Future Music

This place is a Highland Park staple any musician and/or aspiring musician in the area should know about. I own an inexpensive bass that I really enjoy the tone and feel of, but it produced hum that was just a bit time-consuming to get rid of in post-processing. I decided to take it in for pickup replacement, rewiring, and setup. The crew here really knows how to bring the potential out of an instrument. It sounds incredible! The huge reduction in noise is going to save me a lot of time and effort! Furthermore, every time I have visited the store, Jack (the owner) has been incredibly helpful when I have had novice questions, and just genuinely kind all around. I would give Future Music a glowing recommendation any day, whether you are looking for instrument repair/upgrades, or simply in the market for vintage gear (there is some really cool stuff in there). Thank you to both Jack and the technician. My instrument is performing well beyond what I have invested in it!

Jack the owner is an amazing guy! He has expertise on any item in his shop and can even give you the history of every product he has for sale. You will find whatever niche musical equipment you may need with no hassle. I 10/10 recommend you stop by!

I love bringing my guitars here when I need them prepped for gigs. Jack is friendly and knowledgeable about vintage gear and history of popular music. I recommend this place for anyone looking to buy an instrument or in need of a guitar tech.

Fantastic, quick and easy experience. Although the guitar I brought for service contained a sustainer system, the person running the store was more than willing to tinker with the instrument and diagnose any outstanding issues. The issue was quickly resolved as it was minor, but the demeanor of Jack (who I can only describe as having a Rockin' Beard) left a lasting impression. The upbeat and charismatic nature of which he held himself for me and others allowed for an excellent experience. I plan to return in the future for any other assorted musical needs.

I didn’t buy anything but the owner took the time to advise me on how I could go about selling my amp. Clearly a very knowledgeable shopkeeper who cares about music and musicians!

This place is a goldmine! They had exactly what I was looking for at such a great price. The guy there is super kind and knowledgeable and I will be coming back time and time again. Definitely a happy customer!!

Took my bass in today to get the electronics fixed said it should cost around $20 and should receive a call around the same time next week. Hope everything works out fine. I will give an update. Update: Got a text today saying my bass is ready they only charged $15 I paid $20 for gratitude. I spoke with Jack he is the owner and I feel very comfortable giving him the responsibility of my instruments. I also turned in a guitar to have the selector switch replaced. I inquired about a modification I had in mind and he suggested something else for the mod which is a lot better than what I had in mind but I wasn't sure if i could afford it so he noted on the receipt to look into the cost and give me a call. Overall I am satisfied with the service.

Very cool shop with all kinds of gear! The owner Jack is very cool to talk to - knowledgeable about music and the neighborhood and is really helpful. Made my husband and me feel really welcome when we first moved here.

One of the few places I trust. If jack (owner) tells you something, believe him. This man and the people he works with truly care and are not looking to rip you off. Only looking to help and not BS you. Jason, the guitar tech, is the best in LA in my opinion. I've had my guitars set up by many people and he is the guy I keep going back to for almost 10 years

My dad Richard went to store interested in buying a bass with no knowledge about them. The owner was super helpful , not pushy and teaching my dad some tips on playing bass. He had a very nice experience and said he is a great guy! When he left he even had a blister from playing all the bass's he put in his lap lol what a great shop!

This is an excellent place if you are looking for a quality used guitar/bass-- Plenty of vintage keyboards, amplifiers and rack gear too. Like any good workshop, it's a little messy inside, but I'm sure these guys know where everything is... i get it. First of all I have to say that I appreciate the chill vibes and attention to customer experience. Jack was very welcoming when I walked in, and when I told him I forgot my wallet but wanted him to hold an instrument for me until the following day, he simply said "Done!" Good man. As for the instrument I got here, well... I am not a virtuoso player, but I do have pro ears (producer/mixer with nearly perfect pitch). That being said, in my professional opinion, Brian does incredible setup work on the guitars and basses they sell. Most of the inventory is comprised of lesser known brands with a great quality/price ratio. Might not look like much at first glance, but pick one up and listen to the perfect intonation up and down the fretboard... I just bought a used Bacchus bass here for a few hundred dollars, but it sounds and feels like it cost $1000+. This instrument will be used on many recordings in years to come, guaranteed. Anytime I need more work done on it (or any of my other instruments) I'll bring it here to Future Music. Thanks guys. You ROCK!!!

