Larson Larry Music Store

A general instrument store specializing in accordions with a nice selection of guitars, drums, etc. It has reduced hours currently due to Larry’s health, but he’s a nice guy and very dedicated to music. They don’t seem to currently offer a return policy but the quality of their items is very good and the price is pretty affordable. I’d recommend them. Fair warning: their store is small and a bit overflowing with products.

Larry is a very nice and fun man. His store is a bit pricey but compared to guitar center it is cheap. He is always happy to answer our questions. Everything is good. Larry’s wife on the other hand is a bit rude.

I took my Jazz bass to red zone in Pasadena as I was not getting the volume from it that it should of had. My Mustang had all it needed and more on the same amp. I had the same issue with 2 other amps. Asked the Luthier at Red Zone to replace the pickups, one standard jazz and one Seymour Duncan. Call me when it’s done. Well I Had to call them, got the run around from luthier, nothing wrong with the bass. They replaced a capacitor. I took the bass home plugged it in to the amp same thing no volume still. Took it to Larry, said please just replace the pickups… Larry called Seymour Duncan got me the best ones for the bass. One week later come get your bass, took my small line 6 with… new pickups are awesome. Sounds even better on the Ampeg. Thank you Larry for the great customer service. They even custom ordered strings for me.

Love getting all my daughters musical needs at Larry’s, they are very helpful and reasonably priced.

The instruments are way overpriced here. Even worse, Larry Larson is a dirty insulting old hustler. I came with a friend to see if he would buy my flute. I had bought it brand new for $ 500 and only used for a year so it was practically new. His response was very snotty, he barely looked at the instrument or listened to what I was saying at all. In an exasperated tone said he wasnt that interested in buying it but that he would give me $ 20 for it. I took it back and said «thanks anyway, I’ll take it elsewhere». As we left, he shot a mocking remark of something like «dont be upset kid, at least you have your good looks». My friend and I looked at each other, grossed out and stepped out of the building, never to return. I went to Pedersens band instrument store on Burbank Blvd, found more fair pricing on instruments and was treated as a respectable human being. Especially if youre dealing with brass or woodwinds, Pedersens is the one to go to. Avoid Larson at all costs or prepare to be swindled.

I had gotten a cheap violin offline so I could take lessons, I kept up with it long enough and decided to upgrade since the action was way too high on the nut and a fine tuning peg was broken. I brought the violin in just to get an opinion on fixing it vs. getting a new one. Larry personally looked it over, pointing out what he saw wrong with it, and gave me my realistic options, paying around 130 to get it into shape, or just purchasing a nicer instrument. He didn’t try to push one or the other and offered his card in case I wanted to look at buying a violin from them. I asked to see some and they showed me a range of violins in my budget and didn’t mind I was taking forever to decide. They were both very welcoming and sweet, the store is very charming and full of fun things to look at. Don’t go in a rush because they are very detailed with each customer so if there is someone before you, they aren’t going to rush to get to you, but they also end up taking as much time as you need for what you’re doing, which I thought was lovely. You feel very taken care of when you leave and I will definitely go back!

I needed some e-​strings for a project I’m making. This place was only one of two stores nearby that sold guitar strings and Larry’s was THE ONLY store that would sell single strings. So I lost the 1^st three E – strings I bought there and went back knowing I was low on cash. Sure enough, couldn’t cover the couple of dollars but I had my MasterCard. So Lee says, «Just take ‘em.» I was completely taken off guard. I promised to send the cash and have done so but what an incredible gesture, knowing I was hot, stressed running late on my project and and really wanted those strings. That was one of the kindest things I’ve ever had the privilege to experience. Thank you Lee, I’ll never forget it

Visited Larry’s store for the first time today. Larry showed me around and entertained me. The store has wonders, treasures, and a considerable number of musical instruments, a couple of which I bought. Fun to shop and explore here. Drop by an ATM and get the cash before you come, that will make the impulse buy a planned purchase. :)

Larry is a fantastic guy. He is very friendly and has many great stories to share. I’ve been going to his shop since I was a kid and loved the magical atmosphere. Larry’s collection is incredible.
The prices there are reasonable for a mom and pop shop, hey we all want to support our local business, right? That is, until they push you away. The reason I no longer give my business to this place is because of the terribly rude woman named Lee. She gives off this aura of a person who doesn’t want anyone in the shop or around Larry. She was incredibly rude to me on my past two visits, when I asked for a specific instrument that I had viewed before she gave me a terrible attitude and mocked me. She then attempted to try to make me seem uneducated by trying to imply that I wouldn’t understand how the instrument works anyway. If it wasn’t for her, I’d give this place 4 stars. I hope the fate of this wonderful store isn’t doomed to die with her.

