I know negative about guitars. I have a nephew graduating from high school this spring and I…read morewanted to get him something meaningful and useful. He plays bass in one of those School of Rock type places and is passionate about it. I called my sister to see if there was anything he could use and she sent me a blurry photo of some kind of board he uses and told me he needs a carrying case. I went to Bananas at Large because of their reputation for being kind and knowledgeable. Their reputation is well deserved. I was greeted right when I walked in, I decided to look around a bit before asking for help because while I don't know anything about guitars, some of the instruments they had on the wall were works of art and I enjoy looking at art. When I was ready, I found the first employee, showed him the photo and explained the situation. He knew exactly what it was and where to find what I was looking for. He then took the case over to where they had the exact thing in the photo to show me how well it fit and other features of the case. He explained the 14-day return policy if it turned out to be the wrong thing and let me decide what I wanted to do. I wound up purchasing the case. I loved that I was nicely greeted when I walked in but left alone to browse. I loved that I didn't have to hunt down someone to help me when I was ready. I loved the general vibe of the place. I loved that they had what I needed and clearly a ton of things I might need if I ever decide to get into playing. I loved that parking was easy. I loved that they were excited to help someone who had no idea what they were doing in a guitar shop, were in no hurry to get me out of the store and patient enough to answer all my questions. I even loved that they accept Venmo for payments. Great place to go if you don't know anything about guitars but love someone who does.

My son who lives in Australia asked me if I would find a guitar for him to play when he comes home…read morefor visits. After a few people suggested I try this establishment, I walked in to this store knowing absolutely nothing about guitars. The staff were extremely helpful and I was impressed with their knowledge and patience. I purchased a reasonably priced Gibson guitar and case. My son was very pleased!

Be Warned. I also had an extremely rude experience as another Yelper posted. I took my Vito alto…read moresax in to have the low C fixed and to get an estimate for pad replacements. The serial number places it from the Yamaha factory in Japan in the early 70s. They said that it would be inspected and I would get a phone call about an estimate. They did not review the horn with me. It should have been my first red flag. A few days later I get a call informing me that 'the instrument needs a complete overhaul and that when they put a light in it it was just full of leaks everywhere and would cost $1500 in labor and $200 in parts and that it wasn't worth it because of the value of the instrument' in an arrogant judgmental tone. When I picked up the horn, I was again told about leaks. This told me everything I needed to know because I too have put a light down my instrument to find the leaks and know exactly where a 1972 vintage alto that's never had it's pad replaced is leaking. And it wasn't were he was pointing to. I don't know who hurt you or which horn you're confusing mine with but I felt like I was being lied to. If you didn't want to do the work, simply let me know. Telling me my instrument isn't worth fixing is unacceptable. I determine the value of my horn, not you. And being rude about it is even more unacceptable. I guess with the closing of AG Music in Oakland and abundant USD student rentals, there's no space for the community musician in their shop. Be warned when you cross their handyman-grade aluminum threshold.

Very easy transaction. We went in and they showed us The product. Went over thoroughly our options…read morefor lease to own, etc. it's a no frills, compact, simple store. Just has the necessities and I appreciate it.

Found this awesome music store in Napa via Yelp. Once again Yelp led me to where I wanted to be…read more We spent about 30 minutes looking at the great collection of guitars and basses while chatting to the one guy running the store. I was wishing I hadn't just bought a new guitar a couple of weeks prior to going there. my 'wife vs. guitar' points were all used up for about the next two years. I only bought a set of strings but I loved the vibe of the place and intend to visit there whenever I get to Napa.

Very helpful and friendly staff. Tonewood and courage had some really cool guitars. I can't wait to…read morecome back. Check out a live show.. they made me feel really welcome. Highly recommend.

I have never met anyone like Mr. Jordan -- he is truly a gem . Not only is he incredibly…read moreknowledgeable about music and instruments, but he is also a gifted artist and a genuinely kind human being who treats everyone with respect and integrity. He is someone you can completely trust. His shop is fascinating, but what truly makes it magical is the passion he pours into his work. Whether he's crafting instruments, carefully helping you choose the perfect one, repairing a beloved piece, or patiently answering a thousand questions from an 8-year-old, his dedication and love for music shine through. Places like this are rare. We came to pick up a violin for my daughter, and thanks to this wonderful experience, she continues to love playing. A poor instrument can discourage a child from learning, but a good instrument can inspire confidence and a lifelong passion for music. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to support his business, and I truly hope more musicians will visit to see his amazing work and show their support. Don't order your instrument from Amazon -- go see Mr. Jordan first. You won't regret it!

I bought this Telecaster in Japan last year and managed to promptly damage the finish. My big…read moreconcern was catching an edge of the cracked finish and causing more damage. I came across Jordan Music on Yelp and gave John a call. He explained how he would work the damage with Superglue in layers and go from there. It wasn't a sales pitch, it was like he was running the process through his mind, recollecting how he would do it. John works out of his garage, so don't be put off if you're expecting a showroom. I was a little worried when I left the guitar with him but that went away when I picked up the finished work. I could not be happier with the results! The price was very reasonable AND he adjusted the pick ups on my Stratocaster while I waited.

Langley is skilled and additionally a genuinely nice guy as well as being communicative and…read moreprofessional. We are absolutely lucky to have someone local that does such quality work - this is the guy.

I can't say enough good things about my experience with Langley at Chasing Tone. Incredibly…read moregracious with his time. I had some fret buzzing on a higher end acoustic. He made time for me same day. Walked me through all his suggestions to fix the issue and factored those to my playing style. Price was absolutely fair and he had it dialed in and ready for pick up the next day. Beyond fixing the guitar his willingness to let me pick his brain on all things guitar was a value in itself. Having a resource like Langley with a wealth of experience and a willingness to share his knowledge is invaluable for guitar enthusiasts!

i have an important gig coming up next week, and discovered that my recently purchased bari sax is…read moreplaying flat. did a little research and determined that the NECK was the most likely culprit. tony not only had the exact right replacement neck, but had a matching vintage mouthpiece to go with it. i don't even know what to say. i could spend tons more money and time scouring the internet for a resource that was literally on my my way to a concert. highest recommendation.

Tony is a skilled craftsman. I now have the easiest playing horn I have even had!…read moreTake you horns here, you won't be sorry!

Did an amazing job working on 2 of my basses, and they definitely needed it. They needed full…read moresetups, wiring work and a basic going over. Kevin went over and above on communication, sent pics of the work as it was progressing, and did amazing work. They're playing better than new now. Will definitely be returning for more work. While I dropped them off, I also got a chance to see some of his custom hand made instruments and they're amazing. Cannot recommend enough.

Kevin set up and dressed the frets on a brand new Epiphone Excellente for me. It was buzzing at the…read more12th fret and I thought it just needed a truss rod adjustment. Kevin suspected more over the phone and he was right. Now it plays beautifully. I took a Fender Acoustasonic Player which I got for fun. It just needed the truss rod adjusted and now it's a lot of fun! On both guitars, Kevin did some extra work on the nut, fret edges, etc for free. He's been available to work on things very quickly and finishes the work quickly, too. He is a very warm and honest person and I'm lucky to have found him.