Long story short: No customer service and a bunch of people who hate their jobs and don't have passion. Long story long: I'm a photographer and videographer that works for a nightclub and they sent me here to grab some fog machine fluid. I made the order online and came to pick it up just cause I live 30-35 minutes away and wanted to make a quick grab and go. As soon as I arrived, I went to the first person I saw and was told "Oh! I'm off already, I was supposed to leave an hour ago, go find another associate.." I then proceeded to walk in the DJ section side because I wasn't directed where the next associate was so I decided to get lost. I saw a gentleman at a counter and stood in front of him waiting to be acknowledged but he just stared at me blankly so I then proceeded to ask him which he huffed and puffed in annoyance. After giving him my name he walked off silently without a word and grabbed my things. When asked for an ID, I gave him a government issued ID and was told with attitude that it had to be a drivers license (this didn't make sense to me cause if my government issued ID gets me pass TSA, I didn't see why my ID couldn't get me pass fog machine fluid.) read more

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Came in specifically to grab a mixer, confirmed it was in stock at the register, and the staff member walked us over to pick it up. There were two boxes left on the shelf, and instead of grabbing the one in the front, he reached behind it and pulled the one from the back. At the time it didn't seem like a big deal, but once we got back and opened it, everything made sense. The unit clearly wasn't new. There was Velcro on the bottom like it had been mounted in someone else's setup, and the cords and plugs had writing on them. It looked used right out of the box, and on top of that, it didn't even work. Luckily, the mixer we already had held us over for the night, so it didn't completely throw everything off. We brought it back, explained the situation, and got a refund without any hassle. Not the worst experience since they made it right, but definitely frustrating. If you're going here for something specific, double check the box before you leave. read more

John Russ and Patrick Walsh are excellent guitar techs. Every time I bring one of my instruments in they always do a top-notch job. Great guys & experts in their craft. if you need guitar or bass work done in the Virginia Beach/ Chesapeake/ Norfolk area, bring it to those gentlemen. read more

Space is well organized, big and appealing! I love that customers were able to utilize instruments to get a feel for what they like and want. I was purchasing a gift and needed assistance for where it would be. An associate redirected me exactly to the room I needed to go to even though they were on the register, checking people out and his line was long. Once I got to the correct section, Jared then helped me, I specifically told him what I was looking for and he came back with different color options that I didn't even know was an option. I'm super glad he did because I ended up going with a black base and gold trim for the DJ set I bought instead of just the generic all black, which is all I thought it came as. He explained what came with my item, and the different accessories I could purchase to help complete my gift. He was patient with my questions and very knowledgeable and went a step above to bring me different color ways of the DJ said I asked for.! read more

Guitar Center - Ddj-flx4-n - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

I recently purchased a used guitar from Guitar Center online and had it shipped to my home. Guitar was awesome- but the truss rod needed a little adjustment and I wasn't comfortable doing it. I took it to the store intending to return it and just buy a new one. Richie was the salesman helping me and he offered to make an adjustment for me and save me the hassle of returning/buying/waiting. 15 minutes later guitar was like new again. Shout out to Richie in particular- but the whole shopping experience was fantastic! read more

Awwwwwwwwe yeah! Have to give props to these folks. Everyone knows Guitar Centers are hit and miss. And I have been all over the country and have been to more Guitar Centers then I can count. Many of the Guitar Centers are filled with employees that are quite simply put....snobs. The wait times can be painful to check out, or even longer if you have a quick question. Also, the arrogance can be just too much. I'm so happy that this Guitar Center has some good people working in there. I've had zero issues with them, and every person that has helped me has been great. What more can I say? I hope the big heads at Guitar Center figure things out with their money problems because I would like this particular store, and it's people to stick around. Well done. read more

Guitar Center - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

If only i can give this store 0 stars i would. I don't recommend you coming to this store and get advice. Went here one time and there's no such thing as customer service practice here. As in 0 customer service skills. There's this old head working here. I asked em if what he can recommend about an amplifier. And he told me he'll look it up? Waited in the guitar room for minutes. Never came back. And i just saw em talking to another customer like wtf. Am i joke to you? I don't know why the manager of this store hire 0 customer service experience. What a shame! read more

WOW AMAZINGG Thomas helped me with purchasing my first ever acoustic guitar. Very informative and helpful for choosing the right one. Marcus was very helpful with explaining the differences between acoustic guitars. Purchased my strap and stand. Will be back to purchase my case in the very near future :) read more

Really bad customer service I asked two guys for a violin one didn't even looked at me when told me they didn't have any The other one told me they had some and told me he would go get one for me. Made me wait 15 mins and when my patience was almost over i saw he just forgot about me and was talking to another customer The place is good but that's it :/ read more

Thomas was awesome. Great customer service and really knows his gear. Would come back any day!!!!

