guitar shop blues - very looooooong
Abdul Tom
bits of gear in the last 6 years and those all second hand, though i
do like to look at stuff on the web.
Last Thursday I did a run of a good chunk of London's guitar shops and
it was a fairly miserable experience by and large. I felt that you had
to steel yourself like a warrior to accomplish the simple task of
looking at the stock and maybe having a few strums. I was actually out
to find myself an acoustic if I saw something I liked at the right
price and I wanted to get a look at what was around.
I'd done a fair bit of research into some stuff so I was also curious
to see what they looked and sounded like in the flesh.
Summary as follows:
Music Ground: realised when I went in they didn't have any acoustics,
but thought I'd have a look round, particularly as they are a Gordon
Smith dealer and I have a Gordon Smith website (GS series coming soon
BTW).
Immediately I get seized by German-sounding guy saying "yes, what do
you want?" "Oh, I'm just having a look round". "Those guitars are
great (the GSs)." "Yes, I've got one" "well why are you looking at
them?" "well, you've got a lot more in than usual. Maybe I'll get
another one". "What did you say? They're more then you thought?" "No,
i said you've got more in" "What exactly is it you're looking for?"
"I'm not exactly looking for anything, I'm just trying to have a
bloody look" etc. etc.
I felt too harassed so I went to Hank's next door to look at
acoustics. After five minutes of piece the same guy comes in there. He
gives me a look and acts very sceptical when I ask him about parlor
guitars. I want to try out a Fender model I've been researching but he
keeps shoving a £50 Ozark at me so I wuss out and move on. I note they
have the Fender priced at £499. It's RRP is £349 and some places do it
for £279. Sheez.
Rose Morris: friendly guy who leaves me alone after a couple of
attempts, but everything seems to be either dirt cheap or super
expensive and they don't really have what i want. What's more the
guitars are stacked about 16 deep in a tiny so you can't really see
them and I'm terrified I'm going to trip and total about 50 Martins in
one shot.
Soho Soundhouse: friendly staff offering to order stuff, check the
warehouse but you can really only see 40% of the acoustics properly.
Some are hung right over the stairs, and all the ones I want to look
at seem to be inaccessible due to a huge pile of Jackson electric
starter kits in front of them so I give up there as well.
Andy's: nice atmos, but again relentless badgering. About five sales
staff and one customer (me) downstairs so I feel kind of in the
spotlight. I go upstairs and two of them follow me up. I prefer to
look at my own pace by myself and ask if I want help, but I surrender
and engage the guy who is perfectly nice. This means can challenge him
on his prices. Instantly the piece I'm looking drops from £449 to £200
which is incredible but I still don't want to pay it. Good bloke
though, and offers full service, set up, guarantee etc.
Ivor Mairants: no one there. Staff leave me alone which is fine. Only
badgered once. Some lovely guitars but nothing in my target area.
Hobgoblin: a small selection. I enter determined to stand my ground
and look at my own pace at what i want to so ignore the first couple
of badgers. I ask teh guy about an Art & Lutherie Ami which he tells
me has a solid top (bollocks, tho there is a solid top version) but
other than that fine.
Finally to...
Portobello Music: sweet old shop, basically a junk store. Staff don't
speak (tho it turns out one of them played at my wedding and a couple
of other gigs for me) and let you mooch around. Very small and the
stock in the shop bore no resemblance to the website, which is why I
went there. Reasonable prices though (e.g. £165 for an old Hofner
archtop in reasonable nick, rather than £245 for a completely
knackered one in Hobgoblin £500+ at Andy's).
And the moral is....
well, just that I find my day of determined guitar shoppping pretty
unconducive to browsing, or actually buying anything. I always thought
salesmen were supposed to agree with the customer; the guys in Music
Ground and Hank's did nothing but contradict. How do any of these guys
run a successful business if you can't see the stock, or look at stuff
without being harassed, contradicted and given the third degree? I
felt if I bought anything it would be despite rather than because of
their efforts.
Anybody else got similar experiences.
Séan Connolly
I hate being badgered in any shopsesp music shops. I also detest being
followed by store dectectives. I used to be a security guard in a Tesco
Metro, and I find it bloody obvious when someone is following me !.
Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
I hate the service and personnel that really do a great job of keeping
customers away.
Imagine - one guy said he wouldn't let anyone bias his marshall except this
one guy that charges £200 for it.
I lived in London for 6 years and haven't got an ounce of respect left for
the store owners.
Some of the staff are OK but compared to other stores I know in Luxembourg
and Cologne they might as well not exist.
I don't mind if someone asks me if I need any help - or even wants to chat
while I walk around the store that's fine but you get that What do you
want - get out of here cos you're making me work attitude that really pisses
me off.
They mght as well do away with the salesmen and let the security guards to
the job.
cb
"Abdul Tom" <tbru...@barbican.org.uk> wrote in message
news:900de2a4.02112...@posting.google.com...
Dave Stephens
the USA are invariably MUCH better at letting the customer browse.
They ask ONCE if you need any help....then poke off until you actually go up
and ask for something!
Two days ago, I was in the remnants of MARS Music store at Springfield
Plaza, Nr Washington DC.......VERY SAD indeed to watch the vultures
circling.....not many musicians there though, just your average spiv on the
lookout for some cheap bargains that will instantly move out at a higher
price.
But, these guys - even though staring redundancy in the face - were very
accommodating and helpful - AND - found a Bass Pod at a remarkable
knock-down price for me!
Now, if only each and every "supplier to the public" were to adopt a similar
approach - NOT PUSHY, GENUINELY INTERESTED and above all - FRIENDLY, I for
one, would be more inclined to spend cash getting my GAS fix!!
Actually, I see both ends of the spectrum in my local music store - embodied
in the two business partners! One is a wonderful muso (and an Axe-god to
boot) while the other really only wants to take your money. If it wasnt
for the first, they would never see me in there!
I wonder how much it would cost to buy out the gloomy half of the store?
Good Luck in your search
Dave
"Abdul Tom" <tbru...@barbican.org.uk> wrote in message
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Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
and no - you're not sounding anti Brit - you're just comparing Sin Pan Alley
with stores that have proper service. Outside central London you'll get
friendly service and great second hand prices.
cb
"Dave Stephens" <axes...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:_kuE9.1098$Ap.7...@newsfep3-gui.server.ntli.net...
Steve Dix
reply" <christofor...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Some of the staff are OK but compared to other stores I know in Luxembourg
>and Cologne they might as well not exist.
