My favorite music store in the world. There is *nothing* like a local music store: the…read moreknowledgeable staff who get to know you by name; the curated collection of instruments, equipment, accessories and resources; the music lessons on-site; the in-depth knowledge and recommendations given freely with a smile; the special orders with the expert opinion to know what you actually need and what the best choice would be based on quality, price, shipping time and more; the on-site repair shop - there is just *nothing* like it. Sure, I could buy from That Big Instrument Center, or that Sweet Other Big Retailer, or That Amazingly Big Website, but if I buy it from Dale or Aaron or Caruso, I'm getting the same price while also investing in the fabric of our community and in making my own day a little brighter, and my my musical knowledge grows a little every time I come in. I LOVE this place and so will you!

I went in to try alto sax mouthpieces and was very enthused with this charming store. It's rare you…read morefind such a clean cozy music store with such warmhearted people and I was delighted to find one. It was definitely a welcome refresh from the corporate music stores of today. They had a wide variety of things in the store which is what first brought us there and we were not disappointed. When we first walked in they instantly remembered us from the phone and allowed us to use one of their rooms in the back to test out some of their products. When we went to check out it was clear it was great value especially considering the level of service. We even chatted with the owner, Dale for a bit and he gave me some helpful tidbits on things like reeds and maintenance. Everyone in the store was so welcoming and kind, it definitely made me feel like a part of such a warm music community. Was a bit out of our way but definitely worth the drive any day. We will for sure be coming back for other essentials and repairs if needed since it was clear it was a shop we could definitely trust! Would absolutely recommend!

I normally don't write reviews, but my recent experience with the Guitar Center San Marcos Lessons…read moreDepartment needs to be shared, especially for parents considering lessons for their children. My son has been taking guitar lessons here for months and absolutely loves his instructor, Tristan. Unfortunately, the issue isn't with the instructors, it's with the front-end communication and customer service. After two of my credit cards were compromised, a number of auto-renew subscriptions needed updating. At no point, phone, text, or in person--did anyone from Guitar Center notify me of a declined payment, despite the Lessons Lead repeatedly claiming they "called" and "spoke to me in person." I checked my call history. The last call I received from Guitar Center was October 16, and it was simply Tristan confirming my son was running two minutes late. That's it. No billing conversation. No declined-card conversation. No warning. Nothing. Beyond that, my son (a minor) was physically in the store for his lessons throughout November. If someone had truly spoken to me "in person," as claimed, I would (1) remember it and (2) logically update my payment method on the spot. That's basic common sense. But no one--neither Lily nor Greg, the two people supposedly escalating the issue--ever approached us. In fact, I couldn't identify them if I tried, because no one ever actually spoke to us. The most upsetting part? My son was left sitting alone, waiting, because his lessons were suddenly canceled without any communication. No one told him. No one told me. That is not acceptable treatment of a child. When I reached out for clarification, I received a generic, copy-and-paste email insisting they had reached out "multiple times." They hadn't. And when I pointed this out, with dates and call records, the response doubled down instead of acknowledging the missteps. I pride myself on honesty and integrity, especially when it comes to my children. Being told that things happened that objectively did not happen is frustrating, dismissive, and frankly unprofessional. To be absolutely clear: No calls were made. No in-person conversations occurred. No texts were sent. And my child should never have been left unattended because of an internal communication breakdown. The instructors are great,but the lesson administration needs serious improvement. Parents deserve transparent communication, accountability, and accuracy, especially when the wellbeing and experience of a child are involved. I hope management takes this feedback to heart so other families don't have the same experience. My son loved his lessons and his instructor, but the customer service side made what should have been an easy fix both stressful and disappointing.

I had an old guitar that needed some electric work. Val was an absolute rockstar. It was a bit…read morecomplicated but he kept me updated every step. And most impressive he had a contagiously good attitude everytime. He is a busy man -- he always seems to have customers to help, repairs in progress -- but again was unflappable in terms of positive vibes and professionalism. Very stoked on the process...and the guitar is all fixed good as new. Thanks Val!

I believe I spoke to the owner today. I was looking for drop-in lessons to help my kid keep up with…read morepractice while on vacation. She closed for holiday but still called me back and spoke so kindly. We're only visiting till Monday for Memorial Days otherwise we would have loved to learn with her. Great impression.

My daughter has been seeing Mrs. Dyana for a little over a year now. She has helped her grow and…read morecome out of her shell. Mrs. Dyana has given the art and love of music to my daughter. We are so happy we reached out to Vista Music when we did and are so proud of the milestones that have been achieved. Thank you @Mrs. Dyana

Wow- what a great experience for a first time middle school band mom!…read more The friendly employee (I wish I remembered her name!) made the processes quick and painless! We were given all the information needed to rent a trombone, necessary books and cleaning equipment. Their 'rent with an option to buy' is a great deal if your kiddo is set on an instrument for a few years. 5 stars! Mom approved!

