Kerbside pickup
Yes
House of Guitars in Rochester
Categories
Location on the map
Rochester, Monroe County, New York, US
Service options
In-store pick-up
Yes
In-store shopping
Yes
Delivery
No
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Active military discounts
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Offerings
Repair services
Yes
Service guarantee
Yes
Amenities
Gender-neutral toilets
Yes
Good for kids
Yes
Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Transgender safe space
Yes
Planning
Quick visit
Yes
Payments
Cheques
Yes
Debit cards
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 585-544-3500
Site: http://houseofguitars.com/
Site: http://houseofguitars.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:10AM–9PM
- Tuesday:10AM–9PM
- Wednesday:10AM–9PM
- Thursday:10AM–9PM
- Friday:10AM–9PM
- Saturday:10AM–9PM
- Sunday:1–5PM
Comments (199)
Great staff and awesome selection of instruments up stairs and music down stairs! Gave me a good deal on a small drum kit and its the only place I trust to buy a new bass from
I often find myself wandering around the store for a long time. Mainly downstairs and because I can never find anything, but man are the employees helpful and knowledgeable. Id probably be lost there if it werent for the guiding voices of their employees.
Such a cool & historical place!! Tons of known Artists such as Green Day, Jimmy Page, Metallica, and more have been here at one point or another to sign the HOG wall or even some merch! The vinyl and cd room is enormous you could spend forever in there.
Amazing selection! The service was great. The gentleman was patient and helped my 3 year old pick a guitar to see and strum for the first time.
We visit here from Michigan about once or twice a year. The positives: the instruments are super cool. The store seems to be famous and has a lot of overall clout. So there’s a presence of nostalgia and historical Easter eggs all over, like the wall with famous band signatures and many framed pictures with signatures on them. Employees are really relaxed and helpful. I also like that they have a treasure trove of records.The negatives: The records in the basement are suuuuuuper chaotic and disorganized to a point of being a bite of a hazard. We come here to look at records and buy but we aren’t buying things that aren’t treated right. It immediately drains me when I see such an amazing collection of records getting flat out trashed. There are records all over the floor, in broken boxes, in rickety stands, buried in actual trash(empty boxes and packing material), records sitting on top of each other instead of upright, like they are supposed to be, or buried in completely inaccessible places. I am short so reaching records is very hard and I tripped on several records and boxes on the floor. I think anyone with a physical disability will not be able to access this place at all, which is a shame to exclude anyone from the treasure here. I get frustrated and disoriented and forget what I was even looking for. Idk maybe I’m imagining things but just thinking if people don’t have to dig and go through this amount of time wasting trouble to find things; they would buy more. I know I would probably buy loads of records if I can easily access them. I’d rather spend my time sifting through nice organized records than spending hours literally diving 🤿in piles of poorly taken care of records to maybe find something. Part of the ritual is sifting through nicely organized records hearing the swoosh of the sleeves as you flick through calmly knowing that your time is spent looking in a box you know. The reassurance that the records were treated right by the store would go a VERY long way. Stroke the rituals y’all.
Love this place. Locally owned and respected throughout the world. Went in for a mic stand part and picked up a book, another unique idea for another gift and saw a bass guitar signed by my favorite bassist. Thank you for staying open and viable through all of this. Employees were wearing masks, keeping their distance and if course, very helpful.Buy local!Support small businesses!-TerryP.S. Oh yeah, picture in the back expansion has a shot of the crowd waiting for Who tickets at the front door. Im in among them!
Freaking love this place. I found some lovely vinyl gems last time I was here for great prices.
This place is amazing! Its a must stop for any music enthusiast! There is so much history here I spend over an hour just wandering around but theres also plenty of guitars to try out as well!
Always a trip, great place. Making the grandson a future rocker
I love this place!!!! Sooo many cool things here, tshirts, records, vintage, and cool people!!#SecretCircleSociety
Fun place to go to... Definitely a unique place of Rochester History... went to get lesson band book but fun to see all the different guitars and photos and t-shirts on the ceiling!
You just havent lived until you have visited the #HouseofGuitars in #RochesterNYYou dont even need to be searching for a guitar necessarily. I purchased some violin strings. My son went bananas looking at keyboards, guitars, ukuleles, whatever youre looking for. I wish we had time to go through more of the massive vinyl and CD selections. All of it is wow. Thanks for the fun visit fellas!
Got a brand new 2018 Fender Strat from Mike P. He was a rockstar, ask for him and he will take fantastic care of you. I got a great deal and he treated me like gold the whole time. I live in Colorado and had the guitar shipped here. Well worth it.
Bought my first guitar at this mom and pop shop 15 years ago. Moved from Rochester about 7 years go and miss them even after living in New York City and experiencing some of the coolest shops in the country. They care. They have what you need. Their record shop is amazing too. Everyone in Rochester knows they are the best. The musicians that leave Rochester miss them. The instrument you need is there. Ask for help finding what you need. You will be helped. You will be satisfied. You will meet friends
Thee place to go for music. I wouldnt apply here for a job though. This place is amazing and all. But I got the absolute run around when I applied. They gave me a resume and I filled it. And the owner told me to wait for the job guy. So i waited for 4 hours and he told me hes not coming. Come hack Tommorow so I politely requested if he could give my resume to him since. Hes the owner and he was set on a no. So I came back the next day. Waited 3 more hours. Then was told hes not coming in and to try again tommorow
One of a kind music store that doubles as a museum of rock memorabilia, signed photos, unique collectibles, and more. If you consider yourself even a casual fan of rock n roll, this is a must-see
This is a must see stop if you love music. From the vintage guitars to everything in between, so its equal parts store, part museum, you just feel the history the moment you step in the door! And the staff, some of the most friendly and helpful people ever. The music wall, the vinyl shop, wow is all I can say, youve got to make a stop here. They even have live music on occasion ( not to mention all the stars that have come through)
Great place to go of youre looking for hard to find music or if youre in the market for some really good equipment. If you try to find something on your own you might be there a while, so be patient or ask for help
Bought a boss pedal here. I love this place! I could spend all day just browsing. They have live music in the parking lot on Saturdays which is pretty cool.
