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We carry the BIG BRANDS in electric guitars, acoustic amps, percussion drums/ world percussion, pro audio gear, DJ equipment, lighting/ laser effects, keyboards/ pianos & offer music lessons and repair service! Founded in 1945! We love to help with great prices and friendly service. We carry the essentials in guitars, amps, percussion, pro audio, DJ equipment, lighting/ laser effects, keyboards & offer music lessons and repairs too! Please visit often to view updated content. Explore and let us know if you have any questions.
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Reviews (24)
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Sam Neubauer
Apr 12, 2022
This review is regarding Mitch Downey (guitar teacher) at music center. Mitch is an excellent teacher. He's very knowledgeable and good at explaining concepts in music theory. He's also good at making the lessons fun and engaging. Everything he teaches feels like it has reasoning behind it. He's not just teaching you useless things you'll never use. Super friendly guy that makes you feel comfortable when playing. He's new to the area but I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to learn more on guitar.
Vix Reviews
Feb 27, 2022
Certified music supply store with friendly staff. They have anything you need for music from cables to capos. I picked up a practice amp for guitar here (Fender Mustang LT 25.) They let me inspect and use the item before I bought it, and answered all the questions I had.
David Szewczyk
Feb 14, 2022
I didn't feel as if I was being sold on anything, rather guided in my decision making. All of my questions had good answers, and It seems the store had my best interest. CHECK THIS PLACE OUT! :D
Taylor Ingram
Dec 29, 2021
Customer service could use improvement. I can tell the store got new personal and one of the male personal isn't exactly the friendliest. It kind of felt like I was being rushed out of the store when I was simply browsing. One of the personal that helped me last year is no longer here which disappointed me. He was extremely friendly and helpful. I didn't want to go all the way to Brookfield for strings and Schmitt music ended up closing. But now I won't mind going all the way to Brookfield for Guitar Center customer service.
Richard Alan Mitchell
Dec 24, 2021
Being a professional musician, touring with national acts and doing studio work with a multitude of music professionals for close to fifty years, I've been to hundreds of music stores around the country. It's been through vast experience that this store stands with, and or above the best! From Jim (Paulsen, Co-owner) to the rest of the staff, have never let me down.

Even though there are multiple music stores far closer to me, (many, much larger) I still make the trek to this place. I/we always know we'll be well treated. If we don't find what we're looking for, all the staff have gone above and beyond to find what we need and get it to us in a timely fashion! Music Center, Kenosha ROCKS! Thanks for always taking care of us gang! RAM
Paula Grosche
Nov 27, 2021
Buyer Beware! We needed to purchase a recorder for our son's grade school music class. We have one at home, but couldn't find it so we went to Music Center to buy a replacement. We drove 30 minutes to the store and all they in stock had was an expensive wooden one and none of the $10 plastic ones we were hoping to find. I wasn't interested in paying that much money for a recorder for a young child, but salesperson was very persistent in talking about sound quality, uniqueness and durability of a wooden recorder, supporting local businesses, etc.

I told him that we didn't care for the high price, but were in a crunch and we would take it. After hearing about how we couldn't find my son's plastic recorder and convincing us to purchase the expensive wooden recorder, he conveniently failed to mention that this type of product is not returnable. When we got home later and found our son's plastic school recorder in his closet.

A few weeks passed and I went to return the expensive, wooden recorder and was told by the same salesperson that they couldn't take it back due to health department regulations. I explained that the recorder had never been used or even taken out of the original package and that no one told us about the no-return policy at the time of purchase. We definitely wouldn't have bought the expensive wooden recorder, knowing that it wasn't returnable.

After some grumbling on my part, the salesperson went in the back to check with the owner, but the answer was still no. The entire situation is very frustrating and feel that Music Center took advantage of us and ripped us off.
Rose Gold
Oct 28, 2021
Good selection of gear in the shop, but the low rating is for the lessons they offer. You will still have to pay for a lesson even if the instructor is the one to cancel on you, because they "don't do make up lessons". So I paid for THREE lessons that I did not receive because the instructor canceled on me, so I ended up getting scammed out of $75 for nothing. That is absolutely unprofessional.
Dick G.
May 16, 2021
This is a great regional resource for, of course, musical instruments and everything that goes with them but also microphones, pro audio and podcasting gear. Friendly staff, family owned and not so big that you're just another order number. I've never seen any high pressure sales behavior (pretty much the opposite). For a local suburban shop they have a considerable inventory -- perhaps surprisingly so.

