I bought guitars from guitar center. For good money cost I recommend other people buy guitars or other instruments or equipment at guitar center read more

I've bought a few from these guys but never visited the store until yesterday. I called and reserved a 5 string bass for pickup and they are very pushy about upselling you the warranty where you can't get a word in edgewise. I also heard you could barter a price and maybe get a few freebies, strings, strap ect. The guy told me he'd never heard of that and just brushed me off after giving me my bass. I should have just had it shipped and waited 3 or 4 days i guess read more

Attentive hardworking Frienldy staff. Knowledgeable. Helped me get the equipment I needed to get back into production and DJing . Thanks again . read more

Shopping for guitar gear should be cool and fun. My experience was neither cool nor fun. I walked into Guitar Center to buy a new chromatic tuner. The salesperson immediately tried to sell me the most expensive one in the store, and ignored me when I told him I didn't need all those extra features. He even suggested I was foolish for picking a less expensive model - telling me that they don't last long (if they don't last long, why are you selling them at $100?) At the register the lameness continued when he tried to aggressively upsell me a warrantee. I had to be rude before he gave up. Then he refused to sell me the tuner unless I gave him my contact info. Quick side note - I get it that this poor guy was just following some corporate BS script to try to get my cash. But jeez, he took it to 11. If I want this level of bad customer service, I'll just call the cable company. Don't shop here. Edit: As you can see, somebody from Guitar Center posted a public reply to my review. I sent a message to the email address provided, but days later and nobody has responded. They are obviously not interested in making this better, rather they want all of you to think that they care. read more

The negative - the one employee, might be a manager, that is uncomfortably aggressive with attempting to sell/all but tell you that you need a GC credit card or specific items. It's every time, every customer that he is giving reasons to on why you NEED this thing that has nothing to do with what you came in for. Extremely aggressive letting everyone in the store know that you're essentially a fool for not buying today as ALL prices are about to change. It's blatantly condescending. Another review was accurate when they said you leave with a "Thanks for nothing, chump" feeling. Even when you bought something or had repair done. In any business, I've never been made to feel almost like I did something bad to an employee personally. I went in to trade some pedals, he immediately pointed to a $6k guitar that was on sale for less. Fantastic. I made it known that I'm not here for a new guitar today. Not at all, not in any way. If I was, it wouldn't have been that $6k model. He went through a few angles of why I should buy today and once he knew I wasn't, tossed the cash for the pedals on the counter and abruptly ended the conversation in a bad mood. Enough. This should not feel like a 'you vs. them' or acting like I'm not giving you business at all. I've seen this turn off several customers in the past. This has happened a handful of times with me with this individual - unfortunately, sometimes it's just simpler to pick up a used item etc. at the store. Otherwise I'd be avoiding this one. I once even saw him really take advantage of a man who spoke little English getting a keyboard for his son. It was painful. It's too bad because this person is pretty obviously knowledgeable, though a sincere reminder of why Buckdancer's in Portland is the clear go-to. They have always had fantastic service. The positive - most employees are very helpful. One of the ladies even gave me lots of advice while carrying a heavy speaker and looked up every detail I needed when she was done. Couldn't have been more useful. They are also pretty fair with trade in prices, which is truly what kept me going back the last few times. There will always be aggressive employees, but making people feel plain uncomfortable when trying to spend money can't be more off putting. Sorry this review is a bit all over the place! read more

First, the good: most of the staff are pretty helpful. It's a pretty chaotic setup with people doing different services all over, but it all seems to work out. I've bought several things here: audio equipment, guitars, amps, pedals, and everything has been as advertised and high quality. The selection is good, I enjoy the deals, and it's cool being able to have items shipped in from stores all over the country free of charge. I've also done trade-ins here and there, but wasn't too thrilled on the "60% of resale" return, so Reverb is much better for that sort of thing. Now, the not-so-good: the one checkout guy who is incredibly aggressive and condescending. I probably shouldn't be saying anything without knowing the name, but holy shit... the guy is off-putting enough to make me write a review. Not to mention his pitch to me about the product I planned to buy was that it was "rock solid, super heavy duty stuff" and then during checkout proceeded to tell me "these things break all the time" before rattling off rebates and warranties and other in-store offers. When i rebuked them all, he quickly closed the sale, shutting down any of my attempts to talk, and finally met my "thanks" with a "yeah" as he continued looking down at the cash register shuffling around various papers. The whole thing had a real "thanks for nothing, Chump" feel to it, which would be fine if you didn't have competition in town. So yeah, part two of the bad news is that Buckdancers exists, and I'll be going though them and Sweetwater exclusively from now on, convenience be damned. I know that behavior is probably rewarded with multiple sales bonuses, which is why he behaves that way in the first place (looking at him, he's been there for a LONG time and knows how to maximize his earnings). This is mostly a fair warning for other consumers who prefer a true small business vibe and being made to feel taken care of rather than dealing with a pretty sterile box store with an aggressive cashier. read more

