience read more

Being denied a return during CoVid. This visit isn't completed. Waiting on Mgt approval. Will update ASAP. read more

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one of your employees was rude to me and my friend as we were walking out. We were walking out and as we did we walked passed him and I threw up a peace sign and said "hey" and he said "hey" back to me and my friend started to laugh because I was being a lil goofy and the employee then states to my friend in a rude and threatening manor and tone said "what's so funny". guitar center your employees shouldn't be trying to start fights just from some simple misunderstanding that can easily be talked about. read more

We have made it a family tradition to visit our nearest Guitar Center in the state whenever we head out to lunch. We usually visit the stores in Danbury, Orange, and Southington. The staff are ALWAYS friendly and never a hassle when you want to walk in, grab a guitar off the rack, plug-in and crank up. I have bought both online and in person. They often have great prices on used gear, and some of my favorite guitars are the lower priced gems I have picked up at GC. It's so nice to be able to go in and try the gear before you buy. I am a customer for life. Thank you, GC!!! read more

I love the equipment that they have but the staff would rather talk at the front desk then to assist the customers. After I had to find someone to help me after standing around for 45 minutes trying to figure out which direction I'm going with Equipment being completely new read more

This has to be the best GC location I've been too. I live in Mass so it was a drive but well worth it! The first guitar center I was greeted and helped upon arrival. They have a great selection of used guitars and amps, was impressive to be honest. I like how they have a separate room to try some amps out. Again, I was asked if I needed help while looking around. I was in shock as I never had this happen at any other guitar center. Just a pleasant experience for once! I bought a few smaller items to make the trip worth it. There's also a fantastic pizza place "Frank Pepe's" down the road which was phenomenal. All in all this was well worth the trip! read more

Me and my two friends went in today to go buy some equipment. We decided to try some guitars out before grabbing everything we needed to check out. I'm not sure if the employee was racist or not but he opened the door abruptly and told us that we either had to buy the guitars or put them back. He gave us a half -a** apology afterward saying he mistook us for 2 other customers that were in there for 2 hours apparently. There were 3 of us and we are all Asian. I'm pretty sure there were not 3 Asians in there before us. Long story short we are no longer buying our equipment here. We have been loyal customers for over a decade. This was the rudest experience I've had here. We poured tons of money into that store (you can look my name up in the system and see how much I have spent) and this is our thanks? No thank you. Sam Ash here we come. read more

Sure, I'm not the biggest fan of Guitar Center, or chains for that matter. But in the end, it's all about the people. FIrst off, this location had some great guitars that would rival a store in a major city; many beautiful Les Pauls with unusual tops and finishes. And a fine selection of amazing sounding Gibson acoustics. The staff was the perfect combination of knowledgable and personable. Store manager Jason was welcoming and respectful, and salesman Chris really knew all the details about the GIbson Hummingbird that caught my eye. An excellent price coupled with a generous trade-in allowance made for a sweet deal, and a happy guitar player! Thanks all, you'll see me again. read more

Guitar Center is Guitar Center, no matter how you slice it. If you are a girl, it is always awkward to walk in. The older men on staff are absolutely wonderful and friendly...the younger guys not so much. I get the feeling they are just humoring me and being really sarcastic & rude. In terms of sales knowledge, I've had mixed experiences. They seem to have very little knowledge about keyboards or more obscure instruments (I play banjo and mandolin), but when it comes to guitars, they obviously know their stuff. They are also pretty good with ukuleles because they are becoming so popular. All in all, I'd rather shop at a mom & pop local music store, but GC gets it done when I don't have time to hunt down a small trustworthy shop to go to. read more

Looks like they've changed for the worst. My first impression walking in was like walking into a high school music class with no teacher around! I heard that Beller's is re-opening on Main Street..they've been around since the 70's and seem to have things in order. read more

