About Musician's Mall (Formerly Ali Akbar College Store)
Musician's Mall, formerly known as Ali Akbar College Store, is a well-regarded musical instrument shop in Berkeley, CA. Owned by the Bhargava family since 2014, the store offers a wide selection of high-quality instruments, including harmoniums, sitars, sarodes, tanpuras, surbahars, and percussion instruments like pakhawaj and dholaks. They source their instruments from trusted makers such as Paul and Company, Paloma, Manoj Kumar Sardar, Bina, Hiren Roy, Rikhi Ram, and Haridas Vhatkar. Customers praise the store for its friendly and knowledgeable staff who provide excellent service, whether for buying or repairing instruments. Many note the staff's helpfulness, patience, and quick service, with some mentioning repairs done on harmoniums and fixing stuck keys. The shop is appreciated as a reliable place to find authentic Indian instruments at good prices, making it a favorite for both seasoned players and beginners. Overall, Musicians Mall is known for its great selection, trustworthy service, and welcoming atmosphere, reflecting the lively and eclectic spirit of the East Bay.
Awesome customer service. Honest and knowledgable folks who are also very kind. Excited about my first Shruti box!
September 2025
Great location to find Indian instruments. I went for a Shruti box and they had a lot to look at.
August 2025
I had a really great experience with Musician's Mall. I ordered a sitar, along with mizrabs. The instrument shipped cross country, we had a bit of an issue but the team was amazing in helping me resolve, and I'm obsessed with my new instrument. Highly recommend. Craftsmen work is excellent.
