John did a great job on setting up a new 5 string bass I recently acquired. Even had it done the same day! Very reasonable price as well.

Great costumer service and a great collection of guitar gear, came in and bought a used 2x12 after testing it out and it sounds fantastic. Thank you so much!! read more

The Monterey Music Store - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Monterey, California

John is super nice and set up my old Les Paul for me. It plays better than ever!! He also had it ready for me the very next day.

SCAMMING! I panicked and bought a capo for $30. It was in fact a $15 capo online---on the actual company's website too. I asked him if he had anything cheaper, but he kept redirecting the conversation. Do not go here. They peep that you don't know about things and upcharge like crazy :( read more

While I was visiting, a friend told me about a cool music store I should visit. Found it and glad I did! John was literally the coolest person to talk, especially as a fellow bass player. He's knowledgeable, friendly, and happily gives his time, even if no sale is happening. They have some true gems in that shop that gear heads like me will drool over, so make sure you swing in if you're in the area. Prices seem more than fair, especially considering what they have available. Nice to see little shops like this still around. read more

What a cool little shop. I spoke with the owner John for a while. He even strung my old acoustic for me, no charge. And he has the coolest stuff in there. I found an old school tube driven head!! If you're a musician or just casually strolling Alvarado; you have to stop in. read more

BEWARE! I consigned a guitar in 2019, a month later it was no longer on the wall. I was told that someone had it on layaway and that I would get paid when the buyer finished his payments. I went in a few more times over the years and each time, I was told "We will call you." It's now 2023 and I still have not been paid or called. I should have been paid as soon as it went on layaway. Either that or layaway should not be an option on product the store does not own themselves. read more

The store looks really cool and unique on the inside and the owner is a great dude. :)

I love me some John Prock! He is one of my favorite rock dudes Ive come across in my years on the peninsula- he only carries instruments that are of the highest quality at very fair for Monterey prices. I am so confident in his taste and selection that I can literally pluck a guitar from his wall of guit boxes and go directly to a gig - knowing that it will be set up, ready to play! Bravo Monterey Music Store ! Bravo Monterey Bass Playing Legend man! Peace read more

I read some of the other reviews and I was surprised by some of the negative comments. I am new to the peninsula and I have only visited the shop a couple of times. My first visit my amp was acting up so John the owner tested my amp and cable, no charge. Next my guitar stopped working and John checked the Jack and found a broken wire. He repaired it on the spot and also lowered the action for a small fee. I think some of the other reviews apply to a different shop, he does not have any drums or wind instruments. Anyway, nice small shop with lots of high end guitars, some previously owned by famous players. read more

We have been coming here for more than a year. My daughter takes her guitar lessons once a week. Same day as the Farmer Market (Tuesday), so time just flys by and it is always a pleasure to see the owners and their employees. Austin, the dog, is usually there to greet happy customers too. I enjoy looking at the many fine instruments the store has to offer. They sell not only new and used but also consigned pieces. Carlos is the MAN when it comes to guitar restringing and repair. Our guitar is old and not a high-end name. Our instrument is handled with great care and respect just as if it was an expensive one. Zero pressure to buy an upgrade. I scored a small accordion I have no idea how to play because it looked so cool, I HAD to have it. I would encourage people to appreciate the store and recognize for a second how hard it is these days to be a small, independent retail store. The owner has told me several times about how people will come in, ask a bunch of questions and then leave without buying. Presumably to buy on Amazon for less $$. Then when their instrument has problems, THEN they come in for service, advice and or repairs. To put it bluntly and simply, BUY LOCAL. The few bucks you "save" buying online, end up costing the community as a whole. It just is not worth it when looking at the big picture through ethical/ good karma eyes. Yes, the store shows years of deferred repairs, yes the instruments are expensive, yes the owner is super protective of the instruments with signs everywhere not to touch but at least they are open and provide the community with a place to go, have lessons, try out different brands, etc. Not only that but they stand behind their products and workmanship. Good luck on getting customer service via email from Jeff Bezos/amazon. read more

Best music store I've come across. Staff is knowledgable (with experience to back it up), helpful, there's quality in the products that I've used so far, and friendly environment. Thanks guys read more

Bad vibes. Creepy. Guy on phone in office yelling at an employee/instructor about his drinking problem. Woman in store not understanding questions I was asking about a beginner's guitar. Was a very surreal experience. Signed up for a month of guitar lessons. Went to the first. Will not go back. read more

Great service and especially guitar selection including very high end which the owner is very knowledgeable about.

