Good service and the employees there are so nice and they helped me pick out a good Xmas gift but…read morethe amp selection is kind of small

I ordered a Fender Jazzmaster Elemental in black from Matchetts, as no one else in the UK had any…read moreleft. Not even Fender (Fender still don't). This is due to them being a limited run. When I ordered the guitar, I had an email confirming my order. I also had an email saying they would be in contact with me every step of the way. Only they didn't. I rang up 2 days later to ask if it had been dispatched yet, as I had heard nothing from them. It turned out it had. When the guitar was delivered, it was damaged. There was a crack in the finish between the control knobs. I thought about having it refinished. So I plugged it in and it played really nicely. Unfortunately, on closer inspection the volume knob was bent and the tone control was severely crackling when using it. So I emailed Matchetts and told them I wanted to send it back. I sent them videos of the damage. Matchetts said they could send me the same guitar in white, as they had no black ones left in stock. I decided to return it. They agreed to have the guitar collected and I could have a refund. They thought the body might be cracked due to the damage in the video I sent. I cancelled my over time and waited at home all day for Parcel Force to turn up. They didn't. I rang Matchetts again and arranged for the damaged guitar to be collected from my neighbour. Again Parcel Force did not turn up. Matchetts said they had turned up and neither myself or my neighbour were in on either occasion. However we both were. We also both have iRing doorbells. So every time some comes down the drive, the doorbell records it and the motion sensor alerts your phone. Funnily enough, the doorbell worked on the night I had off, as Amazon made a delivery and it acknowledged they were there and the doorbell rang out when they pressed it. I made the shop aware of this. I rang the store again, they suggested for Parcel Force to pick it up again. I told them I had already lost £150 through cancelling my over time, would they pay if I got it delivered. They agreed they would cover the whole cost. So I went to the Post Office, and they weighed the guitar to be sent by Parcel Force. They asked me the value of the item, I told them and they charged me around £45 for it. That same day I sent a copy of the receipt to the guitar store with the tracking number. A few days later the guitar had been delivered to Matchetts and I had one email saying they had issued a refund for the guitar, and another saying they wouldn't refund me for the full cost of the guitar shipping. This was apparently because I had unknowingly paid extra for insurance to cover the guitar in case damage was done to the guitar in transit. If more damage had occurred in transit to the guitar, that would be deducted from my guitar refund (see their website for returns procedure). So they refunded me around £15. I didn't argue, because I can't make them do something they don't want to do. Even when they break a promise about covering the whole cost of the shipping. All of the communication throughout this ordeal was always instigated by me. They returned my calls 2 out of 3 times and seemed very disinterested about what had happened. Or about getting the guitar back as soon as possible, so they could refund my money. Unfortunately I don't have over £1100 to just throw away. But they didn't seem to care. So as well as the dissatisfaction of their service and losing £180. It has been the worst experience I have ever had buying guitars online. I have been buying guitars online for around 20 years. Funnily enough, they now have a the same black guitar in stock on their website for the same price I paid. Fender still don't have it in stock. So it's interesting how they managed to get a new one when the manufacturer can't, to put one their own website. I'd be wary of using this shop if I was you. I definitely won't be. The service, broken promises and loss of money was more than enough to put me off. Especially as receiving a new guitar is generally a brilliant experience. But then they made it even worse. I did a review on Google and they lied by saying they had given me tracking numbers and all the documentation for the pick up of the guitar, on both occasions. They did not. I would seriously avoid this company.

Many, many times through my life I've always wanted to be better at guitar. I got to the glorious…read morestage where I can string a tune together, barely, and I've been happily there pretending I'm a pro for a long time. Whenever the mood strikes I tend to go for lessons to up my skill. This usually lasts for one lesson and nothing changed with the Brian Keenan Centre. Not to say anything was wrong here. The dude who taught me was fantastic and if I gave it a proper go and practised a lot, I would keep coming. I went to a group lesson which I think cost around £10. I find it better to learn in groups and it was a good experience. I'd recommend it.

This is a great Guitar shop on the trendy Lisburn Road area of Belfast. The shop sells guitars of…read moreevery variety and the prices a reasonable too (especially at the minute as there's a sale on). The unique thing about Brian Keenans is that He offers guitar lessons either with a group or one on one. Prices are good at £35 per hour for a one on one session or £120 for four so all you budding guitarists could soon be rocking along to your favourite music!

These rooms are exactly what they state to be. As far as I could see there are at least three rooms…read morededicated to the mighty axe. One room appears to be for lessons or for people to just sit and chill with their mighty instrument. The other room is the home to all the guitars - they hang proudly from Neil's (the guy behind the counter and owner i think) wall like trophies and he knows everything about each of them. I was inquiring about how much an average guitar costs, the brands and make to go for and order/delivery times - seriously Neil knows his stuff! If I decided some day to learn to play myself I now know where to go for friendly and very accurate advice. Cheers Neil - loving your wee shop!

Guitar shops can scare me a bit but the fact that here I actually picked one up and almost, but…read moredidn't dare, play it must tell you something good about the atmosphere in the shop. The enthusiasm for guitars is infectious and I came closer that ever to starting to play one again after dabbling years ago just for a bit of fun and relaxation. The problem is how far would the noise go down with the neighbours? Then there's the step to take of buying a guitar. On display there was an impressive selection of Fenders et al but advice is forthcoming for the more modest guitar purchase requirements as they can source any sort of guitar. It also caught my attention that the recent official opening was carried out by Arlo Guthrie, son of Woody Guthrie, one of Bob Dylan's main influences - no doubt that was an evening to remember. One of the better shop experiences I've had in a while by far - big applause!

Music Matters is a large music shop in Lisburn. Upstairs you can find a large selection of pianos…read morethat they let play on and try out in your own time. They are competitively priced and I decided to order my piano through them. However, delivery took a bit longer than I was let to believe when I ordered, which I found very disappointing.

This a great little family run business. Closed for business on a sunday however so lets just hope…read moreall of your musical needs are completely met on the Lords day. My Dad bought me my first guitar here when I was a boy and I've gone back there ever since. They are just so nice inside and not intimidating when trying some of the instruments or products, they don't stand over you watching. I have been in other music shops in Belfast and sometimes you have to wait five minutes for someone to even bother asking you if you need any help. Their prices are much of a muchness with what you would expect but they add that little bit extra with customer service I feel (an aspect many other music shops in Belfast unfortunately lack. I'll for sure be shopping there for my next set of strings or a new pedal. Enjoy!!!

I must say to start that I suck at playing music. When I had my brief foray into the world of…read moreplaying guitar it sounded like a an animal being castrated. Not good for anyone involved! The only instrument I have ever played with any level of proficiency was the recorder in old primary school plays. Fortunately for my family, my sister is far more musically proficient, which leads me to reviewing Belfast music! My sister is about to complete her Grade 8 on the violin, so she must be doing something right! In order to do it though she needed some sheet music and violin equipment that Matchett's didn't have, which is the usual haunt when it comes to musical equipment in our house. Belfast Music had everything I needed to get for my sister in stock at prices almost as good as online stores which was a big plus! They have a huge range of instruments from guitars and violins to trombones and saxophones. Their staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and are only too willing to help you out! The shop is large and well presented, and makes me wish I had the skill to be able to play music rather than just listen, but it's better for us all that I fight this temptation!