A coworker recommended going, I was reluctant since I live on the VA (other side) of the city. But…read moreOMG. The inventory was amazing. I was actually overwhelmed by the number of guitars and amps in stock. Literally thousands. What I thought would be a 10 min max, look around, buy a pack of strings (I always try and buy something at non chain music stores) turned into a 2 hour adventure. Rows and rows of guitars. I was at first intimidated and it took a bit to get my bearings as how the instruments were organized. LPs over here, Fenders over there. Did I mention there were "like 2 thousand guitars. Then I was shocked at how reasonable the prices were. After 45 minutes I had decided I was definitely getting a new guitar that day, then what to choose? Narrowed down between 2 that I wanted and matched what I could afford that day. The guy who rang me up, saw it was my first purchase there and knocked a few bucks off and threw in a new set of slinky strings. Look if you are looking for a posh music boutique store with fancy displays, this is not the place for you. But if you are a musician looking for quality gear that is priced right and huge inventory, this is the place. I am already planning my next visit with a bigger budget.

They say the true test of a relationship isn't how things are when everything goes right, but in…read morehow things are when things go wrong. Last month, I stopped into Atomic Music and saw the most beautiful guitar, a model I had been dreaming of for years. My birthday was coming up, so I decided to splurge and treat myself. One of the owners gave me a great price and was really friendly. Everything was wonderful until a month later when I finally got around to setting up the guitar for my preferred gauge of strings. I discovered a serious but repairable structural issue with the guitar. Not their fault -- It wasn't something they would have been aware of unless they had taken the truss rod cover off and attempted to adjust the guitar's neck. I sent an email detailing the problem and it wasn't even five minutes later I got a call from one of the owners. He told me to bring it back for a full refund, and that he'd even pay for my gas to bring it back. There was no argument and no questioning of my expertise. That's fantastic service in my book! I will be back and I have no worries about spending money there again. The shop has an enormous used inventory including some high-end instruments and prices are fair.

The ol' SV1 has some miles on her, but is playing very well after her most recent tune-up from…read moreProtech. This is my main ax. Currently, I have the joy of working with the Gospel Choir at the U.S.N.A. Needless to say, my gear has to work. Everything has to be excellent 100% of the time - that's the vibe there. So, when my keys needed repair, it had to get done quickly & correctly. Only the piano sound was working, and if you know anything about the SV1, you know you get it for the Rhodes and Wurli patches (which simply weren't working). Protech was the only licensed Korg repair shop in the area, so it was an easy choice regarding where to take the instrument. They charge a reasonable $75 diagnosis fee upfront, and then inform you as to the problem and a quote to perform the repairs. I'm always leery of timeframes with shops, but these gents were timely. It was about two week, and an additional $144 ($219 total), which is very reasonable. It's worth noting that their work does come with a 30 day guarantee. I did have to utilize this fact, as the SV1 needed a second round of love to get her back to new. They honored the agreement, and did the work at no additional charge. Protech is good enough for me and the US Navy - you can feel confident in taking your gear to them.

I took my Sony CD player in for repair. I was unable to remove the 275 CDs because the unit was…read moreinoperative. When I got the unit back, 7 CDs were missing. I spoke with 3 reps about the matter & Bob was the most obstinate, aggressive person in the trio. I'm a 74 year old military veteran with much better things to do than accuse folks over 7 CDs, in hopes of being reimbursed. Of the over 275 CDs in the unit, most are artists of color. All 7 of the missing CDs were by white artists, just a coincidence I suppose. The tech I dealt with when I picked the unit up was inhospitable. Never told me he had put the box he had placed my CDs in over by the exit. Never returning there & never suggesting them to anyone else.

Chuck levins is the one of best music store in the country. Definitely the best in the dmv …read more actually a dc institution for decades family run business. I have bought guitars. PA systems amps back in the day and also recently Got a kick ass deal on a custom shop Gibson Flying V .thanks Pete . Great service always any problem they take care of it . wide selection of top brands and good deals. i always go to the store . So far as online I can't really can't say except call them they have more stuff then they list and get a deal . I had a keyboard shipped to Texas for my daughter went fine. . I highly recommend the place . Great place for beginners or professional musicians. They have it all !

Bought some smoke for my smoked machine and it doesn't work properly. I left messages and emails…read moreand didn't even get a call back.

The staff is warm and knowledgeable and easy going. I've been going there for a few years, picking…read moreup miscellaneous items. A couple of years ago, I broke down and bought myself and Martin D 28 - something I want to do do for a long time. In addition, it's a family owned business, and I like to support family own businesses.

Let me start by saying that we have been customer for a few years now. Our kids rented their band…read moreinstruments. from there. We even purchased her cello from there. The staff was always great and helpful. Fast forward a few years, I inherit a handful of guitars from my father. My father is left handed and I am not. To convert the guitars from left to right is a chore, but not overwhelming. i know how to do the work, but chose to treat myself and have an "expert" do it. I dropped them off we had discussed changing the nut only reconfiguring the bridge if necessary. They sold me new strings and I went on my way. I was so excited when they called me and told me they were ready. I was in a rush when I picked them up. I admit it seemed much cheaper than I had expected, but in my rush I wasn't really paying attention. I got home and tried them out. The action seemed OFF. I again was so busy at that time I did not have a chance to really go over the guitars and thought maybe the new strings were still strechting and were amybe affected by the extreme heat we were having. a few weeks later things had calmed down. I took the guitars out and tried playing and then began to look them over, really look then over. The "expert" only restrung the guitar upside down. Did not change the nut. No bridge adjustment. No phone call saying are you sure ofnthe work we need to do. I called the store and in the manner of service I had been accustomed to they told me to bring them back in and they work take care f them. Io dropped them off received the normal apologies, followed up a few days later from their "expert".listing all of the things that needed to happen. I am/was aware of the work needed, but at this point I have lost all faith in this so called "expert" and just asked him to return the guitars to the shop and I would jit take them elsewhere. As I went to pick them up I thought there might have been some discussion or apology for the "misunderstanding". Nothing. That was the last time I will shop there and cannot ever reccomend them again. I would expect this from Guitar Center, but I think their techs would have at least called the first time to say, "Are you sure of this work?" You have lost a family of customers nor can I recommend you to others.

