Guitar Showcase

Reviewing as a total music novice family. We needed to rent a violin for my 5th grader for…read moreorchestra. We could not have been more helpful, patient and kind helping us set up a rental. Similarly, when we made the return at the end of the school year, the process was seamless! Highly recommend!

Just bought a ukelele from here to keep practicing as a beginner, they have good intro/beginner…read morepieces up to more expensive and studier pieces. The range I saw was from sale items at 49.99 up to 200+, they have a good, moderate amount of choices at each level, with different brands and accompanying acessories! My ukelele is a soprano, a great beginner ukelele I was practicing with, got it for $75 with tax and a carrying bag included in my purchase, if I remember correctly, tag price was $69.99 I did ask if there was something similar to a brand/type of ukelele I started my practice with but I was then getting sold onto the more expensive pieces that I didn't have experience with and didn't ask for so that was a miss for me. Wish I got more of a relevant recommendation but the workers were sweet, they let us browse by ourselves for a good amount of time before stepping in (which good for me because I needed time to think, compare, and browse). When we went, there were a handful of other customers inside the store, it's located in a small shopping center but the store is bigger inside than it appears on the outside. The parking situation was just okay, not bad, could use a tad bit more space, we went ~1p the parking lot was full minus 2-3 spots but I noticed cars came and went from the time we got there until we left so it seems like there's a couple spots free at any given time due to the traffic coming in and out for small errands. Lots of instruments and accessories to be found inside and the workers seem to be happy to help find what is needed! Pretty well organized inside to find what you need on your own though, I was able to find the ukeleles quickly.

Guitar Center

3.2

(512 reviews)

Very good service today from GC Stevens Creek. The 2 gentlemen that helped me portrayed excellent…read morecustomer service and they were very honest about what I was trying to accomplish. They were also very friendly and fun.

Came here with my drummer friend to get some gear. The associate I think his name was Sandro was…read morevery nice and gave us great service. Other associates working were very friendly they also give music lessons. This is definitely the store to come if you are a musician or looking into being one.

Guitar Wars

(62 reviews)

I was able to get my acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and ukulele set up for an extremely…read morereasonable price over the weekend. The vibe is also really cool with a Star Wars aesthetic. Lots of cool gear to look at too! Definitely going to be heading back here for all my setups/gear needs.

This place is rad. One of my favorite spots to find parts and stuff that other shops don't usually…read morehave on hand. There's always interesting guitars, amps and pedals to check out. I like the atmosphere of the place and Carlos seems like a cool dude that is always happy to help you find what you're looking for.

Keith Holland Guitars

4.4

(114 reviews)

Dear Robert, Thank…read moreyou for replying to my review. I would like to clarify a few points regarding your response. In my review, I used phrases such as "I guess" and "if" to denote uncertainty rather than making definitive claims. My intention was to explore possibilities, not to state untrue facts. Additionally, since you have my phone number and email address, I would have appreciated a follow-up regarding the needs we discussed that weren't addressed during our initial call. To clarify, my "needs" included the immediate purchase of lights and a fog machine, as well as a future four-core-pillar inspection of my Rafael Quiles Ballester Flamenco guitar, Fishman amplifier, and microphones. I am glad to hear that my initial impressions were incorrect. I value fairness and believe in second chances. I have not yet had my guitar inspected; if you are open to a fresh start and are willing to perform the inspection, please let me know. I would be happy to update or delete my current review and provide a five-star rating upon a positive experience. Finally, having worked extensively in customer service, I would suggest that if a specific time is set for a follow-up, it is best to honor that commitment or reach out to explain any delays. Clear communication is always preferable to leaving a customer wondering if their needs will be met. I look forward to hearing from you.

This has been my go to music shop for many years but for purchase and repair/setup…read more You won't find a more knowledgeable group of people. Or people who will go out of their way to make sure you get a good instrument.

