Melodeon.net Forums

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Welcome to the new melodeon.net forum

Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Down

Author Topic: The Music Room - Closing down  (Read 13727 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

James Fitton

  • Regular debater
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 168
    • Earthquakers
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #20 on: December 09, 2016, 09:05:34 AM »


Another sad voice here. My very first melodeon was bought from the music room in Cleckheaton - the old smaller shop, where the melodeons were in an Aladdin's Cave upstairs. I think I must have tried every one in the shop before settling on a Dino Baffetti Black Pearl, which is still going strong over 20 years on. I bought my Oakwood model II from Squeezy in the Oxford shop - I tried it without, then, having heard of their reputation, but fell in love with it there and then, and bought it, without really being able to afford it. I've never regretted it, and I'd never have bought it without having happened to try it. And I've since bought countless musical odds and ends when passing Cleckheaton, often things I didn't know existed. That's the joy of a real shop, just like a real bookshop, or a real anything shop.


But if such places are to survive, it's essentially in all of our hands, pretty much literally. If we want our high streets to have thriving independent shops, we have to go into them, and give them money for stuff. If we went specialist independent shops, we have to be willing to travel to them, even if all that is less convenient than clicking online. So, if  I'm to put my money where my mouth is, where else is there? Who are the other physical shop-retaining melodeon sellers, and how do we sustain them?
Logged
melodeons, English concertina, PA - ceilidh and dance tune composer

https://soundcloud.com/user-803726952
www.earthquakers.org.uk

rees

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4734
  • Windjammer
    • Wesson Accordions
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #21 on: December 09, 2016, 09:34:07 AM »

Have no fear, the cocktail parties will continue  :|glug :|glug :|glug
Logged
Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
Gungrog, Welshpool, Wales, UK
www.melodeons.com

Theo

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13727
  • Hohner Club Too
    • The Box Place
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #22 on: December 09, 2016, 09:52:39 AM »


But if such places are to survive, it's essentially in all of our hands, pretty much literally. If we want our high streets to have thriving independent shops, we have to go into them, and give them money for stuff. If we went specialist independent shops, we have to be willing to travel to them, even if all that is less convenient than clicking online. So, if  I'm to put my money where my mouth is, where else is there? Who are the other physical shop-retaining melodeon sellers, and how do we sustain them?

Hobgoblin still have a network of high street shops, and there are individuals who work from home but usually have a small stock of instruments available to try.

The main thing I remember about going to the Cleckie shop, or before that the place in Leeds was being supplied with tea or coffee and time to try out as many instruments as I wanted to.
Very sorry to see them go.
Logged
Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

Proprietor of The Box Place for melodeon and concertina sales and service.
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for stock updates.

playandteach

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3521
  • Currently a music teacher in a high school.
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #23 on: December 09, 2016, 09:59:44 AM »

I've not bought an instrument from them, but I have spent an entire day there when first considering the change to melodeon from piano accordion.
There wasn't a hint of pressure, and although I did buy in the future elsewhere, it wasn't a 'try it out in the shop, buy it online' cynical move, but just a desire to support a maker (Serafini in this case) directly - and it wasn't an option from the Music Room.
I do feel it's a loss. I did try several times to contact them in the last few months with regard to buying an instrument, but didn't get any replies - I suspect the damage was done by then.
I have to say, I've had the same positive experience at a Hobgoblin shop in London. But then again all I bought were whistles (not cheap ones).
I wish the staff rapid re-employment.
Logged
Serafini R2D2 GC, Serafini GC accs 18 bass

Caroline

  • Regular debater
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 191
    • carolineshipsey.co.uk
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #24 on: December 09, 2016, 11:32:41 AM »

Have no fear, the cocktail parties will continue  :|glug :|glug :|glug
Phew thats a relief  (:) (:) (:)
Logged

Bill Young

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1140
  • Paolo Soprani BCC#
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #25 on: December 09, 2016, 12:32:47 PM »

I enjoyed my infrequent visits to the Oxford shop some years ago, and meeting Squeezy. Also had a good reception on my only visit to Cleckheaton. Unfortunately, this seems to be the changing face of retail. Music shops in Scotland have fallen like skittles in the last few years.
Logged

ACE

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 527
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #26 on: December 09, 2016, 01:34:39 PM »

Living on an island I find getting to a place to try an instrument a bit of a mission. But  while I was having a trip up to the frozen wastelands of the north I dropped in to their shop, very impressed and was also made very welcome. I purchased a box after a couple of hours trying and drinking tea. When I wanted another a few years later, I did not hesitate to order on the phone sight unseen and unplayed knowing that I could return the instrument if it did not suit me. (it did). I shall miss them but at the same time we do have some very good traders on this site that will fill the gap.
Logged
Saltarelle Horizon, Dino mini, Lachenal g/d anglo

Theo

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13727
  • Hohner Club Too
    • The Box Place
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #27 on: December 09, 2016, 01:43:24 PM »

[[ADMIN]]

I've removed two posts that speculated on the personal reasons behind the closure.   Please continue to discuss the closure, but no more personal stuff about the people behind the decision.  It's not our business.

Thank you,

Theo
Logged
Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

Proprietor of The Box Place for melodeon and concertina sales and service.
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for stock updates.