The parking lot is terrifying, so if you can get your car in and out without a scratch, dent, or totaling it- 10 pts for you! Despite the tiny lot, the store is sufficiently large - broken off into sections like acoustic guitars and some other door that leads to another section of the store. I had a wonderful experience placing an online order and picking it up. They request an ID after they find your name in their system. The guy helping me was quick & to the point. I waited a few minutes as he retrieved my late Christmas present from the back... [ S T O R Y t i m e ] so I got to eavesdrop on some lady complaining about a damaged guitar her kid opened Christmas day. She was trying to hustle the standard associate for more besides a replacement (which the store manager already agreed upon). I mean, that kind of situation is out of an associate's hands... people really forget their manners in public lol. I felt sorry for the guys working. And even more sorry for the guy who checked up on me asking if I'd been helped and proceeded to ask the upset lady if she had been helped... only to see him make this look that Jim from "The Office" does where he looks directly at the camera as if he wished he never even asked. [ /storytime ] All in all, great customer service. If I ever have any music needs, this is the place to go! read more

I stopped by to pick up an online purchase. Customer service absolutely sucked! The store did not have the order ready. He had to put it together once I asked. They couldn't find my husband's purchase for some time. The dude kept asking out loud if a Jaylon worked there. I told him clearly several times my husband's name (it was not Jaylon). I had to keep calling my husband because the guy was asking what pedals he purchased. No box or manuel for one of the pedals. Just seemed like the employees would rather talk amongst themselves instead of actively offering customer support. I ended up waiting in store for over 15 minutes. By the way, this was not the first time I observed crap customer service here. read more

The room in Guitar Center where all of the acoustic guitars for sale are displayed might be the best smelling spot on earth. It' has high ceilings and walls made of cedar. The walls are covered top to bottom with freshly unpacked guitars. So the whole room smells like cedar and brand new guitars. What smells better than that besides something you can eat? I know this seems like a random thought. But I was there today and bought a $350 Yamaha acoustic guitar on sale for $99. I wanted to stay in that room forever. Maybe I have a smell fetish. Anyway, enough about me. Guitar Center's great. My husband and I have bought several things there including a kids' guitar and some digital recording equipment. They have a large selection and the customer service has always been right on. I just want them to let me spend the night in the acoustic guitar room. read more

Guitar Center - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Friendly and knowledge staff, went in for something obscure I could have bought online but would have waited for shipping. You pay slightly more not wait on a truck but having someone knowledgeable helps when you feel like you've spend your life "googling" read more

I love this store. What makes this place stand out is the employees. They are very knowledgeable and personable. They have helped me so many times throughout the years finding the right items to suit my particular needs. Today K and Panda helped me pick out a microphone and actually saved me money. I had originally come in to buy a recording interface but they figured out I didn't need one due to the equipment I already had. I really appreciate not being taken advantage of and the extra care to dig in and see what my goals are and how to get me there. They are honest, passionate, and generous with their expertise. This is my go to store for all music needs, hands down! read more

