About The Starving Musician
Serving musicians and their families since 1985
Our Story
We have been serving musicians and their families since 1985. What started as a passion for music has grown into two thriving stores and a specialty violin and cello shop, each filled with instruments waiting for their next musical journey.
We buy, sell, trade, consign and service musical instruments. You never know what you will find when you visit us! Sometimes items don't make it to our online store, so if you're looking for something specific, drop us an email or give us a call and speak to a real musician.
We often have rare, vintage and hard to find instruments and parts. Our collection spans decades of musical history, from classic guitars to vintage brass instruments, each with its own story to tell.
What We Do
Repairs & Service
Our band repair shop has over 40 years of experience servicing brass and woodwind instruments with in-house repairs and ultrasonic cleaning. Our guitar and drum techs are experienced professionals dedicated to quality repairs and quick turnaround times.
Lessons & Rentals
We offer lessons for many types of instruments and rent instruments for school band and orchestra programs. We also do short-term rentals for almost anything in the store, so whether you're travelling and didn't bring your guitar, or you're throwing a house show and need a quality PA system, we got you covered.
Our Services
Buy & Sell
Quality used instruments at fair prices
Repairs
Expert repair services for most instruments
Lessons
Learn from experienced instructors
Rentals
School band and orchestra programs
Visit Our Stores
Santa Clara Location
Our flagship store with our full service band repair shop
Browse Santa Clara InventorySanta Cruz Location
Our Santa Cruz hub for your music needs
Browse Santa Cruz InventoryWhy Choose Us?
Our staff is knowledgeable and experienced, with centuries of combined expertise in the music industry. We're not just a store, we're musicians helping musicians find what they're looking for.
Check out our reviews and you'll see why musicians throughout the Bay Area choose The Starving Musician for their instrument needs. From beginners to professionals, from school programs to recording studios, we've got you covered.