Oh I don't know.... Music Store Professional can just about match any
of the Tin Pan Alley shops for truculent service.
--
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Andy Brooke
> There's even worse in Germany...
> and no - you're not sounding anti Brit - you're just comparing Sin Pan
Alley
> with stores that have proper service. Outside central London you'll get
> friendly service and great second hand prices.
Except for Academy of Sound in Nottingham where the staff just stand behind
the counter discussing their favourite guitarists and totally ignoring the
customers standing at the counter waiting to be served. If they do bother
to serve you, then you can guarantee that whatever it was you wanted to buy
is apparently crap because the shop assistant's mate had one and didn't like
it.
Andy
Fat Sam
Yes....I have noticed the exact same problems in the exact same stores as
you.......The ones in Denmark Street are waaaaay too pushy, and seriously
under-knowledged......And I'll probably get accused of racism here, but is
it too much to ask for staff in a British guitar shop in Britains capital
city to have at least a slight grasp of the English language?.......
Fat Sam
In my opinion....The two best guitar shops in the whole UK are both in
Belfast......Harry Bairds, and Marcus Musical......Shame I live in Norfolk
now.....
Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
I'll be going in there tomorrow if you fancy meeting up for some coffee
(it's the first thing you get asked when you go in).
cb
"Steve Dix" <st...@stevedix.de> wrote in message
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Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
explitives...
cb
"Fat Sam" <ja...@samandjanet.fsworld.co.uk> wrote in message
news:aru0b5$6j0$1...@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
Richard Brooks
news:aru0b5$6j0$1...@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> you.......The ones in Denmark Street are waaaaay too pushy, and seriously
> under-knowledged......
Some years ago I was in one of the Denmark Street shops. Sales muppet
pounces as I walk through the door and asks what I am interested in. I look
around and see loads of Jackson guitars and enquire if they had a Jackson
King V, which was a bit of a fantasy guitar for me at that time.
He then tells me that what I really want is a Randy Rhodes. Wasn't even the
question I was asking!
Er, well I'll try it out. Have you got one here?
No, but he can order me one. Next thing he is filling in an order form for
the guitar (which was about £1,450 at the time as I recall) and asking for
my details and how I want to pay!
I don't know if this was some shop tactic and they thought people would be
too embarrassed at this point to stop the process, but I just laughed and
walked out. He didn't take it well :-)
Cheers
BLACKFIRE band web site: www.blackfire.co.uk
Bristol & District Campaign for Real Ale: www.camrabristol.org.uk
If you want to email me try combining my name and dsl.pipex.com...
Adrian Clark
> well, just that I find my day of determined guitar shoppping pretty
> unconducive to browsing, or actually buying anything. I always thought
> salesmen were supposed to agree with the customer; the guys in Music
> Ground and Hank's did nothing but contradict. How do any of these guys
> run a successful business if you can't see the stock, or look at stuff
> without being harassed, contradicted and given the third degree? I
> felt if I bought anything it would be despite rather than because of
> their efforts.
>
> Anybody else got similar experiences.
Yes... my experience of London guitar shops is largely the same as
yours. The younger staff are generally on a massive ego trip, while the
older staff have that jaded, boring "seen it all... I learned in the
University of life, mate" attitude.
On a few occasions, I've received intelligent and attentive service, but
presumably only because the salesperson was a rare diamond or because
they recognised my face from Guitarist [1].
All in all, this is why I don't buy from shops [2]. I research the gear
I want, and when I've made a decision I'll either buy online and/or
direct from the manufacturer/distributor.
Adrian
[1] Why else would surly, unresponsive service suddenly switch to
helpful attentiveness? Also, why should I get better service?
[2] With a couple of exceptions: Coda and Sounds Great, both of whom
I've used on a mail-order basis
--
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Mick Norris
> Anybody else got similar experiences.
Yes exactly the same expereience here up north. Went into electro music in
doncaster a couple of times recently having just started playing again after
a 15 year break, when you want service they totally ignore you sending you
from counter to counter, if your trying to browse theyre pouncing on you to
try to flog you something.
Completely different from when I was a kid at school. We used to travel to
manchester every weekend trying gear that would cost a decades pocket money,
once I started work a good proportion of salary went stright to those very
shops. Part of the reason Im not actually playing is I cant bare to acually
go and buy gear from anywhere locally, I actually object to people who offer
such poor service actually making a profit !
Anyone recommend somewhere who actually gives a dam
mick
Mark Williams
> [1] Why else would surly, unresponsive service suddenly switch to
> helpful attentiveness? Also, why should I get better service?
The ability to make (un)complimentary comments in the trade
press might have something to do with it. Have you thought of
hiring yourself out as a guitar-shop-visit-accompanist? I would
have thought you would get a lot of takers for say £50 p.h. +
25% of any saving off the price tag.
Steve Dix
reply" <christofor...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Steve, tried out Uli's Musik yet?
>I'll be going in there tomorrow if you fancy meeting up for some coffee
>(it's the first thing you get asked when you go in).
>cb
>
Not yet. I'm avoiding music shops like the plague atm as I'm lacking
in money, due to the lack of freelance web jobs atm.
I have an appointment with a customer tomorrow anyway. Some other
time, perhaps...
Steve Dix
Clark) wrote:
>
>Yes... my experience of London guitar shops is largely the same as
>yours. The younger staff are generally on a massive ego trip, while the
>older staff have that jaded, boring "seen it all... I learned in the
>University of life, mate" attitude.
I did get good service in Andy's, where I bought my Rick 350 (that you
tried)... I also got money back on it. Mind you, I did have my ex
there at the time, who was a fiendish haggler.
>[2] With a couple of exceptions: Coda and Sounds Great, both of whom
>I've used on a mail-order basis
I got my 12 from Coda, and they were very good about it. I also got
my GS from Machinehead in Hitchin, who were pretty good. If anything
in music stores, I have problem finding a member of staff to get
served, rather than be pressured into buying stuff.
I have to say that my worst buying experiences have been largely at
the hands of part-time staff - and not necessarily in music shops. I
remember going with my father to buy a printer, to be told by some
15-year-old wide boy in Tandy not to buy a Hewlett-Packard laserjet
because they were crap, and buy this colour ink ribbon printer that
was on special offer instead. I asked him why he thought they were
crap, as I'd been installing and supporting them for 3 years... you
could have heard a pin drop...