I’ve been going here since I1978, so Larry is like an old friend. He is eighty-​something now. When you shop here, you are doing business old-​school. Before you bag on him and his wife Lee (who is looking out for him) for not accepting plastic, bear in mind that he has been ripped off and scammed big-​time over the years. If you need to put isomething on credit, you are living beyond your means and perhaps ought not be buying it anyway.
The late, great Huell Howser featured Larry and his shop on an episode of his show. There is almost as much to see here as at McCabes. If thy don’t have it, they will order it for you. Their pices are very competitive. Many times I have gone to Larry’s and negotiated a cash price to give him my business rather than schlep to Guitar Center.
He is great with kids. Recently we brought our friends with two toddlers to the shop. I asked Larry if he wouldn’t mind playing his accordion for us, as the children had never seen one before, and love all things musical. OMG the look of delight on their faces as Larry played «twinkle twinkle little star»! You aren’t going o get service like this at Guitar Center. Just sayin’.

Larry is the nicest man. Charles music employees are so rude but he is so good at what he does! He reminded my hubby of his grandfather. We went to get our guitar fixed and the prices are amazing. So many instruments «boy, can he jam» –hubby. Guitars, ukeleles, violins, even down to recorders and tin whistles. I will be going back regularly. :)

My only complaint here is that they don’t take credit cards! However, the lady was very helpful and told me where an ATM was nearby. You can spend hours just walking around as there isn’t a bare surface in the store. It’s eclectic and very interesting. Larry was very friendly and seemed particularly proud of his employees, telling me about all of their accomplishments like a proud father! I’m not sure about the quality of the instruments or lessons, but I went in for repair and they were timely and very helpful, cleaning my guitar and repairing some chips for no extra cost.

Larry Larson Music Store is special because they care about musicians. But the biggest plus is their musical instruction, especially drum instructor JOHN JAMES. Mr. James is a patient teacher with a world class wealth of knowledge. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, I cannot recommend him enough!

A good selection of instruments, but you’re not likely to find a bargain here. The instruments I looked at were all marked up around 30% — 50% from regular prices online, which adds up to quite a lot when you’re spending hundreds of dollars. To echo another reviewer, I had a good experience on my first visit, even though I knew I was paying a premium for shopping in their store, but my second visit was not so good. Sadly, I won’t be going back.

I was going to make it 4 stars if it weren’t for my second visit. The first time I went, bought something and they were super helpful with my purchase.
The SECOND time… eek. I went to check out some instruments. I asked questions and checked different brands and the different prices. I ended up not buying it because I was looking on my phone and it was cheaper elsewhere.
The lady said. «Oh well I guess we wasted our time here then…» and walks away from me as I’m still standing there…
UM RUDE?! Who’s worked in retail and says that? Instruments are expensive and you cannot expect everyone to come in and buy something right away. I definitely bought that instrument somewhere else for $ 200 less. BAM.
Disclaimer: I would pay premium to support a local business but they have to be respectful. I think that’s fair.

