I had a deal worked out over the phone and put down a deposit for a new Guild D55e. I drove over 120 miles to the store to find the guitar had a buzz that the employee couldn't fix. I said I was bummer that I drove all the way there to find the guitar hadn't been checked and the employee admitted he didn't check it with a capo and said "sometimes that's just how it goes." He suggested I go to the Santa Rosa store. Drive even farther? Um, no. I looked at a few other guitars figuring I might get something else instead while he was trying to fix the Guild hoping they might make a deal but stopped after that employees comment and said I'll pass. Fortunately I was refunded my deposit. I also brought 2 expensive guitars into the store that day to possibly sell or consign (Gibson Dove & a custom Martin D-35) and I guess nobody looked at them or they were mad I didn't buy the Guild because nobody mentioned anything about them so I just picked them up and left. I called the store hoping to sort things out with the owner and was told info@bananas.com was his email (clearly not but whatever). I emailed info@bananas and requested the owner contact me. Someone replied (not the owner) and said he would. It's been a week and nothing. 100% waste of my day sitting in my car in traffic all day to be told "sometimes that's just how it goes." I finally just bought my Guild at another store. read more

Knowledgeable staff and a good selection. They have an acoustic guitar room with Martins, Guild, Taylors, the great American guitars. The electric guitar selection has a deep range of brands and quality so you can find something to start as well as some truly fine instruments. I came once with a student and got the hard sell but that only happened once, the many other times I've been there the staff has been helpful in finding the right thing at the right price. Good selection of electronic keyboards and accessories. The drum room is much more complete than at many music stores. If you want to avoid the chain stores, ok the chain store, go here! read more

A big improvement over Guitar Center sales and service. Carries basically all the same product lines as Guitar Center & Sam Ash at the same prices. Difference here is that it has been locally owned since the 1970's. Music lessons are given in store. Some repairs done in store as well. Staff are nice, adult and steadily employed. I've seen some of the same sales people for over ten years. If I need new replacement parts for my guitars or amps I come here. If I'm shopping for something vintage, used or just plain weird, I go across the street to E* guitars. read more

When i went into Bananas to buy a Djembe, the staff was reallly cool, knowledgeable and very easy to talk to. They didn't pressure me and gave me some tips on what to look for in a Drum instructor as well. These guys were GREAT! it made shopping fun and the prices as compared to ones in S.F. were better too. I will go back there whenever i need to buy an instrument. read more

They have a great selection of instruments and gear. Probably one of the best inventories in the Bay area I would imagine. My experience might be out of the ordinary and I would give them a second chance but...... I did not like the aggressive salesmanship I had to deal with when checking out the guitars in this establishment. He seemed far more interested in establishing my "budget and timeline for purchasing"....than learning about the nature of my interests or goals. I was ready to buy as it happens and DID have "Gretsch money" (as he termed it) but refuse to cooperate when treated like a wallet rather than a fellow human being and prospective customer. Ultimately I bought my Country gent elsewhere. One experience is of course not sufficient to judge a large business like this. Accordingly I give them an extra star here on good faith. P.s. follow up from apparently conscientious owner just discovered (years after the fact unfortunately) ...heart felt and on point. Hence an upgraded score. Bananas is worth a visit undoubtedly. read more

When it comes to sound, Tim is your expert go-to guy! When it comes to guitar tech., you'll be blown away by Teresa! Bananas is still a hidden gem tucked away in Marin. The staff is incredible and always ready to serve. Serious musicians depend on Bananas! read more

What can you say about a music store? I mean, you go in, buy your stuff and leave, right? In the old days you needed someone to educate you and guide you in the right direction. These days, I think most people will do their research on the Internet, then go here and buy stuff. It's actually the opposite of Guitar Center, where you might do your research there and play all the guitars and then go buy it online with FREE shipping and no sales tax [that's changing I know]. Parking can be a little hard around here. I have circled a few times and left because I couldn't park. It's only meters and they do not have a parking lot. Anyway, at Banana's, they no longer let you play the guitars unless you are qualified by a salesperson. Then they carefully hand you the guitar you wish to play. It's quite different than GC where you can go in, grab an axe and plug in to any arsenal of amps. Don't expect a GC experience here. This is for better and worse. The better part isthat they are nice and when they are not busy, you can get someone to help you right away. Some of the new staff are not as knowledgeable as the elders that still work here. Actually, I think one of the original staff guys is the owner now. Anyway, the prices are ok. You'll spend a little more here to do business with a local merchant that can provide service if you need it. They have two other locations that I have not been to. This location has been here for years. I buy strings, picks and other non essentials there when necessary. I have bought a couple guitars here before. One time, they had the FENDER rep giving out an extra 10% off guitars. the guitar was already on sale so it was a deal I couldn't refuse as I wasn't really buying that day. I was only looking. I urge you to support the local merchant whenever you can so long as you don't inconvenience yourself with time or money. In the case of Banana's you can get close to Musicians' Friend pricing but keep in mind the return policy is more stringent than MF. So make sure you really want it before you spend the $$$. read more

