If you’ve spent more than five minutes looking for music gear online, chances are you’ve stumbled across Musician’s Friend. They’ve been around for decades—since 1983, to be exact—and have grown into one of the most recognisable names in the world of online music retail. These days, they’re part of the Guitar Center family, and while they don’t have any physical shops under the Musician’s Friend name, their online presence is huge.
But here’s the thing: with so many gear shops out there (Sweetwater, Thomann, Amazon, Reverb—the list goes on), is Musician’s Friend still worth your time and money?
We’re breaking it all down in this honest, no-fluff review—features, deals, perks, frustrations, and everything in between.
Let’s dive in!
So, What Actually Is Musicians Friend?
Musician’s Friend is an online-only retailer specialising in musical instruments and pro audio equipment. No fancy storefronts—just a website loaded with gear and the promise of great deals. The fact they’ve survived in this ever-changing market for over 30 years says something. Their focus? A huge range of products, decent prices, regular discounts, and solid shipping and return policies.
They ship out thousands of orders every day, and if you’re based in the U.S., you’re in luck: fast shipping, free returns (within reason), and a ton of gear to choose from. For international customers, yes—they do ship abroad, though delivery costs and timelines vary.
If you’re wondering who owns Musicians Friend, the company was actually started by Rob and DeAnna Eastman. It originally sold accessories like guitar strings and capos. It grew to become one of the premier music instrument retailers in the US. Including 9 retail stores.
In 1999, the Musicians Friend Guitar Center merger was announced. Creating the largest music retail, catalog, and e-commerce company in the world with over half a billion dollars in combined revenues.
These days, the app and Musician’s Friend website are some of the biggest players in the market for music equipment.
They also have some great videos on their YouTube page, please check them out below.
Why Bother Shopping at Musician’s Friend?
Aside from the vast inventory (more on that below), they’ve got some nice extras that set them apart:
- Free shipping in the U.S. on most orders—no minimum spend.
- A generous 45-day return policy (great if you’re indecisive).
- A 2-year free warranty on all guitars and basses (new and used).
- Flexible payment options, including Synchrony financing and PayPal Credit.
- A rewards program that actually gives you cash-back-style points for future purchases.
- Helpful customer service (though not without a few hiccups, which we’ll get to).
One small win for non-U.S. musicians—they do offer international shipping now. It’s not dirt cheap, but at least it’s an option.
As you would expect from an online retailer, the Musicians Friend catalog is vast. There are hundreds and thousands of guitars, drums, keyboards, recording equipment, and anything else you can think of for sale. Often they are sold at pretty good prices.
What Can You Buy There?
Short answer: pretty much everything. Long answer: If it makes noise, records sound, or supports someone who does, you can probably find it here. Guitars, drums, synths, PA systems, mics, cables, DJ gear, even random accessories like patch cables and capos.
Here’s a quick snapshot:
Guitars, Drums, and Other Instruments
Looking for a beginner guitar? A boutique bass? Maybe a full drum kit or an electronic pad? They’ve got it all. Acoustic, electric, classical—take your pick. You’ll find popular brands like Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Yamaha, and more.
Recording & Studio Equipment
From audio interfaces and studio monitors to mics and mixers, they’ve got a solid selection for producers and home-studio builders. Brands like Shure, Focusrite, Universal Audio, and PreSonus are well-represented.
Live Sound & DJ Gear
Planning a gig or DJ set? You’ll find everything from powered speakers and mixing boards to lighting rigs and karaoke machines. Big brands like QSC, JBL, and Pioneer are all here.
Accessories
This is where Musician’s Friend shines. Over 14,000 accessories—from strings and sticks to cables and cases. If you’re after a random part or backup gear, chances are they’ve got it.
Used & Open Box Gear
Bargain hunter? Their used and open-box section is well worth browsing. You can score great gear for less—just be sure to check condition descriptions carefully.
The Musicians Friend App
In addition to the Musicians Friend Store online, customers in the US can also download a free mobile app for both Apple and Google devices.
The app is a really clean and well-put-together version of the website. It includes all of the hot deals and ‘deal of the day’ content you’d want. As well as an account summary page.
Let’s Talk Deals: Is It Actually Cheaper?
In many cases—yes. Musician’s Friend is known for competitive pricing and discounts. But what really grabs people is the “Stupid Deal of the Day”—a daily rotating mega discount on a featured item. It might be a guitar one day, a mic the next, or a random pedal. Worth checking daily.
They also regularly drop:
- Coupon codes (sign up to their emails for the best ones)
- Tiered discounts (e.g. £25 off £150, 10% off £299, etc.)
- Exclusive deals via their app or rewards program
Their 45-Day Price Match Guarantee is also pretty impressive. If you buy something and spot it cheaper elsewhere within 45 days, they’ll refund the difference. Not bad.
