My teenager has been taking guitar lessons from John McCrae at World of Music for two years, and over the years we've bought music, rented guitars, and now bought guitars from them (my younger son's studying now as well). The whole time they have been helpful, courteous, and flexible. It has the friendly small-town feel, where they get to know you, your tastes, and your character. I enjoy it greatly.
They have a great selection of music books, and a quite good selection of classical guitars (I wouldn't know about other instruments). They've special-ordered books & called us promptly, and just this week Larry noticed a couple of things that saved us money. A couple of times early on they let my young son borrow a 1/2 size guitar when he took my (ill) older child's guitar lesson.
They have a suite of a half-dozen practice rooms in the back that are used for instruction in guitar, clarinet, trumpet, piano, vocals, etc. The instructors have been there a long time, and the employees are quite stable as well. The only thing I wish is that they were open on Sundays as well -- but I guess that that's the tradeoff in them not being part of a chain. When we are ready to buy a $500-800 guitar, we'll be buying it from them.
Pros: friendly, knowledgeable folks, excellent guitar teachers, fine selection of music, instruments
Cons: not open Sundays. not a "mega-store".
more