Guitar Center Lessons

I’m a big fan of AMP, but my first use of GC studios today hooked me. Drumheads that are closer to new than I’ve ever seen in a rehearsal studio all around the kit, and hardware that functions properly. Plus, C.K. who was running things while we were there was amazing — friendly, helpful and cool. Plus, they also do a «Rewards card» thing… I’ll be back often!

This is easily the greatest rehearsals room all around. Equipment is all new and the staff will be more than happy to fill your needs, even if you somehow forgot your tool (guitar/​keyboards/​bass). Prices are not on the cheap side and these guys are pretty strict, which makes sense considering this is a music school essentially.

Warning for parents: my daughter took guitar lessons and had an amazing teacher. But as young kids do, they change their minds with activities all the time. I called and canceled her standing classes. A month later we still had charges on our credit card. When we spoke to Joe he basically said that although we are not going to class, we still need to pay a monthly membership and cannot get out of it. We also had 7 classes that we paid for forward and he claimed we only had three. He would not refund all seven. He was very rude, hostile and very not kid-​friendly. I recommend you try getting private lessons at a place that is much more understanding when it comes to kids and cancelations.

CK is doing a great job running this location. Her staff seams to know what’s up. We have rehearsed at a many different facilities and I must say this place is clean, free of smoke, and they have top equipment. Thank you for keeping it real.

I am so surprised by all the reviews, I thought this place was great! I didn’t get an actual lesson but I was inside for a bit, and everyone inside was really friendly. They recently got new management (CK) and inside feels really homely now. Everyone inside that I saw who got lessons seemed to be happy and really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend because sit felt very personable and warm.

I’ve been here more times that I can count so let me just do a bullet point style review:
PROS:
XS/​S/​M/​L room sizes to choose from
Sanitary, clean, mics smell like they were wiped down with alcohol wipes
Rooms typically have a drum kit, 2 guitar amps, or 1 guitar and 1 bass amp ready to go.
PA system set up
you can request a CD to record your rehearsal
Bathrooms are clean
Some very friendly staff
Equipment rental available in case you forgot something
instrument cables can be provided
Stools in practice area; benches (for the dedicated fans in the rooms or a place to put your left over chipotle lol)
NO stinky smell
CONS:
Rooms aren’t sound proofed well
PRICEY$$$
Large rooms get booked quick
Some staff are not friendly
LEFT MY KEYBOARD STAND ONE NIGHT AND IT MYSTERIOUSLY WAS NEVER FOUND — was probably taken by the next group rehearsing but if GC does inventory on what items were there before we pay to make sure that we left everything where they belong, they should’ve caught the keyboard stand that didn’t belong to them that was in the room before renting it to the next group…
Also, when I called, the dude on the phone didn’t seem like he made an effort to even try to look for my stand… I’m just bitter because I loved that stand and I can’t seem to find it anywhere anymore =(
Drummer doesn’t like their drum kits
whatsup with the stage that is only used for private events?

I’ve been taking guitar lessons at this Guitar Center once a week for a little over a year, and I love it. It’s great. I love this place. The people are friendly and professional. It’s got a great vibe. In my humble opinion, everyone should take music lessons. I just wish I had done this years ago when I was younger. I took piano lessons when I was a kid, and didn’t appreciate it or enjoy it that much, but it’s a lot different when you want to go. My instructor is Freddy, and he’s a tremendously gifted musician and teacher. Very patient with me. I’m a more serious student now than when I was younger, but my main problem now is finding time to practice. Even though I don’t practice as much as I should, Freddy is very patient with me. There are so many benefits to learning to play a musical instrument, outside of the satisfaction of learning a skill you can use in a social setting, I just can’t recommend this enough. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend it.

This place is a joke. I’ve been going here for years and everything would work out perfectly. Then all of a sudden I go last week and the employees, that I’ve never seen before, completely suck and are rude. The key wasn’t working in the studio where we were supposed to practice, so we had to keep trying to open the door. About 25 minutes later we got the door open and they wouldn’t even add time to our practice. Then when they asked if we needed anything I asked for an extra cymbal stand and the lady says «no we can’t do that». I just blew it off and didn’t really care. I went to sit on the drum throne and the screw to keep it at a good height was stripped so I kept going down when I’d sit. I then went up to the front desk and asked for a new throne. A different person said he’d take a look at it, and the same lady (cymbal stand) looked at me and said there’s nothing they can do. They’re not allowed to swap anything out. Are you kidding me. It’s fucking Guitar Center. Oh, and they charge if you want to use your own gear. What a joke.