Diamond Music

What a find..... A unique, cozy guitar shop located in the quaint town of Saratoga…read more A bevy of beautiful (generally high end) instruments. I found the perfect Taylor acoustic for my daughter's Christmas/wedding/college graduation gift. Tyler is most helpful and a genuinely nice person. What he offers is basically a guarantee that will allow you to upgrade from your original purchase to something else and he will credit your original price towards your upgrade. Of course, your original purchase must be in the condition you bought it. A novel and intriguing offer. This shop gets 5 stars from me! And while you're in Saratoga, following your visit to Diamond Music, stop by a local coffee shop or diner to complete the afternoon.

All I gotta say is that the interaction/dealing with Tyler the past few days has been literally the…read morebest customer service experience in my whole life of buying/selling/trading guitars. (Bought and sold 75 guitars in 25 years.)

Guitar Center

3.3

(88 reviews)

Cool place. pretty fun. It's nice and clean Kyle's cool,…read moreJuan was super helpful, however .... I had a very unique issue and had to run around back and forth. They were finally able to resolve the issue but didn't offer me any type of discount ... when they sold me a speaker that had a broken fuse took me 30 minutes to figure it out and it was the last one they had in stock. I was 2 hours late to my gig and they ended up giving me their display because it was all they had of that particular speaker so I could do my gig since I paid full price for a speaker that didn't even work. Christian said he wasn't able to refund me my $650 even tho it was their mistake, so he gave me store credit of $650. I became even more upset that he didnt even give me any type of discount when I decided to use my store credit to buy the most expensive speaker he convinced me to purchase. Then the last straw was when he told me he would call me and let me know when my products arrived and are ready for pick up.... He didn't tell me until 2 weeks later but he was so persistent with calling me in the beginning to make the sale ... I told him I don't check my email and appreciate his calls but taking 2 weeks to let me know it arrived.... Smh. All good I just would be cautious when purchasing with christian he's focused on sales not our happiness. He is quick to make sales and call me daily to check if I'm ready to go back to make a purchase but not so quick to tell me my order arrived and was ready for pick up. Or give me a deal when they made mistakes. Guess that's why he's the lead sales not lead in customer service. I will be back but I'll ask for Juan or Kyle to help me. Other than that I love my speaker I like that it works clear and loud through Bluetooth.

Came into Guitar Center to pick up an online order for a rainbow kids guitar…read more Walking in and I had to look for an employee for help with my order. Walked around a bit and was unsure of who worked here. An employee found me and asked if I needed any help. I responded with I was here to pick up an order. He said he would go to the back and look and see if my order was ready so I waited. I walked around a bit, hoping he would come back and get me once he had my order, but I was mistaken. As I saw him helping a customer at the register, I walked over to the register so he would be reminded that he was getting my order from the back. I was nonexistent and I waited almost 20 minutes before another employee came over to help me. I would understand if the store was packed because I know it is a few days till Christmas however, the store was pretty empty when I came in I was the only one there so I should've been able to pick up my order and leave and not have to wait more than 30 minutes. Maybe I'll have a better experience next time I come in because I did see some fun items for my grandkids.

Gryphon Stringed Instruments

4.5

(239 reviews)

•$$$

I visited Gryphon for the first time in my life for a repair needed and I couldn't be more pleased…read morewith my experience. Henry was able to get an old Aria classical that I purchased on eBay playing. The guitar came from a dry Arizona estate with back bowing rendering it completely unplayable. Henry shimmed the nut, made a new saddle, leveled, crowned and dressed the frets, and added new strings. The guitar became playable once again. It sounds fantastic complete with a perfect action. And the cost for all of that work was extremely reasonable!

I had a repair done by Alfred of a hairline crack on the neck up by the head stock. He did a…read morefantastic job repairing it and was a pleasure to work with. So was everyone else there. Being a guitarist, it's great to know that Gryphon is there if ever I need any kind of work done on one of my guitars. Thanks guys!

Rockin Kidz

3.8

My wife and I were waiting with our 3 month old out front of this place for a table at the…read moreneighboring cafe. We were looking at their window display at the Christmas Tree and Guitars, when a nice man, possibly the owner? came out front and invited us inside to warm up and look at instruments. We gladly accepted the invitation and he picked up a ukelele and played and sang somewhere over the rainbow for our daughter. She was absolutely enamored and it was her first time hearing live music played and sang. While we didn't actually give this place any business, this is going to be a core memory for all three of us, and we were so touched by the kindness and generosity. Definitely will come back here when she's a bit older to check out their music lesson offerings.