The HoG is a Rochester institution and an absolute gold mine for music lovers of all kinds. A must-visit for anyone visiting the 585!
Really cool music store with lots of nostalgia to browse around at. It’s like it’s own Rock-n-Roll hall of fame. If you’re in the Rochester area you have to check it out.
Great place but some of the younger guys are a little annoying. Friendly conversation is great and appreciated, but once youve helped us with the guitar setup, please let the customer be.!
Get ready to be in there for hours digging through the endless piles of music. CDs, vinyl, t-shirts (theirs and old concert Tees).We meant to go in for just a few minutes and came out three hours later.
An incredible cacophony of music paraphernalia to engulf you for a minute or for hours. Classic history and classic guitars in the ROC.
Service was great, got a good deal on Amp and guitar plus some fun memories! Its a must visit for any music lover
Old school guitar store. Jam packed with guitars, basses and amps. Small aisles, helpful staff. Great inventory.
About 18 years ago, me and a friend took a road trip to House of Guitars when I was looking to buy a new guitar amp. I happened to be in the area the other day, and decided to stop in again. It was very much how I remembered it, which is a great thing. The store is overflowing with guitars and other gear. You could easily spend a few hours just staring at all the amazing guitars they keep in stock. The people working there are great as well. I had been researching acoustic guitars online for a few months but wanted to play a few just to compare. They went above and beyond to get me set up to play whichever ones I wanted. No sales pressure at all, and someone would stop in every so often to see if I needed anything else. I also appreciate that they treated me well even though I am just an average player and wasnt looking to spend $3,000+ on a guitar. In the end, I bought a new Martin and love it. I would definitely go out of my way to shop here whenever I need anything else.
I have such awesome memories of the H.O.G. I took my family to visit the Great Great House of Guitars after being absent from Rochester for 20 years.
This is a Rochester N.Y. Institution. It is a store which combines the sale of great guitars and equipment, along with other instruments, lessons are also available. Its also a store where audio music of many genres may be purchased in many formats. One of the most amazing and memorable things about any trip to The House Of Guitars or The H.O.G. as it is known locally is spending time looking at the photos of various artists who have come in to sign albums, the wall, drum heads, guitars, etc. The House Of Guitars has been a part of Rochester since 1964, and Armand and Bruce are wonderful people very welcoming to everyone! Youll never be disappointed for stopping and taking some time to stroll through their massive collection of memorabilia.
The greatest place to get everything musical. Great people great prices, a rochester landmark
This is by far the best music store in the world. My buddy and I have been going every single Saturday if possible. Any chance we get we love stopping at the HOG! Whether it be for a brand new guitar, used guitar, needing a new cable maybe some strings or a pic they are my go-to. they also have a great formidable selection of amplifiers for both bass and guitar. If there is a new effects pedal I would like to try out for my own rig I honestly go to the HOG first before possibly having to search online. For a store that almost has everything you cant always expect them to have everything. But honestly thats all part of the experience. If you see something you like buy it, it honestly might not be there next week...Sincerely a lifetime fan and customer: Andrew
A huge variety of everything here, from instruments to record and cassette. I live out in Syracuse and I have no problem making the drive to see what they have. Ive found records here I havent been able to find anywhere else other than eBay (much more expensive) things are very reasonably priced and staff is helpful and friendly.
No price tags on over 95% of the guitars. Very crowded and dusty. You have to ask employees for prices and that is usually time consuming and annoying. Overpriced. Employees were chill though
Friendly knowledgeable staff, great venue💓💓 Back to Rock had an event here and my son loved the stage
Not the same House Of Guitars I was accustomed to 20 years ago but still not a bad place to shop. The staff was very helpful and went out of their way to put the right guitar in my hands. They suggested a Martin Road Series which is fantastic. I played half a dozen other guitars but kept coming back to the martin.I had one little issue. After I got home and did some research and found that I was charged $50 over list price. I contacted them and they apologized and offered several solutions to resolve the issue.
Its always fun to just go in the store and explore you never know what youre going to findI picked up this PRS CUSTOM 24 EXOTIC TOP a week ago
Very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Awesome selection of guitars and mind boggling basement full of albums, including some rare finds. Upstairs is a huge drum shop, in the back is keyboards and amps. Great deals too.
It was all right. Live music and a great selection of records but you have to dig.
Such a historic music store. Great people and such a great vibe. Theres a reason why theyre going strong despite the best efforts of corporate America. Youd thing all this comes at a high price, but their prices are great.Of course, if youre a musician in the area, you already know all of this.
Legendary shop full of legendary instruments. Plus the record store is the sort of place you set aside a day to sift through. Place was sweet, even if some of the more tame guitar accessory (strings, cleaners) selection was a bit limited to whats popular.
Its ok...big store but cluttered,,,lots of records, CDs to dig through.
Dan Knorr was so helpful getting me a new setup
They have the CDs you are looking for, and if they dont they will order it for you. Or tell you where you can find it if they cant order it.
Would give them zero stars if I could. Contacted Curt at HOG a couple weeks ago in regards to purchasing a limited edition guitar that was coming out soon. He informed me I was first on the list to buy it and would contact me as soon as he could confirm he was getting it. I checked in with him a few times over the last couple weeks and he kept telling me he had no news. Well today I happened to be browsing Reverb and noticed that not only did HOG get the guitar, but they had listed it on Reverb for double retail price. I was willing to pay full MSRP for this guitar but I guess that wasnt enough for this greedy shop.
Im very glad to support local businesses. The day that I visited, I needed clarinet reeds, which the staff was able to provide immediately, vs the wait time Id have if Id purchased from a big-box store online.
Legendary music store with so much rock n roll history.
Worlds greatest music store. Love that place holds tons of memories
In iconic landmark in Rochester! So much music history under one roof! If youre in the area youd be foolish not to stop
This Beauty cleaned up well after drooling on it. Always love to visit when I’m in town. Kurt was very helpful!!!
