Guitar Center Reviews 

2,897
TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

3.5

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 300 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Customers consistently praise the staff for being exceptionally helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. Many people appreciate the personalized guidance and expertise provided, making the shopping experience enjoyable and stress-free. However, some customers noted concerns regarding product quality, particularly with used items, reporting faulty equipment or items not properly inspected before resale. Reviewers also experienced issues with online orders, such as processing delays, shipping problems, or receiving incorrect accessories. A few people also felt that customer service was unhelpful or lacked proper resolution for their concerns.

What people talk about most

Product

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of product, with many expressing satisfaction with their purchases,... See more

Staff

Users describe positive interactions with staff, frequently highlighting their helpfulness, knowledge, and... See more

Order

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with order, with many reporting issues such as receiving... See more

Customer service

People report ambiguous experiences with customer service, with many praising the helpfulness and courtesy of... See more

Service

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about service, with many customers reporting positive experiences,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Valerie made our shopping experience—buying my 14 year old son his first acoustic guitar—stress-free and fun. We appreciated how educated they were about guitars and that they genuinely loved to share... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Matchable to Yamaha 88 Key Case for $40 less and included Special 2-day handling - Priceless. All information was accurately entered, Visa struggle on the numbers is the Card issue - not service ce... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I called the North Fort Worth store inquiring about a cymbal being in stock and spoke to Garin. He was great. Garin was very upbeat and friendly. He was knowledgeable about my product of interest and... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Eliot was awesome every step of the way. Great attitude, knowledgeable and just made my vintage trade in for a new Les Paul a great experience. Staff like Eliot is what keeps me as a lifelong GC custo... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Music Store

Written by the company

Guitar Center offers great deals on guitars and other musical instruments including bass guitars, keyboards, and amplifiers


Contact info

3.5

Average

TrustScore 3.5 out of 5

3K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 93% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

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3.5

All reviews

(2,897)

273 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Eliot was awesome every step of the…

Eliot was awesome every step of the way. Great attitude, knowledgeable and just made my vintage trade in for a new Les Paul a great experience. Staff like Eliot is what keeps me as a lifelong GC customer!

26 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ella and Mike

Ella and Mike are awesome with coordinating the lessons and teaching.

25 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I was billed for two months of lessons after cancellation.

I have been billed for two consecutive months (May and June) after having cancelled guitar lessons. After being billed for May, I brought this to the attention of the manager, who assured me that I would receive a refund and that I would not be billed again. Today, 26 June, I have not received refund from May and was billed again for the month of June.

26 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hi! We're sorry to hear about this and understand how frustrating it must be to continue being billed after canceling your lessons. We'd like to look into this for you. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with your contact information, the location where your lessons were scheduled, and any relevant details, and our team will review your concerns and follow up with you. Thank you. – Brittany

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Tyler is very helpful and makes your experience smooth

Tyler from Guitar Center on Steven’s creek helped me out a ton! I went in looking for something I had no idea about and he was super helpful at choosing the right product for me. He also helped me try out a guitar and set me up nicely with an amp. Such a cool guy and a wonderful experience getting new gear and equipment. Super easy to talk to and truly cares about what he does and the people he helps out in store.

23 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Ordered a pair of Kali Audio LP8 V2…

Ordered a pair of Kali Audio LP8 V2 monitors after confirming with the store that they were coming out of cuz they were used that they were in fact the V2 version. Typically when I reach out to a store regarding a used product I never hear back from him but this time I did. I was assured in fact they were V2. Yet 5 days later when they actually came they were not V2s despite the fact they charged the price of the twos which were quite a bit more expensive than the original version. So my excitement in opening the box thinking I finally finished my studio turn to anger. Try to dressing it online with the chat gear specialist and not only did the guy not even know there was a V1 or V2 he had no thing to say except I can offer a refund. Why do you think I even order from this crappy corporation. I have only ever used it because of the return policy so I guess if you're not excited about what you may be thinking that you bought or are expecting something for some kind of deadline, at least you can return the thing.

