Acme Music

I scoped some prices online but then came here. Glad I did! I found the same head-​phones for cheaper and got them right away. Surprisingly large shop. Defiantly recommend.

This place is incredible! I’m just getting started in classical guitar and had checked a couple shops for ¾ size (small hands) and no one had it. This place had every size (½, ¾, Full) at FANTASTIC prices. I was able to buy a ¾ new for less than half the price of a Full used at another shop. Also had a great collection of other guitar types, drums, and all supporting parts (stand, picks, etc). They don’t up sell you, and in fact told me to wait until my first lesson to see what my teacher recommends. Run, don’t walk, to buy your instruments here. Hope they stay in business FOREVER.

This place is great. Good natural light

I went to Acme music to look for my first electric guitar (I’ve had an acoustic for while that I like to have fun on, but I’m by no means a professional). The sales person was extremely nice, but by no means a hard sell. She just said to have fun playing around on a lot of their instruments without worrying about the details, and when I found something I liked she would tell me more about it.
I was leaning towards a rosewood strat when I noticed a sunburst tele that had somehow missed my eye so far. I started to play it, and immediately knew it was perfect. It had a brighter sound than the strat, but also a nicer tone than the other tele they had in the shop. It turns out that one of Acme’s guitar techs had customized this one (put in humbucker bridge pickup with a push pull pot split coil, and a new bridge). I may be new to electric guitars, but I can promise you that whoever worked on this knows what they are doing. The instrument sounds amazing.
So, the short story is that for a very modest price I got a beautiful hot-​rodded guitar that I’ve hardly put down since I bought it, and to top it all off my experience at the store was more than pleasant.

So glad these guys moved into the neighborhood! The music instruction my daughter is receiving is top notch. And, the store has a wonderful vibe because they are so clear on their mission of sharing music with the world. I really trusted their guidance in helping us select a high quality yet good value ukulele. THANKS!

I have been going to the old ACME music in the Fruitvale area for years. This new location is AMAZING! Spacious, and tons of parking.
John has taken good care of me over the years in all kinds of musical scenarios… they simply have EVERYTHING. Old, new, used, vintage, EVERYTHING. The great thing about the people here is that even though they’ve seen the world, played a million shows, know a ton about musical gear, they are cool and unpretentious. Go here to by your first guitar. Go here to buy your 30^th guitar, it doesn’t matter. You will get treated with the same kindness and fairness. That’s what I really like about ACME. They are incredibly fair in all of their dealings and I’ve trusted them 100% since day one.
My favorite ACME story is trying to figure out how to travel with my Microkorg to SXSW in 2013 (all the way in Texas) without it getting crushed. John and I were poking around in the back storage area and discovered an old case of his for CD turntables (remember those?!) and customized it together to fit around the Microkorg’s soft gig bag. It’s ONE OF A KIND and I’ve gotten a million compliments on it and it’s one of the most random and coolest pieces of equipment I have.
Today I spent a solid hour with their drum guy Steve finding the perrrrfect equipment for the kind of music I’m playing these days. All kinds of gems here including an old dingy first act splash that sounds amazing and two tiny splashes turned into a mini hi-​hat. A cymbal bag and bass drum pedal case and a tambourine screw on for the top of my hi hat. I’m set, woo! Thanks Steve!
Lessons, instruments, record players, recording gear, pedals, you name it. These are good, local, experienced people selling musical goods and services at a great price and it’s the only music store I’ll shop at. Go support them please!

Absolutely the place you want lessons!!! The atmosphere can only be described as a family atmosphere. Staff is more intersted in customer satifaction and advancement in musical ability than in making the almighty dollar. I would never go anywhere else as long as they are there.
This is the review I wrote for ACME in 2009 for the old location in the Laural District. I still take lessons in 2014 at the new location and they are still the best.

A friend and I were hanging out on Sunday and happened upon Acme who were hosting their grand opening on Piedmont Ave, and what an awesome opening it was.
The highlight for me was the help I had in purchasing an acoustic guitar. As a beginner who knows zip about playing one, I so appreciated the service and help I got from Tyler in selecting a guitar that fit my budget and let me begin this adventure I have been yearning to do. I love that the store is right in my hood and I can take lessons here as well. A huge thanks to Tyler and the entire staff at Acme for making my day! I am loving my guitar :))