I will never come to another guitar center again, I have been a customer for more than 15 years but after having the rude security lady stare at me and looking at me like I'm a criminal the whole time while I was shopping is unacceptable. A line has been crossed and there is no turning back to this guitar center. read more

While we've been long time customers, I have yet to write a review! My husband is a drummer, our son plays guitar & sings and our other son played some bass for a while... we have always shopped here! From DW Drums and Sabian symbols, a wealth of percussion accessories, several Taylor Guitars, a Schecter Bass Guitar and tons of studio equipment purchases over the years! They have it all and often offer great deals. Guitar Center Northridge has the best selection of EVERYTHING and the best customer service! Their staff is incredibly knowledgeable in every department and they never steer us wrong! I highly recommend grabbing all your "musician needs" here! read more

Anthony the guitar tech was very helpful and personable. He restrung and tuned my guy's Mitchell acoustic guitar, and called promptly when he had it ready for pickup. He's the best!! read more

They sold me an item and made me wait to take it home for 1 hour for verification. When I came back they were selling my held unit to someone else. They offered me an opened beat up one in exchange and said there is nothing they can do. I cancelled the order and now have to wait for my refund. Never coming back. I'll buy from any other online retailer. Total rip off!!! read more

I took my son's guitar in to be cleaned and restrung. They were affordable and fast. I went in to pick it up and sadly the zipper from my child's guitar carrier was missing. The staff member, Seline was super kind. She spent 15 minutes finding a new bag that was super nice to replace the original. I just appreciate the kind customer service. Will definitely come again! read more

I generally enjoy going to Guitar Center. Unfortunately this location is understaffed and as a result the staff members who work there are very hit or miss depending on how busy the store is. Some of them are cool and helpful but others won't give you the time of day unless you're making a larger purchase. And when you're spending some money it feels like they want to push you along and close the sale quickly without giving you a chance to think things through. I don't necessarily blame the staff...I think the main issue is that they just need to hire more people. Half the time you call them and no one picks up. If I call the location in Hollywood the call is answered immediately. I know that location is huge and is in a different league but this location needs to follow their lead. read more

Tried calling yesterday for 1/2 hour. They never picked up. According to their website, they are open, and an item I want is in stock. The next day, I went into the store, and the item was in fact NOT in stock. Wondering what was up with their phones, I called, and surprisingly, the phone range loudly and was audible in EVERY department, yet no one ever picked it up! I called continuously for the next hour, an still no one ever picked up. Horrific service! I tried giving zero stars, but it wouldn't let me - I guess one star is the lowest it goes. read more

I am giving them a 5 because 10 is not an option. Ordered a Guitar thru online and curbside pickup for daughters BDay, but the guitar they had in stock was damaged. Last one too! David at the store went back in and came back out with the next step up Mitchell and said "Tell your daughter Happy BDay for me!" It made her night and you have a customer for life. Thanks guys! read more

I came to buy a couple of gifts for my boyfriend and his new guitar. I was kind of lost until a sales associates (I believe his name was Alvarado) came to my rescue! He gave me some great ideas and explained the differences between various capos and other products. I ended up purchasing three items all recommended by Alvarado. Thank you! All the other staff members were also extremely helpful too and I would recommend this location to others. read more

Awesome experience. I wasn't there to spend a ton of money, and I still got fantastic, very helpful service from Joey. He was just very relaxed and very patient. He listened to my poor sob story about why I needed a new guitar. He must hear this same stupid sob story 8 hours every single day. I didn't really know what I wanted, but he was able to show me a few options (most of which I researched beforehand). It took me some time to decide, and he just let me know to get him if I needed help. I sat in the humidified acoustic room for a good 10-15 mins. I love the smell of that room. Anyway, he helped me find the perfect guitar, no overselling, no pushing other products. Because of that easy going helpfulness, I decided to pick up a few other things that I didn't do much research on, just because I knew he wasn't going to try to sell me the most expensive XYZ on the market. That Northridge store is really clean, very well organized, and the staff are all pretty awesome. If you're local to this store, it's a much different vibe than GC of old. There was a drum off going on at that time, and Joey didn't mind that I wanted to watch one of the drummers. He even hung out and checked out the drummer too. I will be back to this GC. read more