24 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hi, we're sorry to hear about your experience and understand how disappointing it must have been to receive a different version than what you were told to expect. We also apologize for the frustration you experienced when seeking assistance afterward. We'd like the opportunity to review what happened. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with your order details, and our team will look into your concerns and follow up with you. Thank you. – Brittany

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I had to call the Hickory Store

I had to call the Hickory Store, because your website doesn't work properly. Please find my History, & correct that!

23 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hi Steve, we're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with our website and understand how frustrating that can be. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out about it. We'd like to look into your account history and make sure everything is corrected properly. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with your contact information and any details related to your account, and our team will review this and follow up with you. Thank you. – Brittany

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do not ever sell your instruments to them. They'll give you nothing and then charge the next person far to much

This company scams the hell out of you. Sold a guitar to them. They gave me 150 bucks for it, only to turn around and post it for over 2 grand!!! I understand needing to make a profit off of items bought from customers but are you kidding me? That's like a 4000 percent profit. I would have gotten a better deal selling to a pawn shop. I should have known better before signing the paperwork because every used guitar in this store seemed ridiculously over priced. I expected so much better from this company. I'll never step foot into any of your stores again and honestly i hope this company goes out of business with practices like that.

16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hi, we're sorry to hear you're disappointed with your selling experience. We understand your concerns about the offer you received and how the instrument was later listed. We'd appreciate the opportunity to review your experience. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with your contact information and any details you have about the transaction, and our team will look into your concerns and follow up with you. Thank you. – Brittany

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My experience was excellent

My experience was excellent! I had some issues honing in on a cab that would work for me, and Jonathan did an excellent job guiding me through the options and helping me get to the rig I finally chose. He was very patient and understanding when I found out that the 112 was not enough power for the gigs I’m playing, and helped me find exactly what I wanted. I have generally been one who would go to a smaller store first, but now I am very happy with Guitar Center and the service provided. I think Johnathan specifically deserves all the credit, and did an excellent job helping me.

9 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Staff

Our experience was so great because of the staff who helped us find the best introductory guitar. Roy spent a lot of time with us explaining every model and telling us what else I would need for my first guitar. He also ordered a guitar case online, and gave us a discount, as it was not in stock in the store even though the online system said it was. He remembered our names the whole way through, and was very pleasant to talk with. I especially loved how he talked about the human side to buying a guitar in person.

22 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Unexpected exchange, really good deal, great service

I went in to pick up a used banjo I ordered online from a store out of state, and due to some human error from the other store it never got shipped out. The service from Mike and Aaron at the grape road store in IN was really beyond what I would have expected. They figured out how to get the banjo shipped to me, but they also were understanding that it was a time sensitive gift scenario and they offered to swap it in store with a new banjo. All in all, I really appreciate their help and ended up with a better banjo on the day I needed it for the same price! Thanks guys :)

22 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They charged me $20 to ship a 1lb item

They charged me $20 to ship a 1lb item. They advertise a low price but make their money on charging outrageous shipping.

20 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hi, we're sorry to hear you're frustrated with the shipping cost on your order. We understand how that can feel unexpected, especially for a lightweight item. We'd like to review your order and clarify the charges for you. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with your order details, and our team will take a closer look and follow up with you. Thank you. – Brittany

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Guitar Lessons, treated fair when it didn't work out

I have to update my prior review and give GC a 5 star review. Shortly after I posted the Jun 16 review, GC asked for a chance to make things right. I emailed my contact info and the store manager, Ally G., called me at the end of the week to say she accepted responsibility for the scheduling problem and that she had refunded me the unused lessons prior to calling me. Stuff happens, I understand that. When GC couldn't accommodate my work schedule, this manager did the right thing and refunded me for the lessons I had paid for. In my opinion a store manager that does the right thing for the right reasons is 5-Star, and will continue to get my business.

