Terrible. I lost a good piece of gear I sent in for repair. Their estimate was equal to the replacement cost. I said I wanted it returned which they would not agree to until the bench time they put in to assess the repair cost was paid ( this was supposed to be $25 but it turned out to be the price of a new unit. ) There is not a low enough rating so I had to give them 1 star - be very cautious or better yet go elsewhere. read more

I have been a customer of Main Drag since 2013. I have purchased and sold instruments and effects units, attended events and trusted them with repairs of some of my most beloved possessions. I purchased my prized Sunn S2000 from Main Drag after a long and thoughtful conversation with the owner, Karl in 2021. Unfortunately, a recent occurrence has completely eroded my trust in Main Drag. In December 2024, I left a guitar to be sold on consignment. I received a fairly generous rate and a PO guaranteeing that I would be informed of the sale and be paid my share of approximately $1600 3-4 weeks after the sale. I was never in formed of the sale. When I independently discovered that the item had sold, I entered into a months-long wild goose chase with Karl. I have been promised payment by a particular date numerous times, all of which have fallen through, and have been left with my emails ignored for weeks at a time. It is impossible to get anyone on the phone. My next step will likely be small claims court. read more

Do not support this business. i left three instruments with them on consignment and the con artist Karl Meyers has been blowing off my emails and phone calls for a year. He owes me thousands. Sad because I used to support them. Now I will be taking this scumbag to court. read more

Never sell your musical instruments on consignment at Main Drag. They'll sell your instruments, but they won't pay you. They owe me thousands of dollars. Main Drag was once a great local music shop, until they changed management. Avoid Main Drag at all costs. read more

So, it's a strange now how they've become Snobbish "hipsters" only now some 20 years to late. They don't really want much to do with one a returning customer for years on. Everything about this new location seems to be an inconvenience. Southside will always play ball and hand you cash over their nonsense consignment easy way out. The venue could be great if someone knew how to book it correctly outside of their fan-boy-fandom. read more

I went to Main Drag to buy an XLR cable, when I asked what brands they carry, they told me they don't carry XLR cables, and that I should go to Mikey's Hookup. Either the employee was lying, had no idea what an XLR cable was, or they made the genius idea to stop stocking accessories for the gear they sell. Whatever the reason was, it seems like they are going out of business or just don't care anymore. read more

I called this morning about a Hofner bass that I bought there at the end of July. When I tested it at the store, I felt that the intonation was off, but the person (I think it was Lily) who helped me there assured me it was fine. I felt a bit dismissed but I trusted her.  It's clear now it's not fine. It's possible it got worse over the last few months, but I know it was off from the start. I called this morning to ask about any possibility of returning it, exchanging it for a guitar, or selling it back and paying the difference for an electric guitar. I am 100% flexible as I understand it has been a long time, and understand the answer could be a no.  I tried to have a conversation with Pietro on the phone about this and it escalated very quickly. They seemed irritated with me as soon as they answered. I said I wished someone had validated my concerns about the intonation when I bought it - which is a reasonable thing to wish when you spend $300 dollars on an instrument - and they suggested that nothing was wrong with the instrument, and that Lily is a great bass player who knows what she's talking about. This is where I felt disrespected and expressed that.  After this, they also spoke over me, interrupted me, and told me "I can not be on the phone with you for a half hour, I have work to do" - when we had literally been talking for 8 minutes.  I don't expect an employee to be a robot with no emotions - but it was clear that Pietro became wildly emotionally dysregulated and I don't think that was 100% because of me and my situation.  At this point - I don't feel optimistic about the service I will receive at Main Drag music. I feel gaslit by both of your employees and like it will be a hostile environment to walk into to even try to address this situation with the Hofner.  It would have been really great to have my concerns, frustrations & disappointments heard & validated by a calm employee, even if you didn't take the bass back. read more

Do not do business here. It's sad when a local business steals from a person from their own neighborhood. I brought my bass guitar into their store for Main Drag Music to sell on consignment in May 2023. They never called to tell me it sold. When I called to check in December 2023, they told me it had sold and forgot to notify me. It is June 2024 and they have still not paid me the $700 they owe me for selling my item. I have called, emailed, and gone into the store, and they either ignore or blow off sending payment. read more