Not many places like this left very cool shop to hang out in
Last week I visited the record store here for the first time in 15 years. It was messy then but now its just a junkyard. More of the shop is inaccessible now, blocked off by boxes and piles of unsold merchandise. Underneath all of the clutter are the same albums I saw in my previous visit, probably at the same prices. (Many items have faded tags or arent priced at all.) Look closely at other submitters photos and the selection seems impressive, but you have to step over and wade through all of that stuff just to browse. For example, a whole corner of the store has locked glass cases full of imported CDs. They probably havent been unlocked since 2004--overflowing crates are stacked up against them so of course none of it sold since the last time I was there. Who locks up CDs in 2021, anyway? And because of the disorganization, the good stuff you do find may be damaged, partially opened, or yellowed from time. Remember CD longboxes? They still have some new ones in the bins but theyre all crushed. If I lived in the area I would offer to help put the place in order on weekends for some free music, because it could be a cool place, but I dont, and this doesnt seem like a place that wants to fix itself. Rochester has better, more customer-friendly record shops with great selections and lower prices people can go to instead.
Always an awesome place to shop for your musical needs. Great people !The Catman
Another record store to never shy away from in Rochester. This store has a great selection with kind staff. I go here quite often and always am finding amazing things.
Very comprehensive selection of new and used musical equipment, knowledgeable staff, a resource for any band and musician!
More than enough guitars of all kinds from new to vintage to drool over. Spent 3 hours admiring the selection available. Not sure of price, as I was just looking at the time
Its cooler than Christmas, man! Got me a beautiful Fender acoustic/electric uke from the hog just the other day. Love it!
Lessons are half hours which I wish were longer.My instructor is great..super patient and flexibleGuitar selections are geared more towards higher end guitars and special guitars. Not a ton for beginners in a lower price range.TONS of music selections.Real grunge punk environmentOld posters, autographs. Real messy in there. Real old building. This place is a legend. So it suits the place. The feel when you walk in there is like no other music store I know.This place brings me back to junior high and high school after-school hours when music was life and ran deeper than the pop radio station.
My review is strictly about shopping for vinyl records at House of Guitars.The place is a disaster. The records are disorganized and too tightly packed together to easily search through.Pricing is a mixed bag. If a record is in good condition, the price is often fair if not on the low side but too many records are WAY overpriced based on condition. Take a Wes Montgomery LP I looked at. The price was $20, which might be good if the LP graded VG but it was scratched, scuffed, dirty, finger-printed -- a real mess. I wouldnt pay $1 for it. I suspect the record was in decent condition when it was first added to inventory but the records are so poorly maintained they inevitably become damaged. Three LPs I bought looked fine and were priced OK for the visible condition but they played horribly and went straight to the going to the thrift store bin.The place will only pay 10 cents for CDs on trade and its understandable. Theyre overstocked on everything. But knowing they wont give at least 50 cents per CD discourages me from bringing in LPs given that attitude. Given that, I doubtful a return trip will be worth my while because theyre unlikely to get new, good material and if they did, good luck finding it.
Absolutely fascinating!!! I bent Armands ear for an easy hour 😁 sooo easy to get lost in all the memories of his and his business through 57 years. He is a gracious host and his employees are the nicest nicest people. I feel like we went to a museum today.
Every time Ive been there it has been an excellent experience. The staff knows their stuff and are always willing to help you find the best deal on what youre looking for. House of Guitars is a landmark of Rochesters history. Definitely worth taking a look.
Kurt is knowledgeable and accommodating. Excellent service and handling of my purchase. Professionally packaged and shipped right to my doorstep. I highly recommend.
A must visit shop. Little secret to my string playing friend, theres a room full of violins, violas, cellos and basses upstairs.
How do you ask for proof of vaccination to enter the store? Why does a music store or any business need to know my vaccination status? youll lose money from half of your customers. Also, the place has that post flood damaged basement smell. The place has truly went down hill. Theres more clutter than ever. The appeal of looking like a flea market has ran its course, now its like walking into a house from a Hoarders episode. Record Archives is better, cleaner, and they dont pick vaccinations over money, because regardless of vaccinated vs unvaccinated, money is money regardless and they dont discriminate over it.
Was not expecting so see what I saw from the Google search or from the outside appearance of this place. Im new to the guitar game but I could of spent hours in their walking around and strumming on some 6 strings acting like I know what hell Im doing. I have been researching an Epiphone Les Paul 50s style for about a month and chomping at the bit to buy but didnt wanna order online and have it shipped. Really really wanted the dark burst as well but no store I have been too have one. Low and behold this place did. The dude working even gave me a break on the price which I couldnt of been more happier about. Got the guitar home and plugged it in and their seems to be a ring or fuzz to it, might be a ground or something, I dont know. I called them and the guy who answered the phone told me to bring it back prior to 4pm on a weekday and they will have their tech get it fixed up and all setup to my liking. Going back tomorrow to see if can get straightened out, which Im sure they can. If I could give this place 6 stars I would. Very cool place and very gnarly staff
Biggest selection of vinyl records new and used Ive ever seen. I find it hard to spend less than 3 hours looking thru the albums every time I go here. You could easily spend a week looking thru the vinyl albums and cds and not even see a half of what they have. Best selection Ive ever seen. Also a huge selection of amazing guitars and other instruments. Ive purchased 3 guitars from here so far and am looking to buy another for my collection soon. Very helpful staff. Never been disappointed with any visit to the House of Guitars in my 35+ years of business with them. Its much like a museum really. All the autographed pictures and drum skins and such of some of the greatest rock n roll stars who have passed through there over the years is priceless. I could go on for hours, but you have to see this place for yourself if youre ever in the Rochester NY area and youre a fan of music, trust me when I say that you will not be disappointed. Expect to spend a few hours, no quick in and out unless you already know what you want and where to find it. Easily a 6 out of 5 stars.
This is the know it all music store in a good way! Ivebeen, to other music stores in Rochester and NOTHING compares. If you havent been, its a Rochester must see!
Such a fabulous and awesome place! WOW!!!!
