🚀 go-pugleaf

> >I'm looking for some recomendations for Musical Equipments 
> >(Amps/Speakers/etc) stores in/around Austin.
> >I'm trying to avoid having to run all over town, so please do send me 
> >any/all your opinions.
> 
> For a town that bills itself as the live music capital of the world,
> its music stores sure do stink!  If you want to do some shopping at
> some stores with real selection and good prices, the sad truth is that
> you must make a trek up to Dallas to Guitar Center or Brook Mays pro
> shop.
> In Austin, I've been pointed to Musicmakers on Lamar just south of
> Barton Springs road.  I've been there numerous times, but have left
> frustrated over their selection and the attitude/aptitude of their
> staff.  They do have a fair amount of PA gear and a fair selection of
> guitar amps.  
> Another place to check out is Strait Music on 5th St.  Their selection
> is worse, but their staff is a bit more professional. 

I must disagree - I've been impressed by a few places, having been all
over Austin looking at guitars, bass guitars, and questing for the
absolute best possible deal on a high-end drum kit.  I'm also extremely
opposed to Guitar Center and their ilk.. they're the Wal-Mart of good
music stores. 

If you're going all the way to the Metroplex, stop in at Guitar Mart on
North Beach in Fort Worth, a vintage guitar store specilizing in used
gear.. they've got some very unique stock, and are more than happy to
accept trade-ins.  They've also got an incredibly competent amp-tech.
Zoo music would be my next choice.. after that, it's inflated prices,
mediocre stock, and the hard-sell pitch or pawn shop-hopping.

Though I've only been here a couple months, Resurrection Guitars on
Guadalupe has great staff, a wide selection of high-quality instruments,
and low, low amp prices.. not so much on the small stuff - those prices
are pretty stable everywhere.  I've never seen names like Trace Elliot,
Ampeg, and Laney marked so low, though.  Wish they had more Mesa.. that'd
push them over the top.  
Be sure to check out the Godin electro-acoustic if you do go there.. it
was $1250 when I played it.  I don't know how firm their guitar prices
are, however.  
And if you had gone a few blocks further South on Lamar, past Music
Makers, you would have seen two much more credible places a few blocks
apart on the right - I liked the farther one better, tho.. right past a
muffler shop. 

For drums, hit Just Drums on 183 across from the Dell outlet, then take
that price to The Drum Connection on N. Lamar and let them beat it.  If
you're a hardass, take that price right back to Steve at Just Drums.  We
didn't go that far, though, since Just Drums had the model we wanted on
the floor, a big advantage over 2-week mail-order, even though TDC was
willing to pay for shipping and still beat the price.  Both have very
competent staff, though Just Drums seems to have a more casual feel with
plenty of professionalism to back it up.. you might try stopping in when
Mike is working if you have any questions.

Tommy's Drums is well-established, but seems comfortable charging out the
ass.. this seems to be common practice with most Guitar-Center-like places
with regard to their drums.  They load up on cheap, cheap crap - the
truckloads of Strats and particle-board drum shells, and charge ridiculous
amounts for the *really* good stuff. 

These places get all excited about their Alembic rack and put four-digit
tags on 'em..  While every music store has its quota of 'filler' like
that, just to have something for the budding 12-year-old's budget, I've
seen some quality stuff here in Austin for good prices.

If you're thinking *custom* stuff, that's a different post entirely..
there are some incredible luthiers in town, and Mike, mentioned above,
makes custom drums from god..

Hope this helps.. I'll check out the place on 5th you mentioned above.

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