Maybe it's too early to really rate my daughter's experience here, but I have to say it has been a…read morereally good experience so far. I took her there to sign up for some instruction and was able to find a time perfect for the crazy schedule my kids have. She loves her teacher and everyone I've worked with there has been really nice and helpful. The have lessons for just about everything there, so I definitely recommend checking it out. There is ample parking and a Nob Hill nearby, so I often do some grocery shopping during her lesson.

Carmel Valley Guitar

4.7

(10 reviews)

You know that feeling of walking into a store not knowing what to expect only to have your jaw…read moredrop? That happened to me today. I thought, "guitar store, huh?" Yeah, guitar store. Nationals, Martins, Guilds, banjos, mandos, some incredibly gorgeous hand-carved thing from Bali... all packed into a compact shop. Then Bernie starts talking and it's like the bookseller who's read every damned book in his store. A luthier with endless knowledge and experience running a guitar store. What a concept. And what a gift for local pickers.

I found this site searching for Fretwork for my 07' Fender Telecaster Ash Deluxe…read more During a consultation appt. I realized Bernie new exactly what was needed besides just a overall setup. Fret crowing & polishing as well as full setup. Of course I occasionally try to make adjustments & occasionally I get it OK. He also made some truss rod neck adjustments & fixed a neck bolt on issues. He knew by the look of my frets where the majority of my playing was on the neck. All I can say Is my Guitar sings better than I have heard it in years!! Highly recommend Carmel Valley Guitar professional service.

The Amp Lab

4.6

(47 reviews)

Awesome workmanship Speedy turnaround on shipping repaired…read moredevices...I would recommend The Amp lab for repairs on all amplifiers and most electronics...These fellows are on the top of my repair companies! Thanks guys!!!

Keith resurrected my late dad in law's 1952 Gibson GA-40. He kept it as original as possible and…read moretook exactly to where I wanted it to be. Very knowledgeable, to the point, honest and kind. There is a wait because he's that good.

Guitar Wars

(62 reviews)

I was able to get my acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and ukulele set up for an extremely…read morereasonable price over the weekend. The vibe is also really cool with a Star Wars aesthetic. Lots of cool gear to look at too! Definitely going to be heading back here for all my setups/gear needs.

This place is rad. One of my favorite spots to find parts and stuff that other shops don't usually…read morehave on hand. There's always interesting guitars, amps and pedals to check out. I like the atmosphere of the place and Carlos seems like a cool dude that is always happy to help you find what you're looking for.

Voice Lessons by Tracy Jerant

(21 reviews)

Tracy is an absolutely stellar teacher who's bottom line is to bring out the best in her students…read more She's exceedingly patient and excels at being able to motivate w/ her professional and insightful critique. I've been unsuccessful with voice teachers in the past due to my nerves, but Tracy's inviting nature did not fail to wash that away! Her ability to bring about genuine enjoyment into something I've struggled with for so long is such a rare quality that cannot be matched :) Even if you're apprehensive, do give her a shot! You won't regret it

Tracy is a phenomenal teacher who does a great job customizing her lessons to the needs of the…read morestudent. She has helped me make amazing progress with my voice, and just as importantly has helped me gain the confidence to be able to sign. Her lessons are fun, effective, and very positive. All of which help the student learn more and get more out of the lesson. I highly recommend Tracy as a teacher to anyone (at any level) who is interested in becoming a better signer.

Kat Parra Vocal Studio

•$

I would highly recommend taking lessons at Kat Parra Voice Studio…read more I've had a great experience working with Kat the past 2 years. She really knows her stuff and is always learning more! I have found that the longer I've worked with her, the more she learns about my voice and teaches me how to get the most out of it in a healthy way. Prior to taking lessons, my voice would always feel hoarse from improper singing technique. Now it feels stronger and healthier than it's ever been. Kat also does a great job of making her students feel comfortable when practicing/performing. Not easy to do, especially for singing! Her dog Fiona is also a great buddy to have for lessons :) My only complaint is that because I've improved so much under Kat, my family makes me sing for them as much as possible! Sometimes I need a break!