IanG
I have problems in music shops too. Not for the same reason as most of you
peeps. My problem is age. Im 17, and because of this i think every music shop
sales person ever thinks i have no, or very little money. I can understand this
because most people my age don't have loads of money to spend, nor do i most of
the time but i can save, and every once in a while i trot down to the same
music shop and spend hundreds of ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ. I would have thought by now that i may
have gained a little respect form these people - far from it. Im still the young
kid wasting there precious time. b*******s to that.
Unfortunately for me i have nowhere else to go to buy gear. I don't drive yet so
i cant travel far and the only other options is a big music company, mentioning
no names *cough* *cough* Dawsons *cough* were i get even less respect and the
prices are MASSIVE at any rate.
So no doubt i will carry on going to this same shop hoping that one day they
might recognise me as a genuine customer. yea pigs might fly.
just thought it would nice to get that of my chest.
IanG
website: www.ian-griffiths.co.uk
Feedback welcome to: ian at ian-giffiths.co.uk
Andy Brooke
news:06b5uu4u6v6cfg6cg...@4ax.com...
> On 25 Nov 2002 07:55:05 -0800, tbru...@barbican.org.uk (Abdul Tom) wrote:
>
> I have problems in music shops too. Not for the same reason as most of you
> peeps. My problem is age. Im 17, and because of this i think every music
shop
> sales person ever thinks i have no, or very little money. I can understand
this
> because most people my age don't have loads of money to spend, nor do i
most of
> the time but i can save, and every once in a while i trot down to the
same
> music shop and spend hundreds of ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ. I would have thought by now that
i may
> have gained a little respect form these people - far from it. Im still the
young
> kid wasting there precious time. b*******s to that.
I used to know someone who said that whenever he went down to London he
would wear a suit just so that he could go into guitar shops and not be told
to p*** off by some shop assistant who assumes that he can't afford whatever
guitar he wants to try out.
Andy
Adrian Clark
> The ability to make (un)complimentary comments in the trade
> press might have something to do with it. Have you thought of
> hiring yourself out as a guitar-shop-visit-accompanist? I would
> have thought you would get a lot of takers for say £50 p.h. +
> 25% of any saving off the price tag.
Heh! Now there's an idea. And an extra £50 for me to say to my client,
in an un-subtle stage whisper "this'll be perfect for our Music Shops of
Britain feature"...
Adrian
Andy Brooke
news:aHwE9.675$qy4...@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Anyone recommend somewhere who actually gives a dam
The Music Inn in Nottingham is good. The staff will always ask you if you
need help but they will leave you alone if you are just looking round and
are happy for you to try stuff out. Unlike a certain other guitar shop in
Nottingham, they've never tried to sell me anything I didn't want and the
shop assistant has never decided halfway through serving me to wander off to
have a conversation with his mate about what a great guitarist Mick Mars is.
Andy
Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
tolerable of bad service too.
Maybe I'm getting grumpy in my old age but I've found that unless you stick
up for yourself, sales people will step all over you.
Don't take shit from the bastards is all I can say.
Here's what I do lately (even in Germany where service can be even worse):
1. If the service offends - ask who's in charge and speak to the manager.
2. If there's no service or you're being ignored - disobey the don't touch
signs... pull out the expensive les paul, drop the please don't touch sign
and strum away.
when they complain - tell them why and speak to the store manager.
3. If they're being rude, tell them so straight out and offer to advise the
store manager as to how he can improve his sales - go ahead and do it!
4. Inform them as to where their salary ultimately comes from in no
uncertain terms. (You don't think I can afford this? well, I don't think you
can afford that attitude - shall we see who's right?
5. Thank them when they do something right.
6. Thank them for their rudeness.
7. Thank them for the entertainment.
8. Thank them for contributing to information you're gathering to write a
complaint letter to the manager and local music rags.
Keep the buggers on their toes and only reward good service. Most of the
time, if you see something cheaper elsewhere where there's bad service, tell
the guys where there's good service and see what happens to the price. If
it's a reasonable difference (on top) pay the extra and feel good about it!
e.g. a good salesman won't compete if you can get something for 30% of his
list price but ask anyway - they may want to have the information you have
and tell them that you'd pay a small difference to get it from them but a
large one is too much.
I really like a couple of the stores round here but there's no way I can pay
German prices for Celestion century's (Double UK prices!) so I told them
straight that if they could do me a deal that was even close I'd buy from
them. Other items that are within 10% - I reward the good service guys.
You'll never guess but most of the time, the music stores want my price
sources just in case... (So far, celestion, foster (tweeters for bass),
valves and transformers...)
Sure I'm a pain in the arse for most of them but if I can help them get
something out of it I will. It's called relationship management at the end
of the day and there are those that can and those that will never be able to
because of their attitude problems.
cb
"Andy Brooke" <an...@nopingwinspam.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:aruck8$sv1$1...@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
Mick Norris
>
> The Music Inn in Nottingham is good. The staff will always ask you if you
> need help but they will leave you alone if you are just looking round and
> are happy for you to try stuff out.
Thanks Andy, I'll give em a try
mick
Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
allows you to test their gear outside the really bad shop environment?
That's standard practice elsewhere but I've never seen it in the UK?
cb
"Abdul Tom" <tbru...@barbican.org.uk> wrote in message
news:900de2a4.02112...@posting.google.com...
Adam Savage
good shops. First, the Music Warehouse in Falkirk - "ahaa Sir, you have your
wallet out, we like your sort" in a friendly way. I've just acquired a
nice'n'shiny PodXT from this shop, and when I asked about the price,
suggesting that it was £100 cheaper (@£259) than just about anywhere else,
they came back and said, actually I was right and it should have been £369
(OK, so how often do you go into a shop and haggle upwards????) anyway, they
let me have it for £300, which I didnt think was too bad really.....The
manager seemed pissed off with the Line6 rep though.......Secondly, there's
a tiny acoustic instrument (guita/violin/piano) shop in Dundee, Vintage
Strings, that sell, amongst other things, Landola acoustics - again
excellent service, even though the first guiatr from Landola had a faulty
top.........
I think the moral here is that the measure of a shop is perhaps how they
handle a mistake/error rather than the initial sale....Any thoughts???
Adam S
"Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply" <christofor...@hotmail.com>
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Richard Brooks
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<snip>
think the moral here is that the measure of a shop is perhaps how they
> handle a mistake/error rather than the initial sale....Any thoughts???
>
> Adam S
The true measure of customer service is always what they do when things go
wrong.
Do they fix the problem or just worry about fixing the blame on the
customer, supplier, carrier etc?
Most super markets are now wise to this and will bend over backwards at your
most trivial complaint. They know that losing a few quid in the short term
will earn them loads of repeat business from your weekly shop in the years
to come.
