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Guitar Center

4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,004 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Aurora, Illinois

Buys used gear Lessons Vintage specialist Repairs & setups

Music store offering guitars, drums, keyboards, and other instruments, plus repair services, lessons, and rentals.

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 (630) 375-1466
  • Website stores.guitarcenter.com

Hours

Monday 11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9 PM
Friday 11 AM–9 PM
Saturday 10 AM–9 PM
Sunday 11 AM–7 PM

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 Guitar Center, confirmed in players' own reviews and the store's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🎼 Acoustic Guitars 3 mentions

“although the people playing in the acoustic room need to chill out bro 😭🙏”

All stores with acoustic guitars →

🔊 Amps & Pedals 9 mentions

“I was ready to haggle prices and had done my research on the value of my trades - a rack mount pre-amp/effect unit and power amp/mixer with PA speakers - ahead of time.”

All stores with amps & pedals →

♻️ Used Gear 6 mentions

“If you ever need an instrument, something fixed or wanting to sell/trade in then go to this location!”

All stores with used gear →

🔧 Repairs & Setups 5 mentions

“Mike went above and beyond in making sure the guitar was setup correctly.”

All stores with repairs & setups →

🎓 Lessons 4 mentions

“Additionally, they have a rental room and provide personalized music lessons.”

All stores with lessons →

🥁 Drums & Percussion 4 mentions

All stores with drums & percussion →

🎹 Keys & Pianos 2 mentions

“My keyboard got busted in the rain.”

All stores with keys & pianos →

Brands they deal

Brands players name in their reviews of Guitar Center — the fastest way to tell what's actually hanging on the wall before you drive over.

🏷️ Fender

Who else deals Fender →

🏷️ Gibson

Who else deals Gibson →

🏷️ Martin

Who else deals Martin →

🏷️ PRS

“I just purchased a Used PRS and I couldn’t be happier with the experience!”

Who else deals PRS →

🏷️ Ibanez

Who else deals Ibanez →

🏷️ Gretsch

Who else deals Gretsch →

🏷️ Epiphone

Who else deals Epiphone →

🏷️ Rickenbacker

Who else deals Rickenbacker →

🏷️ Squier

Who else deals Squier →

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 1,004 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🔧 expert setups & repairs 3 mentions

“Mike went above and beyond in making sure the guitar was setup correctly.”

🧠 knowledgeable staff 3 mentions

“Huge thanks to Rocco and Zach — both were extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and patient throughout the process.”

From the reviews

So W, I was looking for a new guitar and ended up buying the perfect one! Employees know what they are talking about and are pretty chill guys. although the people playing in the acoustic room need to chill out bro 😭🙏

★★★★★ — Mateo, Jun 2026

This team is incredible. David has always been such a huge help every single time I’m there. I probably made my best guitar purchase last night and that wouldn’t of been possible without David. Hunter was such a big help for me last week. They also have an amazing guitar tech named Mike.

★★★★★ — Nathan, Aug 2025

Always a great shop and always has a lot in stock. When it comes to your every day guitar needs, Guitar Center always has you covered. Prices can be a little high, but if you’re lucky, you can find some used gear for relatively cheap.

★★★★★ — Kevin, Nov 2025

Had a great experience selling my 30+ year old gear here. Arrived right as they opened and Rocco took care of me right away. I was ready to haggle prices and had done my research on the value of my trades - a rack mount pre-amp/effect unit and power amp/mixer with PA speakers - ahead of time.

★★★★★ — M, Aug 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,004 reviews →

Selling or trading gear at Guitar Center

Guitar Center 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 Guitar Center

Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at Guitar Center. 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 Guitar Center

996 Rte 59, Aurora, IL60504

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Guitar stores near Guitar Center

PM Music Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 171 reviews

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Lessons Repairs & setups knowledgeable staffgood valueplays well with beginners

Music store for students, teachers and professional musicians, offering rentals, instrument repair and sales, along with books and accessories.

1.0 miles away

Music & Arts

4.4 ★★★★☆ 62 reviews

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Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist good value

Retail chain offering musical instruments, audio gear & accessories, plus rental & repair services.

1.5 miles away

Ellman's Music Center

4.9 ★★★★★ 381 reviews

508 W 5th Ave, Naperville, IL

Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist knowledgeable staffgreat lesson programgood value

Music store offering a selection of instruments, plus books, supplies, repairs, and lessons.

2.7 miles away

All guitar stores in Aurora, IL →

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.