Ardens Music

James was extremely helpful and friendly, and very quick to re-string our guitar (a couple of hours!). I asked about lessons and everything was so straight forward that I have my first one this week - looking forward to starting lessons with Sean and will follow up with another review!

First time in this store. Very helpful. I ordered a part for my guitar, explaining in detail that I wanted and a bridge or sound hole mic with wire and a female canon style jack in place of the tail pin/strap connection. I got a Norman guitar down form their show room to explain and demonstrate what I wanted. The said I won't be able to control the volume like the guitar I showed them, but I said that ok I can plug in and patch directly to the sound board and the volume can be controlled from there. They said it would be in in 2 to 4 weeks and that their installer John could install it for between $75 and $100. I paid for it in advance. I kept checking back and they kept telling me it was being delayed until they put in an order to that company. This went on for 3 weeks, them they told me the order had just been place. Six weeks after I order it I got a call that it was in. I said I would bring my guitar in right away to get the part installed. When I got their it was not at all what I had asked for. It was a sound hole mic alright with a long wire to a male jack with a cheap moulded plastic casing. When I questioned what had been order I was told that I ordered the wrong part, then was told I did not clearly communicate what I wanted to the sales staff. I explained how I communicated this in great detail, but they still insisted this was my fault. Bull****. Every time I visited the store to ask about the status of the order I take about how I this was going to be great for Open Mic and I would be able to plug in to a jack at the base of my guitar, and the host cold control the volume tone etc... from the sound board. I also talked about not having have a wire in my way as it would be at the tail of my instrument allowing me to move freely while I play. I got my money back, and said that this was much more than a misunderstanding and that their sales staff need to be better trained and more concerned about meeting a customers needs than making a sale. I left the store. I went to Arden music for the 1st time a I like to support local independent music stores Not sure if I will ever be back. Best try my luck with Long & McQuade.

Great Customer service! Love my PRS Custom

This store is well stocked and has knowledgeable friendly staff. They do have a "no refunds" policy that they do stick to... Which I found out the hard way when a purchase did not turn out as I hoped. Although this was frustrating at the time, they came good on the situation in the end - giving me a great deal on a alternate product that has turned out awesome. They were always very professional and very very helpful. I would highly recommend! (Just check prices... some of their smaller items like tuners and guitar cases seem consistently $5-$10 more expensive than another store in town)

Brought in an electric guitar - had it expertly re-strung. I knew nothing about the guitar (an Ibanez) and learned about the string-through body, that it was a signature model for the band Mars Volta and Ibanez's technology to integrate (kind of) two humbuckers into one pickup to reduce hum. Learned a lot from Zakk - very helpful, very informative. I'm a relative newbie to guitars - and paying $20 and the cost of strings to have it done (versus me doing it) is well worth it. Very friendly, knowledgeable staff. Great place

This is a great music store with a wide selection of instruments, accessories and written resources. Also very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Definitely going back!

Worst retail experience I’ve ever had. Our children bought my handicapped husband a small neck guitar because he was no longer able to play his wider necked guitar. Due to his terminal neuro-generative disease he was not able to play the new one either. When I tried to return the guitar, having been away for a month and full disclosure~ this was well beyond the seven day store policy, the staff were cold and impervious to our situation and stated that they would take the guitar back and refund only half the cost of this brand new instrument. My husband had attempted to play the guitar for a maximum of 30 minutes. I left the store in tears. Shame on you.

I'm not one for writting reviews but my experience at the Kingston location this past weekend was so pleasant that I feel compelled to do so. The staff is very helpful and courteous and Sean was particularly helpful answering all my questions and finding the answers to those that he did not know off the top of his head. Their acoustic guitar inventory is impressive. I could not find any store in the Ottawa area that had in stock all 3 guitars that I had researched and wanted to try out but I found them all here. Ironically I bought one that I had not even considered. Hopefully the case becomes available sometime soon :). My son was with me and he had been shopping for an electric drum kit and wasn't planning on buying one but he was equally pleased with the service and ended up leaving with one. I would highly recommend Ardens Music. Thanks for the great service guys! YL.