Bought a vintage synth from these guys for $$$$$ and after a few months 1/3 of the synth completely stopped working. They told me it was "out of warranty" and now has close to no resale value and will cost a chunk of change to repair. I'm aware that's the risk with vintage gear, but most shops I know will do repairs for free if it's within a few years, especially after spending so much. A synth shouldn't break down after being sold as "fully restored". Otherwise they have really cool gear and the people are friendly so can't knock them too hard. read more

Tried to sell an antique guitar on consignment here. The entire process has been a nightmare. It's been a year, and they have been impossible to get a hold of. They never contacted me to inform me the guitar had been sold, I had to find out by doing detective work on their website. They are STILL avoiding my calls and emails. I understand that covid is making business difficult these days but they have an obligation to do the right thing and compensate me for the guitar; the current situation is not my fault, and I could obviously use the money now. The bottom line is, if this is how they practice business, they are not worth getting involved with. Take your money and products elsewhere. read more

The staff isnt the best and they really dont offer much expertise. I remember when they had a bigger store but recently downsized. I think its app that their new spaces matches their true value as a store. Id say go with a bigger chain that offers better return policies and just nicer people. read more

I brought them an acoustic bass guitar I had recently purchased that had been in my friend's basement for years: pretty bowed neck, 1/4" jack had been pushed into the body, & action that was too high as a result of the neck bowing. I dropped it off on a Sunday and was told they'd have it for me by Friday as long as they didn't need to order anything; and was happy to receive a call on Thursday saying it was ready. I thought the pricing was fair and the service was awesome, it plays great now and I'll be returning for any equipment/repairs I need in the future. read more

Great shop. I've been a customer for 20+ years. Very knowledgeable staff and super supportive of the local music scene.

I love this place, it's one of my happy places... I've had a few guitars serviced here and they did excellent work. I hear from other people that they can take on a variety of difficult repairs... I just had some set ups and pick up changes. They were don't well and my guitars play like butter. The vintage prices seem fair and their stock of accessories are top notch. The only reason this doesn't get a five is because of slow turn around time. Obviously they're busy and it's understandable, they do great work and people are flocking over... if this is my only critique, this place is killing it! read more

Main Drag is basically a "brand" and sells the image of top quality gear/synths and professional repair. It's pretty with all the top tier equipment and is certainly a "glamorous" music store but it is seriously over-hyped. Fine if you need simple work done, like having your strings replaced (and want to be over charged!) I needed my amplifier fixed and even though the repair seemed to be in good shape cosmetically, whatever the issue was (that is causing my amp to crackle and pop) is now back soon after - even though I basically leave it in the same spot and don't really do anything with it, other then play it of course. If you need serious electrical work done, avoid this establishment. If you want to over pay for some cool gear and synths, then this is the place for you Like I said, the vibe this place gives is highly professional, but the quality of the technical work is far below that. Find an actual technician somewhere else! EDIT: I want to mention that the staff can be really rude sometimes. Depends on who you encounter. I think the women staff members are really nice, but I've gotten a lot of snobby attitude from the men. I'd give it one star for that, but it's a very very pretty store. Sadly this place is all looks with no substance. read more

You know how it sometimes really sucks to be a woman in a music store? Like every guy behind the counter is vibing you and no one takes you seriously till you prove yourself? This place is not like that. They are nice to everyone and very down to earth. There's very little attitude and I appreciate that so much -- it's a rarity in this business. They also have good prices and a nice selection, not to mention soundproof, private rooms where you can sit and play the instruments you like to your heart's content. But probably the best thing about Main Drag is the diverse clientele. Where else can you see a nun and a Hasidic man try out the same ukulele? No joke. I saw that. read more

