Guitar Center Reviews

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About Guitar Center

Pros
  • Wide variety of products available
  • Affordable pricing on items
  • Good problem resolution support
Cons
  • Inconsistent customer service quality
  • Frequent product quality issues
  • Delays in order processing

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Guitar Center Reviews

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    How do I know I can trust these reviews about Guitar Center?
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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
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    Sales & MarketingPunctuality & SpeedStaff

    Reviewed May 14, 2026

    Not sure why they are still in business. Went to Highland Park first. Drum room was self-service. No sales help. No check-out counter. Then went to Arlington Heights. I could hear someone playing drums from the parking lot. No exaggeration. I can see why HP went self-serve. AH should be next. Drum room was a mess. No door on the cymbal room. Hard to check out cymbals when the floor model drums are all being played-LOUDLY. I tried to get the sales rep's attention but he was too busy "hanging out" with a regular. Paid no attention to me. I said I'd like to check out a ride cymbal. He said these guys were here before me, so I'd have to wait. I said I am here to spend money and these guys are here just making noise. He shrugged his shoulders. Guess they did not want my $400.00. I'm headed to Dugan's or Vic's with real musicians. Let the dad bands go to Guitar Center.

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    CoveragePriceMaintenanceRates

    Reviewed April 26, 2026

    I just bought the Alvarez AG60CE back in January, through Guitar Center, who told me that since I didn't buy their warranty for this brand new guitar, to pound sand. I had to go to the only Alvarez distributor in the country, in St. Louis to have it fixed. The problem is, Alvarez is a shitty Guitar, banking on big names like LR Baggs to sell their garbage. The L.R. Baggs electronics were completely shot on this guitar... Even the tuner didn't work. They said they would fix it for me, but I had to pay the $160.01 to ship it to them, first.

    That's right. Alvarez built me a defective guitar, then made me pay an additional 40% of the price of the guitar to fix their own mistake. If anyone really wants an Alvarez guitar, I highly recommend buying a used one. I wonder how long L.R. Baggs is willing to take a hit in allowing the Alvarez brand to cost them money before pulling out themselves.

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      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingStaffHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed Feb. 13, 2026

      I didn’t walk into a Guitar Center Standalone Store — I simply called GuitarCenter.com expecting simply to buy a Yamaha S35 keyboard for my 11‑year‑old pianist daughter. What I didn’t expect was to be connected with Alex **, a customer service warlock, a salesmanship deity, a man so talented he could probably sell sand in the desert and ice to penguins. A big box Magi so powerful he could probably convince Beethoven himself to upgrade to a digital piano. Alex didn’t just help me — He guided me, like some kind of retail Gandalf with a headset. His product knowledge was so sharp it could slice through steel-wrapped granite. His professionalism? Off the charts. His charisma? Honestly, I’m shocked my phone didn’t melt. He's like the Tony Robbins of customer service support.

      In my brief interaction with him, I came to realize that it is only a matter of time before Alex becomes CEO of Guitar Center… At minimum. Realistically, he should be running the entire global music industrial complex. This man deserves a raise, a promotion, a parade, the Presidential medal of Freedom, and possibly a throne forged from the weighted keys of pianos made with real elephant tusks. The rest of the employees? Wonderful humans, I’m sure — but compared to Alex, they’re mere mortals and basically background characters in the epic saga of Guitar Center Godliness.

      If you ever call GuitarCenter.com and don’t specifically request Alex **, you are depriving yourself of a life‑changing, soul‑enriching, borderline spiritual retail experience. 11/10. Would buy again and...Would trust him with my Wi‑Fi password and even my tax returns. You must understand, Alex isn’t just good at his job — he’s operating on a level of customer service mastery that future generations will speak of in hushed, reverent tones in the same way sailors talked about mythical sea Captains. Shine the spotlight on this man! He deserves the limelight!

      Sincerely,

      David **

      Airline Pilot

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      StaffRates

      Reviewed Feb. 12, 2026

      I tried to resell a 12 string acoustic electric Guild guitar to Guitar Center. I purchased it last July from them for $1000. It is in excellent condition with a hard shell case. They offered me $150. Needless to say I refused the insulting offer. I will NEVER do business with them again. They claimed they’d sell it for $300. They deserve a less than 1 star rating. They are Thieves.