Super if want it they have , in music ,
Came in here at around 3:15pm on 6/13/21.Will NEVER come back. Walking in the front main doors, I asked the associate if I needed to wear a mask. He was polite and told me no, so I put it back in my purse and began browsing the store. Im fully vaccinated and have my NYS vax card on me for proof. I headed towards the downstairs portion where the vinyl shop is located and my fiancé and I were so in awe of the beautiful posters adorning the walls everywhere you looked, we missed the sign that said we had to wear masks in the vinyl section. On top of that, there were around 3 other families of 4+ people browsing along with us, all of which who did not have masks.I began browsing, ready to spend close to $350 as I had at another record shop the day prior. Im a massive Elvis collector and was excited to see what this shop had for Elvis memorabilia. Long story short, as Im browsing, theres an associate working in a striped short sleeve shirt, shorter brown hair, eating a granola bar (whom Id later learn is named Chris), who walks over to the other worker near him and loudly says, Look at these f**king idiots not wearing masks. Do they not see the f**king sign on our door and when they walk in? and gestures towards my fiancé and I. Im a small, petite 21 year old girl with zero means of disrespecting anyone or breaking any rules. There is ZERO reason he should have said what he did. They both snickered at us and a complete stranger next to me, a mother who was also browsing, asks if I had just heard what was said about me. I was a bit startled that I was called a f**king idiot and she put down her records and said she wouldnt support a shop that speaks to guests like that, and neither will we. They ended up walking out and putting their records down too.I ended up calling the shop and speaking to Chris directly. I explained I heard what he had said about me and how rude it was, how he could have simply told me to put a mask on but what he did was so uncalled for, and I calmly explained Id be reaching out to his manager. His response? Okay, a snicker, and he hangs up on me. He HANGS UP ON ME. Are you absolutely serious here? Im never coming back here again. My father told me amazing stories of his days doing promotions with this shop when he was the head at PXY and I was thrilled to see the shop myself. I was in awe of its beauty and was excited to spend a few hundred dollars on Elvis merchandise - to be called a f**king idiot and then snickered at, hung up on the phone and disrespected is downright disgusting and Im going to make sure my friends and radio family know of this experience so we can all go to a record shop that doesnt blatantly disrespect their customers to their face.
I love this store! Friendly, on the spot service. Everything that you could want for making music. I visited while on vacation and it made my day.
Had what I needed and the staff remain masked. Quick and knowledgable
Cluttered, dirty, and just uncomfortable. It would seem that they have a lot of music downstairs, but its mostly albums people dont want, I couldnt even find any albums from my favorite metal band who is a very popular bad. And then when it comes to the guitars upstairs, Im not sure how anyone is supposed to be able to try them out. In the keyboard room the keyboards are almost always all unplugged and unable to be turned on without asking for assistance but its not like people who work there are nearby. I have been to this store a few times when I need music or a guitar and I always end up leaving almost immediately. My son also felt uncomfortable there and said that the store was sad and felt like a music graveyard.
Great place to visit for music lovers.
Excellent atmosphere and Amazing opportunity for music and artists
I live about 2 hours from Rochester. Ive been there numerous times but never had the time to visit House of Guitars. Ive always wanted to stop in. I finally had the opportunity and it was awesome. I buy most of my gear used so I really wasnt planning on buying anything at the time but I walked out with two new pedals, an Orange Two Stroke and MXR Carbon Copy. The small amount of money I could have saved by buying them used (if I could even find them) was more than made up for by the service, help, and recommendations I received from two members of the staff. Not to mention the vibe in this place hands down beats Guitar Center or buying something online. Highly recommended. Thinking about getting an LP Jr. soon and will definitely look here first.
Always a great experience. Even after 30 years of shopping there never gets old.
Aint nothing like it! My son said its organized chaos he was having fun digging for Rush vinyl.
Wasn’t greeted by staff whatsoever (multiple were just pacing around doing nothing); they were too busy engaging in their personal conversations. eventually once i asked for assistance, i was given a wrong answer (and also quoted a price higher than MSRP on an easily available product) and just had to help myself. after checkout, again no word from staff even though they were all congregated in the front. definitely not visiting again
Classic Rochester icon. Quickly found exactly what I was looking for.
Poor atmosphere. Not a great shopping experience. My memories of this place from when I was younger were of a lively shop, music, Great staff.. My mom used to guy Cds and all kinds of stuff there. This time didnt feel so welcoming... Was very sad to see it like that.
This place is unbelievable. The character and charm of this place will warm your heart. Every type of music genre imaginable, t-shirts AND you can purchase guitars. See a tremendous amount if history as you follow the back wall of musicians signatures. If you havent visited this place, you are missing out.
Today is the first time Ive been in the House of Guitars since the mid-90s. I was looking for a smaller scale electric as a Christmas gift for my son. One of the owners pointed out some great options and I walked out with a great deal. Its worth the trip just for the history you can find here!
This place is a fun low-key museum in my opinion. The history is incredible. Records for days. I dont even play but I loved looking at the guitars. The staff is like central casting did it. They were funny helpful and very cool. No pressure I love that. I was sorry I didnt go on a live music day.
A Rochester Institution. If youve never been, go. Spend some time there, look around. This building is sort of an epicenter of Rochesters music. As much a part of this city ad garbage plates and Red Wings baseball.
I really enjoyed the guitars and other instruments, the workers were friendly. Downside is the BACK ROOM. CDS etc. Everything is a disaster back there. No pricing, no organization. Try to ask about a price?? The person sends you up front saying, maybe they will look it up for you. This was a very disappointing aspect to s place my husband built up for years, but we had nerve managed to go until now. At least Ive been . Ive seen. If you go? Stay up front.
I brought an elderly neighbor in because he needed to replace the needle for his record player. The staff was very helpful and even though they werent able to order the piece he needed, they were able to recommend a place that could help. HOG is a great example of why it is so much better to shop local!
We have been looking for a specific guitar and finally located it at the House of Guitars Rochester. We were in a time crunch and Mike P. was terrific in trying to accommodate our timeline. The guitar came carefully packaged with a great Fender bag, house of guitar picks, stickers and a very nice note. Great customer service, easy to work with over the phone. Love the guitar!
