Back in middle school, I used to swing by this guitar store after hanging out at the mall. Walking…read morein, you immediately felt the energy of a place that genuinely loves music. The walls were lined with guitars of all shapes and sizes, amps humming softly in the background, and the smell of polished wood and strings--it was a small escape from the usual mall chaos. What made the experience even better was knowing one of the employees. They were always approachable, happy to answer questions, and genuinely excited to see someone trying out an instrument. Even as a kid, it didn't feel intimidating to ask for advice or try a guitar out. It wasn't just a store; it was a little community for anyone interested in music. Whether you were serious about playing or just curious, it was a spot where you could feel at home among the guitars and amps. Looking back, it's one of those places that made middle school afternoons feel a lot more memorable.

I understand that buying used gear comes with some level of risk. That's part of the deal. What's…read morenot part of the deal is being misled or served by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. I purchased a MiM Jazz Bass that appeared nearly new -- it still had the factory stickers on it. It played well, sounded good, and everything seemed fine. Before completing the purchase, I went to the in-store luthier and specifically asked him to give the truss rod a small turn just to confirm that it moved and functioned properly. He appeared to do so and even made a couple minor setup adjustments. Two months later, while restringing the bass, I noticed a bit of neck relief and went to check the truss rod myself. The nut is completely stripped. Not slightly worn. Not "a little rough." Completely stripped. So now there are only two possibilities: 1. I was told it had been adjusted when it hadn't. 2. The person adjusting it didn't recognize that the nut was already destroyed. Either way -- that's unacceptable. If it was dishonesty, that's trash service. If it was incompetence, that's also trash service. Had I been told, "Hey, the truss nut is stripped," I could have made an informed decision. I could have negotiated the price, replaced the nut myself, or walked away. It's not an expensive part. It's not a complex fix. What matters is transparency. Used gear is one thing. Misrepresentation -- whether intentional or careless -- is another. That's the real issue here.

I dropped off my electric guitar for a set up and browsed the vinyl collection while I was there…read more Decent collection of old and new releases. The set up was good and very fairly priced - not many places (none, maybe?) come to mind where you can drop off your axe and listen to records while drinking coffee. They're definitely getting my business from now on.

I am the owner of a 1966 zenith stereo console. the turntable has not been working for several…read moreyears and I was having a hard time finding anyone who specializes in old turntables. I contacted ted velykis the owner of the collingswood music store. he came to my house to assess and possibly repair the turntable. He was courteous and knowledgeable and 2 weeks later I now have a functioning turntable and can play my old records once again. thank you ted

My daughter started playing violin 2 years ago. We made the mistake of going to a big name music…read moreplace that her school recommended to rent her violin. Long lines with subpar instruments. My husband found Mitchell after she needed to renew her rental and we didn't want to deal with workers with no knowledge of the products they are selling. Mitchell is the best! Very knowledgeable about all string instruments. He gave her tips and a really beautiful violin and sturdy carrying case. If at anytime you need your rental instrument tuned or strings replaced you can drop in free of charge. We've also purchased a beautiful ukulele for our daughter from Mitchell. He helped my husband pick out the perfect one to fit her needs. We also purchased violin/ukulele lessons for her which she has really enjoyed and learned quite a bit. Mitchell has been very accommodating to our hectic schedule and overall we are so lucky to have found his shop!

I just started taking violin lessons from Mitchell a few weeks ago. So earlier this he asked me to…read moreperform with other student violinists at Saxby's in Haddonfield for last night's open-mike night. We played Christmas carols which was so much fun. Only a great teacher could make that happen!

I purchased a used set of studio monitors. It was a great deal and they're still working great.read more

BEWARE BUYING USED GEAR FROM THIS SELLER! My 11 year old son bought a used EVH guitar from this…read moreshop which was advertised as being in perfect working condition. Upon arriving at our home in Virginia (hundreds of miles away) I found that the bridge pickup was non-functioning. Dialogued with the seller on what to do to resolve it and they suggested getting a quote locally for repair. I made a special trip to Guitar Center and got a quote for $80 to have it repaired. They offered only $50 as compensation. What??? Pretty lousy that they won't take full responsibility for selling me a defective guitar. And all this after wasting my time dialoguing with them, sending them pictures of the guitar, getting the quote, etc... Because my son got attached to the guitar immediately I'm just going to get it fixed at my expense. What cheap skates and what poor customer service. I'd never advise one of my employees to turn off a customer like this to preserve profit on a single deal. Very short sighted decision. This experience is a huge contrast to the positive experience I had at Russo Music Center in Trenton (check out my review) where the customer service was outstanding.

