Guitar New York

They listed a Drawmer 1960 on Reverb and I went into the store to buy it. The sales rep was really…read morenice and did a great job packing up the compressor so I could carry it home. It works perfectly. Competitively priced gear.

I had a bad experience with Clark who repairs keyboards. In the end he made the condition of my…read morekeyboard worse and the reason why I'm giving two stars instead of one is that perhaps he could have fixed what he broke if I was willing to take it back, and I'd like to give the business itself the benefit of the doubt that their information and service in purchasing gear lives up to a very good reputation, *my* experience was with an old keyboard that was on the line of whether it could be fixed or couldn't, and Clark was honest that it was a risk. However, I brought the keyboard in with a power supply that wasn't its original power supply and although I hadn't had a problem with it Clark was extremely argumentative that there's no way it could have ever worked because it's "just physics." He had to be right, and wouldn't let me finish any of my statements or questions. Since he told me there was an 85% chance he could fix one key that was broken, I agreed to give a $40 deposit but a day or two later I found the same model at Guitar Center and wanted to take the keyboard back if he hadn't started to work on it. I left a message for him to call and let me know if he had started work on it and was told he'd call right after his cigarette break, I called again and couldn't get ahold of him and went back in person where he told me he had called me. However, days later there is still no record of any calls or messages, and I suspect he was not being honest. When I took the keyboard home I found that the key immediately next to the broken key was now very stiff and hard to play, so his diagnostic process with the $40 deposit resulted in worsening the condition of his keyboard. I would have gone back to ask him to fix this if he hadn't rubbed me so wrong in the overall communication. I disputed the charge with my American Express and my account was credited and I don't know if this was Rogue that agreed to refund me.

Store front

Recording equipment

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Desktop speakers-Audioengine a+ black speakers on desk.

New York City Guitar School

4.9(77 reviews)

1.3 mi•Midtown West

I started playing guitar when I was 13, and now I'm in my 70s. I never took a guitar lesson until…read morea couple of years ago, when I joined NYC Guitar School. It's terrific, and my teacher (Josh Torvi) has helped me a lot. What I like most about Josh is his flexibility. He understands that each student needs to be taught differently. I'm an old guy, somewhat set in my ways. Josh doesn't force me to play in a certain style, learn certain songs, or insist I learn music theory. He doesn't tell me what to do. At the start of each lesson, he asks me what I want to work on. He'll gently suggest I try new things and get out of my comfort zone, but he doesn't push me when I just want to have fun and play stuff I know. That's what keeps me coming back every week.

NYC Guitar school is one stop for learning guitar, restarting guitar, singing or wanting community…read morewith other musicians (there are also ukulele, bass lessons - and a ROBUST rock band program). In addition to classes there are many events at NYC Guitar School from open mic, workshops, guest talks... SONG LAB is a great new addition to that line up - members and non-members alike can join. Song Lab is a 3 hour block - everyone involved (ALL levels of singers, bassists, rhythm guitars, lead guitars) are taught their part of the chosen song by one the amazing teachers at NYC Guitar School. By the end of the 3 hours the song is played as a group in a performance type setting. Past SONG LAB songs include Rebel Rebel, Sweet Child of Mine, Creep, My Girl. SONG LAB is an amazing way to start playing with other people, test your skills, learn new skills, learn a song you have always wanted to play in record time, meet other musicians that you will see again in either virtual or in person classes, open mics, or join in rock band. My overall experience with NYC Guitar school and their top tier teachers has been so gratifying - I highly recommend Song Lab to anyone new or seasoned - it is a lot of fun.

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Guitar Center

2.9(225 reviews)

2.0 mi•Flatiron

I didn't end up purchasing anything, but as a music lover, I wanted to see what was available. Very…read morecomplete store. The guys working there are so kind and attentive! They let me play one of their pianos for a little bit. Will be back for a guitar soon.

I ordered a fender telecaster made a Mexico model player series from guitar Center earlier this…read moreyear. When it arrived in the mail, the toggle switch was missing the knob and there were three dings on the guitar that were very noticeable. It was packaged like someone retarded packaged it. It was just wrapped in Styrofoam and packaging tape like a blanket wrapped around a guitar. Needless to say I was disgusted and I will never buy another single thing from guitar center. I'd give them zero stars if I could.

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Edward Nemirovsky

5.0(20 reviews)

1.3 mi•Chelsea

When I came to Edward I didn't have much Piano experience. I have now been working with him for a…read morelittle over a year and I have improved SO much. The piano has become a real passion of mine. Edward is an amazing teacher. He has a lot respect for the piano and music in general and it shines through in his teaching style. He not only is able to teach technical ability but also musicality. Edward is well versed in classical, jazz, and music theory and is able to teach all of them. Edward really cares for his students and goes the extra mile to send them resources, customize his teaching approach, and host virtual and in person recitals. Overall, I am very happy with Edward as my teacher and look forward to continuing with him.

