For Canadians only (and Winnipeg-ites particularly)

[shamann]

I've never had great experiences at the L&M Bloor shop. Really hard finding a staff member who isn't a dickhead (except up in the violin shop. Lovely folk there). It is big, which is nice for selection, but would be helpful if they had a map. Go into the guitar shop and ask where keyboards are. Again I refer to the dickhead factor.

[dystonia_ek]

Ummm.. speaking of Canada and breakcore... just thought I'd plug my mate's record label. It can be found at http://www.heresmycardrecords.com.
It's all pretty wrong stuff.. breakcore, jungle + a bit of evil metal.. and all the releases are on credit card sized CDs

Just checked the label out... Nice concept, amusingly explained. Some good tunes too.

[pough]

I keep forgetting that Ward was bought out by L&M. I only ever go to the Granville and 7th one. It's closer to me and I have some friends that work there. If you see a 7-foot tall man behind the counter, tell him Josh says hi. Actually, don't bother. I'll probably see him on Wednesday at the Coppertank where he plays covers and originals on acoustic... Hi Mr. Tunes. Hope you're enjoying Vancouver while you're here!

[Mr. Tunes]

I've never had great experiences at the L&M Bloor shop. Really hard finding a staff member who isn't a dickhead (except up in the violin shop. Lovely folk there).

that's odd i've found the keyboard dpt. to be really nice and they never used to judge me when i was a really young teen (and not help me cause i was young).

the guitar store, yes they can be really weird!

[Mr. Tunes]

Hi Mr. Tunes. Hope you're enjoying Vancouver while you're here!

hi pough! the Ward Music location is basically a sheet music emporium. granville has way better selection on synths et al.

[Morgaxx]

I have found guitar depts, in general, to have a more "we're to cool for school" attitude than say the orchestral types. One place that drives me nuts is Steves music here. Its too busy and they are too cool, though it seems they have a much better keys dept than L&M right now. I enjoy myself at a place called Songbird Music(?). Its a cool little store (no 'tude) and they often have old synths (cs80's and the like). Not far from them is a tiny tiny place called Capsule...something... Kinda like a junk/antique store filled with guitars and no 'tude at all (no cs80s though.) Overall L&M seems fairly painless.

[Mr. Tunes]

I have found guitar depts, in general, to have a more "we're to cool for school" attitude than say the orchestral types. One place that drives me nuts is Steves music here. Its too busy and they are too cool, though it seems they have a much better keys dept than L&M right now. I enjoy myself at a place called Songbird Music(?). Its a cool little store (no 'tude) and they often have old synths (cs80's and the like). Not far from them is a tiny tiny place called Capsule...something... Kinda like a junk/antique store filled with guitars and no 'tude at all (no cs80s though.) Overall L&M seems fairly painless.

Im with ya buddy on that post. 100 %. Steve's is the sore spot for toronto music stores. i have a funny story about this place. during the summer i needed a quick guitar pedal thing to add to my live rig so insteaded renting anything i decided to buy this 100 dollar behringer V-Amp with a mod pedal. used to be a big zoom fan for the cheap effects but this one was really dirt cheap for what i needed it for.

so my trusty friends at Steve's are checking me out and this avril livigne skater punk clerk looks at the guy punching in the behringer and she says "oh that thing's such a cheap piece of shit". i say to myself "jeez i know it's a piece of shit im buying it cause its cheap and steve's is the only store carrying it in the area". it was the worst encounter in music sales i have ever been involved in.

Songbird is definitely cool. i have more of an affinity for real vintage synths now i would appreciate it more than i did last year. there is a guitar store near there that is wicked. all these vintage guits, basses and i think some rhodes type stuff.

historically though Saved By Technology is famous for setting up a lot of toronto studios. they are fairly nice there and it is nice to see great gear packed into a tiny spot like they do. weekends you cant move though. the bloor long and mcquade is nicer because they blow a lot of stuff out for cheap prices.
yeah we're really off-topic here sorry for hijacking the thread but it's some quality time with canadians here eh.

[Morgaxx]

Yes, sorry for the derailment...

Perhaps the vintage store is Capsule? It is close to Songbird and fits your description.

Mmmmmm...Saved By Technology...the most fun I ever had from walking down a back alley. Definately a good store for the types of folks that visit this site.

Your Avril Livigne encounter seems about right. They always have some skater girlz stuck in that glass booth. I figure once a year someone from Steves lurks infront of one of the many skater shops down there, waiting for a lone Avril to walk out. Before she knows it shes been hit on the head with a pointy Ibanez bass, and wakes up in that glass booth. There she will stay for a year, trapped until she is worn out, only to be replaced...