This place is great! Was very sad to have to sell my guitar but Bobby was super friendly and gave…read moreme a very fair offer! Said he'd find a great home for old blue. I'll definitely be back in the future.

Bobby always provides a friendly, helpful, and kind environment. He is very knowledgeable about all…read moresorts of things,and makes going there always a straight forward, hassle free, safe experience. This place is very trustworthy and I would highly recommend this place.

I've loved the drums the entire 5+ decades of My Life. And randomly browsing My eyes lit upon this…read moreused Pearl drum kit, living in FL. Fast forward to dropping the proverbial hammer, I did the business, paid the $$, and finally - took forEVAh, emotionally speaking (just about 3-4 weeks IRL) - My drum kit arrived in CA. And here's where My magical day manifested. The Drumming Section Guy - Dewayne, the human being in the pics with the super cool hair - assembled the million drum parts while answering all of My newbie drummer questions. And while I was completely engaged & distracted, AllofaSuddenouttaNowhere My new Drum Baby was born! It really felt like Xmas morning, I was sooo, soo excited I almost peed Myself loll. Dewayne educated Me mostly enough that I was able to reassemble 87% of My drum kit at home; if I had to wrestle with that huge box We started with, I'm positive I would have been too overwelmed, given up, and sadly returned it... but That's Not How This Story Ended. Thank You Dewayne. You are a Good Human Being, and I will be forever grateful to You. These Guitar Center folks made a great hire with this one loll.

One of the gears of the tuning pegs was worn down on my acoustic guitar, so I came by on a Saturday…read more9/6/25 around 10:40am to see if they could help. As soon as I walk in, an employee who's sat down at a table with a clipboard asks why I came in today, and I tell him I'm trying to get my guitar fixed. He writes down my info and the make and model of my guitar, and directs me to the repair counter. To my dismay, I see that they put out a sign that said someone will return at 11am on the dot. They have a ton of cool gear to look at so I didn't mind browsing but once it got to be closer to 11:10, I decided to flag down the cashier. He made a call and asked for someone else to let one of the repair guys know I needed help, and said he'd be down shortly. I continue standing awkwardly for at least 10 more mins before Gene finally shows up. Now Gene is a nice guy, he clearly knows what he's talking about. At least to me, someone who's a complete novice at guitars and instruments in general. He inspects my guitar and the worn gear. When I asked him how that could've happened, he explains that due to my tuning pegs having an open-display, it makes it more likely for everything to shift around, which can lead to the gears being worn down over time. When I asked if I could just replace the one worn tuning cog, or if I needed to replace the entire set, he said he could replace just the one cog, but that it may be best to replace the entire set and additionally install enclosed tuner pegs. Considering the install would've been less than $70, I said go for it. I gave it 4 days before calling for a status on my guitar. It was infuriating trying to get a hold of someone from repairs. No one answered so a different helpful rep named Cole told me he'd leave a note for someone in repairs to call me the next day. He apologized profusely and hoped that I'd get help soon. I like Cole. I didn't receive a call from anyone past 3pm the next day so I called them yet again to ask for a status on my guitar. A girl who didn't introduce herself answered and when I explained to her I had spoken with Cole several different times while he tried paging me to repairs, she told me she was going to page me to repairs AGAIN, despite me already telling her my horrible experiences with never getting through to someone in repairs. When I asked if she could just walk over and get someone from repairs to speak with me, she completely ignored everything I had said and told me she was going to page me to repairs. If I had facepalmed myself, I probably would've blown through my skull. Thankfully this time though, someone named Ulysses answered and I explained that Gene helped me and that he it was "just going to be a couple days" to replace the tuner set but that it already had been 4 days, and I've received no status update. Ulysses asked for my name and checked the work order Gene had for me, then tried to explain that sometimes if they're waiting on specific parts to come in, it could take longer. I then explained that Gene literally showed me the parts he was going to use and that it would run me less than $70 for the parts and labor. After that, Ulysses said that he was going to try and work on it and have it be done the same day, and that he'd call me. He did call me later that day to inform me he was finished and that my guitar was ready for pick up whenever. It was a lot of hoops to jump through but I'm just glad someone at least got it done. When I came to pick my guitar up, I did chat with Ulysses about it and he mentioned that repairs was incredibly understaffed and that they're always dealing with so many repair jobs, they can never keep up. It's totally understandable but Guitar Center needs to train their staff to better handle the status updates at least. Kudos to Ulysses for getting the job done for me as soon as he could. Also shoutout to Martin and Cole too for just being awesome, helpful dudes.

