HomeWashingtonSeattle › Dusty Strings Music Store & School

Dusty Strings Music Store & School

4.8 ★★★★★ 166 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Seattle, Washington

Buys used gear Lessons Vintage specialist Repairs & setups

Specialist in acoustic stringed instruments from guitars to harps plus repair services & lessons.

Plan your visit

  • Repairs & setups a repair bench comes up in reviews and the store's own info — call ahead for turnaround, since good techs run a queue
  • Buys & trades used gear they buy, trade, or consign used instruments — bring the case and any original parts, and expect trade credit to beat the cash offer
  • Lessons lessons come up in reviews and the store's own info — call about openings, instruments taught, and rates before the first visit
  • Instrument rentals rentals mentioned — the usual route for band & orchestra season; ask about rent-to-own credit
  • Today see hours ·
  • Phone (206) 634-1662
  • Website store.dustystrings.com

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 10:30 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 10:30 AM–6 PM
Thursday 10:30 AM–6 PM
Friday 10:30 AM–6 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM–6 PM
Sunday Closed

Hours can shift for holidays, clinics, and lesson schedules — worth a quick check before a special trip.

What's on the wall

Instrument and gear categories at Dusty Strings Music Store & School, confirmed in players' own reviews and the store's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🏆 Vintage & Rare 3 mentions

“Took them a vintage Gibson B-28 guitar I scored online for a new bridge and now the instrument punches way beyond it's weight in terms of tone.”

All stores with vintage & rare →

♻️ Used Gear 2 mentions

“I recently had a great experience with both a trade in and new guitar purchase experience at Dusty Strings.”

All stores with used gear →

🔧 Repairs & Setups 10 mentions

“They have a broad and nicely curated collection of well set up guitars that were a pleasure to try.”

All stores with repairs & setups →

🎓 Lessons 3 mentions

“It’s been a staple for as long as I can remember, and the quality of instruments, staff knowledge, and service to the public (concerts, camps, lessons) is second to none.”

All stores with lessons →

🪕 Ukulele, Banjo & Folk 14 mentions

“I went here to rent a banjo yesterday and the customer service exceeded all expectations.”

All stores with ukulele, banjo & folk →

Brands they deal

Brands players name in their reviews of Dusty Strings Music Store & School — the fastest way to tell what's actually hanging on the wall before you drive over.

🏷️ Gibson

“Took them a vintage Gibson B-28 guitar I scored online for a new bridge and now the instrument punches way beyond it's weight in terms of tone.”

Who else deals Gibson →

🏷️ Martin

“I've been coming here many times over the last few months in the market for a smaller Martin or Taylor guitar.”

Who else deals Martin →

🏷️ Taylor

“I've been coming here many times over the last few months in the market for a smaller Martin or Taylor guitar.”

Who else deals Taylor →

🏷️ Ibanez

Who else deals Ibanez →

Brand mentions are mined from reviews and the store's own info — they tell you what's on the wall, not formal authorized-dealer status. If warranty coverage matters, confirm dealer status with the store or the brand's own dealer locator.

What players say again and again

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 166 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🤝 fair trade-in offers 3 mentions

“I recently had a great experience with both a trade in and new guitar purchase experience at Dusty Strings.”

🧠 knowledgeable staff 4 mentions

“It’s been a staple for as long as I can remember, and the quality of instruments, staff knowledge, and service to the public (concerts, camps, lessons) is second to none.”

😊 friendly staff 4 mentions

“I asked the helpful staff for recommendations and got several stocking stuffers for the hubby and a sign up for guitar lessons for the kiddo.”

🔰 plays well with beginners 2 mentions

“Despite his original thinking that he wouldn't, he ended up buying his first guitar then and there.”

From the reviews

Super impressed with the quality of services and product at Dusty Strings. I recommended DS to a friend who had set out to purchase his first "quality" steel string. Jed and Steve did not disappoint. Knowledgeable and friendly guys that gave my friend a wonderful, curated experience.

★★★★★ — Stephen, Mar 2021

Popped in to browse for gifts for my guitar playing husband. Dusty Springs is the go-to store for a brother in law who collects guitars and has a climate controlled room for said guitars. So basically the place to visit for any string instrument person in the area.

★★★★★ — Kingfisher, Dec 2024

Great place full of interesting musical instruments and literature. Nice staff, very accommodating. The store is down a long stairway so if you have a walking disability it might be difficult or impossible.

★★★★★ — Robert, Feb 2025

Today I bought my dream ukulele (Kamaka HF-2) from Dusty Strings. This is my first time in the store. The people I worked with were friendly, helpful and upbeat and the level of ukulele selection was comprehensive. My questions were answered and I felt appreciated as a valued customer.

★★★★★ — Jay, Sep 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 166 reviews →

Selling or trading gear at Dusty Strings Music Store & School

Dusty Strings Music Store & School comes up for buying and trading used gear — confirmed on their own site. Two things make the trip go better. First, bring the whole package: the case or gig bag, the original tremolo arm or bridge parts, the paperwork if you have it — a complete rig is worth real money more than a bare instrument, and it saves the back-and-forth of "can you bring the case in?" Second, know that trade credit almost always beats the cash offer, usually by a healthy margin — if you're upgrading anyway, price your old gear as a trade against the new one before you take cash. Either way, expect the offer to be below what the gear sells for on the wall; the gap is the store's margin for setup, warranty, and sitting on it until the right buyer walks in.

Check trade-in info on their site

Lessons at Dusty Strings Music Store & School

Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at Dusty Strings Music Store & School. If you're signing up a beginner (or restarting yourself), a quick call ahead answers the three things that matter: which instruments they teach, whether the schedule has openings at the time you actually need, and what a first lesson costs. There's no wrong first guitar — a good teacher will happily work with whatever you walk in with, and a shop that teaches usually keeps affordable starter instruments and rentals on hand for exactly this reason.

Where to find Dusty Strings Music Store & School

3406 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA98103

Get directions Instagram · Facebook

Guitar stores near Dusty Strings Music Store & School

Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar

4.8 ★★★★★ 237 reviews

117 N 36th St, Seattle, WA

Repairs & setups Vintage specialist expert setups & repairsknowledgeable staffdeep vintage selection

Used and vintage shop selling analog synths, amps and electric guitars plus servicing them.

under a mile away

American Music

4.7 ★★★★★ 464 reviews

4450 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA

Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist fair trade-in offersknowledgeable staffgood value

Source for guitars, keyboards & sound systems, both serving & staffed by professional musicians.

under a mile away

Ted Brown Music

4.7 ★★★★★ 44 reviews

1006 NE 50th St, Seattle, WA

Lessons Repairs & setups expert setups & repairsfair trade-in offersknowledgeable staff

Family-owned shop since 1931 offering instruments for sale or rent, plus music lessons, and repairs.

1.9 miles away

All guitar stores in Seattle, WA →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and player reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this store? Claim your listing — it's free.