Best online stores for musical instruments in the US
34 buying questions · the United States · 2 assistants
| # | Store | Named | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sweetwater sweetwater.com |
31 / 34 +31 | 25 |
| 2 |
Musician’s Friend musiciansfriend.com |
27 / 34 +27 | 4 |
| 3 |
Chicago Music Exchange chicagomusicexchange.com |
14 / 34 +14 | 3 |
| 4 |
Fiddlershop fiddlershop.com |
3 / 34 +3 | 3 |
| 5 |
Shar Music sharmusic.com |
3 / 34 +3 | 3 |
| 6 |
zZounds zzounds.com |
12 / 34 +12 | 2 |
| 7 |
American Musical Supply americanmusical.com |
8 / 34 +8 | 2 |
| 8 |
Woodwind & Brasswind woodwindbrasswind.com |
5 / 34 +5 | 2 |
| 9 |
Kennedy Violins kennedyviolins.com |
3 / 34 +3 | 2 |
| 10 |
Music & Arts musicarts.com |
5 / 34 +5 | 1 |
| 11 |
Kraft Music kraftmusic.com |
4 / 34 +4 | 1 |
| 12 |
Southwest Strings southweststrings.com |
3 / 34 +3 | 1 |
| 13 |
StringWorks stringworks.com |
3 / 34 +3 | 1 |
| 14 |
ProAudioStar proaudiostar.com |
2 / 34 +2 | 1 |
| 15 |
GetASax getasax.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 1 |
| 16 |
Mim’s Ukes mimsukes.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 1 |
| 17 |
Potter Violins potterviolins.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 1 |
| 18 |
Saxquest saxquest.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 1 |
| 19 |
The Ukulele Site theukulelesite.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 1 |
| 20 |
Uke Republic ukerepublic.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 1 |
| 21 |
Memphis Drum Shop memphisdrumshop.com |
4 / 34 +4 | 0 |
| 22 |
Sam Ash samash.com |
4 / 34 +4 | 0 |
| 23 |
Wildwood Guitars wildwoodguitars.com |
4 / 34 +4 | 0 |
| 24 |
Bass Central basscentral.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 0 |
| 25 |
Ifshin Violins ifshinviolins.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 0 |
| 26 |
PM Woodwind Repair pmwoodwind.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 0 |
| 27 |
Roberto’s Winds robertoswinds.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 0 |
| 28 |
USA Horn usahorn.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 0 |
| 29 |
PM Woodwind woodwind.com |
1 / 34 +1 | 0 |
In the top 10? Share it: LinkedIn · download the image
Category median: named in 0 of 34 questions (the middle store of all 58 stores we measured; +n is how many questions a store is above it).
Named means the store appeared in the answer. Recommended means the assistant clearly advised it. Being in a list is not the same as being advised, so we count them separately. The other 29 stores were named in none of these questions.
This ranking covers the 58 stores we measure in this category. That is not every store in the market.
The top 10, real questions with who AI named, the sites AI cites and how it describes #1. Free, by email.
Named is not recommended
Each dot is a store. Further right: named in more buying questions. Higher: recommended more often. Stores low on the right are known to AI but rarely the tip. That gap is what most stores can close.
Where AI sends shoppers
Review sites, comparison sites, marketplaces and communities that ChatGPT and Gemini mention in their answers in this category. Stores that are present and well reviewed there are easier for AI to recommend.
| Amazon Marketplace |
31 of 68 | AI sends shoppers there. Selling there too, or being clearly better on your own site, both help. |
| Reverb Platform |
31 of 68 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| eBay Platform |
11 of 68 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Facebook Community |
4 of 68 | Be present there with useful posts or answers; AI repeats what people say. |
| Craigslist Platform |
3 of 68 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Facebook Marketplace Platform |
3 of 68 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Bandcamp Platform |
2 of 68 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| OfferUp Platform |
2 of 68 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
The questions we asked
Only the questions that could really name a store, because only those count. They are in the language of the market, because that is how shoppers there ask them.
