I was surprised to see some of the reviews here vs my visit on 11/11!! I was greeted by the store manager who shook my hand and asked what help I needed? Then several other store workers came over asking what I needed and if someone was helping me. My visit was excellent....everyone was very pleasant and helpful. They even handled my trade in Gibson SG in a very timely matter explaining to me every step. As far as the store its one of the biggest I've been in....super nice store. I cannot imagine not finding what you need. I'll be back soon! read more

I've never actually stepped foot in this store, but these guys helped get a used pedalboard I found on their website out to me quickly and communicated very effectively with me every step of the way. David and the guys, thank you so much. I look forward to coming in someday and buying y'all a round. Much obliged for the A+ experience from start to finish. Much love and many thanks from Texas. read more

I went into the Southington Guitar Center last Friday. I left work early with $3000 burning a hole in my pocket. I decided this would be the day I finally pick out a Les Paul, since I've always wanted one. So when I arrived at the store my first interaction was to say hello to Mike who I've done business with for around 20 years since he was at the Manchester branch, but he had no idea who I was. Ok, whatever... so I find another person at the counter and I explained that I would like to try out some Les Pauls and I need a little guidance because I'm not super familiar with all the styles and neck types. We walked around the store twice and I decided to try out one of the new ones on the wall. I had to take it down myself, and kneel on the floor to try to play it. At no point was I offered an amp, a seat, or even a pick. There was a pretty bad scuff in the finish on the top back edge of the instrument and I asked if it was a "New" Guitar. He replied the manager could give me a discount. I figured I actually might be able to negotiate for the price of this new beautiful Guitar. So at that point the sales rep still had made no effort to talk to the manager or plug me into an amp so I said "I guess the one for me isn't here." and I left the store angry. I don't think I will ever return to another guitar center. It's too bad, music stores are a dying breed and they aren't even trying to stay afloat. Ill spend my $3000 at Brian's Guitars in Cheshire instead. F.U.G.C. read more

This music store gave me some great advice on how to pack my keyboard to ship from Connecticut to my home in Austin. They also offered to buy it from me at a fair price. Thanks for your help. read more

This is long, but worth it - READ IT! So tonight I decided to take a ride to Guitar Center on Queen Street in Southington, CT to see if they had any Cordoba Classical Guitars in stock that I could play back to back for comparison. I've been researching and planning this purchase for quite some time and was ready to buy tonight if they had what I was looking for and if the guitar felt right. Not one to order musical instruments from an on-line distributor such as Sweetwater, I prefer to see, feel, hear and inspect any instruments that I purchase. I was hopeful that they had at least one Cordoba C10 on the wall. I was excited to find what looked to be a Cordoba C12 SP on the top row - the guitar I was most interested in!! I'll never know now because I was ignored. All excited, I ran out to the register to ask for assistance only to be greeted by ....no one. Not one person even acknowledged my presence in the store, despite making eye contact over four times!!!! During holiday time? SHOCKING! The store was dead, by the way, so it's not like they were swamped. Adam, who I assume is the manager because he was sitting in the office on his cell phone, kicked back in his big chair, couldn't be bothered to even say "Welcome to Guitar Center". Seriously? To be fair, I told myself that maybe he's doing a schedule or taking care of some on-line business or other issue. But then a young man who was already trying to help this older woman load a gift card at the register called out to Adam and asked if he was busy, to which Adam replied "yes", all the while looking me straight in the eye from across the room and laughing. He didn't lift a finger to even help his own employee who told the woman that "He had never done this before". (Load a gift card, I assume). I'm glad this amused Adam. I'm glad because it's given me the push I needed to finally write a review for this horrible store. Every time I go in there I expect things to be different. But every single time I leave in disgust, empty handed and go elsewhere. I'm also glad because I want Guitar Center home office to know that I walked into this Southington location to buy a Cordoba C12, A $2200.00 guitar, and walked out with nothing but pissed off - again. How is this store even in business? Who's training these people? I'm a former multi-unit restaurant manager, for nearly a decade, and I'm very familiar with labor cost and overhead and the need to cut when business is slow, but any retail professional knows that simply greeting your customers with a smile, or greeting them at all, is key to setting the store up for success. But I'm done cutting this store slack. There's no excuse for this. All I can say is I hope home office reads this and checks their store cameras to verify my claims here. (I was in the store at around 6:15 on December 4, 2023). I'm not exaggerating even a little. And to anyone reading this review, stay out of this store. Your time is much better spent on the phone with Sweetwater. Brian there gave me a half hour of his time this afternoon during my lunch break and even gave me a number to call him back if I had any more questions. He was attentive, patient and professional - and that's where I'll be ordering my C12 from. I'm also forwarding this review, as written here, to home office as soon as I find the contact info. There I'll be including my full name and contact info on the outside chance someone cares enough to call me back. But I'm not holding my breath. Ron L. Southington, CT read more

