Just had an experience with Rumble Seat that made me question which year it was. Saw a guitar listed online that interested me, and then saw that it was not too far from me -- right here in Nashville. Called the store. A human answered, pretty quickly. I mentioned the guitar and my interest. He went and physically found the guitar, so that we could talk about it. My budget only allowed for a certain amount, so I made him an offer. He said yes, if I came in today, we could do that. When I came in, I found the guitar needed some work. Nothing too bad, but above my skill set to make it really shine. As I left, I thanked him. He thanked me also, and said, "Now you don't have to wonder about it!" The rest of the world may be somewhere between 2026 and 2097, but Rumble Seat Music is a portal back to my first music store experiences in the early 1990s. read more

This guy is a total liar, says he sets up all the guitars sold, and everything is made to work before listing. He also evades taking photos of the problem areas and doesn't even mention the major issues that would make a guitar a deal breaker. He waits for you to get it after you pay 175.00 shipping on a 10k guitar. Steer clear of this tacky ass. read more

Don't go here for guitar repairs. Doug charged me $200 for a setup on an electric guitar, and it wasn't great. They do have a nice selection of guitars, though. read more

I like Rumble seat. Eliot has always been easy to deal with ( I use to deal with Tobin but he is off to greener pastures). I have purchased a wonderful 1959 blonde Gibson ES- -175 and really cool 1962 Ebony Block Gibson Les Paul SG. Both are monster instruments. As to some of the negative reviews here. Vintage guitar dealing is more an art than science... I mean we smell cases for that funky old smell, We inspect the patina of parts to see that they are aged equally. I have found several really reputable dealers that have made honest mistakes. Heck I returned a 61 ES-335 that was previously owned by Brian Ray ( Different Guitar dealer) where the bridge was a repo. Rumble has great stuff and they are great to deal with. Will do so in the future. read more

Rumble Seat Music - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Sold me a guitar that was not as described. We Agreed to a partial refund which they never followed through on. Keep telling me they did - showed them bank records and PayPal records that showed they didn't send it. They're response "here's a lame screen shot of an invoice showing it was. ... Man, I REALLY don't like writing negative reviews, but sometimes you just have to share. Buyer beware. read more

Selection is nice... I used to think selection was good in NY... nah, for guitars Nashville beats everyone...

was all set to boast about a 1960 J200 I was receiving form Rumble Seat Music in Nashville, bit low and behold...can't trust them anymore. I've been buying and trading guitars for 35 years....after speaking with the owner on the phone on Monday Oct 9 about a 1960 J200 that was listed as a player grade because of a pup system that had an EQ on the upper front bout and the large plastic plate was left even though system was removed. I asked pointed, direct questions about string height, does it need a neck reset, any belly behind bridge or any other problems...he answered no problems. He stated the ONLY reason this was players grade was to move it with that large plastic square without having to repair it. I say ok. I pay for guitar which included shipping from Nashville to SC...which is $85 tops with Pirate shipping or maybe $100 without. Guitar gets to my luthier for an inspection and it needs a neck set, string height 1/4 inch at 12th, belly behind bridge, bridge took the belly, bridge plate too and the fingerboard has humps and valleys that would need to be steamed out and maybe it takes, maybe it doesn't, who knows. I send guitar back and they short me $175 dollars saying that's what it cost to ship it to me...although shipping was included when I bought it. And now they're saying the guitar was "discounted" down to lower price when they agreed to the sale and includes $175 shipping (which was never in the deal) and therefore upon return they are entitled to keep $175 of my freaking money as that shipping fee. WTF???? It's not like I retuned the guitar because the neck was too small or it doesn't sound right...the guitar was returned because of problems I specifically asked about and was lied too or I was yessed to death or the owner never even inspected the guitar. It was NOT as described in our phone call on Sunday Oct 8 or in subsequent emails to double check. How can you run a supposedly "noted" shop like that. Then I offer to split the $175 and a big fat NO to that as well..stay away read more