I'm a newbie guitar player, but IMO this is THE place to go to buy or browse for a GUITAR in Hampton Roads. They have a HUGE selection of guitars - not to mention a plethora of other instruments & amps, etc. Their prices are very competitive w/online prices (if not the same). My only words of caution is to think twice before paying extra for their "professional guitar setup" - (more on that later). Even if you plan to buy a guitar sight-unseen online, it doesn't hurt go into Guitar Center & see if they have what you're looking for - or just to go in and get a feel for what's out there. You could spend days researching online, but most say they don't like to buy a guitar w/out holding it in their hands first (unless absolutely sure it's exactly what is wanted). Also, spend as much as you can afford on a guitar - as I've learned the hard way: "you get what you pay for". I personally wouldn't spend LESS than $300 or $400 - on an acoustic (or acoustic/electric) guitar for example, or you may be sorry later - when you find out your guitar has tuning/intonation issues - or various other problems down the road. I found out (later) - that I ended up buying a limited edition "used" 2008 model acoustic/electric Takamine - which I thought at the time - was under priced at $350 - w/the upgraded TK-40 preamp & onboard tuner. I found out (from Tak) that this guitar's MSRP was $999 - but retailed & sold in stores for $699 to $749. I couldn't find much info on it & thought it was a great deal, so I jumped on it after a thorough examination in the store & found it to be in darn good condition. I knew it was "the one" when I just couldn't put it down. So, you can really find some great deals at GC - on used guitars. I went in to buy a NEW acoustic Seagull S6 Original (about $400) but left with a used acoustic/electric Takamine (I decided I needed to be able to plug it into an amp). I do find it nice being able to sit down & "try before you buy". Employees all seem like cool & knowledgeable hipsters that don't hound or pressure you to buy. However, the guitar salesman said their guitar technician is one of the best on the East Coast & I was offered a "half-price" setup for $27.50 w/the purchase of my used guitar. I said yes, since there was some slight buzzing at a couple frets on a string or two. In retrospect, I should have said NO & taken the guitar home right then & there. After having time to digest it all, I feel like I was totally taken advantage of, because when I picked up my guitar the NEXT day - it didn't LOOK like A SINGLE THING had been done to it at all! New strings aren't included in a guitar setup (which is beyond ridiculous). I did some research & later found out that most places that offer guitar setups - they include new strings. GC's "setup" doesn't include a new set of strings? How is this possible? Yes, I was asked if I wanted to BUY a new set of strings in addition to the setup, but I declined - since I'd just spent $350 + tax + $27.50 on an imaginary setup. So, I didn't want to have to spend another penny. Incidentally, I had to bring the guitar back 3 weeks after my purchase - as I felt the action towards the sound hole was too high. All he did was adjust the truss rod with a couple quarter turns, and voila, in 5 seconds he was done. Is that what $27.50 gets you? Also, my "used" guitar wasn't cleaned at all. Frankly, it made me wonder about GC's attention to detail & their overall pride in their work. When researching guitar setups, it typically includes a thorough cleaning & wiping down of the guitar. Mine was full of smudges & oily fingerprints from every customer that had handled the guitar while in the store. Plus, there was dust all over it. The fretboard was disgustingly FILTHY. Honestly, it looked like the guitar had NEVER been cleaned. Picking up my new "used" FILTHY guitar was a MAJOR disappointment for me. Even if the "setup" only involved a quarter turn of the truss rod, I can't believe they couldn't take 5 minutes to clean it up for me. Nope, I cleaned it myself!!! Apparently, they don't "clean" a USED guitar. It comes "as is". I'm not kidding: my guitar was absolutely filthy. When I removed the dead strings that came w/it - I cleaned the entire fretboard w/some conditioner/cleaner & the rag was black when I'd finished. All in all, I'd still recommend GC, however, I'm VERY disappointed in what they call a guitar setup. If they offer you a "half price" setup - RUN! IMHO, a used guitar should've already be setup & dialed in - BEFORE being put out for sale/display. If it needs to be "tweeked" - they should do that on the spot for FREE! If I knew their setup involved a 5 second turning of a screw, I would have done that myself! I cannot recommend a professional setup from GC (unless free). Learn how to do it yourself & don't flush $$$ down the toilet! read more

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Not sure where to begin. The inventory was cool but one staff member ruined the experience. Stopped here with a friend to get new strings (and an ounce of knowledge as we are novice guitar players) but this guy John at the repair desk was extremely rude for the entirety of the visit. He informed us that whoever tuned the guitar did it wrong and we were using the wrong type of strings. I can respect constructive criticism that a lesson can be taken from but he went above and beyond with cocky remarks and a sense of belittlement. We play guitar at home for our own personal enjoyment, not prepping to take the stage at Coachella. To say the least it was an extremely uncomfortable visit and we will not be returning. read more

I inherited a guitar from a really good friends father who passed recently and had always wanted to learn how to play. Not knowing anything about guitars or if this one was any good to begin with, I took it to the Virginia Beach location. I have never been to a guitar store before, and was incredibly intimidated as I knew literally nothing or what to ask for, except for a friend of mine who plays telling me what to ask for. I was introduced to John, who immediately saw to that I was thoroughly taken care of, he took his time, answering questions that I had, stopping to show me and explain what he was doing along the way. He made recommendations for things like amps and interfaces, all while explaining the pros and cons of each and keeping everything extremely budget friendly. All in all, I had a fun hour hanging out and chatting with him, I learned a lot, and am overall very impressed with the experience. When I finally feel comfortable to pick something up that's better then what I have, I'm looking to these guys for help with it. read more

Speak with a better customer service or manager about lessons. There system seems to bill your account automatically each month after signup ,even without appointment. There is no way for refund causing scheduling,and payment issues. The team there will not explain there procedures with you initially. read more