I went in to look for a guitar for my daughter. I was greeted immediately but when it came to looking for information from someone who worked in that specific department he was MIA. Guess I'll be buying it off Amazon instead. Hey hiring managers...please look into hiring sales professionals who actually care about making a sale! read more

Out of 4 to 5 people working they it was hard to get help in drums, waited almost 20mins till someone came to help by then I was already at check out. And the customer service was disgusting. I was very disappointed in the service here, the sad thing is that my 5 year old son was with me asking me why aren't anyone helping us . read more

they always go above and beyond to help you choose the best gear suited for you in your budget range . I was here yesterday to find a throne for long hours i sit to play guitar. helpful sales associates despite being very busy showed me all options and allowed me to try out single one they had at the store . there was no sales pressure and they were knowledgeable about the product . read more

Guitar Center - Found the best guitar within my budget - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Northridge, California

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actually cracked. im a drummer and its rare for them not to have something like what im looking for. great environment too. i love to just be in the store and check new things out. highly recommend to any musician. read more

I frequent this store and the Sam Ash in Canoga Park because I like to spend time trying out the acoustic guitars before I purchase. The store is fun place to hang out, but is only - kinda okay, as far as the stuff they carry, but my 3 star rating is based on the acoustics of the small room where they keep the high end acoustic guitars. The room is acoustically horrible and I cannot hear the tones of what I'm playing. The bass notes don't resonate, and the high notes disappear into the abyss. I have to take the guitars into the large "regular acoustic guitar" area where the room acoustics are better. Also, they keep the more expensive guitars locked behind a glass case, so you can't try them out to compare unless you are with a salesperson. When buying an acoustic, you want to try several models, and brands, until a certain guitar "speaks" to you. Sometimes a few of the exact same model and brand of guitar will resonate differently, so you should keep playing, and evaluate guitars until you find the right one and make that connection, so room acoustics are fundamental to a successful purchase of a musical instrument. A proper solid wood guitar isn't cheap at $1000 and up and you should be able to hear the instrument you are interested in buying. I ended up going to Sam Ash that night to pull the trigger on a Taylor 314CE that I had my eye on for a few weeks, and the guitar room at Sam Ash had wonderful acoustics, a better selection, and accessibility to the most expensive guitars to compare the sounds. read more

TERRIBLE customer service! This is probably the worse GC in the LA area. You basically have to beg for someone to answer questions/charge you for the items, and they always do it with THE WORSE attitude! As if they're doing you a favor. Every time I go back there, I say to myself "maybe the last guy was just having a bad day", and every time I leave disappointed. I try to support local businesses, but stores like this are the ones pushing people to buy online. Oh, and by the way, their inventory also sucks. They don't have basic things from basic brands. I just tried to buy a 0.11 set of elixir strings, which they didn't have. I mean.....‍ read more

I'm a first time customer to Guitar center... my daughter just started guitar lessons but her string needed to be replaced, so I stopped in. The staff was helpful, knowledgeable, and very friendly! Thanks to Anthony, my daughter got her string changed and made it to her lesson in time. Thanks again!! read more

Website says store closes at 9pm, drive all the way over at 7pm to be told the store is closed. You can always count on guitar center to suck read more

After a frustrating experience at sherman Oaks store, I had a great experience here. Michael was really helpful. I found my piano here!

