Very simple review. Came in to look for a new guitar amp as I had previously owned a really cheap amplifier. Came into the store with no one greeting me- seemed like no one noticed me at all.. even though two of the staff gave me direct eye contact. I say good morning to them first, and at least they say it back. But that's it. No other form of customer service or asking me if I need help finding anything. The place and the whole vibe in general was very uninviting to people that are newbies to guitars- very overwhelming. read more

The staff was knowledgeable and helpful. They promptly researched the answers to specific questions I had regarding the bass guitar I wanted to purchase and explained things clearly. They set up the bass superbly, and kindly lowered the action as far as possible as per my request. Guitar Center had told me they only had this particular model of bass in two of their store locations in the entire US, so the fact that Music Store Live had it is a testament to their expansive inventory (and good taste, imho). The bass was set up and shipped in one day and arrived at my doorstep the next! Very quick! I could not have asked for better service! read more

Pitbull Audio - Bass guitar Make: Ibanez Model: SR1305SB - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

After having a couple issues with a couple purchases, Fernando and the guys at Pitbull audio went above and wayyyyyy beyond to make sure I was taken care of. Fernando's replies and responses were prompt and helpful. This shop is solid and I'll continue to purchase everything I need from them. Thanks again! read more

I ordered a relatively expensive pedal from Pitbull Audio and I couldn't be more satisfied with the great deal they gave me. The box was neatly packaged and secure and shipping was fast. Thank you Pitbull Audio. read more

These guys know audio. They helped me with my amp set up and the pedals I got were just what I was looking for. You won't find a better array or more comprehensive selection of equipment than here. Caleb was so helpful, offered outstanding knowledge and advice. read more

Shoutout to AJ who has consistently been there when it counts the most. I've bought several items from AJ / Pitbull (guitar cabs, pedals & pedal- boards, guitar setups, accessories etc) and I can always rely on his follow up, follow through and communication during situations where time is of the essence. The drive down from Poway is well worth it and thx to the reliable tech support team as well! read more

A hidden gem of a music store in South San Diego for sure! Awesome sales staffs and killer prices no one can beat! Thank you pitbull audio!

Hey there! - saw some reviews on this place and honestly me myself a 20 year old just starting with electric guitar (plays acoustic) can't identify with these negative reviews. The staff was extremely kind and helpful explaining to me what a looper pedal was and which one was recommended - they didn't just recommended the most expensive but the best for me and my needs. They went above and beyond making sure I got the right voltage power source and provided with some discount because I got multiple items. I will definitely return to Pitbull audio for more pedals soon having so much fun with this one! Thank you read more

Pitbull Audio - Looper Pedal purchased at Pitbull Audio with cables purchased there as well - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

Still the best place to go for boutique pedals, strings, amps and unique guitars. Great luthier as well.

I have purchased guitar strings online from Pitbull Audio. Yesterday my 7 year old Line 6 wireless system for my guitar rig failed. I went online and found that PitbullAudio had the upgraded system that I wanted. I called them yesterday to confirm that they had it in stock. AJ said that they had it and set it aside for me. First thing this morning I drove there and bought it (along with some guitar-related gifts for my musician son. The crew at Pitbull are really nice and helpful! Give them a shot got your guitar needs! read more

Purchased a wampler pedal via Amazon from Pitbull Audio and very quickly realized it wasn't the pedal for me - it never left the house and was in perfect condition so I returned it within a week. Upon returning pitbull charged me a restocking fee of $30 (for a $150 pedal) stating that it was returned "without internal packaging"... I call BS on this as everything that came with the box was included upon return. I've never had a restocking fee from Amazon before because I'm extremely careful with items. People - there is a reason why their BBB is 1 out of 5. read more