Great teaching, experts, conveniently located! Highly professional and qualified staff. One of a…read morekind facility. All ages of students! I enjoyed my experience.

From the owner: Founded in 1948 and home of the Westmont Philharmonia Accordion Orchestra, the Acme Accordion…read moreSchool is the place for everything accordion. Acme sells new and used button box and piano accordions, CDs, DVDs and sheet music. They give accordion lessons and handle accordion repair. Acme Accordion School hosting Joanna and Julie Musik Garten is also the home of the Musik Garten, a music and art program, where children from birth to 6 years old can come to develop their sense of rhythm, coordination and social skills.

Talk about dedication to local music! South Street Sounds sell all kinds of reasonably priced…read moreinstruments. they have a widespread selection and are able to help you with any questions you may have. Not Only that, But it has an incredible recording studio/practice space downstairs. It offers some of the most reasonable prices in town, and is a damn good place for any band who is looking to work on a demo to go. If that's not enough, South Street Sounds puts on a local music showcase called Buddhafest. it goes on every other month at Tritone and showcases at least 12 diverse acts in one day. the next one is August 18th.

Perfect place to start your children in a life long live of music and learning instruments! E have…read moretried various teachers, but Jeff is by far the best. Highly recommend.

Great school, great teachers and great front desk staff! It's an easy going environment, with very…read morenice and caring people! I highly recommend!

From the owner: Established in 1958 the NJ School of Music has been providing music education in South Jersey for…read moreover 50 years. Our expert, degreed and professional instructors, teach students of all ages, levels and abilities. All of our lessons are private and therefore tailored to the individual students needs. Music lessons are available Sunday through Friday, with most instruments available every day. We offer voice lesson and instrumental lessons for the following: Bass, Banjo, Baritone Horn, Cello, Clarinet, Drums, Flute, French Horn, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Piccolo, Recorder, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola and Violin. Music therapy sessions are also available on location or in the comfort of the clients home.

At 50 years old, I have decided to learn how to play drums. My instructor John is well versed in…read morethe musical styles I am interested in (bossa nova, bachata, hip hop, etc) and makes learning quite enjoyable. The lessons are reasonable and location is perfect with adequate parking. I am having a great time with my new hobby - if you are on the fence about CS, give it a try... You won't be disappointed.

I took guitar lessons for 2 years at Collingswood Sound. My instructor was Sean and he is an…read moreincredible teacher. He's so patient, he meets you where you're at in your skillset and challenged me to explore music theory and other techniques that were outside of my comfort zone. My lessons were tailored to what I was interested in. Sienna was also wonderful to work with along the way. Although I didn't partake in this, they do a great job of creating lots of opportunities for their student to perform and engage in the community. I highly recommend supporting this local business of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do and add so much to the community!

Patrick has done it again!! I brought in an ordinary 80's Yamaha Acoustic Guitar. I thought I knew…read morewhat I wanted done. Patrick told me the truth about what needed to be done. I went for it for a few more dollars. I can't tell you how happy I am. I own many guitars Taylor's, Martins, Fenders and they all have their jobs and their personalities. The Yamaha has come back alive with ( No Kidding) lowest action of all my acoustics. This is the second guitar Patrick has set up for me. His work is.... I don't know. You have to experience it with your guitar. Guaranteed to make a better guitar and give it a new better voice and easier to play. Truly an artist. Thanks Patrick.. Soooooo HAPPY!!!

I needed to get an XLR cord today for my Rode Podmic, little did I know I would walk into the best…read morego to music spot in my area! Being a smaller business they may lack the quantity merchandise that you may see in big name companies, but the customer service they have is amazing! You can really tell based off first interaction that they care about the needs of the customer that you may not get with other music shops. I can say proudly that I'll be a returning customer for whatever my music needs are!

I'm not sure where these negative reviews are coming from all I can say is that I've been treated…read moregreat every time I've talked to them and they will be the first place I go when I'm looking for a banjo

One of the best experiences I've had purchasing a guitar. Embarrassingly, I've bought way too many…read more(I have to keep a spreadsheet) from various sellers. From the historical building to the room filled with so-many vintage guitars, this was a treat to see and play. I knew what wanted. Fred brought me the exact guitar I was looking for and showed me a lower priced model to compare. I went for the Martin 000-12 Fret Custom, no question. Catherine helped me finalize the deal and treated me so nicely and professionally. If I'm ever back in Philly, I'm coming back. Alfonso