Our Toronto trip

Twangthang · March 8th, 2008, 07:58 PM

My wife is from TO and we make the trip pretty regularly... She has lately taken up guitar and gotten me more and more back into playing...
My in-laws have an old acoustic on hand and since we both were jonesing to play we decided to make the excuse of needing some strings to take in a few music stores...
We ended up at Long and Mcquade... Nice shop on Bloor... They basically have a whole building to themselves... Nice stuff and so unlike a Guitar Center... Quiet! Good prices and selection. I was able to try a load of stuff with no pressure. I got to try a Spelted Maple Telecaster.. interesting to say the least... My wife tried a 62 re-issue Strat and now was on a mission to try a 50's Strat.
In the mean time I have been wanting to try a Reverend guitar and after checking the net found a shop that deals in Reverend. Capsule Music on Queen St.
We stopped by and really had a great time trying out all manner of guitars...
Great shop... Very laid back and they have a great selection of guitars. If you are heading up to TO I highly reccomend them.
http://www.capsulemusic.com/
As far as Reverends I am impressed...
We leave Toronto tomorrow or Monday. I always love coming here!

I hope I can make it out of here before my GAS gets the better of me!

amp boy · March 8th, 2008, 08:07 PM

i actually live on block north of that L&M.
Capsule Rules !!!!
if you leave on monday go here :
http://www.12fret.com

Geoff738 · March 8th, 2008, 09:10 PM

And, you could also try Moog Audio on Queen near Spadina. They mostly sell dj gear, but they've also started selling some boutique amps, like suhr, Matamp and Savage. Not a great setup though for trying stuff out - only one guitar, for example. they're also just down the street from Steve's, and I think both are open on Sundays. Just thought I'd throw that out there because I don't think it's all that well known that they sell guitar stuff. They have a decent selection of pedals as well.

12th Fret, as already mentioned, is worth a visit, although off the beaten track.

Enjoy the rest of your stay. Sorry 'bout the weather.

Cheers,
Geoff

teleman65 · March 8th, 2008, 09:10 PM

You were able to get around despite the snow? I'm snowed in this weekend.
12th fret is a decent shop. If you take the subway go to Woodbine Station and walk east on Danforth. Too bad Songbird went under. They had a good shop.
You might like Ring Music at Harbord and Spadina.

mildwild · March 8th, 2008, 09:51 PM

Capsule is a cool store as most all their stock is old gutitars .

For new guitars I like the Guitar Shop in in Mississauga.

shades · March 9th, 2008, 07:14 AM

My son and some friends have been in Toronto for spring break.
Judging from his emails they have had a great time.
My five bucks says that they will be back again.

amp boy · March 9th, 2008, 09:21 PM

actually just go to The House of Guitars in Rochester, that place kicks a lot of arse in comparison to a majority of music shops.

Twangthang · March 10th, 2008, 08:30 AM

Well it's Monday and we are home in NY... I spent all afternoon Saturday downtown with my other passion... beer.
Love Steam Whistle! That's two on the list of things to do in TO... Capsule and tour Steam Whistle brewery
http://www.steamwhistle.ca/
The rest of Saturday was spent shoveling and playing in the snow...
It was quite a storm! but the TTC was running and there were people out everywhere... If that snow hit LI we would have rolled up the streets and declared a state of emergency!
We will be in town next month and will be sure to check out the shops everyone mentioned.

casterway · March 10th, 2008, 09:25 AM

I feel so sorry for all the Americans that have to put up with the GC experience.
Long and McQuade is the greatest.

teleman65 · March 10th, 2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casterway

I feel so sorry for all the Americans that have to put up with the GC experience.
Long and McQuade is the greatest.

I've dealt with L&M for decades but I have to say that my limited experience at GC hasn't been bad. I've read some GC "horror" stories and they sound like L&M or Steve's on a bad day.

casterway · March 10th, 2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleman65

I've dealt with L&M for decades but I have to say that my limited experience at GC hasn't been bad. I've read some GC "horror" stories and they sound like L&M or Steve's on a bad day.

