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Sylvan Music
4.6 ★★★★★ 178 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Santa Cruz, California
High-end music shop offering in-house-made instruments with a focus on guitars and stringed pieces.
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
- 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 (831) 427-1917
- Website sylvanmusic.com
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
What's on the wall
“That said, she has an old classical guitar from at least 5 decades ago that was in desperate need of strings.”
“I’ve always worshipped at the alter of epic bass dudes like Wooten and a zillion others so I wish they had more basses for me to stare at but wow, what a cool joint!”
“They have a killer amp selection and a room full of vintage guitars that will make you drool.”
“They've got lots of major brands and smaller brands, a wide selection of vintage instruments, gear, and even have extremely high quality instruments made in-house.”
“The second time I realized I made a mistake and he was so quick to replace a part and get my guitar set up for me.”
“You will discover a surprising array of the finest brands and models of guitars, banjos, mandolins, basses and ukuleles.”
Brands they deal
What players say again and again
“The second time I realized I made a mistake and he was so quick to replace a part and get my guitar set up for me.”
“They had a diverse selection, provided expert guidance and a relaxed atmosphere to explore the range of instruments.”
“The staff is friendly, very well informed and they love to chat with customers and present instruments for your examination and playing.”
From the reviews
Large variety of amps, pedals, and guitars from all kinds of companies, small to big. Ranging from inexpensive begginer equipment to hand-wired AB763 Headstrong Royal Reverbs, brand new custom shop instruments, and collector Fender's and Gibson's from before the time God needed guitar lessons from Hendrix.
Great little music store, I got a restring done and David did a great job. I always appreciate an old timer who's good at their craft, keep it up David. Employees seem pretty chill there too.
This is the only place I'll go to get my instruments fixed. One of the lutheirs, Patrick, is so helpful and really has his craft down. The first time I asked for something specific to be done and he fixed it perfectly.
This is a *must visit* store for acoustic lovers: 1. An incredible range of high end and vintage guitars; 2. Let you to play and explore freely; 3. The staff is friendly; Easily one of the best guitar stores I've explored in States.
Lessons at Sylvan Music
Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at Sylvan Music. 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.
Guitar stores near Sylvan Music
Jeff Traugott Guitars
5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews
The Starving Musician - Santa Cruz
4.5 ★★★★★ 292 reviews
Relaxed place selling guitars (electric and acoustic), amps and other equipment, as well as vinyl.