So, I guess I have a NEW [local] shop here in San Diego for buying endless amounts of strings. As an Earth bound Guitar God myself (you're welcome, human race) it is important for me to maintain stock when bending, at least, 3 whole steps on a regular basis, and ripping piercingly angelic, well-phrased melodic lines at hemidemisemiquaver-like speeds (not 'like'... Yngwie be warned) in order to ensure that THIS gift to man (yours truly) can continue to impregnate the ears of listeners across the globe with eargasmic tone coupled with impeccable intonation for days (its endless really). Basically, what I'm saying is that for a virtuoso such as myself, I like shopping at PitBull Audio. This is where I buy all of my strings now. I buy other stuff there too, but when I need strings and I feel like Calvin and his crew require my presence (there are other things to play in-store that don't include 'Smoke on the Water'), I deliver. You're welcome everyone. Goodnight read more

Pitbull Audio - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

Went into to look around and found an mxr x100 and was told it was the only one they had left. So I went to buy and he had it with him for about 10 minutes before he rang it up, only to be told that someone had bought it online the night before, and that "I'm not getting a rockman today". Are you kidding? Do your inventory before you open so this doesn't happen. The guy was a total dick about it and didn't offer to order another one or help me out. I shouldn't have left without it to be honest. Really sucks because I'm going to go back eventually as it is probably the nicest guitar shop in San Diego that I've been to, but overall super sour experience, was even gonna buy a t shirt or two but "I'm not getting one today!" read more

My Mayonase Bass warranty was over so I went to their for replace preamp. They called me to pay before order a new preamp and I did. Anyway Repair takes more than 2 months and tried to charge twice. If I didn't have a payment record, I might charged again. They didn't keep my payment record that is so unprofessional. They have never said SORRY even it's their fault. In addition, they didn't give me a receipt for parts and labor. Only gave me a receipt for labor You'd better go to Bass San Diego!! read more

Pitbull Audio - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

I can't say enough positive things about this gem of a music equipment store here in the San Diego area. Prior to going to Pitbull Audio, I had visited two of their largest competitors and at both stores, it felt like it was similar to pulling teeth to get any assistance.  At both of their competitors, I also found the salespeople to be lacking in product knowledge. Then I visited Pitbull and things turned to the upside.  AJ, one of their sales associates, had assisted me with my purchase of some PA Speakers and took the time to educate me, demo various speakers and answer all my questions.  His product knowledge was fantastic, and he took the time to help me match up the right set of speakers for my specific needs (instead of just trying to push me into more expensive speakers that were more than I needed). The pricing of the speakers I purchased from Pitbull was fantastic as well! AJ's assistance made my purchase a wonderful buying experience. But my praise for AJ and Pitbull doesn't stop there.  As I am a newbie to audio equipment, I had acquired a Yamaha mixer from an acquaintance and figuring out how to use it was a challenge.  I later brought my mixer, mic and laptop into the store, and AJ spent 30 minutes educating me on how to properly use the mixer.  I felt I left the store with a mini college education on audio mixing and now feel comfortable approaching my first gig with this equipment. Kudos to AJ for understanding the importance of providing 5-Star Customer Service and kudos to Pitbull for having such high quality customer service oriented associates on their staff! Pitbull Audio will be my go-to store for future purchases and I will be recommending them to all my friends! Thank you AJ and thank you Pitbull as well. read more

I rarely rate bad any experience or place, but I feel others should be aware and cautious. I took my guitar for a setup. Since I usually ride a motorcycle, its hard to transport a guitar, this day I had my car and paid for the same day delivery fee. Total was about $150 plus or minus for a setup. Long story short, I got my guitar and when I played it at home the next day, there was fret buzz on the 3 lowest strings. The guitar's neck felt rubberized, it even sounded like my finger was dragging when I practiced my bends. The whole body had multiple oil stains on it. I emailed the manager and they agreed to take a look at it again. I explained I couldn't be there on that day, they pushed to have it there the next day but I couldn't due to work. I explained this to them and all of a sudden no more replies they didn't want to schedule me in for them to take a look at the mess of a guitar they gave me. Took it to GC after I noticed issues with my volume knob. Now GC repaired the mess pitbull audio made on the setup and corrected whatever it is they did on my volume knob. Not a good place for repairs or regular maintenance. They need to be mindful that customers can't change their work and personal schedules just because they messed up a work they did and then refuse to repair the messy damage they made. Will never take another guitar and would not recommend anyone to go to this place. Save your money and go somewhere else even if its more expensive. read more