- Are there any smaller American online music stores that are an alternative to the well-known big ones?
AI named: Amazon, Walmart, Amoeba Music - I only know the big general retailers, which specialized American music store should I check out online instead?
AI named: Sweetwater, Chicago Music Exchange, Elderly Instruments - What American music webshop has the most instruments in stock at all times?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician's Friend - What American webshop gives you the most value for your money on musical instruments?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center Used, ProAudioStar - What is a good and trustworthy American online shop for buying trumpets?
AI named: Austin Custom Brass (ACB), Dillon Music, The Mighty Quinn Brass & Winds - What is a reliable US online store to buy a bass guitar from?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - What is a well-known and reliable American store to buy a cello online?
AI named: Johnson String Instrument, Shar Music, Southwest Strings - What is the best American online store to buy musical instruments?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Where can I buy a guitar online in the US with the best return policy?
AI named: Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, zZounds - Where can I buy a keyboard piano online in the United States?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Where can I buy a piano keyboard online in the US without spending too much?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician's Friend - Where can I buy a ukulele online from a reputable US store?
AI named: The Ukulele Site, Sweetwater, Elderly Instruments - Where can I find an American online store that specializes in instruments for children?
AI named: Rhythm Band Instruments, West Music, Rhythm Band Instruments (RBI Music) - Where can I find the cheapest drum kits online in America?
AI named: Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Sweetwater - Where can I get a good deal on a violin online in the United States?
AI named: Fiddlershop, Kennedy Violins, Shar Music - Where can I order a drum set online in the US and get it delivered quickly?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Where can I safely order a digital piano online in the US?
AI named: Sweetwater, Kraft Music, Music & Arts - Where is the best place to buy a guitar online in the US?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Chicago Music Exchange - Where should I shop online if I want to buy a violin in the US?
AI named: Shar Music, Johnson String Instrument, Fiddlershop - Where should a kid buy a starter guitar online in the US?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Which American online music store has the best guarantee on electronic instruments?
AI named: American Musical Supply, Sweetwater, American Musical Supply (AMS) - Which American online music store ships the fastest?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Which American online store is best for beginners buying their first instrument?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Which American webshop sells musical instruments and is trustworthy?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Which American website can I trust to buy a saxophone?
AI named: Saxquest, Kessler & Sons Music, PM Woodwind Repair - Which American website should I use to buy a drum kit online?
AI named: Sweetwater, Drum Center of Portsmouth, Guitar Center - Which US music store online has the best deals on brass instruments?
AI named: Dillon Music, Austin Custom Brass, Woodwind & Brasswind - Which US music webshop is best suited for professional musicians?
AI named: Sweetwater, Vintage King, B&H Photo Video - Which US online music store has a solid reputation for selling acoustic guitars?
AI named: Sweetwater, Elderly Instruments, Guitar Center - Which US online shop is best for a complete beginner who wants to learn piano?
AI named: Sweetwater, Kraft Music, Guitar Center - Which US online store sells guitars at the lowest prices?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend - Which US online store specializing in guitars is a good alternative to buying from a large general marketplace?
AI named: Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician's Friend - Which US webshop is known for good customer service when buying instruments?
AI named: Sweetwater, Chicago Music Exchange, Musician’s Friend - Which US website lets me return a keyboard most easily if it doesn't work out?
AI named: Amazon, Whole Foods, Kohl's
How to read this
This is a snapshot
AI assistants change their answers. This list is what came out on the date measured, not a judgement about the stores. We measure again every month.
What is not in it
No paid positions. A store cannot buy its way in, and the order follows from the answers alone.
Why not every question counts
If someone asks about a brand or for general information, no store appears in the answer, not even the best one. Those questions are left out of the count. How we measure.
Embed this ranking on your site
Paste this code in your article. It shows the top 5 and updates itself every month.
Your store not in a ranking?
Run the free check on your store. You will see straight away whether AI assistants can find and read it.
Free check