And as I've spent more on musical equipment than most people spend on
groceries, I think the same approach is warranted when I stroll into my
local music emporium!
To put my real ale hat on, you can tell a lot about a pub if you have to
return a dodge pint. If they change it without question they are obviously
keen to retain your business. If you get the "It's supposed to be cloudy,
everyone else is drinking it, a bit of line cleaner never hurt anyone"
routine then you simply steer yourself and your mates away from there in
future. Net result is a much bigger loss to the pub.
TonyR
>
> would wear a suit just so that he could go into guitar shops and not be told
> to p*** off by some shop assistant who assumes that he can't afford whatever
> guitar he wants to try out.
>
> Andy
If I'm in London on business I'll usually go to Denmark Street to have
a laugh at the prices of the crap old guitars I couldn't wait to get
shot of when I was young. I'll be wearing my suit, and the assumption
from the shop assistants is always that I'm looking for something for
my son. They'll want to demonstrate the guitar themselves. If I go to
the same shop in jeans they'll find me an amp and hand the thing over.
What's happened, has Regent Music become Music Ground, haven't been
there in a while? They used to be the only halfway decent shop,
although they seemed to have had the same stuff in the window for
years, the blue Corvette Les Paul and the white doubleneck etc. Soho
Soundhouse is okay if they've got what you want and you know what
you're buying. I've been given some really dodgy advice there, some of
it very funny.
Problem is, London is the only place where you can guarantee to see a
lot of new gear in one place. I'll be in the market for a really good
twelve-string early in the new year, I'd like to be able to try out
all of the new Guild models together. Doubt that I'm going to find a
shop with more than one. I'd appreciate anyone that knows of such a
place letting me know.
I've bought a Strat and a Les Paul from Coda in Luton and they could
not have been more friendly. It's a small shop, so space is limited,
they don't have everything. I didn't think there was room for me and
the strat in the corner with the amp they put me in, but they left me
to play with it for as long as I wanted to. The set-up was immaculate
on both guitars.
It can be difficult buying accoustics. I tried a number of them in
that big shop in Birmingham, the area of my brain which holds the name
of it is returning 404 messages, opposite St Chads. I had no idea what
they would sound like in a more normal environment, the rooms are just
too big and bare. The sound just disappears with nothing to reflect it
back.
TonyR
Rick Booth
> Anyone recommend somewhere who actually gives a dam
We seem to be lucky in Manchester. We've got Sound Control in Salford,
who are very good, Sounds Great, who have a fantastic reputation for
after-sales service and are quite happy to let you play their insanely
expensive (Tyler, Anderson etc) guitars without hassling you, and Johnny
Roadhouse, who are also pretty good.
On the other hand, the Academy of Sound (used to be A1) are exactly the
sort of crap shop you have been describing. I don't ever set foot in the
place any more.
- rfb
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The A Train
>It can be difficult buying accoustics. I tried a number of them in
>that big shop in Birmingham, the area of my brain which holds the name
>of it is returning 404 messages, opposite St Chads.
Sound Control, previously known as Musical Exchanges.
> I had no idea what
>they would sound like in a more normal environment, the rooms are just
>too big and bare. The sound just disappears with nothing to reflect it
>back.
>
>TonyR
Yep - not sure how long ago you went there but the acoustic area
upstairs now has wood-panelled rooms which are big and empty.
Although you'd imagine this may help, it actually makes it very
difficult to judge a guitar's sound in 'the real world'.
Abdul Tom
I know them - I lived there for five years or so. Didn't think they
were that great, but fine enough. Russell Acott's in Oxford was always
good as well until it turned into Starbucks or whatever.
Mick Norris
> On the other hand, the Academy of Sound (used to be A1) are exactly the
> sort of crap shop you have been describing. I don't ever set foot in the
> place any more.
When I was young A1 used to be OK with the exception of Ann who was never
particularly friendly. The shop really did deteriorate over time. I only had
dealings with her twice and on both occassions she lost a sale. On occassion
one I tried a gibson ""the paul" in A1 when I was about 18, and then
desperately set about getting a bank loan to fund it. I went back after a
couple of weeks with the cash to buy it and asked to try it, Ann said they
were "too busy" so I went elsewhere.
Occassion 2 is quite amusing, Gibson brought out some reissue 59 les pauls
(similar to the gary moore model), they were quite expensive at around £1250
and A1 had one on display in its glass cabinet upstairs. I called in one day
and had the opportunity to try it out, at the time I was a pro player and
was earning OK money. I decided that the guitar would be mine. By the time
Id managed to get the cash together I was out of the UK in Germany. However
as soon as I returned to the UK I caught the train directly to manchester.
Id been travelling for 48 hours and to be honest looked at bit of a mess and
hadnt had much sleep. I arrived at A1 around friday lunchtime, the shop was
empty and I asked Ann if I could try the guitar. She flatly refused as again
they were "too busy".
Rather than argue I walked out and decided to have a look around manchester,
I went into chase musicians and found the exact same guitar around £200
cheaper who also threw in lots of goodies. I immediately went back to A1
asking to try amps and stuff. Ann immediately recognised me and seamed quite
upset that I'd walked away earlier without buying from A1. Our band used to
use A1 very frequently and over the years spent a considerable amount of
money there and she definately recognised me so I dont think it was my
appearance or age, she just couldnt be bothered to serve me. Ive never been
back to A1 since that day.
Its a shame really as A1 let me play with all sorts of things when I was a
school kid (presumably in the hope that one day Id grow up get a job and buy
stuff from them, which I did until Ann showed me the error of my ways !). I
think twice about trying gear in shops these days and I can play to a
reasonable standard and can afford to pay for it. It must be next to
impossible for many people. I thought it was just me getting old and
becoming a grumpy bastard (which admittadly I am) but obviously a lot of
others feel the same way as I do.
mick
Steve Dix
>
>It can be difficult buying accoustics. I tried a number of them in
>that big shop in Birmingham, the area of my brain which holds the name
>of it is returning 404 messages, opposite St Chads. I had no idea what
>they would sound like in a more normal environment, the rooms are just
>too big and bare. The sound just disappears with nothing to reflect it
>back.
>
>TonyR
Musical Exchange?
