Best Musical Instrument Shops In Washington Near Me

Donovan Dorrance: Aaron hooked me up with a great set-up for my telecaster. Helped fix some intonation issues. So very grateful for his expertise, efficiency, and kindness. Highly recommend coming here! They will treat you right!!!

Shawn Benson: Music on the Hill - The Hill’s own neighborhood music shop. Pretty cool. I’m a new client at Music on the Hill and I’m a very satisfied customer. My wife and I look forward to coming back, taking lessons, and recommending this neighborhood music shop to our musically-inclined or curious friends. Their prices are often just as good (and sometimes better) than their competition. The customer service/expertise is spot-on. And, you feel good knowing your money is going back to a small, local business. Frankly, it’s an investment in our community and that’s almost reason enough these days. Give them a shot. They don’t have everything, but they’ve got a lot and it was more than enough for us.

anne phelps: My whole family loves Music on the Hill! Lindy is a terrific resource on all things music related. We’ve had great experiences with lessons (clarinet and guitar) and when we wanted to upgrade to a wooden clarinet, Lindy & Luke found us a quality used instrument. If there’s something we need and they don’t have it, they’ve always been able to get it in short order. Music on the Hill is everything a local music store should be.

DAVID BAROI: On March 29th around 5 pm Me and my friend wanted to check this store out we are not from the dc area and we drove during rush hour traffic took us 40 min. But where we arrived I was keen on checking out the guitars and my buddy wanted to get a a quarter in jack. After we went in we an employee Middle Aged female was being rude as soon as we walked i; she made us feel very uncomfortable and eying us down the whole time. My friend even purchased a product and yet she was keen on getting us out the door and I was in the middle of considering purchasing the fender Stratocaster Mexico made but yet she was nudging for the door. After being in there not even for 10 min she came up and told us we had to leave. And so we abided by what she said and left. But will I go back again ? No how can i go into a music store and spend over a hundred dollar on anything without taking my time on inspecting that product.

Amaobi Otiji: I had an enjoyable experience buying a guitar here. Their shop setup is really aesthetically pleasing and their selections were all from very quality makers. The staff were very helpful in finding something that fit me by giving me a lot of options to work with. I also enjoyed them showing off the instruments with their musical skills.

Eric Schneider: Since this place added a guitar tech and luthier, I have taken in three guitars and received perfect setups and provided great service in general. So glad to have these folks in Capitol Hill instead of having to give a conglomerate like Guitar Center my business!

Kevin Wholihan: Had an amazing purchasing experience here and came away with a gorgeous acoustic. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, quickly found me the right size and a great fit. Very good COVID precautions. Will be back for my next major purchase.

Gillian Edick: We popped into Middle C to have a guitar restrung and tuned. They did it quickly, but more importantly made it great fun for my aspiring but beginner guitarist. Tom was amazing - so helpful and took the time to show my son how to tune the guitar, hold it and get started. Really fantastic service. Thanks Tom and team!

Paul Myers: I purchased a piano from these fine people, and I love it. It was very competitively priced. I have also purchased a guitar, and I have had these folks restring several guitars, and they do a great job —and again, the price is right. I love supporting small businesses, and Middle C Music is one of the best!

Fernando Nogueira: Super friendly and helpful staff.We were missing a very specific guitar screw and they helped us out in no time.

Susanna Gregory: I LOVED it here! Stopped by for a new guitar and the staff was immediately willing to help and super friendly. The prices were great and I was really impressed with all the cool little things you could buy too! I didn’t get the names of the people who helped me but they were fantastic

Michelle Long: I had the best time at Middle C Music! Everyone was super knowledgeable, supportive, and friendly. I came in looking for a 3/4 size acoustic guitar for traveling and had my pick of a beautiful selection. Big fan!! Will return!

Richard Capeless: My experience was through an online order and I am here to testify to their exceptional customer service. I had a small problem with a piece of gear I was really excited to get, and the staff went above and beyond the call of duty to accommodate me. General manager Adam Levin reach out to me and oversaw my exchange. That kind of personal touch made it clear that they care about their customers.

Rachel Ellis: Bought my fiancé a guitar here a year ago. Sales person was friendly and helpful. Good covid protocol for the time. Sales people weren’t pushy and were well informed on guitars. Bought the Taylor GS Mini and it’s been a great guitar. Would definitely check them out if you’re in the market for an instrument. Only downside was slightly outdated equipment/billing systems, but nothing a little patience doesn’t fix.

