So this morning I decided to drive back to my home town to get three of my guitars set up before next weeks get together with my old band mates from school ( it's been 10 years since we all got together ). And to surprise they have closed down, I've been going there for 15 years since I was 13. This got me thinking what makes a good music store. The owner Rick was great, very knowledgeable, honest, great customer service and always set my guitars up perfectly. Most of all I trusted him with my gear. So I am now looking for a new place that services amps and guitars. So guys what do you look for in your local shop?

Dangars, what makes a music store great, is all of the personal service that you describe above.  Unfortunately, there are very few of them left.  The catalogue sales companies and big chains are making it really hard for these kind of stores to compete.  The low prices that they are able to run, make it hard for the good stores to stay in business. 

This is a dual edged sword for you and I.  We get lower priced instruments, but often, don't get the service and personal relationship that we would like.  I am as guilty as the next man, when it comes time to buy, I will look for the best deal, often on line. 

There is a small mom and pop store in Irving, Texas that I try to stop at when ever I pass through.  I know it is n't much, but I try to at least by strings and smaller items that I need there to keep some business flowing there way.  They have a guitar technician that is really good and I bring all of my pro set ups and pick up changes to him as well.  If I don't do it myself.

Many of the big chains locally do not have a luthier on staff nor do they have an electronics tech on staff..... they contract it all out. 

One does have " a guy who comes in on Tuesdays and Thursdays"...as if that helps....


Best to ask some musicians where they get their gear serviced.  You will probably have to find one or two of those little hole in the wall shops with the door around the back tucked under a stairway where the guy working there looks like a hermit and has guitars in various states of repair jigged up around the shop. 

We only have a big chain store in Basingstoke, there's also one in Reading the guys are okay in there but are only interested in making that sale. I think Rick was surviving on repairs and servicing and the store rent just keeps going up, the local council is killing local businesses. The hall we hire for karate has just gone up by another £2 an hour.