I went to 2 GC's last fall, and couldn't get out fast enough. Unbelievable racket. I haven't seen a L&M that didn't have a soundproof amp room, and the encouragement for people to use them.

March 8th, 2008, 07:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Twangthang TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 54	Our Toronto trip My wife is from TO and we make the trip pretty regularly... She has lately taken up guitar and gotten me more and more back into playing... My in-laws have an old acoustic on hand and since we both were jonesing to play we decided to make the excuse of needing some strings to take in a few music stores... We ended up at Long and Mcquade... Nice shop on Bloor... They basically have a whole building to themselves... Nice stuff and so unlike a Guitar Center... Quiet! Good prices and selection. I was able to try a load of stuff with no pressure. I got to try a Spelted Maple Telecaster.. interesting to say the least... My wife tried a 62 re-issue Strat and now was on a mission to try a 50's Strat. In the mean time I have been wanting to try a Reverend guitar and after checking the net found a shop that deals in Reverend. Capsule Music on Queen St. We stopped by and really had a great time trying out all manner of guitars... Great shop... Very laid back and they have a great selection of guitars. If you are heading up to TO I highly reccomend them. http://www.capsulemusic.com/ As far as Reverends I am impressed... We leave Toronto tomorrow or Monday. I always love coming here! I hope I can make it out of here before my GAS gets the better of me!

March 8th, 2008, 08:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
amp boy Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: toronto, Canada Age: 27 Posts: 330 4 Photos	i actually live on block north of that L&M. Capsule Rules !!!! if you leave on monday go here : http://www.12fret.com __________________ I'm kinda like class act simplicity with a raw edge that can rip out yer bones.

March 9th, 2008, 07:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
shades Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pittsburgh,Pa. Age: 51 Posts: 1,172 8 Photos	My son and some friends have been in Toronto for spring break. Judging from his emails they have had a great time. My five bucks says that they will be back again. __________________ A.S.N.F.

March 9th, 2008, 09:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
amp boy Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: toronto, Canada Age: 27 Posts: 330 4 Photos	actually just go to The House of Guitars in Rochester, that place kicks a lot of arse in comparison to a majority of music shops. __________________ I'm kinda like class act simplicity with a raw edge that can rip out yer bones.

March 10th, 2008, 09:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,676	I feel so sorry for all the Americans that have to put up with the GC experience. Long and McQuade is the greatest. __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.

March 8th, 2008, 09:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Geoff738 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 44 Posts: 370	And, you could also try Moog Audio on Queen near Spadina. They mostly sell dj gear, but they've also started selling some boutique amps, like suhr, Matamp and Savage. Not a great setup though for trying stuff out - only one guitar, for example. they're also just down the street from Steve's, and I think both are open on Sundays. Just thought I'd throw that out there because I don't think it's all that well known that they sell guitar stuff. They have a decent selection of pedals as well. 12th Fret, as already mentioned, is worth a visit, although off the beaten track. Enjoy the rest of your stay. Sorry 'bout the weather. Cheers, Geoff

March 8th, 2008, 09:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
mildwild Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 435 52 Photos	Capsule is a cool store as most all their stock is old gutitars . For new guitars I like the Guitar Shop in in Mississauga.

March 10th, 2008, 08:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Twangthang TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 54	Well it's Monday and we are home in NY... I spent all afternoon Saturday downtown with my other passion... beer. Love Steam Whistle! That's two on the list of things to do in TO... Capsule and tour Steam Whistle brewery http://www.steamwhistle.ca/ The rest of Saturday was spent shoveling and playing in the snow... It was quite a storm! but the TTC was running and there were people out everywhere... If that snow hit LI we would have rolled up the streets and declared a state of emergency! We will be in town next month and will be sure to check out the shops everyone mentioned.