Delivery
Yes
Rivington Guitars in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
In-store pick-up
Yes
In-store shopping
Yes
Offerings
Repair services
Yes
Service guarantee
Yes
Phone: +1 212-505-5313
Site: http://www.rivingtonguitars.com/
Site: http://www.rivingtonguitars.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:11AM–7PM
- Tuesday:11AM–7PM
- Wednesday:11AM–7PM
- Thursday:11AM–7PM
- Friday:11AM–7PM
- Saturday:11AM–7PM
- Sunday:11AM–6PM
Comments (114)
Really cool shop to check out with tons of vintage guitars covering the walls.However unless there is a specific vintage guitar that you plan on buying from them then just stick to the pedals. Everything vintage there is going to be a rip off. its NYC the way the stay in business is overpriced repairs and up selling old guitars as vintage. They also dont accept returns or exchanges so be 100 percent sure first before buying something expensive. Nice staff though so they might work with you.except for the pedals those they sell at regular retail. so check it out and grab some strings or a pedal.
I bought a guitar from this shop last year. The experience with the rep at the shop was terrific. They shipped the guitar securely -- it left New York to arrive in California, so no small flight -- and arrived in good condition. Communication with the rep was clear, concise and quick. Overall, I would recommend this shop if youre thinking of purchasing from a distance. I have been playing the guitar purchased from them every day since and it is a great playing and sounding axe. Thanks, Howie!
Very beautiful selection of guitars. However, my boyfriend and I had a very uncomfortable experience with one of the staff members, as he turned my boyfriend away when he was wanted to browse guitars and not purchase one that day.The man at the counter was unfriendly, and had a sour, passive aggressive attitude which made the atmosphere very awkward for us and the rest of the people in there. When my boyfriend tried to talk about guitars with him, he did not care to converse and immediately shut him down when he wanted to try a guitar. Guitars should be able to be enjoyed in the store whether being purchased at that moment or not. However, this was clearly not the place for that.
This is sad. I dont like giving business around me a 1 star. I live 1 block away but I always work. I broke 1 of my ibanez prestige guitar string. for a new guitar. Played ten mins. Somehow either my sibling was convinced by the shopkeeper to change all strings. I told my sibling, change one string. the other strings are new. I just didnt like the new locking mechanism from the ibanez prestige. Had too many drinks around east village and broke one string. The shopkeeper decided to change all 5 strings which brings the budget to 65 dollars. Its so sad, because I tried to call back but no one was picking up. I really love the ibanez prestige new strings only for it to be replaced completely for twice the price. There are way too many ripping off of customers. I just go here for the string. I really wish I stop sending my sibling here to change strings who knows nothing about guitars.just sending the 1 strings here and all 5 to guitar center. But they decide to look at the new guitar and change all strings. this happened 3 times with me by sending someone and they charge all strings instead of 1. Im super upset about this. especially because the strings play so nice. you hear me? if I need all 5 strings changed I would go to guitar center not to you. you charge double. including for setup. geez. and ill probably be seeing you again too. i shouldnt even come anymore. anytime youi want 1 string changed you come out with all 5 strings changed.Shopkeeper is nice but really trying to sell.
Worst experience I’ve ever had in a guitar shop. Kid with long bushy hair working there, said I could only try a guitar if I committed to buying it that night, without even playing it first! How a guitar shop is supposed to work this way I don’t know? Gives New York a bad name, rude and unprofessional.
I took my guitar here to get fixed and they did a great job. Next purchase will definitely be from Rivington Guitars. Thanks Howie!
I bought a guitar gig bag here to support a local business. It was used for home storage, I never took it outside. The zipper fell apart within a year. Wasted money. Shouldve went to Guitar Center. If you wanna sell cheap garbage, at least take your name, logo, and address off it.
My brother and I came in here with the goal of seeing a secondhand guitar shop and buy some strings on our trip to NYC after only ever really going to Guitar Center. Even though the store was empty the person behind the counter seemed very eager to get us out of the store despite us causing no trouble.