I recently visited Irvine Art and Music to select a new GS Mini-e Mahogany, and I couldn't be more…read moregrateful for the assistance from Gabriel. His help was incredibly valuable and made the experience both enjoyable and stress-free. Gabriel was patient and knowledgeable, introducing me to several options and allowing me to hear and understand the subtle differences in each guitar. He didn't rush the process and ensured that every choice was tailored to my desired style and size. The GS Mini-e Mahogany turned out to be the perfect fit for my emotional storytelling music. Thank you, Gabriel, for your excellent service and for making this a memorable experience!

Great customer service and very knowledgeable about their products. Helped me select the best…read moremetronome for my needs.

My first time here and it won't be my last! Loved the intimate space while watching one of my all…read moretime favorite female singers, Jonatha Brooke. The room is normally set up for sales but when a show is on the calendar the staff quickly clears it to set up the chairs for the audience. Since their first impromptu show back in 1968, McCabe's has been hosting the finest in folk, bluegrass, Americana, world music and more. It can accommodate 150-seats and is one of the best listening rooms in the world. The sound engineer was spot at this performance. Most of performers will play one of the guitars for sale here which helps keep this amazing shop going. *Located just off the 405 freeway @Centinela on Pico Blvd *Plenty of street parking (meters) *A few restaurants within walking distance if you want to grab a bite to eat before or after a show. *Guitar lessons available *FYI purchase show tickets online. You will get receive a confirmation email telling you that your name will be on a list at the door (you will not get physical tickets)

Local gem, iconic establishment, and great music. Of course, you may have heard of McCabe's. Maybe…read moreyou've driven by. Once you finally get there (or maybe you already have a deep connection with it already), you'll see how this place is special. I saw a fantastic show here earlier this month. The sound is pristine, the talent abundant. I've also now got tickets for the end of the month, too. But hosting shows for the past 50 years is only part of the story here. Guitars are at the heart of the matter. Lessons, sales, repairs, community. When you see the stage, you'll see the many guitars displayed on the walls. It's a comfortable, expansive vibe with a matter-of-fact quality that you might pick up on.. I can't believe it took me this long to visit McCabe's. It's a thrill to be there, and the music is what will bring you back.

This place is closed down. We drove looking for it and…read morediscovered it was replaced by a dog boarding store.

A little hidden music treasure in Tustin! My family and I buy music items from here time to time…read moreand the staff are always very polite and helpful. Every time we call, they're always great on the phone too. The outside does not look like much but there are so many precious music instruments inside for your choosing. I did not even know but you can rent out instruments! Ask about their program for kids who are learning instrument in school. Instruments from school is usually not the best. The store is very organized and staff is always there to answer questions. It is nice to have a music store close to home. It's inside a shopping plaza with plenty of spaces to park and places to eat as well.

I can't say enough good things about Vez Guitar Academy. I've been taking lessons here for a few…read moremonths, and the amount of progress I've made honestly surprised me. The instructor, David, has been both patient and motivating. He never makes me feel rushed, but he also holds me accountable in a way that actually helps me learn. In just a short time, I've gotten to explore songs across different genres and I feel like I'm building real skills. The atmosphere here is warm and welcoming thanks to the whole team. From my very first visit, I was greeted by name, which immediately stood out and made the space feel personal and friendly. Everyone I've interacted with has made an effort to connect, ask about my day, and make scheduling or rescheduling easy. I've also had a couple of my guitars repaired here, and the work has always been done quickly, thoroughly, and at very reasonable prices. I really appreciate how they take the time to explain what was done and walk me through options. I'm so grateful I found this place and will be continuing to go and recommending it to others.

