Guitar Center is Guitar Center. If you want to walk into a music store and have a great choice of instruments, this is where you go. A location where you can actually touch, feel, and play the instrument you are considering purchasing. It has been that way since they first opened. I have been going to Guitar Center since their first location, (different from the one of today) in Hollywood, California. And, whenever I'm in a new city, if I have some time to kill, I always like to check out the local Guitar Center. You never know what you will find. This is what I did with this location. Walking in, as is almost always the case, you will year some player noodling on a guitar through an amp. I don't know how the people who work at these stores put up with it, as it is more frequently than not very bad playing. As was the case when I walked into this shop. An elderly, longhair guy, playing some bad licks (loudly) on a Strat through an Orange amp. I guess you (and the employees) just must tune them out. Horrible! This Guitar Center is set up as most of them are. A lot of electric guitars along one wall. Acoustics in the back. Basses on the other wall. Synths and keyboards over in their own section. All Good. This location is fully stocked with all of the instruments and accessories you may need. The staff seemed very nice and did none of the hard-sell type of thing. So, if you're in the area, and you need some musical equipment, this may be your place to go. read more

We visit this location often. For the last few weeks, I have made a comment to my husband that we have perused the guitars every week and never buy. Of course, because I said the word never, something had to happen. Today was the day, my husband bought himself a new Jackson guitar a Randy Rhoads edition. The only thing is that they did not have a case for the guitar so we did have to order one. The service was still great, and my husband walked away happy. I'm sure we'll be going again in the near future. read more

Had to walk with a broken foot for a mile to get there since my car broke - really needed a midi keyboard for making beats in FL Studio. They were understaffed, I was frustrated, probably visibly so - but the staff were great despite there not being enough of them. Frustrating that their corporate leadership is failing to provide them with tech-based solutions to the understaffing if they can't provide human assistance to their employees to enable them to nimbly and simultaneously interface with both time-intensive customers like the man who needed his guitar fixed in front of me, and low-effort customers like me who just need a simple MIDI keyboard off a shelf I couldn't bend to reach with my broken foot all bound up. Can't blame the staff for the inconvenience, they were outstanding. And I can't say I expect to experience a broken foot every time I need something from Guitar Center. But this experience really highlights to me how older people who have inherent disabilities might just walk out feeling frustrated and not come back in my position if they're used to snappy customer service. Someone who's 70 with a foot problem won't have the endurance to just stand there... and stand there... and stand there... until they finally notice someone in the back of the store. The person who helped me wasn't even a salesperson, they were an instructor who teaches music lessons. If I were an older person I would have needed more signage, and if I were from gen-Z I would walked out - they're a more socially anxious generation and I barely had to social battery to go ask for help from someone whose job is supposed to be teaching music. And again, it wouldn't have been the salespeople at fault - it would have been squarely down to your corporate offices not providing locations like the one I visited with solutions to problems that are due to changes in market conditions and not the fault of any employee or customer. read more

y'all complain too much. This store chill asf It apparently has to be 85 characters to post sooooo.. Do not try Bagel Bites with no cheese on it. I tried one yesterday and it tasted like i bit into a fart! I was horrified. It was the 3rd one in the pack of 9 and I was devastated :(( i threw them away and cracked open a bag of garden salsa sunchips to destroy the whole bag. Anyway follow my insta @ _eivy . Lmao bye read more

So, right after GC moved to Middleton I went there to check the new store out. I saw a $$$ Music Man John Petrucci that had been at the old store for maybe a year or more and wasn't selling up on the top rack. A little guy, supposedly the manager, named Kyle asked if I wanted help. I pointed out the guitar, and he said he would go in back and look for the case and then get it down for me to check out. I figured after all this time sitting in the store I would finally buy my first Petrucci EBMM. And bring it home. When Kyle came back out, instead of helping me, he saw a friend or something standing at the register with a vinyl record and B-lined it over to that guy to go chat about this record, and acted as if I wasn't about to buy a $3,000.00 guitar. I left immediately. I'm glad because I ended up getting a Premier Dealer (rare) EBMM Majesty from a dealer in Cali about a month or two later. So this honestly worked out in my favor. Recently, I decided to give GC another try because I needed musician's ear plugs and couldn't wait to have them shipped. Upon entering, I never received a hello. A smile. A "hey can I help you?" But I needed these ear plugs for my gig the next day. So, I found the exact ones I needed, and proceeded to the register. I stood there, with three employees behind the register waiting to check out. Not a single person tried to help me or even say hello. And two of them were arguing about the hat sounded like shipping. I don't need to be waited on hand and foot, but I am not going to stand there for 10 minutes trying to check out when three people could've gotten the job done. I will never be back. read more