I don't get all the bad ratings! Staff are very friendly and willing to help, all the guitars and instruments are on neat displays, and (most of the time) the amps are plugged in and ready to be used. One thing I will say is some staff get very salesman-y when you're buying something, and push insurance, or other purchases on you, but they are very kind about it and don't force you to buy it. read more

October 2021 - There wasn't a lot of stock and very few staff members - I will assume it was because of the pandemic. The store had a lot of people looking to pick up special orders. We were there browsing to see if they had any mid level priced subwoofers. Unfortunately they only had cheaper karaoke speakers and high priced ($2K+ sub woofers) They had plenty of guitar accessories :) The customer service workers were nice and running around quickly trying to help customers. If you are looking for something specific you may want to call ahead to save yourself a trip. Parking is easy as there is a big shared lot in the strip malls. read more

Inattentive and uninterested salespeople. Came in to get some information about new gear. And waited and waited and waited for the staff to stop chatting amongst themselves. When one finally approached me (with no greeting or "how can I help you"), I told him what I was looking for. He said "not here", turned on his heels and walked away. Just dumb! read more

I recently bought my first Electric guitar and had a great experience with the staff I was originally going to get a bundle for a Epiphone les Paul but I was informed it would be a better deal to hand pick my amp and guitar so I did I ended up with a better deal and something I love will definitely be coming back. read more

Terrible customer service. Only two people from the entire store showed concern and care. One of the employees spoke to me in such a disrespectful and nasty tone. My entire experience made me feel inhumane. Initially, after speaking to an employee at the drummer station, I waited for almost 15 minuets to receive some help. I began to question my existence. Was it because of my dark skin, hair, and speech? I'm honestly disappointed. Kindness is free! read more

The employee, matt, was a absolute jerk to me because He knew I was just looking. He acted as if I was wasting His time if I needed a guitar off the top shelf read more

Never been more disrespected by a business in my entire life. Went in today to check out guitars. Matt approached me with bad attitude right off the bat, which continued to go downhill as our conversation went on. Asked to use a tuner on a big ticket guitar. Guy told me no and " just use your phone" which I told him I don't have a phone tuner. Proceeded by physical ripping it out of my hands angrily saying " I'll just do it" . Totally through me off guard. Then proceeded to say inappropriate things such as " just buy it , it's only 2000" in the most rude way you could possibly imagine. I reminded him that I've been purchasing here for years and spent a lot of money on guitar and amps and don't appreciate the attitude. apparently loyalty means nothing. At this point I ended up getting extremely upset and voicing back as I had just about enough of it of the abuse. Matt proceeds to tell me to leave ...also, The checkout guy, not even knowing what just unfolded, just yelled out " you should leave" the pair completely ridiculed me in front of a store of customers. I never felt more embarrassed in my life. Unbelievable. This is the most unprofessional , rude, group of bullies I've ever encountered. Do yourself a favor avoid it like the plague!!! Shame on you!! read more

Called to check if I could bring a drumkit down to sell to them. They said they could take it in as long I got there before they close. Then I get there and they decide they change their minds. Sarcastic, douchey staff. Very disappointed read more

I have never owned a guitar for myself so went to buy one to learn to play. The guy at the counter grabbed one for me said it was on sale a\took off the tag and sold me this. I got home and realized a couple days later there was a crack on back i tried t\returning it to no avail. The fast talking piece of work tried selling me this again saying i damaged it witch i did not. then he said I will return it and sell it to you again and you can buy the insurance. He also tried selling me lessons again. I will never buy anything in this store again Buckdancers choice is 4 miles away I will give them my buseness read more

Stopped in so the hubby could use his gift certificate and the gentleman at the counter was SUPER helpful and friendly!!!!

The service at this store is pathetic. I don't know why I keep coming in to the South Portland, Maine store. It's always a hideous experience. ( I know why - I'm hopeful it will be different this time and I like to see the newer model instruments in person. It never is. ) Trying to pay for your purchases is the worst. Long lines at the checkout counter, while sales staff ignore the paying customers. I'm listening to them fast talk nonsense to the time wasters playing guitars on the stools. The last several times I have stopped in, I have witnessed at least 8 people in line put their items on a shelf and leave the store. Do yourself a favor and go to Sweetwater.com They have everything you probably need or want. The customer service reps are knowledgeable and very friendly. Prices are good and in most cases, they will negotiate on price. Free fast shipping. read more