Eddie Monson: Excellent customer service, very courteous and professional... Bought a new guitar at a good price and shipped fast..

D0nut7125: Got my trick Dominators from this store, fast shipping and arrived just on time for a gig. Will be ordering from this place again!

Mary Ann Wyckoff: Aaron was very helpful with answering questions and guiding me towards choosing the right bass clarinet for me! I definitely recommend Chuck Levin’s!

Greg O: I am the type of person who goes into a music shop and likes to try a lot of instruments for a while before I buy and in many big chain music stores such as Chuck Levins, Guitar Center and music and arts I usually get very impatient, VERY PUSHY and rude service from the sales staff. I was so delighted to not experience that at all from your sales staff and this lack of pressure MADE ME BUY. I will definitely be back.

Daniel Meltzer: A wonderfully overwhelming array of instruments in this shop. Very nice folks. I am glad we have this place in the Baltimore/DC area.

El desinformador Informador: This store repairs accordion microphone inputs since I have a condenser microphone, it is two microphones in one but when you connect the tip or plug as is normally done, only one microphone sounds the one on the grill but the one with the bass does not if I take it out in the middle more or less work the two microphones can repair this or what would be the problem in advance I hope your help thanks

Dale Dean: Extremely professional service allowed me to find the right edition of sheet music that I wanted. And we conferred back and forth by text messages before I even entered the store to pick up the edition. Outstanding and responsive treatment.

T King: Very cool old school music shop, lotta different instruments, sheet music etc. Not sure how competitive prices on guitar amps are. Fun to browse. Looks like the do lessons and repairs, too.

Billy Billy: Why you got to be so weird with your comments every time I come in the store with my children. I get that your band geeks or something, but don’t be so creepy and learn how to interact with humans. @Bernard and others need to stop with weird offhand remarks to customers and children in the store. No one needs it and we will take personal insult next time.

aria moshrefi: Came in just to exchange the rental violin for my son. Brian A was so helpful. He showed us the problem was was not the size of the violin but the locations of the tape was not correct. Excellent free assistance by such a nice employee Thank you you so much !

Christine Hill: I went to Foxes music just to come see and admire the store cause of all the instruments. It was my first time going there and usually i’m a anxious mess kind of a person. I was immediately greated by good ol Dave! (Welcoming and friendly) He showed me some books, amps, intruments, etc. demoed some pedals. Not once was there a pressure to buy or anything which was super nice! No sales pitch and I thoroughly appreciated that. I saw this mustang and he showed it to me and all was history! I walked out with a slammin deal and stand in top of that! Thanks so much Dave! Will definitely be coming back!

Bob Wise: I brought in a 1917 violin to have a chip repaired. You cannot tell where the chip happened, the workmanship is top notch

James Gestrich: Great service, my son bought a viola which is now a part of him, Brobst made this possible... thank you

Aik Khim Tan: Even though I had many many questions, David and Sharon patiently helped me through the entire process of purchasing a fine violin. They were friendly and very clear in communication. I highly recommend Brobst Violin Shop for their excellent customer service and diverse range of fine instruments!

Zackery Harper: Utilizing their home trial, I was able to find a vintage instrument that I fell in love with. I was able to negotiate a nice trade in on my prior instrument. I will definitely come back to Brobst in the future for my strings needs. The customer service was great and Sharon was so helpful throughout my experience. Thank you! :)

dmarm339: Great service and deals. I trust them with all my string instruments. David gave us a fantastic deal at our school for two violas. They were high quality instruments and setup correctly. Additionally, he repaired out string bass. We are grateful for their quality services at affordable prices.

AVI Entertainment DJ Services (Dj-Zx): I have been dealing with them for years very good people that tend to your need and help you find what you want. If its not in the store usually he can order it for you so you will have it by the time it is needed. I bought all my Dj equipment there and anytime i need something such as lighting etc... I call AMC and I get top quality help. I send all my contacts and friends there if they need to rent equipment or buy anything!!!!!!

Judith Bayliss: With two children who have played various instruments from elementary school into high school, we have relied on Alexandria Music for instruments, supplies, and advice for almost 10 years. Excellent customer service, excellent advice, and a source of local knowledge without parallel.

Laura Coker: I like this place. They are always welcoming and easy to talk to when you have questions. My daughter takes cello lesson with Erin and she is really good. She gives quality lessons and is patient with my daughter who was a beginner. I would recommend this place

Michael Meehan: I got my Floyd Rose setup and it is in the best state it has ever been in for a great price and a short drive!