Will never visit there again. Paid them $70 to install LR Baggs Anthem pickup system on my acoustic guitar. They did it pretty unprofessionally and refused to refund: Wires were not fixed, making collision sounds that could be picked up by the mic. Battery was installed at a wrong place and detached when I'm playing (luckily I'm not performing...), bumping into the guitar's back. The tech was a bit unwilling to thin out the guitar's saddle, arguing that I should pay extra for this. Their manager even suggested that these wires should not be fixed and it's normal that they swing. This is UNPROFESSIONAL. Though a guitar dealer might not be a guitarist, I guarantee that no guitarists would leave the wires unfixed. Take this to any trained luthiers and this can be evidenced easily. Actually, one of their employees admitted that the wires should be fixed but weren't. I paid but received unprofessional service. This is unfair. read more

Guitar Center - Unfixed wires. I don't understand why the tech installed the white cable clip sticker at that place, and just left all wires swinging. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

What a great experience. I came in looking for an amp and case and had 3 people help me in making great decisions. Bought a Katana Amp and a beautiful case for my guitar. Staff was awesome. I'll be back. Perhaps for some lessons! Cheers read more

Guitar Center - Awesome Amp - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Middleton WI --- As a former drum teacher at guitar center, I can tell you that you should not take drum or music lessons at guitar center. The lessons are grossly overpriced, charging double what the music teacher actually makes. You'd get more for your money's worth looking elsewhere for music lessons. Guitar center is a bloated corporate machine who cannot do the simplest of tasks. read more

I went in with my daughter while my wife retrieved our receipt from our online purchase. I was asked if I needed help and I said no we are going to look and my wife is coming in to get a piano. We looked around for awhile and my daughter was playing some of the instruments and pianos. The guy was standing there like we were bothering him and then my wife asked him to open the box and he laid it on the floor and walked away. I proceeded to struggle opening the box with my hands then keys the whole time being watched by Quenton as he was walking back and forth through the store. Yes I may have made a slacker comment after he kept walking by and never asked us for help once. Later he mentioned that he had a knife in his pocket. I did start swearing a bit after Quenton ripped the paperwork out of my hand and yes swearing in pretty normal in my farming world. Then Eliot comes up like he's the bouncer with his arms folded asking if there was a problem here just like he wanted to escalate the issues not solve any customer issues or help us in any way. At that point I was asking about another piano still considering buying the 249 piano. He then proceeded to escalate the incident further by being argumentative and calling me baby amongst other things. I assure you that I am 46 years old a self employed farmer and I can swear whenever I feel like it without a bunch of hourly wage slaves telling me it's rude and that I should never come back to your store etc. My wife butted in and also asked the manager why he was calling me names and being as disrespectful as he was. I only mentioned a couple swear words in context and not directly at anyone watch your footage and hopefully you can see who is actually at fault here. Your manager stated that I came in half cocked and my answer was that no I came in with a stack of cash to buy a drum set and a piano for my daughter then he said ooooh a stack of cash and more disrespectful comments and kept calling me baby until my wife intervened and asked him what he was trying to achieve by talking to a customer like that. Then other employees were also saying disrespectful things in the background talking about calling the police. Swearing isn't against the law and as their leader is disrespectful to customers so too will the employees be. I paid over $400 for a piano online it had 3 stuck keys and a cord that was 1/4 normal size openly repaired and in my opinion unsafe. Yes I was upset about the poor customer service then even more upset by the actions of the rest of your crew. So sorry none have ever heard swearing before. Watch the video there was one calm employee talking to my wife, he should be the manager and a few others fired. They have no business in customer service acting like that. Great business you have there. read more

I do not usually write reviews, but I wanted to get the word out about a great sales associate at the Guitar Center in Middleton, WI. Charles Glen took the time to help me make the perfect deal on a Slash Les Paul they had in stock. It was a great guitar, but it still took me quite a while to decide if it was right for me. It was obviously not a small purchase, and Charles did not pressure me, gave me time to think, play, and even set me up with an amp in a more private room so I could really get to know the guitar. I am so glad I came in and got such great service. Thanks!! Love the guitar, and can't put the thing down so far. : ) I'll be back for sure. read more

