Quite the spot.... nothing else really compares. You can pick up a sick used guitar and concert tickets in the same building. As everyone has said, the staff are very cool. They know their stuff, but they aren't going to be all over you if you start trying out an axe. They are hands off, and it's great, because you are able to browse without feeling like some assclown is trying to make his sales quota. Great selection of guitars and basses, always interesting used stuff, which I just love. Tons of pedals and amps too. Oh man I wish I was there right now, plunking down cake on that Ernie Ball Stingray 5 string I was playing last time I was there! Unless you want the latest Gibson Robot Guitar, skip Guitar Center and get your ass here. read more

Worst employees. I tried a guitar and was about to buy it for $1000. I asked it was an original and if it had a trust rod. When I came to the table to get more information on the guitar they threw it back in the case, brought it into the back room and refused to sell it to me. Tom at the front told me he just researched the guitar and that it's worth more money. He said i "lost my chance." Extremely slimy unprofessional store. Will never go back. read more

Awesome shop and friendly helpful staff. They restrung a guitar while we waited. All the staff were very knowledgeable and/or professional musicians. They even let my four year old nephew play with toys that were hidden in the shop. We will be back! read more

Now that most of the other great music stores in Boston have closed, this is my favorite place to buy gear. One of the last local stores standing. No question about it, Mr. Music has by far the best selection of gear in Boston. Plenty of great used guitars, new and used amps, and tons of effects from all the manufacturers - from entry-level Boss and DOD stuff to the best (and often über-expensive) boutique gear. The other intriguing thing about Mr. Music is that it's the only place in town that sells the old, illegal fake books right on the counter; plus they sell lots of cheap electronics and concert tickets and seem to have lots of mini-businesses going on in there. Hmm . . . One of the few things that sucks about Mr. Music is its totally inflexible 7-day return policy. C'mon! GC gives you 30 days, and Daddy's at least did 14 days. They've gotta change this to be more competitive. Nonetheless, I'll always buy from there whenever I can and I'll always be a fan of this place as long as they're open. read more

Can't say enough about this place. Knowledgeable, fun staff. Wide selection of new and used guitars, and they don't freak out when you pick them up. They fixed my acoustic electric and would not accept pay read more

A neighborhood music store with nice staffs. I've seen pretty interesting used/vintage stuffs here.

An absolute gem of Allston. Fantastic selection, services and prices. Not just some mom and pop store either. A vast array of effects pedals, accessories, cables, instruments and amps etc. To top it off, a staff that is both knowledgeable and to be blunt, genuinely into the store. (Rarer and rarer these days). Do yourself a favor and swing by. read more

Big shout out to Mr. Music for still being the awesome local music shop that it is. I lived around the corner from them for 7 years and would wander in almost once a week just to take it all in. They have a wonderful range of equipment and gear and are as informed as you can be about all of it. Unlike Guitar Center, there is no pressure and no hassle about trying stuff out. I've bought 3 guitars here and honestly wasn't intending on buying 2 of them, but the prices were rock solid and the guitars were awesome! Support your local music store! read more

This was my Mr. Music experience. I'm sure other folks have had better experiences, but this was mine. First, I am a drummer. My friends who play guitar rave about Mr. Music so I was always curious to go in. I did so yesterday and was less than impressed. I have an amp that needs repairing so obviously, my first thought was Mr. Music. I walked in with the amp, said it needed to be fixed, and was promptly told that they do not fix amps. Like I said, I have guitar playing friends who swore to me after I told them this story that they had their amps repaired there in the past. I was also confused because there is a giant sign out front that says "instrument repair" and includes a picture of an amp. The man behind the counter handed me the card of an audio professional who handles repairs of electronics and essentially sent me on my way. So, to sum up.... I was confused by their lack of service since they seem to advertise amp repair, the customer service was less than friendly, and looking around the shop it was obvious they serve only guitar players. This place should be called Mr. Guitar. I hope you have better luck that I did. read more

Cool independent place without the drawbacks of the chain stores... for example: clueless staff. They know what they speak and speak what they think, which is cool. Plus like my main man Dylan mentioned; they sell concert tickets. read more