Sahil A: I would give this Guitar Center 0 stars if I could. Ben and all the other employees seem nice over the phone but in person they give you smart answers especially Ben, when you ask about the return policy Ben gets very offended. I asked for the return policy cause I was buying a used controller without it being tested. Ben then says if your gonna return it then don’t buy it, then why the hell do u guys have a return policy. Never shopping at this store again and I don’t recommend it to anyone!

Chris Scuderi: Warning. This guitar center is selling used items as new. Purchased 2 “new” KRK 8 inch studio monitors at almost $300 each. When grabbing them off the shelf I noticed one of them looked like the box was retaped. I asked if this unit was used and the salesman Zack assured me it wasn’t. When I got home (after 2 hour round trip) the unit that I thought was opened was certainly opened because the power cable was missing. I immediately called the store and the manager was prompt to tell me he would over night the power cord. I raised my concern about the item being used and he assured me it wasn’t. Well, it’s used. There is a white scuff on bottom left (like it was hit on a white wall) and there are what appears to be soda that has dried on bottom. Now I get to spend another 2 hours swapping out this unit with a new one. A complete waste of my time and money.

Michael Fortenberry: Great location close to a lot of attractions and other shopping areas. They have a wonderful selection of music equipment bass, electric, and acoustic guitars. I think what a lot of people don’t know is Guitar Center also has a great selections of equipment keyboards, sound, lighting and turntable equipment. The staff here is superb, helpful and provided a lot of great recommendations I didn’t initially considered. I highly recommend this location to anyone passing through this area or are visiting.

Quentin Workman: After a mixup in shipping, and UPS losing my guitar, I was refunded for the price of mine and sent a new one on them. They are a great company that I will continue to frequent!

Hasan ibn-Sabah: Decent stock, helpful and friendly employees who seem to like what they do. Minus 9ne star for the horrible parking lot situation.

Ken Pierce: I bought a new Álvarez guitar is it place so good in the Customer satisfaction is excellent I love shopping at this place

Travis Roland: I brought my martin custom X guitar here to have the bridge re glued down, and have a neck adjustment. My first issue was that i was told the total cost was going to be 150$ which included putting elixer strings back on. When i went to pick up the guitar I was charged extra for strings and they didnt put elixers back on. Not too big of a deal to me. When I got home and proceeded to inspect the repair I was immediately shocked by the lack of attention to detail, the bridge was crooked and not flush against the body. I returned the guitar to have this corrected, when I went to pick it up, I inspected it in the store, there was glue all around the bridge and looked even worse than the first time! I spoke with Steven H. Who conducted the repair and he said he would address the issue. Im thinking third time is a charm, wrong! I picked it up 20 minutes ago and it still looks like garbage. At this point my guitar has spent almost 3 weeks at guitar center and I have lost all patience so I brought the guitar home.

MOHAMMED DALOWAR HOSSAIN: This an amazing place to buy a guitar and necessity of the music world instrument

She Fancy: These folks are just AWESOME. The young lady (the only young lady- pardon me for being absent minded) educated me on my desired purchase and went above and beyond to select the very best electric drum set available. She helped me prank surprise my husband with the drum set for his bday. She purchased balloons for him at zero cost to me. I can’t say enough. Extremely satisfied with the value AND service.

Matt Lyttle: The greatest guitar shop around, no question. Incredible selection of new and vintage instruments. All sorts of pedals and gear. Extremely knowledgeable staff. And they are as welcoming as can be. Just be respectful of their stuff and they will treat you like family - no matter how deep (or empty) your pockets are!

Elisa: Great store! The staff are so friendly, kind, and willing to share advice. I always have a pleasant experience taking my guitars in for work or browsing for new gear.

Matthew Morgan: This place is the best guitar shop in the DMV and it’s not even close. The guys know their stuff and they care about what they do. I came in with a California strat a few months ago and the owner took time to walk me through the history of the guitar, the value, and helped me weigh pros and cons of investing in some repairs. They’ve set up 4 of my guitars and have done A+ work on each one. Love these guys!

Cameron Quinn: Music shops like this are a dying bread and thankfully we still have killer shops like Action. Super knowledgeable about all things music and guitars. Best and most eclectic selection of vintage guitars in the area. Thanks Action!