Officially done with this place. We got charged 3 times on 2 separate credit cards… how does that happen?
And when we call to have them fix it, they respond with, «are you sure you didn’t buy some stuff or rent out another piece of equipment that day,»…so we insist that that did not happen. Then they have the nerve to imply that maybe we should check with our credit card company… wow…true fucking assholes. It’s been a long time since I’ve been disrespected like that.
Hey manager at GC studios, instead of trying to place the blame on the customer (when you charged them 3 times for one practice session), man up and admit that you guys made a mistake.
My band will not only never ever recommended this practice studio, we will continue to spread the word To everybody we know that this place is no good.

I had just left the sprint store next door, and I had my dog with me. A small dog only 12 pounds he is a Shih Tszu/​Lhasa Apso mix. I broke a string in the studio earlier that day and decided to go next-​door to check the place out. I have also been looking for a nice professional place to record music since I’ve moved out here I have been active in the music business around local St. Louis since 2010 and move to LA recently. When I walk in I asked the gentleman if he has any Martin acoustic guitar strings. Instead of answering my question he says we don’t allow pets in the building. After I remove my pet from the building and I’m standing just inside the doorway he tells me that they do not have those strings again. So then I have to actually ask him his he has any other acoustic guitar strings. He replies this is not a store this place is for lessons and rehearsals and we do not have all of the guitar strings that a normal store would have. So then I reply that is fine but I can see some guitar strings right over there in the glass case can you tell me what acoustic guitar strings do you have. He replied it looks as though we are out of stock and I would have to check our warehouse do you want me to check our war

So this review does not reflect the instructor or the actual facility. My daughter loved both and we were happy with the results. When signing up for lessons I asked numerous questions. One of the important one was can we reschedule with notice. I was told yes, but never told us we would have a 50% penalty to do so.
This past Saturday my wife asked to reschedule my daughters lesson for the following week. After attending their lessons for the past nine months we NEVER asked to reschedule. One of her instructors was even late once and no lesson was given. I was really OK with that! it’s life and not a big deal. Wasn’t worth getting upset over. OK, let’s reschedule, sorry Mrs. that will be $ 15. Really, we pay close to $ 130 a month and have for the last nine months. Them– Do you want to see your contract? Me– No thanks, I just trust people’s word, I should have not in this case. Me– we will just use a new instructor that will come to our house. Them– Good luck finding someone willing to do that. A couple days later we called to cancel. Them– In order to cancel you need to come in. Me– under my breath: R U F Kidding me? It’s 2014!, So I strolled over there, a ten mile drive and cancelled.
So if you have kids and expect flexibility on your lessons WITHOUT a fee, then this is the place for you. If you wish to reschedule a class without a fee and a horrible customer service experience then this is for you.

I’ve come here for about three to four years, since around the time it opened. I come with a group of guys. The prices are fair and the equipment usually works. I have a problem with broken equipment here and there and sometimes scheduling gets screwed up, but the staff is always extremely helpful and attentive.
I’ve been to a lot of practice studios. This one by far and away is the least grungy and smelly.

I’ve been doing Rock Show here for the past few months.
The staff does a good job here, and I think they do a very good job at getting the sound right for the Rock Show performances.
With regards to the rooms, they are clean, and have the equipment you need to get the job done. What more could you ask for?

Extremely clean, equipment in great shape, clean bathroom, free wifi… that’s the good. The bad? The rooms aren’t padded enough, and are therefore very bouncy. Try as we might, we couldn’t avoid feedback until turning the mics down so low we couldn’t hear the vocals. If they take the time to soundproof the entire room, then they’ll be among the best rehearsal spaces in the city.

Listen, I hate rehearsal studios. Every musician does, unless you’re some 14-​year old thrash drummer who just put together a band with two pasty-​skinned neighborhood kids and are totally gonna «make it, dude.»
So, GC Studios in Woodland Hills is, hands done, the best room I’ve ever booked for a rehearsal. Clean, well-​lit, no rank oder of urine in the carpet, helpful staff, good backline, great PA systems, wide hallways for load-​in … everything about it just feels right.
I’ll be back. I still hate rehearsal studios, but I hate GC Studios least of all.
4 stars instead of 5 because there’s no easy roll-​in ramp to load. You have to hop a curb with your rig. That sucks.