Elderly Instruments

Elderly is indeed a high quality specialty music store, offering a wide range of products and services that are simply unavailable elsewhere. In many cases, the leader in the field.
However, if you are considering putting your instrument for sale on consignment at Elderly, it’s advisable to pay particular attention to the following terms and conditions that Elderly specifies on their website, that reads:
«To maintain customer trust and satisfaction, we require that all instruments we sell be structurally sound and meet certain standards of playability. Should your instrument (s) need any significant repair or setup work we will provide you with an estimate of the work needed, and may reduce our offer (s) accordingly (if we didn’t know about the needed work in advance). In the case of consignment we would expect the work to be done and paid for before we could offer the instrument (s) for sale».
You should understand that the words «certain standards» of playability can be quite narrowly interpreted in order to satisfy Elderly’s very discriminating resale policy. In purchasing any used instrument, the buyer generally accepts some normal amounts of wear being justified for the comparable difference in cost of a new instrument. I am not saying that Elderly, by any means, is seeking to look for a reason to charge any consignor for providing some subjective upgrading of their instrument prior to putting it on consignment. However, the seller should be aware that Elderly might use a tighter standard of playability evaluation than other shops, and should decide accordingly prior to sending it if Elderly is the right reseller for them. Once you have paid to send it, there aren’t many cost-​friendly options.

This is where I take my guitars to get him strong. The people are friendly for the most part and the service is good it’s a good place to come in at lost after a bunch of instruments that I’ll never be able to afford and play a little bit. I have purchased about six or seven instrument air. I did get into it with one of the marketing managers here one time and got a little irritated with the quality of our customer service but taking every experience into consideration it’s an overall pretty fair business and unique place in the Lansing area to go and try musical instruments before you actually purchase them

What a special place! Not only is it Elderly, but you get a historic vibe when you walk in. They’re very well stocked with vintage basses, guitars, etc. the staff is very content with letting you spend some alone time with instruments. I played an incredible 1980 Precision Bass, it growled. I haven’t heard tone that smooth from any other bass but my own. They also have recent, modern models for any budget. I love spending time here, and look forward to visiting again!

Finally made the visit after many years of hearing of EI. Loved the atmosphere and the great collection of the vintage, seasoned and new gear. Was slightly put off by a couple of the staff members until I met Jim. Very courteous, friendly and helpful at the counter! The lady in the Mandolin room with the Silver Mullet should take note! Here’s a tip… put down your book or magazine and engage the customer… who knows… they might even have a credit card or some cash they are willing to use!.. I know I did! Maybe next time…

Elderly is the premier stringed instrument store in the State. It’s got this great Lansing king of folk vibe while still sporting a serious display of electric guitars. The staff are real musicians and there seems to always be a few people sitting around playing some of the instruments in a little jam. To complete the picture the building is historic and in a fun neighborhood that is perpetually almost, anytime now, about to breakout into a serious case of gentrification but never quite makes it that far. Good restaurants nearby if you’re travelling to get here. It’s worth the drive.

I could not be happier. I ordered a recording king guitar from elderly. The sales lady who helped me was very nice, she even allowed me to voice some concerns about a known defect in some of these little guitars. I received the shipment on time and everything was just as they said. The best part about elderly is the guitars come ready to play. A technician inspects and adjusts your guitar before shipment. There may be cheaper places online but these guys are true professionals and that means a lot

Had a bad experience with a cashier who was really rude to me. I play the banjo and wanted some advice on strings. He treated me like an idiot and gave my husband a lot more respect even though he doesn’t play an instrument. Very sexist vibe. As we left we felt sad because it really is the best store around for banjo players. As i was playing some vintage banjos some old dude picked one up and started playing so that I couldn’t hear myself. And didn’t stop. Full of arrogant maleness that day.

Overhyped. Just another music store. Not that big, not that much inventory. Its a big box store disguised as boutique. Not a great selection over any other chain and vintage stuff is not on the floor. A few low end pieces but they claim their good vintage is «in the vault». Like they have a vault for one and 2, how do you sell it?
Only one floor of this place is actually the store. The rest is not part of the retail space. Seagulls, epiphones and squiers take up most of the space. Its just another big box where parents by little jimmy their first guitar. Nothing wrong with that but after all the hype the reality will be a let down.
Might as well shop Ebay.

Elderly is still great, but I wonder if it’s slipping a bit. I had some trouble acquiring an Octave Mandolin I wanted. First I called ahead for a certain model, then when I got there the only one they had was damaged. And I live an hour away. I needed it for a gig, so I had to make other arrangements quick. Not cool. Then a few months later I called and reserved an instrument and the person on the phone charged my card much more than the required 10% to hold it and I couldn’t get that amount credited to the card (I was using another form of payment). But hey, at least he was very unpleasant on the phone with me. Lastly, when I brought an instrument in for trade-​in I don’t think I was offered anywhere near the value of the instrument. I’m well aware that’s how it often goes with trade-​ins, but this was obscenely low. The guy insulted what I call a nice Telecaster (about $ 1,000 originally), customized by professionals only, as a «Frankenstein» guitar. The appraiser left the guitar in pieces in the case, not bothering to put it back together. Not cool. I was really nice to the staff about all the missteps at the time, but I do want to share my story. I was really surprised, given that Elderly has been so good in the past. And some of the guys in the repair have been amazing and still are, but some not so much — so be picky about who you use there and don’t trust the surly people on the phones. For me that means I’m using Elderly less than I used to and bringing my hard-​won dollars to people who appreciate the business.

