Tie: Guitar Center and Mister Music

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If GUITAR CENTER is the Goliath of guitar shops (“The largest musical instrument retailer in the world,” boasts its Web site), Allston stalwart MR. MUSIC is David. And likely due to that dichotomy, the two stores battled to a draw in this year’s poll. In addition to the sensory overload of its perpetual army of noodling guitarists and would-be Bonhams banging on V-Drums — now amplified at the chain’s expansive new digs on Boylston Street — Guitar Center offers an unparalleled selection of gear. Mr. Music is compact and cozy by comparison, with knowledgeable staffers who won’t harass you into emptying your wallet for a warranty upgrade. And thanks to its proximity to the many clubs of Allston and Central Square, the independently owned shop is the go-to spot for replacing sound-check casualties like snapped strings and splintered drumsticks.