Best music stores in Indianapolis: find options near you

…I sent my son in who came back out jumping for joy- he’d been looking for nba2k18 everywhere! not only did they have it; they had 17 AND 19- my son has the xbox series x, but was able to fulfill his love for his once put away ps4 today- the staff could have not been more helpful and kind- even their phone etiquette is so professional and friendly! definitely found our new store! thanks for everything- one very VERY happy boy!

Employee was very friendly and polite, as usual. I love shopping at this location. As of posting this, they have a copy of Lufia & The Fortress of Doom for $75, which is a pretty good deal. They also have The Marvelous Misadventures of Tron Bonne in stock for $230. They get rare stuff in all the time, and I love it

It was somewhat overwhelming. They had an incredible selection of games and gaming systems. I could have used a little more help though. This business was recommended by a coworker. I'll take my son with me the next time. I hope to ask a few questions and perhaps get a Nintendo Switch.

So many electronics (watches, speakers, game consoles), games, Blu-ray’s, dvd’s to choose from. Staff is always pleasant, good humor, and helpful. Prices are great. They also offer extended warranties.

Great retro and vintage gaming location. They have a well organized store, easy to find what you might be looking for. Good selection of different games, consoles and accessories.

The staff was super friendly and went out of their way to explain to me about questions I asked. The store has so many games and electronics in it. Really awesome to find a place like this. 10/10 will return and suggest to friends.

Was a very awesome experience and loved being able to see my child hood agin. Jackson was supper nice and was amazeing as well. 10/10 and will be back!

I would've given this store 5 stars if I had reviewed this place earlier. This store (and the company behind it) is filing for bankruptcy and as sad and as heartbreaking as it is to see this wonderful place go, there's no way avoiding it. When I first saw the signs on the building, I was very surprised to see it. As I walked in, one employee who was working there that I talked to about this store closing for a brief second literally walked out of there and quit his job before the other employees could be laid off. A few other employees I talked to said it was very hard to work here with this bankruptcy. I was very sad to see this place go. R.I.P. Sam Ash, we will miss you and always remember you.

The salesperson in the used guitar department, James, was outstanding! Very informative and helpful, but not too pushy. 14 year old son was picking out a new guitar. Ended up getting a Squier 60s classic Vibe Stratocaster. Awesome guitar, awesome price. Best experience I've had in a long time at a retail store!

I recently had the pleasure of being assisted by Dennis during my visit to Sam Ash, and I couldn't be more impressed. His knowledge excellent, making him a reliable resource for customers like me. However, it's not just his expertise that sets Dennis apart. His kindness and willingness to go above and beyond are truly remarkable. He is, without a doubt, one of the most helpful and considerate individuals I've had the privilege to meet. Dennis has made my experience with Sam Ash memorable, and I believe his extraordinary dedication should be recognized. My thanks to Dennis for his remarkable service and to Sam Ash for employing such exemplary individuals.

I love visiting here even just to look at new stock. I bought a used Fender electric acoustic in great shape for only $99 which I thought that was a fantastic price. I went ahead and bought a soft travel bag while I was at it.

I really appreciate the staff at Sam Ash, especially in the Woodwind department. I recently purchased a played Saxophone and I was highly satisfied. All the pads seal well and there was little wear for a vintage Saxophone. Vito( really a YAS-23) as they were manufactured by Yamaha. I will definitely make this my music shop as others done cater to a wide variety of musical instruments.

Great selection service and the staff is amazing. They made sure I got what I needed for my trade in and got the amp I wanted. They even helped load and unload my amps. I would highly recommend them. I cant remember the guys name that helped me but he was working the opening shift around 11 or so. He was a great help.

I just got great and I do mean great service here. This was my first time buying a bass and Cameron and… I'm sorry I forgot the other guy's name… Spent about an hour with me very patiently and thoroughly explaining everything. I tried several instruments and at the end, (I didn't realize it but I now the store had closed but they were still being unbelievably patient with me), I bought what I think is the perfect bass for me. What a difference because just a few minutes earlier I was at guitar center and spent 20 minutes and walked by four employees I don't know how many times and not one of them even said hello to me never mind offered to help. This is definitely the better store. I got 15% off, a free strap, a free tuner and they even had 0% financing going on. I've never been here before but I am definitely a customer for life now.