Really great people here at Future Music! I took in a few guitar pedals for repair, some vintage even. I was fearing the worst... One pedal was fixed right in front of my eyes, just needed a little grease and dust management. The other pedals came back to me in such a short time i was astonished, and working like new!! These guys know what they're doing. If you're having gear issues, this is the place. Looks like they can fix anything: speakers, consoles, amps, guitars, pedals, synths, etc. Bring your gear here!

Best used and vintage store in LA: As a woman who is also a musician, I am used to being jerked around or under sold, low balled for equipment etc.... But this place has integrity. I have bought and sold here several times and have always been treated with the upmost respect. Always chill. Always understanding. Never condescending. If you are a woman looking for equipment, go HERE. Also, Jack is a king of kings He is the owner and you should talk to him cause he is chill

I got highly recommended to try these guys fir a setup of my Gibson SG Deluxe prototype and my Fender precision bass and I can't tell you enough how impressed I am with the work they did to the instruments. I am used to do my setup straight from Gibson and I haven't find any other place in Los Angeles or NY with such incredibly quality like Future Music. Also I have to say the customer service it's over the top, professional and friendly in a nice personal level. And their covid protocols are perfect and that's absolutely important for me.

Great place run by great people! Highly recommend. Tons of gear of all kinds at many different price ranges.

This is a great store, pretty unique in its selection, and the fact it has been around for so long is a testament to the owner.

I needed an accoustic guitar I got for my niece restrung and set up. The gentleman in Future Music took some time to inspect the guitar and understood exactly what the guitar needed. He did a great job recommending some strings, getting the job done in a timely manner and charging me a great rate.

Go to Future Music! I called today about a finicky synth and Jack took the time to walk me through the steps to fix it on my own for free. Extremely knowledgable and kind dude not looking to hustle you for dollars. Thanks, Jack!

Great shop with lots of cool and funky music stuff. Guitars, amps, drums, basses keyboards pedals, and even recording equipment, and the prices are very reasonable. I came in needing a speaker cable and they sold me one for five bucks out the door. They do repairs here too but I have not yet utilized that service. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic their hours have been truncated, 11 AM to 3 PM. I was smart and called first unlike at least one other reviewer here. Don't shop online for your music equipment, come to Future Music for a tactile shopping experience and to support a worthwhile local business.