Over the past 2 years I've made a few trips to GC. This most recent one was about a week ago. My band recently purchased a new live set up to replace our old Yamaha passive PA speakers and older Mackie board. We met at GC to look at our options and to trade-in equipment. GC offered a 10% off trade-in discount off your entire purchase when you sold them your old gear. That process was a tad tedious. It took them over an hr and a half to test a couple pcs of equipment only to take one pc. I understand that GC can only take what they can sell but it took quite a while to get that conclusion. Aside from that I did find most of the staff to be helpful and nice during our visit. A couple weeks later they had a President say sale going on where they offered 15% off. So I checked their price match policy. They were willing to match themselves within X days. So I brought my receipt back for adjustment. It was while standing in line looking at my receipt that I realized that they didnt give us the 10% off on all products we purchased a couple weeks ago. They made an error and we were already owed a correction. I explained this and the price match from the Presidents day sale and they were willing to do. That was great and I was very happy there wasn't a further hassle. With all the above said. Prices at GC are "usually" at manufacturer MAP (minimum advertised price) or higher. If you interested in buying something substantial make sure to price match other online competitors first then check your receipt for accuracy. They have a large stock of various musical products so its hard not to go there for all your music needs and there holiday % off sales are to hard to beat. read more

I'm giving this a 5 star rating only for the way Mr. Sanchez righted the gaurantee/warranty. Guitar Center Corporate is where I have a problem now. When I purchase gear protection, why is it that I have to jump through flaming hoops to get a replacement for a cymbal? I use Japanese, white oak, 747s, for drum sticks and I go through 3 pair a month, so I burn through drum parts like a Brit drinking tea, and that means a cymbal every 1/2 year. It is not my fault that I happen need the gear coverage, and I really don't have the money to waste on having to have a second set of cymbals, to wait for my replacement. I need my gear now, and this isn't a repair job - it is an obvious replace. I practice for 3 hours, daily, and for the type of learning schedule I am on, I can't afford to miss a day, I take my art very seriously, and I need a competent company to aquire music equipment through. Musicians need their parts now, not tomorrow, and I will take my business elsewhere if you don't meet my needs. I do business with you for price, and convenience, and I barely saved any money on the last experience, so if things don't change I can't keep torchering myself with the lack of service. Thank you for bending over backwards to get me my gear, and I will try this store again, but I will be apprehensive to buy anything knowing what I may have to go through if I need a repair or a replacement. read more

I stopped by the store twice. both times there were store personnel at the counter having personal conversations. no one asked me if I needed help. when I went up to the desk and said I was looking to purchase a guitar the store clerk pointed at the wall of guitars and said there they are. then went back to his personal conversation. The advantage of buying a guitar locally helps support the local business. but if there is no motivation to help a customer or provide any customer service then why bother to shop at that store. I can't believe that the Guitar Center will stay in business with their lack of customer care. read more

I very rarely write reviews but I had to this time, I came here for an adopter for my son, totally clueless and let me tell you! These guys were amazing the gentleman with the grey hair at the register just sorry I didn't get his name, was so nice and helpful and the manager Conner was just amazing he went above and beyond, customer service is superb here, I'm not from Southington but Thus will be our place to go if we ever need anything. Thankyou so you two :) read more

A great selection of instruments and accessories. Just about anything you need to play your guitar. I do classes every week, and bought all my equipment from Guitar Center. I couldn't be happier. Great staff. Great lessons. Everything in one place. read more

