5 Best Music Stores in Los Angeles (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Los Angeles has more music history packed into a few miles than most cities have in total, and the music stores in Los Angeles on this page reflect it, from a chain flagship with sculpted RockWalk hands out front to a violin shop restringing student instruments a few blocks away. Together they've logged 5,437 Google reviews, with ratings running from 4.2 up to 4.8, so the real decision is less about quality and more about which store actually stocks or fixes what you need.

Short answer: The most-reviewed music store in Los Angeles is Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard (4.5 stars, 3,558 reviews), followed by Hollywood DJ (4.7, 1,121 reviews) for DJ and pro audio gear. For rare vintage instruments, Caveman Vintage Music holds the highest rating on the list at 4.8.

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1. Guitar Center
2. Hollywood DJ
3. International House of…
4. Caveman Vintage Music
5. Los Angeles Violin Sho…
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The Los Angeles Music Store Shortlist

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Guitar Center	4.5 ★	3,558	Selection & brand-name gear	View ›
2	Hollywood DJ	4.7 ★	1,121	DJ & pro audio gear	View ›
3	International House of Music	4.2 ★	476	Value pricing on new gear	View ›
4	Caveman Vintage Music	4.8 ★	161	Vintage gear & records	View ›
5	Los Angeles Violin Shop	4.7 ★	121	Violin & string instrument specialist	View ›

5 Best Music Stores in Los Angeles (2026)

Where to shop, store by store

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Guitar Center

4.53,558 Google reviews

Guitar Center's Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard is the chain's flagship Los Angeles store, a multi-level shop with a dedicated lower-level acoustic section, a rare-guitar room, and full departments for keyboards, drums, DJ gear and pro audio. The store also runs in-store events, including artist masterclasses, and offers instrument rentals and repairs alongside retail sales.

What people praise

Massive selection spanning guitars, keys, drums, DJ and pro audio in one building
Free parking behind the store, a rarity for the area
Staff described as helpful without being pushy
Notable rare and vintage instrument room, including celebrity-owned pieces

Worth knowing

Bigger-box feel compared to the specialist shops on this list

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume3,558 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown72% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed music store in Los Angeles by a wide margin, and the safe first stop if you want to see and compare a large range of gear under one roof.

Website +1323-874-1060 Directions

7425 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Hollywood DJ

4.71,121 Google reviews

Hollywood DJ is a downtown LA retailer focused specifically on DJ equipment, from controllers and mixers to speakers, stage lighting and live sound gear, selling both online and out of its 11th Street store. It carries major pro audio brands and also handles larger installs like truss and lighting rigs for events.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently praise fast, attentive problem-solving when orders go wrong
Staff name-checked repeatedly for going beyond a standard sale
Handles both individual DJ purchases and larger event equipment needs
Fast shipping and careful packing noted across multiple reviews

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,121 · 92nd

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown88% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clear specialist pick for DJ and pro audio equipment, with a review base built almost entirely on praise for customer service when something needs fixing.

Website +1800-700-4542 Directions

934 E 11th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

#3🕑 Open 7 days

International House of Music

4.2476 Google reviews

International House of Music is a downtown LA musical instrument store carrying guitars, keyboards, drums, DJ and lighting equipment, pro audio, and accordions and bajo quintos for the local Latin music market. It also offers rentals, repairs and used gear, and has operated as an independent alternative to the big chains.

What people praise

Multiple reviewers say pricing beats Guitar Center on comparable gear
Praised for a wide accessory selection and staff who know the inventory well
Willingness to swap in extras or upgrades on an order noted by reviewers
Carries specialty instruments like accordions and bajo quintos not always found elsewhere

Worth knowing

At least one reviewer describes a frustrating order mix-up involving a floor-model swap and an unhonored shipping promise
Lower rating and confidence score than the rest of this list

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.2 / 5

Review volume476 · 87th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown67% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Worth checking for price on new gear, especially specialty instruments, but confirm exactly what you're buying and get shipping terms in writing given the mixed feedback.

