California Sound & Lighting

Shawn Green (the owner) I hope you read this. Good thing I have fraud protection on my credit card because CSL tried to rip me off. Long story but bought an Eclur Nuo 4.0 mixer after spending numerous hours at CSL talking with Shawn who sold me on it. Paid in full up front and it took over a month longer that orginally told for ½ the gear to come in. After waiting another 4 weeks said forget it and returned the mixer. Shawn was to get back to me serveral times and never did. I had to go in to see what was going on. When arriving the store was closing with a moving van and Shawn never said anything the whole time before regarding the store closing. Instead, I got excuses of the economy and he said he would refund me. Weeks go by and no refund. He gave me his cell number so I kept calling to see what was up. I was told that he already issued credit which was not the case. I then gave him a deadline and said if I didn’t get the credit I was going to report fraud. He never cleared it up so it was disputed and I am free from this charge.
Shawn was supposed to be a homey and I even considered a friend until this went down. Shady bro… really shady…
Lesson to all… don’t pay with cash or debit card if you deal with CSL and make sure you get all promises in writing.

Excellent shop! LOTS of vinyl to check out too, you should totally stop by.
The listening booth over looks the 5 freeway, its such a cool view…
Sometimes on sundays they have mimosa’s too!
Listen to the calsound show every friday night from 9 to 11pm pst on Earthbound Radio…
Search us on Itunes under Earthbound Radio

Whats not to love about record shops?
I tell you what, this place has pretty much everything that a DJ needs or wants… records, turntables, lessons, gear… etc. Some of the equipment that they have on hand is lower end gear, but they can order anything you want.
Record selection is great. They have all kinds of electronic music, rock, hip hop, and more. Just pick out a stack and chill out watching the cars Zoom by on the 5.
Parking is a little cramped but totally worth it.
If you see me digging please say hi.

So I rented from here a few months ago for a birthday gig. I got a JBL set for a weekday rate, 2 tops and 2 subs. All seemed pretty good, the owner was a nice dude and everyone was pretty chill. Anyway, come time for my gig I find out one of the subs doesn’t work! Oh no, Nate’s been doin gigs for a minute but has he forgotten how to hook up a speaker system properly? Maybe, maybe not. The sub was fucking blown. No biggie, I still had one to back me up and the two tops worked fine. I continued on with my night…
The next day I dropped off the rental speakers and told them about the blown woofer. They said they’d give me a call once they test it out. Wait, not here now? Okay, I guess I could trust you guys since you put up such a professional front (and still thinking I’m going to get my refund for the blown woofer.)
.sometime the next day, «Hey we tested out the sub and it seems to be working fine, next time you can ask one of us how to use it properly so you wouldn’t have any futher problems. Good bye»
WHAT THE FEEZY?!? No refund? Just a «it works you’ll have to take my word for it btw you suck balls.» I did take their word for it. maybe I do suck balls.
Fast forward to 2 months later. I walk in looking to rent some speakers again. I see the woofer I had used before with a sticker on it saying:
«BLOWN WOOFER, DOES NOT WORK»
…
Aside from their Jihad sales tactics, they got some pretty good vinyl in there.

I usually come here for rare finds.…I followed this business for 10 years now, from their first location in Clairemont, to Kearney Mesa road, and now off of the 5.
Location — Not the best, but worth it if you like digging.
People — Everyone there is great! very friendly, and what ever genre you spin/​play, they have the knowledge!
Prices — It’s vinyl! what can you expect for newly pressed vinyl, or that rare record that you lost/​got stolen, broke, warped?.. . I like getting the bargain bin stuff.. .even though I have serato now! They even rent some equipment.. .they may not have it all, but you sure as heck can buy/​rent it forever/​the weekend.
Overall — better have the time to look around.. .2 hours tops.. .I swear I would’ve stayed the entire time they were open, but I had a gig that night. Always a 5 star for being legit, and staying in the scene for so long.

I love this record shop. I have used a lot of their services: rented sound equipment, went to their free scratch class, purchased new and used vinyl, etc., and they’re awesome for everything. Their customer service is great, and they always have what I want at a fair price. You’re not really going to go in there and find a record for a dollar or two, but you’re going to find an album you want and be happy. They have a good hip hop selection, and their euro selection has got me starting to get into euro. They have plenty of turntables for you to listen to the records, and the sales people are really helpful. The free scratch class is great for any level, and they offer a DJ class for, I think 200 bucks, which seems reasonable for the quality of education you get one on one. Save your receipts — you get rewards for what you spend, but you have to have the receipt.

I’ve been shopping at CSL since it was out in Kearny Mesa off Engineer road (before they moved to KM Blvd) and I am kind of ambivalent towards it. The new location is great, and the people who work there are friendly and helpful but the record selection is much less varied than it was in it’s hey-​day. For certain genres that I’m into (detroit techno) they really don’t get a whole lot of records in. They also almost never ever actually get the records I order in. I’d love to keep buying from a local shop and not mail-​order stuff or buy online but sometimes I have to. This all probably says more about the sad state of vinyl sales than about this specific store, and I’m sure they’re doing what they have to do to keep going. I guess I’ll always have my memories.

This is a great store, and usually the place where I purchase my vinyl. I particularly like House, Downtempo and 70’s soul, and I have noticed recently that the selection of these types of music have been dwindling. Seems as though they are about 70% Hip Hop orientated now. Public demand I guess.
Also, last time I was in the store, I was told by one of the employees that they are trying to go more into the direction of CD’s and sizing down the number of Vinyl that they sell.
Please don’t. PLEASE.

Really nice employees who will bend over backwards for their customers is a really GREAT asset to any record store. Not only is it a record store, but they have lighting, rentals, sound, dj equipment, and a BUNCH of other things that are REALLY cool!
The owner is a GREAT dj himself and his girlfriend scratches! How much cooler can a shop get?!
YEY for CSL!

California Sound & Lighting has been holding it down in San Diego since I was a young buck. From a little hole in the wall to a huge spot in Old Town overlooking the San Diego skyline. Anything from Vinyl, Cd’s, Dvds, to studio production gear, lighting, pro audio, rentals, repairs, dj equipment and accessories, as well as installs. Music selection include: Hip-​Hop, Trance, Progressive, Techno, Funk, Soul, Disco, Downtempo, Reggae, Drum & Bass, Break Beat, House (electro, deep, party rocker) This place has the best selection and best pricing in town. If your into Hip-​Hop, ask for the infamous DJ Syko to help you out.