Going to Kat's since 2017 - I can confidently say I'm a totally different singer than I was when I…read morefirst started and she was a key figure in making that happen. I went from sounding like I smoked way too many newports to being able to sing a wide variety of genres from jazz to soul to ballads and musical theatre stuff My voice and self perception of myself and what is possible has greatly benefited from working with Kat! 5 stars all around

Affordable Piano Tuning

(113 reviews)

Jian Min was responsive and professional. He showed up on time and did a good job…read more As my piano hadn't been tuned in a long time, he provided the option of a longer one time tuning or two separate tuning sessions one month apart. Given that the price difference was minimal and that it would have been easier for him to do a single session instead of coming here twice, I appreciate that he recommended the separate sessions to give the piano time to settle before subsequent fine tuning. He also recommended an in-piano dehumidifier as my location is very humid (which is true) and there are visible signs of moisture damage inside the piano. I appreciate that he informed me of this, but without being pushy about it.

We acquired a well-aged but well-kept Baldwin baby grand (likely built in the 1940-50s!) Last…read moretuning was supposedly 2-3 years ago? After having it professionally disassembled and moved from Walnut Creek to Dublin, up a flight of stairs, & adjusted to a new environment, it needed some tuning. Found Jian on Yelp, who was responsive through text for an appointment. He serviced Baldy to optimal pitch at a very reasonable rate (compared to other quotes). Daughter's piano teacher is pleased, and my "wide, dark, & handsome" plays wonderfully in tune! (FYI, my cello is my "tall, dark, & handsome" lol)

Rodino's Piano Tuning

See more unrecommended reviews

(32 reviews)

Rich tuned my Steinway and it sounds beautiful as ever…read more He arrived promptly and was courteous and answered questions I had. He then performed a lovely piece for me.

Professional!! Great service…read moreWas very open with discussing the piano condition I will use him again

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24 reviews that are not currently recommended

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John T.

2

3

0

12 years ago

I lived in the Bay Area for about 26 years, over that time I've spent at least $75,000.00 on music equipment, most of it at Guitar Showcase, Dan always made me feel like a member of the family, I always did all my transactions directly with him. Bought at least a dozen guitars from them, Marshall amps, keyboards, drum equipment, PA gear, stomp boxes, you name it. Dan was always willing to go the extra mile if you needed something different, off beat, etc. Dan found a perfect condition Rhodes Piano (pre-Fender) at a ridiculous low price and hooked me up with the seller for no commission too. Never had a bad experience, never got low-balled on gear I was selling or trading in, or high balled on gear I was buying. Now I live in Miami Florida and only wish there were a GC here, if you guys ever decide to open one in Miami I know some folks that could run it for you. I also miss the consignment center, got more than a few great used axes here along with some really cool vintage amps, still have the vintage Mesa Boogie I bought here. My son got top dollar for his drum kit selling it on consignment here before he left for the Army, everyone was extremely helpful, I recommend both sides of the parking lot to anyone looking to buy/sell/rent gear or instruments. If I ever get back to San Jose I will come back in just for old times sake. read more

Devin P.

0

1

0

14 years ago

I read most of the reviews here and it is very clear G.S. has poor customer service. I decided to go there today, for the 1st time in 15 yrs.. As a lefty pickings are slim when guitar shopping. They had a nice Strat I dug. A long-time employee was to my suprise rather helpful when I expressed interest in buying the guitar. I decided to purchase it. Long story short, I dropped $1500 on the guitar plus a nice case and pedal, I didnt even try to haggle on the price. As soon as he knew the sale was a sure thing he rushed me along to help the next customer in line and there were several other employees standing around (As many other reviews had explained). One would think that when one spends that kind of money the employee would offer a new set of strings, a strap, maybe some picks, etc.. This guy was simply in a hurry to ring me up to move on to the next custy. Also I agree with everyone else, their prices are way higher than ALL their competitors. Come to think of it, is there such thing as warranty packages on guitar purchases? If so, I wasnt offered to buy any. Im happy with the purchase, very unhappy w/ custy service and not going back for another 15 yrs.!! read more

Frank M.