Why Buy From Musicians Friend?
In addition to equipment, MusiciansFriend offers a rewards program, military discount and for customers in the US, there is a Musicians Friend synchrony payment and PayPal financing options for those looking to spread the cost of purchases.
Furthermore, they have free shipping for customers in the US, a 2-year free warranty on all guitars and basses (new and second hand), and first-class Musicians Friend Customer Service. They are available to help with purchase queries or just to give advice on purchases.
For those of us outside of the US, they have also launched an international shipping option. Prices depend on where you are based and what it is you are looking to ship.
Finally, the Musicians Friend return policy is pretty generous. They give 45 days where you can send back any item if it doesn’t quite meet your needs. This is as long as the item doesn’t show any signs of wear, in which case you would need to pay a restocking fee.
Shipping & Returns
For U.S. customers, shipping is often free—and fast. Orders placed before 3 p.m. ET usually ship same-day. You’ll get tracking and updates via email. For international folks, it’s a bit more case-by-case.
Returns? Also easy. You’ve got 45 days to decide if you like your gear. If you don’t, just send it back. So long as the item is in good shape, you’re golden. A few categories like software, downloads, or earbuds can’t be returned once opened, which is pretty standard.
Bonus: All guitars and basses (even open-box ones) come with a free 2-year warranty, which is a really nice touch.
Rewards Program: Worth It?
Yep. The Musician’s Friend Rewards Program is free to join and gives you points (8 per $1) on eligible purchases. Rack up enough points, and you can redeem them like store credit. There are also members-only perks like exclusive deals, double points events, and a birthday gift ($25 off a qualifying order).
One catch? Your points expire after 6 months of inactivity. So don’t let them go to waste.
Payment Options
You’ve got a few solid ways to pay:
- Credit/debit cards
- PayPal & PayPal Credit
- Gift cards
- Synchrony Gear Card, which lets you spread payments (0% interest offers for 24–48 months are common during promos)
There’s also a military discount (10% off) and special pricing programs for schools and educators.
The Good, The Bad & The Annoying
What’s Good:
- Massive inventory (seriously, it’s huge)
- Regular sales, coupons, and exclusive deals
- 45-day returns = low-risk purchases
- Free shipping (in most cases)
- Rewards program actually gives back
- 2-year warranty on guitars/basses
- Solid financing options
What’s Not So Great:
- The website is clunky. Navigating it can be a pain.
- Occasional shipping mix-ups, like getting an open-box item when you ordered new
- Mixed reviews on customer service—some great, some not-so-great
- Rewards points vanish if you don’t shop for 6 months
- Some coupon exclusions (especially for big-name brands)
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
- Sweetwater: More personalised service, slightly more boutique vibe. If you love a phone call with a gear expert, Sweetwater’s your place.
- Guitar Center: Musician’s Friend’s brick-and-mortar sibling. Same stock, similar prices—but you can try things in-store.
- Amazon & eBay: Faster shipping, sometimes cheaper, but far less tailored to musicians.
Reverb & Thomann: Great for used gear and European shoppers respectively.
MusiciansFriend offer a rewards membership which is free to join.
It has a number of benefits including 8% money back on all future purchases, members-only deals, and rewards points on every purchase. Each dollar spent earns you 8 points and every 100 points equates to a dollar on the store.
In addition, they also have the best price guarantee where they will price match if a competitor offers the same product at a lower price point.
In the US, the biggest competitor to Musicians Friend is probably Sweetwater.
In terms of guitars, Sweetwater has all the same brands as Musicians Friend but they also offer those hard-to-find Rickenbackers, special edition PRS, and exclusive Schecter guitars.
They also offer financing and a ‘Deal Zone’ section of their website and a Sweetwater App so it’s definitely a website worth comparing to when you are considering a new purchase.
The Sweetwater website is also, in our opinion, a little cleaner, easier to navigate, and has better functionality.
Final Verdict: Should You Shop at Musician’s Friend?
If you love a good deal, know what you want, and don’t need hand-holding from a dedicated rep, Musician’s Friend is still one of the best online gear shops around. The discounts are real, the return policy is generous, and the product selection is hard to beat.
Yes, the website could use an overhaul. And yes, sometimes things don’t go 100% smoothly. But for the price-conscious player, producer or gear-head, Musician’s Friend is still worth a look.
Have you used Musician’s Friend before? Let us know what your experience was like in the comments!
While you’re here, check out some of our other guides:
- Effects Pedals/Guitar Pedals – A Guide To Understanding And Buying
- Best Guitar Amps For Home And Stage Use
- Preamps – What Is A Preamp & The Top 10 Buyers Guide
Happy gear hunting!
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