I talked to these guys about Mbox 2 I'm thinking about buying on-line. They were a great help, they didn't try to bad mouth the deal the internet company was offering. They gave me all the necessary information I needed to make a sound decision and were very friendly and professional. When I need help or equipment, I'll be there. NOT any thing like guitar center in SF, they had me on hold for about 10 minutes and then didn't want to answer my questions unless I was ready to buy from them. read more

Cool music store. Most of the staff are friendly and helpful. Doesn't seem to get many new exciting different items too often but still a great vibe and always something to check out/play/buy. Staff are well educated on pretty much all products so it's nice to get their help if you need it read more

Bananas at Large - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

Great guitar shop with a wide selection of guitars and helpful service. I was checking out a used guitar on consignment which was eventually sold when I decided to come back to buy it - bummer. But when I was checking out the guitars, I was helped out quite a bit by Dave (I think) - he plays for some 80s metal cover bands. He let me check out a couple of guitars and walked away for a bit. I'm pretty sure he wanted to hear what I played and what my skill level was and then he returned to answer my questions. After talking a bit, I'm sure he figured out that I've been pretty serious about guitar for a few years now so he didn't try to bullshit me which I appreciated. I ended up returning a few weeks later and buying a booster pedal which sounded great out of the guitar I was looking at. Still so bummed about that guitar being sold but that's how it goes. I like supporting places like this instead of GC if I can. I'll be checking back to see if a similar guitar shows up. read more

I recently took a couple of electric guitars to Bananas' resident guitar tech, Larry Council for a set-up. Besides being very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, Larry did a truly fabulous and professional job in setting up and repairing both instruments. I am really impressed with Larry's expertise and how he took a couple of rather beat-up guitars and made them look and play better than than the've ever done before. They sound great too! His prices are good and you won't feel that sticker-shock than can often sour an otherwise great experience. One thing that really stood out about Larry was his huge enthusiam for his work. This man is an artisan and he knows his job inside out. I have a valuable stratocaster that needs some work. Guess who I'm going to call? read more

Teresa Topaz repaired my 1988 Taylor 510 Acoustic Guitar , She did an excellent repair and then a set up on the guitar . I would highly recommend Bananas staff and especially***Teresa***. read more

I got fitted for some Ultimate Ears here about 2 weeks ago and had a great experience. I found the store from the UE website and contacted them regarding scheduling an appointment for an in ears fitting. They got back to me promptly and were knowledgeable about the products I had questions about. The actual fitting was super cool and I learned that they use the UE 3D scan technology for most ears instead of the traditional goop because it creates a better fitting product. If you're looking at getting some in ears, a guitar, pro audio gear, or need guitar repairs I'd definitely suggest checking them out. read more

Bananas at large put instrument on eBay "buy it now", which I did via PayPal. 3 days later (they're open 7 days a week), someone comes out of their coma, sends me a flippant email they don't have it, it sold elsewhere. But, they can send me a piece of junk fit for a dumpster. So, we had their OFFER, my ACCEPTANCE and PAYMENT. Then they try the old bait and switch.... They didn't answer my BBB complaint (wonder why they aren't members)? I think I can see why. BAIT and SWITCH attempt. read more

I've been looking for an amp that could (sometimes) double as a PA for a small Open Mic gig for a couple months now. Got a lot of different advice from a number of friends, but never anything real concrete. Walked into Bananas At Large yesterday and was treated to some of the best customer service I've had anywhere in a long time. I was assisted by a Specialist named Aleks. Not only was he super cool and helpful, he steered me toward an excellent Marshall AS100D. Walked me through the range of the amp's possibilities...hooked up a guitar and a mic and let me take it for a test drive. I totally dug it. Although Aleks gave me a really great price, I had to take a little time to think about. Ran a couple errands and came back an hour later. Aleks was on lunch, but another super nice guy, Dana, picked up where we left off and (again) was super cool and helpful. Needless to say I have a killer amp that sounds amazing. Thanks fellas. Much appreciated. read more