JNugent
[re "A1 Music" in Wakefield Street, Manchester (under the railway off
Oxford Street).
|| When I was young A1 used to be OK with the exception of Ann who was
|| never particularly friendly. The shop really did deteriorate over
|| time. I only had dealings with her twice and on both occassions she
|| lost a sale. On occassion one I tried a gibson ""the paul" in A1
|| when I was about 18, and then desperately set about getting a bank
|| loan to fund it. I went back after a couple of weeks with the cash
|| to buy it and asked to try it, Ann said they were "too busy" so I
|| went elsewhere.
[snip similar but separate tale]
I remember A1 Music very well from the 1970s and early 1980s. The main
thing I remember was how the underground part of the shop seemed to go on
for ever, with new caverns full of equipment opening up before you as you
wandered through. The main entrance looked so inconsequential too...
It was well worth driving over from St Helens. Nevertheless, I only ever
bought two items (of any significance) from them, both of which have showed
up at UKMGPU Nationals. One was my Vox AC30TB (bought brand new from A1 for
£190 in 1976 - it had been in stock for at least three years) and the other
was the shaped Fender Jazz Bass case which I bought because it fitted my
Fender Electric XII (and still does). It was Ann(e) who took one look at
the 12-string electric and promptly knew exactly which case would fit it.
You just try finding a *shaped* case for a Jazz Bass today...
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David Lloyd
> 2. If there's no service or you're being ignored - disobey the don't touch
> signs... pull out the expensive les paul, drop the please don't touch sign
> and strum away.
> when they complain - tell them why and speak to the store manager.
> 3. If they're being rude, tell them so straight out and offer to advise the
> store manager as to how he can improve his sales - go ahead and do it!
> 4. Inform them as to where their salary ultimately comes from in no
> uncertain terms. (You don't think I can afford this? well, I don't think you
> can afford that attitude - shall we see who's right?
> 5. Thank them when they do something right.
> 6. Thank them for their rudeness.
> 7. Thank them for the entertainment.
> 8. Thank them for contributing to information you're gathering to write a
> complaint letter to the manager and local music rags.
Remember that they are under no obligation to serve you or even allow
you into the shop. Using the above-prescribed attitude is the quickest
way to ensure you get kicked out of the shop. Guitar shops tend to
have a relatively informal staff/manager relationship and they are far
more likely to take the word of their staff over that of an unknown
member of the public.
If you're not getting served, ask for service and be thankful that you
can look around without being hassled.
.clive.murray.
news:d9cc9d63.02112...@posting.google.com...
> Remember that they are under no obligation to serve you or even allow
> you into the shop. Using the above-prescribed attitude is the quickest
> way to ensure you get kicked out of the shop. Guitar shops tend to
> have a relatively informal staff/manager relationship and they are far
> more likely to take the word of their staff over that of an unknown
> member of the public.
hmmm, ok, but if we all stop taking their shit and stand up for ourselves as
customers, the manager will soon put fact a: "people are leaving without
buying anything because of $staff_member" next to fact b: "if people don't
buy anything I don't eat" and may eventually draw the conclusion that
$staff_member is causing him a problem.
he certainly *should* reach this conclusion. bad service is unacceptable. if
you don't like serving customers, don't work in a shop - guitar-related or
otherwise.
--c.
[several years retail/public service experience]
--
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* "I used to love her, but I had to kill her" -- gnr
kevin....@nottingham.ac.uk
<an...@nopingwinspam.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
I bought a semi-acoustic bass there recently and the assistant was
as OK as you say, though the woman that runs it can get a bit snappy - she
must have answered 3 or 4 phone calls while I was in and seemed off-hand
with every punter on the other end.They also gave me an very poor trade in
price (I thought anyway) for the Washburn bass & Laney amp I was
offloading against the semi-acoustic (my own fault, just not the time to
advertise 'em privately and made it too obvious that I didn't want to haul
the stuff back home again). Agree about Academy (until a recent visit the
last time I went in it was still Carlsboro!) you can spend ages in there
when you actually *want* something before anyone acknowledges you actually
exist. Not many bargains there. Used to be another old fashioned music
shop not far away from Music Inn but that closed quite a while back. Ever
been in the one at the end of Forest Road near where it meets Mansfield
Road? - opposite the cemetary - thought of popping in once or twice but
haven't as yet, think it's been there a few years now.
Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
I think that there is a legal obligation on behalf or companies selling
goods to the general public not to refuse custom although I may stand
corrected on this one.
There are ways of doing all the things below with a smile and with a huge
toungue in your cheek.
Close relationship or not, I expect people to work to become the recipients
of my money and will inform them when they are not providing adequate
customer relations.
Just remember that no matter however you complain, you can do so politely "I
believe that the way that I am treated here as a customer willing to spend
xxx on goods you have for sale is disgusting and that my telling you so is
in fact doing you a service so please do not use that patronising tone on
me.... While being helpful in pointing out the obvious inadequacies of your
staff and service levels you seem to be completely oblivious of your
failings to meet your customers expectations while dismissing positive and
constructive customer feedback..." are good examples. The whole reason you
speak to the store manager is that he's in no position to dismiss his own
comments saying that staff were stressed - That's why you stay civil. You
don't have to like them and make it obvious that you know that if you like -
and obvious that you want to be treated with a level of courtesy.
I've never been ejected from a store or asked to leave while I often ask if
there's a secluded area for any discussions to take place so as not to
bother his clientelle - they respect that but above all, don't get pissed
on - they need your money in order to survive and they know it.
cb
"David Lloyd" <david...@plants.ox.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:d9cc9d63.02112...@posting.google.com...
Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
You can be polite about it and tell them why you're not going to buy from
them.
That usually helps - and also asking them if they're paid on commission...
cb
".clive.murray." <earth...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:as0bug$msraq$1...@ID-56037.news.dfncis.de...
icarusi
news:aHwE9.675$qy4...@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Yes exactly the same expereience here up north. Went into
electro music in
> doncaster a couple of times recently having just started
playing again after
> a 15 year break, when you want service they totally ignore you
sending you
> from counter to counter, if your trying to browse theyre
pouncing on you to
> try to flog you something.
Strange place is Electro Music. You get all shades from the staff
from helpful and knowledgeable to blase, misinformed and
opiniated. I asked to try an amp and the guy at the counter just
said take it into the booth and plug it in (more or less 'sort it
out yourself', so I did). Fortunately (or unfortunately they've
got some gear items that the big chains don't keep, like THD, so
I'll probably be going there again before too long.
