Home › California › San Mateo › Guitar Center
Guitar Center
4.4 ★★★★☆ 568 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in San Mateo, California
Musical instrument store stocking guitars, keyboards and more, as well as providing lessons, repairs 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 (650) 312-8270
- 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 |
What's on the wall
“Their selection of guitars is impressive—whether you're looking for acoustic, electric, or something more unique, they have a huge variety to choose from.”
“Despite the initial frustration and time invested, the customer service I received was proactive in ensuring the correct amp would be received in a timely manner.”
“I ordered a bass guitar online and had it delivered to the san mateo store.”
“I recently had an issue with an online order from Guitar Center where I received the wrong model of a Boss Katana amp.”
“But just like other stores that once stood proud now are rare, but like an amusement park there are still a few left where you can wonder in and still dream.”
“They have various new and used pieces on display, from guitar to drums, to pianos, speakers, and other accessories that I don’t know the name.”
“After it arrived, Aadith, bless his soul, did the same setup stuff all over again, spending another 2-3 sessions to tune the new one!”
“My baby was ecstatic to find small instruments his size, ukuleles and other small pieces.”
“They have various new and used pieces on display, from guitar to drums, to pianos, speakers, and other accessories that I don’t know the name.”
Brands they deal
“I have gotten two guitars in my life: a Cordoba classic guitar two years ago, and a Fender Strat last December.”
“He taught me that Martin guitars have a very high action from the factory, and needs some tuning before they're ready for use.”
What players say again and again
“After it arrived, Aadith, bless his soul, did the same setup stuff all over again, spending another 2-3 sessions to tune the new one!”
“They have an impressive variety of guitars, ranging from beginner-friendly options to high-end models, so it’s easy to find something that suits any level or style.”
From the reviews
I ordered a bass guitar online and had it delivered to the san mateo store. I picked it up and unboxed it at home. Unfortunately the bass had a couple of dings and the control knobs were lose. I went back the next day and the manager ended up being who helped me. He immediately re priced the guitar as used.
I bought a MARTIN (E) 00015M STREETMASTER acoustic guitar a few months ago. Even with the discount for being a display piece, it was the most expensive guitar I've purchased. But as a beginner player, I found it hard to play my regular tunes without buzzing out or damping out.
I have gotten two guitars in my life: a Cordoba classic guitar two years ago, and a Fender Strat last December. Both I got at this Guitar Center. They were patient and thorough, giving me all the space to try many different guitars before I could feel comfortable with my selection.
I had a fantastic experience at Guitar Center! Their selection of guitars is impressive—whether you're looking for acoustic, electric, or something more unique, they have a huge variety to choose from. Even better, the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful.
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.