Came here looking for some DJ equipment. I like how you can easily demo whatever you want without judgement. My boyfriend and I were literally playing with synthesizers, sequencers and samplers for at least 2 hours. And whatever they don't have on the floor, you can ask to demo whatever they have in the back warehouse. They were also very helpful and knowledgeable without being sales-y or pushy. After playing with a few items, I decided to marinate on it and do more research. Came in the next day to purchase the Novation Circuit. It was the last one they had (floor model) so we got a big discount. It was still in really good condition so it was like getting a new one for 24% off (since it was floor model). I'm glad we went here instead of ordering a used one online at ebay or something because we got for cheaper than what it was online and in better condition. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone looking for musical equipments. They have a pretty solid selection of DJ equipments, acoustic and electric guitars, amps and accessories. I didnt much of anything else though so if you're looking for a wind instrument, violin or microphones etc This probably wouldn't be the first choice. read more

TL; DR Customer service sucks I'm going to be up front about this - it was my fault I didn't see the discount code. I've had my eye on the Foxgear Echosex 3 Lukather edition ever since it came out. I didn't have money, and it disappeared from stock for a while. I happened to be comparing it with the Keeley Dark Side and saw that it was back in stock. I jumped on it. As soon as I checked out, I saw there was a discount code for $40 off. I called and got their store person who transferred me to customer service. They didn't pick up (it was 5:03 PM), so I left a message for F (name omitted, you know who you are). Never got a call back. I tried calling, but it kept going to voice mail. I finally got through to F who should find another job, not in customer service. She basically said out of luck but she would send it through to whomever might be able to give me a refund of $40. Never happened. Again, my fault, but they could have gone the extra mile and made it right. As it is, I'll never buy from them again. read more

If I could give them 10 stars I would gladly do that. Everyone was genuinely helpful and had such a great, customer service-oriented attitude - at other music stores they act as if they're doing you a favor just to talk to you. They were extremely knowledgeable and honest. Got a great 5 string bass and they were flexible in so many ways. They even agreed to play a few basses for me so I could hear them better. I will never go anywhere else for instruments or accessories. read more

Had a great experience here my first time in the shop. The employees were extremely helpful while I tested a couple basses and were accommodating while I tinkered. Their customer service through Reverb was also outstanding- Quick and pleasant responses. The guy who I was working with almost entirely (in-store) was knowledgable and enjoyable to chat with. I ended up exchanging a bass I bought online (which I didn't love) for another one in store which was a seamless interaction. Even though I don't love the new bass I exchanged for (and unfortunately will be returning it as well this weekend), I would not hesitate to go back to the store for my next purchase. They've got some great gear here from lesser known "boutique" builders and it would be difficult to get out of this place without buying something if you had some coin in your pocket. I live about 2 hours away from here but would be glad to take the drive down again. read more

Best prices and quality in the business... Fernando always delivers. My wife hates Pitbull Audio She thought our relationship was over when we left San Diego for Atlanta... He He they ship FedEx read more

Pitbull Audio - Mayones Basses & GK Amp + Cap. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

I love going to Pitbull. They stock cool products that you don't see at big box stores. The staff isn't the typical "guitar store guy", that I dread. The prices are fair, and the store is clean. I always try to purchase here before I go to Sam Ash. Guitar Center gets nothing! read more

Pitbull Audio - Poodle (lead singer of ELO) - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

Pitbull audio is a great place to get fantastic deals great service and great selection.. AJ, Fernando and the guys help me make a great purchase. Awesome to do business with highly recommend thanks read more

I ordered a pair of Kali IN-8 2nd wave studio monitors online. They were well packed and arrived a day early. I made my purchase through them because of their good reviews and I was not disapointed. read more

Incredibly poor customer service, they can't keep their inventory straight so they just cancel on you without even trying to drop ship your order or do anything to accommodate you whatsoever. If the item is something you need then you are taking a risk in dealing with these guys. Edit: Your reply is absolute nonsense, this item is in stock and for sale on the manufacturer website RIGHT NOW. Take personal responsibility for your own mistakes instead of making excuses and deflecting blame, it's just embarrassing. read more

