Mighty Fine Guitars

(70 reviews)

I met a new friend here. We've been traveling around the same circles for a while but never met…read more She mentioned on FB that she was having her Ukulele tuned up here and we decided to meet. It was my first time in this shop. Wow, what a great little music store. They've got a ton of Ukuleles and other instruments as well. I brought my Ukulele because my E peg was buzzing when I play it. He had my ukulele fixed in less than two minutes and didn't even charge me! Now that's what I call GREAT customer service! I will be returning for my future musical needs. I'm eyeing a banjolele that I spotted while my friend finished up her transaction. I do recommend this shop, they are friendly, give good custom service that you just can't get at the big box music store.

Lamorinda Music in Lafayette, California Lamorinda Music is…read moretruly one of the most amazing places in Lafayette. We've been going there and using their services for years, and it's always a wonderful experience!Their selection of musical instruments is fantastic, and the staff is not only knowledgeable but also incredibly kind and welcoming. You can tell they genuinely love what they do.Currently, my son is taking guitar lessons with Mark, an exceptional teacher. He's patient, dedicated, and especially understanding with children on the spectrum. We're so grateful for the supportive and encouraging environment they provide.Thank you, Lamorinda Music, for being a place where music thrives and families feel at home

Music Encounter

(6 reviews)

My kids have been taking instrumental and voice lessons from Randy and Christie for years. They…read moreare very professional with a true love of their craft. As other reviewers have pointed out, you will get lots of personal attention here if you are shopping for an instrument, amplifier or other accessory. They have a wide selection of new and used instruments in a variety of price ranges. Randy is also a community champion. Every year he participates in the fundraiser to help our local high school music program. We need more local community businesses like this and fewer soulless chains. Check out Randy's shop. You won't regret it.

My son and I were in the area and decided to pop in to check out somewhere new. It is located in a…read moresmall shopping center near a few restaurants with a decent amount of parking. We were greeted when we came in, and there were quite a few people hanging out with their guitars. The showroom area isn't huge, but it looks like there is a lot of room for lessons and gatherings. After looking around for a while, we had several questions on repairing/modifying a guitar. The owner, Randy was very informative and took the time to help us understand our options. We have been to other stores but have not received the same level of service. I feel like it's the type of place where you can feel confident in what you purchase, versus buying something somewhere else and hoping for the best. Overall it is a nice local business, and a place we are comfortable returning.

Guitar Center

3.5

(221 reviews)

I was a bit nervous about taking my guitar to have repaired here due to unfortunately bad…read moreexperience at another location years ago, but I have to tell you from the first conversation with Andrew the guitar wizard I was put to ease. From the moment he answered the phone I knew that I had found the right place. Andrew kept me in the loop through the entire process and he was very nice and helpful. My repair was done in a timely manner and he did a fantastic job! Don't look any further for a repair shop for your beloved guitar, go see Andrew and know that you are in great hands. A job well done!!

This location has been around for a very long time! As a matter of fact, I believe this was the…read morelocation where I purchased my first (acoustic) guitar...and that was a couple of decades ago. Compared to some other locations, I don't think this particular store has a huge footprint, but it seems like there is still a great selection of many types of instruments. We came here to pick up a cord for my nephew since he just got a new amp. So we didn't need a lot of help on this visit, but for the limited interaction we did have, the folks here were super friendly and helpful. I'm guessing the parking lot was a little more busy than usual since it was around the holidays, but there is a devoted lot to the stores in this area and parking was pretty easy.

Oakland Guitars

4.5

(83 reviews)

Great shop. No joke, like, prob the best guitar store in the bay. Always something new and a great…read morerange of fun affordable axes and more drool worthy rarities. Also a great selection of effects pedals! The space feels very communal Johnny is always encouraging ppl to grab a guitar and plug in.

Love the shop. I do my best to shop here when I am in the east bay…read more Good mix of old and new guitars, nice amps. They have a work bench for repairs. Staff are friendly and accommodating. Since Leo's and Starving went out of business, shops like this need and deserve support. It's better than doom scrolling Reverb. I can usually pick up an interesting and used pedal for a few bucks. Instant fun!