Before checking out one of the "big box" stores or mail order or web dealers Music Center is worth a call or visit. You might save a lot of time and some change as well! (Seriously.)
Captain Ron Band
Apr 03, 2021
This store is my go to place for anything musical! Jim the owner and Julianne are great to deal with! They ALWAYS give me the best price on first quote! I stopped shopping around because you can trust the price will be the best you will find. Excellent customer service as well! I have purchased literally thousands of $$ worth of music gear from this store and have no hesitation recommending it to anyone! Good guys to work with and honest folks too! Ron Lay
Usha R.
Jan 06, 2021
I drove from Chicago to check out a specific bass that was listed on Reverb. Staff let me try out instruments to compare until I was confident in my purchase. I walked out of there with great instrument and was very happy with the price and even happier with the service. Super nice guys
Agnes S.
Dec 22, 2020
The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. We walked in looking for music classes and to try out different instruments to see what our kids would like to learn. We since came back few times, took music classes (different for both kids), and purchased an keyboard set and a ukulele. The staff allowed us to try different instruments to determine what we liked and we didn't feel pressured to buy.

Everyone is very knowledgeable, knows how to play multiple instruments to show how they work, and very approachable. Their teachers are very nice and helpful making it easy to learn music. Great selection/inventory.
Preston P.
Nov 01, 2020
Music Center has been a great experience for me, as someone who is new to guitars by less then a year, Julian Paulsen is specifically who I recommend you ask for when you go into the store. He is by far the most attentive and cheerful staff member of the already great staff in this family owned store.
Tony F.
Feb 27, 2018
This is the #1 shop around the area. If I need a big ol haul full o drum shat, I head here, to see Tim. Tim's the man. That's it. I have a place in town, that I go to for the day to day, but when I need a real supply run, Tim has me covered. He's always willing to go that extra mile. Tips, parts, discounts, lemme check in back, oh let me cut that for ya, I think I know where we have one of those.

The room is crazy well stocked, too. They rarely are missing what I need, and I usually find ten others things I was unaware that I needed. Same goes for the other rooms, too. On the rare occasion, whenever I do need something in the guitar, sound or keys depts, it's always a no-brainer, and they've always got my back. This is really the local music champion!
Deb Murphy MurphyBits
Jan 12, 2018
Stopped here to get a part and strings for an acoustic guitar. The repair guy Paul is awesome, got us fixed right up in a jiffy! Todd helped us choose the right strings upstairs, very friendly and knowledgeable as well! This place has totally taken care of everything for us in record time. 100% recommend them if you need help with your guitar. Very knowledgeable and thorough. The store itself is beautiful. There are lesson rooms downstairs, and drums, guitars, and pianos upstairs. An excellent place! Well worth the drive!
Dan N.
Oct 16, 2017
Purchased a used Taylor BT-1 there a year ago. Gave them the benefit of the doubt (my fault) and didn't check the price on the web. They claimed it was discounted since it was used but the price was MSRP on a new instrument. Shady - they stepped over a dollar to pick up a quarter.
Chaz M.
Jan 04, 2017
Their repair department is excellent. I have taken numerous guitars for repair or setup. The work is excellent and the price fair. As far as new equipment they have a nice selection with top name brands as well as as lesser expensive but high quality guitars.
Dan P.
Sep 13, 2016
I ordered an Eastwood guitar and waited for weeks for it to arrive, got nothing but excuses and runaround, after having paid in full. After a month, I called Eastwood and they said that Music Center hadn't even placed my order yet. An employee fessed up to me that they got a much better shipping rate from Eastwood (located in Canada) when they ordered several guitars at once.

The owners weren't letting them place my order until they had more than one. That would've been nice to know, before waiting a month and being lied to. I asked for a refund, ordered direct from Eastwood, and had my guitar in 3 days. Done with Music Center.
Brian B.
May 09, 2016
Good store, big selection and good service. Got a new little Vox combo at a great price. Will come here again.
Travis S.
Mar 29, 2016
I would like to thank The Music Center. My sales representative in particular was Derek A.K.A. "Deke". The experience was amazing. The communication was great from email updates to phone conversations. I've got 1/2 a dozen vendors in my back yard. I however chose to drive 2.5 hours to Kenosha. There is only two reasons for this. 1. The price was better then I good imagine. 2.