Excellent and personable service. John is a really nice guy and is extremely knowledgeable. Will be a customer for life.

On a recent vacation with my boyfriend to Monterey, we made our stop by The Monterey Music Store. Since being a near life long musician, my boyfriend loves to scope out music shops in nearby cities, or as often as we both have time to! I'm not much of a music buff, but it has always been a nice past time seeing what inventory each shop has compared to the last. One key tidbit about the Monterey Music Store, is that it's much larger than the initial entry (however the more you walk through, you'll find the drum section and music sheet section look nearly abandoned and unkept). There are music instructors in their own private rooms for lessons, and a lot of inventory to browse and see. Our typical go to store is Starving Musician, and sometimes Guitar Center, since those two have a good mixture of both used and new products. Something I've noticed about this particular store is the large stock of higher end brands, which may be why most reviews here express how expensive it is. Definitely, keep in mind they have very nice brands, and builds, but don't expect to swing deals on those as you would at a larger retailer or even used gear shops! The entry to the store seems somewhat empty, but the further you walk in, there's enough pretty guitars on the wall you can play and test out to your heart's content. Not to mention, the beautiful and well behaved snowy puppy that greets you at the front. :) I really enjoyed the inventory, and the initial set up since there were many pieces I wouldn't have seen back at home. We live almost two hours away, so another visit would be very unlikely, but I'd say definitely give it a shot to check out! The owner is very knowledgeable with a nice attitude, but I wouldn't recommend any beginners start their collection here- it's definitely good to know what kind of gear you're getting into, and with his higher end stock all over the store, you may be going out of budget! However they sell cables , strings, picks, and other accessories. It's really neat to check out, but if you're looking to buy- aim high on your price expectation. read more

Poor customer service. I called up with a question and someone named John showed great interest in helping me. After I drove there, I had to wait 10 minutes while John was out walking his dog, (of all things,) and then when he finally came back, he took my guitar in the back room and made me wait for another 10 minutes while he farked around on the Internet. Finally he shoved the guitar back in my hands and simply said, "I can't do anything for you." How rude! Thank you so much for wasting my time. I will be sure not to waste any money here in the future. read more

This is a guitar and drum shop so if you want any wind or other percussion instruments then you should go to a competent shop (like Kurt Heisig's Music). Very little wind instrument stuff and the staff is nearly clueless when it comes to it. If your going for anything other than a guitar/ drum set than you'll be disappointed. read more

I had it! Buddy was I ever sore and I needed what I needed - a fist full of wood sticks and a beat that would carry all the cares away. I gathered up a rag tag crew of locals; shifty Joe on drums, Crappy Stanks on Jazz horn, and me on the solo flute with string up accompaniment. We were really starting to tear a sound hole in this groovy poke shack when all of a sudden a real square lights up the old attitude - no live jamming here misters. We were all aghast and started to do the sly shuffle just to make a point - we ain't scared of the man. So me and the crew lit out into the night streets where jazz and howling were meant to be. We slapped and giggled and rolled the old can o juice all around until we were slipping sideways. And lo and behold we find a granite shoe horn laying in his own urine - that's right the old poo in the punch bowl was out for the count and off the clock. We rolled him up good, doused him with his own brand, and each shook three times to send him off. Glasgow's a calling! Can't wait to return. read more

Stay Away!! We had one of the worst experiences in this shop. A $60 fee and we walked away with an unusable guitar. My husband and I wanted to rehab an old family guitar for our granddaughter for Christmas. Brian happily took our money for the new strings and the restringing fee-$42 and $15 for an instructional manual. He admitted that he should have "looked more closely" at the broken bridge before he proceeded-only to discover that it would be a very expensive repair. He refused to assume any of the responsibility for this debacle and would not refund any of our money. And, sorry , no returns on the instruction book. We understood that he had done the work and were willing to pay half of the fees but Brian decided that he just could not do this. So, tell you friends and family--do NOT risk your hard earned dollars with these unreasonable and greedy people. read more