Pitbull Audio - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

OK first of all I just want to say that I am a singer who has a very loud voice and also use my voice in very soft tones and I have had a time trying to find the right microphone for home studio recording. Like many of us, I am stuck at home and don't have any work so I have to create work here. My darling friend helped me with a loan for my dream microphone. Since I have been out of work so long , I was looking for a great deal on an amazing Lewitt Mic! I found Pitbull Audio, of all places, in my home town and I reached out to them and let me tell you they are The Best! I want to say thank you so much to Caleb Who helped me get the best Mic and also helped me with some other equipment He was so kind to me. I found what I needed and I love the way they were able to throw in a little something and give me FREE shipping !! it was just amazing and I really wanted to say I wish that I could come in the store cuz it looks really cool and like a candy store for us musicians but because of Covid I wasn't able to do that. I felt secure knowing that the sales representative that helped me was really knowledgeable and didn't make me feel like I didn't know what I was doing or asking for. Caleb gave me great advise and I got the Lewitt 840 that I've been dreaming of for a long time! I just wanted to say that if you're looking for a great Mic or any kind of musical equipment ... go to Pitbull audio in-store or online or call and ask for Caleb (he doesn't work on Thur / Fri) for a great deal, great service and Mucho respect! Thank you Caleb you are the best!! I'll leave another review when I get my shipment! I also just wanted folks to know that my stuff shipped quick and they're shipping for free, how cool is that? I now live in Nashville Tennessee so they even threw in the no tax situation which was an even bigger bonus considering that right now none of us are making money and we need to save every penny for the many rainy days to come So Pitbull Audio, I'll give you total five stars for your customer service your sales person Caleb was amazing and I appreciate having a knowledgeable staff to help me and guide me to what I really need to continue on as a working musician under these crazy circumstances that we call 2020! Sincerely Rebekah Del Rio Singer/Songwriter Twin Peaks the Return Mulholland Drive Southland Tales Prison Break Sin City read more

I kept ignoring this place when searching for guitar shops in San Diego because I assumed it was a car stereo place. They had the gear I was looking for in stock as opposed to guitar center which never seems to have anything I'm looking for. Definitely a great selection of effects pedals you have to check out. I'll be hitting this place up regularly. The staff was extremely helpful and I'll check with them first when looking for anything from now on read more

I saw a beautiful ESP USA Eclipse that Pitbull Audio had listed for sale on Reverb in a color I hadn't seen anywhere else. I contacted them directly through the chat function of their website to see if we could make a deal to pickup the guitar instead of them having to ship it since I'm local in Orange County. Made a deal with Ben within a few minutes, and I picked it up the next morning! Will definitely be back for future gear purchases - Pitbull's customer service and selection is awesome! read more

They are one of the few pro audio stores in San Diego. Their massive inventory makes them preferred to Guitar Center. That's as much praise as I can give- I've came in, they had what I needed, I paid. If it matters I've spent hundreds here without a thank you from the sales personnel. I get a better experience buying a $2.00 coffee from Starbucks than buying here. You can expect the typical gatekeeping, condescending energy that typically surrounds pro audio communities. read more

SUPER helpful staff. From the outside you'll wonder if this is a retail shop - It is! And they have one of the best selections of analog synth in town. If you are a synth junkie like I am, this is a great spot both for the knowledge/helpfulness of the staff, and the ability to try out some classic analog or digital synths. Also a great selection of boutique quality guitar amps. read more

Nice shop. I ordered online and when my order was ready for pickup the store manager called and emailed me letting me know my order was ready. First rate prices and customer service. read more

Amazing prices + quick service. Support this business ya'll for all your music related purchases. read more

I purchased a brand new Suhr Classic T from these guys and wasn't a huge fan of it. The guitar wasn't bad of course, it's a suhr, but I didn't really like the small frets and the bridge pickup was a little too bright for my liking. I returned the guitar in its same condition minus some pick scratches on the pick guard from playing it for the one day I had it out of the case, and they charged me $300. No minor pick scratches are worth $300 just ask guitar center. This is ridiculous and I will never purchase anything from these guys again. I guess your supposed to know if you like something by looking at it but don't look too hard because the light reflecting from your eyes might cause a slight discoloration in the wood and they'll charge you whatever they want. read more