Website +1213-628-9161 Directions

821 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Caveman Vintage Music

4.8161 Google reviews

Caveman Vintage Music is a Lincoln Heights shop specializing in used and vintage musical instruments, along with vintage vinyl records, cassette tapes, amps and record players. It's a smaller, curated store rather than a big-box retailer, with an emphasis on hand-picked used gear at a range of price points.

What people praise

Reviewers describe the used-gear selection as genuinely curated, not just a pile of trade-ins
Free, easy parking called out repeatedly
Vintage vinyl selection singled out as one of the few real vintage (not reissue) record stocks in LA
Owner and staff described as knowledgeable and welcoming, including over the phone

Worth knowing

Smaller review base than the bigger retailers on this list

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume161 · 82nd

Confidencemoderate

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown87% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest-rated store here and the pick for anyone hunting genuine vintage instruments or records rather than new retail stock.

Website +1323-505-7777 Directions

3131 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90031

#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Los Angeles Violin Shop

4.7121 Google reviews

Los Angeles Violin Shop is an Olympic Boulevard specialist dealing in violins, violas and cellos, from student outfits under $1,000 to exhibition-grade instruments priced well into five figures. Beyond sales, the shop does instrument repair, maintenance, appraisal and rentals, and carries strings, bows, cases and other string-specific accessories.

What people praise

Repair and maintenance work repeatedly praised, including for children's instruments
Staff described as warm and patient, with named staff called out by multiple reviewers
Serves both beginner students and serious players with a wide instrument price range
Long-standing reviews going back years, suggesting consistent service over time

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume121 · 66th

Confidencemoderate

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown86% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clear choice if you play or are shopping for a violin, viola or cello specifically. It's a specialist shop, not a general music store, and the reviews reflect deep trust from string players.

Website +1213-471-2124 Directions

3350 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

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How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data as of the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is the store’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated it, ranked against other Los Angeles music stores. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a rating built on thousands of reviews carries more weight than the same score from a hundred. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much do instruments cost in Los Angeles? (2026)

Pricing depends heavily on what you’re buying, new versus used, and the instrument category. Based on what these stores list for sale:

Job	Typical price
Entry-level student violin outfit	under $1,000
Mid-range violin, viola or cello	$1,000 - $10,000
Professional/exhibition string instrument	$10,000 - $50,000+
Entry-level DJ controller/mixer package	varies by brand, check current listings
Used/vintage guitars and gear	varies by condition and rarity
Rare or celebrity-associated guitars (Guitar Center)	up to around $30,000

Prices compiled August 2026 from the businesses’ own published pricing pages and specific figures reviewers mentioned. Instrument pricing swings widely by condition, brand and rarity, so ask each store for a current quote on the exact model you want.

Serving music shoppers across Los Angeles

These stores span Hollywood, downtown LA and Lincoln Heights, covering shoppers from the Westside to the eastside without a long drive. Searching for a music store near me? Each listing below includes a live phone number and directions to the closest option.

What to ask before you buy or repair an instrument

Is the instrument new, used, or a floor/demo model, and is that reflected in the price?
What’s the return or exchange policy if the instrument doesn’t fit my needs?
Do you offer repair, setup or maintenance services after the sale?
Is rental available if I’m not ready to buy outright?
For string instruments, what’s included (bow, case, rosin) in the quoted price?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these music stores?

We started from music and instrument retailers in Los Angeles with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Where can I buy or repair a violin in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles Violin Shop specializes specifically in violins, violas and cellos, including repair and maintenance, and is the strongest specialist option on this list for string players.

Which store has the widest selection of instruments?

Guitar Center’s Sunset Boulevard flagship carries the broadest range across guitars, keys, drums, DJ gear and pro audio in a single multi-level store.

The bottom line

Guitar Center is the safe default for browsing a wide range of new gear under one roof, but if you’re after DJ equipment, vintage instruments or string instruments specifically, the specialists on this list are worth the extra stop. Confirm price and condition before you buy, especially on used or floor-model gear.

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