I have to give props to Tim, he definitely knows a lot about sound equipment, especially new equipment on the market. He demonstrated some of the speakers in store too me, and he was able to clearly explain all of the features of said model. The rest of the staff was very helpful in finding me a person knowledgeable about sound equipment, which is very redeeming. This store is like a Guitar Center without the hands-on approach, which I believe is good. It means not everyone is playing instruments and touching everything. They have a lot of new products; including actual name brand products and well known industry brands. They don't have the off-brand stuff you see these other local guys carry. This is a legitimate music store, in my eyes. The prices for their PA equipment are competitive with Guitar Center, Musician's Friends, et al. Not sure about the other equipment, but I was pleased to see a local shopped priced to meet the competition. Shout out to the owner Alan, he is definitely running his store very well. I will be glad to give my business to them. Parking can be a hassle here if it is busy around town, and it's mostly metered parking. However when I came on a Wednesday afternoon, I was able to find a few parking spots. read more

Just wanted to give a big shout out to Jeff who helped us select the most wonderful Yamaha Montage8 work station. He was most knowledgeable and helpful. This is not our first good experience with these musical guru's. For almost 30 years our family, including our three sons, have been using this source for their expertise and great musical instruments... Thanks again! Nice doing business with you! read more

Gave good advice around repairs and was honest even though it meant not getting my business. Thank you!

This places rocks. Super good customer service with not too much pressure. I wanted a finger exerciser to use to build my finger strength. They did not have one, so I left without buying anything. I went in two weeks later and there the exerciser was that I wanted. That shows that they are on top of their business and there customer's wants, and needs. You have a customer for life. Screw the big guys Guitar center! Support local business and shop here. Rock on Paul S. read more

I was referred to Bananas by a musician/producer friend. Was looking for a guitar but wanted some help from a pro who really new their craft/instruments. He connected me with Alan at Bananas. The whole process was a joy. Immediate responses to all questions, good advice from someone that obviously knew their stuff and immediate shipping upon purchase. Considering I live in Seattle, this was critical. The price was the best of everywhere I researched and the service outstanding. Highly recommended from a very happy customer. read more

Best music store in Marin. Excellent selection of instruments/equipment, friendly knowledgeable staff, and top quality instructors for music lessons. There are music stores closer to where we live, but they are worth the extra travel. read more

I've known these guys and worked with them for 20 years. Some of the best people in the industry - period. Great selections, great staff, fun place for musicians. read more

This was my first time buying a guitar out of state. I checked three different shops, spoke to them on the phone, and Bananas was by far the best. My guitar showed up in Better condition than I expected. Joel and Amy are class acts. Thanks for everything! read more

I recently needed some help with connecting a few large speakers together so I came in for some help. I got a little confused with all the different types of mini-stereo vs 1/4" adapters so I came in and found a salesman that knew everything you'd ever want to know about audio cables. I ended up with a much quicker, cheaper, and easier solution than I thought I needed. This place is a Marin institution and their new location is awesome! read more

I was literally one of the first customers in the store, when two buddies of mine and I cut school at SRHS to be at the 4th/Lincoln store for the opening in 1973. Been a long time since Fred and PJ ran the store, but it's still the best place to shop for musical gear in our area. ALWAYS check out Bananas before making a significant purchase. You could be very glad you did. read more

I usually visit the Santa Rosa store. I enjoy going there. Pleasant helpful folks. Not so much here. I did get two smiles on my way to the guitars. Finally a young man asked if I was looking for something. Yes a squier bullet. This is a rather inexpensive guitar. He says they are low on these. Seems he had something more important to do than help me. I own many maybe too many guitars. I also buy beaters to refurbish. I felt utterly dismissed and of no value as a customer. Maybe he will polish his sales persona but I will not be going back to find out. The guys at Tall Toad so much more on the ball. read more

