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Guitar Center

4.1 ★★★★☆ 705 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Middleton, Wisconsin

Buys used gear Lessons Vintage specialist Repairs & setups

Acoustic and electric guitars, as well as keyboards, drums and other gear are sold at this music shop.

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 (608) 821-1480
  • 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

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.

🎸 Electric Guitars 4 mentions

“He patiently walked her through so many different elements involved in choosing a first guitar, and demonstrated several different instruments and amps.”

All stores with electric guitars →

🎸 Bass Guitars 7 mentions

“They always stock a wide variety of guitars- acoustic, bass, electric, 12-string, Gisbon Les Paul, Ovation, resonator, and archtops.”

All stores with bass guitars →

🔊 Amps & Pedals 9 mentions

“He patiently walked her through so many different elements involved in choosing a first guitar, and demonstrated several different instruments and amps.”

All stores with amps & pedals →

♻️ Used Gear 3 mentions

“Recently ordered a used guitar from GCs website and was very disappointed in its condition upon arrival.”

All stores with used gear →

🔧 Repairs & Setups 9 mentions

“The employees at the store immediately offered to restring and improve the poor action while I waited onsite.”

All stores with repairs & setups →

🎓 Lessons 2 mentions

“This was like a school lesson happening!”

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🪕 Ukulele, Banjo & Folk 4 mentions

“I was looking for an amp and my husband was looking to exchange his Ukulele.”

All stores with ukulele, banjo & folk →

🥁 Drums & Percussion 8 mentions

“They also sell mandolins, banjos, keyboards, and drum sets.”

All stores with drums & percussion →

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.

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 705 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🔧 expert setups & repairs 3 mentions
🤝 fair trade-in offers 2 mentions
🧠 knowledgeable staff 6 mentions

“Would recommend Monty for advice any day, he was very kind, patient, and knowledgeable.”

🔰 plays well with beginners 4 mentions

“Sometimes you just need to pick up an instrument and play it though, and super high end shops can be very intimidating for beginners.”

From the reviews

Love Guitar Center! A great place to find quality instruments to fit your price point. They always stock a wide variety of guitars- acoustic, bass, electric, 12-string, Gisbon Les Paul, Ovation, resonator, and archtops. They also sell mandolins, banjos, keyboards, and drum sets.

★★★★★ — Grace, Mar 2024

The folks in here are very friendly and helpful. Guitar Center is facing a difficult transition in our modern era of online shopping and boutique music shops. Sometimes you just need to pick up an instrument and play it though, and super high end shops can be very intimidating for beginners.

★★★★★ — Tyler, Sep 2025

Store manager went above and beyond to help me get the perfect bass amp. They received it damaged , canceled my online order but after a few phone calls and the stores great staff making sure the amp was in working order/ all damage was cosmetic , was able to sell me the amp for a very fair price based on the damage…

★★★★★ — Mike, Sep 2025

I ordered a spare instrument to take out and about and my experience with Guitar Center was excellent. I used their online ordering and was informed of my order every step of the way. My phone contact with them was met with excitement as if my purchase was important to them. I will definitely shop with them again.

★★★★★ — Rock, Mar 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 705 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

1661 Deming Way Ste 110, Middleton, WI53562

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Guitar stores near Guitar Center

Heid Music

4.8 ★★★★★ 374 reviews

7948 Tree Ln, Madison, WI

Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist knowledgeable stafffriendly staffgood value

Musician-run music shop stocking guitars, pianos, drums, violins and other instruments.

2.1 miles away

Woolson Soundcraft

5 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

3818 Meyer Ave, Madison, WI

4.9 miles away

Strictly Discs

4.7 ★★★★★ 487 reviews

1900 Monroe St, Madison, WI

Buys used gear Repairs & setups knowledgeable staff

Extensive stock of new and used vinyl, plus tapes and CDs.

5.7 miles away

All guitar stores in Middleton, WI →

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.