If you live in Michigan and you love guitars you need to make a pilgrimage to Elderly. The selection is out of this world, especially the used merchandise. They have an extensive online catalog of detailed information and pictures of all of the instruments they have for sale. They’re content to let you browse and play to your hearts content, and definitely aren’t all about high pressure sales, or hovering around while you try out the goods. (Unlike a certain center of guitars…) Prices seem very fair, and the condition of the used instruments is accurately described online. Again, the selection is some of the best I’ve seen anywhere.
They also offer lessons, and some special event group classes, but I’m too far away to attend so I can’t review those.

This is The Toy Store. Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for Musicians. A music store run by musicians, staffed by musicians, and containing the bright, shiny bits and pieces musicians want. Their website is excellent, but you really owe it to yourself to go to Ground Zero and look around. If you can leave in less than half an hour, check to see if you have a reflection in a mirror; you have no soul, and may in fact be a vampire. Instruments, amps, parts, strings, media, it’s all here and readily accessible.
Why are you still sitting there reading? Go!

Amazing selection of both new and used instruments. Always a unique selection of instruments and helpful staff. Prices are a bit higher than other music shops but it’s worth it for quality.

Insane selection, really helpful, pretty friendly and definitely super knowledgeable. The prices are a little higher than you’d see online or in a chain store but obviously that’s part of the territory with independent shops, and they are willing to negotiate on some things. Probably one of the, if not THE, best music shops in the region, especially in terms of selection.

I impulsively ordered an instrument from Elderly and then changed my mind about it. It was nothing against them or the instrument– I was just on an instrument-​buying binge and I needed to CHILL.
They cancelled it and refunded it extremely promptly and I didn’t have to do anything but send an email saying, «Please cancel, thank you.» I can only imagine how helpful they are on orders that you *do* follow through with!

Great musical instrument place with a instrument repair shop.
This place is well known to musicians!
They sell used instruments and have some VERY nice ones!
An atmosphere that feels like it has history.
They also offer lessons.

I’ve visited this shop numerous times and always enjoy checking out the latest stock. This shop is relatively unique in that customers are free to take any of the instruments off the wall and try them out — without having an armed guard or even a suspicious clerk spying on you. I favor electrics, and they have a very strong selection of Fenders/​Squiers, along with a selection of PRS, Gretsch, a couple of Rickenbackers, ESP/​LTD, and other brands. This is not the shop if you’re looking for a Gibson, though, since they had a legal run-​in with Gibson some years back; the only Gibsons here are in the used/​consignment section. In acoustics, the main focus is on Martins and Taylors, with some Ovations and others as well.
When you need/​want help, service is generally quite good; these guys will often go out of their way to help if you’re buying equipment. You just might have to pry them away from their own «guitar testing» in the amp room. (I’ve found, though, that the repair-​shop service can range from excellent to poor. They treated my 35-​year-​old Gibson Hummingbird with great care when it needed some work done; they treated a three-​year-​old Epiphone carelessly, leaving it playing worse than when I brought it in.)
Over the years, I’ve bought at least five guitars from Elderly and wouldn’t hesitate to buy another. And there’s no denying that it’s a fantastic place to browse (and drool). That said, I’ve received slightly better service and better deals — surprisingly — at Marshall Music in Lansing, which is more of an old-​fashioned all-​things-​to-​all-​people music store — offering everything from piano lessons to band instruments. That’s also about the only place in town to find brand-​new Gibson electrics (and just a few at that). Marshall, though, has a strong «look, don’t touch» vibe; it’s nowhere near as friendly as Elderly. And they can’t hold a handle to Elderly’s sheer quantity of guitars/​basses for sale.