Have loved coming to Square Cat for many years They have expanded their vinyl collection over time as they have added more space They are great at supporting the community and local musicians/artists Don’t expect to get in-a-minute-quick service for when ordering, because they are making it all fresh and with love for you. It’s not Starbucks, it’s square cat. They craft with care so you can sit and enjoy the ambiance and browse the selection leisurely. Don’t try to rush; enjoy the experience. They really rock Record Store Day every year too 😎

I have gotten Lattes here before and they are pretty good, definitely a good place to get work done. However, this is primarily a record store. They have a good selection and the atmosphere is very cozy. Sometimes they have live events, which is pretty cool. Love the DVD room and listening area.

Square Cat Vinyl is the best vinyl record store around! The atmosphere is cozy with a huge variety of new and used vinyls to choose from! They've got the hot new releases right along the wall as you walk in, along with their "new" used vinyls that they've received in (which are usually VG+ quality or higher). Straight ahead is their coffee bar, which is a great place to grab a mocha while you browse around. I can't speak for the beer, but coffee is usually pretty good and the staff are very friendly. Walking around, you have the vinyls sorted alphabetically so it's easy to find what you're looking for. They've recently expanded their CD collection as well, and they also have a VHS/movie corner for those who collect those media. Listening stations are available for you to try out any of the used vinyls, with provided headphones (although last time I was in, one of the stations was out of order). OH! I almost forgot to mention! Check out their Instagram for any listening parties for upcoming new releases! I recently attended the Florence and the Machine "Everybody Scream" listening party as well as the Peanuts 75th Anniversary listening party with my partner–both of which SCV offered FREE posters! That's just another small thing SCV offers that makes it my favorite record store!

A perfect shop to visit for all your vinyl record needs!!!!!!! This place was truly a whole awesome vibe! Vinyl records galore! 2 areas to listen to vinyl records, a spot to have a refreshment, in the back old vhs tapes and DVD's! Clean, professional and very kind employees!!!!! Definitely will be going back! They had old vinyl records, collectibles and new! ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The guys I was with said the coffee was good. The atmosphere was fun, being inside a vinyl record store where they played cool music. There's a stage, and they play live music sometimes.

Due to the snow storm we recently had they had a deal for free shipping, so I went ahead and got 2 records from them. It's rare for me to shop from them since they're more downtown and its hard to get parking. The records came in good condition (one of the inserts was slightly torn, but they couldn't have known that). Happy with what I got!

Pretty cool place, they had a live stage(nothing playing when I went, but still cool). They also had a very unique sorting system, with stuff like Indianapolis locals and by genre and alphabetical. The arcade they flak about is 2 half cab arcade cabinets. Cassette and CD selection is limited, definitely a vinyl shop as they are named.

Nicky Blaine’s Cocktail Lounge is one of my favorite spots in Indianapolis. Great cigar selection, comfortable seating, and an excellent bar. The atmosphere is classic and relaxed just a great place to unwind. Love this place and would highly recommend it.

This place has a great dark, smoky, cozy vibe decorated in deep rich colors and with ample super comfortable leather couches. The cocktail and cigar menus are both extensive, and there is a nice selection of appetizers and snacks. Sadly, despite the place being over half empty, service was almost non-existent. I waited 30 minutes after finishing my only drink for a waiter to return, but alas, no. Meanwhile he visited the ladies nearby 6-7 times in the same interval. After giving up and going to the bar for help, I explained I had been waiting 30 minutes (originally wanting a second drink, but at this point just wanting to leave) and the only response I got was «oh.» No apology whatsoever. I don’t why I was ignored after my first drink was delivered as I was polite to the staff, dressed appropriately, quiet, and didn’t make any special requests.

Had a wonderful cocktail here with my brother! It’s got the best vibes and even better worker! Brian is a great and makes good recommendations and then a good cocktail. You can’t go wrong here. Highly recommend taking a date here or go out with friends if you want somewhere fancier and high class.

Gotta be one of the USA’s most comfortable cigar lounges. Good music (not too loud to talk over), comfortable chairs and sofas, excellent service. Cigars were priced fairly. $5 cover absolutely worth it.

Online this place looked quant and unique so I decide to choose this bar over the popular chain that was up the street. When I walked in I was greeted by the host who told me the bar had open seating. I then asked if I can check out the cigars and I was told «the bar has a menu» which threw me off because I would prefer to see the cigars I’m going to purchase rather than looking at list, but whatever. When I sat down the bartender asked if I would like a drink so I ordered. I then informed him that I would like a cigar. He brought me the menu and the informed me that I could also check out the humidor which is what I wanted to do in the first place. At this point I already had my drink so I walked to the same host and asked for the humidor and he told me that I had I could now access it but I couldn’t bring my drink inside the humidor because «people spill their drinks inside all the time» and suggested that I leave my drink on a random table that wasn’t visible inside the humidor. Anyone that works at a bar should understand why this is a terrible idea. At this point as a customer I felt insulted as if I was being treated like a toddler instead of a paying customer. I skipped the cigar and went to the chain up the street which is what I would recommend everyone else to do.