Icarusi
--
remove the 00 to reply
icarusi
Tom) wrote:
>
> I have problems in music shops too. Not for the same reason as
most of you
> peeps. My problem is age. Im 17, and because of this i think
every music shop
> sales person ever thinks i have no, or very little money. I can
understand this
> because most people my age don't have loads of money to spend,
nor do i most of
> the time but i can save, and every once in a while i trot down
to the same
> music shop and spend hundreds of ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ. I would have thought
by now that i may
> have gained a little respect form these people - far from it.
Im still the young
> kid wasting there precious time. b*******s to that.
If I've previously bought gear at a shop, I always try to find
the same shop guy, hopefully one of the more useful ones (but not
always), and mention the item of gear and how well it's doing (or
not), so they know I do actually buy, even though I try a lot
more stuff without buying anything. It's also worth finding out
who the 'specialists' are for particular gear in each shop, so
you can make use of them or avoid them as necessary.
Matt Brown
I live in Exeter, Devon and I've bought my last three guitars from Mansons -
fantastic guitar shop laid out in the style of a second hand bookshop (and I
defy anyone not to walk in the front door and be immediately reminded of
Nigel Tufnell's guitar display scene in Spinal Tap!)
Staff are very knowledgable and the main men have built guitars for Jimmy
Page and, frankly, that's good enough for me. Staff are friendly, not at all
pushy and if you try something out then they'll let you try it out properly
and not hover over you expecting instant reaction. Only thing is it's a
smallish shop and although they pack a lot of gear in there it's not the
widest choice in the world.
I'd recommend them to anyone though.
Matt Brown
"Richard Brooks" <Nobod...@deadspam.com> wrote in message
news:3de2c9b0$0$8506$cc9e...@news.dial.pipex.com...
Andy Brooke
news:kevin.bailey-2...@wpdpm16.nottingham.ac.uk...
I used to go in the shop on the a bit further up Alfreton Road and on the
opposite side to the Music Inn and they would sometimes have interesting
guitars although most of their stock was junk. I bought a guitar from there
that looked like an Ibanez Destroyer except that there was no brand name or
other markings on it and the woman in the shop claimed it was a Gibson
Explorer. I knew it wasn't a Gibson and they knew it as well or else the
price tag would have been a lot higher.
The shop near the corner of Forest Road and Mansfield Road is mainly second
hand stuff and occasionally has some interesting guitars. If you like BC
Riches then it would be worth a visit although it strikes me as being quite
expensive.
Andy
steve_cobham
<earth...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>"David Lloyd" <david...@plants.ox.ac.uk> wrote in message
>news:d9cc9d63.02112...@posting.google.com...
>
>> Remember that they are under no obligation to serve you or even allow
>> you into the shop. Using the above-prescribed attitude is the quickest
>> way to ensure you get kicked out of the shop. Guitar shops tend to
>> have a relatively informal staff/manager relationship and they are far
>> more likely to take the word of their staff over that of an unknown
>> member of the public.
Quite - in a field where you're dealing with a (comparatively) limited
number of individually-owned businesses that have just a few -
sometimes a single individual - serving and who sell items that
ideally have to suit the individual customer, it ain't like buying a
toaster or a packet of washing powder.
Sure, when I get crappy service in Curry's or Tesco's I usually walk -
although I have been known to ring the office of the shop I'm queuing
in and ask the manager why there aren't more tills open.
It works, too - sometimes I've had the manager come out and take me
over to an unopened till and serve me himself.......when - in the case
of Tesco's or somewhere similar - I explain that I could spend about
five grand at least in his shop a year, but can shop at one of his
rivals (and so can my friends), it's a persuasive argument.
>
>hmmm, ok, but if we all stop taking their shit and stand up for ourselves as
>customers, the manager will soon put fact a: "people are leaving without
>buying anything because of $staff_member" next to fact b: "if people don't
>buy anything I don't eat" and may eventually draw the conclusion that
>$staff_member is causing him a problem.
That's the key - if a few more customers start walking it might give
the manager food for thought.
>
>he certainly *should* reach this conclusion. bad service is unacceptable. if
>you don't like serving customers, don't work in a shop - guitar-related or
>otherwise.
I don't envy anyone serving in a shop, but if that's what they're paid
to do then they should do it properly or do something else. It's not
as if the pay or hours are good.
Courtesy and a willingness to help - let alone the ability close a
fecking sale, a process on which the two qualities described might
have much bearing - costs nowt.
It depresses me how difficult it sometimes is to spend money because
of shitty service.
Steve.
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Chris Berry - remove Your_Ego to reply
if necessary and you'll be in for a surprise.
You'll get really good service if you complain.
reinforces your comment about people doing the job properly for their pay
when you do this. It may sound nasty but I figure that I'm just helping them
on to greener pastures or giving them a wake up call.
cb
<Steve Cobham> wrote in message
news:gnh7uuc25r134m3pr...@4ax.com...
TonyR
> t-ru...@supanet.com (TonyR) once famously said:
>
>
> >It can be difficult buying accoustics. I tried a number of them in
> >that big shop in Birmingham, the area of my brain which holds the name
> >of it is returning 404 messages, opposite St Chads.
>
> Sound Control, previously known as Musical Exchanges.
>
That's the one, thanks.
> > I had no idea what
> >they would sound like in a more normal environment, the rooms are just
> >too big and bare. The sound just disappears with nothing to reflect it
> >back.
> >
> >TonyR
>
> Yep - not sure how long ago you went there but the acoustic area
> upstairs now has wood-panelled rooms which are big and empty.
> Although you'd imagine this may help, it actually makes it very
> difficult to judge a guitar's sound in 'the real world'.
When I was there in the summer the acoustics were on the ground floor,
hanging on what I remember as fibreboard partitioning, which absorbs
sound rather than reflecting it. Probably very good feng shui but a
horrible environment for trying out guitars.
TonyR
James@dvd-critic
> <BIG SNIP>
>
> I hate being badgered in any shopsesp music shops. I also detest
> being followed by store dectectives. I used to be a security guard
> in a Tesco Metro, and I find it bloody obvious when someone is
> following me !.
I agree - When I was at college I had long hair (still do) and whenever I
went into shops, they always had security staff follow me about. One day I
was paying for my goods and was talking to the cashier, and she said "excuse
me for saying this, but you aren't at all how I expected you to be - you so
polite and well spoken!" I laughed at said "I've a distinction student
studying computer science at college - not some rogue looking for trouble!"
lol
James
Abdul Tom
there are a few specialist acoustic shops in London now. Unplugged,
the Acoustic Centre plus a new place in islington called Acoustic
Heaven.
Also, Ivor Mairants is basically 100% acoustic and they were the
easiest shop i tried.