I have been playing guitar every day of my life since I was 9 years old. I've done 10 years of music college, including a 2-year Harmony program at Citrus, West Covina. 5 summers at National Guitar Summer Workshop and much more, way too much training to list really - as guitar is all I've ever been interested in. I taught professionally for 30 years. Basically, I live and breathe guitar. I often work at hotel front desks to make money for guitar purchases and am constantly buying and selling guitars and amps. This month I have purchased four excellent acoustic guitars and have been on the lookout for a good Stratocaster with binding along the neck. A couple weeks ago I was at Sam Ash and happened to luck upon a beautiful Gibson Dove from 2007 at a low price, due to the fact that it's oldish now but not vintage. I spent a couple hours chatting with amazing sales associate Sean and met some fellow shoppers and went ahead and popped on the Gibson. A great choice that I was very happy with. Three days ago I sold my truck and I've been on the lookout for a good Stratocaster with neck binding to use the money on. That night I worked a night shift at the hotel and stayed up to visit the Souplantation. While eating I decided to look on the internet for some bridge pins for the Gibson and came across a nearby music store called Future Music in the Highland Park area near Eagle Rock / Glendale - a hipster community festooned with coffee shops and vintage stores. I called Future Music and spoke with a very amicable sales gentleman named Brian. Brian's enthusiasm gave me the impetus to stay awake a bit more and drive the six or seven miles further to get there. Upon arrival I was astonished to find an identical Gibson Dove hanging in the shop behind the register! All I could think was "I have to have it!". They too had it priced more reasonably than the new ones so I wanted to grab it up since they are not making those this year. Brian assisted me and at first I found a lot of dead spots on the fretboard, likely due to the ancient strings. (Also they didn't have the bridge pins) I told Brian that I would be happy to buy a pack of strings if they would be good enough to put them on this guitar for me to try, and possibly even put a small shim under the saddle while they have the strings off to raise the action a bit and improve the tone. Brian helpfully recommended that I go to nearby Kumquat Coffee for a nice cuppa while waiting. The coffee was quite excellent there and I was having a brilliant day, excited to have free M L K Day holiday meter parking and to have lucked into such a magical music store. Upon my return I played the freshly restrung Dove (Brian refused payment for the strings) for about a half an hour, unable to put it down but too tired to truly play even though people kept saying nice things walking by. the finance terms were very short at this store so I had to spend some time trying to figure out which credit cards, and how much of the truck payment and whether to wait for my paycheck to hit in a couple days and I discussed some of this with Brian and chatted with people while shopping when I noticed an awesome vintage Morely phaser that I desperately wanted so was trying to figure that in when a man from New York asked me as a favor to demo a guitar he liked. Brian saw this and set up an amp, then right above it I noticed an amazing looking Blue Straocaster with neck binding. This was a day of Eurekas! I was going to be able to get BOTH the guitars I wanted and a vintage pedal that I hadn't even known about all in one stop! Apparently though, from way up at the front of the store, the owner, who had been reserved but helpful in answering a few of my questions earlier, noticed, it seemed, that two of his customers were communicating with each other and he motioned for me to come follow him. Naturally I assumed he was going to take me aside and offer me a better price on the Gibson if I bundled it with the Morley pedal as he didn't know yet that I was also interested in the blue Strat. But imagine my horror when this complete horses ass walked me outside and, out of the skyblue thin air, started YELLING at me and slandering my character by hollering that I am a big BULLSHITER WASTING HIS TIME and that I need to "GET THE FUCK OUT OF HIS STORE!" Mind blown. I have never been treated like that in any retail environment in my whole life. Ever, for any reason whatsoever. and in fact, I couldn't even imagine speaking to a customer like that. I started to let him know that I wasn't a bullshiter and reached to show my truck money but he cut me off by yelling yes you are you are a bullshiter a big bullshiter. I hadn't bullshitted once, but resigned to respect his decision to expel me and lose the sale, and tried to shake his hand but he simply brushed past me back into the store. An absolute, 100 percent pure asshole move. Store was amazing/1 star for Brian. Owner clearly insane.

This shop has been a godsend since the first time I set foot in it when it was on Sunset like 15+ years ago. It's a real music store, the way they were before Guitar center turned them all into Walmart/cookie cutter style shops selling uninteresting new gear. Future Music is a gold mine (it's sometimes so full of gear it even feels like a cave lol) Jack and crew have always been extremely helpful whenever I've had an issue or question, knowledgeable about helping make a decision when I was confused. They always have the craziest gear to check out, stuff you've never seen, and seem to know everything about everything gear-wise. He also is more than fair with pricing. Best of all, they're not pushy whatsoever. There are some reviews here that are negative and that's crazy to me. I figure they must be difficult people, cause Future Music and everyone working there is super chill. It's one of LAs treasures and you're cheating yourself if you don't give it a look.

An incredible place with a staff that is equally helpful and welcoming. Had to make a quick pickguard and pickup swap and had no idea what I was doing. These guys did everything within hours and charged me next to nothing. Was an absolute delight and will be back for any and all of my guitar needs... or even just to hang and talk about Seymour Duncan.

Thank you Jack and Future Music for an outstanding job setting up my floating bridge acoustic. It has never sounded better. The action is perfect now! Thank you as well for hooking me up with the missing screw for my classical. I took it home and one of the four screws you gave me fit perfectly!

I've taken a couple basses in to get worked on (pick-ups replaced, action set, strings replaced, etc) and they came back with the best set up I've ever played. Just like butter in the hands. Amazing. I bought a couple weird ass pedals too and they've been a blast. Great shop. So stoked to have found it.

Jason in the tech shop set up my Musicman Sterling Cutless. It's never played better. I'm loving this guitar all over again. Thank you so much for the great work, communication, and kindness. I highly recommend. He also fixed some raised frets in my Taylor 410ce. Thank you!!