Best music store in the country.
Awesome place! Brought my son and his new guitar in and they tuned it. Walked out with two guitars, daddy and son will learn to play together. Highly recommended. Buy local, support local establishments like the HOG
I could not have asked for a better experience. They worked well within our budget and were super knowledgeable. If you want a guitar, just go here.
At a point where I didnt have very much money to spare, I had came in here on multiple occasions to look for a mid-range acoustic-electric guitar, finding nothing that I liked within my price range. I brought with me a Squire electric guitar for trade-in, and a gift certificate. After seeing me check back multiple times to look for the right guitar, Bruce cut me a fantastic deal on an amazing guitar, and even threw in some H.O.G merch on the side. Knowledgeable staff, great selection, and historic location. Thanks for the great deal.
Great place. A must-see if you’re in the area. Tried to tidy up a bit, but got kicked out. Would recommend.
This place is incredible they have everything and more that you could ever want as far as musical instruments and gear. They have it all. The staff are very friendly and will gladly assist you with finding anything you need and also will not hesitate to let you test out anything you want. I will definitely be buying my next guitar here and I get incredibly excited just seeing the collection of all the amplifiers they have for sale there. 10/10
Historic landmark. I only wish the classic and chaotic basement of vinyl was more easily accessible. That being said, finding that perfect record hidden amongst others remains a valiant quest.
Awesome place, knowledgeable and friendly staff .
So fun. Shared the experiences with my sons. It was awesome to take them to this local landmark. They got to meet the owner and his wife. The staff was friendly, helpful and oh so knowledgeable. It is more museum than store. A great place to get lost on a Sunday afternoon.
Always the best place to get a guitar or music
The store that ate my brain! Huge selection of just about everything! Plus a wall full of autographs from all genre of music
Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, ever since my first time visiting it back in 2005 it is one of my favorite places in central New York and always will be
This place is the BEST! Anyone and everyone whos into music needs to put The HOG on their bucket list! My son travels from Myrtle Beach to Rochester to buy all his basses and equipment. Bruce is always there with a smile and a great story!
Hummm, Big selection but kinda junky! Had to search for a old CD that should have been easier to find. Then paid 12.00 for a 20 year old CD that wasnt a classic! Just bought it to not feel my time was wasted!
I felt forced into a purchase. The place still smells the same as it did in the 80s. Same owner still creeps around. Nice, just seems to appear out of nowhere, like a bad horror movie. Otherwise a very nostalgic museum of now outdated media. Bring the younger folks to see what records and cassettes are.
The best music store in the country. Friendly staff who really know their stuff. Highly recommend.
Staff were incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and nice. Helped us select our first guitar and hear how it sounded on an amp. Large inventory to choose from as well.
Chaotic. Everything is everywhere. I asked for help. You could be there a looooong time. But, Im sure they have whatever your looking for. I love music, which is why i choose The House of Guitars. I will go again.
Staff is super nice and helpful and the inventory is insane. Tons of gear, instruments, band merch, and records. A must stop shop if youre in the area!
This place is always a trip back in music history no matter what genre of music you enjoy. They have everything from new vinyl to hard to find signed originals...plan to spend some time here and you will not be disappointed.They also give music lessons and have an outdoor stage. Most Saturdays in the summer include bands on the stage.
Well tried to get a stienberger Bass from here, they told me, I had to order it but didnt offer to order it and when I asked,they told me it would take about 4 months. The one guy didnt help me and told me to let him give me the word on one. Never got word back,.and it only took me 2 days to get one myself . Merry Christmas.
Great place I worked there in the 80s treat you like family love the big selection.
Grew up with this place and it still love it
Lots of guitars from electric to acoustic, very big store for what the building shows on the outside. This place is a must visit if you are in the area and like to look or if you are looking for a great guitar, amp, mic or anything music. This place has old records and tapes as well as shirts from many many bands. On the walls you will find years of great bands posing with the shop owner who apparently is a music lover like me. Many autographed instruments and photos as well as banners. This place to me holds a lot of cool rock band photos from years back to recent.
Beautiful place with an incredibly huge selection of anything you can think of relating to guitars. The staff is amazing. They were all very kind and respectful and helpful and I will never need to go to a different guitar store again.
Needed a few more hour in the this place!
No trip back to roch is complete without a hog stop. Still awe inspiring every time I go back.
I have brought my sons here for guitars, basses, amps and have ALWAYS been treated the way you want to be treated. Thank you for the great service and selection. It is great to have such a cool, unique business to shop at.
The best guitar store in America hands down. Iconic is understatement. Just go there! Spend a whole day looking at floor to ceiling guitars. Legendary music shop for any need music wise.
Truly one of a kind music store, with a rich history. Almost a Rock & Roll museum of sorts, complete with photos and autographed walls. Layers and layers of guitars, like going on a treasure hunt! A must see for anyone even remotely interested in the world of Rock & Roll, gigs, amps and guitars!
The HOG has always been THE place to go. Even if you dont buy anything reading all the graffiti will trip you out. This place could be a music museum.
Great deals, awesome staff and wide selection.
WoW! Amazing Guitars (however not low end beginners stuff)I had never been there and traveled from Albany to see a show. They held several band Meet n Greets that day.Just when I thought that was it I asked a staff member about possibly a t-shirt shirt.Theres an ENTIRE section of Albums, CD I thought I saw 8 Tracks!?!?I only wish I had several hours just to look thought it all , because thats probably how much time you would need.For someone who loves music its a must visit!!!!!!
I always enjoy coming from Syracuse to visit the House of Guitars! I want to get an electric and I would totally buy one from there!I always wear my HOG T shirt and get remarks on it (love that place!). I need to visit soon and get a smaller one, as I have just had weight loss surgery and am down 115 pounds! Do you still sell HOG zip up hoodies?
