Analyzing 8,059,4198.1M ReviewsFor 22,86422.9K Experts
Customers frequently praise the shop for its knowledgeable, friendly staff, wide instrument selection, and affordable repair services. Recurring themes include helpful communication and reasonable pricing, though some reviews note that luthier work involves multi-week wait times. A common criticism involves perceived unhelpfulness or internal staff conflicts, with several low-star reviews citing issues with scheduling, inventory accuracy, or the handling of specific repair requests.
Data from Google, last updated November 2, 2026.
Score per factor (100 = best)Each factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: momentum and satisfaction; weakest: replies to reviews.
Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.
493 Google reviews we collected
Phrases our text analysis found in 351 written reviews
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
We read 351 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“All the staff I've met have been helpful and took as much time as needed to answer all of my questions.”
“Had an employee rudely call me out for playing "too long" and had to "cut me off".”
“Scott has done such a wonderful job keeping the store going.”
“I have had two AWFUL repair experiences there.”
“Pleasantly surprised by how affordable the items I needed were, I prefer to buy local and there was no significant price increase compared to online w…”
“I had a Simmon and Patrick guitar with a flaw that could not reasonably be fixed.”
“Highly recommend for anyone just starting out or looking for expert advice!”
“Trey was the man who helped me out and was super helpful and generous, can't recommend Harry's enough.”
“Ordered online and was a perfect transaction - great communication back and forth, fast shipping and packed safely”
“It's clear they genuinely care about music and helping beginners feel comfortable.”
“I don't do business with liars, and that's exactly what the sales person who denied having offered me the original figure did.”
“They took the time to explain the differences between instruments, answered all our questions without any pressure, and made sure he left with the rig…”
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
had a nut replaced on a 7 string about 2 years ago for tuning issues, guitar has stayed perfectly in tune since :)
Really cool shop. I thought they had a great selection, and the employees were really great! Great first-time experience
Very good folks working here. I brought my baritone Ukelele because the pins pop off. They repaired it and replaced a pin. Very inexpensive. I saw a lanakai soprano for sale and bought it. Great sounding uke for 50 dollars (pre owned).
My very new friend and I decided to go to Harry’s yesterday . I am a musician, with songs out on the internet, I have worked at Guitar Center, and I am pretty serious about my work as a musician. I try to shop local and small business for my musician needs . Yesterday I was playing a guitar and singing very lightly…
All the staff I've met have been helpful and took as much time as needed to answer all of my questions. Pleasantly surprised by how affordable the items I needed were, I prefer to buy local and there was no significant price increase compared to online which was really nice. Was told luthier wait for instrument…
Very friendly staff. Helped with my needs. Answered all my questions. Highly recommend.
4.8 ★★★★★ 493 reviews on Google · rating breakdown
Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).
had a nut replaced on a 7 string about 2 years ago for tuning issues, guitar has stayed perfectly in tune since :)
Thanks for the kind words, Will! Hope to see you again soon. Mike Ayers - Owner
Really cool shop. I thought they had a great selection, and the employees were really great! Great first-time experience
Thanks so much for the kind words Nathan! Please come by and see us again soon. Mike Ayers - Owner
Very good folks working here. I brought my baritone Ukelele because the pins pop off. They repaired it and replaced a pin. Very inexpensive. I saw a lanakai soprano for sale and bought it. Great sounding uke for 50 dollars (pre owned).
Thanks for the review Richie! Hope to see you again soon. Mike Ayers - Owner
My very new friend and I decided to go to Harry’s yesterday . I am a musician, with songs out on the internet, I have worked at Guitar Center, and I am pretty serious about my work as a musician. I try to shop local and small business for my musician needs . Yesterday I was playing a guitar and singing very lightly - I purposefully kept my voice light knowing that other people were in the shop — and was told to not sing in a music shop so the man could work with his clients- which didn’t make sense to me as it is a music shop and I was across the room … now I’m over here wondering .. oh did I look like I wasn’t going to buy anything ? Did we look scruffy and like an annoyance .. it’s a theme I’ve observed on my travels . This definitely made me change my mind about buying a little orange amp from this business. However, the younger staff members were very kind and helpful .
Eloise, I’m sorry that you were not happy with you experience at our shop yesterday; however, I take issue with this review and I think a bit of education is required here. You sat, playing and singing, in the electric section of the shop for roughly 30 minutes. It was around that time that I approached you, not asking you to stop, but rather politely asking you to keep your voice lower. Perhaps you think that you were singing “lightly”, but it was loud enough to elicit complaints from other customers in adjacent rooms on the other side of the building and to preempt my staff from hearing callers’ voices on the phone. I can’t imagine the experience was that traumatizing, as you played for quite a bit longer, and then told your friend that you could “also play the banjo” and proceeded to spend some time in that room before leaving. A large number of our customers are musicians with songs on the internet. That being said, when you come into this shop you are in the same category as any other customer. Singing as if you are the only customer in the room, to the point that other customers can’t hear the instruments they are trying is NEVER acceptable in any music store. You mentioned that “this is a theme you’ve observed on your travels”; I’m not surprised by that because its simply inappropriate to play what amounts to a public concert in a music store. You were never judged as “scruffy”; in fact, I have no idea of what you were wearing or how you were dressed. In the future, I would suggest that you ask if there is a private room available. That way you could sing and would not be a distraction to other shoppers that have just as much right as you do to hear themselves as they shop for instruments. Mike Ayers - Owner
All the staff I've met have been helpful and took as much time as needed to answer all of my questions. Pleasantly surprised by how affordable the items I needed were, I prefer to buy local and there was no significant price increase compared to online which was really nice. Was told luthier wait for instrument setup would be about a month which was too long for me but have otherwise been very pleased with Harry's
Hi Sorrel, I just wanted to thank you for the kind words about our shop, and to very much thank you for shopping local! We are working on the backlog for our repairs, so hopefully we'll be able to offer shorter wait times in the very near future. Thanks again! Mike Ayers - Owner
Very friendly staff. Helped with my needs. Answered all my questions. Highly recommend.
Thanks Barbara! We truly appreciate the kind words and feedback. Mike Ayers - Owner
Great selection. Awesome service
Thanks Virginia. We truly appreciate the feedback. Come and see us soon. Mike Ayers - Owner
Harry's Guitar Shop is the premier guitar, banjo, ukulele, electric or acoustic, accessories, lessons in the Raleigh area. Harry's does it all. The staff is great; knowledgeable, professional, courteous and patient. I asked plenty of questions and I never felt like I was wearing out my welcome. My uke was serviced in an hour. This is THEE place to go for guitar stuff.
Hi Danny, It was great meeting you yesterday, and we truly appreciate the kind words! Please come back and see us soon. Thanks! Mike
Quality work from quality people.
Thanks Josh for that feedback! We truly appreciate that and we hope to see you soon. Mike Ayers - Owner
Very knowledgeable, clean and friendly shop. Highly recommend!
Thanks so much for the kind words Nic! Hope to see you again soon. Mike
Analyzing 8,059,4198.1M ReviewsFor 22,86422.9K Experts