Dave Hayward
them a bit snobby. I'm also aware of the Acoustic Centre being in Wapping
Hight Street, but where are the others ? I've got to go acoustic shopping
next week and avoiding Denmark Street is high on the agenda.
D.
"Abdul Tom" <tbru...@barbican.org.uk> wrote in message
news:900de2a4.02112...@posting.google.com...
David Lloyd
> It all depends on how you go about the whole thing.
That was what I was trying to get at.
> I think that there is a legal obligation on behalf or companies selling
> goods to the general public not to refuse custom although I may stand
> corrected on this one.
None whatsoever.
> There are ways of doing all the things below with a smile and with a huge
> toungue in your cheek.
> Close relationship or not, I expect people to work to become the recipients
> of my money and will inform them when they are not providing adequate
> customer relations.
> Just remember that no matter however you complain, you can do so politely "I
> believe that the way that I am treated here as a customer willing to spend
> xxx on goods you have for sale is disgusting and that my telling you so is
> in fact doing you a service so please do not use that patronising tone on
> me.... While being helpful in pointing out the obvious inadequacies of your
> staff and service levels you seem to be completely oblivious of your
> failings to meet your customers expectations while dismissing positive and
> constructive customer feedback..." are good examples. The whole reason you
> speak to the store manager is that he's in no position to dismiss his own
> comments saying that staff were stressed - That's why you stay civil. You
> don't have to like them and make it obvious that you know that if you like -
> and obvious that you want to be treated with a level of courtesy.
> I've never been ejected from a store or asked to leave while I often ask if
> there's a secluded area for any discussions to take place so as not to
> bother his clientelle - they respect that but above all, don't get pissed
> on - they need your money in order to survive and they know it.
> cb
I think we actually agree, for the most part.
My point was that a lack of service can be corrected by asking for it.
Ignoring "don't touch" signs and sending letters of complaint to the
local press is not a particularly constructive way to deal with not
being noticed.
If you're getting *poor* service you should ask to see the manager.
There's no excuse for staff to be impolite to customers, whatever
their age. But it does swing the other way... shop staff don't have to
tolerate impolite customers.
Abdul Tom
> I know where Ivor Mairants is off Oxford Street, though I've always found
> them a bit snobby. I'm also aware of the Acoustic Centre being in Wapping
> Hight Street, but where are the others ? I've got to go acoustic shopping
> next week and avoiding Denmark Street is high on the agenda.
>
> D.
Acoustic heaven advertises in the magazines a lot - I think they're
connected to the Resocentre. Try a websearch
Bundog
plectrum from them. Last time I went in, I had cash in my pocket for an
AVT275. As usual, get mugged by a sales assistant as soon as I went in. I
asked to try the amp then stood around waiting for the guitar to come back.
Then wen I got it fired up, they asked me to turn it down. Fair enough I
said, lets get it upstairs to the demo room. Er no, ah we er um..... its a
wee bit late in the day, he said. It was 4pm. Wise up I said I'm not
dropping 500 sheets on an amp I haven't heard properly at least once. He
just started at me like I was from mars. So I laughed and walked out.
By the sounds of it, you've had better times than I and good luck to you,
but as far as I'm concerned, Matchetts, Rea, Keys etc - all blow and are
FOS. I've a FAR better and more enjoyable time buying from Sounds Great in
Manc - friendly, professional; knowledgeable (imho) and honest staff. There
are others, but SG stands out for me: )
Cheers
PS why does everyone think that Denmark is the place to buy a guitar?
Stewart Ward
Norris <zup...@hotmail.com> writes
>I thought it was just me getting old and
>becoming a grumpy bastard (which admittadly I am) but obviously a lot of
>others feel the same way as I do.
Good old Spanish Anne Mellor! Never liked paying their bills either!
120/150 days waiting was not unusual!! Retired now.
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J A Sims
I go into any music shop, having researched via the phone what they
have. I pick up and play for a minute or two what they have. I then
tell the salesperson what I will pay for it in cash (do this at
the end of their financial month, as they want to up their figures)
and 7 times out of 10 you leave shop with what you want at your
price.
Good luck.
Julian the Second
--
Junior Mctavish Allstars
~~~
J A Sims
and who knows for an extra 50 quid adrian will spend the night
with you ;-))
Im sorry I couldnt resist, please forgive my twisted imagination.
Julian the Second
ps Adrian are you based here in Bath
In the referenced article, spag...@hotmail.com (Adrian Clark) writes:
>Mark Williams <mark.w...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>> The ability to make (un)complimentary comments in the trade
>> press might have something to do with it. Have you thought of
>> hiring yourself out as a guitar-shop-visit-accompanist? I would
>> have thought you would get a lot of takers for say Ł50 p.h. +
>> 25% of any saving off the price tag.
>
>Heh! Now there's an idea. And an extra Ł50 for me to say to my client,
>in an un-subtle stage whisper "this'll be perfect for our Music Shops of
>Britain feature"...
>
>
>Adrian
>
>
>--
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> SPAGHETTI |
> FACTORY-- | "If you can say it, you can play it" - Frank Zappa
Adrian Clark
> ps Adrian are you based here in Bath
No, I'm based here in Sutton...
icarusi
> Id been travelling for 48 hours and to be honest looked at bit
of a mess and
> hadnt had much sleep. I arrived at A1 around friday lunchtime,
the shop was
> empty and I asked Ann if I could try the guitar. She flatly
refused as again
> they were "too busy".
I think in Manchester latterdays there seems to have built up
more of a tradition of folks legging it from shops with gear, so
if you did look a bit destitute, you might not have been given
the benefit. I've never had problems in any music shop apart from
one in Sheffield where the guy refused to talk to me about some
gear (in the shop, which they sold), insisting I should buy a 50%
more expensive equivalent item. I walked. It was in the early
70's. I think he was on drugs. It's never happened since.
I'm not surprised you got sorted at Chase, they were the original
music gear 'cost cutters' and published their cut prices. While
the other shops might do a deal, they didn't publish anything but
RRP. Chase eventually got frozen out from the name suppliers, but
did get other brands (and their own) which weren't so well known.
Mark Williams
"J A Sims" wrote in message >
> and who knows for an extra 50 quid adrian will spend the night
> with you ;-))
Uh-oh, who knows where this might end............
> ps Adrian are you based here in Bath
Careful Adrian. don't answer that one......
... too bad. You did already
Mick Norris
> I think in Manchester latterdays there seems to have built up
> more of a tradition of folks legging it from shops with gear, so
> if you did look a bit destitute, you might not have been given
> the benefit.