I’m a freelance trombone player, and when I got called to play for a musical at College of the Canyons, I was pretty excited! But I had one problem — I needed a euphonium (or baritone) to play. (The music calls for both trombone and euphonium.) I started asking around to see if any of my friends would let me borrow theirs, but with the show looming closer and closer, I finally decided my best bet would be just to rent a euphonium, and I called my old standby — Baxter Northup.
Imagine my distress when I was told Baxter Northup didn’t have ANY euphoniums or baritones! None of my friends had one I could borrow, and the only store that I knew rented instruments didn’t have one either!
In desperation I asked if they had any ideas who I could call, and they recommended Larry Larson’s, which is a store I had never heard of in my seven years as a Los Angeles resident.
I called and spoke to Larry’s Girl Friday (I can’t remember her name,) and she said that yes, (Hooray!) they did have an instrument I could rent, and she agreed to let me rent it for an entire month for the paltry sum of $ 100, plus a $ 300 cash deposit.
On the day I went to pick up the sorely needed instrument, I was so tickled by the interior of the store! They have so many things to look at and flip through. There was a whole assortment of washboards below the register. Washboards! And not just one — an assortment! And I got my instrument and was on my way.
The rental instrument played BEAUTIFULLY! Better than any euphonium I had ever played — honestly! I played for the musical, and the day after the last show went back to return the instrument to the store.
Larry took the instrument from me, and gave me back my $ 300 deposit, and then said to me, «did she tell you this is her personal instrument?» I was taken aback. I mean, she had told me when I was picking up that she was a trombone player herself, but she hadn’t mentioned that she was renting me her own personal instrument! I asked why, and he said, «She thought we had one in the store, but we didn’t. We like to help people out.»
What a WONDERFUL store! And who but a kind small business such as Larry and his staff would give of their own belongings to help a customer in need?
All I can say is… wow.

Very helpful staff. Kind people .
They have quite a huge selection for a little store… If you live in this area you should support them.

If you’re looking for a hygienic, pre-​chewed corporate music store shopping experience, kindly head to your local Guitar Center. They’ll be more than happy to sell you overpriced accessories, gimmicky gadgets and display guitars made in the third world that have been passed around more times than a geriatric hooker. If that sounds nice to you, be my guest.
If you’re looking for a locally-​owned business with real people behind the counter who are NOT trained to hard sell you on things you don’t need, a stock of unique and reasonably-​priced instruments, and an atmosphere more akin to the curio shop from the beginning of «Gremlins» than a well-​lit slaughterhouse that processes cheap guitars, choose Larson Larry Music Store.
Larry himself gave me an excellent price on my alto saxophone trade-​in. He took a few minutes to consult a friend via phone and his first offer was the most I had hoped for, no haggling. I promptly bought two packs of guitar strings and I plan to support this business from now on.

I’ve lived in Burbank for nearly 20-​years and have driven on Glenoaks Blvd to Glendale countless times but have never spotted this lil gem of a music shop, Larry Larson Music Store, along the way –and he’s been in business for 57 years. wow.
Went in for the first time today, having found out about it through a google search, to buy guitar strings. As soon as I walked in I was dazzled and awestruck by ALL the stuff music through out the quaint lil shop. With in 10 seconds of being there I was greeted with a warm smile and a friendly, genuine interest to help. Not only did they have what i was looking for but they offered it at the most reasonable price probably in all of Los Angeles… so reasonable I had enough cash left over to buy a Larry Larson vintage T-​shirt, which they sold to me for an extremely fair price, too. All in all, having put the numbers together, anywhere else i would’ve easily paid $ 50 before tax. At Larry Larson’s I paid $ 33 including tax!
I’m saving my doe to purchase an electric guitar and amp soon. You can bet that the ONLY place I will go for the purchase is Larry Larson’s. and not just for the fantastic price but because they also have the widest selection of guitars that I’ve ever seen.
Totally blown away… What an outstanding store! No wonder he’s been in biz for 57 years… He does it right!

My nephew’s Christmas list had one item on it — drumsticks. I figured that was an easily accommodated wish even though his older brother swore to the death that they were «impossible» to find because «even Sam Ash doesn’t have ‘em.» I Unilocaled music stores and Larry Larson came up and since it was just a few miles down the road I figured I’d take the kid in the car and we’d check it out. Older nephew wanted to bet me $ 20 they wouldn’t have the drumsticks in stock. When the clerk asked what type of sticks he wanted I was handed $ 20.
The only downer about this shop is that they don’t take credit cards. How any modern store can not take credit cards boggles my mind but they do take cash and checks. If they took plastic they would be the perfect shop.