Guitar Center: San Mateo’s hub for guitars, gear, and expert guidance.
Guitar Center in San Mateo offers a vast range of guitars, amps, and accessories, with friendly, knowledgeable staff. Reviewers praise the wide selection of new and used gear, helpful techs who explain setups and restringing, and a welcoming atmosphere. Online orders can be picked up in-store, and the store’s return policy helps customers shop with confidence.
53 W Hillsdale Blvd Suite A, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA
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Wide selection of new and used acoustic, electric, and bass guitars with expert guidance.
Professional guitar tech services for restringing, minor setups, and troubleshooting.
Convenient in-store pickup for online purchases with hassle-free returns and exchanges.
Comprehensive range of amps, drums, cables, mics, and studio equipment.
Welcoming environment with small instruments for kids and no-pressure browsing.
Overall rating
John Ryan Kean Dizon
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. They take the time to answer questions, offer recommendations, and make you feel welcome, whether you're a beginner or a professional. Shopping here was a pleasure.
Jim Tierney
Guitar Center, like everywhere, isn't perfect. However, I still buy most of my gear from them. Why? 1) the return policy. Ya need to play the things. (and I don't want to pay shipping if it doesn't work out) 2) When you do buy something, like a used headless Ibanez from one of their Georgia stores (online), you can go into a store here and have them explain to you why you can't re-string it. The guitar tech in San Mateo was extremely helpful explaining why I was having trouble restringing my new (used) headless guitar and doing a minor setup on it to get it playing right. I've changed strings hundreds of times, but not on a headless, and, uh lol... it was a little humbling having to go into the store to ask how to change strings. But I'm glad they were there! Thanks!
Augusto Mercado
The selection of guitars, amps and accessories was overwhelming but in a good way. They have all kinds of instruments and awesome studio booths too so they have pretty much whatever youre looking for in mics, cables, drumsticks and whatnot.
Reese Fay
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 wanted to keep it but it wasn't worth what I paid for it originally. They made it right and I will go back for sure. I was very pleased with the end result and very happy to keep the bass. This is the third guitar I have purchased from them and they have always been great to deal with.
Judy Margaret Chen
A great music instrument store in San Mateo. 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. I don’t play music, but my husband play guitars, so we tagged along with him when he wanted a new cable for his electric guitar. While he was enjoying himself in the store, my son and I explored the area. My baby was ecstatic to find small instruments his size, ukuleles and other small pieces. He had blissful time here. I guess I’ll buy him a small piece when he’s a year older to play with his father. The staff didn’t bother us at all the entire time, which is great. I would feel uncomfortable if anyone approached or looked at me when I was taking off the hanging instruments to try.
