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Woodwind Exchange
by paulhanton
Woodwind Exchange - Bradford
~~Bit of Background~~
My saxophone teacher told me about this place when I was looking to buy a vintage Alto Saxophone.
Woodwind Exchange is owned by Stuart MacDonald and staffed by himself and Linda Hudson.
Stuart is an accomplished musician in his own right and has ... played with many famous musicians as his website tells you.
His website also lists all the famous customers of his including people like Courtney Pine, Soweto Kinch (one of my favourites), 'Snake Davis' and many more.
This factory/workshop/testing shop/emporium is very much a saxophonists (and other wind instruments) dream.
~~Where is it, what is it?~~
The premises are in Bradford, West Yorkshire, situated in a side street, as a basement floor under a carpet shop.
When you walk in you are greeted by a small, clean foyer which has some glass cases full of instruments, this is where you pay and/or make enquiries. It is when you go past the door at the back of the foyer that the fun starts.
There is a long corridor with 'rooms' at intervals, all named after saxophonists, with various sax stands and music stands. Usually most of the rooms are occupied by people testing saxophones (or other instruments) and/or mouthpieces.
The sound as you walk up the corridor is fab, there are people in these rooms that range from beginners to World class players and the cacophony of sounds is fabulous, it sends a tingle down the spine.
Then to the right is the 'hub' of it all. An old sofa and racks and racks of instruments, cases, mouthpieces, reeds, screws etc., workbenches with vices, a backroom where he welds, organised chaos. This is not a clean, sanitised shop style environment, this is where he works and it is great.
~~~Services~~~
I am not going to replicate the information on his website so I will concentrate on what is not there (on the website).
His passion and knowledge:
If you go to try out a sax he will 'wheel' them out three or four at a time, give you all the time you need to try them, advise and discuss with you what your needs are. What he doesn't know just aint worth knowing for me. Linda is undoubtedly just as good it's just I have not had the same dealings with her as with Stuart.
When you do settle on an instrument he will give you a receipt, is happy to take it back after a few days if there are any 'niggles' that need sorting, and your first annual service is free. If you want a valuation certificate for insurance purposes he will provide that too.
I love the fact that you can talk to him safe in the knowledge that he knows and can steer you in the right direction. He does not try to talk you into anything and is happy for you to try out a myriad of things before settling on what is right for you.
~~Any disadvantages~~
Not many.
You will have to be patient, he is always busy and if he says something will be ready for 12 o'clock, count on it being 2pm.
You will have to accept that he aint cheap, but if you love music, love your instrument and love the personal service you get, it is well worth it.
I recently bought a mouthpiece from him that I could have gotten £30 cheaper online, but then I would never have tried it out first, or been advised by him, so for me it was worth it.
The final disadvantage I guess, is it is like being a kiddie in a sweet shop.....I always set a budget and always want (and usually get) more. If the credit crunch is affecting you, this place aint gonna help. Then, I do not skimp when it comes to music.
~~~Extra Information~~~
I love the fact that there are all these old instruments just lying around, big baritone saxes, Oboes, all sorts really. When I got my sax it actually had cobwebs in it.
The other thing I would say about this place, if Stuart aint got it in terms of instruments or accessories, ask and he will either get it for you or tell you where you can get it from.
~~~Finally~~~
If you like buying your bits and pieces online, this place aint for you, if you like a nice bright and sanitised shop with bustling attentive shop assistants that are there to sell to you, this place aint for you.
If you want to go somewhere where the instrument comes first and the knowledge is more important than the aesthetics and décor, where you can spend all day playing away and trying bits and pieces out. Here is where you go, I love the place.
There really are not too many places like this left these days and that is a real shame. I know Stuart wants to work one day less every year or so (Tuesday to Saturday now) and I really cannot fault him on that. Though I hope he continues to offer something, because he has so much to offer.
http://www.woodwindexchange.com/
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Musical Instrument Shops in Glasgow
by Joe1976
Like Edinburgh, the shops in Glasgow are dotted all over the city centre, but where ever you are, there is a music shop either round the corner or a stone's throw away.
I was always fond of Merchant City Music, where I had purchased a L.P Studio, and at a very reasonable price. Other shops I was a regular at, were, Sound ... Control, Biggars, McCormacks, The Guitar Store and the wee one just along from Central Station.
Although one or two of the shops will be very hesitant to let you play their instruments, (The Guitar Store being one), the rest would invite you to make as much noise as you like; McCormacks in particular, they have booths where you can take a guitar, close the door over and(providing you are not wearing a Jack Daniels belt buckle) sit for a good while and play till your hearts content.
This is good for those who want to be certain that paying 1200.00 pounds on a guitar is what they really want.
My next stop would be Sound Control, which has sadly closed due to tough competition from the Internet, out of 26 stores nationwide, only 10 have remained open.
The guys of Glasgow's Sound Control were good patter merchants and never pushed a sale on me, my first guitar I bought from the Jamaica St. store was a "1972 Telecaster Custom Re-issue", I had previously owned an "original" '72 Tele Custom, which, at the time I had to sell due to circumstance, in a good home, the chairman of Fender (Scotland), now owns it, nowadays they go from any where from 1500-3000 pound depending on the condition, I received 850.00 pounds.
I had a blonde one, a rarity because the colour was see through and trying to get an entire piece of Maple without imperfections is a bit of a task.
Sometimes the shop will have second hand pedals and multi effects in, unboxed and without instructions you can pick up some good bargains, so don't just head straight for the guitars, have a good look around.
Buying on-line is OK, although having the chance to put your hands on a guitar BEFORE you buy it, is always something I'd rather do and would advise.
As well as the music shops in Glasgow, you may find a bargain in Victor Morrison's, a shop that sells everything from decommissioned AK's to Akai guitar amps.
If you do decide to spend the day in Glasgow doing a bit of window shopping, wear good comfortable trainers and try and park in the Buchanan Galleries car park, I've already mentioned that the music shops are spread throughout the city and if you want to get round most of the stores, it will take a few hours of walking, take a friend along for good measure, especially one who can't really play that well, this way he will make you sound like Pete Townshend 8D
Happy hunting, and remember, wear as little in the way of zips, buttons and belts as possible as the owner will have a coronary if he sees you picking up a two grand guitar with all that metal.
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