The service was the best customer service I've ever experienced. I was introduced to different team members & coworkers while visiting. I got to see different parts of the building including the inventory & receiving department. The checkout was smooth. My order arrived as promised on time. I was referred to Music Center from the Manufacturer.

I took their advice and couldn't have been happier. I will continue to do business in the future with The Music Center. The 2.5 hour drive is worth it for the customer service. Travis Seibert Owner of Madison Mobile DJ Service from Madison, WI.
Chelon J.
Dec 13, 2015
Our friend jay bought a new guitar from here. Price was fair. The employees really care about finding the right item
Will J.
Oct 29, 2015
I was recently in town visiting up from Austin, TX and I accompanied my father in-law to this place of business because he was interested in getting a guitar of his restrung and an overall set up. While waiting, we found ourselves perusing the guitars, both electric and acoustic. An employee by the name of Glenn helped us and was very friendly and knowledgable.

I ended up purchasing a used acoustic guitar when I had no previous intentions to do so. The place is set up like any typical American music shop(not Guitar Center) The atmosphere is pretty standard and not overbearing, meaning no pressure to buy gear. Overall it was a positive experience and I might find myself back when in town in the future. If there be any criticism, perhaps some could be given to the dryness of the maintenance crew. A simple question doesn't deserve a blank, awkward stare.
Joshua G.
Nov 22, 2014
Always friendly, never pressuring. I have been buying guitar equipment from them for 10 years and won't go anywhere else. They will beat the best deals out there and always get you into the product that best fits you. They have top shelf products and stuff for beginners. I truely appreciate this store and its people.
Anthony M.
Aug 24, 2014
ROCK ON I love Hollywood movies that are centered around music stores. It always seems like something cool is going on and the Music Center did not let us down. I called on the phone prior to driving here and spoke with Nick. I asked him if he had any beginning piano books and he informed me that they did. So we were on our way to Rocking out. When we walked in Nick was sitting at the front counter.

I told him I was the guy on the phone and he immediately walked us over to the books. He answered our questions and was able to help us pick out two books to get started on our musical adventure. As we were paying for our books we learned that Nick is classically trained on the guitar. Of course my wife informed him that I love that type of music.

So Nick pulls out a guitar, tunes it up and starts playing a piece from the Renaissance period. It was really beautiful. The piece was not originally written for a guitar and would have been played on an instrument similar to a lute with gut strings not nylon strings. Even without the proper gear it still sounded amazing. I must say that the Renaissance dudes rocked out using gut strings. That's cool!

I believe that everywhere we go we need to learn about new things and that was my new thing. I am also glad to share my newfound knowledge with you. Yes at one time in our World people played music while plucking strings made of guts. it almost seems magical. While Nick was rocking out some badass period pieces for us, a guy walked in with a pigs head.

No it wasn't real but you never know in Wisconsin. It had a cord dangling from it and I believed it might plug into a lighting kit. The gentleman informed me to never buy the pigs head because it always breaks. That is great info for me considering I had no idea what he was talking about. On a side note the guy forgot his wallet on the counter and we gave it to Nick but the guy had already left.

See I told you it was exciting in here. After our brief concert, we gathered our belongings and headed out feeling richer then when we walked in. I would have never expected to hear a classic piece played at a music store. Everyone playing in these places are always playing some 70's rock n roll riff. So I want to say thanks to Nick for some great customer service and keeping my dream alive that music stores are cool just like in a movie.
Kim M.
Dec 11, 2013
The following letter I sent in to the Music Center says it all: I just wanted to recognize Steve in your sales department. A few months ago, I came in needing help with audio equipment I was using for a marketing film. He went out of his way to try and make my existing equipment work before selling me a very affordable and reliable model. I just called in to get his advice on a new audio setup, and he was very informative, giving me a piece of the puzzle I would otherwise have been missing. I will be coming in to make the purchase and feel confident making future purchases as well. Thank you, Steve and Music Center. - Kim