Not often that you come across a real music store these days but this is one! Love this place.read more

By far my favorite place to buy guitar gear! Love all the people who work there, they're all super…read morekind and fun to know! All my guitars (Fenders, PRS, Seagull, Jasmine) have been purchased there, and they always make the payment plan process super easy. They also have amazing guitar instructors who will help you play very proficiently. It's a fun place to just hang out and try new stuff too. Absolutely recommend if you're local or in town visiting! Roger, Adam, Dylan, Cole, et al. are amazing folks who will help you get what you need.

Ever since my first review over 14 years ago this shop keeps getting better and better! I'm used…read moreto other chain guitar shops that only chat with the guy who's with me but action music treats everyone the same! Hilarious (dis)respect! Jk. They are amazing and make everyone feel welcome! I stop by time to time to browse and purchase items or get service done. I would highly recommend as I was expecting a restring of an acoustic and a small electric guitar repair to take a few weeks but I was in and out in under 30 minutes. I really have to thank Mr. Matt and the rest of the incredible staff. It makes me want to continue my music journey and come back very often. A big plus is their location now. Parking is ample and signage is clear!

I want to thank Mr.Mike for helping me figure out if my parts were genuine. Awesome dude. Always…read morehelpful when it comes to gear! His Knowledge is very extensive and amazing! Love that guy! And also want to thank John and Matt for the Mods to my guitar. Its always love when i come here, i drive an hour in traffic just because i know these guys are human and know their stuff! Always good Vibes and Beautiful instruments here! If you want a Rare and Unique guitar or amp, simply walk in and see what speaks to your soul! Im beyond happy with my last visit. Legendary Guys and Legendary Shop. Thanks Guys

Though I loved the old Guitar Shop on Connecticut, this new location is just as convenient for me…read more I have owned a bass for five years.... FINALLY started taking lessons a few months ago with John, and I'm loving it! It's so much fun, and John is an excellent teacher. He teaches to my learning style, he's patient and thorough, and consistent with his reminders of how I should be playing (finger placement, posture, and all). Though his style may seem scattered at first, he really does a great job of building off of what we learned from the previous week while keeping it interesting. If you're like me and thinking that you'll eventually get around to taking lessons, DO IT NOW! (Before they realize that they're not charging enough!)

From the owner: Lessons offered on guitar (blues/jazz/rock/classical), bass (electric or string bass,) banjo and…read moremandolin to all levels of students from beginner to advanced, using a patient approach designed for relaxed, comprehensive, fun lessons tailored to each student. Formally at The Guitar Shop in DC for 6+ years, teaching theory, improvisation and repertoire building, supplying aspiring musicians with the necessary tools and materials to be successful. We specialize in showing students how to learn from and play their favorite recordings.

Foxes Music has been a pillar of the Northern Virginia community for decades. We are lucky to have…read moresuch a great resource in our community. The staff there are very helpful from the earliest beginnings of your musical journey and continue to be there through adulthood. I've been a customer since before I became a parent, and I've bought multiple instruments for me and my now adult children. Foxes has everything from beginner instruments to vintage professional instruments. On top of having great inventory of instruments, music and accessories, Foxes Music is very generous with helping out our local schools in need. I highly recommend Foxes Music!

Very helpful for parents with school children. Try to go during the week it's less customers. They…read moreare very knowledgeable on the instruments. The rental fee is very budget friendly.

Service from Rob was great! They have a good selection of products for both wind and brass…read moreinstruments. After putting my saxophone down for 36 years (yeah that's right), I've regained interest in playing it again. Yup, still the exact saxophone I played back in 1990. It was already considered vintage back then, but a good instrument, like one's body and mind, maintained and repaired, will last a very long time. Dropped off my sax for a tuneup and pad replacement where needed today, and their turn-around time is 14-days. You can pre-authorize a charge limit, and if any repairs will exceed that amount they will call you to discuss. What's also good, is that they'll inspect it first before performing any work and let you know if the instrument is worth the cost of repairs or not. Rob said they'll provide you an evaluation, as well. When my sax is ready to pickup, I'll follow up and update this review.

Predatory Scam - Stay Away!…read more Signed up for lessons, got billed for services I never received. No lessons, no communication, just automatic charges to my card. Tried to cancel-- they ignored it and kept billing, then tried doubling the amount after cancellation. And this was four months ago... This is straight-up fraudulent and predatory. Do NOT come here and do not give them your credit card info or sign any contract. I've filed complaints with the FTC and CFPB.

On 12/23/25 towards the end of the business day, I returned - with my receipt - an electric drum…read moreset to the store on Hard Scrabble Road in Columbia, SC where it was purchased from the week before. I was told the store didn't have the cash to give back to me so I offered to return the next day to pick it up. However, when I went back to get my refund on CHRISTMAS EVE, I was told that refunds higher than $50 would have to be in the form of a mailed check from their corporate headquarters. Why didn't they say that the day before? They acted like they just needed to go to the bank or something. This could have ruined Christmas for my children had it not been for a good samaritan who loaned me some Christmas money. I called corporate headquarters on January 5, 2026 to inquire about the refund check & the guy on the other end of the line refused to get me to a supervisor & he couldn't even verify if our check was mailed yet or not. This company is HORRIBLE & I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH MUSIC & ARTS!! I am STILL trying to speak to someone higher up that can get my refund to me ASAP!! DO NOT SHOP WITH THESE PEOPLE!! THEY ARE CROOKS AND GRINCHES!!!

