skidder652003 Posted Sunday at 09:20 Share Posted Sunday at 09:20 Went into a cracking guitar shop in Ashburton, Devon yesterday and tried out a lovely overwater bass. They also had some rather nice Ukranian basses by the name of Woodstock that I'd not heard of before. Anyway TBH i had no intention of buying one but just fancied a go on something. The staff were great, very friendly. Anyhow I felt a bit guilty so ended up buying a couple of picks ( I know, miserly or what). Does anyone else feel a bit obliged to at least purchase something after trying a bass or guitar out? To be fair I've done that before in what was Mansons and ended up walking out with an Ampeg tube head! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted Sunday at 09:36 Share Posted Sunday at 09:36 In my last band we toured throughout the UK, and me and the guitarist would often seek out music shops if we had the time. Been in many where we’ve bought something just because we liked the shop - from a guitar tuner in a great shop in Truro and a gig bag in Epsom to a Strat in Barrow in Furness and a Fender Kingman bass in Guildford! There’s a shop I sometimes visit in Saltburn (Steven James Guitar and Amp Centre) which is next on my list. Great shop, won’t be able to go in again without buying something! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted Sunday at 09:58 Share Posted Sunday at 09:58 When I visit somewhere and there’s a music shop I’ll usually nip in and buy something, even if I only spend a fiver. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obrienp Posted Sunday at 10:01 Share Posted Sunday at 10:01 I think the very existence of physical musical instrument shops needs to supported. I always try to buy something when I go into them. It’s a super tough market for them and they are competing with the online box shifters who don’t have the same overheads (sorry for restating the blindingly obvious). 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted Sunday at 10:03 Share Posted Sunday at 10:03 There’s a joke in my family that wherever we go on holiday (UK or abroad) I’ll find a guitar shop. And yes, I’ll usually buy something, more so these days with so many high street retailers closing down. But it’s usually strings or the like. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJWW Posted Sunday at 10:21 Share Posted Sunday at 10:21 Funny this post appeared this morning- my daughter and I popped into Fairdeal music in Brum yesterday on our way home from shopping with, as above, no intention of buying anything. They really do have a great range of basses these days and I've been blown away by their customer service on two previous occasions so I really want to support their continued existence in any way I can. We tried out a few really nice basses and I felt genuinely guilty walking out without buying anything. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted Sunday at 10:34 Share Posted Sunday at 10:34 There's an old joke about musician that passed by a pub (or a music store). But not to buy anything sounds like an illness of some kind which has nothing to do with money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonK Posted Sunday at 10:42 Share Posted Sunday at 10:42 I went to Leiden on a work trip earlier this year and found "Guitars and Beans" which I thought was an awesome idea - coffee shop plus guitar shop. I ended up staying for a couple hours, bought lots of coffee (and some picks!) and every now and then tried out a different instrument. I'm suprised more guitar shops are not explictly trying this business model. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted Sunday at 10:55 Share Posted Sunday at 10:55 I used to regularly stop off in DV247 Romford and pmt when I was over that area, DV were really good they would let you play any bass and just leave you to it, I’m not sure if it’s still there, in pmt the sales assistant would stay with you and try to sell you something which I didn’t like, I don’t go in there anymore 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted Sunday at 11:26 Share Posted Sunday at 11:26 Everywhere I go, if there's a music shop (new or second hand), I go in just to see what they have in stock, but most of the time I simply take a look as it's too often "misery at delirious prices" exposed. I bought my Ibanez Jazz Guitar while on holiday in France (Lille, near the Belgian border) some 20 years ago, because it was the kind of guitar I was after and the team was very sympathetic (the vintage D'Angelico they had in stock was amazing, but a tad bit out of budget 🤪 ). I also came back from Italy (Sienna, Tuscany) with a rare EBS active box in the trunk of the car and had some nice talking with the team. If there's something interesting, I'll buy it, if there's nothing, I'll simply get out ... and my wife always gets in with me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted Sunday at 12:06 Share Posted Sunday at 12:06 If I’m in a music shop and they happen to stock Elixir strings then I’ll pick up a spare set, though this isn’t often, many don’t stock them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted Sunday at 12:21 Share Posted Sunday at 12:21 1 hour ago, SimonK said: I went to Leiden on a work trip earlier this year and found "Guitars and Beans" which I thought was an awesome idea - coffee shop plus guitar shop. I ended up staying for a couple hours, bought lots of coffee (and some picks!) and every now and then tried out a different instrument. I'm suprised more guitar shops are not explictly trying this business model. I think this approach works well and I've seen a few examples in the UK. I visited York recently and there's a small venue/bar with a guitar shop above (accessed via stairs at the back of bar). I'll try to find the name - a great place to drop-in for a coffee/beer and a browse. There's also Gibson Music in Ashton-under-Lyne just outside Manchester. Some good stock, often quite quirky, and a cafe at the rear of the shop 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonK Posted Sunday at 12:31 Share Posted Sunday at 12:31 5 minutes ago, three said: I think this approach works well and I've seen a few examples in the UK. I visited York recently and there's a small venue/bar with a guitar shop above (accessed via stairs at the back of bar). I'll try to find the name - a great place to drop-in for a coffee/beer and a browse. There's also Gibson Music in Ashton-under-Lyne just outside Manchester. Some good stock, often quite quirky, and a cafe at the rear of the shop I think this is a great model and possibly the future for music shops - good enough to consider as a potential retirement plan/quirky hobby! The place in Leiden was about two thirds coffee shop and one third music shop, yet almost everyone in there were musicians, many students working/hanging out, and the guy was probably turning a reasonable profit on the coffee, pastries & critically I imagine loyalty of people who felt that it was much better to buy coffee from him out of principle compared to Starbucks. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted Sunday at 12:49 Share Posted Sunday at 12:49 At the rehearsal studio we use - Mill Hill - their reception is basic music shop & basic cafe. I always try to get there 30mins before rehearsal time so I can have a coffee and a Mars Bar, plus a look at what they’re selling. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted Sunday at 13:34 Share Posted Sunday at 13:34 These days, I'll only enter a music shop with the intention to buy, but I do remember the guilty feeling when using up their time when I was only preparing for a future purchase, like gathering info and hands-on experience. Guilt for wanting to buy there! Oversensitive youth! That said, different shops spawn different characters, and I once annoyed a shop-owner very much when not purchasing the OSCar synth I'd tried, and instead buying a Fostex 4-track that I hadn't tried ... I was less experienced back then, and he managed to induce guilt in me. Or I managed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted Sunday at 14:43 Share Posted Sunday at 14:43 I very rarely go into a musical instrument store these days, as I have decided to thin the herd rather than adding to it. With only a couple of years or so of playing, I am unlikely to buy a guitar or bass now, as I have what I need. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted Sunday at 14:49 Share Posted Sunday at 14:49 I 'm thinking, or more probably hoping, that a new sort of music shop is starting to grow. Of all places Chard in Somerset has a new guitar and music shop, The Somerset Music Academy. They even have a few basses including a rather nice Highway One jazz bass at the moment. Do I need two? They do sell guitars and all sorts but also offer repairs and set ups and as the name implies guitar tuition. It's actually so successful that there is a waiting time for tuition and they are about to move to bigger premises. The guys that run it all went to school together and were the product of a terrific music department at the local school. Why funding for the art education is so important. With bigger towns like Exeter, Taunton and Yeovil losing long established music shops they are closing down faster than the pubs. I reckon this mixed model is going to be the one that succeeds. The teaching and repairs pay the bills and keep a regular turnover. The students also become customers and the business is also helping local bands and venues, not for profit but for love of music and this in turn creates an ecosystem in which we can all thrive. In the meantime people are driving from Exeter and the other towns to visit a proper music shop instead of my regular trips to Mansons. @skidder652003 we might be your nearest shop before long. https://www.somersetmusicacademy.co.uk/s/shop 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted Sunday at 14:56 Share Posted Sunday at 14:56 My local store, Absolute Music have closed their Cafe. Strange they have students in all day and I often used to spend a spare half hour there. Sadly despite its size, the selection is limited with the choice being as many Fender basses in various guises. So now pop into Guitar Mania, close by and a proper old style music shop. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted Sunday at 15:13 Share Posted Sunday at 15:13 8 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said: My local store, Absolute Music have closed their Cafe. Strange they have students in all day and I often used to spend a spare half hour there. Sadly despite its size, the selection is limited with the choice being as many Fender basses in various guises. So now pop into Guitar Mania, close by and a proper old style music shop. I was trying to think which shop with a cafe we'd been to in your area, and that's it! Nice shop, always used to be a lot of younger musos in the cafe, waiting for lessons maybe? Shame it's closed that part of the business. Used to be a great cafe in a music shop in Halifax which we always visited when playing there, think it was called Guitar Zone? Also Woods Music on Manningham Lane in Bradford had a decent small cafe, sadly now gone completely. Going back in time even further, I seem to remember going in what I think was the Fender Soundhouse on London's Tottenham Court Road and seeing a cafe in there? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted Sunday at 15:33 Share Posted Sunday at 15:33 To a jaunt to Rockbottom in Croydon with my Son a Saturday Haunt of mine, and took ages by bus, all around the houses. Son had a go on a 12 string guitar as they were not busy. We came out with a £20 Pitch-Theremin-Thing... pucker noises to channel ya Jimmy Page or Hawkwind-esq Screams and Waveries... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homatron Posted Sunday at 16:28 Share Posted Sunday at 16:28 5 hours ago, SimonK said: I went to Leiden on a work trip earlier this year and found "Guitars and Beans" which I thought was an awesome idea - coffee shop plus guitar shop. I ended up staying for a couple hours, bought lots of coffee (and some picks!) and every now and then tried out a different instrument. I'm suprised more guitar shops are not explictly trying this business model. This appears to be a successful model in the world of cycling too. @skidder652003 posting here has made me aware of a shop 30 mins down the road I had never heard of, so it's not all about what you buy! Hoping I can find an excuse to end up in Ashburton soon... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted Monday at 07:09 Author Share Posted Monday at 07:09 16 hours ago, Phil Starr said: I 'm thinking, or more probably hoping, that a new sort of music shop is starting to grow. Of all places Chard in Somerset has a new guitar and music shop, The Somerset Music Academy. They even have a few basses including a rather nice Highway One jazz bass at the moment. Do I need two? They do sell guitars and all sorts but also offer repairs and set ups and as the name implies guitar tuition. It's actually so successful that there is a waiting time for tuition and they are about to move to bigger premises. The guys that run it all went to school together and were the product of a terrific music department at the local school. Why funding for the art education is so important. With bigger towns like Exeter, Taunton and Yeovil losing long established music shops they are closing down faster than the pubs. I reckon this mixed model is going to be the one that succeeds. The teaching and repairs pay the bills and keep a regular turnover. The students also become customers and the business is also helping local bands and venues, not for profit but for love of music and this in turn creates an ecosystem in which we can all thrive. In the meantime people are driving from Exeter and the other towns to visit a proper music shop instead of my regular trips to Mansons. @skidder652003 we might be your nearest shop before long. https://www.somersetmusicacademy.co.uk/s/shop Hi Phil Mansons has gone but its still a guitar shop, now specialising in rather good second hand gear. https://lifeguitars.co.uk/blogs/news/a-new-era-life-guitars-mansons 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamLeeds Posted Monday at 07:58 Share Posted Monday at 07:58 19 hours ago, three said: I think this approach works well and I've seen a few examples in the UK. I visited York recently and there's a small venue/bar with a guitar shop above (accessed via stairs at the back of bar). I'll try to find the name - a great place to drop-in for a coffee/beer and a browse. There's also Gibson Music in Ashton-under-Lyne just outside Manchester. Some good stock, often quite quirky, and a cafe at the rear of the shop Northern Guitars in Leeds? Great place with loads of good live music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted Monday at 08:02 Share Posted Monday at 08:02 There was a time when guitar shops were also a place just to hang around. I can't imagine how much popular music has been influenced by people hanging out on Denmark Street, for example. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted Monday at 08:03 Share Posted Monday at 08:03 52 minutes ago, skidder652003 said: Hi Phil Mansons has gone but its still a guitar shop, now specialising in rather good second hand gear. https://lifeguitars.co.uk/blogs/news/a-new-era-life-guitars-mansons That's brilliant news Steve, I'll be more willing to go on shopping trips to Exeter then 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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