Poor customer service for sure. Every time we ask an employee for help with something they say I guess it works for that or maybe let me look at it. You guys should know products since you work there and they hire you to know right? Also you should have your guys buy back used gear hours posted one guy says 7pm another says 8pm which is it? We go in to sell something at like 8 and the guy by guitars says we stop at 7pm and then the manager says 8pm which is it and where in your store does it say hours to sell stuff to you guys? Sad to think I should take my business to Sam Ash. read more

DO NOT TAKE YOUR GUITAR TO GET SERVICED HERE!!!! Took my guitar in to have their guitar tech replace the plastic nut on my brand new (mint) PRS Mark Holcomb SE as well as a full service. When I went to pick up my guitar, I saw a very noticeable scratch that the guitar tech left on the beautiful headstock. As well as a bunch of other tinier scratches on both the headstock and Truss Rod cover. I was livid considering I had just received this guitar two days prior to taking it in. Not only did I have to wait around a considerable amount of time for a manger to come and speak to me, the most they could do is refund me for the $99 service. Even though it's gonna cost me much more than that to get the scratches repaired!!! Horrible customer service! They should have either repaired all the damage or replaced my guitar!!! The first rule of any guitar tech is...do not scratch the guitar!!! I could have done a better job drunk. I will definitely be taking legal action! read more

Guitar Center - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Northridge, California

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There used to be a store and a business was a chain called Guitar Center where you can go and play guitars see different models and at the very least find strings for your guitars well I have been trying to buy strings at Guitar Center in Northridge for about 6 weeks it is impossible to find strings almost as impossible as it is to find someone who works in there to help you rumor I hear is that the idiot district manager who should be fired immediately is trying to look good by cutting costs and not hiring employees and is no one to stop the strings on the racks so no one can by strings that probably the guitar Supply on the walls is Chevy as well wait to go Guitar Center just when Sam Ash went out of business in Northridge you are the only game in town but you have nothing to offer no stock no service I guess everyone will just go to the internet and you can fade away like the other failed businesses too bad so sad the world is in the toilet read more

I always love going to this place. It's a paradise for music aficionados like me. Got my Musicman and my bass cabinet for practice recently and was very satisfied with my purchase. I would like to personally shout out the guy who works there his name is Ken. He is respectful, attentive and will go extra mile to help you with all your needs. You're awesome man !!! read more

Seriously incredible customer service! The employees here are SO helpful, informative, friendly and willing to give you insight, advice and help! Alvaro and Doron both helped me for HOURS when I was struggling to decide between two guitars, even helping me make a pros and cons and ultimately choosing one in the end with confidence that it was the right choice. Everyone at this store rocks! read more

I'd like to take a moment and give huge props to Anthony the guitar repair tech at the Northridge Guitar Center. I bought an SG for my 11yr old son to start his journey to rock stardom. Typically at this price point these guitars need to be dialed in. Not only did Anthony stop what he was doing and take care of us, he even swapped out the stock strings for a better set. That's customer service. Very grateful! read more

Shit service, management sucks, very unhelpful, they don't care about customer care. I was sold a used traktor s4 that was suppose to be new. Serial number was already used missing papers. This was not a professional buying experience when i was spending $1500 read more

Guitar Center has been stepping up there game. I have had friendly customer service at Northridge, Sherman Oaks and Santa Clarita. The store closest to me is Northridge, and staff here has been great. I have bought stuff online and chose store pickup. The items are in stock and ready to pick up same day. Haven't had any attitudes or any negative vibes. Would recommend. read more

I've always skeptical consulting some of the reps at these kinds of stories. Sure enough, I had a $70 promo gift certificate that I wanted to use and while I was at the store I purchased something that was five dollars. The bad news was after asking the rep if The product would accomplish what I needed it too, it didn't and was completely useless for me. The worst news was that the promo code was only for a one time use, which was another question I asked the rep to which he said I could use the remaining balance on another purchase. An hour later the next day talking to both Guitar Center and Synchrony Bank, I was notified that I would have to go to the store and talk to the manager. I show up and hope for the best and sure enough Gabriel the manager was super accommodating. He not only allowed me to return the product, but allowed me to purchase something else with a $70 credit. Bottom line is: do your own research and don't always trust what the reps say. Gabriel totally saved my business. Thanks Gabriel! read more