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      PriceStaffBilling

      Reviewed Feb. 3, 2026

      Was a terrible experience. From the check out person to the lesson department. Be careful in this department and make sure you tell them not to charge your credit card when you’re through. I had been canceled for a month, and they still charged my card. Very unprofessional.

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      Reviewed Jan. 28, 2026

      I spent a couple hundred bucks online for a completely untunable ukulele with a head completely riddled with hairline cracks. I will never do business with this company again.

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      Customer ServiceRefunds & PayoutsBillingHonesty & Transparency

      Reviewed Dec. 27, 2025

      Ordered an electronic drum kit after being told it was in stock locally. After payment was taken, Guitar Center emailed saying it wasn’t actually available. When I contacted customer service to cancel, they refused to refund my money, claiming the order was “already shipping,” even though it was not shipping to me and wouldn’t arrive for nearly two weeks. A manager confirmed there was “nothing they could do.” This is misleading and unfair to customers. I will not be ordering from Guitar Center again.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedMaintenance

      Reviewed Dec. 10, 2025

      I purchased a NEW Kurzweil k-2700 before Thanksgiving and waited for a couple of weeks to have a NEW one delivered to the store in Asheville, NC. I was emailed today that it had arrived and it was waiting for me. After picking it up and getting it home, I unboxed it. IT’s a USED one with hand made stickers on it saying, ”spare”, return me, ribbon controller does not work, do not use! What in the actual 🤬. Trying to pass a broken (or refurbished) k-2700 kurzweil off as new.

      I called the gentleman I purchased it from, and he said that they will get a new one from Kurzweil and have it shipped in. Which IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME TO BEGIN WITH! Needless to say, once I get my NEW one, I will never set foot into a guitar center again. Guess I’ll be shopping on musician’s friend from now on. Wish I could give negative stars.

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      Customer ServiceCoverageSales & MarketingPriceRefunds & PayoutsStaffRatesFollow-Through

      Reviewed Nov. 3, 2025

      I'm puzzled that I even need to write this as no one from Guitar Center has yet to reach out to me to attempt a resolution. One star is too many in this case. I recently ordered and received a used Fender Acoustasonic Guitar from Guitar Center. I wanted one in "great" condition and found one on the Guitar Center site marked "great" condition. Conditions determine salability and pricing so it is very important that they are properly assessed as to the real condition. I was very disappointed in what I received. The outside of the box was ripped open (I have photos) and the guitar itself was not as advertised. Clearly I received one that was only in "fair" shape at best and clearly I was overcharged.

      The guitar arrived with a dirty body and and an even dirtier fret board. Sticky substance on it even. Nothing had been cleaned or wiped and not even were the strings wiped down. Nowhere did the ad mention indentations on the front body, nor scratches on the black metal electronics covers on the rear, nor that the back of the guitar neck was badly stained from what likely was hand sweat. Although not all that significant, It was not evenly closely tuned and the built-in battery was completely dead. I would have expected much more from a $1000+ guitar and from Guitar Center's standards.

      This guitar is easily worth hundreds less than I paid and would hope that Guitar Center makes this "right". I've reached out on their fillable customer service form website, emailed the national sales rep that took my order and have continued to email. Received an email saying that my service issue will be responded to within 24 hours but no responses in a week. I'm left with no alternative but to attempt a return of the guitar for a full refund and start the search and order process all over again. Major customer service issues exist at Guitar Center so I'd steer clear of them until they get in control of their service model! I will not be ordering from them again as their are too many service superior guitar retailers across the US that actually "care" about their customers!

      Very disappointed,

      John

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      PriceStaffRates

      Reviewed Oct. 4, 2025

      I just had the pleasure of dealing with Addison at store 745 in Hickory NC, couldn't be happier, Addison and his staff are outstanding to deal with, had to do a return that I bought from another store Addison and Eric were so easy to deal with, plus I don't understand where people say GUITAR Center is high, I have bought from several stores including Sweetwater and GUITAR Center's prices are the same plus they price match, I will be back.

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      Guitar Center Company Information

      Company Name:
      Guitar Center
      Website:
      www.guitarcenter.com