First off...people who visit this place on a weekend (particularly a Saturday) should have the common sense to know this place is going to be a zoo and that the employees are going to be in a rotten mood. The reason is simple - every hipster in town who can play an Em chord walks in, plugs in half-a-dozen expensive Fender USA guitars, plays for an hour and walks out without buying so much as a pack of strings. You'd be in a pissy mood, too, so I'm giving them an additional star for never having (to my knowledge) re-enacted the bar scene between Sonny's mob & the Hell's Angels from "A Bronx Tale". It may well be that there's a pervasive bad attitude among guitar stores residing in Boston-proper...but it has nothing on the attitude of their patrons. If you catch them on a weekday you'll find reasonably-attentive, knowledgeable service...though I don't think it really caters to a beginner. If you fall into that group they'll just hand you an Epi Les Paul Std, or a Squier Strat and ask if you need a cable. Period. You can find some harder-to-find brands here, such as Eastwood, and Eko, but those don't really float my boat. Where Mr. Music falls flat on its face is in the following three areas: a) The setup on their guitars is just terrible. No better than what you'd find at Guitar Center. The Fender MIM stuff is downright unplayable unless your fingers are as long as Hendrix's. b) The price on used guitars seems to reflect a post-apocalypic, hyperinflationary future c) Every time I ask about their return policy I get a different answer. So, this is probably a decent-enough place for the experienced guitarist buying a new guitar or amp. But otherwise, I think a drive out to "Guitar Stop" in Cambridge, "Performance Music Center" in Woburn or "Union Music" is Worcester will be better-rewarded. read more

I bought a guitar and after a few months had a defect. I returned the guitar. They replaced it for me, no questions asked. I had a great experince with the entire staff both during the purchase and the return. They are knowledgeable and very professional. read more

Read my review, excellent guitar store! https://lunchandguitars.wordpress.com/category/music/

Went in looking for TRS cables. Found them, but not without an attitude from the dude behind the counter. From reading the reviews it seems I might have caught someone on a bad day, but still... don't bring your bad day to work. I'm not going back. read more

I had my guitar restrung, retuned, and cleaned. They were very helpful, courteous, fast, and cheap. Not to mention the beautiful job they did on my guitar. read more

Over the years, Mr. Music has been my go to place for any issues with my acoustic guitars. I've always recommended this place to friends (and now strangers alike). Recently got a great deal on a new hardshell case for my Strat and like all many of the other reviews have said, the staff is friendly and the store has a great homey, no-nonsense feel. read more

This is my favorite guitar shop in Boston. Looks like a hole in the wall, but there's no better place to find a used guitar treasure. And the staff is as knowledgeable as they are laid back and cool. I've found their prices to be as good or better than other local joints. But the value of the total experience -- selection, staff, lack of sales pressure, vibe -- makes them far superior. read more

I've recently decided to learn to play guitar; Although I've lived in Boston my entire life, I've only recently heard of Mr. Music. I heard that it has great gear, but the customer service was horrible and the people there were rude. I decided that I'd probably go anyway, "knowing" that I'd get horrible service, but I figured I wasn't there to make friends, I was simply going to check out guitars. Today I went to Mr. Music with my son. When we walked in, the man at the counter was on the phone. I said "good morning" and he gave me a little wave. I immediately loved the store. It reminded me of "TOSI" music in the North End, where I grew up; just an old-fashioned music store; even the smell in the air was the same. My son and I walked around a bit and then checked out the acoustic guitars. A young man immediately came over and assisted us. He helped us make a very wise choice on a Breedlove acoustic. He was very knowledgeable and patient and helped me pick out a guitar that was perfect for ME!! I was told the guitar came with a soft case. I wanted a hard one instead, so they gave me an $80 hard case for $60. I felt that was a good deal. When I went to pay, I mentioned that I'd like to purchase some picks and a cleaning cloth. They GAVE me picks in a nice little leather carrying case AND a cleaning cloth. They also threw in a pack of strings and a t-shirt! ALL FOR FREE!! They also gave my son a t-shirt and a few free picks!! I was thrilled!! My five sons are all musicians and I've spent tens of thousands of dollars at Guitar Center and they never so much as given me a pick nor have they ever even discounted anything for me without a coupon-- EVER!! Mr. Music is what small businesses are all about. It has gained me as a dedicated customer. I will travel from Revere to Allston anytime I need anything music-related. I highly recommend checking out the store. I am a great supporter of small businesses and Mr. Music is a perfect example of why! It was a really great experience for me. Please support this local small business... You'll be glad you did! read more