I picked up a 1986 Les Paul with tons of mojo that plays like a dream! These guys have great customer service and arent afraid to negotiate. They have instruments you wont find in a big box music store. Im pleased with my guitar and will definitely do more business when I get the itch for gear. -Andy, Maryland
They have cool guitars, but their expectation is that you buy one every time you visit. If you are just going to browse, I would not recommend it, because you are not allowed to
I went in there last month, looking for a grown-up guitar for myself. First Sam, and then Howie gave me fantastic service. Spent a fair bit of time explaining the guitars, and pros and cons of each. Came out with the guitar of my dream, which has just been a joy to play every day since. Thanks guys, really appreciate the service, the patience and advice! Could not recommend this shop enough. Ill be coming back next time I make it to the US. Stu (from Singapore).
Great experience with Danny and Char, they adjusted my guitar quickly and were super nice!
Quite an amazing Guitar store in nice neighborhood! Vintage guitars and amps in very fine condition. If you like Gibson and Fender this is a must stop.
The dude wouldn’t let me try the guitar I was interested in. It was not even a pricey guitar
Absolutely fantastic store! I just bought a 1904 Gibson A-1 mandolin and couldnt be happier with it. Top class set-up and a very reasonable price. Staff and management were extremely helpful and i now have a little piece of American history living with me in the Kingdom of Mourne in Ireland 🇮🇪Thanks guys!!
Ordered a stunning Heritage H-535 and I could not be more pleased. The guitar arrived very well packed and the condition was accurately described, which was in excellent condition, even more so for an ‘87! Working with Howie and Sam was a breeze. I would’ve written this review on Reverb, where I originally saw the item but due to limitations on my card, I didn’t actually order through the site. Howie was able to provide several ways to accept payment and once it cleared, he shipped the item promptly. Plays like a dream, sounds and looks like a million bucks and would absolutely do business with them again.Cheers!
Local neighbor to this store. If you’re a musician don’t expect to find anything but overpriced guitars. Literally can’t even get 1/4” inch wires from this place 😭Edit: sb: garbage store
He strung and tuned my guitar in about 15 mins tops. Very good collection of vintage electric acoustic guitars very fascinating to see while waiting.
This place is the best....the coolest vintage gear in NYC. You can tell they care about what they are doing by the items that are on display. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. A classic and a must see in NYC.
Folks I just bought a Gibson Les Paul Custom 2007 from Rivington on Reverb and I couldnt be happier. The description of the guitar was spot on and the price was right within the range of Reverbs buying guide.Packing and shipping were first rate and the guitar arrived safely in three days from the date of purchase. Spoke with Howie about the guitar by phone and he treated me like a long time customer and answered several questions about the guitar and his opinion about other equipment I was interested in.Cant rate these guys high enough, but if this helps you decide whether to buy from Rivington Ill tell you this I will be a repeat customer if for no other reason than their customer service.Thanks guys.
This shop is a scam. I bought an acoustic guitar from them that they had listed as very good condition on Reverb. I received it and it literally had burn marks on the inside of it and it smelled like it was in a fire. I obviously returned it and paid for shipping to do so. They charged me a 5% restocking fee for returning an incorrectly listed guitar. I contacted them to refund the restocking fee and they are ignoring me. They just deny my request. This shop is a joke and I will never do business with them again. I suggest you do business somewhere else. These guys have no integrity at all.
Very overpriced, wont buy from here again! Excellent service, great guitar, but insane price! Bought a brilliant 1964-LG-1 Gibson acoustic guitar three months ago and I want to sell it back because I’m broke. Bought it for 2.4 K, but they told me the best they could do is 1K if I remove the signature on the guitar. The guys working there are nice, but price wise, it really rips off! I’m really broke and angry now, I don’t want to sell this beauty at all! But the price they offered... how much they made from selling me this guitar?
This place is a guitar players dream. Tons of cool vintage gear, you can tell it has been hand picked. Apparently the owner travels all around the USA getting gear. I found a cool vintage Boss delay pedal, and its the best pedal on my board. The people working there were nice and friendly and down to earth. I will be back. A must see for any guitar player.