I've never had a good Guitar Center experience. I always feel my treatment as a customer is stale, transactional, and bothered. I shouldn't feel like I am putting the staff out just by being there. This last time, multiple staff were playing the inventory in the store rather loudly while I shopped for an acoustic. On the main floor, a loud, lengthy, metal solo drowned me out in the acoustic room, where there was also a staff member finger picking an acoustic loudly. Am I supposed to be impressed? I know what the instruments can do. The only hello I got when entering was from the receipt checking guy at the front. Not getting at least a hello from the sales guy in the department i was shopping makes me a) unable to identify who is a shopper and who is staff, and b) not want to approach the staff member with questions. i feel like i am bothering the guy I didnt know Finger-Picking-Guy was staff until someone asked him where something was located in the back. I didn't know Slash's Cousin was staff until someone said, "Sweet, you just get to play guitars all day working here?!" It'd be one thing if you are sacrificing customer experience for value, but you are not. The guitar I ended up buying (elsewhere) was retailed $50 cheaper than Guitar Center had it. Sure, I could "price match", but why bother? Somewhere else, a local place nonetheless, was able to advertise a lower price without me lifting a finger. Plus, my shopping experience, and perceived value as a customer, was MUCH better. I'm not trying to be snarky. I have ZERO bones to pick- my experiences have never been terrible, I don't feel wronged. I just did not have what I'd describe as a pleasant shopping experience. And the kicker is that at other places I HAVE had a rather pleasant shopping experience. GC is not on par with the level of customer service at music shops set by other stores in Maine. Which is why I say, "Meh, I've experienced better" read more

This is my go to guitar place. If I need a new capo I know where to go. If I Need new strings I'll come here. Guitar center is great and i bought my full size guitar here back long ago. read more

I was hoping to provide a reasonably good review, but events today preclude that. First, I sold them a pristine Fender American stratocaster, Eric Johnson model. The value I got I thought was a bit low, but, OK, I needed the money more than the strat. Then they deducted sixty bucks for a setup (labor on putting new strings). Then they give me the money on a "Gift card" that they claimed I could use it just like a debit card. My wife tried to get money out od two different ATM's to no avail. I drove in Bangor and went to a Federal bank ATM and managed to get 300 out of the 630 I had left on the card. I had started out with a balance of 727 dollars, so the withdrawal fee is, 4 dollars but the daily limit is 300 dollars!!!! I needed to put it in my bank account, so now I have to wait yet another day!!!! I'm really upset about this, what kind of society are we now living in??? It seems like Everybody is seemingly trying to screw you. read more

Apparently I have been a loyal Guitar Center customer for too long. Time and time again, I purchase an item from them and it arrives blatantly broken. I've gotten faulty audio interfaces, broken synths, and today I received two broken fog machines. When I spend $1200 on equipment, I actually expect it to work (a crazy notion). Over the years I've spent 5 figures building my home studio and my live setup, every penny has gone to GC. All of that money, time, and loyalty has gotten me zero customer service. I am no longer shopping with them. Shop locally, or with Sweatwater, if you want to actually receive service and accountability; Guitar Center seems to only offer garbage these days. read more

Love that the staff aren't pushy about buying or financing. They're very chill about giving you space and letting you explore your sound. They always help me to save money where I can and provide great recommendation for my budget! read more

Let's be honest, Guitar Center is not known to be either a terrific store or a well-run company. Two stars is spot on, as this is a "fair" place to shop for musical instruments and accessories. First, while the employees are super cool and mostly musicians, they know bupkis about the products. Anything above a simple question gets met with a blank stare. Instead of hiring part time rock musicians, how about hiring actual music experts and engineers that know the products inside and out? Moreover, the selection and inventory is practically bare minimum. T shirts in all sizes? Of course not. The latest magazines in music? Not a chance. Quality instruments other than guitars (like ukuleles)? Not in a million years. Much of the selection, when it exists, is really the bottom line junk. By the way, I love coming here, bringing the family and trying out instruments. Heck, we've bought a bunch of stuff over the last few years. Still, when you want real advice, this ain't the place. read more

Lots of instruments and accessories to check out, but the customer service was so poor. I have been in twice now to handle a warranty issue. The first time, I was directed to "Go find ----" who handles drums. After looking around in the drum area for a bit, I asked another employee for guidance. This one was nice enough to page the person I was looking for, who appeared a moment later. As it turned out this person was on lunch break, which he was happy to tell me ended in about 12 minutes before sitting down and doing nothing behind the counter for about 12 minutes. He was then unable to help me directly with my problem, suggesting that a manager would have to help out. He took down my info and told me they'd be in touch soon. After two weeks with no information I stopped in again. The same employee was there, and was kind enough to say "Did a manager ever get ahold of you?" When I replied no, another staff member was nice enough to inform me that "the managers are pretty busy." After another few minutes of tapping and scrolling, I was told that there was nothing they could do for me and I should contact the manufacturer directly. To recap, I visited twice and wasted about an hour of my time in-store on top of two weeks of fruitless waiting because at least one employee didn't seem to know how to help me and the managers are too busy to help customers. A1. I should note that the second guy to help me was pretty nice and was able to, wait for it, get me the phone number of the manufacturer. He earned the second star. I wish I could remember his name, but I think he had longish hair and definitely wasn't Ryan. read more