Harrison Z: I found a guitar on their website listed as in stock, called to buy it and they explained their website is out of date by about 5 years. Ok. They mentioned they have a Mustang Bass for sale though so I was interested. Rob told me he had to check with his boss on how to do the sale but the best way would be to mail a check. I accepted the terms and asked to please place a hold tag. They said they could put the tag on for me. I called them the next day to ask for the pictures they promised me, they were “slammed; call back later no time to put a hold tag on”. I called back later. “The shop is closing now but we can make a reverb listing for you tomorrow and you’ll just buy it first as it goes up.” I told them, Saturday on reverb, it’s very possible someone will buy it in those seconds before me. They said it’s never happened and won’t be a problem. I call back the next day to remind them of the deal, they said call a little later. I did. They say 3,2,1 the listing is up, Reverb wanted my CVV code (which doesn’t usually happen) which I scrambled to get, then someone else bought the bass in those seconds. Apparently the other buyer is a returning customer so they sold the bass to him. After all the calls I made and the changing of terms I accepted, they simply sold it out from under me. This is the number one worst experience I’ve had buying a guitar. They cant accept a credit card over the phone? The reverb listing wouldn’t have even been created if it weren’t for me and they sell it to this other guy who is apparently on the way to pick it up 30 seconds after purchasing? Come on. Who do you think would have been inconvenienced more; him or me? After all the phone calls I made and patience I had after reminding them several times about the sale, obviously me!! they didn’t seem to mind at all selling it out from under me. Almost proud of their decision. A simple explanation to the other buyer and I’m sure everyone would understand that the bass should have been sold to me. And a bonus complaint, I asked them at the end of the call if they have anymore vintage fenders in stock and they told me I was already told what they have in stock the day before. As if somehow I was inconveniencing them! Absolutely unbelievable and extremely unprofessional. “We’ve been doing the same thing for 25 years buddy “. Is what I heard many times. What??? Reverbs been around for about 6 years. And you’d think they’d know how to honor a deal after all their years as a shop! Extremely disappointed and so much of my time and energy wasted for nothing.

Christopher Frakes: Great selection of instruments, equipment, and accessories. Matt and co. are knowledgeable, kind, and a delight to chat with. Hands down the best music store in the area!

muscle man: action music is a really good store. the people that work there are all super nice and welcoming. i gotta come back here one day. also the location is very nice considering its right next to a record store and a recording studio

Shawn Hatfield: Always a good time. Thank you guys for the Orange cab this time. I usually get vintage fuzz pedals here. Great selection of instruments, amps, fx, and other music goodies!

Colin: More than I could ask for in a Music Store experience. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I brought a guitar to trade in and put the money towards the purchase of another expecting to haggle on the price. Instead I was given a great deal off the bat and they threw in a free hard shell case. Any time I’m back in this area I’ll be paying this place a visit.

Mike Workman: I was considering to buy this g-400 epi Toni Iommi edition. I was skeptical at first ,the set up was horrible like it never was played. One of the tuners had a bad screw. They had their tech fix it up and it was like a different guitar. I was very pleased at the results and the price was fair for the condition and they even gave me a nice case for it. This is one of the old school misic stores left around .Nice helpful staff I RATE AT 100%

Josh Hess: I visited for my first time today and traded a few guitars I didn’t play for a really nice guitar. I couldn’t have asked for a more helpful people and satisfying experience. They were extremely fair on my trades and they have great prices on the gear in the store. Although I’m about 90 minutes away, they’ve earned a customer for life. 🤘

Tj Tj: My favorite place!They are the absolute best.Whatever u want, They make it happen

Daniel Tana: I’ve been shopping for guitars and other gear at Atomic music for 20 years now, and they’ve never let me down. If you want a guitar, bass, amp, etc. and don’t want to spend a fortune on something new, you absolutely can’t beat them for used gear. They guarantee everything they sell used so if you have a problem with it, they’ll take it back within 30 days. They also have a great buy back policy so if you’re someone like me who’s slowly upgraded to nicer instruments over the years, you know you’ll get a good price selling back a guitar that you bought there if you want to upgrade it a few years later. I recently found what would have been a 400ish dollar Marshall combo amp there tagged at $219, played it in store, and walked out with it for an even better price. Unbelievable. I’m just saying, it’s worth a trip or a call/email to them if you’re looking for something specific, and you can find some great stuff if you have time to browse around their inventory. So before you go to Guitar Center or whatever, check them out. You’ll be supporting an awesome and vital local/regional business and you’ll probably find a really good deal too!

Ed Gallagher: Great Store and team. Brought in a bunch of lefty Guitars and Helix Floor. Got a great and fair price! They are the best!