The main reason this place is not highest rated is that their part-owner Dave is a vapid, untalented, salesJERK. I always think that I'm being taken for a ride when I deal with him. It doesn't help that he has no musical knowledge either. They have a very good keyboard tech named Takeshi that can do most Roland and Yamaha synths, but they (he?) neglected my ARP (I only learned this after sending it to my original tech who discovered parts were not put back in the right place and screws missing). They also have a good salesman named Matt and another part owner named Carl who makes up for Dave's ineffective social skills. In fact, Carl bent over backwards once he became aware of my problems with Dave and the repairs, so I would suggest to ask for Carl or Matt. Prices on cables and things are very competitive. If you have to go to this place, make SURE you find someone other than Dave to help you. UPDATE: It's now been over four MONTHS since they sent out a ARP keyboard repair of mine to a guy in KS that was damaged by them, and they refuse to contact the repairman in KS and pay him for his work! So, they are definitely too busy to care for YOUR repair too. read more

Best music store in New York. I have had two repairs done there thus far. One being my Twin Reverb and the other my Gibson SG. The Twin had some electrical issues and kept crapping out fuses. They wrapped that up and had it back to me in no time. The SG had the unfortunate experience of having it's headstock broken. I turned it over to the trusting team at Main Drag. A few days later they had it back in my hands and playing like new. I love the layout and vibe of the store. Wide open with tons of nice vintage amps and guitars to get your shred on. You'll get a very non sales push from people there. They seem to just be there if you need them but not all over you to buy something. I can't see why someone would wants to go to Guitar Center and deal with that madness when Main Drag is around. read more

I cannot recommend this place highly enough. If I could give these guys six stars here on Yelp, I would! In all seriousness, I have been a customer of Main Drag ever since they opened their first location on Bedford Ave (there's a car service in their old space). While other stores will try to dupe you and get you to sign up for an overly costly repair, Main Drag always gives you the straight dope, and they've done great work on all of my guitars and amps over the years. Not only do they do great work, but the owners of the shop remember me BY NAME and always seem genuinely happy to see me. I don't mean to toot my own horn here, but it is nice to feel that kind of personal touch in a city of millions. read more

John is tha man! He's the go to guy for drummers. He knows everything and explains it all really well. I just bought an old Slingerland set (not at Main Drag, although they have some rockin drum kits for sale) and John fixed them up for me, threw in a bunch of stuff for free, went over everything he tweaked and sent me on my way for such a good deal I feel like I should send him flowers. He's that good. He's got himself a regular customer out of me. Also I love him for letting me in on the fact that my drums are worth way way more than I paid for them. That's cool, but I'm so in love with them so they aren't going anywhere. Besides drum gear, I love looking at the guitars and keyboards and all the other good stuff. Oh, yeah, this is the spot! read more

BEST MUSIC STORE EVER! Pat is the man! i was having trouble with my Fender Passport PA system, and after having taken it to 4 other repair shops, Pat was the only guy to find the problem! And he fixed it for just $50! He is HIGHLY recommended for repairs! This is also a super cool huge store that carries so many vintage instruments, keyboards and amps. You will have fun here! read more

Another John appreciation post. He's the best, totally knowledgeable and generous with that knowledge. Many times I've brought something in and he's recommended either leaving it as-is, or suggested a less-expensive alternative, or will tell me how to do something myself. Super personable and always willing to geek-out about drumstuff, he's very willing to share his genuine love for drums and drumming and does great, careful work, and often has really creative solutions for things. and while it shouldn't be an issue at all, I've been in so many snooty drum shops with know-it-all dudes who love talking down to women, it's nice to have someone talk to you as a drummer, not a female drummer. I have to disagree with the guy who dissed Dave, he's a nice guy whose never been anything but helpful. Also I seriously doubt Jun (Takeshi) forgot to put screws back in your synth, he's *Japanese* for chrissakes. read more

Big store , NO restrooms for paying customers!?!?!!! Are you kidding me, what BS! When there are tons of online stores to shop why bother to support the local guy when you are treat like a bother. I won't be back! read more

Pretty typically overpriced. They have a lot of awesome gear, and decent deals on certain items, but I would not recommend getting drum gear here. I bought three cymbals and a snare over the course of four months and was told I would get a discount for buying in bulk--didn't happen. The items I bought were overpriced to begin with, so to say I wasn't thrilled upon my last purchase would be an understatement. Staff is friendly and very helpful, and they have a lot of cool pedals. I definitely recommend Main Drag for guitar/keyboard stuff and repairs, but again, not for drum stuff. read more

