I have been taking lessons at Apolds for a while now and all they have been to me is nice and friendly. I bought a amp there for forty dollars. When I brought it home I messed it up some how so I brought it back when I got there they said that it was only a small problem, but they gave me a amp that was worth double then the one I had bought earlier. I also took lessons there and they let me rent a drum set too. If you decide to take lessons there they work at your pace and with what you want to work with.