I am so conflicted on this review. This is a historic establishment. Pictures, writing, instruments, etc adorn the walls that show all of the famous people through the years who have visited here. It appears to be within a small house, but once you enter it opens up and goes way back. They added property over the years and connected the buildings. They have so many instruments for purchasing. So many famous ones also. Yes they are mostly dusty and can be crowded together, but overall they seem to be kept in good shape and some amazing instruments! When you go to where they have all the vinyl, cds, tapes etc is a different story. Stacks, upon stacks, upon crushed boxes, upon litteral towers of items. You can see gems hidden in the piles but with no way to safely get them out. Or you can see it, but also along with the damage it now has. Some of the areas are not as in such bad disarray, but those areas are mostly just squished in together and hard to see or get the item out. They also have a large selection of t-shirts but it was squished together so I didnt really get to look for much. I dont mind quirky, clutter, disorganization, dust etc in a store. But it makes me sad and frustrated to see what it could be. To see items I want, but they are inaccessible and damaged. Like a horders basement where the things you love are destroyed due to the crushing weight of everything. The staff were friendly and the place definitely has history! Maybe we were just there on a really bad week?
Classic place but messy and disorganized
Been going here for almost 2 decades amazing place almost like a museum. Staff isnt pushy and very willing to let you browse without nagging you. Will gladly hook things up for you to try if you ask. Basement is a mess but there is so much stuff. CDs, cassettes, records, you name it. Tshirts and other music memorabilia. Like I said a bit of a mess and tough to walk around. Would not suggest to anyone in a wheelchair! Kids are also tough to manage there since a lot of stuff is stacked and can be easily knocked over!
I had many questions, staff was very helpful. Tried out a gorgeous shiny red fender concert ukulele. Wish I couldve walked out with it. Soooo much stuff in this store, narrow aisles but very cool.
I understand that this place is a historical landmark, and people in Rochester absolutely cherish it. To me it just looks like one big fire hazard of garbage, and it was almost impossible to find an employee on the floor. This is only my opinion. I know many people think this is one of the coolest places.
Amazing! A must visit for any guitar fanatic! So many amazing guitars, and amplifiers. Theres so much history all over the place. Guitars signed by Metallica, Kiss, Slayer, and so many others. Also, the prices are great. A pack of Dadario strings costs less than $5. Definitely going to visit again in the near future!
Always a unique shopping experience. You can kill a whole afternoon in that place just looking around. Trust me when I say this, if you are looking for something particular, ask. Otherwise, youll never find it, which is just part of the stores charm.
An awesome experience. My first time visiting this musical wonderland. Instruments, gear, a whole floor for drums and percussion, acres of vinyl and CDs, friendly folk, definitely worth the trip. I found an old Asylum Choir record from Leon Russell and Mark Benno. And look for the biggest amplifier in the world!
A World Renowned Music Utopia 🎼🌎😎Been shopping there for decades.Just visiting the House is a positive experience 👍
Staff are eager to help but give you room to browse freely. Have never been charged the full ticket price, they ALWAYS cut a deal.
Amazing store! A lot of history here. They got everything you need and if you cant find it, just ask and they will.
Love this place. Took guitar lessons when I was little. Now Im in to drums. Hooked me up with a nice set. Great customer service. Great group of people in general. Best in service In my opinion.
What a catastrophe the back room is. Good luck trying to find used Metal CDs. It looks like a bomb went off. Complete chaos. Dont waste your time even trying to locate anything.
This is a cluster bomb of records and music memorabilia. If youre looking for anything you can probably get it here, although youd probably need to ask for help because its so crammed full of records, CDs, and stuff. Its next to impossible to find anything. Seeing all the autographed band gear and photos is pretty neat though. Thats only the backside of the building. To be fair, I only went into the back area where the music is kept.
I am now taking lessons here & having a great time learning. I have a great instructor. I like to shop here too & I definitely have as this is where my 1st Fender was bought earlier this month. Its hard to find things yes but if you just ask someone if youre looking for something specific you will be helped. The staff is very friendly & if its there theyll find it for you because they seem to know where everything is, its crazy! House of Guitars rocks!
A Rochester staple for guitar fans. Its a great place, and has a massive inventory, but its organized very claustrophobicly and almost no guitars have price tags on them. That said, its still a fun place for guitarists.
I love The House Of Guitars!!! It is my favorite place for: equipment, instruments, cds, concert tickets, instrument repairs, instrument lessons, etc. I used to work there 11 years ago and I remember those years as some of the best in my life!!! The employees and owners are very friendly and helpful. They have been in business for 51 years and are famous around the world. Many famous musicians stop in to either shop or to do in stores. There is no place in the world quite like it. If you are visiting anywhere near Rochester, NY do yourself a favor and check it out!!!
If you play guitar or collect records, youll dig it. If not you might not get it, but should still check it out.
Took my 12 year old son there to look at guitars, they set him up in a sound room and just keep bring him guitars, my son loved it. Its nice to see a place cater to young ones interested in playing.
If your from Rochester NY or the area. You know what the House Of Guitars is. If you have not been there you really should go. It is part of the music culture here in Rochester, and is part of Rochester itself. The collectables alone make this place a museum in its own right. Plus the great deals! Go Now!
I couldnt imagine a better first experience! Im a musician, but Im new to guitars, and the help I got from Derek was great. He helped pull models that fit what I was looking for in terms of sound, and gave me a price better than any I found for my model on the Internet. I didnt feel rushed or feel like the staff was hovering. I feel absolutely confident in my investment. Thank you!
THIS STORE ATE MY BRAIN! Best store ever. Went in and the guy asked me if I was looking for anything specific. I said hey, what about a 1976 Fender Strat? No problem - get the ladder and grab that guitar and get this dude setup! Had a great time playing that guitar in a chill no pressure environment with people that love guitars and love that you love guitars. Theres a reason theyve been around forever! The record shop section is amazing as well! So much selection.
The House of Guitars is the definitive shop in Rochester for anything and everything music. Its my first stop for picking up new or used albums, and frequently my only stop.
I loved it it was my first time there maybe 10 days ago it was so fun
Former grange hall and furniture store now simply the best music & guitar store perhaps in the USA but how do you guys know where everything is located? Incredible selection. You need to expand your online offerings...please.