After playing guitar for more than half my life, I decided at age 30 that I wanted to start taking…read moreup lessons again. I was largely self taught and my playing had become a little sloppy (or just plain lazy) over the years. As an adult student who hadn't taken a lesson since she was 13, however, I was a bit hesitant to enter into the process. After hunting around online awhile, Justin was the first instructor I got into contact with - I was impressed with his credentials and felt that he was someone who could get me out of my comfort zone. I decided to give 29th Century Guitar a go and could not be happier with my decision. From our first conversation and trial lesson Justin immediately put me at ease, and 6 months later (1 hr lessons, once a week) I have noticed a marked improvement in both my playing and my understanding of the instrument. He seems to have an even distribution of younger and adult students, which reflects his aptitude as a teacher and ability to relate to just about anyone. He's very friendly and approachable, and extremely competent. He is also flexible and understanding when it comes to scheduling, and very clear about what his expectations and requirements are as far as lesson commitments and payment policy are concerned. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend anyone to Justin - newbie or stubborn, set-in-her ways singer/songwriter like myself.

I picked Justin as a guitar teacher because he 1) graduated from Berklee College of Music (the…read morebest) and 2) he travels to where you are. Once I started taking lessons with him I discovered that he's not just an awesome guitar player but he really knows how to break down the theory part of guitar that most guitar teachers can't or don't do well. And the technical stuff has vastly improved my guitar skills! His teaching style is very disciplined with an easy going personality. I love that I can suggest exactly what I want to learn and he'll teach me that (and somehow sneakily add in some extra stuff so I come out learning a helluva lot haha) Thanks Justin!

Great violin shop! have been a client of theirs since i started playing the violin. Friendly staff…read moreand cozy atmosphere!! If you're looking for anything violin, viola, cello related check this place out, you won't regret it.

We have been their customers for the last decade. Both…read moremyself and my 3 kids violins all came from here. Their service, staff and the quality of their instruments are what you are looking for regardless, you are a 3rd grader starting with your first instrument or professional virtuosa, buying an instrument or getting one repaired I think you would like this shop

They say you can't or shouldn't mix business with pleasure, but what happens when you have genuine…read morepassion for your occupation? My experience at Polyphonic Music could be summarized by saying that the service was amazing. This one stop drum shop got me in and out on my leisure. Very patient and knowledgeable staff, able to answer all of my questions transparently. I learned about Polyphonic Music from craigslist, I was unaware of the kind of dedicated service I would receive from a small business. I have and will continue to recommend the service to friends, strangers, drum enthusiasts etcetera. Special shout out to Vincent for assembling a very portable customized "Frankenstein" drumset that I am able to take with me on the metro and play music outdoors. I have never reviewed a business on yelp! , but I instantly felt that the large amount of attention and care that I received from this small business was worthy of (re)writing history. 5 stars.

From the owner: polyphonic music is a local business specializing in musical instrument sales, consignment, repair,…read morerestoration & parts. we have many drum items in stock and if we don't have what you're looking for then we can likely help you find it. are you looking for something odd or specialized? we can help! there's no charge for questions, information requests or appraisals so feel free to call, text or email. polyphonic's repair shop specializes in vintage bass drum pedal restoration with a vast amount of experience and original parts to work with. restored pedals have been completely disassembled, inspected, cleaned, lubricated, reassembled & tested. feel free to contact us for information about restoring your pedal. some of the vintage pedals we work on regularly include: + ludwig speed king (vintage chicago or modern monroe) + ghost (all generations) + rogers swiv-o-matic + slingerland tempo king + camco & variations (gretsch floating action, early dw, etc.) + tama king-beat + slingerland yellow jacket + asba caroline + ludwig (other: standard, speedmaster, junior, etc.) + slingerland (other: epic, AA, HH)

The Music & Arts store stands like a temple to the fragile hopes of students and parents arming…read morethemselves for another year of rehearsals, scales, and the long march toward competence. Its aisles gleam with reeds, strings, and cases--objects that, in their mute silence, carry the weight of countless hours to come. I found what I needed: supplies and equipment, the small instruments of survival in the regimented symphony of school. The workers moved with efficiency, their knowledge sharp and their actions brisk, yet there was a certain absence in their demeanor, as though they operated behind a glass wall. Helpful, yes, but with a coolness that left no room for warmth--transaction without communion. In some ways, it felt fitting: music itself demands a distance, a discipline, before it can give back joy. Still, one longs for a flicker of shared enthusiasm, some recognition that buying a clarinet reed is also an investment in human persistence against the yawning void of silence. Efficiency will always get the job done; warmth, when it appears, makes it unforgettable. I wish you joy and ease in the school year ahead, and may your new supplies carry you toward moments of true resonance.

Booked a music lesson they never wrote it down. Spoke to manager Amanda no remorse or anything…read morejust because just asked what else as they already had someone else booked in our slot. The used instruments sales are in very rough shape so we didn't purchase there. Very frustrating start to this relationship with this store. Hopefully the instructor is great but if he has no more slots then pointless.