Like most Guitar Centers, this location generally carries popular items from companies like Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, etc, with relatively even representation in each price point. If you are looking for any obscure, boutique, or custom made gear - this probably isn't the place to go, although they do get some really cool used gear from time to time. I am a bass player, and I agree that their bass department can be somewhat limited, however, I think that compared to most music stores, it is a relatively good size. I am impressed with the range of bass amps they carry - everything from cheaper GKs to higher-end offerings from MarkBass, Ampegs, and TC Electronics. I feel that everyone from a beginner to a gigging professional can find an amp that will work for them. The staff ranges from extremely helpful to woefully uninformed. I will say that 90% percent of my interactions with the staff have been pleasant and helpful, but here are a few pointers that I can recommend. - Do your homework before buying something. If you know what your looking for in a piece of gear, then it will be easier to find a staff member that will be able to get you the item you are looking for, or perhaps recommend something that can do the job better. However, some staff members are not well versed in the products they are selling. One time I went in looking for an overdrive pedal and the guy behind the counter tried to sell me a fuzz pedal, not realizing there is a big difference between the two. He wasn't rude about it, he just had no idea that they were two different kinds of effects. On the flip side of this - keep in mind that many of these people are young musicians and not walking gear encyclopedias. Don't be a jackass if the sales person doesn't share your in-depth knowledge of Teisco Del Rays from 1967-1969. - If a staff member is extremely helpful to you, remember their name and continue to give them your business. They will appreciate it, and over time will be able help you find the gear to suit your needs. - Remember, that Guitar Center is a chain store, and because of that they usually only stock the most popular items. Just because an item is in the online catalog, doesn't mean it's on the store shelves. If what you are looking for is a little off the beaten path - call ahead. For example - if you are a bass player and use standard gauge (105-45) strings, you will have many brands and materials (nickel-plated, stainless steel, coated, etc) to choose from. If you play 5-string bass, your selection will be limited. If you play 6-string bass... you should probably just order online. read more

One of the smaller GCs I've visited, but it delivers. I actually had to return a piece of used gear I had purchased in Michigan earlier this summer, and though it took a while, they did clamber through a pile of paperwork to get me my refund. Nice. They are quite limited in their selections of electric basses, though. If you're not into Fender, Warwick or Ibanez, then you are SOL. However, they do have the more-or-less full line of Markbass cabs & combos so that is a major plus. Not a bad store. Wish it was closer. read more

Worked with Chris Spada, extremely nice guy, very knowledgable about the many I asked him about. Made a recommendation of this Luna acoustic with a mesmerizing wood finish, and also ended up throwing me a deal on a case, strings, tuner, et al. Great guy to work with - look him up if you're in the market. read more

Guitar Center - Love the finish:: - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

Guitarcenter has a bad reputation overall. The buckland hills GC is better than most of them. I come here to check out their used gear and find a good deal once in a while. A friend used to be the manager here and he gave me some great deals. I swing by about once a week to check out their used gear. Sometimes I'll find something cool but most times not. The staff is friendly, so if you need a hand, just ask. read more

Guitar Center - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

It's a huge chain. Lots of stuff, somewhat too hip staff. Overall pretty good. read more

Guitar Center - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Manchester, Connecticut

I can't thank your employee Xander enough! He is very informative and beyond helpful for start up musicians. He truly wants to help you get the best deal for your money and is not what so ever pushy towards buying 'the top notch' brand and actually listens to what the customer wants and would need to succeed in whatever type of music they feel like making. So thank you ! read more

I had some free time while visiting Connecticut recently. I thought I'd drop in to look at guitar options for a good friend. I ran into a great employee there. I think his name was Don (Dan maybe?). Don is an accomplished musician and used to own his own music store in another life. Wow....he really helped me! I don't know about the other salespersons, but Don was not pushy at all and he was a WEALTH of knowledge. We ended up looking at keyboards and pro-audio equipment as well. Don helped me navigate all that and it was such a pleasure. The store has amazing inventory and prices are good too. Thanks to Don, my friend and his friend went there to buy their band equipment. A huge thanks to Don. Sorry if I remembered your name wrong. read more

If you are ok with saving a little money but get zero follow-up service when your gear breaks then shop here. Bought a Fender Princeton amp only to have it crap out at unexpected times at gigs less than 6 months after purchase. I got "contact Fender". This has happened repeatedly over the years. I will seek out only smaller local shops that stand by their products. This store is simply a warehouse of gear not one interested incomplete customer care. Never again read more