The dream place for anyone who like guitars and other instruments. Huge inventory. Many tube amps !!!!! Top notch. A little pricy

I had a great experience here. My salesperson, Nate, really helped steer me in the right direction to get exactly what I needed. I wasn't quite sure about which keyboard setup I wanted, but after hearing what I wanted to do with it, he gave me great advice on some great equipment. He didn't hound me or try to oversell, he just gave honest advice about the best options for me. He was very knowledgeable about what he was selling. Also, this place has a wide selection of all kinds of instruments. Thanks Nate! read more

I'm not impressed with the staff at all. They were rude, condescending, and not very helpful. When I asked for a guitar tuners, the employee just pointed to a wall of parts, with tuners about 10ft up. I asked if I could go up and look and he moaned and groaned about climbing the ladder to go and retrieve the parts. While walking over, he recommended a website online for my guitar parts needs. I guess he didn't want to sell any guitar parts. I had a couple other things I needed and when I asked where they were, he let out a big "ugghh" before showing me the location of the products. And when I asked for strings, trying to think of the name of the strings my daughter requested he rudely interrupted with " what? You want me to pick them out for you?" And the last straw on the camel's back was when I was asking a question about my foot switch problem, instead of talking to me, he answered the phone. What a joke. Guitar Center SoPo will never get another penny from me. I spend 2-4k a year on music products, it's my hobby, and all my business is going to MusiciansFriend from here on out. read more

I took my sons guitar in for a full service. It was a used Strat I got off eBay as a graduation present. The guy who took care of me was awesome! Very knowledgeable and extremely thorough. Thanks dude! Damian's gonna be stoked! read more

Walked in, walked around....no one offered to help or asked if I needed anything. They were all too interested in the guy playing with the guitars. I guess there aren't many 50 year old women looking to buy drums but they just lost a sale! read more

Great selection, decent prices and helpful staff. If you need it, they have it or can get it! Solid

Horrible customer service plain and simple. Why work a sales position if all you're equipped to do is resent everyone? The air of hostility is thick; the amount of arrogant behavior I witnessed was astonishing as well. Also, the sales department is disturbingly lazy. That being said... They have excellent pricing in used equipment. read more

I have never written a review for anything but I have never been so annoyed with customer service as I am with the South Portland Guitar Center for many years. I have worked in customer service for many year myself and I don't understand how most of these guys have a job there. It seems to be the guys that have been there for years that constantly provide horrendous customer service too. Look, no one wants to really work in customer service but when you make it obvious you do not want to help me then something needs to change. I also hate that they are always trying to up-sell me or tell me I could do better. I know what I want, I tested the other products myself. PLEASE STOP trying to bleed my wallet dry for your own personal gain! If I didn't have a guitar center gift card I would of never used the website to buy a Cajon because of how awful the customer service I receive on a consistent basis at the South Portland Guitar Center. I loved this store when it first opened, but I will use local shops and other websites for my music gear until I hear the customer service is at least tolerable again. read more

I was very disappointed with Guitar Center. I went in there on the 4th of July for their 15% discount on the 4th of July sale. A asked if the item (a $2000 Fender bass guitar) was included in the sale and they said yes. I didn't buy the item at the store, but later in the day, I called in to purchase the instrument I was interested in. But they "forgot" to discount the item I bought. So then I was going to cancel the order immediately , but they assured me it would be discounted at the time of shipment from the warehouse. Later, I looked at the purchase order, after it had shipped, but they still did not discount the price. So at this point I just wanted to cancel the item or buy it at the agreed price. It ended up wasting a lot of my time, making me go through all kinds of hassle by calling them to listen to the sales staff squawk on and on about how it would be discounted. I'll never forget those tell-tale words of a deal gone bad from the sales person: "trust me". And it's still not over yet because I made the mistake of giving my debit card so I have to somehow get my money back, even though the item has not been received! read more

I have made many purchases at the guitar center in South portland Maine . On Saturday I had a problem with a piece of equipment and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. Thank you so much guys for all your help and the assistance you have provided me in the past. This is by far the best store I have visited, and a special thanks to Matt. read more

the sales guy repeatedly for about 5 minutes tried to talk me into buying an item I did not want rather than what I was asking for he even lied and said it was out of stock until I saw it on the shelf then I found out why. They sold me a returned item for full price it didn't have any instructions or paperwork at all just a usb interface in a box. Then I called and talked to the manager he said the sales person who sold me the used item had conviently just left. I'm calling their headquarters and reporting this blatant ripping people off stunt. read more