A word of warning for first time vintage guitar buyers: The online guitar buying experience can be stressful and hard to navigate. As a first time vintage guitar buyer I decided to purchase from Rumble Seat as the inventory is as legendary as their status. I assumed that a shop of this caliber would be the best of the best and trusted them with an expensive purchase. First issue is communication: I did not receive an email receipt until two days after purchase and I never received any tracking information at all (which resulted in me having to pay to pick the guitar up at a UPS center). When I tried to get in contact with them after receiving the guitar, I got no answer for four days. They have a (purposefully) full voicemail so no messages can be left, their email form on their website is broken (probably also intentional), and there is no other way to get in contact. Main issue here is that I was sent a guitar that was unplayable due to multiple totally dead frets. This is totally different than what was told to me at the point of purchase. I was told explicitly when ordering the guitar that it was in great playing condition and the frets had plenty of life. They lied. When I finally got in contact with them they had no solution for me. Only option they gave me was for ME to pay to ship it back and also pay for the shipping to me resulting in $300 in shipping costs being eaten. They told me "that's not how I remember the guitar playing when it left" and virtually shrugged their shoulders. They made me feel like I was crazy telling me "there's no way there are that many dead frets" when I was on the phone holding the guitar in my hands literally playing them. I was also told "even with a total refret you still got a good deal." Even funnier (sadder) the guy said "just raise the action." My god. Therein lies the main disconnect with Rumble Seat to the average guitar lover, player and enthusiast: they have no time for you and don't NEED your business. They sell $20k+ guitars to the plastic surgeons, orthodontists and celebrity players of the world and don't NEED to be respectful or build customer loyalty, so they don't. They don't even understand that "even with a total refret you still got a good deal" is so far from the point. The point is to have integrity in your business and to treat customers with care and respect. They made me feel like my $7000 purchase was chump change. I was not shown any respect from Rumble Seat and will never purchase from them again. They have, in a way, turned me off from purchasing a guitar online ever again and the vintage guitar world in general. If one of the most famous guitar stores in world and "An American Tradition" treats customers like this, how could anywhere else be better? Turns out most shops are better. Shop local, shop in-person, don't shop here. read more

Don't come here and expect to play a guitar. Rudest experience in a guitar store ever.

Brought 2 guitars in for simple repairs. The first went fine. In the second guitar, the luthier broke the leads to a coil in a vintage PAF. put me off for an hour while he called someone trying to repair the pickup. i returned the next day at which point he still was not transparent about situation at which point I asked for my guitar as I no longer trusted him to complete the repair. He did return the guitar but then stared he was offended because he thought I wanted it back because I was afraid he was going to steal parts ...something I wasn't actually considering until he said it...I was worried he was out of his depth and going to cause more damage. He then talked down my guitar and stated "it is just a guitar" and I shouldn't be upset. cost me a great sounding pickup plus the price of the repair and a replacement. I will never go back into this shop again. This shop only really wants celebrity customers. read more

Rude attitude from the very first sentence from the luthier Doug. Apparently he doesn't realize he's in the service industry. read more

Eliot and the crew at Rumble Seat Music are knowledgeable about vintage guitars and amps. Great selection and service. Rumble Seat is my go to store for all my vintage guitar needs. A +++++ read more

Some nice items but they're just waiting for a fish. Not for the serious collector OR the serious player. In fact I have no idea what they're after, except that elusive unsuspecting fish! read more

Excellent Vintage Guitar Shop Staff was awesome and a pleasure to meet Awesome guitars and amps I'll be back ! read more

I bought a Fender 1966 Telecaster that the salesperson told me was "all original". When I got home I noticed a 3-way switch in the guitar case pocket. I called the salesperson and was told a new switch had been installed, which means that the instrument is NOT all original. I asked my salesperson to talk with the owner and got no response. I wrote a letter to the owner expressing my concern about misrepresentation and asked to discuss. No one ever responded. Very disappointing and surprising. I would expect a store like Rumble Seat to be more accurate about what they are selling and more responsive to their customers' concerns. read more