Had my telecaster serviced here and it feels like a new guitar now. Little things I always neglected had accumulated like polishing frets or the back of the neck. Plays significantly better now, holds notes longer and truer.
Rivington has done my guitar setups since they were on Rivington Street! Highly recommended. They’ve even talked me out of spending money on unnecessary things so I know they’re decent guys. They follow Covid distancing very well.
Went in to look at a vintage Supro Amp, and the guy working there was so busy with his personal phone call that he couldnt even acknowledge the fact that I was in there, so I left. Would have at least bought a pedal.
Guy behind the counter told me they limit the tryout time to ten minutes or so. So, you know. No pressure.
Terrible attitude and service.Went in with three other friends to this vintage guitar shop. We had high hopes because of some of the positive reviews we saw. When we went in, the atmosphere was awkward and cramped. The guitars were nice looking vintage guitars but sounded awful when played. They were completely overpriced as well. Asked to play one of the guitars behind the counter and the worker wouldnt allow me to play it because it was a one of a kind guitar, he didnt think I could afford the guitar, and he didnt want to go through the nonexistent hassle of cleaning the guitar after a customer plays it. In a vintage shop, every guitar is a one of a kind guitar, no matter the price range. The vibe was so unwelcoming and negative I wouldnt want to go back. I understand that as a guitar salesman, you are making a living off of sales but giving off an uninviting and sour vibe to customers you assume wont be making a purchase is lowly. So unless youre looking into buying a one of a kind vintage tissue box for twice its worth, dont expect a helpful and welcoming salesman
I had been searching for a vintage guitar online and located a particular model I was interested in at Rivington Guitars. I sent an email inquiring about the guitar and received an immediate response from Howie, the owner. One of my main concerns was whether Rivington would ship to Canada, and Howie assured me it would be no problem. I decided to make the purchase and arranged for payment. Howie indicated they would ship the guitar immediately upon receipt of funds. After I had sent payment, I continued some research on the guitar and discovered that the guitar being sold was actually a different model number than Rivington originally stated. I let Howie know and, once again, received an immediate response telling me I was correct and I could cancel the sale. It should be mentioned that the differences in the models are pretty subtle and I decided to follow through with the purchase. The long and short of it is that Rivington shipped the guitar to Canada immediately on the funds hitting their bank, and packed it up so well it took me half an hour to get it out of the shipping box! The guitar was in the exact condition described by Rivington and I am a very happy customer. I would definitely do business with Howie and Rivington again.
Very unfriendly. Does not like customers
Tried to enter Rivington and I got turned away at the door because I only wanted to browse and didn’t know if I was going to purchase. I get that it’s still Covid times but nowhere on the website did it say appointment only. I’m from out of town and walked a good bit to get there and I’m frustrated that I had no way of knowing it was appointment only beforehand.
Got a setup done here. The cost was way too high ($150) and I had a very unprofessional exchange over the phone with the guitar tech. I love the stores selection but if my experience is any indication of the way they treat customers then this store is not for me and I will probably never go back.
