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Guitar Center
4.4 ★★★★☆ 344 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Champaign, Illinois
Musical-instrument chain offering a wide range of amps, mixers, guitars and drums.
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 (217) 378-8780
- Website stores.guitarcenter.com
Hours
| Monday | 11 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–7 PM |
What's on the wall
“I was interested in a used acoustic guitar listed online and had some questions so I called the store.”
“Recently purchased a used amp from this store and have to say they are outstanding to deal with.”
“Geoff helped me clean up my vintage Gibson acoustic guitar and I couldn't be happier.”
“I was interested in a used acoustic guitar listed online and had some questions so I called the store.”
“My teenage daughter takes bass lessons and really likes the instructor.”
Brands they deal
“Geoff helped me clean up my vintage Gibson acoustic guitar and I couldn't be happier.”
What players say again and again
“Very cool place, the guy working was super knowledgeable.”
“Helpful and friendly staff, they also give you your space.”
From the reviews
I was interested in a used acoustic guitar listed online and had some questions so I called the store. Abraham found the guitar right away and seemed genuinely interested in answering my questions in regards to the condition, finish, etc. I found his help very valuable as I'm 1200+ miles away in Denver.
Recently purchased a used amp from this store and have to say they are outstanding to deal with. Shipping was fast. Packaging was excellent. Item was actually nicer than described in the listing. And the price was lower than several other stores.
Luke showed me everything I needed, explained perfectly how each item worked with my system and gave me advice on the best cables I should get for my budget. Even bought a few extra things just because he was so helpful. Exceptional knowlwdge, sales skill and the level of interpersonal interaction was perfect!
My teenage daughter takes bass lessons and really likes the instructor. The lessons/ scheduling are very organized and communication is great. Plus, with the hands-on atmosphere in the store, it keeps her interest peaked, as many different skill sets come in to try out various guitars.
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.
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.
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