Elliot is amazing. His store is a real museum of guitars and amps. Super low key, no ego, just real guitars and real stories. A must visit place. read more

I have read a bunch of reviews of this and other guitar stores in town... I first want to say - every vintage guitar retailer will get it wrong occasionally, even the big guys sometimes make a mistake. Having said that I don't know that there's anyone as ethically minded as Rumbleseat when it comes to stuff like that so take the less glowing reviews with a grain of salt. As others have pointed out, this is a museum. And as someone who's bought a few guitars and amps from Elliot, I am given the courtesy of playing some of their more insane pieces occasionally (they let me play a 59' burst through a Dumble ODS once. It sounded good!) but I have *ALWAYS* been treated like someone valued - even before I laid out cash. Go in - take the time to ask about the pieces, about the history of the guitar, whatever... These guys have encyclopedic knowledge of guitars *and* of rock and roll history. His prices are at the pointy end of the spectrum for a reason... He pays people fairly when he buys them... If your grandma walked in here with a 52' Butterscotch Tele she wouldn't walk out with a $1000 check. read more

People were friendly and helpful. They set our daughter up in one of the amp rooms and she tried a couple of guitars. Even though we didn't buy here, we'll definitely be trying here again to find a guitar. read more

Rumble Seat is the best guitar store in Nashville. Hands down. They only carry the best of the best. Their employees are encyclopedias of information. This is the perfect store for any and all vintage lovers. The vibe is great too! It's not clinical and uninviting like some other guitar stores. read more

Rumble Seat Music - The amp wall of dreams - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

A friend and I traveled to Nashville specifically to see some of the great guitar shops we have followed for years on social media. We were pretty let down with Rumble Seat. They had a great selection and the store was cool but the guys working there didn't even say hello when we walked in. We were the only two customers in there and throughout the 15 minute stay we were never spoken to. While I don't expect to walk through the door and be handed a burst I would have loved to at least talk about the collection. It definitely felt like they could care less that we were there. Carter Vintage and Gruhn Guitars on the other hand were over the top polite and welcoming. If I was going to buy a vintage guitar it would be at one of those two shops. read more

My boyfriend is a pretty amazing classical guitarist, and knows his shit when it comes to music and instruments. That did not matter to this stuffy shop which was beyond snooty, even by Carmel standards. We were given negative attention only, and for less than a minute. Judging by the what must be going rate for one of these guitars, the guys working here could not care any less about having potential buyers in the store. Clearly not up to their level of snobbery. read more

Great store. Eliot and Tobin were really easy to talk to and made sure the guitar was perfect me. I wanted a Gibson es225tdc for a while and one came up. It was a blonde 1959 in near mint condition. Really happy. Thanks guys. Looking forward to visiting soon read more

Rumble Seat is a great shop with amazing gear. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. One of the only places that let you play the good stuff and don't pretentiously keep it locked in an upper room like some other Nashville shops. Very low key, and low pressure. read more

The reason for the three stars is that the on hand stock is pretty amazing for a small coastal regional music shop. The shop is full of string instrument history and for a lover of classic basses, it was like peering into a living history of beautifully made Rics and Fenders. However, as mentioned by a previous review the staff does a pretty good job of ignoring customers who they feel aren't quite in the bracket of their desired clientele. We barely got a nod and a hello when we walked in the shop. It was the first time I've ever encountered this type of customer service, and like Jonas B, I've shopped in some higher end music stores in my day. However, they are worth a look if you are into classic instruments. Just ignore the attitude of the staff. read more

I'd skip this place, don't bother stopping by. The store is for collectors over players by far. They don't want people playing the guitars because apparently they don't want the guitars to get "too much mileage". Im on vacation and not planning on shelling out thousands for a guitar, so I'm of no use to them. Sure I get that they want to sell guitars, but there are plenty of friendlier places in Nashville that welcome people to play their stuff. Who knows, I could've had a change of heart when it comes to buying an instrument if they were more welcoming. Go here if you love uncomfortable experiences. read more

