Visited this afternoon asking for help to figure out the wiring set up to get some new speakers working with my turntable. I was the only one in the store when I walked in, and when a guy with a long white beard came out from the back to help me, he didn't seem too happy about it. I showed him the pictures of my equipment and after a few minutes of talking he rudely told me he didn't have any cabling that could help me. Didn't offer an apology, or suggest another place I could go, nothing. So I drove up Atherton to Best Buy, and one of the employees looked at my photos and figured out what I needed in a couple of minutes. Interestingly, I met a guy named Ron who was shopping for audio equipment and we commiserated over how awful the customer service is at this place. read more

Every time I go into this store, I am disappointed when I leave. Bill, the guy at the counter, is condescending and too worried about talking to his regulars. I would prefer to go to a locally owned business, rather than going to Amazon or Musicians Friend or driving to Guitar Center, but every time I stop in this store, it reaffirms why I never go in. Poor customer service and high prices. It is a shame that it is the only option in town. read more

Wow. I guess I shouldn't really be surprised to not find a single review of this place -- what is surprising is that the store is still in business. If there were an award for worst customer service in town, this place would easily score in the top 3. I suppose that's some sort of an achievement. I've been there twice in the last couple of years, and the last time was most definitely The Last Time. Don't expect the "staff" to acknowledge your presence in the store, b/c they won't. Customers are just an irksome interruption from staring blankly into space all afternoon or chatting with your buddy. The first time I went here, I spent about half an hour completely uninterrupted -- sorry, unassisted -- in the guitar section of the store. Last time, I was looking for a solution that required a little more than handing over a product. But these dudes clearly have better things to do. Thankfully, there is the Music Mart -- the diametrically opposite of this store. read more

I love local music shops (as opposed to Guitar Center and Sam Ash) and understand their importance to the local music scene and the local economy, which is why I try to spend my money there as opposed to Amazon and the larger retailers. I went to Rainbow looking for a guitar and the staff took forever to even acknowledge my presence, and were rude and unhelpful. I'm sure they get a ton of college students who just come into BS and browse, but that's to be expected when you are literally across the street from campus. I'm new to the area, and a professional musician of 20+ years. In the past 16 months, I have performed in 12 countries and played twice at Carnegie Hall. I don't expect any special treatment, but I am a serious musician and this is my livelihood. Each time I've been back since then, same story. I've spent over $600 there and each time the same salesman acts like he doesn't know me. Like the other Yelp reviewers, I'm surprised they're still in business. I'd rather support my local music shop but feel less guilty about trying to find what I need on Amazon. Rainbow: local musicians would love to see you get your act together. We'd prefer to sing your praises rather than crap on you, but you're asking for it. You are wasting a valuable opportunity to become a locus for quality instruments and instruction and help revive and sustain the regional music scene. read more

I am a professional musician, instructor, and repairman with 40+ years of experience.I am new to the area and looking for music stores for supplies and to possibly instruct or do woodwind repairs. My recent experience at Rainbow Music insures that I will never go there again; nor will I ever recommend students or associates go there. Instead of welcoming me and my wife and inviting us to look around, we were hounded and made to feel unwelcome. The staff member, Mick, was very rude and unhelpful. I have worked in, and contracted with, many music stores for most of my life ,and I have never experienced anything as unprofessional as this. Don't know how they remain in business. read more

Not a spectacular store. Nice selection, but way overpriced. They don't offer any reasonable prices for trades from my conversation with them. The staff has a pronounced "I'm cooler than you" attitude. (There was a black dude working there with a cut off flannel shirt the day I was there, who I kind of got the urge to punch to be honest.) There are better options within an hour's drive. K&S music in Williamsport for example. Unless these guys have exactly what you want and you can't find it elsewhere, don't even bother unless you just want to try out some gear and find it cheaper elsewhere. read more

A few of the reviews on here are ridiculous. Some folks are crying about the guy not knowing you after you purchased a guitar a few months ago and went back in expecting to be greeted by Norm from Cheers. I've purchased a few guitars here and a boat load of pedals. The owner is always decent and willing to help me. About the store....apparently the guy has gotten away from selling new Fenders and Gibsons and such due to the big brands forcing them to bulk buy stock. It's become more of a cheap guitar and used guitar (they only have a few really special guitars that stick out). Good prices though and everything is in line with the actual retail price. They only buy guitars that are somewhat worth something. I took in an old entry level Takamine and the owner didn't even make an offer for a trade up. read more

I had a different experience than other folks had. I can see that they could get that experience, though, based on mine. I needed a music tool quickly, and they confirmed by phone that they had it and some selection as well. that went fine. went there, nosed around, got some help, did not stand by the wall but asked for help and made my needs known. There were folks coming in and milling about like sheep with vague queries and mostly I think just wanted to talk music with someone. a guy wanted to buy strings and they prioritised him over me, which I slightly disliked, but he knew exactly what he wanted and I played with the rhythm instruments while I waited. Prices were similar to amazon, just checked, but faster, like same hour. so, would go back, but can see that this is at least a funny business sector and this store across from the university will have some time wasters from time to time. read more