0

1

0

8 years ago

Being a musician...Yelping is not really not my forte' but...be that as it may I must Yelp. I am a rare breed guitarist as I play rhythm and only rhythm. Years ago I acquired a very rare guitar from Norm's in Hollywood. A 1964 Rickenbacker with original Humbuckings. Yes, only 3 were made and I have the only one left. Over the years I shelved this guitar and recently tried to find someone to bring it back to its original glory. I had heard about a guitar repair extraordinaire named Terry Allen, who worked at Showcase. This guitar has so much history no one wanted to touch it. Terry didn't balk. Quite the contrary, he seemed to relish the chance to get to work on this masterpiece of a guitar. Let me say in short, I can't say enough about the quality of Terrys work. The guitar is the sweetest sounding guitar I ever heard and may I say it melts like butter when played. This man, if you are lucky enough to get some of his time...is the best...his workmanship is better than the best. Thank You Terry Allen. Frankie J aka Beau read more

Joe N.

0

14

0

13 years ago

This is a fantastic shop, been around for years and has seen the ebony flow of the music scene through the valley for decades. I bought my first guitar and i also bought my son his first guitar here. The staff here is always incredibly knowledgeable and don't mind spending time talking with you about what ever it is on your mind. Sometimes when i am having a bad week i will come in here and go upstairs and grab one of the dream guitars on the wall and play it by myself in a corner for a while just clear my head. It is pretty easy to burn some time in this place looking around and playing some of the beautiful hammers there. I still see it as a house of dreams with hundreds of guitars waiting to make it to the hands of a dreamer in the making. If you have a guitar guy this is the place to ask questions and to let a guitar find you. read more

Kenny S.

0

8

0

15 years ago

I was just in there yesterday and bought a guitar, drum dial, case, guitar cord, 3 sets of Elixir nano strings from Jack. Jack was great to work with, I got what we both condidered a very fair price for everything. "Center" is a place I just like to avoid and getting even better deals from Showcase makes going there a no-brainer. Great prices, great staff, the best collection of vintage guitars in the state... no high pressure egotistical jerk sales people here like at that other place. I came down to Guitar Showcase from Hayward because it is so worth the trip. When i got home with everything I felt like I had a really fun experience and got just what I wanted at a good price. Thanks Jack and the rest of the folks at Guitar Showcase! read more

Justin F.

0

2

0

14 years ago

I bought my first guitar at Showcase when I was in high school. Have been a loyal fan of this place ever since. (longer than I will admit here, lol) Prices are close to what you can get online. Close enough that I would much rather give them the business, than online or chain stores. Customer service is fantastic. Knowledgeable staff, everything you need to get the band back together! Just bought a vintage Les Paul from them, couldn't be happier. When you buy from them, you can trust that you are getting the real deal, never have to worry about fraud. Huge selection of everything you need. I will never spend a dime on my musical hobby anywhere else. Thanks Guys ! read more

Judy C.

0

3

0

12 years ago

This is the best store to buy a guitar in I put a guitar on consignment there and while waiting for to sell I played almost all of the acoustic guitars their I was allowed to play a 10,000 dollar acoustic down to a 300 dollar the staff made me feel welcome and helped me to choose a wonderful guitar I always go back at least once a month I hope soon to buy another and it will be from showcase read more

Preeti R.

2

5

0

1 year ago

Great customer service! I recently went to the store for guitar strings to replace my broken ones. I am just starting my guitar learning journey and have very limited knowledge about them. Tony was super helpful and patiently walked me through the options without pressuring me to select one or the other. Will be back for future needs, highly recommend their customer service! read more

Hugo V.

0

1

0

14 years ago

Came to Guitar Showcase on an unrelated business trip, so completely unprepared ended up buying a new condensor mic (vx5), low end pre-amp and connectors for guitar recordings by their advice. Slightly worried with potential buyers remorse I looked it up, turns out to be the perfect setup for what I'm doing. Great advice and good service. read more

Antonio V.

