Squid Music

These guys are cool. You have to respect the scratch’n-and-a-survivin’ that an independent music store must endure. A while back, I sold them a real nice Fender Jag and they gave me more money than anybody in that area would. I talked with the owner for a bit and he gave me the story of the biz and how he came to own it. He was very cool, super knowledgeable and WAY better than doing business with Sam Ash. I’ve referred a few people there and haven’t heard a single complaint, nothing but good stuff about these guys.
Anecdote: while talking to the owner for 20 minutes or so I became relaxed with him and started talking to him like I’ve known him a long time — you know how that happens? Anyway, I was like, dude why aren’t you strapped? Aren’t you worried about getting robbed and shit? All of a sudden, I looked at his face and it was like total paranoia struck him. He said «dude, don’t even say that word, don’t even think that shit,» lol! I don’t know if he thought I was gonna rob him, or if he thought it was bad «energy» to speak of such things. I don’t care, but one thing I instantly realized, those dudes are brave to go sit on that pile of gold, in that area, everyday.
In sum, I will for sure be back there to buy my next guitar.

Cool little store with plenty of strings and pickups. They also have a revolving stock of guitars and amps.

This little store is easy to miss.
This shop almost looks like one of those businesses near the California/​Nevada state line where you’re not sure if it’s in business or just a relic of a ghost town. There was one car in the otherwise empty parking lot… an employee’s.
Said employe was apathetic and hardly looked away from his laptop as I talked to him. (funny cat videos on YouTube?)
The shop was filled with a lot of used gear. Most of it was uninteresting. The guitars and basses they had were mostly cheap imports or intermediate level. Their acoustics were garbage. Mostly imports from Indonesia. High action, impossible to play, and sound like crap. The few American electric guitars they had were some half-​decent used guitars, displayed behind the counter.
With the salesman’s ennui & lackadaisical slump at the sales counter, (he never bothered to stand up once) it made me feel like I was in a library where you had to be quiet & the librarian was waiting for you to leave. Or an old gas station when the attendant wasn’t interested or motivated in getting up to help you.
I honestly don’t know how they manage to cover their overhead & stay in business.
Guess I will buy my guitar from someone who shows some interest.
I can’t post this review without giving it a star, so that is the only way they are getting a star from me.

This is a Mom and Pop Shop that has been around for many years. They have a great selection of product and you may think I am full of bull, but they have in some areas better stock than Sam Ash and GC, lets talk pickups, cabs, heads and accessories. I see some people complain that they offer low ball prices when buying and that is incorrect. The store itself needs to make money on your item so they cannot pay you what the item is worth and still make money. I personally think Jay and staff are the most forthright blokes around.
If you want personal, but not in your face sales this is a great place to start and they are willing to negotiate pricing with you as well as set up lay-​away plans. I do have a complaint though. Why can’t this be nearer to my home as i drive from Roland Heights all the way to Stanton to see these folks. If you live in the Long Beach OC area and are looking for a great honest deal Squid music is a really great place to shop, talk shop or just get a quick music fix. They do not repair wind and brass and the guy leaving the comment about that is either confused or a blatant liar.
Stors like this are a dying breed in corporate America so support your local business and keep the small guy in business.
Thanks for reading
Elric Phares

Great store to check into regularly to see the inventory as there is always interesting gear to check out. Staff is knowledgeable and prices are fair. I have been very happy with my purchases here and helping out a local business owner instead of the big box stores.
Contrary to the other reviewer, this store does not repair brass, orchestra or woodwind instruments (and never has).

