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Guitar Center
4.3 ★★★★☆ 285 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Erie, Pennsylvania
Guitar chain featuring a wide selection and providing services such as lessons and repair.
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 (814) 868-1959
- 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
“We brought our son up for his first electric guitar.”
“They provide lessons, instrument set up and repair and very knowledgeable with their stock.”
“Stopped in for our child who was interested in guitars, but as parents we didn't know anything about cost, lessons, etc.”
“First a keyboard and recently an electric drum set.”
“I went in looking for a new microphone and some software, and the employee there (Kyle) was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.”
Brands they deal
What players say again and again
“I went in looking for a new microphone and some software, and the employee there (Kyle) was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.”
“The staff was super helpful and the atmosphere was great and uplifting.”
From the reviews
We have bought several guitars here. Service was pleasant and adequate until tonight. Tonight, an exceptional young man named Brian went above and beyond to help us find the perfect bass guitar. He was knowledgeable and informative without pressuring us. He spent a lot of time explaining the differences.
Walked in to see what they had and try out a few guitars and I ended up walking out with one. The staff was good and I had a great chat with an instructor. If I wasn't visiting and lived closer I'd probably have bought lessons on the spot. If you hesitating don't stop in ask questions.
The staff is great, a versatile bunch who know the local scene. The stock is plentiful, adequate for a right handed player. I'm a lefty, so I'm always at a disadvantage. However, the nationwide network of stores provides a better choice of stock than the local store has.
Stopped in for our child who was interested in guitars, but as parents we didn't know anything about cost, lessons, etc. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They stepped right up, grabbed our child a guitar and worked with them for 20 minutes in.
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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