Orig Post (June 16): Signed up for lessons several weeks ago and it was one disappointment after another. First disappointment: I changed original scheduled time to Wed at 6:00 pm. Only the first appointment was changed to Wed at 6:00 pm even though I had received an email stating all appointments changed from 6:30 to 6:00 pm. Showed up for second lesson and no instructor because instructor had only received first change to 6:00 pm. Before the fourth "actual" lesson, I advised I would like to receive lessons from someone who was more focused on acoustic guitar. I wanted to perfect playing open chords and this instructor was more inclined to teach electric guitar technique. Fine, no problem. Showed up for first lesson with new instructor - guess what, no instructor. The instructor didn't want to come back four hours later after a 2:00 o'clock lesson to teach a 6:00 o'clock lesson. No problem, they just hired a new guy and he would be able to teach the 6:00 pm lesson the following week. Guess what, just got a call from Guitar Center - 2 hours prior to scheduled lesson, asking when did I want to have my lessons so they could get someone lined up. REALLY??? I have been polite and understanding, but it's clear Guitar Center Baton Rouge can't provide the service I was offered and paid for. Matter of fact, I am walking away after just paying for the second month of lessons and I've only received four of the eight lessons I paid for.

15 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hi Skyler, we are sorry to hear about the experience you had involving lessons. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with the details along with the contact method you prefer, and we can get this addressed for you by management.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Again, we're sorry for the inconvenience you've experienced.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Customer Service

What wonderful help and customer service I received today by Mark Gray from the San Antonio location! He went out of his way in helping me to obtain my son's birthday gift in time! No words can express how thankful I am and I know this is only the beginning of his music endeavors Guitar Center will always be my first choice for his music needs!

16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I’m so frustrated right now I drove 1…

I’m so frustrated right now I drove 1 hour and 20 mins to pick up a speaker I needed for a gig tonight only to have the speaker crap out in 1 min during the biggest basketball game ever making me look like a fool because I had zero sound!!

13 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hi Robert, we are sorry to hear about your recent speaker purchase. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with the details along with the contact method you prefer, and we can get this addressed for you by management.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Again, we're sorry for the inconvenience you've experienced.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Jeff

Jeff, our salesman did a great job understanding what we were looking for and explaining our options. He was kind, efficient, and didn’t “oversell” us. Great experience!

11 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I spoke with Kat

I spoke with Kat; it's always a pleasure working with her! She knows her stuff and sends my ordered equipment immediately.

11 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to hearing from you again soon! 🎶

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

3 Strikes in a Row!

Had a bad experience with another online order for this same amp, used, from another guitar center. After placing that order, I was charged, then informed a day later that the amp was not in working condition but if I wanted it, I could have it for $540. It said on the page, screenshot, that the amp was tested and was in good working order as described. It apparently, was not.

Next day I find same amp, comparable price, different location so, really wanting this particular model, I did it.

A $900 purchase. An investment. Again, tested and in good working order.

The unit arrives a few days later and was packed extremely well.

While unpacking, I hear metal rattling around inside the chassis. After some light shaking, a silver washer falls out. Moving the amp more and rattling again... I decide I am not going to plug this one in til I can spend some time.

Today I did. I have photos of the 2 transformers on the interior right hand side with only one screw holding of the 4 that should have been installed.

If there was any type of inspection done on this amp prior to resale this would have been immediately evident.

The inspection stamp has a date of 9/21/15. You would have thought it was from 1915 with the amount of dust and debris inside the chassis.

That's 3 bad experiences in a row with GC. I keep reading on Google that you're doing the right thing for the customer with your new forward thinking vision. I'm all for it. Take care of this customer and do the right thing.

10 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Hello Ed! I’m sorry for the inconvenience you experienced while purchasing your amp online with us. Please email us at YourVoice@GuitarCenter.com with the details of your order, and we will follow up with you. Thank you.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very helpfull.

8 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Riley is a real G

Riley was fast, efficient, and found exactly what I needed.

10 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to seeing you again soon! 🎶

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Order #GCSF0003138360


Order #: GCSF0003138360
Zach Welch helped me with my bass guitar and case purchase. He was able to get me some discounts to help with the price a bit. The bass was perfect. However, the case sent was a cheap road runner case for a guitar, not bass.
Zach told me I could go to the local GC and they could exchange it out. I got everything squared away with the local store and got my case a couple days ago. I’m very pleased with Zach’s help. Despite the case hiccup, I still rate this 5/5

5 June 2026
Unprompted review
Guitar Center logo

Reply from Guitar Center

Thank you so much for the 5-star review!

We truly appreciate your kind words. Providing great service and making sure our customers feel confident in the products they choose is always our top priority. It means a lot to know that you felt well taken care of during your visit.

We look forward to hearing from you again soon! 🎶

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