I can't begin to say how awesome the staff is at this location. I ordered a curbside item and when I didn't get a response I called and talked to Ivan, who was so helpful!!! There was an issue that he worked with me to correct. I got to the store and asked for Ivan but he was busy with another customer so I had the pleasure of working with another gentleman, who I hate to say I can't remember his name but he was so pleasant and so helpful. Honestly, I can't say enough about this crew. Not to many places have great customer service these days and they nailed it! read more

Not impressed, and definitely disappointed. After buying a brand new Nord keyboard from a Guitar Center, I bought a used Peavey 5-string bass from this store. Since there was no photo posted of the bass, I contacted the store, and the salesman (Mike) described the bass, supposedly in detail. the bass arrived missing the B-String. When I called the store and explained the situation, the salesman basically said "too bad". I guess there's Sweetwater! I think these guys are terrible, first not to mention about a missing string, then not to offer any help in getting it. Think twice about Guitar Center and stay away from these guys. read more

When I came in for a quote on a vintage guitar and amplifier, I ended up waiting for about two hours while they tried to get the quote from their main LA location. At that point, they said they couldn't give me a quote until later, and took my phone number. I never heard back from them. read more

Just wanted to give a quick shoutout to "Josh" at Guitar Center. He is 2nd in command there, but is "the man" this week due to the manager being on vacation. Anyway, Josh helped me out recently on a couple of purchases, and as always went above and beyond the call of duty....! Outstanding customer service, knowledgeable, and courteous. I know "GC" has been thrown under the bus in the past. Also, it's been my experience that people in general tend to always fixate on the negative. So quick to pass a negative judgement. Even if the situation is minuscule and insignificant. Too easy to criticize, and too hard to praise. With that being said, in my own humble opinion, you can't go wrong with visiting a Guitar Center. Especially the one in Southington CT, and in addition the one in Manchester CT. Thanks again Josh......... read more

Avoid this store for higher-end instruments. I ordered a used limited edition Martin. They sent it with the wrong case from a lower-end instrument. No reply to emails to the salesperson who pulled and sent the wrong case. No reply from corporate. I'm stuck spending $299 to fix their error, or have to return it and find another elsewhere. It's a chain. Use them for mass-produced low-end stuff, but they are clearly not capable of customer service or the attention required for higher-end orders. read more

No more hauling it to Manchester! I stopped in on their second day of business to pet some of the beautiful guitars and rifle around in the music books and was greeted with a free t-shirt and lanyard as part of the opening weekend shenanigans. Also stopped yesterday to show someone else the new shop and was sad to find they were already closed. However, after staring longingly through the door, an employee came and opened it and let us pop inside as they were cleaning up just so I could share the beauty of the gigantic, open floor plan. There's a pink Strat for $129 that needs to be in my possession sooner rather than later. read more

I bought a vintage harmony a while back (from a friend) and it had more than its fair share of problems. It's not the best guitar, but it's sentimental to me and I love it to death. I brought it to guitar center to get the $50 tune up, and they did a job way beyond my expectations. I can't quite remember the techs name, I believe it was edward? Either way, he did an amazing job, and even did a little more than he had to without charging me any more! My guitar went from this dull cheap sound to one that it deserves. I absolutely love playing It now and can't keep my hands off of it. They raised the pickups, fixed some wires, put new strings on, fixed the intonation (which was god awful, bless them) cleaned up all the scratches (trust me It was bad) and polished it up. Thank you again for for the wonderful job in the guitar tech department, you absolutely rock read more

Mike D, the manager of the Guitar Center in Southington was terrific in resolving an issue I had with an online order. Super proactive and aggressive with helping me. I can't say enough how much I appreciate his attention to detail and communication skills as this purchase was very important to me. Thanks again to Mike and his team for helping me in whatever way they could. read more

I've been to the guitar center several times and every time the service has been outstanding. I bought my electric guitar from them, and was very confident with my purchase because of the knowledgeable and talented sales people who helped me. It's awesome to walk into a shop and know that the staff is trustworthy and will match you to the product that is best for you. If I could give them 6 stars I would! read more

Spent over $1000 last Christmas season on a guitar/keyboard and experience was great so I went back this year. It was the exact opposite. I asked for an electronic drum set for my 8 year old boy and the gentleman was not helpful. He showed me a $300 practice pad set and stated that this is all we have. I know they have other sets because I saw them online. I mentioned that to him and he ignored me. Not running back there anytime soon. read more