I brought my guitar to Vez Guitar Academy as a total beginner, and the setup made a huge…read moredifference. The guitar became much easier to play. A few months into learning (and a few too many "I swear this is the last one" guitar purchases later), I've come back for more setups. Aries and Elijah are incredibly welcoming and never make beginner questions feel out of place. They also stock a good variety of instruments, amps, and accessories. Before purchasing anything online, it's worth calling or stopping by. Awesome local business!

If your into guitars and especially Latin Music instruments this might be the coolest place in the…read morecountry. 4 generations of Luthiers have resulted in amazing instruments. The nicest and most hospitable store I've ever visited. If you're a guitar connoisseur, this is a must!!

Candelas, it was great. Very nice people who provided history of the candelas shop. It's a family…read moreowned business. The guitars a known to best in the world. I will be going back. I highly recommend this place to visit.

I usually setup my basses myself and do a pretty good job, however, I could never get my Warwick…read moreCustom Shop Streamer bass setup to my satisfaction. After looking at reviews of several shops that do setups, I settled on James Hood. The experience was great. As soon as I had an initial conversation at their shop, I felt confident they knew what they were doing. The turn-around was quick, the cost is very competitive and the setup is perfection. They will be my go-to for any of my bass repairs/setups. Check 'em out-you won't be disappointed.

This was my first time using the shop, and I was really looking forward to it, especially after…read morehearing so many positive reviews. I brought in my Taylor K24ce, and I also left my Taylor GS Mini that day for a neck reset. At drop-off, the front desk tech assured me the low E buzz on the K24ce would be addressed and handled as part of the standard setup. Both guitars stayed with them for nearly two weeks. I called a few times since I wasn't getting updates, and eventually was told both were ready for pickup. After driving 30 miles, I tested them in the shop. The GS Mini was done well--I could see an improvement in the neck, and I appreciated that. But when I took out my K24ce, it wasn't tuned or wiped down properly. After I tuned it, the exact same low E buzz was still there. How could that go unnoticed, I wondered--had the guitar been played after it was tuned, they would have then noticed the buzz and should have informed me by email, rather than having me come all the way down. I mentioned it to the owner, and he took the guitar to the back for about 10 minutes. When he returned, he told me that if I wanted to leave it, I'd need to pay another $90 for a deeper inspection, since it might be a more technical issue. The tech who reassured me at drop-off was right there but didn't say a word. It was close to the end of working hours, so I figured James would just have me leave it at no cost. When he didn't, I didn't feel comfortable leaving it again. I really expected a more thorough check right then or at least a suggestion to leave it at no cost. After all, I 100% mentioned the buzz to the tech at drop-off. In the end, my K24ce is my primary instrument--it's the one I rely on most--while the GS Mini is just a backup. I ended up paying close to $400 for both the setup and the neck reset. The GS Mini was done well, but the whole experience left me feeling like I spent $400 just to fix a $600 GS Mini, while my main guitar's issue was never resolved. Considering all the time, effort, cost, and travel, I really expected a full assessment and clearer communication before it was marked complete. I've attached a video so you can hear the buzz yourself.

Frank provides service that is 2nd to none. He started by providing me (I'm assuming every client)…read morea video diagnosing the equipment; showing you everything prior to beginning work. There was no "hard selling" - only showing what needs to be fixed and some recommendations for what could improve/safeguard your equipment moving forward. There is zero pressure to make suggested improvements. The entire process could not be more transparent or easy. I recommend Frank to everyone. He is exceptional.

Don't bother doing anymore research. Just take your gear to…read moreFrank. It will be the smartest choice you make all year. I brought him some discontinued rare as hen's teeth boutique gear ( A Verellen Meatsmoke) and he brought it back to life without breaking a sweat - or the bank. No attitude, great comms, and just an all around pleasure to work with. Bring him your gear NOW!