!!!!! I came in today to replace a broken ride and had the best customer service experience I have ever had in a music store (been drumming for 20 years). I feel terrible for forgetting his name but the drum guy was awesome. He chatted me up in the best way, sold me on a new cymbal after almost compromising in the used bin, and told me a hi hat combo that I am now using at rehearsal that is blowing my mind by not blowing my wrist. Thanks again man, mastersound bottom hat and new beat bottom hat on top is going to give me 10 more years of tendons. read more

I previously gave Main Drag a horrible review in a fit of rage after I tried to get my keyboard repaired there. Shortly afterwards I got a call from Carl, apologizing for the mishap. He was very professional and courteous about the whole deal, and they refunded my money. Overall, Main Drag is a nice shop with a huge selection of vintage and modern gear. I particularly like the drum and keyboard sections. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Unlike their corporate counterparts, they won't try to sell you some crappy piece of gear that you didn't come to buy. Every time I have come looking for something in particular, they have been quick and helpful. The only reason I gave Main Drag 4 out of 5 is that some of the items (particularly the vintage gear) are a bit overpriced. Other than that, it's a great place for all your music needs. This has been and will continue to be my go-to music shop in Brooklyn. read more

I'm updating from 4 to 5 stars because it seems like through the years this musical mainstay has elevated its radness in astronomical proportions. Their selection in instruments,amps and accesories have grown to an obscene level, but even though there is a surplus of quantity, they have not cut out the quality. They seem to always have nine guitars, 7 amps, and 3 electric pianos that I immediately would love to own...and I don't even play piano! And the guys that work there are always helpful, knowledgeable and super cool and down to earth. I'll definietly always be back to get gear at Main Drag. I'm a loyalist to this fine musical shop in our beloved town that is Brooklyn. read more

I'm really glad this place is around and within walking distance. It makes the Guitar Center look like the Mall of America, and I can't think of many things more offensive than an American mall. I had one of my beloved vintage axes serviced there with good results and I wouldn't hesitate bringing any others in. read more

This could easily be the best/my favorite instrument shop in nyc. Their equipment is top tier quality (though admittedly pricey), their staff is knowledgeable and helpful (most unlike the pretentious and elitist nature of so manny other music store employees), and the space is large and well arranged. Always stalked with a array of equipment that would make any gearslut drool; from guitars/bass, amps, keyboards, drums, effects and all kinds of solutions from the vintage to the cutting edge. This place is the one you want if you desire the best experience with your next buy (or even just visit, it's worth checking out). read more

They let me play anything I wanted for as long as I wanted came back in and played'em as many times as I wanted. Shopped ( 7 stores) for more than a month to drop my bucks and when I was ready they beat out the runner up used Gibson sellers price. In the mean time this dude J.J. set up year old BurrittoCaster EXCELLENTLY .IT SCREAMS BLOODY MURDER!!!!!! Many guitar sellers act like used car dealers, absolutely not so there. read more

Great store, but I would not bring in an instrument for anything more than rudimentary repair. I brought in a bass with a neck problem; the tech gave up after failing to get the truss nut off. I'm glad he erred on the side of caution rather than breaking something worse. But ... advice I found online allowed me to get the nut off without too much trouble. The instrument's problems turned out to be more serious than that. I brought it to 30th St. Guitars in manhattan, where the tech is an actual luthier who inspires much more confidence with this kind of thing. He's doing a repair that I just would not trust to someone who seems challenged with the basics. Other than that, I like this place. Great selection of instruments and friendly staff. read more

Have been a customer since they were over on Bedford. A great shop, kind of a godsend when it comes to last minute strings/ cables etc....their amp repair shop is fantastic! ONLY thing lacking (though they may have amended this) is a dedicated analog keyboard tech, they used to be great in this respect and no doubt will be again. Super super nice people, very highly recommended and an huge asset to the area, any local musician will likely tell u the same, would be tricky to function without them! Thanks. read more

