Guitar Emporium @ Maxwell's House of Music — Local services in Jeffersonville

*edit: Since I left this review the store has from its iconic location in the Highlands neighborhood to a store in Southern Indiana. I’m not sure about their new owner or the business at the time of this edit. ——————

This store sets a standard of quality for rare vintage guitars while also offering guitars for beginners and players at every level of expertise. The store previously sold guitars to Angus Young from AC-DC and so many other famous players. The employees will ‘talk shop’ if they aren’t busy and they are so knowledgeable. Steve Cooley, for example, has been working with stringed instruments for a long time and he is an expert when it comes to guitar history and technical specs. There are some very rare guitars behind glass and many on the walls of the store, so I tend to ‘touch with my eyes’ and I respectfully read price on the tag before I pick up a guitar. My purchases from the store include a 70’s Gibson SG that was modded, but it played great. I bought a Silvertone guitar that had a case with an amplifier built into it. The guitar was a gift to my dad-who had the same model when he was a kid. In the 90’s I won an Ovation acoustic guitar in a raffle at the store, I mean-Emporium. *the store has recently merged and moved to Indiana. I will review the new location soon.

The store has the vibe of a living room, but the store itself is like a museum- and the relics can be purchased. If you are looking for a vintage, hard to find guitar, then you can play the guitar before you buy it. Their selection varies, so check in often. But like I said- don’t pick up everything and don’t add a ding...

Bad customer service. I called about buying a New Suhr Guitar that was listed for $2,100 on their website. When I went to purchase over the phone, they told me it was $2,500. They said their website was not correct. He agreed to meet me in the middle at $2,300. (Thanks for charging me $200 over the listed price. I am very grateful) I then received my new guitar and while tuning it up, the high e-string broke. I put on a new string and it immediately also broke. I was at a gig and had to run home in a panic to get my back up guitar. I contacted the store and they told me to call Suhr to ask if they could send me a new bridge. Then I could find a guitar tech in KC and have them install it. (They did say they would cover this cost of the repair) That all seemed like a lot of work for someone that just tried to buy a new $2,300 guitar. I asked for a new guitar, but they refused to send me a new one until the old one was returned to their store. I told them I had a gig in 5 days and they told me they would not ship a new one until I returned the old one. (The new would not and did not arrive in time for my gig)

I finally decided to accept their offer and take the new guitar, which was a different color than the original one I bought. When it finally arrived after my gig, I was so upset by the whole process that after a few days I asked for my money back. They refused to pay for shipping and it cost me $100 to ship it back to them. This all seems like a bad way to treat your customers than are spending thousands of dollars at your store. I would not...

Visited the shop while it was slow and noticed an amp priced decently AS IS. Asked questions about it, then asked for a business card as I'm from out of town and wanted to consider it and they mentioned shipping being available. The person working at the time let me know that the owner doesn't come in much so I'd be best off not calling the number on the card. I alternatively texted a separate cell number on the card to inquire about the price so I wouldn't bother anyone with a call. I shortly after got a call from the shop reprimanding me for reaching out to contact info ON THE BUSINESS CARD. Answered the phone and immediately started laying into me, "I told you not to call my boss and what do you do, you call him anyways". I was considering going back to pay full pice anyways as it was still a decent deal but after that, I don't trust that these people wouldn't lie to me about what's wrong with an amp being sold "as is". Not sure why these guys stand on such high ground when the shop inventory was scarce at best and empty the entire time I was in there but I'd say your money and time are better spent pretty much...