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Guitar Center

4.3 ★★★★☆ 1,076 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Rockville, Maryland

Buys used gear Lessons Vintage specialist Repairs & setups

Chain retailer stocking guitars, drums, keyboards and amps.

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 (301) 231-6100
  • 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.

🎸 Bass Guitars 2 mentions

“I had 2 electric basses and their cases that were both in about the same condition and that I bought for only $10 difference.”

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🔊 Amps & Pedals 7 mentions

“Staff was friendly, helpful and they let me and my friend try out amps without pressuring to buy.”

All stores with amps & pedals →

♻️ Used Gear 3 mentions

“I had a good experience selling a used instrument to Guitar Center in Rockville.”

All stores with used gear →

🔧 Repairs & Setups 7 mentions

“Today, we brought in my son’s Jackson Kelly guitar for a repair, and Rio was honestly one of the most knowledgeable and helpful people we’ve encountered at any music store.”

All stores with repairs & setups →

🎓 Lessons

“Also went for lessons a few years back.”

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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

“Thank you for helping me find the last set of heavy fender picks last time!”

Who else deals Fender →

🏷️ Gibson

Who else deals Gibson →

🏷️ Martin

Who else deals Martin →

🏷️ 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 1,076 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🔧 expert setups & repairs 3 mentions
🧠 knowledgeable staff 5 mentions

“Today, we brought in my son’s Jackson Kelly guitar for a repair, and Rio was honestly one of the most knowledgeable and helpful people we’ve encountered at any music store.”

From the reviews

So awesome. I've bought several guitars here, new and used. Also went for lessons a few years back. Just a fun place to visit, shop and hang out. I went a bit crazy President's Day weekend and got two great Martins, and SC-13E and a D-18 Street Legend. Can't say enough about how helpful the staff there are.

★★★★★ — Nathaniel, Feb 2025

I haven’t been to this location in a while. It’s easy to navigate around to find what you need. They price match their online prices. Staff is friendly and they have a wide open parking lot. I’d recommend calling ahead if you’re looking for something unique

★★★★★ — Khoi, Dec 2022

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with the manager Brian Mejia at guitar center Rockville today - absolutely went above and beyond to take care of me, and to make sure I was happy. He credited me $250, which I didn’t even know I was eligible for… I hope his bosses know how much of a stud he is!

★★★★★ — Thomas, Dec 2025

We’ve been coming to this Guitar Center for quite a while, and every visit has been a positive experience. The staff is always friendly, approachable, and genuinely helpful, which is a big reason we keep coming back.

★★★★★ — Christine, May 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,076 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

12401 Twinbrook Pkwy, Rockville, MD20852

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Guitar stores near Guitar Center

Guitar Center Lessons

4.4 ★★★★☆ 21 reviews

12401 Twinbrook Pkwy, Rockville, MD

Buys used gear Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist

under a mile away

Music & Arts

4.2 ★★★★☆ 91 reviews

12274 Rockville Pike Ste K, Rockville, MD

Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist knowledgeable staffgreat lesson program

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

under a mile away

Xu Strings Guitar & Bass Repair

4.9 ★★★★★ 148 reviews

326 N Stonestreet Ave Ste A1, Rockville, MD

Buys used gear Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist expert setups & repairsknowledgeable staff

Friendly guitar and bass shop offering setups and custom electronics installs.

2.7 miles away

All guitar stores in Rockville, MD →

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.