We purchased our very first piano from here at the beginning of the pandemic. We figured that since we'd be staying home more often, why not purchase a real piano!? We made an appointment to come in and Ulysses helped us out. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and helped us through the process. He didn't rush us or pressure us to buy a piano, and he was patient in answering all our questions. We went home that same day to think about which piano we wanted to get and returned a week later to purchase a Yamaha upright piano. Overall, it was a great experience and we now have a beautiful piano! read more

Update: Gary responded to this review... and then deleted his response a day later. After reading it, I actually understand and respect the appointment-only business model. If customers want a private showroom experience, that's completely reasonable. Plenty of luxury businesses operate that way. The problem was never the appointment policy. The problem was how a potential customer was treated. I live next door and have been curious about this store for a long time. I finally saw you at the business and thought I'd ask about purchasing a piano. Instead of a simple, "We're appointment-only, but here's my card--I'd be happy to schedule you," I was dismissed while you waited for your DoorDash order. As someone who works in marketing and customer experience, this felt like a textbook example of turning a warm lead into a lost customer. Your original response then spent paragraphs explaining why I shouldn't have expected service, but not one sentence expressing regret that a genuinely interested buyer walked away with a bad experience. That said, I'm adjusting this to a 2-star rating because I did see some effort to acknowledge my post, even if it ultimately fell short. Businesses don't earn loyal customers by proving they're technically correct. They earn them by making people feel welcome. A 30-second conversation could have turned me into a customer. Instead, it turned me into someone who will be buying a piano elsewhere. If you already have an appointment, I'm sure the experience may be perfectly fine. But if you're hoping to stop in, ask a question, or get a feel for the place before committing, don't expect much hospitality. That's ultimately why I'm leaving this review--not because the business is appointment-only, but because customer service begins long before the appointment ever does. read more

Another five-star review for Music Exchange and Gary in particular! I recently had a wonderful end-to-end experience; Gary was patient and helpful and didn't try to sell me something we didn't need. The entire process was smooth and delightful. I am happy to recommend Music Exchange/Gary and we will certainly reach out to them again for our next purchase. read more

I just finished a conversation with Gary that was MOST HELPFUL! My family is looking for a new home for a vintage Steinway. He laid out the many factors that go into having a 100 year old piano be of value to someone else. He was candid in a way that was most helpful! Thank you! read more

Years ago, I visited a piano store that had something called a Yamaha GranTouch. It was literally the keys and action from a grand piano, connected to what was, at the time, the best synthesizer Yamaha could make. I always wanted to buy something like that when I finally had my own house to put it in. So, after I finally purchased a home, I was delighted to learn that Yamaha has since made something they call the "AvantGrand" which is a much more modern version - high resolution spatial and vibration sampling of a 9 foot concert grand, which a 16 speaker sound system plays back... when you play on the keys which are literally identical to the keys and action on a real grand piano. (Not "weighted keys" - actual grand piano keys and action including hammers and felts.) And lucky for me, there was a rather huge Yamaha showroom close by, Music Exchange on Van Ness, which had all 3 (at the time) models of the AvantGrand available to try. (There is now a 4th one available, the N3X.) Gary, the sales manager, was very knowledgeable about the options (including how to buy player piano tracks, which I very much wanted to do since I also wanted the player piano feature) and transparent about pricing. It was easy to close the deal, which I did during a special sale event. I should say that the first piano they sent me had a rather unusual malfunction within the first couple days and would not make any sound. Rather than try to fix it, Gary had them send me a brand new piano. This was the right thing to do, because I had no interest in trying to service a brand new piano! I'd happily do business with them again. read more

Terrible customer service. I'm scared to even walk by this place. The guy literally harassed me ln the phone! read more