My friend and I went here for a cigar and drinks. The lounge was really cool. Lots of comfortable leather couches and chairs. The cocktails were delicious. The server recommended some great cigars for us. I look forward to going back!

I was in Indianapolis for the weekend, for the Indianapolis marathon. We came here Saturday night after a good steak dinner to celebrate. This is one of the best cigar bars in the world!, Seriously. It is perfection We were able to meet the owner, Simon, who is cool, friendly, outgoing, and very proud of this amazing place. It’s an easy, five star, easy thumbs up.

Immaculate vibes all around! Taylor was incredible, so kind and helpful and understanding with our group. We brought our neurodivergent social group there to hang out for food and games. The board and card game selection is great, the chicken sandwich was on point and everyone was very happy. It is spacious and cozy, prices are very reasonable and the selection of books and games for sale was awesome! 10/10 highly recommend

Very cool place! With books, board games, RPGs (role-playing games) & beer, plus a stage for live acts (poetry, comedy, et cetera), you can geek out to your heart’s content here. A caveat: under 21 are not allowed in the taproom. The house beers were decent, the names are well thought out puns & riffs on book titles. There are also several guest taps from breweries like Founder’s & Avery. Ciders & non-alcoholic beverages are also available. The folks behind the bar are quite friendly.

This place has good staff and it’s a good place to meet up with friends and their free events are fun. The food is really not the best (mostly microwaved and it’s pricy) and the non-alcoholic drinks are all bottled, but the cider is good. Seating is uncomfortable and the lights are not very cozy. Otherwise, this is a decent place to hang out.

Great choice of brews and Lots of games/books to play & read! Only 4 ⭐️ because of first beertender-not quite as friendly as we’re used to, didn’t ask any questions -we had to ask since it was our first time here. Other beertender much more personable. I would definitely come again with friends & family! Active calendar of events as well!

We came for anime trivia on a Monday night! This is a great place to hangout and meet people, and they’ve got a whole schedule for events throughout the week. They’ve got boardgames, books (including manga) and trading card games for sale and a bar in the back. There is also a small stage area in the back room. Prices were reasonable and the food was perfect for snacking: we ordered chicken nuggets as well as pizza rolls 🍕

I went for open mic. It was awesome! The staff was also real friendly and helpful. Book prices can’t be beat, and a great selection of wine and beer, if that’s your thing. The bathrooms were beautiful. I felt like a part of a fabulous community, even if but for a short while. Nice art, too.

I fell in love with this place for the second I walked in. They have a gaming station as well as a lot of books to browse. The beer selection was not a lot in terms of quantity but the quality was great. I tried two IPA’s and both were superb. We bought 3 pop funkos, 2 books and many beers for under $100. I recommend a visit 10/10! We will be back. 👍🏼

Irvington Vinyl & Books is truly such a gem!! Elysia is a wonderful store owner – always so kind and informative! I love browsing through what all is new & seeing if I can find anything I may have my eye on, and never feel rushed. I don’t think I’ve ever been in and left empty handed! This particular visit I ended up scoring a 1975 reissue of Pink Floyd’s «Dark Side of The Moon»! 🌈 The shop kitties are so lovely and sweet, too, and I love seeing the altar for Miss Violet when I visit (sweetest girl ever, miss her always!). 10/10 overall!! Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area, or if you just love vinyl and books, CDs, cassettes, or VHS tapes. 😄🎶

Very cute store! Has ton of records and also tons of prints and zines and things like that from small artists! Fair warning, they had incense burning in the store when I went in, if you’re like me and being around that gives you migraines/nausea, wish I could have looked longer because it’s a really neat place to go!

Tbh it’s the best selection of books anywhere I’ve been aside from some shops in NYC. A gem of a store.

The lady did not even acknowledge we were in the store, spent 10-15 mins looking at records..No «HELLO,» No» Welcome to the store,» NOTHING. Instead she continued to talk to someone else, who seemed to be a regular and welcomed the people who came in after us. Planned on spending money for a knew collection, for a knew gift. Instead we left, feeling discriminated for being people of color. It’s a shame when you want to spend money in your own niehborhood, but the people make you feel unwelcome.