J C: I visited to sell some music gears. They’re pretty big and had lots of varieties at the store! Staff were so kind and friendly. If you’re looking into buying instruments or selling them, you should definitely check Atomic Music for sure!!:)

Christian Aquino: Came in to get some work done on my violin during Memorial Day. I had no prior knowledge of having to make an appointment and Z.Z. still took me in and took care of my violin. Despite unfortunate events that delayed me from picking up my violin at the scheduled time (later the same day), he was very understanding and adaptable to my situation. Very knowledgeable and taught me a few things as well. Would 100% recommend and come back for future repairs/services.

Timothy Hong: I stopped by to get a set of replacement strings for my cello. ZZ identified several major issues with my cello and fixed them all very quickly, while still working within my limited budget. I was amazed how different my cello sounded after I got it back, it rings so much more clearly and sounds like a much more youthful version of itself. I really appreciated ZZ’s down to earth nature and willingness to work with me. I’ll definitely be back for any future needs!

Heather Tolson: I can’t say enough about the excellent service we received from ZZ!! My daughter had an upcoming recital and the strings on her student viola broke about 5 days before. Not only was he open on a Sunday he was able to accommodate us quickly and with such kindness. We contacted him late on Saturday and had the viola repaired before noon on Sunday. He is truly passionate about what he does and I feel very fortunate that we found him. If she sticks with it, and I really hope she does, we will definitely be back for an upgrade. Thank you again ZZ!!

Rachel Pike: We had my spouse’s violin worked on by Z.Z. Ludwick and he did a fantastic job. He was very professional, informative and got the job done very quickly. The location of his house of violin is amazing as well. You can tell Z.Z. puts a lot of care and love into every task he takes on. My spouse and I highly recommend Ludwick’s House of Violin.

Steve Williams: Rented amp [Hot Rod] for the 2nd time for Kidd Funkadelic. Crew there were polite and courteous. the amp performed well but most of all they were quick

Jason R.: Awesome store. Very courteous staff. I had pick ups installed in my guitar. Excellent work & they were completed before the estimated time.

Emily Reid Campbell: This place is huge. Pictures don’t do it justice. There is a large open “main” area devoted primarily to guitars and accessories and sound systems and sheet music and whatnot. Off this main area there are many additional spaces with all sorts of cool stuff in various adjoining rooms, halls, alcoves, and other curious display areas of varying size and shape. Acoustic gets its own special room with a door and everything that you can access at the back of the main area—I didn’t go inside because it looked a bit too exclusive for me and too dangerous for my little kids to go near of course, but if you’re looking for acoustic stuff you’ll probably love it. You’ll also look really cool going inside. Other areas and offerings: a huge drum section filled with drums and drum stuff and related accessories and all sorts of things that I have never even seen or heard of because I do not play drums, all located in a large room/additional area just to the right of the entrance as you walk in the store from the parking lot (with potentially more spaces located off of that first “drum area,”—I didn’t venture that far in). Another several adjoining areas off the main space are similarly dedicated to pianos, keyboards, and synthesizer type stuff. Further back into the distant corners adjoining piano land, you’ll find another room or two full of speakers, amps, and all sorts of sound systems and devices for DJs and sound engineers and audiophiles of any sort. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a secret entrance to another realm entirely back there, with dancing elves playing trumpets and harps and accordions and other strange creatures of that sort, given how many corners and alcoves and sections they had there already. It’s pretty cool. On the other side of the store I saw additional rooms and areas for music lessons and rentals and a few other doors to miscellaneous realms of musical store excitement. I’ll have to check that side out next time. You get the idea. This place is BIG. In fact, the “main” area alone is as large or larger than the entire square footage of the few other guitar center locations I’ve seen before. Granted: size is not the primary determinant of quality, especially not for specialty stores of this sort. But if you need music equipment, this is a good bet. It’s a cool place overall and makes me want to learn more about everything there and maybe learn to play a few more instruments in the future. I don’t have enough experience to comment extensively on the quality of their actual stock or their prices in comparison to other stores. But they have a TON of stuff there for musicians and DJs and sound engineers and audiophiles and anyone else seeking musical instruments and music related goods. And they do price match other stores, so if you find something cheaper at another store they’ll give you that price (up to 45 days after purchase, with some exceptions of course). As for customer service and sales and whatnot: I have only purchased one thing from them thus far, but my experience was positive and the sales process was smooth and nicely handled. Overall, the sales associates are nice and unobtrusive. They’re not necessarily going to greet you enthusiastically when you walk in, or even greet you at all. They’re probably not going to ask you if you need help right away either, or perhaps at any point, and they’re almost certainly NOT going to follow you around the store just to see if you need help later. If you need or want all that, this might not be your type of place. Personally, I prefer this approach. They’re there and quite helpful if you need them, but otherwise they’ll let you explore and do your thing. If/when you do need them, they’re happy to help. Just ask. It works. I’m a fan.