This review is long overdue. Late October of last year, we we're in the market to purchase a silent piano for our daughter. We looked around at a few places and circled back to Music Exchange. Once we decided that we were going to shop at Music Exchange, we called for an appointment. We we're greeted by Gary. Gary introduced himself and gave a tour of all the pianos from baby grand to uprights. Gary explained all the differences that each piano had to offer. Though out this process, Gary was professional and patient! We live in an apartment so , our focus was a silent piano. Gary showed our options for us to choose from. We knew that we wanted a Yamaha upright silent piano. Gary's experience and knowledge was remarkable. Gary shared with us his experience when he went to Japan where the pianos were made. As Gary traveled, he learned so much about pianos that we felt comfortable and confident to purchase our piano that same day. We we're so happy with Gary. To us, Gary went above and beyond to deliver the best customer service. It didn't stop there. He scheduled the piano around our schedule. When the piano arrived, it was handled very carefully and with no issues. The piano was placed exactly where we wanted. Our overall experience with Gary was memorable. Thank you Gary!!! By far, we recommend Music Exchange. Look no further. Sincerely, Marc read more

Music Exchange - Yamaha Silent Piano - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had a great experience purchasing my first piano at this place. Ann gave me a lot of help during my visit there, and great advice and honest comparison between different models of Yamaha. I initially was thinking about buying a YUS 5, but ended up choosing YUS 5 silent after hearing Ann's advice, and couldn't be happier with that choice! I find the headphone feature very useful since most of my practice happens at night time. Their price was also pretty good compared to other Yamaha dealers in the bay area. The delivery was smooth and I also tried a free tuning session that they gifted me with the purchase. Even after purchase, Ann is still very responsive with all the questions I have. I'm very satisfied with all the services they have been providing so far! read more

We just took delivery of our new piano and couldn't be more pleased with the experience. Gary made the process so easy with his knowledge and no pressure approach. We named her Norene, after a late aunt who was my piano inspiration. Can't wait until she settles in and is ready for her first tuning. (which is gratis with your purchase) Thanks Gary!! Jim & Kevin read more

I recently purchased an NU1X Hybrid piano and my experience has been awesome. I first visited the store a couple of months ago when I was greeted by Ann. She quickly showed me around the showroom and left me alone so I could take my time trying out all the different pianos. I was probably the only customer there for a good 20 minutes and at no point did she come bother me with a sales pitch of any kind, which I immensely appreciate. I already had my eye on the NU1X then, but due to personal circumstances, I did not make the purchase that day. Ann was very understanding of my situation and took note of my contact info to follow up when I was ready. I finally sorted things out a couple of months later, during which I got 2 quick calls from Ann just to check how things were going. I finally went back to the store, had another 15 (undisturbed) minutes play test session to see if I had changed my mind, and closed the deal. This has been a truly amazing experience and I would happily do business with them again! read more

I got my first piano back in 2017, and it was the best experience ever. Ann Wu was very friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and patient. I actually started searching back in summer 2017. Ann encouraged me to go in to play anytime I wanted, because she said I really needed to feel as many pianos as possible before making any decision. So I went in whenever I had time and she was always there for me. Until Fall 2017, I found the ONE. Ann was very helpful to answer all my questions and concerns. She made my purchase and delivery so smooth. Now that not only myself, but my kids are also benefiting from the piano I purchased in 2017. I am very lucky to have met Ann when I purchased my first piano. read more

I got my first Piano from Music Exchange a few weeks ago and the experience was brilliant. I went in as a walk-in, on my way back after work and they were more than accommodating. Jeff explained everything and gave his valuable suggestions and in about an hour I was able to pick the Piano that suited me. The delivery was on time, and the crew unpacked, set things up, and cleaned up all the packaging. Overall, I'd highly recommend visiting Music Exchange in San Francisco if you're interested in getting a Piano. read more

I purchased Yamaha Hybrid N2 from Music Exchange with sales Ann. Very happy, Ann is very nice and patient. The price is also competitive, even lower than Costco's Yamaha roadshow. Definitely recommend! read more

