James Hood is my go-to for all my guitar needs. Not only do they do great setups at a solid price,…read morebut they've helped me out of some really frustrating situations when I butchered some of my own guitar mod attempts and didn't know what to do next. Can't recommend these guys enough. Friendly, timely, good communication, great work!

Years took a toll on my acoustic guitar. They did an excellent job. One of the repairs was to…read morethe neck and bridge, which makes it much easier to play

Guitars San Diego is a must-visit if you're a serious acoustic guitar enthusiast and considering a…read moreguitar investment. Tucked away in southern California, this store is a hidden gem. If you've ever bought a guitar from a large music store or a local shop, you need to meet Doug, the owner of Guitars San Diego. Doug's unique approach to customer service is what truly sets him apart in the guitar industry. He's not just about making a sale; he's genuinely committed to helping each customer find the perfect instrument that resonates with them personally. This level of dedication is rare and makes the shopping experience at Guitars San Diego truly special. During my first visit, I noticed how Doug tailored his recommendations based on my preferences and playing style. He would listen intently to what I was looking for and provide options aligned with my needs, showing a deep understanding of different guitar types, tone woods, individual build processes, styles, and each guitar's unique characteristics. During that visit, I played four guitars and left with one in mind. But I wasn't ready. I told Doug I needed more time and left comfortably. On my second visit, I tried three more guitars and found myself torn between two. Doug could see I was having a hard time deciding. Both guitars had qualities and characteristics that I loved. Doug sat patiently with me for over an hour while I switched back and forth. When I was getting nowhere, Doug's humble expertise came to the rescue. His passion for guitars is infectious, and he shared interesting stories about the two models and their histories, which added an extra layer of excitement to the process. It felt more like a conversation with a friend who happens to be an expert, rather than a typical sales pitch. Ultimately, the guitar I chose was one of only two in the US (at the time of sale). I only mention that because Doug had every right to charge any price he wanted (within reason) for such a rare guitar, but he didn't. He made a deal that exceeded my satisfaction and earned a lifelong customer. Doug's sales approach is a testament to his commitment to customer satisfaction. It's clear that he values building relationships over making a quick sale. Overall, if you're looking for a place where you can explore your options, receive expert advice, and feel genuinely valued as a customer, I can't recommend Doug enough. His knowledge, patience, and passion make for an unforgettable experience. I left satisfied with my purchase and excited about the next purchase.

Bought during pandemic when the store front was still closed. They were responsive and willing to…read morelet me demo (not even guitar center was opened at the time). Owner was fair in pricing and really took care of his instruments so you get it as new as possible(asked me to demo without my watch) which i really appreciate. This place is for high end acoustic guitar enthusiasts, this is not some cheap low ball guitar shop. If you are looking for that go someplace else. Selection is great and diverse, would buy again if I could afford it.

As a professional luthier of over 30 years myself, and a human for 77 years, I know something about…read morespotting top notch luthiers, and top notch people. Buck is both. He has helped me out now several times with design and 3D printing jobs for Lame Horse custom guitars. The work is always top notch and very prompt. I could not give a higher recommendation!

Absolutely top-notch work from Buck. Great communication and service. He fixed up two of my…read moreguitars: a new Strat that had alignment issues and an older SG that needed some TLC. Buck fixed the alignment on the Strat, and it's playing perfectly now. The SG feels and plays like it did the first day I got it. He has great attention to detail and even pointed out a few things I hadn't noticed. I'd definitely recommend Buck for any guitar issues.

The owner and the one gentleman who worked there are top-notch guys. Spent a lot of time with me…read moretalk to me about different guitars why I was there. I learned a lot. I had a lot to think about when I left. I didn't end up purchasing anything then, but when I do, that'll be the place.

The best music store for guitars in North County. The store is well-stocked, and staff is…read moreknowledgeable. I always try to stop by when I am in town. On my last trip there, I was delighted to find that I could rent a guitar for a month for $60 (I took home a Yamaha Revstar Element - nice playing instrument).

Awesome dude awesome guitars. 2 of my Fenders have been transformed completely by John. If you need…read moreany kind of setup done at a reasonable price, look no further.