Love the store. Staff is average in knowledge. One thing to beware of here though. They'll sell you clearly used products at Full price. I recently purchased a Roland TB-3 that was supposedly new. I didn't check the box seal until I arrived home, because I shouldn't have to! Upon my arrival I found that it had been opened, instruction manual was all wrinkled (a telltale sign with Roland's impossible to fold back up instruction posters). Fingerprints and even a scratch on the unit itself. This is unacceptable, I let it slide because it's a far drive, and the unit works fine. I'm just letting you know. read more

Other than listening to my extensive iTunes collection and banging aimlessly on keyboards in stores, I have zero music experience. I decided that after years of yearning to play the piano, I actually had the ambition, motivation, and mean$ to do it. Through my research, I decided on a Yamaha Digital Piano, and found the Guitar Center in VA Beach could possibly have it in stock. I called at 9am, even though they didn't open until 10am. I was very excited about my upcoming purchase, and just wanted to see what the Guitar Center folks had to say. Well, a representative (I'm so sorry I'm bad with names) stopped what he was doing, logged into the system and found the keyboard I was looking for. THEN, he went even further to ensure it was the correct color I was looking for...this required actually physically looking. All of this while the store was still closed, mind you. In the interest of shopping at brick and mortar stores and supporting my neighbors in the local economy, this was refreshing for customer service to be provided in that manner and sealed the fact that I could use Guitar Center for my music needs. Fast forward to my visit to the store. Yes, parking is tight. I wandered around the store to get a feel for it, then banged aimlessly on a couple of keyboards. :-) I decided the Yamaha was indeed the keyboard I wanted and asked for assistance in purchasing. Once again, I received great service and thank Guitar Center for assisting in my new endeavor. I left the store smiling inside. That said...perhaps a few improvements may help? - I'm certain upon entering the store I looked out of my element. Perhaps the reps could be more attune to this fact and steer me in the proper direction. They all seemed busy and gainfully employed, so no worries. - Once deciding on the keyboard, I wasn't offered any advice on accessories. As a new owner, this could have resulted in more sales for Guitar Center. For instance, keyboard stand, beginner music books, headphones, dust cloths, keyboard covers, etc. Thanks again read more

The music mecca of Hampton Roads when it comes to your instrument needs. I have been shopping here since 2002 and I have purchased a Marshal Amp, Fender Strat Highway 1, Ibanez RG-320 guitar, Ibanez 5 string bass and new pickups for the three above listed guitars. I have also purchased plenty of odds and end things such as cables, picks & peddles at this place. They run some great sales sometimes. I grabbed the Highway 1 for 300 even with the case. Of course I spent almost 200 on the new pickups for it but that thing is sweet! The bottom line here is that they can almost all your musical needs, have decent prices (look for the sales) and the service is also pretty good. I have had my acoustic serviced at the service center and results were awesome. I had to have my acoustic put in a heat press to fix a warped neck and it has played like a dream ever since. I also replaced the bridge on the Ibanez bass I bought here and brought it back to have some tweaks and again, plays like a dream. Another thing to note, I have an EMG knob in my RG-320, an active EQ set on my bass & the pickups for my bass and Highway 1 were all ordered from here. Even though they were not stocked, they had no problems getting them for me. So if you are looking for something and don't see it, ask. If they can get it, they will. read more

The store itself is great, but I have to say, the best part was working with Arch. This man is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. He went above and beyond, and he is the reason we left with a brand new les paul. Please, see him whenever you need to make a purchase. Arch, you made this process super easy and pleasant. Thank you for everything! read more

Guitar Center - Some guitars - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Awful customer service. We signed up our daughter for piano lessons online and we were incorrectly charged multiple times. When we called the office, customer service was inconsistent and low quality. They could never get the schedule straight and we had to remind several employees what their employees say -Luke, Tag, and Shannon- and nobody remembers what they told. How convenient. I cannot wait to be done with this place. If you want musical lessons, go some place else. This place just takes your money, then tries to say that lessons are not deserved. Take your hard earned money elsewhere. Terrible customer service and awful communication. On top of that, they show a complete lack of compassionate. Do not spend your money here. read more

Updated review. I went through the customer service team and got what I asked for. I feel very good about this purchase now. If you have a legitimate issue with something bought, go through the process. They will surprise you. Thank you for making it right! read more

Went to buy a multi effects pedal yesterday morning . Wasn't greeted or helped. The only human interaction was with a heavy set blonde behind the counter who said 'over there ' as she pointed to them. Waited for about twenty minutes when another gentleman came in and was greeted warmly and helped immediately. Won't return again read more