I've had a flute for about 40 years. This is my Baby. I've taken it to other places in the area to…read morehave it fixed and they did my Baby wrong. :-). I brought it to the San Diego Music Studio and spoke with both Brian and David. Not only did they fix it under their estimate, but I haven't heard my Baby sing so beautifully in the last 40 years thank you so much

I just had my first introduction to American Music and Jay and I'm pleased with both…read more I found Jay to be friendly, personable, professional, and willing to teach me some tips in what I was trying to do. I enjoyed meeting him and also looking around the store. I'll come back for guidance and equipment as well as looking at singing lessons, and maybe even bass lessons. I highly recommend the store and I think you'll be very pleased.

This is the best music store i've ever visited! Super knowledgeable employees who always take their…read moretime to help you find exactly what you need! The Best!

If you are looking for experienced luthiers that have a passion for guitars, this guitar shop is…read morefor you I brought my Les Paul in for a string intonation. It never sounded better. It was my first time using their services and it is now my "go to" shop. Also, had a look at their guitars for sale and although I wasn't in the market for one now, if I am, I will certainly check out their inventory.

Bought my first guitar around a year ago, excellent condition with an unbeatable deal…read more Places often times try to sell you guitars, these people put guitars in front of you and help you decide to buy or not, literally one of the most consumer friendly businesses I came to them with a small and trivial thing, they helped me instantly, in and out, and didn't charge me The world needs more places like this

Shad & Scott are the best. I really appreciate all the help and guidance through everything…read more Definitely the best experience I've had purchasing a guitar 11/10!

These guys are the best, and I mean the best. They made me this unbelievable deal on a Suhr PT 15…read moreIR amp head and matching cabinet. Completely blew any any competition at Guitar Center of even Sweetwater. This is hands-down the best guitar shop in Southern California. Customer Service here is second to none.

Can't say enough good things about Eric and the work he does. Not only was he incredibly thorough…read moreand precise on the technical help I came to him for, but he is a warm hearted person who made the entire process as seamless and straightforward as possible. It took minimal time through conversation to find Eric as an honest working person who is truly passionate about his craft. I'm lucky to have found his contact and will gladly return with any more projects that I need to tackle in the future. Your equipment will be in good hands if you're considering him!

Eric is awesome. Replaced a malfunctioning tube socket, thoroughly went over the amp, recommended a…read morefew tube replacements and got my amp back to sounding great. And turned the repair around FAST so I have it for a gig. Highly recommended!!!!

Kiddos are enjoying the improv theatre class which they were dreading to attend. I'm glad they gave…read moreit a try and Matt J makes the class fun.

This business is 100% inappropriate with children. I have been there several years and it has gone…read moredown hill over the last year. My child (10yo) was pressured into doing things in the theater program; she has told the directors she was uncomfortable several times over a few weeks and that was disregarded. She is suffering from PTSD, humiliated in front of her peers, and was belittled by a 16yo "director" on a performance night. Completely unacceptable. Also, more than half way through this Springs production, one of the two directors decided to leave the company....thoughts!? I do NOT recommend this business and hope to save others from such a negative experience. Everything stated here is entirely true; I am seeking necessary action.

James Hood is my go-to for all my guitar needs. Not only do they do great setups at a solid price,…read morebut they've helped me out of some really frustrating situations when I butchered some of my own guitar mod attempts and didn't know what to do next. Can't recommend these guys enough. Friendly, timely, good communication, great work!

This was my first time using the shop, and I was really looking forward to it, especially after…read morehearing so many positive reviews. I brought in my Taylor K24ce, and I also left my Taylor GS Mini that day for a neck reset. At drop-off, the front desk tech assured me the low E buzz on the K24ce would be addressed and handled as part of the standard setup. Both guitars stayed with them for nearly two weeks. I called a few times since I wasn't getting updates, and eventually was told both were ready for pickup. After driving 30 miles, I tested them in the shop. The GS Mini was done well--I could see an improvement in the neck, and I appreciated that. But when I took out my K24ce, it wasn't tuned or wiped down properly. After I tuned it, the exact same low E buzz was still there. How could that go unnoticed, I wondered--had the guitar been played after it was tuned, they would have then noticed the buzz and should have informed me by email, rather than having me come all the way down. I mentioned it to the owner, and he took the guitar to the back for about 10 minutes. When he returned, he told me that if I wanted to leave it, I'd need to pay another $90 for a deeper inspection, since it might be a more technical issue. The tech who reassured me at drop-off was right there but didn't say a word. It was close to the end of working hours, so I figured James would just have me leave it at no cost. When he didn't, I didn't feel comfortable leaving it again. I really expected a more thorough check right then or at least a suggestion to leave it at no cost. After all, I 100% mentioned the buzz to the tech at drop-off. In the end, my K24ce is my primary instrument--it's the one I rely on most--while the GS Mini is just a backup. I ended up paying close to $400 for both the setup and the neck reset. The GS Mini was done well, but the whole experience left me feeling like I spent $400 just to fix a $600 GS Mini, while my main guitar's issue was never resolved. Considering all the time, effort, cost, and travel, I really expected a full assessment and clearer communication before it was marked complete. I've attached a video so you can hear the buzz yourself.