This store is on a short list of places my fiance refuses to go into. The list consists of Guitar Center and Ikea. While I am a fan of the latter I have to agree that going into Guitar Center has become like nails on a chalkboard to me.
First of all, it is loud as to be expected with a store that sells musical instruments. But this store is loud in a chaotic, disarming, and jarring way. As Jake C. pointed out there will always be someone shredding on a guitar with the volume on 11. There will always be some guy in the drum room showing off his double bass skills. In addition to the folks that use this store as their own musician's showcase you have the staff who really ruin any chance this store has of keeping me as a customer. It is inevitable that when I go in here the employee behind the counter is going to be so caught up in some conversation with Pimply Tommy about his punk band he is starting that I wait for at least 15 minutes to be helped. OR I am immediately approached and the employee tries to talk to me using all kinds of lingo to see just how much I know about drums. Look 'Sticks' or whatever fun nickname you have put on your name tag, I don't play drums, I am just trying to save you from having my fiance come in here and start a riot because it takes 20 minutes to get some $%^# drum sticks!! My fiance ordered stand parts from here once and I had to wait for 10 minutes before someone helped me and then another 20 minutes while they searched for the parts that they had just called and told us arrived an hour before.
I have to give them 2 stars just because they do stock a huge variety of musical instruments and accessories. But this store is one of the main reasons I am so glad we can shop on the internet.