0

10

0

15 years ago

i have been coming to this place for about 30yrs.... mainly they have strat and gibson....and few other like ibenez overall guitar quiality is good .. set up is good too... some need to lower their actions but no big deal... u can also get some serious instruments for pro's.. overall good store... i do recommend this place to all people.. read more

Michael B.

11

23

19

3 years ago

Great guitars, relaxed atmosphere, extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff make going in a fantastic experience. Never felt pressured or unwelcome. I spent a little time trying out some harder to come by acoustics and found a few that were cool surprises. Can't wait to go back in and pick one up soon! read more

Vikki K.

0

3

0

11 years ago

These guys just ignored me while I was there. Nobody greeted us. My father had an issue with his saxaphone but these guys just DID NOT CARE. No one even asked us how we were doing. Just awkwardly stood by the counter. We ended up goiing somewhere else down the street. read more

Selena F.

0

9

0

14 years ago

Bought the guitar I currently use here and got a great deal! The staff was super helpful and they got me a great deal for a case. They have really nice straps too haha It's a great place to go and try things out before actually buying them. read more

Manroop D.

0

9

2

4 months ago

This guitar shop is full of racist owners and pricks. They harass women and children, they allow methheads to use their parking lot as a hangout. If you're white and trashy this is the place for you. Also everything is overpriced. read more

David M.

0

1

0

6 years ago

I bought a Taylor nylon crossover acoustic/electric there. They were the only store who had one. It is a fantastic instrument. The generosity and helpfulness upstairs was epic. Thanks for a great Axe! read more

Greg B.

0

1

0

14 years ago

Just a quick note to sing kudos of Adam Wisot and the organization. He went the extra mile to solve our sound issues with minimal cost to us. Our gym's new, modernized sound system booms crystal clear. read more

Brian O.

0

6

0

8 years ago

I have been going there for thirty years and it is always a good experience. More often than not, musicians are the staff and really know their stuff. Bought new, used, and sold things there. Great fun. read more

Philippa A.

1

4

6 years ago

Supporting locally owned businesses is important to me. The staff is knowledgeable and help each other. The cordial service and no pressure sales to upgrade or buy insurance is much appreciated. read more

Tom A.

0

2

0

18 years ago

The staff seemed knowledgeable and were very helpful I am new to the guitar so I needed a lot of help! I purchased my first guitar and I would definitely come back here agian read more

Bill M.

0

6

0

12 years ago

cool place to check out instruments. a little more laid back than guitar center.

Guitar Showcase - musicalinstrumentsandteachers - Updated August 2026

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Everything you might need or want at a very reasonable price. The equipment is well kept for…read morerentals.

Not sure why the sole bearded (goatee) attendant chose to be surely towards me. No one else in the…read morestore but he and I. Came to pick up a repair and either he did not like that I was a person of color or he was just miserably depressed. Either case, he does not need to be dealing with the public with such an ugly demeanor. If you are the owner, hire somebody that can smile and show appreciation for your business. If not, owner needs to rid themselves of this dark cloud. I know a lot of musicians and will not refer them to this business.

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A great little shop that will set you up right. I got my daughter a very nice mid-range KoAloha…read moreconcert ukulele which they outfitted with an electric pickup for live performances. Sometimes busy, but very friendly, and they have supported my daughter well.

Awesome! The owner (Smiley) changed the strings on two of my Ukeleles while we waited. He was…read moreextremely detailed oriented and changed the strings that were way over due to be replaced. He also let us know that new strings require a lot of tuning every time you pull your Ukelele out of the case as the strings need to acclimate to the change. He did an absolute wonderful job. I recommend that you go to his shop Ukelele Source, he and his wife are very friendly and knowledgable. If you are in need an Ukelele or accessories, we highly recommend that you drop by his store (San Jose J-Town) to get yourself the equipment and services need to keep your Uke playing as it should.

Unitone Music Studio

4.7

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One of the better prices for hourly rehearsal space in the Bay Area! Super clean, A/C and WIFI work…read moregreat, and all of the gear I've used there is tuned perfectly and in great condition! The owner is super friendly and very attentive so if you need anything he's right there to help. I will definitely be back soon!

