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Showcase is a good place for used gear and for checking out new stuff, but their pricing really is pretty wonky. Nice people, though, and that back room is amazing!

As far as Guitar Center goes, here's my Yelp review for the SJ branch:

"It's Guitar Center, need I say more?

OK, I will.

They've got pretty good day-to-day prices on strings and straps and cords and such, but their "super blow out green tag everything must go" sales events are about the only time it's worth suffering through the "customer service" to buy anything more expensive. My roommate worked at GC in Oakland (yes, there was one in Oakland, back in the covered wagon days) and it hasn't changed much since. It's a minimum wage, commission-based sales job that attracts "professional" musicians who just want to hang out and practice on the clock or show off their hot new licks to the awestruck teenagers who mill about staring at the guitars. The only way it could be worse would be to put it in the mall.

My other pet peeve is the "bass room". They've got basses hanging on the walls, twenty feet above the floor! How the heck is anybody supposed to get those down to play them?!! I don't want to ask the staff, because that will only end in somebody jerking off some slaphappy Flea shit while I'm trying to check out the intonation.

Seriously, though, only go there if you need something right away and know exactly what it is. You can get the same prices online and you can get better service at Starving or Showcase. "


OK, maybe I'm a little snarky. :-)

Don't forget Music Go Round in San Jose. They're kind of buried in a strip mall next to the Almaden Britannia Arms, but they've got a handful of new stuff and decent used gear pops up from time to time.

Also, I get all my repairs and setups done at MSI Guitar Repair in San Jose. Greg Menacho does excellent work out of his house. No website, but his number is 408-275-6190. Check him out!