What a fantastic place, guitars are displayed well, cool vibe, and even cooler staff. They are very welcoming and helpful, not typical with a lot of Nashville music stores. They are a cut above in their selection, while they don't have as many instruments as some other close by stores, their inventory is much more consistent of high end vintage equipment. You'll be "wowed" by what they do have, and impressed by the helpful, friendly staff. I visited quite a few stores in the area, Rumble Seat was definitely my favorite! read more

Really bad experience here. They should market as a museum for stars not regular consumers. I've worked w Norm/Rudy's/Carters/Gruhn all very personable and create an atmosphere where they respect you as a person. As a result I've bought from all of them. These sits make you feel like you are t cool enough to be in their store and are very indifferent and won't let you try gear. Don't waste your time interacting with them. There are so many other excellent dealers in Nashville and the US who at least respect you. read more

Very glad to see Rumbleseat set up shop in Nashville. While not as big as Carters or Gruhn, the section is all top tier. One of the few dealers in the country I'd trust to buy a high end (six figure) guitar from. read more

My initial impressions of Rumble Seat were very similar to many of the reviews that you see online- amazing vintage guitars and knowledgeable staff in a unique setting. Over a period of four or five years, I purchased several high-end guitars ($25,000- $60,000 range) from both their Ithaca and Carmel stores. While I love and appreciate these vintage instruments, I'm a guitar player- not a collector in the truest sense- and the principal reason that I would shell out top dollar to any of the major vintage guitar dealers is because I rely on their expertise when it comes to specifics. With that being said, I eventually learned that every single guitar that I purchased from Rumble Seat came with issues that their staff either blatantly misrepresented, ignored, or were simply unaware of. Vintage guitars are largely an inexact science so it certainly is possible to miss little issues here or there, but it's neither possible nor acceptable for an outfit marketing itself as among the best in the entire world to be wrong four or five times in a row. Above all else, my biggest issue by far was with Rumble Seat's owner, Elliot. While he was available and present throughout every single one of my purchases, when I attempted to reach him regarding a very significant and costly issue on one of the guitars that I had learned about from my tech, he was completely nonexistent and multiple phone calls and emails were avoided. When someone finally did get back to me, it was an unknowledgeable employee (Adric?) who was there only to play the role of Elliot's bodyguard. When Elliot refused to resolve the issue, he cited the length of time that had passed since the purchase and also the fact that I may have actually been responsible for altering the instrument myself, as though it was commonplace for customers repeatedly dealing in luxury vintage guitars to modify their extravagant purchases. When I brought this issue up with other vintage guitar dealers around the country that I had dealt with in the past, none of them were surprised and mentioned that while Rumble Seat are always well-stocked with guitar eye candy, there's inevitably an issue lurking somewhere. It is an accepted fact that when you pay these small fortunes to the established vintage guitar boutiques, included in your purchase is the security that you are actually getting what you pay for. That, however, is far from the case with Rumble Seat Music. read more

They wouldn't let my kid, a very experienced player, plug in and play a guitar. (Guess that's our cue to leave). Never happened to us before. Very awkward, uncomfortable experience. This place is more like a museum. Caters to collectors rather than players. Oh well, Nashville has plenty of friendly, welcoming places that actually let you play the instruments. Bye. read more

This guitar shop is a great addition to Nashville. Lots of most excellent guitars on hand.

I met Eliott several years ago in the Ithaca store - very good guy. I had the sense of a musician who sells guitars. He spent time, was interesting, and fun to talk with. Excited about what he was doing and the guitars/amps he had for sale. Would most definitely be a five star experience. I later bought a bass from him and tried to buy two other guitars but they were sold by the time I called. Fast forward to recent experience in Carmel - it seems here we have a salesman in the store - not a musician selling guitars. Very unpleasant to talk with - almost argumentative. I had the sense that he wanted to get back to his computer from which he can sit and survey the store. Does not have the vibe of a guitar/musician friendly store but another stuffy gallery in Carmel. Too bad - Eliot is the real deal but this store and salesman does not fit the Rumble Seat feel. read more

