After 25 years of calling Holt home, Shawn VanSteeland, owner of Music Instrument Swap, has brought his passion for music and instruments directly to the community he loves. What started as a guitar show circuit around Michigan has evolved into a unique music store that offers something no other shop in the area can match—the largest selection of used guitars in the Lansing area and the largest collection of used drums in the entire state of Michigan according to VanSteeland.
Music Instrument Swap is far from your typical music store. As an independently owned, mom-and-pop shop specializing exclusively in used instruments, the store offers musicians something increasingly rare: the chance to try before you buy from an incredible selection. With over 100 used guitars and more than 25 used drum sets in stock at any given time, the shop has become a destination for musicians from Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Detroit.
“Everything in my shop is absolutely used,” VanSteeland explains. “I’m not a dealer for anybody new, but I actually have the largest selection of used guitars in Lansing. As a drummer, I specialize in drums, so I actually have the largest collection of used drums in Michigan as well, with more drums and cymbals than any other store in Michigan.”
The store’s journey to Holt began about five years ago in the small town of Potterville, then moved to Delta Township before settling into its current Holt location three months ago. The move has been a homecoming of sorts for VanSteeland, whose family has deep roots in the area. Both of his children graduated from Holt High School, and he grew up in nearby Mason.
Music Instrument Swap’s true distinction lies not just in its inventory—it’s VanSteeland’s dedication to sourcing quality instruments. Rather than waiting for customers to bring in instruments, he actively travels throughout the Midwest, sometimes as far as Iowa, to find exceptional pieces.
“Most people just kind of hope that people will come into their business and bring them really cool stuff, but that’s just not the way it really is,” he notes. “The reality is you have to go out there and search for it and know what you’re looking for.” The store also provides guitar repair services in-house and can connect customers with trusted professionals for amplifier work and other specialized repairs. For families looking to get their children started in music, the shop offers an affordable entry point with quality used instruments at reasonable prices.
Beyond retail, Music Instrument Swap serves as a hub for the local music community. VanSteeland, who performs in a band himself, understands the challenges local musicians face and stocks essential items like strings, cables, and accessories that performers need on short notice. The shop is open seven days a week, making it convenient for working musicians to find what they need.
The store’s website features a comprehensive community calendar listing music events throughout the Lansing area. “As a musician, that’s something that bums me out tremendously—that bands don’t promote very well and venues don’t promote very well,” VanSteeland explains. “So what we do is put that calendar up on our website.”
His involvement in the local music scene runs deep. VanSteeland started Grand Ledge Music in the Park 15 years ago and produces events for the City of Lansing on Wednesdays during the summer. The calendar serves not just his customers but the entire regional music community.
The Holt community has embraced Music Instrument Swap enthusiastically. The store’s grand opening featured five bands playing in the parking lot, with neighboring businesses Gravity BBQ and Hungry Howie’s providing food for the celebration. The collaborative spirit reflects the tight-knit nature of Holt’s business community.
“It’s been great,” VanSteeland says of the community response. “We’re kind of a destination, which is kind of cool for us. People will drive from Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, Detroit—they’ll come to us because they’re looking for what we have, which is kind of nice for Holt too because we’re going to start bringing some more people that maybe haven’t been to Holt before.”
For dining and entertainment in Holt, VanSteeland enthusiastically recommends his next-door neighbor, Gravity BBQ. “Those guys are absolutely amazing,” he says. He also appreciates Holt’s Veterans Memorial Park and its summer music series, noting that most events are free and accessible to the community.
For VanSteeland, the shop’s success isn’t measured solely in sales figures. His genuine enthusiasm for instruments and deep knowledge of music history allows him to match customers with pieces that resonate on a personal level, creating connections that go far beyond a typical retail transaction.
“There’s nothing I love more than hearing somebody say, ‘Oh man, this guitar was a bucket list guitar for me,’ or ‘This drum, I had it when I was young and I always wanted another one,'” he reflects. “Money comes and goes, but having good experiences—that’s really what we should all be striving for.”
Music Instrument Swap is open seven days a week, and VanSteeland encourages anyone interested to stop by and explore the selection. For more information about inventory and upcoming events, visit their website. The store’s comprehensive approach to serving musicians—from beginners to professionals—makes it a valuable addition to Holt’s growing business community.