Junk records. I went thru every single record here and every single record has issues. They have something wrong with them: from jacket rips, tears, split seems, punctures, stains, writing, marks, water damage, peeling, missing inner sleeves, old stickers. You name it, they have it. Of course the prices do not reflect that, even on the collectible section. The actual vinyl records themselves are not in good condition and it’s a real shame. I didn’t find a single record worth taking home, not one. A real shame. EDIT: this review is not «blatantly false.» It is factual based on my recent experience. I didn’t say anything about expecting pristine condition, so referencing something I didn’t say is not applicable. Secondly, There is nothing fair about pricing used records for $15-$25 when they contain multiple issues that include but are not limited to: stains, writing (both pen and permanent marker) old stickers, residue of peeled off stickers, split seems, dog-eared edges, water stains, sun damage, rips, actual holes, carvings, scratches, missing original inner sleeves. Lastly, acting petulant and saying «I hope the rest of your record collecting journey is less stressful for you bud» isn’t the shady flex you think it is. That response is disingenuous and dirty, just like this store.

Best vintage store, period, in Indy. LP records, cassettes, paperbacks. All media tested for playback quality. Jewelry & candles & all kind of treasures to boot. Fun, friendly staff. Be sure to venture to the back rooms. Local art in the last room in a dresser. Plan to spend an hour — at the very least. (Cats are cuties.) 😍

This is the most delightful shop. I come here at least once a month to check things out and I almost never escape without finding a new treasure! ☺️ the staff and owners are helpful, thoughtful, and engaged with the community in ways I’d be thrilled to see other local stores do. They’re my go-to for local writer zines and great recommendations for any genre. Irvington Vinyl & Books has become a staple in my «Things to Do/Places to Visit in Indy» guide for when family and friends come to town. If IRV Vinyl & Books doesn’t have what you’re looking for, they can get it for you. Don’t miss a chance to shop here!

I love Guitar center I'm new to music but they have everything in there I think. They teach music as well.

I had a great experience at Guitar Center recently when purchasing a snare drum. Mike and Rocky were both super helpful and welcoming. Mike especially went above and beyond. He took the time to answer all my questions, helped me compare options, and made sure I found a snare that was right for me rather than just rushing a sale. His knowledge and patience really stood out and made the whole experience enjoyable. I left feeling confident and excited about my purchase. Highly recommend this location!

Great selection of new and used music instruments and equipment of all kinds. Large selection with a wide variety of both used and new. Prices are decent with the occasional great sale, especially on used items. Staff is knowledgeable but don’t love to helping those they believe are window shoppers. And if you aren’t sure what you want, if you’re ready to buy or are also an expert on everything in the store, then you must be a window shopper. This is my only complaint though. Otherwise a great store.

I came on here to write a review, not necessarily for the store (while still very good), but SPECIFICALLY for Don. I have been to a lot of music stores, interacted with a ton of employees, and Don is hands down and without question the absolute top of all of them. All of our local stores here have closed, so this store is INCREDIBLY busy. I went in to purchase a guitar, and I was waiting for a bit, which did not bother me at all, as it was slammed. Now comes the important part, when Don finally got around to helping me, he was so incredibly kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. Even though there were 10+ people waiting, and the phones were ringing off the hook, he made sure to make me feel like his ONLY customer, giving me all the time I needed, and answering my questions thoroughly without once making me feel rushed. I was really worried when I saw how hectic it was in there, but the experience could not have been more amazing. I highly recommend going here, even if you live hours away, simply for Don’s service and personality. You will feel like the most important customer, and priority number 1. You will also receive unmatched service and knowledge to make the best decision possible.

Don just processed a few returns for me on guitars I had bought online. It was a very complicated return but he was super patient with me and also was able to handle other customers without anyone feeling neglected. I really appreciate the easy return policy. It makes it so much more comfortable buying from the guitar center. So many reviews talk about the great customer service here and I agree 100%.

CAUTION! I AM FILING A FORMAL COMPLIMENT about my Rocky experience here. She is AWESOME…one could even say she is "Bombastic". Thank you for being a true professional and helping us with our musical instrument choice. We will be back.

I recently utilized the rental department at Guitar Center for a sound system reservation, and while there were a few hiccups, the exceptional service provided by Ryan and Madison ultimately made for a positive experience. Upon arrival, there was a bit of a wait, but Ryan, one of the managers, went above and beyond to assist me with my rentals. His professionalism and knowledge were evident as he helped me select the right equipment for my needs. Unfortunately, one of the stands I rented was broken, which was a bit disappointing. However, I appreciated having brought along an extra pair of stands as backup. While it would have been preferable for the staff to have checked the equipment thoroughly before renting it out, I understand that oversights can happen. When I returned the rentals, Ryan and Madison were both incredibly helpful and apologetic about the condition of the stand. Their genuine concern and willingness to make things right were greatly appreciated and left a positive impression. Overall, despite the minor issue with the stand, I was impressed by the level of customer service provided by the rental department at Guitar Center. Ryan and Madison's professionalism and commitment to customer satisfaction ensured that I would not hesitate to return for future rental needs.

