Whip City Music is what a hometown music store should be- from lessons to instrument repair to…read more cool new and used instruments and guitar pedals. Just gotta love this place! Owner Doug Cotton aims to please- being a musician himself,he knows his stuff and can help out whether you are a budding musician or seasoned pro. I'm so happy Whip City Music is here serving the local community and helping to make downtown Westfield happening again!

From the owner: Locally owned and operated, Whip City Music continues the tradition of providing quality new and…read moreused musical instruments, a wide array of music accessories, expert music lessons and essential music instrument repair services in the heart of downtown Westfield Massachusetts. With our competitive and affordable prices and friendly, relaxed atmosphere, Whip City Music is the place to go for all your music needs.

These guys are the real deal, this is the kind of thing you can't find online. I was blown away by…read morethe boutique setup...high end, incredible guitars. Everything was highly priced...the guitars ranging $800-$3000 approximately, I was scared to move as I walked through the store hoping I don't accidentally knock something down. Store in the front, repair shop at the back and 3 sound proof rooms where they conduct lessons by certified instructors during the week. $35 for a 1/2 hr session and goes up to $55 for an hour. The staff is helpful and very informative.

With the hollowing out of American bricks n' mortar retail because of online shopping, especially…read more'one click shopping' on Amazon, it is refreshing to walk into a beautiful, well-run shop that completely understands the needs of the customer, and can accommodate virtually any kind of budget. The owner of this shop, Nate, obviously loves and understands the business, and he also takes his time to show and explain the different types of guitars that he offers, and why they might make sense. There is also an awesome Golden Retriever in the store to keep you company if you just want to hang out with a dog instead of buy a guitar. The most impressive thing about Whole Tone is the completeness of the shop -- not only can you buy the guitar, but you can service it there as well, get your lessons, and also come in for demos of talented guitarists to see what is actually possible. I suppose you could just click and buy your guitar for the lowest price plus shipping on Amazon -- but you'll miss out on the rest of an important part of the experience, not to mention, the chance to actually try the equipment and hear what it sounds like before you do make a purchase. Its not merely about the lowest price. It also has to sound right. And if it makes you feel any better -- Nate did match the price of my guitar to whatever the lowest price was online -- without me even having to ask. That's pretty cool. Hopefully the dog will help out the lessons. No luck so far....

I have brought in four of my guitars (two acoustic and one electric) for basic setup work (one…read moretwice when I changed string gauges). I have never dared to mess with acoustic guitar setups in any way. Calvin and Trevor have been very patient and helpful and I have enjoyed playing the instruments much more after the work was done. Definitely worth the trip out there.

Brought my Telecaster back to life. Can't say enough about how Trevor and his staff listen, offer…read moregreat insights, and truly are partners in helping musicians express their best selves in the Pioneer Valley.

I had 4 vintage guitars from my long ago playing days and I wanted to secure a future for them as…read morethey were in decent shape had sentimental value. The staff at Empire Guitars was friendly and professional and provided me with an honest assessment of their condition and value. Thanks to everyone! Mark H.

I brought in my guitar, I've been playing for about a week or two so I obviously don't know much,…read morethey took a look at my guitar and helped me fix it and are just super informative and helpful I also bought some strings and a tuner while I was there and their employees are so amazing and super friendly and it was an amazing experience in general! They also have an amazing selection of guitars, pedals, etc. I definitely will be coming back next time I need something.

Easily the best shop in Northampton. Great prices, and good guys. I have purchased several things…read morethrough this shop, and encouraged many people to buy guitars and other instruments here, too. The selection is ever changing and eclectic. They buy used, predominantly, (With a few custom new pieces by local craftspersons.) They check the gear over pretty well, but it's always a good idea to take the guitar in for a good setup at a local luthier. They will do repairs and setups for you here at the shop, too. They have Guitars (Acoustic and electric), banjos, mandolin, auto-harp, Sitar, Percussion, Bass, Violins and Viola, horns, effects, Amps, cases, and accessories. (And other things, as they come in.) Every time I have interacted with the staff they have been friendly, knowledgeable, and just downright nice. The new location is wonderful. I love the wall of guitars. Please stay in Northampton forever and ever. Thanks. : )

---- an ex-employee of theirs saw my review and contacted me to appologize. He informs that this…read moreis not an unusual situation and it is why he quit. Avoid this place.