7 years ago, I called this place and got truly helpful advice: a recommendation for a guitar that would need to be purchased from another place. Love that guitar. I now wanted a second guitar and wanted help I was confident wouldn't steer me wrong. So, I dropped in tonight and am confident the sweet parlor guitar that came home with me will bring much joy. What a treasure this place is.

I found this spot by chance and the reviews make this spot seem like a great spot. I love shopping for used gear and instruments. I walk up to the door it's locked no biggie. Tall guy with a phone to his ear comes to the door and in a rude manner says "what?" I'm thinking ok must be am having a bad day. I mentioned I was looking for a cable. He recommended another place because he didn't have any and Before I could explain the other reasons why i there he says "you got a wait a minute." And closes the door. And walks away. Cool, I didn't mind, the shop seemed very interesting. I'll wait. As I'm browsing through the window I see a drum kit and a few other things that I was interested in. I'm recording a project right now and needed a kit ASAP so It felt like I was at the right place and at the right time!! I look to the door to see a Caucasian guy come up with his partner. Dude answers him politely and let's him. So I asked him so am I able to come in?? With an annoyed tone, "Nooo! you got to wait a minute!" By then I had found another shop and politely said I had to leave. My message to the disrespectful lanky mofo!! what was your problem? Did ya assume I was just gonna come in and waste your time? Was my skin not white enough to get your respect? Id rather drive to the repair shops i frequent out in studio city and uptown Whittier than to drive the few blocks down to this spot. Hey maybe he just had a bad day for all I know, nonetheless he didn't have to act like a Prick!! If anybody is interested in the other places i mentioned look them up. They are both great spots. A little out of the way but well worth it Perfect guitar & amp repair. Whittier, Ca Renson guitar shop. Studio city Oh and hey lanky! Thanks for the recommendation to "Mikeys hook up"

Just had the best experience w Jack. Came in to buy a guitar and amp. I'm a singer songwriter in my late 20s who just started my first original band. Money is tight and gear needs to be good quality. I've worked at a music store in the past and have been in the music business for a long time. Jack knew exactly what I needed, he let me take my time, and then when I was ready hooked me up with a package deal I could only dream of. This deserves 6 stars! Please support this wonderful business!

A true gem. Few guitar shops like this exist any longer, let alone in LA (which seems to me to be in desperate need of non-corporate rad shops). Always cool gear to be found. Jack, the owner, is a good guy with lots of knowledge, and Jason (shop luthier) does the best setups in the city. Absolutely worth a visit and a great place to dump some money.

I've had them setup my les Paul, an old Alvarez acoustic guitar I had just picked up (this one needed WORK. They Glued the bridge and everything) and most recently my stingray 5 string bass and wow. They all came back sounding amazing and playing effortlessly. I've fought with previous shops about getting the action on my stingray low and they nailed it first time. These guys really know their stuff. I found them originally because I lived in highland park. I've since moved farther west but will still continue to go to them for setups. Incredible work.

I really love coming in here to check out their used gear. I've also had two of my guitars serviced here and I feel like they really take good care of them for me, especially my older vintage guitar. I tried a full rewire on my own and (of course) made some small error that messed it all up. Future Music took care of it for me and at a reasonable price. Great little shop.

Great little neighborhood music store in HLP. They got some cool vintage gear and synths mostly used if I am not mistaken. Never really bought anything here but was happy I could visit. It was the location of the music video one of my favorite Israel Houghton songs "Just Wanna Say" and I kinda freaked out as soon as I saw it while driving around. Will be back for more!

this place & the folks who own & operate it are national treasures. seriously!! such helpful & friendly peeps. lots of great gear in here. LOTS!! & I had a vintage drum machine serviced as well. the work was as solid as could ever be, & again, the service was absolutely off the charts. boomer, brian, joe (that's alphabetical order), thanks so much to you guys!!

Jason is one of the best in the business at repairs! Ive been a full time professional musician for over 30 years and own a lot of rare vintage instruments. He is honest, hard working and fast!! Don't go anywhere else for repairs! Im so grateful to have him in the neighborhood!!!