So my husband was given a gift card back in September and he chose to use it on these over priced Vic Firth Hot Rod Drumsticks that were $24.99. We asked the drum guy if they would last awhile since they were priced so high. He said probably a year. So we got them and he didn't get around to using them until last week when he took them to practice. Well guess what they broke. He used them for like a half an hour only. So I found the receipt and drove about 15 miles from our house waited 15 minutes for them to open. Only for them to say they can't return them because he bought them almost two months ago and they only do a 30 day return. I will never be shopping there again. I'm so mad after we have spent over a $1,000 there over the years. I could see if it was 6 months later but I kid you not only one time playing for 30 minutes. I'd attach a photo but we had them thrown out at Guitar Center. read more

Went for an online pick up yesterday and stood at the online pick up desk for around 10 minutes while multiple employees passed by and didn't even ask if I'd been helped. Seemed like they knowingly ignored me why I was obviously waiting to be helped. read more

The staff here are so helpful and considerate. I rushed into the store tonight to purchase two pairs of headphones for a recording session. Carlos, the floor manager, approached me immediately, found exactly what I needed -- which involved a trip to the back of the store -- and processed my order expeditiously. I was in and out in record time and back at the studio sooner than expected. Thanks, Carlos. You're the man. read more

Quite literally never coming to this store again. Y'all really need to work on your customer service. The staff here are rude, pretentious, and condescending pretty much every time I come in. I called the store to ask about electronics recycling; I have an old amp I need to get rid of and I'd prefer to not throw it in a landfill. The associate I spoke to on the phone was perfectly polite, and confirmed that they could probably strip the amp for parts. He specifically told me to bring it in to the store so they could take a look. So I get to the store, (mind you that I gotta drive across the valley for this), and the first person who greets me is standing directly next to the front door. By greeting, I mean he stopped what he was doing and just stared at me with a blank look on his face. I told him why I came, and he points to the cash register and says "Sales". Like, did anyone ever teach you to say hello dude? Anyway, a sales associate approaches me (skinny kid with short blonde hair and glasses). I tell him why I was there, and as I'm talking, he folds his arms, interrupts me in the middle of my sentence and says, "Nah we don't do that". Not one associate there had any idea of what to do with my old amp, except for the mystery employee I spoke to on the phone. The lack of information was forgivable to me. I just had a problem with how rude they were about the whole thing. read more

Guitar Center is trying to steel my money! Very disappointed! I am no longer a fan or shopper of GC! I purchased some items May of 2016 from the Northridge Guitar Center location. I ended up returning some and my account was not properly credited. The manager, Gabriel Vega, was very unhelpful in trying to help me resolve the issue as well. He did call the GC credit card company to try to verify the payments that I had made up to date, but the credit card company would not give him that information. He then told me I had to hash it out with the GC credit card people myself which is Synchrony Bank. The bank is telling me that I need to hash it out with the store. Last thing I got from the GC store manager was that perhaps it was just not yet credited properly and that the difference should show itself in my statement in time. It has now been close to a year and my statement still reflects that I am being charged more than I should be for the items I have. Very disappointed in GC and have not done any business with them since this transaction and do not plan on doing any future transactions with GC. I now have only two words to say to them. Sam Ash! That is where I am taking my business from now on! read more