I've been studying piano with Edward for seven years now. He continues to challenge me and teach…read moreme new ways to approach practicing and playing. He has completely changed the way I play and expanded my repertoire. He is always encouraging and insightful. He's flexible about scheduling and is always completely engaged during a lesson. Sharing performances with his other students in remote and in-person recitals has also helped to build our self-confidence. I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to study with this gifted musician and teacher.

Student Recital Jun 2025

Student Recital 2022

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Student Recital 2022

Rudy's Music

4.2(62 reviews)

3.0 mi•SoHo

•$$$

Sometimes you stumble upon a gem of place that is world famous and you don't even realize it. Here…read moreI am 5 years on and realize just how amazing this store is! 2019 Was traveling around the 50 states and hopped into this place as I was passing by... Just blown away by the instruments they had! Not sure how long I was in there, but everything from droolworthy original D'Angelicos, original Epiphones and more... So much of music's history of the past to the present. After I get home and watching guitar videos I keep seeing this store pop up. Keep saying 'Hey, I was there!'... Do. yourself a favor and stop by. See the amazing selection of instruments they have on hand / display. The staff was super friendly and always willing to help when I asked. Thanks guys! Look forward to seeing you again!

Awesome guitar store

The Nouveau Series Opening

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The Nouveau Series Opening

30th Street Guitars

4.5(98 reviews)

1.4 mi•Chelsea

Matt is the Man! The team is top notch. There's a reason why touring musicians will bring in their…read moregear when in town. Matt's been working on my basses for years. Yes, there is sometimes longer than normal wait times, but it's worth it. There have been a few times when I've asked, "I know it's only 4 days away, but I need this set up by Thursday" and it's done, so when he takes a while to set up one of basses, I don't fret. He's also done a lot of custom work for me and I'm always happy. Matt also built my #1. Any questions about pedals, Jimmy's your man. I recently rehabbed my pedal board and Jimmy helped me put it together right at the counter. To the those who feel the place is "kinda cliquey", the guys know their customers. So while it might feel a little intimidating to new comers, bring in your gear, get to know the guys and you'll be treated right.

Treats even my budget guitars like they are worth a million. Has made my every piece better than…read morenew. Nothing but respect and camaraderie from the staff at the store. Matt Brewster is truly an artisan and an artist, and deserves every ounce of praise you hear about him and more.

0.4 mi•Theater District, Midtown West

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Thanks Matt

Jon Baltimore Music Co.

4.3(29 reviews)

Whether you're in NYC or Alaska THIS is the ONLY place to bring your horn for repairs!!!! And they…read morehave an incredible array of new and collector's horns, mouthpieces, reeds, virtually anything you need. Honest, reliable, solid and technically proficient to the highest degree...Jon, Rachel, and the guys are the musical equivalent of NASA engineers!!!!

They are absolutely so cordial so helpful and so kind. I highly recommend them This is the placeread more

Tenor saxophone selection

Alto saxophone selection

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Saxophones, tubas, euphoniums, baritone horns, mellophones, french horn, woodwind accessories, brass accessories

JL Woodwind Repair

4.9(21 reviews)

0.9 mi•Midtown West

Brought my tenor in here for a post resolder. Clay caught a few other problems on the horn and now…read moreit plays awesome. Price is about what you would expect for midtown.

Recently brough my Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone to John for well-needed, overdue overhaul. I've…read morehad the instrument for over 40 years, and it has never played this well. John took his time and is a true perfectionist.

JL Woodwind Repair - JL Woodwind Repair Has Many New and Vintage Horns for Sale! Selmer Mark VI, SBA, King, Buescher, Martin, as well as our own line of horns!

JL Woodwind Repair Has Many New and Vintage Horns for Sale! Selmer Mark VI, SBA, King, Buescher, Martin, as well as our own line of horns!

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Chris Bullock Saxophonist with the Band "Snarky Puppy" in the Shop!

NYC Violin Studio

5.0(8 reviews)

1.4 mi•Chelsea

A wonderful place for both those who want to learn the violin and those who wish to play with…read moreothers! It is a rare treat to find a place that allows you to make music without already being a high-level player. Violinist and teacher Antoinette Ady has created a warm, friendly and exciting environment in which to learn and grow. She is an excellent violinist with great intonation and a consistent focus on teaching. Always giving gentle tips when needed and never being overbearing. Her teaching style has taught me much more than other teachers who fall into two camps: 1) overly critical or, 2) overly permissive and failing to address major intonation issues or technique issues in an effort to be "nice" and essentially turn the student into a customer. This is where Antoinette Ady is different. She is not just here to patronize you and take your money. Antoinette is here to teach those who would like to learn privately, conduct those who wish to play in the student orchestra and bridge the gap between the two. I am a violist and she made space for me and I couldn't be happier! NYC Violin Studio gets an A+.

