Sawadee Khrup, TV CM Friends,

It's always a pleasure to share a positive experience with a local business, or service.

Two months ago, after visiting three music stores, I finally found a classical guitar I really liked at the shop of Khun Pheunnuk, on the third floor of Kad Suan Kaew; he was most helpful. He had an LAG Occitania 300CE cut-away classical at a very reasonable price: if you want to drool: http://usa.lagguitars.com/occitania/300/classical-cutaway-electro-cutaway-electro-red-cedar-p446984/ That guitar is made in China based on designs and collaboration with a long-time French luthier; I was surprised to realize later that the electronics (built-in pick-ups, pre-amp) are licensed from Shadow, a high-quality firm.

While Khun Pheunnuk (as expected in any music store here) was not willing to bargain "Thai style," with some effort I persuaded him to throw in a free XLR cable, and to give me a discount on a hard-shell case. I might have bought an amplifier from him, but he did not, then, carry maker/models I wanted.

While the shop in Airport Plaza 3rd. floor has always been friendly and helpful to me, they did not carry a guitar, or amp, I wanted. I purchased a guitar from them many years ago, and Khun Oh, who worked there (he's now down the same floor near the entrance to Robinson running the Yamaha piano shop), who is a luthier, has done several excellent small repairs and re-set-ups on a guitar for me, over the years.

This month looked for a small amplifier for a classical guitar; two music stores I visited (not Khun Pheunneuk's shop, and not the shop on 3rd. floor Airport Plaza) reacted to my presence with all the interest and helpfulness, one might expect a dead fish to get on being found on one's front door one morning

My first-time visit to Music Collection on the third floor of Central Festival was a very happy experience; they made me feel welcome, set up the Fishman amp I fancied for me to try/play with one of their nylon-string guitars with built-in pick-ups. After a few days, I decided to buy the Fishman LoudBox Mini I had tried, and, since they sold the one they had in stock that I tried, they took a small deposit, and ordered another one from Bangkok. It arrived one-week to the day, as promised.

So, I hope it gives you pleasure to hear that three local music shops treated a weird-looking old farang with the kind of basic courtesy you might like to enjoy. Perhaps, because you probably have fewer scars, and, perhaps, fit the profile of someone who might actually buy something, you will get even better

The range of guitars that Music Collection (part of a nation-wide large chain) has is impressive, and it is, imho, quite remarkable that the guitars being made in China these days are offering tonal quality, playability, and build (wood, fit, finish) quality, at prices that are half, or more than half, of what you might have paid ten years ago to get equivalent quality.

cheers, ~o:37;

Glad to hear positive experiences in Chiang Mai music stores!

Sorry to bump this old thread, but can anyone recommend a second-hand music store?

 

I'm looking to buy a bass and 200w amp, but I don;t want to throw too much money away on them.