Wanderkauven Guitars

(11 reviews)

Brought in a headless Ibanez electric to have the volume and tone controls fixed to remove the…read morestatic sound. Marcello not only replaced the mini pots with full size normal pots (no easy accomplishment on this guitar) but changed out the capacitor also. This was not a normal guitar wiring job. The wiring on this guitar is complex and a lot of electric components are inside the small little guitar body cavity. Marcello made it all fit perfectly. Now with quality components it is better than when I left it off. Not just repaired but improved. On top of that he cleaned up the frets and improved the action. A plus for sure. I would not have a problem leaving any my other guitars for repairs as the guitar will be in good hands. Thanks Marcello.

Marcelo did a great job setting up my acoustic that came with a buzz. Plays so well. He definitely…read morewas thoughtful about the setup, given I mentioned my carpal tunnel and he was able to lower the action for me. Really kind and skilled. Would def recommend!

Berkeley Musical Instrument Exchange

(18 reviews)

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The staff is very knowledgeable , and they have a variety quality used instruments at good prices.read more

Love this place! Great personal service. They always do an amazing job efficiently and with very…read morereasonable prices. Bonus, the place has a great vibe but maybe because it's filled with beautiful instruments

Timbre Folk and Baroque

(23 reviews)

Buying an oud has been a longtime dream of mine, and I finally decided to take the first step…read more After some research, I came across Timbre Folk & Baroque and visited the store yesterday. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed. I had the pleasure of meeting Mark and his daughter -- both were incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They took the time to patiently answer all of my questions, without ever making me feel rushed or pressured to buy anything. That level of honesty and respect is rare these days, especially in retail. It was clear to me that they care more about helping people find the right instrument than just making a sale. If you're looking for a place where you can trust the people behind the counter, this is it. I'm truly grateful places like this still exist. Thank you, Mark!

Easy to work with, responsive, knowledgeable. Convenient location. Fixed my husband's old guitar…read moreand also will be taking lessons with Pete!

Adam's String Shack

(57 reviews)

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Amazing store. Adam is a master guitar repairman! He helped repair and glue the seams of my son's…read moreMartin.

Very helpful staff. We were looking to get my son his first electric guitar and they were so…read moreknowledgeable and we're not pushy at all. I felt the used guitars were very reasonable and great quality. Such a cool little shop so happy to support a small business.

Geddes Music Brentwood

(20 reviews)

I accidentally got the wrong instrument but the took it back and gave new the right one. V…read moreknowledgeable staff. Lots of variety. Easy system to set up.

Sold my J. Rockett boost pedal and a Compressor pedal at Geddess. Got decent money for the Boost…read morepedal and the owner is always friendly, helpful, has good sheet music/blank music staff paper in stock for composing/teaching/gigging and knows about the different brands of guitar gear, ex. Guitars, amplifiers, strings, accessories etc. He also is very knowledgable about acoustic drum gear, as he is an accomplished drummer himself. Thank you, Again!...

ModernTone Studios

(107 reviews)

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I would give Jacob and ModernTone Studios 10 stars if I could!…read more When my daughter was ready to record her first rock EP at 11 years old, we were referred to Jacob. We knew she may have some maturity issues but he worked well with her and she released a 5 song EP. Not gonna lie - it was harder than we thought it would be (but not because of Jacob!). In the end she pulled it off and learned more than we could have ever imagined. A year later she set her sights on another EP. A little more mature with some experience under her belt - we knew she could do this. Again, he made it an easy process for her. When she had some writers block in the studio working out guitar solos - he would pick up a guitar and work on it with her. This EP turned out so much better than we could have possibly dreamed. I would recommend Jacob to anyone wanting to record music - young or old. The studio is clean and well stocked and he has access to some of the best studio musicians in the area - and around the globe - he found an amazing cellist to arrange and record a strings portion to one of her songs. I think the proof is in listening to the actual songs themselves. Ava Toton is her name and Charm School Dropout is her latest release. If you aren't just ready for an EP but have some ideas floating around in your head, he has an entire team of instructors ready for you to get your material record-ready. Call him. You won't regret it!

Five stars for Briget Boyle! I'll admit, I was skeptical…read morewhen I saw all the glowing reviews for this studio. But now I totally get it. I just had my very first vocal lesson ever with Briget, and in just one hour, I learned more than I thought possible. She helped me prepare for an upcoming live performance, gave me practical tools and a huge boost of confidence! Briget brings a warm, intuitive energy and truly listens, not just to your voice, but to you. I'm so excited for what's ahead and cannot recommend her highly enough!

In Tune Piano Service