Todd L: I like the store a lot it has percussion and the staff is friendly got a decent choice of ancillary services and boxes and supplies and you got a national system behind you

Luan Nguyen: I stopped by this store to purchase 2 bose L1 pro 8, the first one is ok but the second one when I open everything very dirty and the power cord is already opened, look like they sold the open box for me with the price of the new one.

Jacob Ferguson: This place has *excellent* customer service. I had somewhat of an emergency and needed a small tan windscreen for my Countryman mic. Jim Hodges called almost every music store in town and finally we figured something out. Thank you so much to Jim Hodges and Guitar Center.

Gabby Perez: This store is FANTASTIC, excellent customer service received by Daniel, Brett, and Morgan! They helped me find everything I needed to get my ukulele and all its necessary accessories. Also, very impressive selection of books-- ready to play Christmas songs for the family this year :)

TKM: I’m adult that is learning piano — Kathy is such a GREAT piano teacher. Knowledgeable, extremely nice, explains everything (and I need it, knew next to nothing), and teach much more then playing the piano- she explains about composers, interesting facts, music composing. I enjoy her classes a lot. Class goes by so fast. I am always learning something new- piano and music in general. I will listen to music differently now (also during movies;)). She feels how you need to be teached. Lots of experience

Monica Faucette: Although this is a chain, it is a welcoming and reliable music store. They have an excellent rental/rent to own program for school band students. The staff is generally knowledgeable and always helpful and friendly. They have a nice selection of sheet music and books for different instruments. If this review was helpful, please "like."

Troy Raines: Elizabeth was wonderful, she helped my daughter with trading her 1/4 size cello for a 1/2 cello. She went as far as finding a song in a book my knew, to help her practice and get used to the new cello. She spent a fair amount of time with my daughter, and then afterwords helped my daughter with a bass guitar and helped her try one out. After we decided to purchase one, she helped us find the right amp and cord for our needs. The store staff has always been pleasant, and is why we decided to go to that store again. However Elizabeth went above and beyond expectations and when we left there was a smile on my daughters face.

Judith Davis: I got excellent advice and service about restringing my guitar. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and the job was done quickly and was ready on time.

Lisa Federer: I have been taking lessons here for almost a year. My teacher is great and I’ve learned a lot but I cannot believe how badly their billing is run. My teacher frequently misses lessons so over the course of the year there have been about 15 times I’ve not had a lesson I was scheduled for. I was still charged for all of these lessons and now they owe me over $600 that I paid for lessons I never had. I’ve talked to people in the store multiple times and they’ve said they’re working on it, but it’s been nearly a month. I’ve written to their corporate help desk and my email was ignored. Honestly I don’t know what else to do at this point besides maybe legal action? Anyway, while I really like my teacher, I would advise anyone else to avoid this place like the plague because of their super shady billing practices

Lisa De Vasquez: Been in and out off Potter for more than a 10+years. Always great customer service, great violin and cello selections+ and reasonable pricing and rental options. Great place!

Jihea Choi: Potter Violins consistently exceeds expectations in every way. The sales staff is professional, immensely knowledgeable and always guides me to the right solution for both my own professional performance needs, and those of my students. The repair staff is masterful in their work, and I have never had a single bad experience. I am also grateful for all of the behind-the-scenes work that Potter Violins have provided in bridging the gap on equity issues. I fully recommend this shop to all of my friends and colleagues.

Cathy Stewart: Rob Wood once again worked his magic on one of my instruments. My teaching violin was making some horrible sounds and Rob found the problem, fixed it, as well as tweaked a few other things. The violin sounds great and plays better than it ever has. I am delighted to be able to take my instruments to a repairman I can completely trust. I highly recommend Rob and Potters. Many thanks to Dalton Potter, his wonderful shop, and his commitment to excellence.