I went to this place to buy a guitar and being an older man I thought that the younger guys might be decent to me but I think they just took me for a ride. I noticed that I liked one guitar, and it was the only one they had like it in the store and the more I thought about it after I went home the more I decided that I did want to get it and so the guy had mentioned that he could put it on layaway and I thought well I'll call and put it on layaway until I can go in and get it. But when I called they had me pay for it in full over the phone which I didn't mind too much. I didn't really think about it but I couldn't play the guitar because one of the strings was broken and he told me just to play one that was like it. when I got the guitar home the reason I think they left the high e off the guitar was because the string catches on the frets. For a $700 guitar I think I got rooked. What makes it a ""LOT WORSE"" is that as I was leaving the young woman at the front caught me and asked me if I had a receipt for the guitar case that I had bought and I showed it to her and she said well what about the guitar and I realized they hadn't given me a receipt with the guitar! Now I think that they knew better than that! And being that the guitar is defective and was the last one I think that they thought they found an old mark. the security guard girl at the front probably felt sorry for me when she looked at me and said you know you can't return that if you don't get the receipt from them! And I had to thank her twice because I was just very trusting because of the name guitar center. Now I understand why they're going out of business. and that's another reason to avoid these places now because they aren't going to be able to back up their warranties. I'm in my 60s and I have a Long White Beard so I think they were selling me junk and knowing it. They weren't even going to put the strings on that they promised me I had to force the issue and the guitar tech was an ass! He acted as though he was in charge of the entire store operation and cactus head to one side when I finally said that I was going to either get my money back or get the strings on the guitar that they promised me because it's a brand new guitar he finally said well here's what I'll do I'll put the strings on for you. And then he continued on to lecture me all about the war in ukraine, society at large, men my age and white people. And it beat me over the head like as though I'm some kind of an enemy from some other country just because I'm an old white man. I wouldn't go to this place. But then again I'm an old white man. read more

I went a for weeks back to buy a Cajon. Ended up buying a used Pearl cajon cause it played better and wasn't to banged up. Couldn't leave with it because it was still in the 30 day cool down window.(I get it. It's the law, no biggie. I go to pick it up today. A few more scuffs then it had when I first bought it (again not the worst thing). However it looks like someone's exploded near it so that kinda sucks. Not horribly covered but just kinda felt like neglectful storage :( read more

Great selection, poor customer service. Here is what happened: I went to buy a set of strings for myself and an electric guitar for my friend's birthday (I already knew the model I wanted). I went there and found my strings. Before I could go check out the guitars, they told me they have to hold my strings at the counter. Fair enough, nobody likes shoplifters. I go and browse the guitars, eyeing the one I want. I wait for someone to help me. I wait. And I wait. I walk around, obviously looking interested. Nothing. So I go and find someone to get my guitar for me. Keep in mind this is a weekday afternoon and there's probably only 2-3 other customers in the store. I'm ready to check out and I ask the cashier to get my strings. He says "Go ahead and get them". So, I basically walk back to the string section and ask for them myself? What's the point of that?? How does the hassle save them from shoplifters when I can go and ask for my strings and stuff them in my pocket? Check out done, I want a shopping bag just to put over the head of the guitar so it doesn't get marred in my car. I ask for a bag. The cashier says I need to go to the front. I say politely, all I need is a shopping bag to protect the guitar and point to the rack of shopping bags. He says oh the bags are at the front. I say again, all I'm asking for is a bag, he says something else. Honestly? I take my guitar and leave. This is ridiculous. In the end, I got what I was looking for but with much frustration. There are plenty of guitar stores that deserved my money more than them. With everyone buying things online these days, you'd think they'd be better at helping people. Guess not. read more