One of my favorite shops. Great selection of guitars and pedals etc... Some cool vintage stuff too. Most of the sales staff are helpful. There are one or two guys that have an attitude for some reason. I just avoid those guys. Overall, the shop really caters to the serious guitar player. Not necessarily those spending a ton of cash, but those serious about playing (beginners and experienced alike). Also, if you are into boutique amps, check out the "Allston" amps. They are awesome. Expensive but awesome. Wish I could afford one. I think they are built by one of the guys who works there (super nice guy). Anyway, this is a Boston institution and should be checked out. read more

mr. music is such a cool and unique music store on harvard avenue they have a wide variety of interesting guitars such as numerous rickenbacker styles. the employees are really nice and helpful :) this place is definitely a must-see for serious guitar collectors and players! read more

This place is just great. The products, the service, the location. Everything is 5 stars. I must have gone in a half dozen times to try new guitars and when I told them I wasn't going to get a new guitar anymore, they were still super cool to me and weren't pissy about me wasting their time or anything like that. They love instruments and like to help! Instead of getting a new guitar I've decided to mod my Les Paul up and these guys know EVERYTHING there is to know. Pickups, bridge, tuners, pretty much everyone there is an encyclopedia of guitar's and parts. Repairs: Their guy Jay is incredible. He installed a kill-switch on my Les Paul that works great and he's super friendly and professional and gets everything done within 2 weeks. Also, if you're a jamband fan, whenever Umphrey's Mcgee comes to town they drop their guitars off here to get their setups taken care of which is something I'm pretty impressed by. They have earned my loyalty and will surely earn your if you give them the opportunity. read more

What a great place! Went I there to buy my 7-year old her first guitar (on a Saturday) and had the most helpful guy. We didn't know a thing about guitars, but received a wonderful education and a no pressure sell on anything we didn't need. They even gave my daughter a free t-shirt. I would highly recommend this place to everyone. Fantastic local guitar shop, couldn't beat the experience andknowledge. The prices were also great and the same with the selection!! read more

Awesome store. The staff is very knowledgeable and all around great guys to chat with. They usually have a great selection and it is basically the only store in the area that consistently has quality used instruments from recognizable manufacturers. As a side note, I think they are extremely fair in their trade in values if you put it towards something else. Most other guitar stores do not help you out any more if you are trading vs. just selling in strait cash, and act greedy to double profit off a single item. But these guys I feel are very appreciative of their customers and strive to do business ethically, which is probably why they've been around so long successfully. I always find nice Fenders, Gibsons, Taylors, and Martins there (among other brands) and it's nice to see this when most other stores either carry no name brands, good brands in poor condition, or only low-end models. You can absolutely find a good budget guitar there, but if you're lusting for a pre-owned but loved fine instrument, this is a great place to be. read more

Love it. Best selection of effects pedals in Boston. Not biggest, just stuff you'd actually want to use, all-purpose to tweaky. They sell Campbell American guitars, which are amazing. Bought my Rickenbacker 330 there too, at a price comparable to eBay. Nice folks that cater to beginners and professionals. read more

Looks can be deceiving. This place is on Harvard Ave, home to Boston's small version of a Korea Town if you could call it that. 'This place is not your typical music shop. The staff is really helpful and love what they do. You can try alot of instruments and they are really cool. Their selection and quality of products are better than GC in alot of areas. Tip: Their used stuff is phenomenal and great value. read more

The selection is robust and unique, the staff is super friendly and they were helpful even beyond the point of sell. Highly recommend. Support the non chain guitar stores! read more

The employees here are truly top notch. I've come in twice now, and both times they were helpful, quick, and friendly. I recently visited to inquire about an issue with my mandolin (that I did not buy there). Not only did they give me multiple options for how to fix it, but they also provided me with the hardware to do so, all free of charge. They truly care about two things: music and people. Such an awesome place! read more

I stopped in just to browse and look for some attenuating ear plugs, and I realized how much I miss a good local music (equipment) store. I had a totally different experience from Jason B. - the employee who I spoke with was really polite and helpful. I didn't try out any expensive equipment so maybe that's the difference. But they did let me use their bathroom without a hassle. Prices were good too, especially for inexpensive stuff - forget the markup of a bigger store or the shipping cost of buying online. I'll definitely be back. read more

The people who work at Mr. Music are the best. They really know their stuff, are musicians in their own right, and aren't pushy salespeople. I'm so glad to have this as my local music store - I'm a ukelele player and think they have a nice selection of ukeleles. They also sell used instruments which is great as well. read more

very good music store! customer service was great and they had everything we needed. plus, they're at a convenient location read more