Staff always helpful. No discounts for repeat customers but good quality equipment thou . All your needs for pro audio or any other instruments related gear read more

Great service here with a super friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have you covered from guitars, percussion, keyboards, etc. etc. This place is music shop to go to in Hampton Roads. My only complaint is the parking. It's minimal with a few very tight spaces in the front and some room on the side of the building. During the holidays it can be crazy getting in and out of here because of the lack of room in the parking lot. You may want to visit during off peak hours. read more

Typical Big Cooperate guitar shop. Occasional good deal. Couldn't give this place more than a two star and I was being generous doing that. Went in to this location multiple times and every time the guitar guy on the sales floor was just weird. Seems like he knew everything about nothing. I played dumb and asked him questions about things I already knew the answers to just to test him and he was just making things up like I wouldn't know. Just be weary of the older sales guy. You can't miss him he knows everything. Would not recommend this location. Would rather drive to Richmond. read more

I've had hit or miss experiences coming here, come here to browse...

I took my Gretsch electric guitar I purchased nearly ten years ago in to see if its action could be improved two weeks ago. I met with John in their repair section who agreed it needed adjustment and new strings. It was ready in two days and, for a very reasonable price, I have an amazing guitar. Terrific service from caring professionals! I would go nowhere else for guitar needs!! read more

It's a bit ironic that when Guitar Center first open they put a lot of smaller shops in a bind because of their buying power and inventory, but now with the internet I kind of feel bad for Guitar Center and wonder how long this business model can sustain itself. That said until they can invent a way to let you virtually play guitar that you see online places like Guitar Center are going to continue to be in business my only wish is that they would have slightly higher paid employees so that you get at least some enthusiasm when assisting customers read more

I've been buying gear here since 2004! Can't go wrong! Up until recently, they have always had what I'm looking for. Typically they do not carry Warwick or fretless basses which is why I say that. But they carry everything else I've ever played (Jackson, Ibanez, Schecter, Yamaha, etc.) As far as everything else goes, they have an awesome array of instruments to choose from and the staff is always very knowledgeable about the products and your needs. 2 weeks ago however, I ran into a new sales guy who was a real sleaze. I'll spare the details, but that's the only time I've ever had a problem with staff here. I don't know what the hell was up, but he freaked out that I had a gun after I'd already been in there for over 20 minutes. His claim is that they are "changing our policy." No signs on the door might I add. Never a problem all these years or the bi-weekly times I come in or anyone else for that matter. ***Update*** Shortly after that incident the store manager Luke Ponessa contacted me and explained that GC's corporate stated they support any local and state laws regarding firearms. And that firearms in any VA Guitar Center is accepted and welcomed as it is VA's law. A very thorough follow up on their part as well as very professional approach to resolving this issue. He told me how sorry he was that it happened and made sure he kept my business. Good folks! read more

Always have great customer service in here. Just a heads up for all people who are not industry professionals. Just be honest and tell the people what your thoughts are, or what you would like to do and let them guide you. They can save allot of time for you, and the others in the store won't laugh at you for looking like a wannabe! Every time I walk on here, I hear the wannabes acting as if they know it all, and wasting the times of the people working here. read more

I love this place. Open , friendly, you can walk in pick up an instrument and play. The people who work there are always kind and helpful. No high pressure sales techniques. I agree with Joe about the parking, but I don't think there is much they can do about it. read more

Wow! Raphael is my brother from another mother, hooked me up with my first Strat same day. Loving the pro knowledge and pointers, best service of my life. I'll be back! read more

Very clean and neat, all employees were very helpful and friendly. The drum department in particular was very large with a huge selection of cymbals and electronic drum sets. Awesome place! read more

I came in with a pretty complex audio recording issue and Panda was great. After looking at a couple mixers and discussing my setup and latency issues between devices that I'm experiencing today, he had it figured out with the biggest issue being the routing of the audio signal. This type of knowledge ensures that their customers have the right set-up and equipment for their needs. read more

If you want music, this is where you go. If you are a DJ, they also have a very solid selection of DJ equipment, with much of it available for trying out live in the store. It's pretty great. Although the pricing, as you might imagine, is sometimes not competitive with online stores. read more

Great crew, ready to answer questions and give answered based on need over upsell. Good business here. That's why I stop in when I'm in the area. Salute to Micheal D on the great service. There's more to having the product one needs to earning a customer. People tend to direct their spend to the places also that treat them fairly. read more