Music Exchange - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had a really fantastic experience with Music Exchange. I visited the store when they were having a liquidation sale. I was led through the showroom by Noel, a very nice gentlemen who asked me what I was looking for, showed me the most relevant instruments and patiently explained the differences between them. Everyone I interacted with in the store was pleasant and welcoming. I found the best piano for my (limited) budget and couldn't be happier. The only complaint is for the delivery company: I don't allow shoes in my house and the delivery people didn't have booties with them, which is unusual - most service people carry them on a regular basis. For obvious reasons they can't take their shoes off so I had to clean the floor after they left, which was annoying. read more

I bought a piano at Music Exchange, they have a really good service and Gary gave me a good deal.

Great selection, great price, excellent service. Gary provides a fantastic purchase experience.

We had a fantastic experience here while looking for a Yamaha baby grand. Ann was very welcoming and warm. She has showed us all options and was honestly devoted to find us the right piano. We ended up getting a Yamaha GC1 Disklavier and could not be happier about our choice. Ann even gave us a bunch of CDs and free headphones. Finally, the price was within our budget. Highly recommend this place to anyone on the market for a piano! read more

I found Music Exchange via googling and on the phone Ann from the store gave me really helpful tips for a first-time buyer. She was very kind and didn't give me a lot pressure to buy. I did not decide to buy right away but Ann kept us updated about sales events at the store. She invited us in for a rare sales event with the right piano we are looking for. We were able to get to the store and try out every model of the pianos we are interested before deciding. She also invited her knowledgable colleague ("The professor"?) who was able answer our questions with expert level of knowledge. In the end, we walked out of the store very happy with the dream piano we wanted. read more

With the rest of the world competing to see who is the rudest (Twitler, I'm looking at you), Ann Wu was a bright light of kindness and professionalism. She let me wander the store and try out every piano I wanted without interruption, and then, when it was time for me to make my decision, she gave me space to think and even some extra time. I really appreciate the respect and customer service she demonstrated. Ann will set you up with a great piano and a good deal. My new Yamaha B2 sg1 was delivered yesterday by friendly, helpful movers -- and very strong. I traded in my old grand piano for this new upright while moving from one 3rd-floor apartment to another. I love the "silent piano" feature that allows me to play the piano at all hours without driving my neighbors crazy. Thank you to Music Exchange! read more

I've walked past the Music Exchange almost everyday to and from work and school since 2013. I've always thought of stopping by, but never did. Recently I've thought to myself that I should get a piano of my own as I had always relied on the ones at work or school for my compositional and pianistic endeavors. I asked my fiancée if she'd like to make our first real purchase together as a couple and off we went. We were greeted by Ann Wu who helped us navigate all of our options. She was very patient with my questions and helped me make a choice that I am confident and happy with. read more

We purchased a new grand piano in this store last week. The overall experience was very great! The manager Gary is professional and helpful, all the staff are friendly and efficient. Our family is really happy! Many thanks, everyone! read more

Bought a baby grand yamaha during the liquidation sale. Gary was super helpful when I wasn't sure if the piano would fit and gave me a paper sheet that was the different sizes of baby grands to see the fit at home. Even when I wasn't sure if I wanted to purchase, he was patient and answered questions and gave me plenty of time to decide despite the limited time of the liquidation sale. read more

I had a fantastic experience purchasing my grand piano at this place. Gary was super helpful and patient, he knew exactly what I was looking for and helped me find it with the budget I had in mind. Overall this was the smoothest piano shopping experience ever! read more

We recently had a great experience shopping for a pair of digital pianos at Music Exchange on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. The salesman, Mike Gillespie, is a consummate professional. He is knowledgeable, courteous and very helpful. Mike showed us several pianos and explained the operating features of each one. We purchased two new Yamaha CLP 725 pianos for our grandchildren. Mike made sure that the delivery of the pianos was accomplished smoothly and that we received all the accessories we ordered. We are very happy with our purchases from Music Exchange. read more