I called them about a weird noise coming from my preamp, and I was actually a little nervous about it because music people can sometimes be a little arrogant (sorry), but not here! The guy on the phone was so cool and very helpful. He told me to turn the buttons on my preamp up and down like I was a kid for like 15 minutes and you know what? It worked! Thank you so much!

Dropped my guitar off to get set up last week. Turns out the bridge had moved and I had more problems than I thought! They got everything done way faster than the one week window I had been given and my guitar is like new. They were super friendly and professional, I will definitely be back and send my friends this way!

I've brought several guitars to Future Music for repairs by Jason and have always been left happy with his work and attention to detail. The whole staff is knowledgeable and friendly- Jack is a stand-up guy who will warn you against unnecessary repairs and will listen to any question you have, no matter how basic. Great selection of guitars and amps, too.

Amazing spot to record your music! Head engineer producer Gil is super easy and awesome to work with! Bring your tracks here brothas and sistas

I am an eaglerock guy and have been up and down York a hundred times(driving by) but did not know this place was there. I found a guitar on ebay I had been hunting for for months but when it came..it was buzzing all over the place. I was thinking I would have to return it, but I wanted it so bad to be the one. I mean...it was a seagull solid rosewood and spruce acoustic that i got for half price. I called future music and explained the situation and they said bring it in. The owner it must have been asked me if i was ok on the parking meter...I had a nice chat with him while the tech looked at the guitar. We chatted about the changes in the neighborhood, and what struck me was that the guy did not seem that concerned about money. Just people. Anyway...the tech tweaked the truss rod and the guitar was perfect. I pulled out my wallet but both of the guys there would have none of it, even though I insisted. I own several guitars and I know where I will go in the future if i need any advice or tuneups. What a guy. I mean..he asked me if I was ok at the meter.

*(The five stars is for their guitar service and repair work). I've read the negative reviews, and I understand where they're coming from, but Future Music needs to be treated and understood as an old school gem of a shop. A dying breed, in the corporate wasteland we're forced to live in. Don't be afraid to ask questions here, or explore the gear. If you're expecting a sales team to greet you at the door & hound you to drain your pockets while smiling, you're at the wrong place! Jack (owner) and his staff are not looking to compete or become the next Guitar Center. Instead he's created a unique hub for musicians to meet and mingle, while hunting for unique gear. Be sure to check out their swap meets every second Sunday of the month. They invite independent vendors to post-up at their shop to sell their random musical fare. HOW COOL IS THAT!?! Their secret weapon is Jason, who works in their repair & service department. This man is a GENIUS!!! He can make any guitar not only playable, but sound 100 times better than before! He's no joke. Prices are fair & legit. Plus, he's a wealth of knowledge once you get him talking. Super humble, great nice guy, people like this are almost impossible to meet these days. I will only bring my guitars to Future Music for his attention to detail & professionalism. In conclusion, Future Music is not for everyone, but instead for those of us that know why we're there in the first place. We will always stop by just to say "hey", and check out their rotating inventory.

These dudes fixed my old Roland MKS7 synth in like 1 hour. So quick and cheap and rad. Thanks Future dudes!!

This is the best shop - Jack is the man & Jason gave me the best set- up I have ever gotten. Fun talking music/art with them - place is packed w awesome vintage gear, only regret was not looking around more, will be back!

A lot of rare and beautiful finds in this store, definitely plan to come back if I'm ever in the area

I've been going to this place since it was on Sunset Blvd. The staff is super knowledgeable and they always have the coolest gear and a really fair prices. Go Generals!

Get all my guitar work done here. Great techs and the prices are fair. Jack the owner is a fantastic dude and really knows his stuff. And unlike other guitar shops, he's not cocky about it. If you have a question, he always has the right answer and makes great recommendations.

Brian and Gregg are the best. That's all I gotta say about that. If you want to be a damn genius go see these boys. The most sweet and kind generous men. not to mention talented. Oh and they happen to be extrbusy . and good lord they are hot too. Do ya self a favor and see these gods in action.

