I literally had no idea that Ames even had a music store in town. After a recommendation on…read moreFacebook while trying to find a guitar (I want to play TODAY!), I decided to check out this place. It's a nice little shop with a lot of stuff for sale including standard musical instruments, guitars, pianos, and a lot more. It's located on Main Street next to a Salon. I had no idea what I was looking for, so when the owner asked me how he could help, I told him I wanted a beginner-friendly guitar that didn't cost too much. It's obvious it's a passion of his as he was happy to give me as much information as I wanted. He explained the various price points of guitars as well as what you get for each price point. He doesn't carry any guitars under $200 since most of those are absolute garbage, but when I mentioned that that was over my budget, he gave me a couple brands and suggestions for something that would be okay until I was ready to upgrade. After that, he recommended a fantastic tuner that I ended up purchasing as well as taught me the differences between guitar picks and how it would effect my playing and the sound. He even gave me a couple guitar picks, free of charge, to try out and figure out which ones I'd like to come get more. Throughout the entire transaction, he was extremely friendly, very understanding of my questions, and pretty much was the ideal experience of customer service. Final thoughts: The owner seems to be a great guy, and I had a seriously amazing experience. If I end up loving the guitar, I'll be back to purchase a higher-quality one from here. I'm impressed. Plus, I love supporting a local Ames business!

I've only been here a few times, but someone always greets me as I walk in and asks if I need help…read morefinding anything. This may not sound like something to get all excited about, but consider how many times you've walked into a store...and it almost seems like the staff is AVOIDING you! Good customer service is a feature worth raving about. While usually I do opt to search on my own, the one time I was in a hurry and did accept assistance, the person helping me was able to take me right to what I wanted. She showed me the various options in the category of item I needed, and I was able to make an informed decision and get right on my way. Everyone working at this store is always friendly and available to help, and--at least in my experience thus far--they always have what I need. All in all, it's a pleasure to visit this location.

Worst music store for miles. Stop on by and see what I mean. Let the graciousness of the host show…read moreyou how rude they are

This is the best music store in the area. The staff is great and they are competitively priced…read more You cannot go wrong here. I've purchased 5-6 guitars and basses as well as a couple of amplifiers and pedals too. If there are any issues they make it right.

Where to start? I had the pleasure of making a purchase from Ben. Ben's honesty blew me away when…read moreone of the pieces I was interested in, Ben said it probably wasnt for me. I told Ben that I was looking for a wah-wah pedal. When I stated my needs and also my complaints with past pedals Ben directed me to the Tech 21 Killer Wail. The Dunlop that I had enquired about Ben told me was a 70's Vintage model and that it probably in reality wasn't for me. Ben cut me a terrific deal, excellent communication, rocket-fast shipping, and then after it arrived followed up with me. I cannot recommend BRG or Ben enough. Ive dont a considerable amount of internet business with Reverb, Ebay, GC, MF and a bazillion of other vendors! It just doesnt get any better than dealing with BRG or Ben. I found it a great comfort knowing that in the event of an issue, a return or tech support that they have your back. I promise you they wont disappoint!! Thanks!

From the owner: Music Lessons in Guitar, Bass, Drums, and Keyboard/Piano…read more Complete Guitar and Bass Repair Sales of new and used instruments, including G&L, Buddy Blaze, Dean, Alvarez, Luna, dDrum, Peavey. Accessories.

My son has been taking both piano and guitar with Scott. Scott has a really chill vibe and has…read moreexperience as a performing musician (drummer from Des Moines-based band, Envy Corp). I've been really impressed with not only the skill my son has developed on both instruments but the variety of genres he has been exposed to. Recitals are optional but give the students the experience of playing solo and with playing with a group of musicians in a band.

I don't think the business holds their instructors to any sort of standard. The billing policies…read moreare predatory, there is little communication with the instructors and students get handwritten notes instead of printed easy to read material... which is important to young kids.

The service here is impeccable. If the store doesn't have the music you're looking for, they can…read moreorder almost anything. The employees are very knowledgeable and helpful. The service department works very quickly. I have been a customer here for 11-12 years, and the employees go above and beyond, especially the store manager, Vanessa. I could go on and on about how great this store is!

We have been a customer with Rieman Music for a number of years as our kids explored being members…read moreof their school band. Most recently, the staff at the Urbandale store helped us clean and repair our Yamaha Clavinova. They were friendly, fair in pricing and gave unexpectedly speedy service. Ron and his staff explained the process and were upfront with timing and pricing. He even made sure that we got our unit delivered back to Ames. We have had similar good experiences with the Ames location. We will definitely return to Rieman Music and would recommend to the store to others.

This is a very local music shop, you notice that right away upon walking in. I haven't been in a…read moremusic shop in years, visiting here brings back memories of when I played an instrument. The reason we came was to try Stoner Coffee, but it looks like they closed Stoner Coffee a while back and is now just a music store. The staff was very friendly and apologetic about not being able to serve us coffee. The store is pretty small, but I like that small town store feel. If you're looking to get music supplies/instruments/books or lessons, check this place out!

In the sea of chains that is Ankeny, it's great to see a small, neighborhood place like this. My…read moreonly experience here is getting a cup of tea on a cold November day - but the guys were super friendly. And it's nice to have a little coffee shop (this isn't Starbucks, folks - coffee and tea options are limited). There were a few guys practicing in the store which was nice to listen to while I waited. They offer lessons and some insturments, and I could tell these folks were music lovers and knowledgeable.

Scott, in the West Des Moines Guitar Center, is beyond knowledgeable, as you can tell he has a wide…read morerange of musical experience to draw from. I was all over the place. He listened to my needs and goals. He was able to show me various instruments, that I thought I wanted, as well as, suggesting instruments that would work better for me because of my size and experience. I thought I wanted a half size guitar, and a 3/4 actually works better. He also went through the different brands, all with patience and kindness. I also had a used banjo sent to the store from their online store, which was delivered in great shape. Overall, it was as an excellent experience for this novice. Out of 1 to 10 rating, West Des Moines receives a 15.

My combative relationship with GC continues…read more Have not been in the local GC for quite a few years now. Reason number one. I was about to go on the road for a long weekend, going to play several shows, and I needed strings. I called to see if they had my string set and the guy who answered the phone said no, but I really should change to the string set he uses. No idea of what guitar I play, how I play it, how hard I am on strings. For a guitar player, strings are a really personal thing, and I had no desire to hear someone who had never even spoken to me before tell me what gear I should use. Reason number two I got a phone call on a Friday, it was a marketing company. They were calling on behalf of GC. I said I don't do phone surveys and to please delete my number from their data base. Starting on Monday I had 5-10 spam calls a day for weeks. I had never had a problem with that before. I'm sure it is just a coincidence. I talked to the GC manager about it, and he claimed they only did marketing for GC. I had looked up the number and there were multiple complaints about a number of businesses that they did marketing calls for. Reason number three Yesterday we went in for the first time in quite some time, figured give them a chance. We were looking for a headset mic for my wife. We went back into the sound support room and the guy there seemed annoyed that we were even talking to him. My wife is very nice to people, but he was still abrupt and rude. That is the last time. Avoid corporate stores, there are several local places around town that deserve your business. One star is about three too many.