We were looking for a digital piano for our home. This store had exactly the product we wanted at the best price around. Service was excellent and they arranged for delivery. read more

A few weeks ago, I checked out the SF Opera Sale at the Music Exchange. I had an idea of what I wanted and made an appt with Paul, the manager. The great thing about Paul is that he is knowledgeable about his pianos and I learned a lot from him. However, it felt like I was buying a used car at the end of the year when quotas need to be reached. In fact I recently bought a car and even at the dealership, I didn't get the heavy pressure and upselling that Paul gave. It was as though he'd just gone to a seminar on how to make the customer spend more money. He would not take no for an answer. I mean, it felt like peer pressure with the big bully at the school yard. I walked in wanting a hybrid piano and because of his upselling, I agonized over an acoustic grand that I didn't have room for, but loved. So the last day of the sale, Paul tells me over the phone that the organizers of this sale are lowering the prices of the pianos by however much dollars because they'd rather not have to ship them back to the warehouse. I go in, still undecided and play around on the different pianos and finally decide on one. Now before I continue, I have to preface this with a tidbit: I've visited this Music Exchange more than once and know that if you pay with check, they give you like 2% off your price. So, I asked Paul about it and he guffawed, raised his eyebrows, and chortled quite loudly, saying that he was already 'bending over backwards' to give me this special lower price and I had the nerve to ask him for this discount?!?!?! Wait a minute, the 2% discount was something the store already had and the last day special pricing was already in effect. I wasn't asking them to do something that wasn't already allowed by the store. So, not only did they lose my trust, I was quite offended. Normally I can tolerate a bit of attitude from sales people, but dishonesty? No. I tore up my sales agreement and walked out. read more

I tried to shop here twice. The first time was for their big sale weekend. I happened to be near there and actually had the nerve to try to go inside. They abruptly stopped me at the door and said that I needed an appoinment (there were no customers inside) and then said I couldn't make one. They said the sale would be going through the weekend and I could come back on Sunday without an appoinment. Too bad I was out of town. Anyway, I was stupid enough to go back (after reading up on pianos a bunch) and try again. The salesman (can't remember his name) tried to tell me that "All Yamaha's are made entirely in Japan". I wanted a U1. He was trying to push me into a T121 saying it was the same piano. Didn't sound the same to me. He said they used the same hammers in both. I opened them both us and they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! While I was inspecting the T121 I noticed a little metal sign on the back that said, "Made in China"! Are you F@#%ing kindding me? When I pointed that out, he said that they were assembled in China, not made there. Well, you said "entirely made in Japan before" I said. Just a blank stare. I don't think this guy knew what the hell he was talking about. I would accuse him of lying if he seemed smart enough to manage it. Do yourself a favor and buy a used piano on Craig' List like I did. Read some books about buying pianos. They last 100 years if you take care of them. Why pay full price for a new one when you can get a 20 year old piano for less than half? 80 more years means longer than I will be alive to me. How about you? WIth the extra money I was going to spend on the piano, we went on a nice vacation. YAY! read more

My wife and I were in the market for a digital piano, and visited the Music Exchange (Van Ness location) earlier this week. Going in, we had four key criteria -- (1) key action should feel like a real piano, (2) ability to turn up/down the volume or use headphones, (3) relatively low profile, and (4) cost of the piano should not break the bank! Other than the above, we didn't have a good sense as to what to look out for or buy, so we were initially overwhelmed by the assortment of pianos available at the store. Gary (the sales manager) quickly came over to attend to us, however, and was super helpful in navigating through the variety and working with us to find the right piano for our family. We appreciated that (as a former musician) Gary was passionate about music, not just about sales. He was also a treasure trove of information: knowledgeable about the mechanics of the various pianos on display and the history behind their manufacturers. We ended up purchasing a Yamaha NU-1 hybrid piano, and two days later -- voila -- it is in our living room :) What we liked: - wide variety of pianos - *wonderful* buying experience (informative and collaborative, no high-pressure selling) - best price guarantee - fast delivery What we didn't like: - no complaints whatsoever... all buying experiences should be this smooth and positive! read more