The coolest place in la. Rare pedals and the guys who work here are very cool and helpful

Great service Great selection of used gear Had my pedal board dialed in and it's working great looking better learned a lot by sitting with the tech Great buys on gems of basses and guitars Highly recommend

I love future music. Best guys in town hands down. Honest as fuuuu and nicer than cherry pie with a scoop of that perfect vanilla bean all over my P Bass. They always know what ails my pedals. Jack is the best guy. Period. Trust and kindness go s long way in my book. They get my money, and deserve it at the same time. Affordable and fair as ca be. #1

I live in the neighborhood, so I'm always dropping in to see what's in the cases. I've picked up many gadgets here. And I'm very impressed with their repair guy. I brought in my Moog Source for a labor-intensive overhaul, and ended up getting charged substantially less than their estimate. First time that's ever happened to me. Any shop that goes under their own quotes has my faith in them forever. Very grateful this place is around.

You know a good store when you want to find an excuse to buy tons of gear and give them lots of money. FYI I haven't even been to this store, so this review is just for the customer service (but that's pretty much everything, I think). I called them to see if they had something in stock, and the guy on the phone was curious about what I was looking for, we got to chatting, and he went online while I was there (I could hear guitar being played in the background, not on hold, loved it), leisurely looked up an item he wanted me to know about, gave me some alternate ideas (list of brands to check out) and even told me about a store on sunset that might have what he found online, and the person to contact that he's "known since he was a teenager". Awesome. Thanks for making me feel like I live in a small town world with real human beings, Future Music man. If this is an indication of the way things normally are at this store, I would say it's an A++ It was so nice to talk to someone who actually seemed like he wanted to help me out because he... wanted to help me. Like, WHAAA? I don't have a problem with Guitar Center, etc. usually, but I do find that their niceness sometimes seems to be based on commission more then caring.

The greatest thing about this store is that you can walk in to buy strings and end up having an interesting 30 minute conversation with Jack or any of the other cats working there. This isn't a one-stop shop like GC or Sam Ash, which is exactly why I go here! There's always something interesting hanging on the wall or sitting under glass at the counter. Edit: I'm going down on the stars to warn you about amp repair. The bill was about twice what I expected to pay, but I never got a quote nor was I consulted on what was to be done. On top of that, the power tubes were fairly new and they were replaced after I mentioned on drop off that they were very low mileage. In addition to all of that, it did come back working properly, but there's a rattle (loose tube housing I think) that makes this amp unlikely to ever get recorded with a microphone. For what I paid without a quote or a heads up that is absolutely unacceptable they couldn't fix THAT. Super disappointed. :(

Future music is good times...Jack is a super nice dude, and although I had an issue with a guitar repair there I still recommend it for vintage gear, and for the plethora of knowledge that Jack has on just about everything music related. He also helped me locate some super obscure peavey effects processors and vintage gear. Great dude, good location, no hassle...

I LOVE this place. They'll change my strings for $10, let me jam on their big amps at full blast on a telecaster or gibson. they also have nice vintage mid century furniture. these guys are legit, they make guitars, and are excellent musicians. they have plenty of tube amps which is a clear indication that they are not new in the game. first you get a huge powerful solid-state amp, you use it for 10 years, then you realize that the sound is unrealistic and ear-piercing, them you buy a tube amp and use it for 20 years and realize that music should sound real and instruments should sound real and you should be able to kiss the mouth of the woman singing to you. after that you buy some incredibly efficient speakers and use a 3watt triode tube amplifier for 40 and you are then able to die a happy audiophile.

As a full time musician that dreads going into GC or SamAsh, I find it nice to have some Mom & Pop music stores in the neighborhood. Nice people and a decent selection of instruments, amps and various other gear. The owner is very knowledgeable as well. Thumbs up.

All kinds of funky-cool used instruments. A lot of cool vintage stuff that I never would have heard of. Pedals and old drum machines and amps and stuff rotate quickly so there's always new stuff to check out every time I go. Best dudes ever run it. And as an added bonus, Greg from Greg's Amp Repair (RIP) in Hollywood works there and fixes gear like a wizard that knows how to fix gear.

Always super helpful with gear issues and repairs with an excellent, curated selection of used equipment. By far my favorite music store in Los Angeles.