I bought a used Ibanez Artcore AM93 at Guitar Center for a good price. I took it to John to…read moreevaluate. He noticed one of the tuners was stripped and a couple greets weren't level. He gave me an honest evaluation of the guitar, replaced all the tuners so they would match, adjusted the bridge and nut, cleaned the fretboard and the entire body so it looked brand new. Then he replaced all the strings with a set that matched my style of playing. He even polished the frets! I think that's what impressed me the most. He spent a lot of time asking my preferences and even watched me play BEFORE making recommendations. I bend the strings quite a bit which is a different type of setup than someone who strums. I didn't question his recommendations but love the way the guitar plays

I just had my first introduction to American Music and Jay and I'm pleased with both…read more I found Jay to be friendly, personable, professional, and willing to teach me some tips in what I was trying to do. I enjoyed meeting him and also looking around the store. I'll come back for guidance and equipment as well as looking at singing lessons, and maybe even bass lessons. I highly recommend the store and I think you'll be very pleased.

This is the best music store i've ever visited! Super knowledgeable employees who always take their…read moretime to help you find exactly what you need! The Best!

Great place to learn various music instruments & voice. Whether you're 6 or 65 years young.read more

I walked into this music store on a Tuesday and they truly have EVERYTHING. Anything you need to…read morebuy for creating music, they have it. If you need repairs done, they can do it. If you want lessons in singing or learning any instrument, they teach it. Seriously, come here! The store employee was a friendly woman, too. Very knowledgeable.

Today is 01/02/25, Thursday, the day after New Year's Day. It's 11:15am that I'm writing this…read morereview. I've been waiting for 15 mins for the store to open even though the hours say they open at 11:00 am. Their voicemail is full but the recording also says 11:00 am opening. Their website says open at 11:00 am. I'm not quite sure if everything says the store should be open but they aren't open. I purposefully came here to get my guitar strung with fresh strings. I wanted to support local stores specifically. The worker came in around 11:18 am. We all have hard days. I only dinged one star because truthfully it was only one worker for the whole store he was very very apologetic... He cleaned, oiled, and strung my guitar. He took his time and carefully did everything while also having to man the whole store by himself! He apologized profusely when he had to step away to help customers. I could be upset set, but it's the beginning of the year and we're all human. $12 for full restring (all 6 strings) you pay for the cost of the strings you want put on. I chose Elixir for my acoustic electric and those run around $20-ish bucks

It took some convincing (most of last school year), but my 5th grader "decided" to play an…read moreinstrument this year--the violin! Yay! Our school provided a list of required items, based on the instrument selected. They also listed local places where parents can go to rent or buy an instrument. Disappointingly, both of the recommended places are owned by the same big company that has been absorbing local shops the last few years. So I busted out Yelp on my phone and Music Central came up as an option. I gave this shop a call and Charlie was kind enough to answer all of my questions over the phone. He left a great first impression from the different shops I reached out to that morning. I decided to take the afternoon off from work and pick up my daughter early during her minimum day so we could see Charlie while he was working--glad I did! Charlie answered more of my questions and measured my daughter for her first violin (insert proud parent tears of joy here). We discussed rental terms and Charlie answered another round of questions to help make me very comfortable signing a contract. I like how standard repairs (like string replacement) and maintenance (like tuning) are included with my rental. And I LOVE how I can "trade in" my rental for the next size up instrument (in similar condition) without breaking my contract! During our first visit we picked up a few of the required accessories listed for the violin and Charlie gave his recommendations on what is really needed to help save me some money up front. As a dad on a budget, this was much appreciated. This shop has a large collection of acoustic and electric guitars in the back. There are also lots and lots of music sheets in stock too. Much to my surprise, Music Central also has a large collection of ukuleles from different manufacturers. My eldest daughter has been interested in ukuleles for years (we have owned a few inexpensive ones to foster her exploration of this instrument) so this may be the focus a future visit. I mentioned this to Charlie and he shared that he teaches ukulele for the shop. How cool is that?! Thanks for an awesome first visit Charlie! Looking forward to a long relationship with Music Central to help my daughters make beautiful music.