I received confirmation for my purchase of a NEW Fender Standard Stratocaster on 3/13/19. The morning of 3/14 I received an email saying only a floor model was available which is contrary to the "NEW" status that was confirmed at my time of purchase. Nathan, my store contact, informed me that no other Fender Standard Strats were available and offered a used floor model. Later on 3/14 I noticed there were more of the exact model that I initially ordered in stock conveniently after a sale had run out. This bait and switch tactic is highly unprofessional and I will do my best to spread the word of my very poor experience with Guitar Center. read more

I would actually give this place anywhere between 2-4 stars depending on which visit I choose to write about, but I'll give it 2 because of the recent interactions I've had at this particular Guitar Center. I've shopped here a few times and have had good and bad experiences. A few of the salesmen are really nice and honest, and a few are very sleazy and will give you the run around. Their used gear is usually pretty good and you get pretty fair deals if you're willing to haggle with the salesmen, but don't expect to score any fantastic prices on gear. I still prefer the brick and mortar store in my hometown to this big box store. read more

I've been shopping at GC Manchester for years, and have always found the staff to be helpful and friendly. If it's an item they don't carry, they can usually get it - and at a decent price. They have a good return policy. And they've always been willing to match prices of competitors. Unless I buy online, GC is always my first stop for recording and music gear. One criticism? Avoid their in-store credit card. It can be tough to qualify for any real usable amount, and the interest rate is sky high. Even with my good credit rating, it was a rip-off. read more

Their Guitar Tech Patrick is one of the best in the nation. Dude knows his stuff and is generally awesome. If your looking for sage advice with great outcomes, go to this store for repairs. read more

dude! they had a piece of gear (an old ART tube pre) that I had been looking for! It was an old piece and they let me have it for $20! Had to shout out! read more

I've ordered a particular high rated Yamaha drum set twice from GC and both times it's come in with a split bass drum. I traded my American Standard Strat for this kit and it'll be a crummy deal if I lose my guitar AND don't get what I paid for. Here's hoping the third time's the charm... Wouldn't be so bad if your rep wasn't outrageously rude to me when I showed him the split bass drum after opening the box at the store. I work in retail customer service and pride myself in solving problems like this with all kinds of customers and I was absolutely appalled at the way he ignored my concerns after I was more than polite with him. Assuming of course this was damaged in shipment, given the lack of proper packaging, he could order me a bass drum separately, or he could overnight it to reduce handling errors.. my thoughts were of no concern to him. It wasn't worth his time to solve my problem. I play multiple instruments and have bought thousands of dollars of gear from the Manchester store in particular. His handling of this two month situation is why I'm writing this review. It's like he was angry at me for bringing this situation onto him.. why wouldn't he notice the gaping hole in the side of the box and think to inspect the package before signing, and then give me a call to tell me there'd be an issue before I took time out of my day to come down to the store... and then had to deal with his attitude? What an absolute lack of work ethic. Here's hoping he learns a bit from Chris or Devon, who have been quite friendly and accommodating. read more

I have spent literally thousands of dollars in here over the last 20 years or so. Let me just say as an experienced musician/music gear customer that this particular store does not have your best interest in mind. They abuse the trust their customers have in their musical guidance and knowledge in order to push certain products. The gear that they stock at this guitar center has much more to do with what gear makes them the most profit and less to do with what gear might personally fit you. The store has not always been this way. However the last 9/10 times I came to this store to buy a specific item they did not carry it. Rather than offering to order my item to the store initially the employees tried to push similar products on me that I did not want. I was constantly interrupted and referred to as "dude" and/or "man" by an employee that reaked of cigarettes and may or may not have been high on drugs. They offer the lowest prices giving the illusion of a deal but realistically they only order bulk shipments of the gear that sells the most. I am mainly writing this to warn beginner/intermediate musicicians to do as much research as you can yourself before asking their advice on gear at this store. Ask your music teacher and also read/watch user reviews online for help on finding gear. You will not be recommended a product that fits you personally by the employees here you will be sized up with a product that they know little about other than how much profit they make off of it. In simplest terms the people working here may know a few chords on a guitar, it the majority of them are salesmen who are not qualified to give musical instrument advice. Try a different guitar center than this one I have had much better experiences at other stores. I used to love this store but not anymore. read more