Havnt been to Manchester in years now, I guess it shows how things have
changed, Its almost unbelievable that punters would actually leg it down
oxford street with a les paul under their arm !
>Chase eventually got frozen out from the name suppliers, but
> did get other brands (and their own) which weren't so well known.
I always remember the asian guy who was behind chase, always wore long
flowing robes, big long beard and carried around a bloody great sword. From
what I remember they had here own brand keyboards which were OK. Anyone know
if theyre still actually trading ?
mick
Fred X
> <snip>
> Anyone recommend somewhere who actually gives a dam
>
If you're in the north west anytime, go and have a look in Jones Music in
Macclesfield, I've been buying stuff from there for the past 15 years or so
cos the service is good. One time I went in for a Marshall VS100, it was
late on a monday afternoon and someone was upstairs having a guitar lesson
so I couldn't really crank it up, they said take it to rehearsals, try it,
if you like it come in and pay us, if it doesn't suit you just fetch it
back, can't say fairer than that!
cheers
Fred
Steve Robinson
>
> Rather than argue I walked out and decided to have a look around
manchester,
> I went into chase musicians and found the exact same guitar around £200
> cheaper who also threw in lots of goodies.
Ah Chase - I bought my first proper guitar (a Gibson) from them in the 70s
when they went under the name "London Synthesizer Centre". They did seem to
have the best deals around and were relatively OK with me trying stuff out
IIRC.
Steve
icarusi
> I always remember the asian guy who was behind chase, always
wore long
> flowing robes, big long beard and carried around a bloody great
sword. From
> what I remember they had here own brand keyboards which were
OK. Anyone know
> if theyre still actually trading ?
IIRC they're sikhs (sp?) and their sign is a sikh symbol. The
shop was there last time I was near Oldham Street, but it might
be different owners.
Adrian Clark
> > ps Adrian are you based here in Bath
>
> Careful Adrian. don't answer that one......
>
>
>
> ... too bad. You did already
Who are all these people sitting outside my house?
Andy Brooke
news:602G9.9304$XN5.1205972@wards...
I was in Manchester around a month ago and was looking for Chases after some
bloke I was talking to at a ZZ Top gig recommended I go there. It appears
to have closed down though - the shutters were down and there was no sign of
life.
Andy
icarusi
news:asbi9k$g41$1...@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > IIRC they're sikhs (sp?) and their sign is a sikh symbol. The
> > shop was there last time I was near Oldham Street, but it
might
> > be different owners.
>
> I was in Manchester around a month ago and was looking for
Chases after some
> bloke I was talking to at a ZZ Top gig recommended I go there.
It appears
> to have closed down though - the shutters were down and there
was no sign of
> life.
It becomes a slightly scary metal shuttered canyon there around
closing time. I'll have to make an effort to go there next time
I'm in M/c. There and Tib St. are more like the old Manchester
which used to have warrens of little streets and shops before the
Arndale was built. IIRC Kevin Godley's (or Graham Gouldman's?)
folks used to have a second hand/music shop in that area
pre-Arndale.
Henry Lockwood
> wore long
> > flowing robes, big long beard and carried around a bloody great
> sword. From
> > what I remember they had here own brand keyboards which were
> OK. Anyone know
> > if theyre still actually trading ?
>
> IIRC they're sikhs (sp?) and their sign is a sikh symbol. The
> shop was there last time I was near Oldham Street, but it might
> be different owners.
Asian and big bloody sword would tend to imply Sikh, particularly if it's a
broad blade and slightly curved. Turban and robes are other things...
JNugent
|| Andy Brooke <an...@nopingwinspam.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
[re: "Chase Musicians"]
|||| IIRC they're sikhs (sp?) and their sign is a sikh symbol. The
|||| shop was there last time I was near Oldham Street, but it
|||| might be different owners.
||| I was in Manchester around a month ago and was looking for Chases
||| after some bloke I was talking to at a ZZ Top gig recommended I go
||| there. It appears to have closed down though - the shutters were
||| down and there was no sign of life.
|| It becomes a slightly scary metal shuttered canyon there around
|| closing time. I'll have to make an effort to go there next time
|| I'm in M/c. There and Tib St. are more like the old Manchester
|| which used to have warrens of little streets and shops before the
|| Arndale was built. IIRC Kevin Godley's (or Graham Gouldman's?)
|| folks used to have a second hand/music shop in that area
|| pre-Arndale.
Would that have been Higham's?
Not sure whether Brian Higham (one-time manager of Barratt's) was related
or not.
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Blue
wrote
A little late adding to the thread, but just wanted to put in a vote
for Micro Music in liverpool - very helpful people, sold me my first
electric with lots of help and advice and let me try as many guitars
as I wanted, even though I'm female and could play maybe 2 whole
chords, answered all my basic and stupid beginner questions and
devoted a good 2 hours personal service exclusively to me.
I went back there earlier this year looking for a Tanglewood
electro-acoustic and they were equally helpful and courteous.
They don't have a huge stock of guitars, but all of them are more or
less in tune and hung safely on walls and not stacked ten deep or tied
up with string for "security" like other places I could mention.
Nice place.
Blue
Paul Simpson
news:snnnvu4j956v6gcl6...@4ax.com...
Hear hear! A *fantastic* music shop.
I used to live just around the corner from them and when a mate of mine was
interested in buying an Epiphone LP they let him *take it home* so he could
try it through his own (unusual) amp - service or what?
I've used them loads of times and Wide Dave is a kind of unofficial employee
there - he's in there loads and he even sold a guitar for them once when the
rest of the staff were serving customers :-)
--
Paul Simpson
www.psimpson.net
"You can't read a PDF in the bath." - Mike Whitaker on the importance of
printed manuals in ukmg
PeteS @ Work
Paul Simpson wrote
> I've used them loads of times and Wide Dave is a kind of unofficial
> employee there - he's in there loads and he even sold a guitar for
> them once when the rest of the staff were serving customers :-)
SCOOP : Go on, its a lovely instrument, feel the quality
FEMALE CUSTOMER :It does feel lovely in the hands
SCOOP : You can have it for 200 quid, its a steal
FEMALE CUSTOMER : Wow, that great thanks a lot, its lovely
SCOOP : Hey no problem, my pleasure
*FEMALE CUSTOMER LEAVES SHOP*
SHOP BLOKE : Scoop, that instrument was £600 list-price !!!
SCOOP : Yeah, but did you see her ti ..............
I'll get my coat.
PeteS
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