Great piece of Rochester History!! First time back in like 30 years while in Rochester, the place hasnt changed! What a mess...Hard to find anything. Great place if you have hours to spend.
I bought a used Ibanez GF85 electric guitar. Its a very beautiful guitar, but just wasnt exactly what I wanted. But I didnt realize it until a few days after I bought it. So I brought it back and traded up to an Epiphone Les Paul style guitar. Jake helped me, hes a great person to work with! I LOVE MY NEW GUITAR!!! It has an acoustic pickup hidden in the very bottom of the fingerboard. The sound is just incredible!! Im so extremely happy with the purchase...I cant really put it into words. The guitar is so beautiful and the tone options are wonderful. House Of Guitars staff were AWESOME! Jake is the man! They made me feel like I was hanging out with friends. Theyd leave me alone to explore and play and check things out online but were always ready and willing to help me. They gained a customer for life! I think that working with a local business for something as important and personal as a guitar is critical. SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES!!Im not sure why but I cant upload a picture to this review? Theres usually a photo icon to start the process..but its not here and I cant figure it out!? I bought an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II in cherry burst. Stunningly gorgeous guitar with amazing tone options!!
Great selection and probably everything you need at this location. This review isnt in regards to selection however, its a 1 star review simply because of the attitude I recieved from an older gentleman who may or may not have been the owner who did nothing but insult the guitar I brought in. As someone who has experience with customer service you never want to make a customer feel bad or try to belittle them simply because the guitar wasnt bought at HOG. So on my principle of never doing business with people who make me lose respect for the establishment. Disappointing because its a good store. I simply wont support unprofessional individuals.
One of the BEST places to go in the 585! Plus, they are a Gibson Dealer! You never know what you will find in the store. Every time I go, I always find something sweet.
Cool place if you like nostalgia and old guitars. Buying a new one is not recommended. Not cared for unless your spending a lot of money. Picked up 5 or 6 guitars, both acoustic and electric, not one was even closer to playable.
Been going there since 1972 ( I was 11 ! ) when I traded in my brothers beat up generic acoustic guitar and they gave me a beautiful Gretsch acoustic, my very first guitar! Theyre always helpful, friendly, and there for me whenever I have last minute needs for a performance. And if they dont have it, theyll order it for you. So proud to know and do business with the Schaubroeck family all these years !Much Gratitude,Love,Deborah
Lots of options if you want to research or are looking for something specific. If you are ordering something through them expect it to take a very long time. The 2 times Ive placed part orders through them they have told me a week and its taken over 3. On top of that Ive never received a call telling me my things are in, I have to followup with them and ask if the order arrived. But if you ask them about it they will swear they called you. Im referring specifically to someone named Big Mike in their upstairs department. Im also leery about how well everything is kept. Everything is basically pilled on top of stuff and squished together in a warehouse type building.
Its the house of guitars what else is there to say ,staff was helpful , good prices dont try and find anything yourself ask somebody youll get it done a lot faster thats the way that place works its a good system also equipment too at great prices
This place is a total trip! You could probably find, literally, any album you want here. Tons of equipment. Helpful staff. Fun place to explore through.
The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable. They had a great sale and I was able to buy a quality ukelele for a good price. Recommend if looking for guitars obviously.
Some good dudes. Support local.
This place is amazing. I would wager you could find almost every song recorded here on vinyl or tape. Great historical and famous place. The walls are filled with pictures and autographs of famous musicians throughout the decades. This is a must see for anyone in to music.
I was in here a total of 5 minutes. I’ll start by saying you need to walk sideways to maneouver around piles of garbage (music paraphernalia) without knocking anything over. I wanted to look at their instruments so I waited in line to ask where they were. I was told to go to the back of the store and at this point I immediately felt claustrophobic. I went up the stairs and around some twisty corners until I got to the room I needed but saw no employee in sight. I was having difficulty not feeling trapped because of the lack of accessible windows. In the upstairs, it is difficult to navigate through the layers of rooms and aisles stacked next to each other in a small space. I will not be back because I value my life and it would be impossible to leave alive in event of a fire.
They were very helpful. Didnt waste my time we got to the point and I made a purchase in under 15 minutes.
I have never seen an establishment with a larger selection on music related irems( records, 8 track, cassette, CD, posters, anything you can think of music related( John Lenons Jacket, Elviss leather pants). Then I went upstairs and saw the largest selection of instruments. From signed guitars from famous individuals and groups to high end instruments. If you cant find it here, youre not looking hard enough!
I shop here for music - CDs and vinyl. If its in print, most likely they have it somewhere in the store. They can order and have it in a few days if its not in a box somewhere. This place is unique and a must see for everyone! Love the HOG!
They made my sons birthday an excellent day. Courteous service and an extensive selection made it an event.
Possibly the greatest music store on the planet!
The HOG is a true #ROC rock hall of fame classic!!! A must visit for any true music fan!!!
After waiting 30min at Guitar Center without one hello or Ill be with you as soon as I can and then a major attitude when I asked if anyone was working the floor in guitars, I decided to go to HOG and never return to GC. Off the bat I was treated like a valued potential customer. Dan and Mike bent over backward to help me find what I was looking for; they demoed guitars and amps for me, and hooked me up with a package deal. I was happy to spend my money there. Just starting out and not knowing what I was doing, they were a HUGE help. Ill be going here for everything I need.
Great place for pretty much any instrument, record, tape, album, amp,shirt,etc. Even if you dont buy anything, its fun to visit and look at everything. The staff are very helpful too! Checkout the wall of signatures if you visit.
This place rules plain and simple, and if you have not visited it put it on your list of places to travel to and also buy something.
An institution! Also if youre looking for anything the riendly snd knowledgeable staff will disappear for a few moments and then return with it, or offer to order it. There is definitely a method to their madness and it has worked well for them for over 50 years! Heres to 50 more!
Very helpful, knowledge and friendly!
Great place for musicians, regulars and tourists. Its a Rochester must see.