I've been coming to rumble seat since I was in the 3ered grade, when they were in Ithaca (20+ years), and they have always been the best place to get a guitar. They have stuff for any budget, weather you have a million dollars or a thousand you can find something sick. I've gotten 6 basses from them through out the years and never had to do anything to them ( still have all of them). Currently they are sending me my 7th, a 65' p bass, and I will never go anywhere else. Elliot has always been super nice to my mother and I, and now I've gotten to know Drexel, and they both been straight up with me in every aspect. Don't read some of these comments below that are negative and think that's rumble seat, because it's not. I'm telling you it's literally one of a kind place in the world, and there's no place like it. I'll always be coming here, it's my second home for buying any instruments, and I'll never leave! read more

Incredible selection. Really cool gear. Only place I've ever been told I couldn't play a guitar. They didn't want to "put too many miles" on the '57 Telecaster. Lol bro. Guess what. That guitar has been played some. Meh. I wouldn't go back. The guys at Carter let me play a Loar mandolin. These peeps should save the attitude. Y'all are missing out on some sales. read more

I stopped by while vacationing in Carmel. The staff ignored me and I was only addressed, rather tersely and rudely, after I touched one of their instruments. I wasn't dressed like a bum, but I didn't look like a J Crew store mannequin either. I was looking for a Martin 000-28. The only answer I received was "we don't have one". No worries. I bought a Martin 000 and a Fender CS Tele from Wildwood a week later and was treated like gold. It's rare to be treated with such disdain at a high end guitar shop. I've done business with Norman's in LA, Cowtown in Vegas, and the aforementioned Wildwood of Louisville, and have always felt welcome, even if I was only browsing. The business must be doing really well to treat potential clients like this. The only reason I'm not 1-starring is because of their vintage inventory, which is epic. It's unfortunate that the level of service here isn't commensurate with the quality of guitars hanging on the wall. read more

I was interested in a particular guitar that was in the shop and possibly trade a vintage Fender bass that I had. Discussed some details over the phone before making the 3 hour drive each way. Eliot and Adric were super accommodating, upfront and honest, and overall it was a great experience. One of the most friendly and least pretentious high end shops I've ever visited, and stoked I got to check it out before they moved to Nashville. Bummed these guys are moving, but wish them the best of luck in their new location. read more

Tammie and Jonas b. are ridiculously unbelievably wrong about the staff here!!!! The manager here really knows his stuff about music and these incredible gems. I am visiting from out of town over the holidays and am beyond impressed with this guy's knowledge and customer service. Perhaps Tammie and Jonas b. are rude themselves or are unrealistic about their expectations. What was the staff supposed to do by your presence in their store or the lack of specific merchandise they wanted..... Cartwheels? I am interested the 1979 Fender and will definitely be purchasing from this store if I decide to buy it. Thank you staff at Rumbleseat for your help and for giving me such an amazing shopping experience. Do not pay attention to these schmucks who I am sure are just pretentious jerks who feel the need to complain about petty things. Rumbleseat rocks!!!! read more

Amazing guitar store in Carmel-by-the-Sea! Rumble Seat has a fantastic selection of quality vintage and non-vintage guitars and amplifiers. The quality of instruments this place carries is tremendous. I've had nothing but impeccable service from Adric (who is a pro guitar tech if you require any work), Ricky and owner Eliot. These guys are uber knowledgeable and consummate professionals. Honestly, the Monterey Peninsula is very fortunate to have a guitar store of this caliber. read more

Came across this shop by chance during a vacation stop. It was closed when we got into town but I Googled this and the Ithaca shop online to be ready the next morning when it opened. They have a very nice selection of vintage guitars, which they let you play. My favorite was a 1959 ES-335. They had a surprising collection of big arch top hollow bodies as well. They are understandably careful with their inventory, but once you start chatting, they are very open and full of interesting information about their stock and also some of their famous customers. Keep in mind this is not a Mom and Pop store to by a first guitar for a new student. read more