Guitar Center

I have a music degree from Stony Brook University and have been teaching music for over twenty years, but almost every time I go in here some snot nosed kid who works behind the counter talks down to me like I don’t know anything about musical instruments, musical instrument repair, or just music in general. Note to ALL music stores STOP HIRING SNOTTY KIDS! Hire knowledgeable musicians who don’t talk down to other knowledgeable musicians! If you adhered to higher standards when it comes to your staff than you might have more return customers!

I went in the other day to use my gift card I got. When I walked in to the pro audio department, all of the sales associates were standing behind the counter yacking to each other and not one of them greeted me. I looked around and it was so empty. There are usually equipment demo setups but there were none at all. I went to the keyboard room and NOTHING was on to demo. I finally plugged in a synth and turned it on and played with it myself. As I was playing I still wanted to use something else and still no one came to help me. There was maybe 2 other customers walking around the keyboard department. They then sat and waited until I was done playing so they could try the synth. Man that store sucks so bad now. It used to be awesome back in the day… All the merchandise is such trash too. The boxes are all ripped apart and broken. I went into the recording room and there is one little computer setup with the Maschine micro. That’s it?! There used to be 3 computers set up! Such a joke… The salesmen and the young manager are horrendous. I will NEVER go there again. Do yourself a favor and don’t bother either. Go to NYC and go to the one in Times Square.

With the vast assortment of local music stores across Long Island, I rarely find myself going into Guitar Center. Primarily as a keyboardist I only go in there to buy effects pedals or other amenities that I can’t find at the local level. This particular one is fine, although certain instances they really crap the bed. Prior to a gig, my band found itself without a PA system, which had blown out. My dad quickly ran in to purchase a new one, but they only had a single speaker in stock! How do you carry only ONE PA SPEAKER?! So my dad ended up purchasing a more expensive PA, and AGAIN they only had a single one in stock! So we had to take the demo speaker off the wall and do the gig with that one. All this after calling ahead and securing this purchase and we showed up late to the gig. That’s not acceptable. So not the best place to go in a pinch, in spite of what one might think. But they do have a great assortment of pedals which are fun to mess around with, as well a decent assortment of digital keyboards. While I prefer vintage, they do have some cool new Korg and Yamaha keyboards, but they are listed at… well, list price! It’s worth it to shop around to find one at street price. Also, they do have an interesting assortment of folk instruments (banjos, mandolins, resonator guitars) in a quiet, wooden enclosed room. Every Guitar Center does have it’s fair share of vintage gear in stock that was sold to them by former owners, but they have very little expertise in them, ESPECIALLY when it comes to keyboards which does not at all justify the prices. As far as repairs, I have no real experience given that my repairs are usually done locally. That said, it’s always worth to get your guitar serviced by a real luthier. Joe Jesselli in East Northport does fantastic work at decent prices. So that said, Guitar Center has been adequate at best in my experience.
Also, heads up for the horde of midlife-​crises horribly butchering «Smoke on the Water» on a hideous Gibson Explorer they can’t afford. They’re everywhere!

I have had good experiences with the Commack Guitar Center and from the company’s customer service/​support department.

Superior to the Carle Place location in really every way imaginable, if such a thing can really be said for chain music establishments by one whose instrumental virtuosity doesn’t exceed 3 weeks of drums in 4^th grade.

ive seen dozens of guitars fall off the racks and sold to customers
the employees are untalented stuck up pricks that most the time have no idea what they are talking about.
they will sell you a fucked up guitar as if it were brand new.
skip this one.

I needed a discarded Acoustic Guitar box to send my Acoustic guitar for a warranty repair. I called the Guitar Center and was lucky to get Pat. Pat was very friendly and helpful. He immediatly told me no problem pick it up when you want it will be here for you. Excellent customer service!! Cudos to Pat.