I ordered a bass from Pitbull audio and thet were very professional. Super responsive and the bass arrived in perfect condition with a super good setup! I could not be happier! Excellent job, pitbull. No bs and quick delivery and service!​​ read more

Pitbull Audio is a gem for anyone who craves quality instruments and that traditional small music show feel. As opposed to some of the big box stores that carry your typical "first guitars for first guitar buyers" but lack anything of substance, Pitbull offers a great selection of instruments and if they don't have it on the floor, you can check their website and they'll bring it out for you from the back. Everyone was really helpful here and they helped me get my dream guitar at a reasonable price. read more

This is the spot for all your guitar needs. Sean and his crew are super knowledgable and skilled. From set ups, custom mods, and pedal board builds/routing this is the place you want to go. They treat your instruments as if they are their own. You don't find that at most spots. Just good dudes all around. They also have a badass spread of guitars, the unique cool stuff that you don't find in GuitarMart (GC). Support local, you won't be disappointed! read more

Purchased a KORG keyboard today 11/27/19 I wanted to take advantage of the Black Friday weekend. They had a super deal for a korg pa1000 for $299 plus tax. I purchased it and then they refunded me the money because they couldn't honor the price read more

Pitbull Audio - Price - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California

See all

This place is a go-to for all of my gear needs. Being a San Diego local for many years, I have developed a good relationship with the sales staff here as well as the guitar techs in the back. They have competitive pricing, an incredible inventory, and are always willing to special order whatever I need. I work for a large church and we almost exclusively use Pitbull for all of our audio, production, and other gear needs. (They also have the most gnarly stock of guitar pedals I've ever seen) read more

Been going here for a few years, and agree with all the other reviewers who said this place is the best in SD (probably all of SoCal and maybe the state as far as I'm concerned, and I've hit all the Bay Area stores many times). I've bought guitars, amps, pedals, cables, headphones, and nearly everything else from Pitbull Audio and have never been disappointed. They've got very knowledgable and helpful staff, will leave you alone but not ignore you and there's no better place on the planet to really check out gear before you buy. GC will let you do that but they don't have anything you'd really want to buy - but at Pitbull Audio they've got a better selection, and absolutely nothing is trashed or dinged at all. They have a great return policy, will price match, and you can do some friendly haggling on prices so you're not paying full retail even though you're getting better than retail service and support. AJ, Shane, and the crew are great guys who know their stuff, and not just there to sell you something - they'll help you get what you were looking for that works for you. Your purchases even earn reward points you can redeem next time you buy something (so much better than GC who makes you pay to join 'Sticks' every year!). Bottom line, if there were more stores like Pitbull Audio, retail businesses would be doing way better than most are - these guys are doing it right! read more

It's really nice to see a place like this in the southbay; it really is worth checking out. I came here as a recommendation of Sean Hutchinson and am glad I did. (He now does repairs out of here, and I am very happy with his service- look it up, hutch and some guitar repair) This place has a crazy huge selection of guitar pedals. They are really helpful in helping you try them out. I came in looking to try a specific pedal one day, and AJ ordered some in for me, simply because he thought they needed them in the shop. (He didn't pressure me to buy it, needless to say, I'm happy with my new keeley bassist compressor.) It has a pretty decent sized bass guitar and amp selection as well, which is super rare to see. Usually it's squier starter packs and ibbys, but this place has high end fender, Warwick, some Billy Sheehan sigs etc... This place is as close as you can get to the old neighborhood guitar stores that places like guitar center pushed out of business. Plenty of great gear to check out with knowledgeable guys to try it out. Reading some of the other reviews I have to say I've never witnessed bad service. If you need help, just ask! They seem to be the type of place that will say hi when you come in and then not pressure you. *great prices *huge inventory *great service *great guitar tech/luthier *close to in n out read more

Pitbull Audio - I didn't think to take pictures when I was in there, so here is a picture of my pedal board that has some gear I've bought at pitbull. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - National City, California