I hate to give a one star review to a small NYC business but I was compelled to write this after purchasing a vintage guitar from them recently.I walked into Rivington about two months ago and found a 1976 Tele that I lusted for immediately upon laying eyes on it. Had a killer look and sounded pretty great too. Though I thought it needed a bit of a setup, I was interested in buying it--the only holdback for me was that it was $3195--a very steep price for that particular guitar. Other Teles from that era that I had come across ranged anywhere from $2300-3000 depending on originality and condition. When I asked an employee why it was priced so high, he responded that it was probably all original and had to check the listing online. He pulled it up and confirmed that it was all original based on Howies description on the listing (Vintage Original 1976 Telecaster) and its high price tag. Under the impression that this guitar was all original and thus had more inherent value, I felt better about the prospect of buying it and I ultimately shelled out the extra cash to make it mine.After about a week and a half of having the guitar in my possession, I was disappointed to find that it couldnt stay in tune. I wanted to get it set-up to my specs anyway, so I took it to a friend of mine who does in-house repairs at the famed Gruhns Guitars in Nashville (who also happens to be one of their vintage Fender experts). He asked how much I paid for it and I told him the number. Within 10 minutes of running down the guitar, he informed me that the bridge was not the one that would have come with the guitar in 76 (additionally, it didnt even have the right screws for the saddles, which made the setup funky), one of the pots in the guitar was not original and the other was placed on the wrong knob (It also occurred to Gruhns that these pots had been rewired to settings that werent the way the factory would have made it), the strap pins werent original, neck pickup had been re-routed, and the plastic pickup selector was not stock either.To boot, part of the reason it wouldnt stay in tune was that it had pretty bad kick-up on the neck, a detail I overlooked when playing it in the shop--to make it play right it would need a refret. Sweet.Im a working musician, not a guitar collector, but I was pretty disappointed to find out that I had paid for a guitar that should have been sold for much less--not to mention I was lied to about the guitar I was purchasing.I sent Howie an extensive email explaining my dissatisfaction with the purchase and why I felt deceived by his business. I closed it out by asking for a full refund despite the stores no refund policy (gee, I wonder why that is...). He opened up his response with We are very careful about telling our customers that a guitar is all original... and then went on to accuse me of tampering with the unoriginal parts myself: How do we know if these parts are actually correct at this point once the guitar has left the store? ... Are you kidding me?Needless to say, no refund issued and instead I got a virtual middle finger from the seller.Between the whacky bridge and neck kick-up its gonna cost me even more to make this guitar play right, and I already paid a considerable amount more for it than I should have based on its true value.The takeaway is that this place either doesnt really know what they are selling and so they carelessly slap on high price tags and false claims to see if anyone bites, or they do know what they are selling, lie, and overprice it anyways--neither warrants anything more than a 1 star review IMO.
I have been going to to Rivington guitars for 15+ years, and in my opinion, there is no better store in NYC. Awesome selection of guitars at very reasonable prices. Howie and Alex are knowledgeable and extremely helpful.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! Never met someone so committed.Great customer service, good price- and the most important part,Our guitars sound like never before. Thank you for your hard work.
Friendly staff. Repairs and tune-ups are a little pricy but the work performed is methodical and professional. Guitar re-stringing is usually $40 and can be done same day (if theyre not busy).
Went in with intentions of buying a 1934 martin arch top, guy working there apparently didnt have intentions to sell the guitar. Looked at his computer the whole time, he did ask if I was Interested in anything I told him I saw the martin online his response was yup its here and that was that no offer to help me or let me play it. I would look elsewhere if looking for anything
My Name is Declan O`Connell.I am an irishman living in Germany.I have had a great experience with a transaction with Rivington Guitars in New York City.I saw the guitar in the internet and after a look at the shop video i felt i had just met with good people.Packaging and shipping went very well and the guitar is everything i hoped it would be.I even got a little reduction from the asking price.I never thought i would buy a guitar over the internet.This was my first but not my last dealing with Rivington Guitars.Thanks again lads and thanks for being a Vintage Guitar Shop.
Dont trust anything they say. This store is the worst to pick up an instrument.I found out that the guitar I bought had loose bridge holes while changing the strings (hard to move the bridge with all the string tension). I found out that they filled the hole by tucking paper into it... Ridiculous.They offered to fix but basically how could you trust a mentality that tucks paper in holes to stabilize the bridge post.Please dont trust this store or at least bring a guitar expert with you to examine the guitar before buying...
Rivington Guitars is located on East 4th Street in the East Village of Manhattan, NYC.Rivington Guitars have 2 shops on the street, and both shops are located on the north side of East 4th Street between the Bowery and 2nd Avenue.The shops are well stocked, and have plenty of things of interest.They have tons of Guitars from all different periods of time, and they are priced fairly for what they are.The staff is quite knowledgeable and pleasant.
This is a well-run shop with a solid selection of foundational electrics (as well as a few curiosities). Staff is helpful, guitars are properly set up and prices are OK, especially considering Manhattans dearth of used musical instrument outlets.