This is a great music store. The selection includes a lot of cool vintage stuff, and they also have a nice array of boutique-y effects pedals. I have sold some gear there on consignment a few times, and it has always been a positive experience. The staff is friendly and smart. --------How I assign ratings on Yelp (which I put at the bottom of all my reviews): 5 stars = Better than great, both in service and product. This place is completely unimprovable. It is among my favorites of its kind. 4 stars = Great. Product and service are consistently what I want. 3 stars = Not bad. This place is good but unremarkable. 3 is the lowest rating I will give to a place that I would still go to. 2 stars = Bad, either in service or in product. I won't go back to places that have a rating of 2 or below. 1 star = Worse than bad. Offensive somehow. The staff might be outright hostile or dishonest, or the product itself might be harmful. read more

Beautiful, brilliant music store! So many gorgeous vintage instruments of all types - guitars, banjos, keyboards, drum sets, etc. Lots of sound equipment too! I play the drums and was oooh-ing and aww-ing over their sparkly vintage sets. Everything is in great condition. Extremely knowledgeable staff too. They really know their stuff and won't steer you wrong. My friend had his guitar fixed by them and they did a great job and were really nice. read more

I like this place... I like that you can just kinda poke around and check things out without intending to buy anything during that particular visit, and still no one will give you the DEATH STARE when you walk out empty-handed. I like that people who work here are friendly, and not because they have ulterior motives. Plus, they EVEN sell death by audio pedals -- how many music stores in the city can you say that about? The only trouble is when they don't have something you need, and you have to go... somewhere else. read more

This is the best musical instrument store in New York City, hands down. They have a great selection of high quality gear. You want to buy something cheap? This isn't the place. I like when a place can stand behind every single piece of equipment they have, and it seems like Main Drag can do that. When I refurbished my drums, I talked to John and he set me up with new heads, snares, and even dug through some bins in the back to find lugs that were the correct size. Amazing service. I know their amp and guitar repair is pretty credible as well, judging from what other people have said. I'll shop here for any musical equipment I need. I know they recently opened a new location in Bushwick as well, so it's nice to see these guys are expanding. read more

Main Drag Music is a destination music store. This place specializes in vintage gear and they've got a lot of it! They are picky so just about everything in there is something that I desperately want to own. The prices fall on the fair to pricey end of the spectrum but for gear selection like this that's not surprising. The people working at Main Drag are not your typical "I'm better than you" douche bags which is a huge relief. They are all very nice and helpful. I've had dealings with John in the drum shop and Ariel on the floor and both guys were very helpful and polite. The repair shop is great here. I've had guitars repaired and set up, I've had drums wrapped and repaired, and vintage analog synths resurrected. All the repairs were perfect and the prices fair. Selling gear here is great. You get 70% commission on consignment and 60% on trade in. Go to this store, I promise you're going to love it! P.S. the hours changed to 12 o'clock opening instead of 11. read more

Main Drag has become my favorite music shop, from perusing their stock of vintage guitars/basses or drums to grabbing supplies or checking out all the cool pedals they carry. But mostly i find myself going there to drop off my guitars to be setup. Anthony in repairs does a fine job of maintaining my guitars and keeping them buttery. Including my 2 basses I have 10 guitars I drop off to be worked on throughout the year and I always feel confident about getting back a finely setup instrument. I highly recommend main drag for all your rock needs (or any other music you happen to play.) read more

Got Juno 106 repaired by Jun and it was a great experience. Cool staff and great communication. Jun was very honest and up front about everything. Much appreciated. Very reasonable labor rate. read more

Two awesome audition rooms with nice amps that are well insulated. I played a couple of guitars the last time I was in the store and the guy who set me up turned the bandmaster head (into a classic fender cab) up to 4.5 and closed the door. Awesome. Phenomenal selection of super-high-quality used/vintage stuff. They also seem to carry a pretty extraordinary amount of random stuff like power adapters for effects pedals and all of those little things that might otherwise send you to a big-box. Don't expect any values or bargains, but the selection alone is worth checking out. read more