"Hello there ladies and gents, are you ready to rock???"--Cheap Trick My visit here marked the first big stepping stone in my small guitar-playing career. I was about to get my first legit guitar! No "First Act", no Fender "Strat" beginner pack. With my Christmas gift cards in hand and the longing for an Ibanez in my heart, I drove to Guitar Center on the boulevard of Topanga Canyon. Now I've heard many a complaint about the service. But I know the secret to getting someone to help you: first just wander around and let your eyes glaze over as you marvel at the walls of guitars and wonder whose job it is to put up the ones at the top. If someone doesn't come to you by then, simply stop in the middle of the walkway right in front of said wall of guitars and stare at it like the artsy-fartsy people stare at a Picasso painting for hours in art museums. By then, you will be wreaking of "noob" and someone will be forced to ask what you need help with. The staff is very knowledgable of the types of guitars you may be interested in and get you set up right away with an amp and several choices to begin your trial-and-error processing. This can be the most nerve-wracking part not only because you want to be smart in picking what's right for you. They hook your guitar up to a huge amp so that the whole world can hear you play. This can be intimidating, especially if the guy across from you is shredding away like Yngwie Malmsteen. Or my cousin. Luckily, the little boy next to me was no child prodigy, and my rocker-esteem was maintained, despite my songlist being limited to "Enter Sandman" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Compared to other locations, such as the one in Hollywood, the Northridge branch selection seems tiny. But I "will remember the night I was struck by the sight of"...a gray/black striped Ibanez RG42FM. We were meant to be together, but "I can't believe the price we paid." The guitar plus a warranty plus a re-stringing plus a case added up fast, and the process was slow. But if you were "born to rock", and you're itching to "bang your head," then it's all worth it. Now I walk these streets with a loaded-six string on my back. You'd better believe I got my satisfaction. By the way, if you caught any of these song references, "we salute you." read more

Northridge Guitar Center is a complete and total disaster. Horrible selection of guitar strings. Snotty repair staff. The phone is ringing the whole time you're there, and no one answers it. You've got like 3 employees in the entire store and no one assists you. The line to check-out takes forever. It's like a music store meets the DMV. Avoid at all costs! read more

I was looking to buy a guitar here and was not pleased with the service. The gentlemen was very cocky. I am no expert in guitars but this guy wanted me to buy a 500$+ guitar for a beginner. I told him I would rather buy a 100$ guitar he then pointed to the room where they were then walked out with even saying a word. I choose a guitar and asked another associate "can you give me a pick?". He said in a condescending tone "you can buy one!". I was like f this walked out I ended up going to a mom/pop shop on Chatsworth in Granada Hills and they gave me a a better guitar for less money with a music book and when I asked for a pick he gave me a whole handful and gave his card and wrote one free string install on it. I am sticking to the mom/pop shops they r not micro managed and they are nice to the customer. read more

As many others have stated here, I will echo the same, HORRIBLE customer service. I bought a very expensive piece of DJ equipment from here that was initially out of stock. I put down about $1000 to reserve the first one that came in, and they told me that they would call me when it arrives. They never called. One day, over a month later, I just decide to go in person to see what was up, and lo and behold, they have multiple in stock, and they had multiple in stock for weeks apparently. Why would you people not inform me of this, especially since this was such an important and expensive piece of equipment that I needed? Although a little irritated, I decided to let this go, as I was very excited to play with my new toy. However, since this was such an expensive item, I needed to get a case for it. So GC informed me that they could order the case from the manufacturer for me, and they told me that they would get back in touch with me when they were able to get a hold of the Odyssey (i.e., the company that makes cases) sales rep. Of course, they never got in touch with me. So I go back to GC multiple times trying to get them to order this case for me. I even researched cases on my own and gave GC the exact serial number of the case that I wanted. Of course, they told me that they would order it and let me know when they did so, and of course, they NEVER got back to me, ever. This occurred at least 5-6 times. To make things more frustrating, every time I would go back in there and talk to the same "manager" (who's name I won't drop, but you know who you are) he would just act like everything is fine and just tell me he'd get in touch with me when he ordered the case. One time he told me that he set a reminder for himself to get in touch with me, but of course, he never did get in touch. Anyway, I ended up buying my case from elsewhere at a much better price, and was able to pick it up immediately (if you need anything DJ related please hit up www.hollywooddj.com, they are so much better than these jokers). So, needless to say, I will not ever be shopping at this GC or any GC again. I would recommend the same for anyone reading this. However, if you do absolutely have to go to GC, do not go to this location. read more