Difficult sales assistant shame it put me off purchasing
Howie and crew are really great. They ask honest prices for good stuff and are willing to negotiate. They also pay good money for used equipment and are above all HONEST. It is a go-to spot to buy / sell / trade - and they dont have the snooty atmosphere (and stupid prices) that some of the hipster shops have.
The shop is not so big, but the guitars are great.The staff is helping if you dont meaningless question.Ill be happy to go back there next time for some Epiphone I wasnt able to afford this time.
I had to return several times to have the same (minor) repairs done over. Finally I got a second opinion from a respected Martin Authorized guitar repairman who confirmed the work done by Neil was not only inferior but damaging to my guitar. STAY AWAY
In my experience behind the counter in retail for over a dozen years, I always found the customer supplied roughly 90% of the attitude. Rivington Guitars is run by stone-cols pros who know their guitars and have an extraordinarily high level of accommodation and respect with every customer Ive ever see any Rivington guy deal with, whether in the main shop or Acoustic West. Like most dyed-in-the-wool vets and professionals, suffering fools is part of the game. They do that well, too. But, waaay more importantly, when you walk into either Rivington on East 4th, you are confronted with an array of unexpected offbeat vintage guitars, along with the choice Strats and Gibsons, that make you ahemmm break out the bucks. If old guitars mean something to you. This is a Must Visit shop. As for Derek Hamiltons experience directly below, I am genuinely sorry to read he wasnt happy regarding Neal Winkowski, Rivingtons Luthier/repair man. Neal has worked on my 54 D-28, 58 Coronet, 57 Strat, 60 Strat, 64 Hummingbird, 66 Guild Starfire, 68 Ric 360, 59 Country Club, 61 Casino, Neal BUILT my hybrid Srat Tel with all vintage Fender parts 57 - 68... I have been thrilled with every job hes done whether a repair, a sprucing-up, a modification. Vintage loonies like me are very persnickety about who we let near our gems with screwdrivers, glue, soldering irons... Neal is The Man. Thank you. Rivingtons entire team is non-pariel for dead-straight dealings with good humor. One of the joys of living in NYC is there is ALWAYS another guitar shop to patronize. I go to Rivington.
Howie Statland has got to be the hardest working man in showbiz. The guy is on the road constantly in search of vintage guitars that people are dying to get their hands on. Ive always had great sales and service at Rivington Guitars. I go by sometimes just to peek in the door to see who is around and have seen some of the biggest names in the business come walking out carrying guitars with big smiles on their faces. Hes done repair work on several of my guitars that were really looking like a total loss and brought them back to life and hes really reasonable. Ive been playing for 50 years now and pretty much all the vintage guys are really greedy. Howie aint one of those. I love doing business there.KD
One of a kind store sells used and vintage guitars, great for the enthusiast. Two shops steps from each other, one electric and one acustic. Large inventory with some very unique finds.
Just got a 64 Fender Princeton that is as good as it gets! Its totally clean and sounds even better than the same model I kinda swiped from my cousin in the mid 70s?(lol)If youre looking for vintage gear thats in immaculate condition; this is great place to look. I know Ill keep looking for whatever the budget might afford and my ears and soul yearn for.Pretty sure this amp will be rockin at a retirement home in 30 years as long as my hands arent too arthritic to play, and the other inmates/guests dont totally object to classic rock and vintage blues.;PNot sure Ill ever play my Marshall again.You Guys At Rivington ROCK!I Always Will!!!John Lattimer
While the store was at the original location they fixed electronics of my old cheap guitar , when it stopped working 1 week later the owner of the store refused to consider fixing it again. Moreover, he was very arrogant and cocky .
Wicked shop for bass guitars. The collection was strong and diverse! The guys were super friendly too! 5 stars from me!
They were really cool guys who simply allowed my sixteen-year-old to play a couple of their vintage guitars without interfering or being pushy or superior or even really saying much of anything beyond a sincere greeting.