Alanah Cunningham: I am always very pleased with the service here! I purchased my professional viola here three years ago and I am extremely happy with it! I get complements all the time and I love the sound I am able to produce. Jim Kelly was extremely helpful in the process of finding the right instrument for me. I purchased a bow last year that I am very happy with aswell. Rehairs are very quick if you call ahead to schedule in advance. Only takes an hour or so. Just brought my viola in to fix a buz that came from normal wear and tear on my older instrument. They were very helpful in glueing the crack that came open. My viola sounds great... No more buzz! You can tell everyone at Potters is very passionate about instruments and they work hard to find the right match for you as an individual. In addition to great service and selection they are located in a beautiful historic house. I would recommend Potters to all levels of string players!!

Antonio Robles: There is no better place for string instrument purchase or rentals than Potter’s! Everyone is extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly! The instrument quality is outstanding. My daughter has been playing for a long time and I’ve had nothing but amazing service. Thank you!!!

Anna Seitzer: A suberb music shop for all your stringed instrument needs. Very knowledgeable staff and good selection of quality instruments to suit spectrum of budgets. >

Margaret Keefe: I’m a senior who returned to playing violin a few years ago after a 50 year hiatus! I feel ready to upgrade my student violin so today I met with Yan at Potter’s rentals department. I’m so pleased with Yan’s great help in securing the exact right upgrade for me. I highly recommend Yan and Potters rental plan. It’s a no pressure honest environment. I’m hoping to purchase an instrument but I have to evaluate a trigger finger issue that I have before making the buying plunge. I’m very happy to share my great experience. Thank you Yan.

J M: Kenny at JKM Fairfax Store has my highest recommendation! I met Kenny first at JKM piano roadshow at Costco before the pandemic, then again when I resumed my piano search at JKM Fairfax early 2022. As a classically trained pianist, Kenny demonstrated and shared his view of different pianos. He patiently answered my questions and gave me time to evaluate options. When I narrowed down to 2 options, he and manager Brad checked availability and best pricing to help me with my decision. I never felt rushed in my decision. They are more my trusted advisors than sales. The piano was ready for delivery in 1 months instead of 3 months as originally expected. The crew lead Vick confirmed a 2hr time frame the day before delivery. The crew (Vick+2) was on time even with rain and set the piano up in 30mins. Thanks to Kenny, Brad, Vick and JKM for making my piano search journey memorable. You have delivered happiness to many homes, kids and parents that would be appreciated for a lifetime.

Morgan Witthoft: Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Absolutely gorgeous pianos. If for some un fathomable reason your home doesn’t yet have a premium piano you must have a look at the pianos at J Kitt’s Music.

Vickie Carlson: Manager Brad Prentice at the Fairfax location graciously helped me choose a new digital piano to replace an old one. He showed me the features of many models and guided me to just the right one for my needs. I am very happy with it and glad to be playing again on my new Roland HP702. Thank you Jordan Kitts Music.

MrDcrules: Brad Prentice and the Jordan Kitts Fairfax store are world class. They let the client experience the different models on their own, but also are very helpful in guiding the purchase decision and can help people understand the intricacies and capabilities of the various pianos. Highly recommended!

Dana Varona: We had a wonderful experience buying our new Yamaha baby grand piano from Brad at the Fairfax location! I’m a local music teacher, and since piano isn’t my main instrument, we couldn’t justify spending an large amount of money on this purchase. Brad was extremely respectful of my budget and offered a substantial music teacher discount on a great instrument. Where other stores told me my budget was too low or didn’t return my inquiry, Brad was in touch right away with several options. He was also extremely accommodating of my schedule and limitations with a baby in tow. In the end, we were able to purchase the instrument we wanted for a reasonable price and with tremendous ease. The delivery crew was spectacular and set up the piano quickly and with utmost care, which was very much appreciated. Can’t recommend highly enough - this is a wonderful company deserving of your business!

Stefanie Miller: Wonderful experience and wonderful piano!! Our family lives in Washington, DC and recently decided to get a piano for our home with two little kiddos. I perused the inventory online and reached out to the shop to inquire about a piano I saw that looked like it might be just the right fit for our needs. Tom responded to my inquiry very quickly, and we were able to set up an in-person appointment that upcoming weekend. Tom showed us the piano I first inquired about and a few others. We ended up purchasing the piano I saw online - a beautiful, used Kawai baby grand - which was promptly delivered to our home a few days later. All in all a wonderful experience. And our house has been filled with music - and some toddler key slamming - ever since!

Jonathan Walker: I wanted to go with a local vendor since I needed to verify some details about the newest line of Yamaha Clavinovas. Thomas was extremely helpful, researched some facts I needed, and was always very staightforward, honest, and professional. Delivery was smooth. Highly recommend this shop.