I'm blessed: I live 5 blocks from the best music store maybe in the Bay Area. . . Pluses: Staff that knows their business, doesn't talk down or condescend - no matter how much of a newbie you might be and that can also deal toe-to-toe with the pros. An extraordinary array of instruments and accessories to choose from. Freedom to "graze" and explore what's for sale; they'll set you up, plug you in, and then leave you alone if that's what you want, for as long as you want. (until you get to the high-end stuff. That's when they assign you a salesperson who will personally hand you the instrument and watch you like a hawk while you try it out. I know some don't like this, but I've seen some in-store damage you wouldn't believe, so I understand). Special praises here for Tim: I came to him with my new-to-me American Deluxe Strat, with a setup issue that two other techs had no clue how to deal with. Not only did he know immediately what the issue was, he gave me a tutorial in how to fix it, encouraged me to do it myself, and then took the time to evaluate my job and give me feedback when I brought it back for his thoughts. All. For. Free. I can't say enough good things about him. Minuses: Yes; the sales staff is on commission. You might feel a bit "pounced on" when you come in. They do back off if you ask, but it's kind of intimidating sometimes if you're just in to browse, and there is sometimes that slightly hectic and impersonal vibe that comes from people having to make a sale to make a living. Overall, this is minor, especially as compared to, say, (not naming any names, but you know), Guitar Center. But still, it does happen. And, well. .. I know that the main guitar tech Teresa has a loyal following, but she's really not someone I care to deal with. She sold me some stuff that she swore I desperately needed, and not only did it break fairly soon but is also something I later discovered I could have made do with way cheaper options. She has VERY strong opinions about guitar care and setup; I mean VERY strong opinions, and she really wants you to know exactly what they are. She didn't even want to discuss my Strat problem without charging me a fee to "put it on the bench". I feel talked-down to, and ("hey; it's me, not you, OK?") find her to be off-putting in general. But YMMV. . . .and there's always Tim if you can catch him. He's often out of the store, but (see above). Overall: Yah; prices are a bit higher than Guitar Center, but this is a case of you absolutely positively get what you pay for. After getting burned bad at GC twice, I'm real OK with paying a few more dollars. Go here. read more

Alan R., I did not deal with you so you do not know what happened. I was told that I could NOT bring my instrument into the store to try out amps. I play sarod which is not the same as a guitar. Brad played a guitar thru the amp and it sounded good enough to take it home, but there was not even one good setting for the sarod. I already have a working Fender Passport that sounds better than that Roland, and costs 1/3 the price. I was looking for a better quality of sound which I had with the Fender and a Boggs DI. The Boggs DI stopped working so I was hoping to find that quality in a single system. To accuse me of buying the amp to play for a gig is disgusting. I use an amp every day because my sarod is electric and I play every day. You also lied about me visiting the store several times. I called once, visited once to look at the amp and returned the amp the next morning . Period. Furthermore I was NOT told that I would not get a refund for 10 days. I could have paid with a credit card. Your skinny little manager was a snot about refusing to return my check and insisting it go thru the bank even though I was not purchasing the amp. I don't care what your reason is for these dishonest behaviors and unfriendly attitudes. Your behavior speaks for itself. read more

When you walk in the first thing you will notice is the trance like state people get into with the instruments. In different corners people trying different instruments and Associates assisting them. Or getting them started and letting them fiddle with their item of choice. My friend and I were greeted by the Ukulele's. My friend asked how hard it was to learn how to play. Apparently you can learn relatively fast! There are very few keys you need to play on the Ukulele. Then he directed us to where we could find sheet music. The store Associates are greet. They are very helpful without hovering! The store has a wide variety of beautiful instruments to offer and has been around for years! At the back and upstairs during certain days you will find that the store offers guitar lessons. I do not know what other instrument lessons they offer. But there you have it! If you are in need of a or or drums! This is the place for you! read more

Bananas at Large - A tongue drum! It makes pretty sounds with a magnet inside! So cool! #learn - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Rafael, California

They have great inventory and plenty of expert staff on hand to help out in selecting merchandise. It's clear from musicians that shop in here (just listen to the folks trying out instruments) that this store is where the pros (or at least the great amateurs) shop. My only knock and it's significant is that they see biased to sell you what they have or what they have on "special" bs what is best for you. They sold my son a guitar that was too big for him. It was a great deal but not the right size. We discovered that as we became more familiar with sizing. So keep that in mind when shopping. read more

Well, I'm surprised to see some of these negative posts'. Everything I buy, including the small stuff comes from Bananas. Top notch service, best prices on the planet, and knowledgeable sales team. Why complain if you don't get the service you are looking for, ask to speak to someone else!! Top shelf......everything!! read more

Went in there's few months ago and picked up one the acoustic guitars to try out. No more than three minutes into fiddling with the guitar, and mind you, I was very careful, one of the assistants took notice and abruptly interrupted and said somewhere along the lines "can I help you, be careful with that guitar etc.. "He said in a such a way(condescending) leaving me agitated and uncomfortable. Irritable and disappointed of the situation I left . I've been to many music stores nationwide and overseas and never had this encounter before(rude). As far as skills in customer service is concerned, this associate needs further training. read more