After going into nearly every single small guitar shop in manhatten, Sam in rivington hooked me up with some killer pedals. But the pedals i could have found on the internet, it waw Sam that made this shop solid. Knowledgable and without the standard NY attitude!
Great shop, cool vintage guitars and amps! Nice alternative to the big box stores. Impressive collection of guitars in this little shop.
Five star plus plus plus experience! GREAT store, excellent prices, great and very helpful people minding the store. Bought a vintage Gibson there that is even better than advertised or expected. VERY highly recommended store!
Amazing customer service super polite and helpful staff and for someone spending only 13 bucks. Definitely going to come back anytime I need anything. Also amazing Prices....
Not cheap, but a great selection of classic guitars and boutique pedals. For example: Ive never seen a vintage Fender Starcaster in person, and these guys have TWO.
Very friendly guys behind the counter, tried a couple guitars, some fun player grade vintage, will visit again for that kind of instrument.
Amazing selection of guitars new and rare classic editions they have them all knowledgeable and friendly staff a blast
Really loved this place. Bought two wonderful guitars here.
Son, there is beautiful music in everything, you just have to know how to find it.I smile and lay a pineapple slice on our record player.
Renowned dealer displaying wall-to-wall classic guitars & gear from the 60s to today in snug digs.
Awful place. You think a pawn shop is bad to try and sell something. Try and sell a guitar here. Joke.
Gooooood!!! The first Time I almost broke my neck seeing all there. Good Prices and better attention!!!
Great selection of cool used guitars. Jeff knows his stuff.
Great place to see unique and wonderful instruments. Impressive pedal collection.
The service is good, nice pepole. Cool guitars
Great shop, fantastic gear, laid back knowledgeable staff, very cool vibe.
Lovely helpful people. Female friendly too which is a rarity in guitar stores
Externally the guitar seemed perfect, inside it was a disaster. Paid at absurd price
Cool, old style guitar store with lots for every player
Jason Momoa visited this place once. It is great and the staff is very kind.
Excellent, knowledgeable service and a great selection at reasonable prices -- would give it an 11 if I could
Got a ukulele there. Great customer service.
Nice little guitar shop. Expensive, but so is the rent Im sure.
Beautiful guitars and friendly staff!
Great selection of vintage gear with knowledge staff
Nice and very kind...and the fastest delivery to düsseldorf/germany ever...
Superb.Nice staff, good selection and great prices.
Wonderful guitars. Especially appreciated Adrian.
Not that friendly, not much there, and a bit overpriced.
Good enough gear. Employee was a douche.
Last of a dying bred. must come here at least once n your lifetime
Pompous bunch but for all the right reasons, they are the best
Great guitars great staff
Some really good guitars
Top shelf
Great place with really unique stuff
Barely acceptable or overpriced gear.
Top Shop!
Great guitars!
People are a bit pretentious here : /
Staff was disengaged with customers.
Good
Excellent
Interesting selection!
Great store
Solid selection.
Nice people
Fun guitars
Nice guitars but expensive compared to Europe.Didnt deign to turn on the lights in my presence and waited for me to get out..
Guitarist friends run ...You have to see this store which is very very beautiful, even if you will certainly not be able to please you!
Amazing selection
Good
Total reviews rating 3.8
114 Reviews for Rivington Guitars 2023:
Review №1
2022-02-13Great store with a great selection of really awesome pieces. HOWEVER, it would be nice to play some of them. My experience with the staff was pretty horrible. The staff member working there would not let me even try a guitar I was not planning on purchasing that day and created a really awkward and Uncomfortable environment so we just left. If you’re an avid guitarist/collector like me looking to stop by and browse a nice collection of vintage guitars that you might otherwise not have the opportunity to play. This is NOT the place for that.