Very professional as songs were recorded & tweaked. Dyllan was so knowledgeable & patient with the process & prices are reasonable. Anyone interested in recording music or 🎵 songs, we highly recommend that you make a reservation! (2 hour minimum)

This place is extremely professional and they have state of the art recording equipment. The facility is clean. The engineers are knowledgeable and are dedicated to making sure the artist get the best sound.

Studio Drew is the best engineer in the city, hands down. He creates the most impactful and amazing artistic environment. He helped create some hits that will forever be remembered. Go to Azmyth for all your musical needs.

Engineer was amazing, Coach Kane. He helped with not only production but mixed it to perfection. Bounced ideas off of us and helped us improve the song. I am definitely coming back.

Drew is awesome. He should get signed by QC!!! Great guy. Love AZMYTH !!! You guys rock

I went to the school of music technology. By far the best musical decision I’ve ever made. World class sound engineers with impressive resumes and experience. State of the art technology and great recording environment. The teaching was super specific to my needs and Ryan, Carey, max, Isiah, covered every question I had and then some. My knowledge of recording and mixing as a whole has skyrocketed and made me realize my flaws in my technique. These guys are true professionals and if you’re thinking about recording here or going to school I can promise this is the best studio in Indiana.

Love Azmyth . Very professional . I work with Drew. He’s a fire young engineer who puts a lot into the local scene 🔥

They have a very large selection of games new and old from cartridges to discs to Nintendo switch chips. They also have gaming systems that allow you to play the old cartridge games…prices are fair and you can earn points with your purchases

Always love the selection and the friendly staff. Easy to find all sorts of games, movies, and CDs as low as $5, $10, and or $15. Collection items, hot label records, and more! Stop by and have fun exploring. There's something for everyone.

Best Retro Game store in Indy. Slightly pricier than Disc Replay – but you get what you pay for. Clean, organized stores with a fantastic selection…the vinyl collection is stellar as well.

Think I found my new favorite store ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Its a buy, sale, trade store, similar to disc replay. awesome prices, Friendly staff and the selection is amazing. If you haven't stopped by here do yourself a favor and go!!?!! Funko pops, video games (new & old), systems, movies, records, collectibles and so much more

Really awesome place with old-school and new-school video games music CDs movies and if they don't have it they have the possibility of ordering whatever you may need! Highly recommended this place also most importantly you build reward points to save money! And they have a lot of novelty items this was the lunch box that I purchased couple weeks ago

Great place to get video games and the staff are awesome and very helpful

Visited here while travelling through town. Things are mostly in cases (which I do not like), but prices were inoffensive (which I do like). Staff was helpful. Worth a stop.

When I was being checked out at the store i was tricked into signing up for a paid monthly subscription membership while being under the impression that I was simply giving them an email and phone number just to receive 10% off. many other stores ask for this to simply send you promotional emails, give you a one time discount, or make returning something to the store easier. I was not told I would be signing myself up for this paid subscription. Do not give them any of your information as it signs you up to pay them $13 a month and they save your debit or credit card information for this. Upon further research on this they make it very hard to cancel this membership and many people have reported this company to the FTC for this. Not okay.

I went in a couple months ago to buy a movie….when checking out i was asked if i wanted to join a FREE membership. turns out that membership was charging me 11.99 every month! and the company already has a law suit for false advertising.

Asked me to sign up for rewards program, not telling me it will charge me monthly after 30 days. Shady and horrible way to treat customers.

Really cool place. This is the kind of store that would be hard to find anywhere other than Chicago, so I thought it was awesome to see it here. A large selection of stuff, organized store, and nice staff!

It's ok. Need to do away with membership. Employees pressure customers. Even when they say no, thank you. They still try to get you to sign up. So sad!! They did it to me 1x time before. Know I have to call and cancel again. They automatically take cash out of your accounts. Every month of around 11 dollars. Not good business. Employees miss telling me 2x times. My boyfriend reminded me that I did sign up for it 1x before. I cancle it due to this problem. I didn't receive anything through mail from them. Explain this, nor did they say nothing about it coming out of account. What ever card you use. They take from that account. 🥴🙄

Nice store, but everything is stupidly overpriced

Nice stuff, unfortunately the store is so messy. The unfolded shirts and thrown around product is overwhelming. Also got a stink eye from an associate cause I only bought a redbull. She also scoffed at me