I took the absolute beginner class and my instructor is Antoinette, the owner! I've never played…read morethe violin but had some music background and I'm glad I opt for the absolute beginner class, setting my ego aside. Her instructions were clear and she's friendly and firm at the same time. They also offer the option to take the class only or purchase a student violin at a discounted price. I got the violin as I see myself continuing my education. NYC violin studio offers violin for all without the intimidation and at a fair price.

Concert near the end of Covid

Violins for sale

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Private violin lessons

Music Inn World Instruments

3.7(76 reviews)

2.4 mi•West Village

•$$$

Totally bogus crap show. The "vintage" instruments are beat-up, dusty old rubbish that Mr. Slatnick…read morehas purchased over the years from Mid-East Mfg., which specializes in importing cheesy tourist-grade junk to sell to naive out of towners. People who can't discern between cheapo tourist garbage and proper instruments are easily wowed by the profusion of "exotic" instruments. No serious musician would ever be fooled by this stuff which barely rises about the status of firewood. The original owner Jerry Halpern, not the friendliest guy, was an honest seller of quality instruments. Give the jungle of dusty cardboard garbage that's on offer since Jerry passed away, he must be spinning in his grave.

I feel a tad bit overzealous writing a 2nd review for The Music Inn so soon but I just had to make…read morethese thoughts public. The Music Inn open mic is hands down one of the best in the world! So I live on Long Island and it can be pretty daunting at times driving all the way into the city, especially on a Thursday during rush hour, however The Music Inn is totally worth it, and then some!! Sign up starts at 730 (best to line up as early as possible though, say around 630ish) and performances begin at about 8. Last night it ran to about, and every act was incredible. I performed as well and the audience was super supportive and engaging. I saw one person who was there for the first time and they had such a ball that they ended up buying a gong, for like $200+. I love that! He would randomly hit it outside and proclaim loudly "I fricking love this place!" and I found it absolutely hilarious. The best part for me was the impromptu jam happening outside on the covid-era outdoor patio section. I joined in and we jammed for at least an hour, singing and playing everything from blues to rock to jazz. Lately on my daily drives I've been learning how to sing "Devil town" by Daniel Johnston and this was the perfect opportunity to try and perform it. Everyone joined in, we had a lead guitarist, a drummer (playing on a makeshift high hat from an empty plastic chinese food container), and several guitarists keeping rhythm. It was such a magical time! Oh and the cover is only about $5-7, depending if performing or not. If you're looking for some of the most authentic and passionate music in the city, head to Music Inn on Thursday nights at 8pm, you won't regret it!

A wall of guitars in the back of the shop.

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Leigh G.

16 years ago

Troy has made learning how to play the guitar so easy. After several attempts to learn by myself with books and various online tutorials I was about to quit when I found out about Troy and Guitar New York (formerly with Guitar Chicago) and I was able to learn multiple songs/solos within a couple months, which is huge because I had ZERO guitar experience prior to taking the lessons. Troy does a great job of explaining the little things that help make learning guitar easy. Things that I couldn't pick up on my own with the textbooks or online tutorials. After several lessons, I was able to learn songs on my own, but was enjoying my lessons so much that I decided to continue lessons and since then have learned much more than just how to play songs. Troy has a great way of teaching Guitar Theory without even really focusing on it by incorporating it into solos, songs, and lessons that make it fun to learn and understand the importance. I highly recommend Guitar New York and Troy!!! read more

W W.

16 years ago

GUITAR NEW YORK IS THE BEST. I took lessons with Troy for 3 months - then, the next thing I knew he got me a gig covering the Allman Brothers Band at The House of Blues, people! Somehow, these guys just know how to break down the instrument so it makes sense, and after a few lessons you're flying. read more

Sharon S.

15 years ago

I have always wanted to learn to play guitar and Tim is doing just that. I enjoy the sessions I have done so far and look forward to several more. Guitar New York is worth the time and money! Thumbs up read more

Megan G.

16 years ago

I was a student at Guitar Chicago which was phenomenal. It was a great place to learn guitar no matter what level you are. I'm so glad that they are opening in New York! read more

Sean H.

