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Palo Alto takes music seriously. Its schools have band and orchestra programs, Stanford hosts a steady calendar of concerts and the city has deep roots in folk and rock, from the coffeehouse scene of the 1960s to today's open mics. Yet the town supports only one dedicated instrument store. That shop has a long reputation among acoustic players. For band rentals, drums, keyboards and electric gear, families and players look to Mountain View, Redwood City and San Mateo.
This guide explains which store fits which need. We confirmed every store on its own website or its company's store page in October 2026. Hours change, so check before you drive.
Music stores at a glance
| Store | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Gryphon Stringed Instruments | Lambert Ave. at Park Blvd., Palo Alto | Acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, repairs |
| West Valley Music | 300 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View | School band and orchestra rentals, repairs, lessons |
| Gelb Music | 722 El Camino Real, Redwood City | Guitars, amps, band instruments, drums, printed music |
| Guitar Center San Mateo | 53 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo | Electric gear, keyboards, recording, lessons |
| Guitar Center (Stevens Creek) | 3677 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara | The same range, south of Palo Alto |
Gryphon Stringed Instruments, Palo Alto
Gryphon Stringed Instruments started in 1969 as a builder of guitars and banjo necks. It moved to its current corner at Lambert Avenue and Park Boulevard, near California Avenue, in 1975. Today it sells new, used and vintage fretted instruments. The catalog covers flat top, arch top, classical and resophonic acoustic guitars, solid and semi-hollow electrics, five-string and tenor banjos, mandolins, mandolas, octave mandolins, bouzoukis and every size of ukulele. Amps, pickups, effects pedals, cases, strings and tuners fill out the shop.
Repair is the other half of Gryphon's reputation. The shop does setups and repairs and offers appraisals, with layaway for larger purchases. Its website says it is open for in-store, online and email orders. It also notes that the online catalog is being updated, so call if you are looking for something specific. The directory lists hours of 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with the store closed Sunday and Monday.
Players who love older instruments should read our vintage and consignment guide, which places Gryphon alongside the city's other secondhand specialists.
West Valley Music, Mountain View
West Valley Music at 300 West El Camino Real in Mountain View is the closest full-service store for school musicians. Its website lists instrument rentals, repairs, lessons, used instruments and a section for school band directors. That makes it a common first stop when a child starts band or orchestra in elementary or middle school. Ask how the rental program works, including whether payments go toward buying the instrument and what the repair coverage includes.
The store posts hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. The drive from south Palo Alto takes about ten minutes along El Camino Real.
Gelb Music, Redwood City
Gelb Music at 722 El Camino Real in Redwood City is a broad independent store. Its online catalog spans guitars and basses, amps, effects, keyboards, drums and percussion, band and bowed instruments, folk instruments such as banjos, mandolins and autoharps. There is even a section of baby and kids' instruments. It also stocks recording and live sound gear plus accessories from strings to cables.
Gelb is the most useful nearby store for printed music. Its print department lists band, orchestra and ensemble books, classical titles, piano and keyboard music, piano-vocal-guitar songbooks, guitar and bass methods and solo instrumental works. Printed music is hard to find in shops now, so call with the exact title, editor and publisher if you need a specific edition for a teacher or an audition. Our Redwood City guide has ideas for lunch nearby.
Guitar Center
The national chain has no store in Palo Alto. The closest is Guitar Center San Mateo at 53 West Hillsdale Boulevard, Suite A. Its store page lists hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, with shorter holiday hours. A second store, which the company lists under San Jose, is at 3677 Stevens Creek Boulevard in Santa Clara and posts the same regular hours.
Both list lessons, repairs and rentals. Guitar Center's strength is selection: electric guitars, amplifiers, keyboards and synthesizers, drums, DJ gear and home recording equipment you can try in person. Its website also has a used and vintage section. Check the San Mateo store page before you go. Our San Mateo guide covers the area around Hillsdale.
Renting an instrument for a student
- Ask the teacher first. Many school programs recommend specific brands, sizes or a rental shop they work with.
- Get the right size. Violins, violas and cellos come in fractional sizes for children. Have the student measured in the store.
- Read the rental terms. Check monthly cost, whether rent applies to a purchase and what damage coverage includes.
- Budget for accessories. Reeds, rosin, valve oil, a stand and a method book add up.
- Keep the case closed in the car. Heat on a sunny day can damage wood instruments and glue joints.
Buying a first guitar
A good first instrument is one that is easy to play. Ask the store to check the action, the height of the strings above the frets, since high action makes chords painful for beginners. A professional setup can turn an inexpensive guitar into a pleasant one. Nylon-string classical guitars are gentler on young fingers, while steel-string acoustics suit folk and pop. Smaller three-quarter size guitars fit children. Try several in the store, compare how they feel in your hands and budget for a tuner, a strap, a gig bag and spare strings.
Good to know
- Gryphon closes on Sunday and Monday. West Valley Music closes on Sunday.
- Repair queues can lengthen in late summer, when students return to school. Book setups early.
- Bring your own instrument when shopping for strings, reeds or a case, so staff can match parts.
- Pianos are a separate world. Ask your piano teacher or tuner for current dealers and rebuilders.
Lessons, concerts and where to play
Buying an instrument is the easy part. Our music lessons guide lists teachers, community programs and youth ensembles in town. To hear what local players are doing, see our live music guide and the calendar of Stanford music department concerts, some of which are free. If you want to see a touring act on the Peninsula or in San Francisco, you can find concert tickets ahead of time.
Planning a music shopping trip
For acoustic instruments, start at Gryphon on a weekday afternoon or Saturday, when you can play several guitars side by side. For a student rental, go to West Valley Music in Mountain View with the teacher's list. For electric gear or keyboards, head to Guitar Center in San Mateo or Santa Clara. Combine a Redwood City trip to Gelb with a search for printed music and a stop downtown. Our Palo Alto shopping guide covers the rest of the city's stores.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a guitar store in Palo Alto?
Yes. Gryphon Stringed Instruments, at the corner of Lambert Avenue and Park Boulevard since 1975, sells new, used and vintage acoustic guitars plus mandolins, banjos, ukuleles and some electric guitars. It also does repairs, setups and appraisals. It is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Where can I rent a band instrument for my child near Palo Alto?
West Valley Music at 300 West El Camino Real in Mountain View rents instruments and lists services for school band directors. Guitar Center in San Mateo also offers rentals. Ask whether rental payments count toward buying the instrument later.
Where can I buy sheet music near Palo Alto?
Gelb Music in Redwood City lists printed music among its departments, from band and orchestra books to piano, vocal and guitar titles. Call ahead to check stock or order a specific edition.
Where is the nearest Guitar Center to Palo Alto?
The closest is in San Mateo at 53 West Hillsdale Boulevard. Another store, which the company lists as San Jose, is at 3677 Stevens Creek Boulevard in Santa Clara. Both list lessons, repairs and rentals.
Can I get my guitar repaired in Palo Alto?
Gryphon Stringed Instruments has a repair shop known for work on acoustic instruments, including setups. Call the shop to describe the problem before you bring the instrument in.