I'm a professional musician working in town and I love this store. Great selection, very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Best place I know in Boston area for electric guitars, amps and equipment in terms of service and price. I also bought a couple of great acoustic instruments here. read more

My neighborhood music store. I've been going here as long as I can remember. Good selection of used/vintage gear. Plenty of accessories. Good prices. The people that work here also are pretty knowledgeable. Jay is always super friendly. read more

I've been to this store a few times to buy small things like picks and strings. the guys here are somewhat helpful and they do know their stuff. this place is good enough for a beginner musician with a lot of questions and dont want those pretentious kids at guitar center listening to you ask basic questions. but let me share a couple of highly disappointing stories. 1. i went there to check out the Rickenbacker 4003 bass. the guy let me play it and asked me how i felt about it. honestly, it wasnt what i expected it to be. when i told him that, he just said that the bass he gave me was a fake, and went to the back to get the real one. UNBELIEVABLE. 2. i went there to ask how i can install a strap pin to my electric acoustic guitar. well, they told me that they could just drill it in! i left my guitar, came back to pick it up, played it for a week and the whole pickup system fell off the guitar. i dont even wanna know if you are even supposed to drill holes on a nylon string electric-acoustic guitar. i havent been back there for big musical purchases since this. read more

Jamison could not have been nicer arranging sound equipment for our charity event. He was available to trouble shoot a problem over the phone. Very helpful. read more

i love this place and their selection is awesome, especially for someone like me who doesn't like all the main stream GC type equipment. i like unique rarer stuff...BUT, my issue with Mr Music and why i only gave it 2 stars is because the employees who work their are always rude, impolite and at best jerks. Ive gone in there a lot over the years i have lived in Allston and i have also bought a lot from them, but i always have the same experience which is me getting the feeling im bothering them or wasting their time. they do not make you feel like a customer, i usually get the feeling that im a nuisance, who just wants to play one of their guitars. i actually was going to drop some good money on a bass their recently but left because when i asked for a cable to play it the dude with long hair rolled his eyes at me and very callously said to 'not scratch it'. the owners should make sure their staff is attentive and helpful not arrogant and rude, which they are now. i read the reviews on yelp and i say to myself this cant be the same store because Ive gone in their a lot and bought a lot and i never get treated well. its too bad because i would give them 4 or 5 stars if their staff was cooler, and im not some young kid who just go's in to mess with the equipment. im over 30 with a lengthy buying history and a credit card, you think they would be super nice and helpful. oh well- read more

I LOVE Tom, and his brother Sal, the co-owners of Mister Music! Tom is terrific - I have bought my last 2 new ukuleles here, both with trade-ins, and Tom couldn't have given me a better deal each time. And I love both the ukes. They have the best selection of affordable ukes in New England - ranging from $39 - $299. Kalas, Makalas, Gretsch's - plus books, strings, gig bags, etc. In addition to the ukes, they carry guitars (of course) - acoustics, electrics; pedals; accessories like straps, cables and more; djembes and congas; even kazoos. This is a great place to visit - laid-back, no pressure. And -- free parking across the street in the lot behind Blanchards, if the street parking is full. Go on in - it's always fun! read more

My favorite guitar shop in Boston! The staff is friendly, knowledgable, helpful, and there when you want them to be. Excellent selection of guitars, pedals, and PARTS! It's really handy to have a place nearby where you can pick up some tubes or miscellaneous hard to find guitar parts. I send all my students here and they always come back happy their new guitars. Definitely worth the trip. read more

Amazing guitar shop, a veritable library of guitars. They have everything, and many variations and brands. Even had the full line of Gretsch resonators, plus National, Fender, and Regal models. Helpful, low-pressure staff. Great selection of amps and accessories as well. Will definitely be back. read more

Place is AWESOME and Jay the guitar tech does such a good job on my guitars. I do however extremely dislike the bearded guy who is always either stuffing his pie hole or telling me things that are completely wrong. I've forgotten more about guitars and gear than he'll ever know. You can do better with help, that's for sure. read more

This store is great, blows the big chains away. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and hardly a "brah" was uttered. Sitting down with a guitar and just playing is not intimidating, and the selection of guitars and effects is formidable. Also a really cool vibe that a chain store couldn't hope to buy, hand drawn signs and pure character. Jay the guitar tech is super friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended. read more