The good parts: Alex was very helpful. I knew what I wanted and am a quick decision maker so we got the whole thing figured out in under 45 min., including all the paperwork, etc. I bought a pre-owned, full-sized Yamaha upright with "silent mode." Painless and fun. Also, they had 2 Bosendorfers on the show room floor, and Alex played me some Rachmaninoff and Chopin which was awesome. The bad part: they promised delivery the next morning (Saturday) before noon. Got a call at 10:00 that day saying they'd be there between 2 - 6, which was inconvenient but I rearranged my schedule to make it work. Then they got here and it turns out they couldn't get their truck up my hill. Uh, this is San Francisco... aren't you required to think about hills if you're a moving company? So I had to wait until Monday. :( The second delivery attempt went flawlessly and the movers were very nice, but when you buy a piano (or at least when I do) you want it NOW!!! so you can PLAY!!! read more

Ann Wu was very helpful and low pressure. I also found the price for my Clavinova CLP-645 from Music Exchange to be competitive with others when I called around and checked online. Delivery was very professionally done. Could not be happier with the piano too! What made the experience ever more delightful was that they also removed my old piano without an additional charge. I had purchased a used Clavinova off Craigslist for $250, it had a couple of sticky keys and my kids never wanted to play it. I couldn't find a place that would accept it as a donation. read more

Just bought a YUS1 from Ann. Very great piano and good service too! Very parent to answer all questions, will come back again!

They have a fantastic selection of pianos and the store owners are very helpful. You walk in and see an array of gorgeous grand pianos. Towards the back are a bunch of very classy electric pianos. Prices (at the time of this review) vary greatly with the cheaper digital pianos starting at 2k and the expensive grands reaching 80k+. I would recommend this store to anyone looking to get a high quality piano. read more

I purchased a brand new Yamaha Clavinova CLP 635 from Music Exchange and I couldn't be happier with the experience. Due to the quarantine in place, I was unable to go into the store to browse the collection and really get a feel for what I wanted. I did a ton of online research and settled on one of two models. I called Music Exchange and spoke with Gary a few times. He was extremely helpful in describing the differences (models and finishes) and then helping me towards my new piano. He even informed me of a sale which allowed me to purchase the 635 for the same price as the lower model! I would definitely recommend Gary and Music Exchange! read more

I played an upright piano growing up, and have been wanting a digital piano for quite sometime, because to get a real piano tuned is costly and takes time. I wanted something that's as close as to a real upright piano, in term of both the sound, keyboards and the look. I did some research before I went to the store, and was going to check out the Yamaha Clavinova. I felt in love with the NU1 at the first sight. This hybrid piano is compact. It looks close enough to a real piano, and the keyboard and sounds are great, and the price was right. Comparably, Clavinova is not close enough to a real upright in terms of sound and feel, and the price is not that much cheaper than the NU1. Jason was my salesman, who's knowledgable and patient. I'm glad that he was not pushy, but I still made the decision within an hour in the store. Besides the wide variety of the selection, Jason's expertise, Music Exchange offers lowest price guarantee, and low interest rate loan also helped me make the decision fast. I made the purchase on 10/10, and had the piano delivered to me on 10/24. They could have delivered it earlier, but I asked them to wait. The moving company was professional and quick. The overall experience is excellent. I would recommend this shop for anyone that's shopping for a piano in the bay area. read more

Great experience and we love our new piano (NU1). We went in having done some research and had a pretty good idea what we were looking for but were able to take our time and try out different electric and hybrid pianos. The NU1 sounds great, feels great, and looks great. We're pleased. Delivery went very well - was delivered on time (in the 3 hour window) and carefully taken out of the box and set up exactly where we wanted. We had purchased some felt furniture pads and they were nice enough to put them on for us. Recommended. read more