Summary: An excellent music store that really takes the time to make sure things are right.
Often times, a company makes the strongest customer impression, not when everything goes 100% right, but when something goes sideways. It’s the response to these unforeseen issues that separates the truly customer-​focused from the rest of the pack. And, in my recent experience with Elderly Instruments, this is where they truly shine.
I’m not exactly what you’d call a good guitarist, but had always wanted a Martin. A D-​28. My situation is similar to the Chevrolet Vega driver — you’ve got transportation, but you know what a Bugatti Veyron is. Well, right around the start of the year, I received an unexpected bonus and finally decided to pull the trigger on my dream guitar. So, I started researching vendors, and narrowed my search down to a couple of the best music stores that were recommended consistently. After speaking with both stores, I decided to go with Elderly because I could speak to a Describer who took the time to tell me about the particular instrument I was looking at, and the fact that they had the specific D-​28 I wanted in stock. Despite all my research, I was still a bit nervous about purchasing across the internet, but in the end, I placed my order.
About a week later, I received two boxes via UPS: my guitar, and some accessories (Hercules stand, some various strings, etc.). My guitar was securely packed in a large box, with lots of protection (I should probably store this box in the attic in case I have to ship the guitar somewhere in the future). I unboxed my new baby and gave it a good look — it looked perfect. I tuned it and played for a bit, and was rewarded with a sound unlike any I’ve been able to previously create. This was a Good Day! Later that evening, I was examining the wood work on the sides of the guitar, and noticed a finished hole on the bottom of the guitar — clearly, that should be filled with something. So, in the morning, I contacted Elderly and asked about this. Turns out, the guitar should have been shipped with an end pin that fills the hole — the person I spoke with told me they don’t ship with end pins in the guitar due to a request from Martin. Mine should have been included in the shipping box or the case, but it wasn’t.
Elderly ordered another part (mine is ivory with a black dot) from Martin, and shipped it to me immediately — without a problem. They were friendly, helpful, and didn’t make me feel like some sort of n00b when I called to ask what I thought was a stupid question. They rapidly corrected a shipping oversight, and used the opportunity to strengthen the relationship between vendor and customer. Based on my purchase and follow-​up experience, I’d strongly recommend Elderly Instruments to you if you’re looking for an instrument of some sort. I know I’ll do more business with them in the future — I just wish I was close enough to go there in person!

International Order of Odd Fellows. IOOF. How fitting, that Elderly Instruments resides in an old IOOF hall? Certainly, there were odd fellows, odd ladies, the odd hipster, goofball and serious musician trying out the wares.
We planned an eight-​hour round-​trip drive just to experience this place. That’s a pretty serious commitment of time, and it turned out to be well worth our while. Previous posters covered Elderly’s vast guitar and other stringed instrument stock, but what amazed me even more was their acceptance of any odd jughead just grabbing a guitar off the wall and playing. (Sure, they keep a few WAY up off the floor and ask you to fetch someone before destroying… uh, «playing» those, but come on. That’s pretty generous of them.) I watched as a very, VERY talented young lady picked through every Martin parlor guitar they had, finally walking out, thanks to her parents, with a stunning beauty. My heart soared like a hawk.
I played a wider range of instruments in our six or so hours in the store than I’ve played in my previous four decades of guitar wankage. A 1935 Gibson L-​7, followed by a Ribbecke «Halfling» Jazz hand-​made, brand new? It could be the only place on the planet that’s even possible. There are a precious few «destination» shops in the country: Gruhn’s, a couple in NYC, LA and Vegas. But within a half-​day drive, this is IT. Prices reflect rarity, condition and market shifts, but I’ll never buy another instrument on eBay, now that I’ve been to the IOOF. Now, we’ll see if they accept the offer on that consignment guitar… My one, tiny, niggling criticism was that some of the guitars had newer strings, while some had «dead» strings, making comparisons nearly impossible. I suppose, if you were really stuck making a decision they would re-​string for you. They are THAT helpful.
(Stopping at Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, in BOTH directions, is the perfect bookend to the day. Roast that piggie!)

There is absolutely NO CONTEST – Elderly is THE best place to buy a mid-​level or above guitar in Michigan. They have the most knowledgeable staff and the largest showroom selection. Want a 1954 Gibson Les Paul with a trapeze tailpiece? This is the place. A used Fender Custom Shop tele? Yep, make the drive to Lansing. They are also the country’s largest Martin dealer and their acoustic room is second to none (in MI).
They also have a large selection of used equipment (their website inventory is updated daily) as well as a nice record and book department.
Now if you’re looking for a cheapo $ 200 guitar or bass from Indonesia then one of the many Guitar Centers in the area are a better bet (beware the standard salesperson pitch of ‘that’s a great guitar’ no matter what you’re holding).
I could EASILY spend the entire day there (as well as my life savings) so hide your credit cards in advance!
HIGHLY recommended.

I once drove halfway across the country on a 3-​day weekend just to visit this music store. It’s that good.
The building looks more like a middle school than a big-​box music shop, which brought my expectations down toward realistic as I entered… after all, I’d already expected it to be awesome… I’d just driven there from Rhode Island.
Inside are all the guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, dulcimers, and hybrid stringed oddities that you could ever ask for. All there, hanging from the walls, asking you kindly to play with them, maybe take them home with you.
The prices are definitely reasonable. Not to say you won’t find something cheaper on eBay, but I’ve grown skeptical of internet auction steals… I like knowing where my Gibson is coming from, and being able to see how much of a deal-​breaker that «superficial» crack is. That’s also not to say I haven’t used their mail order — heck, I just bought me a banjo from
— but these guys have high quality standards… and free shipping. Great combination when driving to Michigan just doesn’t fit into my schedule.
If you want to spend an afternoon in stringed-​instrument heaven, come, have a look. Tell them you’re from Rhode Island, and they might just look at you like you’re an alien, but what does that matter?