Tokalo Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 I had to take my 10-year old out for several hours today, to allow my wife some study time. He plays trombone (grade 2), and is curious about other brass instruments. So I took him up to London to visit the Yamaha shop (it’s the only brass store open on a Sunday that we could get to). Knowing we wouldn’t be purchasing, I was a bit sheepish about asking if he could play their Bb/F trombone. But they were SO helpful and welcoming. Not only did he play the £1400 trombone, they positively encouraged him to try a French Horn and a Tenor Horn. This weekend, it seems they’ve been having an event, so they also offered him a free 30-minute music lesson. We went downstairs to the guitar section and he was taught a few chords and, erm, Smoke on the Water (he plays it on trombone in his band) Meanwhile, I had time to try out a couple of basses, including a 5-string that has made me reconsider whether I should only have 4s. And an upright electric which has confirmed that I definitely shouldn’t go there. All in all, a great experience! 20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo85 Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 I went a couple of times. Last time the staff seemed almost uninterested in concluding a sale ("...or you can buy online it may be easier", something like that). I suspect Yamaha sees that shop - which is quite magnificent compared to the Denmark street shops - more as a way to support the brand than a way of making money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 I think it would be impossible for that shop to make money, given the location, the size, and the fact that it's a musical instruments shop, so I'm certain you're right, it's part of their overall marketing strategy, a cost rather than an income stream. I bought a bass from them online in 2020, a very pleasant experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokalo Posted October 9, 2023 Author Share Posted October 9, 2023 Yes, definitely not normal retail. A handy addition to my list of “Free Things to do in London”, though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Yeah it's a good shop, or I suppose more a 'flagship showroom' as others have said - it's seems too good (size, space, location, low/no pressure sales) to be a profitable shop. I played a £4,400 BBNE2 (Nathan East signature BB) and was completely left alone with it and a few other similar priced Basses to try out. I thought that was very trusting of them, not for theft but it'd be very easy to give it a scrape or dent without a strap. They didn't seem to give it a glance once I'd finished. Good selection of keyboards to try too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 I've been in there a lot over the years, going back to when it was Chappells. Maybe because of the whole flagship thing, when they do a Sale they do it properly and you get som real bargains ... assuming of course that you're interested in what's in the Sale. 🙄 More to the point, don't let the general swankiness of the showroom prevent you from making an offer; it's not awfully awfully English but don't ask = don't get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 On 10/10/2023 at 11:59, SumOne said: Yeah it's a good shop, or I suppose more a 'flagship showroom' as others have said - it's seems too good (size, space, location, low/no pressure sales) to be a profitable shop. I played a £4,400 BBNE2 (Nathan East signature BB) and was completely left alone with it and a few other similar priced Basses to try out. I thought that was very trusting of them, not for theft but it'd be very easy to give it a scrape or dent without a strap. They didn't seem to give it a glance once I'd finished. Good selection of keyboards to try too. Maybe they would have been more concerned if you'd bashed one their £150k 'keyboards'! 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 35 minutes ago, TimR said: Maybe they would have been more concerned if you'd bashed one their £150k 'keyboards'! 😆 I think I've been focussing on Basses too much as just had a look at their other stuff available, it makes a £4k Bass look cheap: Grand Piano £150k Bassoon £25k Saxaphone £11k Vibraphone £10k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cairobill Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Yup, I've played that Nathan East BB. Amazing instrument! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokalo Posted October 11, 2023 Author Share Posted October 11, 2023 2 hours ago, SumOne said: I think I've been focussing on Basses too much as just had a look at their other stuff available, it makes a £4k Bass look cheap: Grand Piano £150k Bassoon £25k Saxaphone £11k Vibraphone £10k As we were leaving, one member of staff said “have you been upstairs and tried the concert grands?” Now, I’m not a particularly scruffy guy, but I’m sure I don’t give off the air of someone who can afford £150k for a joanna. It was a bit surreal that they were so encouraging. I also played the Nathan East, not realising what it was nor how much it cost. What a delicious experience! Up till then, the best bass I’ve played was my Sandberg Electra VS4. How do I get it out of my head now?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 44 minutes ago, Tokalo said: How do I get it out of my head now?! Job done Yamaha showroom 👍 All joking aside, everything Yamaha do is 100% better than the competition 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthorpey Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 I visited the store a few years ago after convincing myself I needed a 5 string. Really chilled staff who seemed genuinely happy to help. On the back wall was a brand new old stock Attitude LTD II that apparently "no one ever looks at 'cos the attitude 3 is right next to it." I'd have been happy to pay the price on the ticket but the lovely chap said if I bought it he'd knock a big chunk off the price. So I did. They didn't have the case for it so they gave me a really good gig bag to take it home in. I didn't even notice that it had been autographed until I got it home. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 On 13/10/2023 at 07:01, cthorpey said: I didn't even notice that it had been autographed until I got it home. So long as it wasn't Gene Simmons you should be ok. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 7 minutes ago, Downunderwonder said: So long as it wasn't Gene Simmons you should be ok. Probably Carol Kaye... 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 Did Yamaha used to have a concession shop upstairs in Harrods before the Chappells merger / buy out? They used to let you noodle about on their gear even then. I only ever bought strings from there but they had decent staff from what I remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 This place? https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/ Looks lime a great place to kill a couple of hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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