I just received my beautiful new Yamaha piano. I am thrilled with my choice. The sound and action…read moreare light years from my 60 year old Yamaha. The salesman, Natan was charming, helpful, and patient while I moved back and forth playing different pianos. I made my selection and Natan made the paperwork easy. A few days later i got a call and the delivery was set; it arrived in perfect condition. My experience in life has taught me to buy the best you can afford and you won't be sorry. I expect this piano will give me years of musical pleasure.

Both of my kids took lessons here. The teachers were very good. The rest of the staff leaves a…read morelot to be desired. They are not at all customer oriented and still act as if they are doing you a favor by allowing you to take lessons there. There is no way to make up a lesson if your kid has to miss one. Their theory is that you pay for a month and some months you get an "extra" lesson. Unless your kid is never sick and you never take vacation, this works out in their favor not yours. My advice is take lessons elsewhere where your business will be appreciated.

We have been with Suffield Music for over ten years now. My three children play multiple…read moreinstruments and have really excelled because of the instruction, support, and mentoring the have received from their teachers. I will always be grateful for the outstanding musical education they are getting!

A musical education is hard to come by these days. Gone are the times when the little old lady down…read morethe road gave piano lessons to neighborhood kids, either because fewer and fewer kids can be pulled from their video games or little old ladies have no interest in trying to teach music to children who would rather pretend to play music. And, as local school districts search for more ways to cut their budgets, music programs are often targeted resulting in water-downed programs that at best can only whet the appetites of future musicians. It's a wonder that music hasn't become a lost art. Thankfully, there are still places like Suffield Music to pick up the baton thrown away by public education and little old ladies down the road. Suffield Music offers a wide variety of incredibly affordable personal music lessons ranging from guitar to piano to violin to everything. I really can't think of an instrument I haven't seen taught there. The owner Josh is so plugged into the local music scene that if a student was interested in learning a unique instrument like the sitar, he could find a teacher. When my son's proficiency at the guitar exceeded my elementary knowledge of a dozen or so chords, I called Suffield Music and they paired him with an instructor that matched his musical interests. The instructor, who himself was not only a Berklee College of Music grad but a veteran of many bands, plugged into my son's musical interests and taught him how to connect his passions to his instrument, and the results were nothing short of inspiring. When my daughter, whose musical tastes centered around the work of a country-turned-pop artist, she was paired with a different instructor who taught her how to hold an audience with just her guitar and her voice. About a year later, she got up on stage in front of the entire middle school a performed a solo acoustic version of Niall Horan's "This Town" to, no exaggeration, thunderous applause. So, it goes without saying, I got my money's worth for my kids' music lessons. When my wife bought me a very expensive Fender Telecaster for my birthday, I resolved to raise my grunge-era guitar skills to a new level. And, I knew where to go. I was paired with an instructor who was nothing short of a musical savant. He took me, upon request, from the 12-bar blues to songs with wild alternative tunings. He taught me how to build and release audience tension along with some basic tips about handling a very cool instrument. I've played solo gigs numerous times, including twice at my town's annual fair, and reached a level where both my instructor and the owner said I should consider playing professionally at local bars and microbreweries. I guess I graduated. Look, music is not for everyone. It takes work, patience and perseverance. It is not for the dreamer who doesn't want to put in the effort. From a musical education, you get what you put into it. If your child or you, for that matter, truly want to know how to play an instrument at the highest of levels, give Suffield Music a shot. The experience, if you let it, will be truly transformative.

Came in for strings. What a shop. So many beautiful, high quality guitars. Price for strings was…read morereasonable and I'll be back. Wish they had lessons.

Incredible sales folks ! Hard to find items . Prices are better than guitar center . What a neat…read moreplace to hang out and find your next guitar

Local music institution. If you're there for service, be careful with who works on your stuff…read more Brian lied to my face about doing service work that he didn't do. Christian fixed my mandolin a did it for as little money as possible. It sounds fantastic now.

I bought a rare and wonderful used guitar here at a fair price. The owner needs to exercise more…read morepride on what he sells though, my guess is that this isn't his day job. Lots of love for the small independent guitar dealer tho.