I have been meaning to write a review on this place awhile, but kept forgetting. Every time I drive by I remember though and this feeling of hate for this place comes up.
Awhile back I brought my Bach trumpet there for a repair. Bought it new at Ontario Mills for around $ 1300. My mouthpiece got stuck and my dad kept saying that it’d be easy to take out, but he ended up breaking off one of the things that connects to the leadpipe. It’s the one that is the closest to the mouthpiece.
My stupid music teacher recommended me to go here and so I did. They got the mouthpiece unstuck then they said I had to leave it here overnight for them to repair it. Forgot how much I paid, but it was reasonable (for a decent job)
I got back here the next day and what saw was a disaster. The bracket or bar that they were supposed to weld back on to the leadpipe. there was a huge gash in it and it was all scratched up. You would have to screw up on purpose for it to look that bad. I could still go back and take pictures of it even after I got it repaired and you’d still be able to see the damage. On top of that the bar wasn’t even welded on correctly. it wasn’t on the original spot that it was supposed to be. I must have been stupid or retarded back then, but my dad didn’t really give it a second look either.
A few days later I took it to the Fountain Valley music to get a chemical bath for it. I left it there overnight then I came the next day to pick it up. The man that did the chemical bath for me asked me if I tried to repair the trumpet myself at home. I said no I took it to Squid music down on Beach. He proceeded to tell me that the guy that repaired it did a total hack job on my trumpet and that I should of punched him in the face for ruining an instrument that’s worth as much as mine. He was nice enough to reweld the bar for free when he gave the trumpet a chem bath and it looks better, but the gashes are very noticeable.
I wish I had never brought my trumpet here. Terrible place. Steer clear. I’ll never come back.

This is place is really good.
I’ve been coming here since I was a freshmen in High School. The guys that work here really know their stuff and help you with absolutely anything.
Keep it up Squid!
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P.S.
Unlike «Daniel» here on the Unilocal page, I actually know a thing about running a business and the guys at Squid DO actually pay you more for used items than Sam Ash or Guitar Center, having sold a handful of pedals here and A Fender. They give you a very reasonable price for used goods.

I highly recommend this store. Lots of quality and to die for gear. Some great used amps. I liked the fact that my guitar was in perfect shape and came with all the goodies — unlike the large chains who seem to lose and abuse everything. The salesperson (Curt?) was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. I got a fair trade in on my Jackson and left with a killer deal on a Charvel So Cal. I saw a good selection of used guitars, lots of acoustics and nice new Charvels… definitely will be back as I am very happy with my guitar. Plus, I know I would have paid more for the Charvel and get less for my guitar down the street. Fast service too!

This is another one of favorite mom and pop guitar shops. This one is in Stanton and they always have something interesting and at a good price. I’ve bought a few guitars and basses from them as well as a couple of amps. Its not a big place, but they are friendly and helpful. Support your mom and pop businesses.
MB

Not Really professional,
They give good advise, but will offer you shit worth of money for a good item.

Crate GX212 120W combo amp with a foot switch for only $ 200. Yes it’s true, a friend of mine just picked up this amazing amp recently for that low price. And that’s only one of the great deals they have over at the underdog guitar store, Squid Music.
Now at a first glance you wouldn’t want to walk in because it seems like a very poor, run down store but looks can be very deceiving. Inside you’ll see amps and guitars galore at very low prices. Now they don’t have as large of a selection as Sam Ash or Guitar Center, but those places don’t sell their gear as cheap as Squid Music. In fact, Squid Music’s prices even beat that of the well known internet retailer, Musician’s Friend.
What I particular like about the store is the people working there. They aren’t the random kids you find working at Guitar Center, but instead they are skilled musicians that have impressive knowledge of the items they sell. If you are thinking of buying an amp or guitar, they’ll give you a run down of everything you need to know and if you ask, they’ll even demo it for you will different music styles like rock, blues, metal, etc. They don’t seem like they’re trying to sell you an item, but instead help you make a wise investment. And if you have any problems with your purchase, they’ll help you out any way they could. Excellent customer service in my opinion.
They also offer guitar lessons for a fee if you want to take up on that offer. I haven’t tried it so I can’t really comment on how well they can teach.
For any musician, I recommend that you drop by before buying something elsewhere because if they carry an item, it’s likely that it will be cheaper at Squid Music than any other store. Just make sure you don’t plan on returning it for your money back because they only do exchange and store credit, no refunds.