Best prices anywhere. Great bunch of people who know how to take care of customers. Atmosphere galore and an amazing collection of fascinating stuff. Its the best store (for anything) in Rochester. I love this place.
Awesome store. They have a ton of cool stuff. Its worth a stop in just to look! The staff are all very polite and helpful.
Wow. Not much more to say. Awesome place you can spend hours in there and not see the whole thing. The nostalgia is just incredible. The staff is wonderful. The outdoor stage is beautiful.
Took my guitar there to get it set up and they did a wonderful job! Also, theres no quarantine period for guitars like other places.
Good place to try out gear but I wouldnt buy anything there. EVERYTHING is a floor model and has countless people beating on it. Most anything you buy there will have a tremendous amount of wear and tear on it from customer handling. Nice place to visit but you dont want to buy there.
I love looking at 2,000 DVDs at the very back of the stores wall. It is a treasure trove of concert DVDs, but it needs serious sorting to put them in alphabetical order by artist.
Guitar center gave me so much trouble. House of guitars was amazing and they ordered everything i needed right then and there. And when i got there they gave me a bunch of free stuff for having such a big order. Thank youNow 2 months later, had several issues with my purchase and have decided never to deal with Peavey again. Not house of guitars fault obviously. Everyone there has been very friendly and cooperative and when I decided to go with a trade-in for store credit, they were very helpful, apologetic, and still very friendly. They even helped me carry was a 6 piece drumset with 4 symbols all the way downstairs to my car. The dude with long hair and the guy that always wears a hat (sorry i didnt catch your names) were the best. Thanks guys.
Bit of a drive but if you play an instrument or are really into music, this is a place you have yo check out at least once. They dont have air conditioning though so dont go on a hot day.
Awesome trip thanks Armand and Linda it was my pleasure to meet you and talk your ear off
Ordered a guitar and paid in advance to be delivered in a 48hr window in which I was visiting NYC... I had everything worked out over the phone and detailed in emails.2 days before I arrive I ask for the Fedex tracking number and all hell breaks loose because they never sent it out on time... Furthermore I arrive over the weekend and the standard Fedex shipping they use does not operate on weekends.You would think they would have taken the trouble to send it overnight - or at least to contact me to split the extra cost - but nooo! So the guitar does not arrive on time...No apologies, no explanation, no promise to get it right. This was my first time buying from them and I was severely disappointed. (And yes, I called up several times trying to get a hold of the owners but they were unavailable)
The house of guitars is a must see for anyone with a passion for music. The disorganized chaos that is this store may be discouraging at first, but ask any one of its passionate staff and youll quickly find exactly what youre looking for. Be it instruments, equipment, or just an album, this store has something for everyone
The music basement (CD/Vinyl/Tapes) is where I wanted to visit. Way too much stuff (CDs mostly). So overwhelming we left after a quick walk around.
Historical building, worldwide famous store. A must stop visit for any music lover visiting Rochester. Numerous amazing artists have walked these floors. Instruments, gear, concert/tour t-shirts, and an amazing (and epicly unorganized) selection of tapes, vinyl and CDs. Great stop for any music fan or musician, even if just to look around and bask in the atmosphere.
If you love or even like music you have to go. A person could spend hours looking Amazing
Hands down the best place in the world to buy a guitar (or three).
This store has everything and if you have trouble finding something, just ask the staff and they eagerly find for you. My 94-year-old mother-in-law was searching for polka records and the young man was very helpful and found some for her.
The really nice staff made the experience so much better. Definitely will go back again!
Came in with my 9 year old to buy reeds ands music books. Daughter was fascinated. Staff was very helpful. There may not be another store like this anywhere.
Total reviews rating 4.6
199 Reviews for House of Guitars 2023:
Review №1
2022-07-03Cool place! Every singer you love is probably here. Thousands of tapes, CDs, and vinyls. Guitars signed by tons of famous artists. Lots of T-shirts. In a way its heaven for people who love music.
Review №2
2022-02-02A great place to stop and look around even if youre not in the market for a musical instrument or accessory. More than a just a store, more like a museum with years of history. Great helpful staff. If you like to dig through bins, you could easily spend hours in the record store out back. I try to stop whenever Im in town!
Review №3
2021-10-29Their history speaks for itself and the legend continues!!Great team there and unbelievable selection.Kurt and Mikey are pros.Getting into this is easier with their help and the time spent with my kids is priceless…Thank you!!
Review №4
2021-09-18What an amazing institution/store.If you like music and guitars you will loveThe House of Guitars !Great people. great guitars and great music collection.Pop in,Rock out!Thanks to the family that keeps it going !
Review №5
2022-07-09I would dub this place the Unofficial Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Endless amount of cool stuff! Thousands of autographs, photos, memorabilia, vinyl, t-shirts, guitars.. Just an incredible place. A must visit for anyone that loves music even if youre not a musician!
Review №6
2022-06-08Able to swing in and pick up a box to ship my fathers guitar in. Staff was helpful! My father always loved going there whenever he needed items! He passed away in April and I needed advice and a box to ship his guitar to his brother in Florida. Couldnt have asked for better people to chat with!
Review №7
2022-05-18With all the history Ive heard from locals aside. The media area is way too disorganized. The vinyl is crammed in boxes on the floor, damaged and unorganized. I almost tripped over records on the floor when I went to look at the t-shirts. Ive heard thats how its always been but, If Im going to spend good money on new records please put some effort into some semblance of order and care. Good selection on new records but you definitely need to have some time to dig. I did not go into the musical instrument area.
Review №8
2022-06-08This was as close to a kid in a candy store vibe as Ive gotten as an adult. This store is three floors of goodies with every guitar you could dream of lining the walls. I need to return with a few thousand dollars to blow, definitely.
Review №9
2022-06-23The guitars here are amazing, any style and color you want.. I went downstairs, its kinda messy but they have just about every kind of music you want one cds, cassette, and albums... I love blues not a great selection on blues but I still found a few... Awesome place and if you are in the area you will not be disappointed..
Review №10
2021-07-16Great experience! Really nice and helpful staff! A little overwhelming with just how much there is but we loved every moment!