Angeline Ignacio: i went in hoping to buy some guitar strings, and i got so much more. i’m new to playing guitar so i don’t know anything about buying strings. there was a guy there (i’m so sad i didn’t catch his name!) who gave me the run down and told me so many things about guitar strings without giving off “salesman” vibes. it was a genuine sharing of information to a newbie and it was so kind. thanks so much y’all!

Mélanie BLAKELY: Went there to buy new strings for my guitar and received great advice from Logan. He also explained me how to change them myself. Highly recommend this store.

Francis L.: I’ve had 3 guitars re-strung at this M&A and this place is always on point every time. Logan did a very good job. Very reliable and the work is pro level. Highly recommend this place for your guitar needs. See Logan.

Justin Paschalides: The staff are so diverse here and able to handle everything. There is so many instruments, rental policies, and sales methods they are aware of. Every time I have come in knowing of a certain product or service I would need, they would respond right away! The piano lessons are are also amazing!

Antonio Jackson: Visited the store on 12/28/18 to inquire about the cost of setting up a new violin that I purchased elsewhere for my son. As soon as I walked in the store I was greeted by Shane willingness to assist. I was informed that sometimes the instrument would have to sent out depending on the repair (oh no) but he would take a look. After fully making an assessment of the new violin, Shane commented that it only needed to be tuned, and that it would be at no cost. In addition, Shane fully walked me through the process (fine tuner, I had no clue—lol) of tunning it just right. I want to say that I appreciate the great customer service, and will be patronizing the store in the near future!

Nathaniel Lee: Great resource for children and beginning instrumentalists. Easy to find affordable parts and the store has a knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. The selection of quality products is lacking, however, for serious or skilled musicians.

Gautam Ramani: Amazingly helpful! They looked atOur 2 old violins and gave recommendations toHave them serviced. They let is trial a violin. Very professional. Highly recommended.

Sean Padden: Fantastic service. The store handled our request promptly. The instrument we rented was in great condition. I will recommend this business to any violin enthusiast.

Ann Faust: Always, wonderful service, with great quality instruments.We have been their customer for nearly a decade and always very happy with the shop and the staff.

Lisa Magnas: Very knowledgeable staff who even perform on their instruments if you ask while you wait for repairs! Mark is the best (for repairs) and helpful with instruction for best care. Fabulous staff all around! Also nice selection of items for purchase!

Sandra Guzman: PLEASE, PLEASE be ware of this place! I am being taken to court foe violin that was rented, paid and return for more than eight years ago. I kept the receipt for two years and got rid of. Now I have a court date for a violin that was long retuned and is now my word against there. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! or keep your receipt forever.

md1234 account: Honestly the best experience I have ever had at any store. Bill is an expert luthier who wants music to be affordable and attainable, the team their could not be kinder. I talked to a number of luthiers to fix up an old cello, Bill was the only one who made sure I understood what needed to be done and made every effort to save me money. In midst of a pandemic, Gailes Violin Shop was a fresh reminder about the goodness of humans. I know that sounds dramatic for a music store but I can not say enough good things.

Brandon Kennedy: Positive: Professionalism, QualityBeen using this guy for years. Very responsive to emails and phone calls. He’s fixed my guitars on the spot multiple times while I waited. Fair prices and easy to work with. Has been and will continue to be my go to for guitar repairs, this one is a no brainer.

justin Dobak: Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, ValueGreg is the best guitar tech in the DMV. I have brought several high end and low end guitars to have everything from repairs to general setups. His work is always top notch. Quick and very affordable as well.

Brigid DeTreux: Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, ValueGreg is awesome! Could not recommend Metro Guitar enough. I brought in my Epiphone Les Paul Standard and J.B. Player for a string change and setup. Both feel like new! Great service and turnaround time. Will definitely be back with my other instruments.

Lord Theodore: excellent service... I had my fender strat changed with all new hardware, strings, neck straighten and retuned. Greg gave me constants updates on the progress of my guitar. Metro Guitar has very fair pricing, great experience and excellent service....

Steven Sharp: It was easy to arrange a drop off/pick up with Greg and he made my cheap Yamaha sound much better than when I brought it in. Easy to park at the business. My guitar must have been seriously out of wack because not only does it sound much better, the adjustments made it much easier to play as well. Stopped in a second time for a quick look/setup of a brand new Fender Strat. Based on a few questions he did it while I waited and charged a very reasonable price for a basic setup. Again, Greg does excellent work and is very recommended.