I'm young so bear this in mind kids who come here. I came to this place trying to sell my guitar, and one of the staff members(maybe the owner, i'm not sure) plugged it in to see if it played, and when he was switching the pickup switch he said that the switch was "f***** up" quote on quote, and ways he tried to tell me the middle selector was messed up because no sound was coming out from it, but he also turned the volume knob down all the way on one pickup, so of course there was no sound. So because of this, he knocked down the sell price of my guitar considerably . So i tried another guitar of theirs with humbucker pickups and did the same thing the the staff did, and the same thing happened, no sound! I showed him this and he walked away and didn't come back to talk to me, so I walked over to him and asked him what's going on and he didn't really have anything so say other than the price stays, and not even an apology for trying to tell me something was wrong with my guitar when there quite in fact was nothing wrong with it. Me fed up with their nonsense i walked away very displeased and disappointed by the way they treat potential customers, and the way they tried to play me like a fool. I'll never come back to this store and make sure everyone i know doesn't come here. The fact that they tried to lie to me should say enough for anyone trying to come here. read more

I bought my first guitar at bananas in the 70s. Walked in today my wife who was going to buy me a birthday present. The owner was incredibly rude. The moral there seems to be very low. Maybe if i was steve perry i would have been treated better. We where about to spend some money and walk out with a keyboard but i would never spend a dime there. Guitar Center in the city thank the the Lord for options.. kevin read more

Been playing guitar 16 years... Didn't need any gear. Went into Bananas At Large and Alan (awesome salesman) barely did anything and before long I was purchasing a great sounding pedal. No pressure, just honest advice and "gentle prodding." When said pedal died a few weeks later, Alan immediately switched it out, even though I didn't have my receipt or original packaging. Try that anywhere at a "big box" store. These guys are a part of the true hi-end American Service Industry. Enjoy it while it lasts. Support this! read more

Great store and the only game in Marin for pro gear. They price match too. Great teachers upstairs. Best Bass teacher in Marin, Josh Needleman. Great keyboard teacher Amy Levine. Could cary more used gear which would be nice! read more

I recently bought a guitar at Guitar Center because it was the only place near Oakland that sold the model I wanted. It was a painful experience. First of all, the sexism in the store is thick enough that you'd need a chainsaw to cut through it. The display that I was near had a sign with a "warning" to "watch out for flying panties." Oh yes, I must buy this gear so strange girls throw their dirty underpants at me! Secondly, I was at all times surrounded by wankers who clearly came to GC to play their screedley never-ending solos (with horrid tone) as loud as possible. Lastly, the sales person used lines like "I don't normally do this, but just for you..." while touching my shoulder in a fascimile of a deep and caring friendship. Ah, dude, why are you touching me? Yeah. So now I needed a new amp, and I decided had to try something, anything else. Enter Banana's. An oasis of sanity. While surrounded by lovely equipment, I was assisted by a salesperson who helped me very well without being overbearing or phony. People were trying out instruments at a respectful volume. In fact, the salesperson politely asked if he could turn down my volume, which I thought was a reasonable request so that others could hear themselves. In addition, another customer spoke to me and asked me about my music in a normal, friendly tone. Everything about the place was welcoming and fun. In conclusion, I AM NEVER GOING TO GUITAR CENTER AGAIN. I will be going the few extra miles to Bananas. read more

I was very pleasantly surprised by the level of customer service from this music retailer. They made solid recommendations on mic and preamp, which I purchased as it was a great deal. I'd highly recommend them to any musician or friend of a musician seeking competent help. read more

I go to Banana's for pretty much ALL my music needs, they are local and in the community and I am BIG on supporting local, I've spent hundreds of dollars there (literally). Today, I go in for a cow bell of all things and realize I need a box to ship a guitar I just sold on Ebay. I figure, heck they'll give me a cardboard box right, they get a bazillion of them every week. So SAM (long hair, plays drums...sold me lots of stuff and still doesn't know who I am) helps me with my cow bell purchase and helps get me a box, then proceeds to charge me $10 for the box....REALLY?! 10 bucks for a box that I'm going to take off your hands, that you'll recycle anyway? After I've gone to you now for so long and spent a lot of money in your store, and you can't give me a cardboard box?! I can't tell you how disappointed I am! This was one of the reasons why I support local businesses, they can show their appreciation by giving good customers a cardboard box when they need one (for free). It's a good thing I didn't need a pen, that may have been another couple bucks. SAM, a lesson and a very expensive one for your employer, you made 10 dollars on a cardboard box and lost a big supporter and adovocate for your store. 8( When it doesn't count and I didn't ask for anything, they are happy to sell all you need. I hope the owner's and manager's pay attention to these reviews and let's SAM know, it not always about sticking it to your local customers who want to patronize their store. $10 for a cardboard box....Jeez. read more

I always stop here when I'm driving back up through SF. There is a lot of variety to try out and I never leave without adding more to my wish list from this place. I have been coming here for years and had excellent customer service with all of my purchases. read more