0 Stars. I regret ever spending a dollar at this place. The reviews are true: you can walk in, shop around for an hour, and never even be acknowledged. The employees will walk right past you, and not even make eye contact. I asked the one employee how he was doing, and he responded by saying "I'm good" and walking away... Glad I didn't need anything. Then there's the acoustic guitar room, where you can only play a guitar if you ask them to get one off a hanger for you. Which can be understandable, I suppose. But me and my buddies were looking in there, ready to spend $1,000 on a Taylor, and the dude came in and rudely told us not to touch anything. And that was when we left. This is just one of many bad experiences me and my friends have had at Rainbow. Bottom line: this is a great place to try out a new guitar that you want, and then go and buy it online. read more

The selection isn't terrible and the prices are in line with other music stores maybe a bit more expensive. The real issue is the people who work there and the owner. All very condescending and unwilling to help when you ask. Given how the owner treats all customers I will always recommend any of the other music stores in the area. Honestly no idea how this place is in business either. read more

Very condescending owner. He was the only one on staff, very reluctant to help, and insults customers. He had the items we wanted available but said he didn't want to get it. I'd give less stars if possible. read more

Rude and very unhelpful. I will drive to lewistown, Altoona, or Johnstown rather than take my business here again.

Knowledgeable owner with a good selection of instruments both new and used. Google maps gave accurate directions, plenty of parking, clean, well organized store. I will look this place up again when I buy my next guitar. read more

Very uncomfortable experience in every way. Went in the store in a great mood ready to sample guitar's and other gear to add to my rig and left knowing life is to short to spend anymore time with the grumpy people that work there. I traveled over an hour to get. What a waste of a day. read more

Went in today to play some guitars as our son is leaving for a music college in Memphis. The owner was tied up with another customer but the gentleman who does repairs came back to speak with us and offer any assistance he could. Very friendly and knowledgeable. When the owner was available he came back and switched in as they had a couple individuals come in who wanted to discuss repairs. The owner was extremely knowledgeable of Taylor, Martins and many other brands that they carry. He was able to address all our questions very clearly, provide pluses and minuses as well as comparisons. Did all of this without showing a bias which I really appreciated. He is very direct and not into small talk but he was not pushy and heck we were there to learn about guitars. To me its like picking a dr. An outgoing personality can be nice but I'll take knowledge over "bed side manner" everytime. Happy with our experience and purchase. read more

I had a tremendous experience at Rainbow Music. Bill, the owner, was very attentive to my wife and me and helped us make an educated decision on a new, high end, electric guitar. Price beat all websites. Buying local is very important to us. Rainbow Music gets my highest recommendation. read more

When I was in college, back in the early 00's, I was shocked that this place was able to stay in business when the owner was so pissy and outright rude to customers that it drove people away from the store. Now in 2015, hearing people talk and seeing some of the reviews for this place, I see nothing has changed! I'm guessing what keeps them afloat is their excellent selection of great instruments and they should be given a single star for that alone. But that's not hard to find these days. What SHOULD set a local, independently owned retail outlet apart is the hands-on, attentive and, above all else, KIND customer service. Places like this should give you a buying experience above and beyond what you'd get at Guitar Center. Instead, this place gave me what is easily the worst customer service I've ever experienced. The owner seems to hate that he owns this place and that college students frequently browse and test drive guitars without buying them. While shopping there, you might overhear him loudly having a conversation with an older customer about how thoroughly he dislikes college kids and just wishes the entire place got bought out by Guitar Center (no lie, I've heard him say these things). Once, he was playing around with a toy bullhorn and shouted "BUY SOMETHING!!" to a browsing customer. While I understand the frustration of watching people test merchandise and then go online to buy it off eBay but they need to also be aware that college students don't have a truckload of disposable income so costly instrument purchases need to be rare and prefaced with an awful lot of research beforehand. The best thing you could do in this situation is to play the long game: Start building and nurturing relationships with local college students... if you give them the best experience possible the first time, you could build a relationship for life. Instead, they seem to be more worried about you spending immediately. So what kind of experience is in store when you are ready to make a purchase? Not great. I once needed a Seymour Duncan pickup that wasn't in stock so I asked if it could be special ordered. I would have easily accepted "No, we don't do that" as a legitimate answer but was informed straight out that they had just yesterday finished their Seymour Duncan order for the month yesterday so doing another special order just for me would require submitting a new paper. Instead, the aforementioned owner just told me to pick one up off eBay. No, I'm not kidding, he was so apathetic toward his own customers that he told me to buy something online instead of in his store. This struck me as odd because that was his whole problem in the first place but I guess disgust with having to actually help people overwhelmed his good common sense that evening. This store probably has the area's nicest selection of gorgeous Gibsons hanging on the wall and should be commended for that but there is NO other aspect of the guitar buying experience at which this store and its rude staff excels. Seek out those guitars somewhere else, you'll be glad you did read more