Fearing the repercussions of drawing the ire of our neighbors, my band sought a place to practice…read moreand found Unitone on Craigslist. With the promise of convenient and easy-to-reserve practice studios, we gave it a shot. We had such a good time practicing in the well-equipped Room 5 that we've been back multiple times. We've made good use of the PA system and in-room kit, and I'm sure we've tested the limits of the room's sound dampening. We've been able to count on Unitone, and Siga has always been helpful, friendly, and accommodating when we've needed some extra time. Our lead guitarist also rates Siga's fretboard work as "absolutely buttery".

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Scott Cao Violins

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As a professional violinist and violin teacher, I was very pleased to find this shop. The luthier…read moreis very skilled and made a big improvement in the sound of my ailing violin. New bridge, sound post and fingerboard needed attention. I was traveling from out of town and the shop accommodated my travel schedule with a very quick turnaround. When all was said and done, the invoice was for a very modest price. Highly recommend for service work. If you are in need of a fine student instrument, Scott Cao violins is a leader in providing high quality string instruments that will serve an aspiring string player well for many years to come. I would recommend this shop for students of all levels.

A few years ago, before I had ever gone to Scott Cao Violins, I was a little timid about trying out…read moretheir shop, because I was more familiar with the older, more established violin shops in the area: Kamimoto Strings (my longtime go-to), Stevens Violin Shop (are they even around any more?), and Patrick Heaney Violins (a little far for me; plus, their service in one encounter was really disappointing). At some point, I became dissatisfied with the service I received at Kamimoto Strings and so I decided to give Scott Cao Violins a try the next time I needed some work done on my cello. I have to say I was really pleasantly surprised with their service, in terms of quality, price, friendliness and turnaround time. Since then, I have been going to Scott Cao Violins pretty much exclusively. I love the convenience of the location and hours for my personal situation, and I haven't been disappointed once with their service. They always deliver what they promise, and I'm really glad I finally decided to give this lovely store a try. In fact, I even bought a cello bow from them recently. Can't recommend them enough.

Fine Fretted String Instruments

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(34 reviews)

I purchased an instrument this week from Randy, paid in full. But before he shipped it he got a…read morebetter offer and refunded my money, without comment. I will not be doing business with him again.

I came here today to buy a violin after almost 10 years of not playing. When I walked in, Randy was…read moreplaying a guitar. He is straight to business, asking how he can help me. He asked me some questions to assess what grade of violin I need (how long has it been since I played, how long did I play when I was playing, and what's my price range). Since I played the violin for 9 years I knew I wanted a moderately priced one and was prepared to spend at least $500. I had quality issues with cheaper violins in the past, and I came to the right place. He didn't have any super cheapies, and only one to offer at my price point. After I researched the violin I was happy to find that it was a higher end model for a lower end brand (Palatino is not a bad brand, per se, just not for professionals from what I have heard). I think it is in better shape than a Palatino from another store, because it was set up really well with a nice bridge. He included a case and some rosin and recommended a teacher for me after we spoke about how I want to get back to playing. He asked if he can share my contact information with the teacher and I was happy for the recommendation. I found the experience very informative and straight forward. He let me know about the 100% trade in policy, which is very attractive and I plan to use in a couple years to upgrade to a fancier German / Czech violin.

Diamond Music

What a find..... A unique, cozy guitar shop located in the quaint town of Saratoga…read more A bevy of beautiful (generally high end) instruments. I found the perfect Taylor acoustic for my daughter's Christmas/wedding/college graduation gift. Tyler is most helpful and a genuinely nice person. What he offers is basically a guarantee that will allow you to upgrade from your original purchase to something else and he will credit your original price towards your upgrade. Of course, your original purchase must be in the condition you bought it. A novel and intriguing offer. This shop gets 5 stars from me! And while you're in Saratoga, following your visit to Diamond Music, stop by a local coffee shop or diner to complete the afternoon.

All I gotta say is that the interaction/dealing with Tyler the past few days has been literally the…read morebest customer service experience in my whole life of buying/selling/trading guitars. (Bought and sold 75 guitars in 25 years.)

Scott Simón Instrument Repair