Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Going into a guitar shop and not buying anything..


Recommended Posts

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!

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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! 

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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).

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.
 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...