The best music stores in NYC

If you're more or less familiar with the type of gear you're looking to purchase, ProAudioStar is a great local option offering new equipment at competitive prices. The independent retailer has been around since 2006 and serves as a go-to spot for artists—particularly DJs and producers. The store's wide selection of Pro Audio and DJ equipment is accessible online, and its employees—both in-store and online via live chat—are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While it's probably not the place to roam about and freely try out equipment, the Brooklyn warehouse is an affordable and convenient local source for professional musicians—many of whom have done a fair share of research online and are ready to buy either in-store or via mail/phone order.

For those looking for a rare, vintage or truly bizarre acoustic or electric guitar this Brooklyn second-hand instrument and repair shop. Specializing in fretted instruments—guitars, banjos, mandolines, ukuleles and even the occasional lute—this spot sells used gear that ranges from beautiful ornamental pieces that cost a few hundred to some state-of-the-art treasures with a hefty price-tag.

This shoebox store specializes in unique used and vintage gear—from guitars to keyboards to analog synths. Rogue Music has been buying and selling hard-to-find equipment since 1983, making it a true musical mecca for musicians and techies alike. Whether you're looking for a wide selection of guitar pedals, a rare Akai keyboard or a vintage Moog synthesizer, Rogue Music certainly does not disappoint! The store also houses a fully authorized service department staffed by licensed technicians for inspections and repairs.

This tiny storefront, specializing in synthesizers, is more like an art gallery than a traditional gear shop. If you’ve always wanted to start your own Kraftwerk–esque electronic-music band (and what Williamsburger hasn’t?), Control is your spot, with walls lined with modular synths and attendant accessories, plus a helpful staff to get you started.

This boutique storefront hits above its weight for the small space it occupies (which we should note is no longer on Rivington Street). With its walls lined with new and vintage guitars, the shop offers a good mix of average-Joe axes and Wall-Street-banker-priced rarities (and for the latter, you probably wanna ask before you touch).

Piano purveyor Steinway & Sons' elegant flagship moved in April 2016 to this sharp and sophisticated show room. Admire the craftsmanship of some of the world's finest grand and upright pianos, many of which were manufactured right across the East River in Astoria's Steinway & Sons Factory.  Don't believe the hype? The store hosts a healthy number of performances year-round in its 76-seat recital hall, which, with elements like imperial yellow seats and panelled wood walls, will remind you of the beauty and power of the Steinway pianos.

Music lovers and DJs alike will be drawn to this hip-hop haven, which not only sells the latest high-tech audio toys, such as Rane sound-mixing equipment and Audio-Technica live turntables, but also offers music-related streetwear for men (including Rock Well graphic tees) and an assortment of pop culture books and magazines, including arty Arkitip magazine.

The national chain is basically shorthand for mom-and-pop crushing uncoolness (and it should be noted that until recently, a nearby block of West 48th Street was known as Music Row for its abundance of now-shuttered independent guitar shops). Still, the Times Square Guitar Center has a strangely serene atmosphere. If you can time your visit to avoid the shredding hordes, the massive space has tons of expensive axes and amps to try out hassle-free, as well as an ample stock of basic supplies like strings and drumsticks.

B&H isn't just a photo and video store. It is the place where professional photographers from around the world get their equipment. The flagship is huge and busy, necessitating that goods be transported from the stockroom via an overhead conveyor belt. Whether you’re a professional or a keen amateur, B&H is the ultimate one-stop shop for all your photographic, video and audio needs. Note that due to the largely Hasidic Jewish staff, it’s closed on Saturdays.