Way overpriced. I only shop there when I need something ASAP, which is rarely. Customer service is not great. Occasionally they can be helpful, but 9 times out 10, they're not so much. I've experienced and seen them be flat out rude as well. They generally know their stuff though, so that's the only reason they get 2 stars instead of 1 star. read more

I had some initial reservations about a small town music store, but this place won me over by providing solid advice and having the gear I needed on hand in a pinch. Example being my Edirol R-07 -- I needed a digital field recorder same day, researched the web for the one I wanted and figured I'd have to drive all the way to Guitar Center Gilroy to find it. Called MU, they had it and they matched the superstore price. Brian has helped us out with mics and PA too. Plus he lets me put our flyers in their window :-) Now for sure they don't have the ultra-high-end acoustics/amps you'll find at the boutique shops, when I need that fix it's Sylvan or Gryphon. But for basics of need-it-now gear for the gigging band, I'm glad to have a local shop like this one. read more

Knowledge able staff, they gave me exactly what I needed without trying to up sell or sell me things beyond my experience level. Also gave me tips on the items I purchased as well as other things. Definitely appreciated the great customer service, and conversation which included a few laughs! read more

The Monterey Music Store - Got some sticks to bang my drums to my hearts content and some new strings to try and help my beat up old guitars sound! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Monterey, California

I have mixed feelings about this store, because I like to support the local businesses in my community. With mega stores like Guitar Center it's a tough world out there for the little guy. I bought a fairly expensive Taylor through Music Unlimited and they helped arrange my GE financing. But I've shopped in music stores for decades and this place has a very strange, almost predatory vibe. A heads-up to anyone who decides to do business with these folks: everything in their store, and I mean everything, is negotiable. If you understand the high markup practices of music retailers and know what drums, guitars, amps, strings, accessories, etc. are SUPPOSED to cost then you can get what you want or need at the right price. You just have to have the time and patience to grind out your deal. However, this place is a sucker store for unsophisticated, first-time buyers. The faded "We'll Match Any Internet Price" sinage painted on the front window is exactly what it appears to be - window dressing. read more

Just got a new neck on my Fender Jazz Bass and it sounds so amazing. These people know there stuff and are rad people.

I've been in this store a few times since moving to the area. Prices are SKY HIGH and customer service is a complete joke.

Dropped in after breakfast one morning and was very impressed by the staff and inventory. I visit a lot of music stores every chance I get out of town. I know it's not the GC of independently-owned music stores but they seem to turn over product consistently and frequently. I played a guitar that caught my eye and told myself to come back before I left town. Two days later I revisited the guitar and became very interested in purchasing it. The staff member was very helpful and indicated that this was a consignment item. The consignor was contacted and took my counteroffer over the phone. Within an hour I left with the guitar very happy. I guess if you are looking to browse music instruments a chain store is your cup of tea. If you are focused on acquiring that one-of-a-kind instrument that rarely presents itself, the Monterey Music Store may be your place. read more

Best music store in the area...John, Joy and Ria are all knowledgeable, helpful, and thoroughly professional. John is a playing musician, so he's up-to-date with all the new gear and tech stuff. Reasonable and fair prices...you can trust these people...and don't forget to pet Austin!! read more

It pains me to leave a bad review for a place. I walked in and a woman was on the phone for around 10 minutes as I stood there waiting for service. There were no other customers. Finally she comes out and I inquired about acoustic guitar strings. She had no knowledge about guitars and couldn't advise me what strings to get. I described what I was looking for and she was not helpful. Disappointed. read more

First time I went, I thought the guy behind the counter was a bit condescending. Every time I've went since, the service is great. They'll spend all the time you need to help you get what you need. They also have an interesting selection of instruments. They have all the popular models (fender strats, les pauls, jazz bass, etc) but they also have some less known but very cool brands. They have a very expensive assortment of Alembic basses as well. If you want a broad instrument selection you can go to Guitar center in Gilroy, but if not this place should suit your needs. read more