11 years ago

Not a good deal of option but good services and Okay costs. If you are in the neighborhood that 's probably the best shop for music equipment, I've seen better, still. read more

Guitar New York - musicalinstrumentsandteachers - Updated September 2026

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I cannot say enough good things about Chris as a guitar teacher!…read more I have been taking lessons with Chris for around 9ish months so far, with no previous guitar experience. Though I do have experience in music from taking years of voice lessons, I have never been able to stick with an instrument, nor have I been able to read music or understand music theory. This is due to my frustration I get because - let's face it - music can be incredibly overwhelming if you're just starting out. When I started taking lessons with Chris, he understood my interests and what direction I wanted to go in with my guitar journey. From the very beginning I always felt very relaxed and never embarrassed playing with Chris, and he was able to explain musicality to me in a way that I was able to understand. Every lesson, I left feeling more confident than the last, and I never leave without feeling extremely accomplished. Chris has a way of instilling his joy of guitar and love of music with his students, therefor making me excited to go home and practice (and practice...and practice...and practice). Chris teaches everything as well - parts of the guitar, music theory, songs, music history...he even taught me how to re-string my guitar today! He always has such a positive attitude in every lesson, and I never feel overwhelmed. He is patient and understands where each individual student is coming from - the variance of students that he teaches attests to that. I now have a repertoire of songs that I have learned to play, and will even be performing in public. I have always had a lifelong vision of becoming a musician because I have always loved music, and Chris has made that vision a reality. And the best part is; not only do you learn A LOT in his lessons, but they are always SO fun. I always look forward to going to my lessons. A+, top notch, the top in my book.

I really recommend Chris as a guitar teacher. I've played for a long time but wanted some…read moreaccountability and rigor to progress my skill level after it had languished for a few years. Chris helped me wrap my head around some of the more theory-based concepts that I wasn't picking up on my own and framed the lessons around engaging and popular tunes. A really great experience with a warm, friendly and knowledgeable instructor.

Robert Ames Fine Violins & Bows

(1 review)

Bob's shop is a violinist's paradise, and I always enjoy an opportunity to stop in and talk…read moreinstruments, bows, and shared experiences. If you're a player or just have an interest in the violin, give him a call and set up an appointment. You won't be dissapointed.

Rutherford Music Exchange

4.1

(11 reviews)

I brought four guitars, three electric and one acoustic in for setups. They did a great job and…read morenoticed they play and feel much better.

I am a huge fan of this store, and always have been. Staff have always been kind, courteous, and…read morehelpful and the store has always had the personal touch that I believe sets it apart from big box stores. I love to shop local and independent, and this store harkens back to a different time where music shops had character. The selection has always included what I was looking for. This Christmas, I was thrilled to open a Stratocaster purchased from this store by my wife. I have never had a guitar that played as good out of the box than this one, and the staff in this store clearly set the guitar up BEAUTIFULLY. Needless to say, they know what they're doing here, and that is hard to find these days. Additionally, my wife raved about how kind, patient, and supportive they were throughout the process, given that she is not a musician. This personal touch is well-worth a few extra bucks because it is independently owned. I can't recommend this store enough.

Finlay + Gage NYC

4.6

(17 reviews)

they want $60 just to give you an estimate. I've never been to another shop that does that. it's…read moreso disrespectful to musicians. find some place that doesn't try to fleece you

Very grateful to Bela at Finlay + Gage for replacing a bridge on my daughter's violin same day so…read moreshe could take the stage at Carnegie Hall two days later! Hero

DalMaestro Guitar Lessons

(4 reviews)

Ive been taking lessons with Rianne and would highly recommend. You get a great combo of learning…read moreto read music with cutting through all the technicalities to just literally play music from the get-go. So, it's not a frustrating or esoteric experience but a great blend of musicianship and entertainment. Rianne is also very flexible and accommodating of your time and it feels cozy coming to guitar lessons at the studio.

I decided to finally take guitar lessons to add a deeper understanding to my playing. Rianne has…read morebeen great in breaking down music theory and answering the dozens of questions I have about how something works. My playing has definitely gone to the next level!

Aurora Music Academy

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My daughter has been taking piano lessons at Arete for a little more than a year now. She loves her…read moreteacher who is enthusiastic and loving. She's made music learning fun for my daughter, which makes me a happy mom. As a parent, I like it there for several reasons: 1) their space is always nice, clean and bright 2) their instruments are in good conditions 3) the staff is very friendly and helpful. We have had to miss lessons a few times and they were able to accommodate the time changes. Most importantly my daughter enjoys going there.

Harmony Voice Academy

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Angela is such a wonderful person to work with. She works with you from where you're at in your…read moresinging experience and has a very sweet, gentle and fun approach to learning more about your voice. You can tell she really loves what she does and that helps make you better as well! Definitely time well spent with Angela!

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Wayne's the best: skilled, thorough, 100% reliable. Always Knows just what our piano needs. Takes…read morehis time and does it right.

Finally a piano tuner who KNOWS what he is doing! Wayne was able to bring our 4 year old Kawai up…read moreto pitch and we couldn't be happier! We paid $165 for the tuning and the repair of the pedal...very reasonable! Its nice to finally find a tuner who respects our Kawai and our time! We highly recommend Wayne Smagalski, the piano tuner!!!

J. Landress Brass

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The best of the best!!!! Josh and staff always get it right. They also have a great assortment of…read moreaccessories and unique horns.

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