I made the mistake of ordering some strings and amp tubes from here. I paid with cc. Now, YOUR…read moreBILLING DEPT HAS A ONE PENNY DESCEPANCY and is harassing me over THEIR ERROR. FOR ONE LOWSY PENNY! BEWARE!! Do not purchase from this company. I can only imagine the nightmare you would go through if you had a rental agreement with them. Also, the tubes were shipped separately from stings and looked as though they had been stepped on by warehouse or shipping company. Just order your stuff from a better company like Sweetwater.

Be wary of using LIYH. The quality of instructors we've had is mediocre, with some very strange…read morepersonalities. One male teacher made my 12yo daughter feel so uncomfortable that we had to end the lessons. Another would just forget to come sometimes. The value is limited because their policy around rescheduling is so restrictive, even while their own instructors regularly move or cancel sessions. So if your child is sick or you travel or there is an emergency, you will still pay for the lesson. Even though it is convenient to have lessons in your home, the instructors weren't good enough to make this worth it over time.

Both my boys take online lessons and I have been very pleased! the teachers have excellent…read morepersonalities and both boys are making progress in their respective instruments. My 8 year old is able to advance in his Ukelele and his teacher keeps it fun for him while also focusing on honong his skill.

They will work on your violin for a reasonable price. Call to set up an appointment for best…read moreservice.

Hi We are grandparents. We used Brobst for our daughter when…read moreshe was growing up, and always found the staff helpful and bought a violin from them when our daughter was playing a full size. Now when our granddaughters visit in the summer from Minnesota we rent a cello for one of our granddaughters, so she can practice. We haven't found any difference in the courtesy of the staff or the reliability of the instruments. We love Brobst!

This place is huge. Pictures don't do it justice. There is a large open "main" area devoted…read moreprimarily to guitars and accessories and sound systems and sheet music and whatnot. Off this main area there are many additional spaces with all sorts of cool stuff in various adjoining rooms, halls, alcoves, and other curious display areas of varying size and shape. Acoustic gets its own special room with a door and everything that you can access at the back of the main area--I didn't go inside because it looked a bit too exclusive for me and too dangerous for my little kids to go near of course, but if you're looking for acoustic stuff you'll probably love it. You'll also look really cool going inside. Other areas and offerings: a huge drum section filled with drums and drum stuff and related accessories and all sorts of things that I have never even seen or heard of because I do not play drums, all located in a large room/additional area just to the right of the entrance as you walk in the store from the parking lot (with potentially more spaces located off of that first "drum area,"--I didn't venture that far in). Another several adjoining areas off the main space are similarly dedicated to pianos, keyboards, and synthesizer type stuff. Further back into the distant corners adjoining piano land, you'll find another room or two full of speakers, amps, and all sorts of sound systems and devices for DJs and sound engineers and audiophiles of any sort. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a secret entrance to another realm entirely back there, with dancing elves playing trumpets and harps and accordions and other strange creatures of that sort, given how many corners and alcoves and sections they had there already, and the relatively short time I had to view the space on that particular occasion. I think I saw everything over there but it's a cool tricky place so who knows... On the other side of the store, I saw--but did not enter as the store was closing at that point--additional rooms and areas for music lessons and rentals and a few other doors to miscellaneous realms of musical store excitement. I'll have to check that side out next time. But you get the idea. This place is BIG. In fact, the "main" area alone is as large or larger than the entire square footage of the few other guitar center locations I've seen before (and mammoth in comparison to the other independent music stores I've been to, though the latter are actually better small IMHO...but that's a whole other issue to address in their reviews or at least not right here since I've gone on about space here long enough). This Guitar Center is great for what is. It's pretty darn cool and makes me want to learn more about everything there and maybe learn to play a few more instruments in the future. I've only been once so far, and I don't have enough music store experience to comment extensively on the quality of their actual stock or their prices in comparison to other stores. But they have a TON of stuff there for musicians and DJs and sound engineers and audiophiles and anyone else seeking musical instruments and music related goods. And they do price match other stores, so if you find something cheaper at another store they'll give you that price (up to 45 days after purchase, with some exceptions of course). I have not tried the latter, but I have purchased something fairly expensive (for me anyway) and the process was smooth and nicely handled. Customer service guys were nice but unobtrusive overall--they're not necessarily going to greet you enthusiastically when you walk in, and almost certainly not going to follow you around the store to see if you need help. If you want all that, this might be a problem. But it's more like Home Depot or target or a grocery store or basically any larger store really. I much prefer this approach. They're there and quite helpful if you need them, but otherwise they'll let you explore and do your thing. If/when you do need them, they are there and happy to help. Just ask the one closest to you or go up to the front desk and toss your question out to them--there should be several associates up there who will be willing and able and even happy to help you. Even if you're a distracted weary looking mom with three very little, very rambunctious kids with you, and you seem highly unlikely to have any intention of purchasing a crazy expensive guitar and/or fancy sound stage gear or concert level musical equipment or anything exciting like that. They're still nice and very helpful and patient. Which is cool. I'm a fan.

I stopped into this location to return a speaker and didn't have the best experience. I've been to…read moreother guitar center where the staff is great and expected similar customer service. When I walked in with 2 big boxes, everyone in the store just kinda stared at me. Not welcoming at all. Once I returned my items, I also wanted to purchase something else and the gentleman in that part of the store was not super helpful and a little standoffish. I won't go into the details, but definitely not the same energy I received from the Alexandria location.