I'm definitely one of those "shop local not chain (but then still go to the chain if they have what I want for cheaper)" guys. I always tried to do business with local places instead of GC. But GC used to be great, and the local places went out of business. Now GC is going downhill and local places are springing up again. I am a professional touring and session musician. GC used to have what I needed and had knowledgeable staff. Ever since they moved to Middleton, they have shifted their focus from experienced musicians to soccer moms and beginners. I FULLY SUPPORT new musicians and their parents encouraging them, but if any of them progress beyond beginner status, they too will need somewhere to shop. The last manager (Josey? Josie? something like that) forced out the few really knowledgeable sales guys who I trusted completely so I stopped going altogether. The new manager (Andrew) has been there for years in one position or another, and he's always been helpful and supportive of myself and other professional musicians that have come in to shop, so I'm hoping he can turn the store around. But I'm skeptical, he cant override Ryan at Corporate (Dunder Mifflin Infinity). What I'd like to see is GC maintain a presence for both beginner and non beginner musicians without forcing out the local stores. I'm sure that's impossible. But a musician can dream. read more

Tried to buy a simple set of acoustic strings. Looking specifically for ball ends and 3 nylon and 3 steel wound just like I have now. Clerk up front was on the phone when I walked in. Could not find a clerk to help me, none of the packaging gave me the info I needed. After 10 minutes walked into the back & found someone working on a desk top who tried to help me, (nice guy) but had to keep stepping into the back to ask someone else questions. Walked to the front desk (now 15 or 20 minutes after entering the store) and clerk at check out was still on the same call with someone who was going to come in and pick up his guitar. Stood there 5 - 7 minutes with strings in one hand and credit card in the other. He never even acknowledged me and kept jabbering on the phone. Left the strings on the counter and left wondering how they stay in business. Never again.! Would rather drive 30 minutes from home than watch these people slow roll toward their going out of business sale. read more

Picked up my new guitar and case today using curbside pickup. I didn't get the name of the person who helped me but they were super kind and helpful. Thanks y'all for making the pickup go smoothly. read more

Samm was super helpful with renting a speaker system for a wedding ! Very knowledgeable and gave tips for using the equipment. Awesome experience, couldn't have asked for any better customer service. read more

Very helpful staff. Some things just should be bought over the internet. A Martin guitar is one of them. The tech guys set my new guitar up in 30 minutes and it plays like a dream. read more

I have been to this location at least 10 times, and each of those 10 times, no one has asked me if I need help, if I am finding everything okay, and no one even says hello. Then you look around and employees are just chatting with each other or playing the guitars. It is off putting. I keep hoping the next time I go in for something or to look around that it will be different but it never is. read more

First off i sant to say guitar center has decent prices, awesome selection, very bright and roomy of a building. The atmosphere is very friendly and fun. I got a new guitar Epiphone Les Paul and wanted to get it setup by a technician. So what better place to go than guitar center right!? Called and they said the tech is on vacation.. So they have 1 technician? At a place called guitar center you would expect them to just be top shelf in regards to service read more

Guitar center has decent prices. Just be prepared to deal with pushy sales people who care more about making a sale than about giving the customer what they want. Do your research first because they care about nothing other than making a sale. You want some real pros? Call somewhere like Fender and talk directly to them. The people at friendly were more than happy to direct me to somewhere that had what I needed even though it wasn't them. They knew that I am a customer of theres regardless of whether I intended to buy something right than. NO GUITAR CENTER, I just told you like three times I only had questions about a product. No I don't want to buy the product right at this second. When I DO intend to buy a product you sell i will find it somewhere else, cheaper, come back, price match, THAN I will buy your product. Edit: to the Middleton location, the staff has always been nice and friendly. Just in general, lay off the upsell s****. Not sure if GC pays in commission but I've always had an ethical issue with that for exactly this reason. read more

Came here to purchase a keyboard with my boyfriend. Keith (?? he wasn't wearing a name tag) was very helpful and professional when it came to assisting us with checkout and taking the keyboard to the car. We went home and saw that the keyboard had a defect. Since Guitar Center is located in Middleton, and we we're from the east side, we decided to come back the next day. When we came back Keith recognized us right away and gave us incredible service. He grabbed us another keyboard and inspected it and triple checked all the keys before letting us leave with it. We had an amazing experience at this location!! read more

It's almost funny how rude the employees are. I've been a long-time customer of Guitar Center and this particular location is a joke. There's been instant regret every time I've walked in. read more