Review №2
2022-03-05I truly do not understand how Rivington Guitars manages to stay in business.The shop is physically set up to prevent you from going anywhere near a guitar—as a customer you are surrounded by glass desks that constrain what is already a pretty small store into the size of a small bathroom. You are not allowed to play anything without appointment—not that you would find what you’re looking for for a fair price anyway. From the moment you step in, the employee (at least the one I encountered) seems to try to ignore you as much as possible (I actually prefer inattentive employees at guitar stores, I like browsing around myself, but when you can’t even get close to the guitars it’s quite the opposite effect). I asked a couple of questions and he did take the guitars out of the racks and into his hands—at which point I had the slim hope of touching one—only to put it back and simply tell me its price (invariably above the market price) which is the one and only thing I can infer with my eyes, and for which he isn’t needed. Even if they somehow manage to sell their overpriced guitars a couple of times a month, I don’t see them remaining open for a long while.
Review №3
2022-02-25I’m born and raised here in Manhattan and decided it was time to visit Rivington guitars. I wanted to remind what a great privately owned store could be but have to say that the experience was a pure Meh!! While the young guy behind the counter was polite and answered questions the owner clearly makes enough money to not really seem have to sell to a walk in. As others have mentioned they have a nice selection of guitars but unlike much more friendly stores like 30th street guitars where you can actual play a guitar I asked about a guitar that interested me and the salesperson took it off the wall looked at it and didn’t even ask me if I wanted to try it. Anyway, they don’t need my business or care and that’s cool but if you’re selling guitars, at least make people feel like you want them to buy one. Nothing bad here, no rudeness or any of that and I would stop in if I needed some guitar stuff in a pinch but I guess that’s sales nowadays. Nice selection of guitars, really (from a distance but there) . No complaints there.
Review №4
2022-07-24Out of the dozens of guitar stores I’ve been to, this is the only one that will not let you try out any guitars. On top of that, the owner/employee was incredibly rude. I asked if I could try out a guitar, and he very obnoxiously replied, “Well are you gonna buy it?” If I wanted to buy a guitar without playing it first I would shop online. I usually support local guitar stores, but if you’re in Manhattan you’re better off just going to Sam Ash or Guitar Center. However, If your ideal guitar store is a 3 foot wide crack shack, then this is the place for you.
Review №5
2022-05-14I have been here multiple times to purchase an instrument and left not buying the guitar, because the staff was not only dismissive but actively rude and unhelpful. Other friends have bought ‘all original’ guitars from them, only to discover many modifications had been made, when they went back with this info, they offered to buy it back for half.Buyer beware. You can get some nice equipment here, but Do your due diligence and research beforehand, and best not to expect any customer service.
Review №6
2022-03-04Its not worth going to the physical location. Its a really uncomfortable in-store experience. You walk in, youre roped into about 4 sq. ft. I asked if I could look at the guitars, not even play, and the disinterested guitar dude behind the counter, No . . . let me know if you have any questions. Well, its hard to have any questions if I cant get within 20 feet of the inventory. It made me feel like a teenager again, being eyed like youre about to steal something. I dont understand why this isnt a by-appointment location like Retrofret. Or if online sales is your thing, cool! Be clear about that. But I feel like Ive wasted my time coming into the city to have a closer look at some of the nice pieces I saw online. I really hate to be down on an independent guitar shop, but there are better places to spend your money.
Review №7
2022-06-28Really upset to leave a poor review but this store has lost a customer of 8+ years. Had a friendly fellow help me with an amp and helped me choose it.Got it home and realized the speaker wire was janky - no possible way of knowing this in the store. I informed them the same day of the issued and brought it back as soon as I can. Absolutely refused to give me a refund or accommodate me because it’s “vintage” - what a crock. Worst return policy in the city!
Review №8
2022-05-23Was missled about their exchange policy, which ended up costing me way more than i wanted to spend for gear I could have gotten much cheaper elsewhere. The owner refused to take responsibility for the mistake. Lesson learned, will go to another store next time where the ownership is more proffessional and trustworthy.
Review №9
2022-08-07Decent guitars but horrible staff. They would not let me demo any guitar i wanted to play. I do not know why they are still in business.
Review №10
2019-09-04They had a lefty guitar which is rare, an old Fender. Needed work done on the input feed, no negotiation, as is. I find better things in pawn shops. Thanks no thank you