I have been shopping for pianos for quite some time as it is a meaningful purchase decision whether it be for digital or acoustic piano. By that I mean by cost but also practicality, meaning it is sizable and bulky so you probably won't move it much or want to trade in and out of it often. I did a bunch of homework but for pianos and one of the most important things for me was to actually play all of them and choose from there. I found this to be true for digital pianos as well, especially since it is not really the sound that is the differentiator (i.e., the samples are pretty much the same across all models) but rather the feel of the keys and unit. Enter Music Exchange. I tried various shops but then I was pointed to Music Exchange for the Stanford Music Sale which is done in partnership with Music Exchange. The experience was extremely comprehensive thanks to the piano consultant Jason that was assigned to us. By consultant, I say that because he was much more than just a sales guy pushing product. Jason was a performing artist with a no pressure approach to sales. The depth of his knowledge was not only incredible (far surpassing any other piano store I had been to) but his ability to demonstrate each product and its nuances was awesome. It didn't hurt that his piano chops were jaw dropping especially given the environment. In the end, I bought a hybrid piano from Music Exchange and was extremely pleased with the overall experience as I revisited this Yamaha dealer 3x before making the decision. Delivery was next day and pain-free. read more

I couldn't be happier with the experience I had with Gary and Music Exchange on Van Ness. I wanted to rekindle my relationship with the piano, and Gary patiently re-introduced me to the basics and also showed some of the amazing new technology that now exists in the piano world. I ended up buying a Yamaha U1TA Transacoustic which was professionally delivered and placed the very next day! Gary was also incredibly helpful over the phone with a some follow-up questions I had, and that really solidified the exceedingly positive experience I had the whole way through. If you are in the market for a piano (digital or acoustic) I would come here first and foremost. There is something for everyone regardless of budget or experience (with financing options as well). You can tell the staff is passionate about what they do, and that's reflected in the genuineness of their approach to customers. read more

Bought a decent baby grand in SF store from Ann. She was very helpful, and gave all answers to my questions! Thank you!!

Recently I embarked on a search for a new piano and visited several Bay Area piano stores as well as private sellers. Gary Egger at Music Exchange in SF was fantastic. He provided copious useful information (substantially furthering my piano education) and had a wonderful range of instruments to show me. He understood that I was early in my process and there was absolutely no pressure, no hovering, no sales hype. Clearly he recognizes that buying a piano is both a substantial financial commitment and a matter of personal taste which can range widely. I'd send anyone considering a piano purchase to Gary in a heartbeat (and I have!) read more

Our piano tuner told us it was time for a new piano, and he recommended a Yamaha. I then forgot all about it until we received a flyer from Music Exchange about a Yamaha liquidation sale. I did lots of research on the internet about Yamahas, pricing, and piano buying in general (which all said avoid heavily advertised sales as they are a come on), so went in a little skeptical. I worked with Jeff Gillespie, who is a manager at the Dublin store and was working the San Francisco sale. He showed me both used and new pianos, and did not tell me anything that contradicted my internet research. I came in interested in a Yamaha U1, and he did not try to upsell me. The offering price was surprisingly good. I wasn't ready to make the purchase that day, and he did not pressure me. I came back 2 days later with my son (who also plays) and my sister (the music teacher). Jeff greeted us then left us alone to audition the pianos again. We decided to go with the new U1. We made an offer, Jeff countered, we accepted, and it was all very civilized. Jeff also arranged for his movers to move our 1957 spinet out of our piano room, and offered to pick it up and recycle it at a later date if we didn't manage to sell it on craigslist. Our piano was delivered by a couple of lovely Irish men, who were on time and very careful, and helped me move some furniture back after the delivery was finished. And the price? It was a bit higher than the lowest SF bay area group buy I've seen organized in the past year (have you seen those on the Chinese message boards? crazy negotiating and playing dealers off each other, then everyone jumping at the same time to close the deal). But I got the piano at a reputable local dealer, at my leisure, and worked with very pleasant people. read more