Ran in during my lunch break to buy of all things, a guitar. It literally took me less than 20 minutes to find one I like, at a price that I was comfortable with and then an additional 5 minutes to ring up the guitar, the stand and get me out of the door. The lady who helped me was great - she found me a great deal on guitar that was on sale. The only reason that they lose a star is because sheesh people - MAKEOVER needed. For an amateur like myself, I like pretty things thus, my beautiful deep red guitar...the store needs to be prettier, hence my lack of interest in looking around...in which case I probably would have bought more stuff, like maybe a drum set?! They also lose a star because aforementioned young lady promised to throw in some new picks and now I don't have any! Which means I will have to stop by tomorrow morning thus delaying my strummin' read more

we recently moved to the Monterey Peninsula and were thrilled to find Music Unlimited. Out experience throughout several visits was of delightful and helpful staff. The shop is far from sleek or elegant but our experience was of great depth in the inventory. read more

John is great! helped me choose the perfect extension cab for my ac30. He even helped me load it and hooked me up with a speaker cable on the house! Shop local! read more

Unfortunately I have to give 1 star, but they don't deserve any. The absolute worst customer service you would find anywhere. I rented an instrument for my grandson at the recommendation of his music teacher at his school. BIG MISTAKE!! I was offered by one employee to purchase the instrument after a few months, for a certain price, I took this employee up on the offer and then the following month I noticed on my bank statement, a charge for another RENTAL fee. When I inquired with the store, I was told that John, who I assume is an owner, felt that I should have been charged more and that the employee who sold it to me, an elderly lady named Frances, had made a mistake. I was told to come up with another $48 if I wanted to purchase the instrument. Obviously this store cares little for it's local customers. I'm all for supporting local businesses and NOT using big box stores and internet, but I highly recommend the internet for any music purchases and I tell all the parents at the school who have kids in the music program to shop elsewhere. Stay away from this store. read more

Walked in here to get my daughter's violin cleaned and we were greeted warmly by Joy and John. They were so friendly, affordable and efficient. Not only did Joy clean the violin beautifully she also adjusted the bridge at no extra cost! Bonus: John and Austin (John's Golden Doodle) entertained us with some stellar dog tricks while we waited for the violin. Great experience!! read more

Got my guitar restrung and adjusted for a good price. Carlos was very kind and knowledgeable, and did a great job adjusting my guitar to make it easier to play. It's been my local shop for years and I always enjoy coming in here to see their high-end instruments. read more

I was hesitant to try this store after reading some of the reviews about them being overpriced and rude. We went in initially to have new strings put on a guitar. I don't have a lot of experience with music stores since my daughters have just started playing instruments, but I didn't find the cost to be outrageous. And the staff were all really nice and helpful. While we were there I asked about guitar lessons, signed my daughter up for lessons and she leaves every lesson talking about how awesome her instructor is. Today we bought an electric piano from them for my second daughter. John offered me a great deal on the floor model-which otherwise would have been out of my price range. We've only been around for a few weeks, but every interaction we've had with them has been very pleasant. I think people treat you the way you treat them. read more

I've purchased a few instruments and accessories from this place and I always have a good experience. They are willing to work with you on a deal if you are a serious buyer. I even got to jam with one of the employees a time or two in the store, very cool. They also have a few left handed instruments on hand which is nice. read more

Stopped by about 2 weeks ago to get a string change on my acoustic guitar with a lifted bridge. While trying to tighten the strings to get them to pitch, the bridge lifted considerably and the nice young lady told me she didnt want to proceed because it would be detrimental. She gave a refund for the labor. The owner overheard what was going on and offered to take the strings off and glue down the bridge for me and do the restring when the glue was dry. I ended up paying for the restring, but he fixed my guitar for free. I was very grateful and they are super polite. I will always come here now for anything music related. They left a great impression! read more

This is my first time visiting the store. A lady friend needed her acoustic guitar set up and restrung. Joy the sales lady was very pleasant to work with and helped us choose some lighter gage strings that worked out fine. The restringing and neck adjustment were done quickly and with care. I would definitely go back to this shop. read more