Dazbo

  • Mods and volunteers
  • Respected Sage
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 364
  • Danger MAD Here!
    • My YouTube Channel for melodeons, morris and folk in general
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #28 on: December 09, 2016, 01:55:45 PM »

The Music Room in Cleckheaton was where I bought my first melodeon (and others since) as well as gig bags, whistles, CDs, Videos and DVDs.  At one point in the mid 2000s I think I was going every month or so on bored saturday afternoons, playing boxes and being supplied with tea (i'd forgotten that till it was mentioned above).  Never any customer dissatisfaction from me.

It's also where one of the salesmen persuaded me to buy the first Spiers and Boden CD as it "that one there works in our Oxford shop" and they played English music (a very rare find in those days I can tell you).

Haven't been to the shop for a couple of years now but always loved their stalls at folk festivals and preferred them to Hobgoblin
Logged
Ciao Bellow

Darren

Julian S

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1546
  • D/G Pastourelle 2, Dony, Pokerwork, G/C Pariselle
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #29 on: December 09, 2016, 02:56:13 PM »

R.I.P. Music Room. Four misc. instruments here, plus bags, books etc etc courtesy of them. A favourite stop off for us on way to see friends and rellies ooop north, cuppa tea and lots of instruments to try, covet, and buy.
Yet more bad news this year. Now will it be a lament or the Cleckie Clackie Polka to compose in fond memory...

J
Logged
Old Bones Dance Band

Sue

  • Good talker
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 93
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #30 on: December 09, 2016, 05:56:48 PM »

It was the Oxford branch that I knew best.  Bill McKinnon was the one who talked me into trying the melodeon.  I couldn't really play at that stage so besides the cups of tea, and letting me try all the melodeons, he went round the shop playing the same tune on each melodeon so that I could hear what they sounded like.  I bought my first box there, a secondhand Lilly, at the time it seemed an enormous expense, and a big step into the unknown!
Logged
Oakwood D/G, Karel van der Leeuw D/G
G/D anglo concertina
CRY HAVOC MORRIS

gettabettabox

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 656
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #31 on: December 09, 2016, 06:46:28 PM »

I remember the two hour drive up to cleckheaton, did it quite a few times.
It's the "quest" you understand?!
Recall being interested in an original black double ray and cheekily asked if I could open it up!
They kindly allowed this, I saw an unmolested bank of shiny "H" reeds...and bought the box.
Great crowd.
Logged

smiley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 968
  • Folk music: it's not as bad as it sounds
    • a few sound clips
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #32 on: December 09, 2016, 10:02:23 PM »

And what about those 'Music Room' bags? Buying their backpack during my one & only visit to the Cleckie shop turned out to be a great investment. Amongst the milling throng at the Aussie National Folk Festival I've found the logo often gets recognised by other players interested in English music and we immediately have a conversation-starter. I guess they'll become a collector's item now.
Logged

JM

  • Member
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 39
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #33 on: December 09, 2016, 10:56:43 PM »

Being 15hrs by car from the nearest melodeon/accordion dealer, I've never been to an actual store.  Just thankful that the Button Box is my virtual neighborhood store, and their impeccable service.  Sad to hear that a store that has meant so much to so many of you had to end its run. 

While I have never had the chance to play-before-I-bought an instrument, I am very thankful to this group for continually showcasing the variety of instruments being produced.  This helped my decisions be much more informed.

JM
Logged

Thrupenny Bit

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6831
  • happily squeezing away in Devon
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #34 on: December 10, 2016, 09:04:09 AM »

JM - you remind me how lucky we are here in the UK with our access to instruments in a 'hands on' situation.
I've never been to the main shop but always caught up with them at festivals.
I think the reason we here are all so sad is that they -possibly - had the largest selection in one place, and a very big presence at festivals, hence a lot of us have bought goods from them.
That presence will be missed.
Q
Logged
Thrupenny Bit

I think I'm starting to get most of the notes in roughly the right order...... sometimes!

Schnorbitz

  • Regular debater
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 199
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #35 on: December 11, 2016, 07:17:24 PM »

Like many of the comment above, the Music Room at festivals was how I first got into the melodeon. I always found them patient and great to deal with. My first box was purchased (slightly drunkenly) at Towersey from them. I never went to the shop - it is too far - but always enjoyed bumping into them at festivals. Sad news indeed.
Logged

Rog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2295
  • Repair and tuning in Hants
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #36 on: December 15, 2016, 09:56:50 AM »

I bought my Dino and a lovely Hohner from them. Not sure now where one would get hands on a new Dino....

Joan Kureczka

  • Regular debater
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 157
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #37 on: December 16, 2016, 06:10:31 PM »

Like several others here, they were definitely how I got hooked. I'd been thinking about playing music again and wanted a portable instrument that didn't require a lot of fussing re tuning, etc. They started me off with my Excelsior Mini and then really hooked me a year later with the Oakwood Baffetti Super. Which is now possibly among the most traveled of melodeons, having gone from San Francisco to the UK and back with me a number of times. Missed them at Towersey last summer....
Logged
MAD: Oakwood Baffetti Super II, Loffet Pro, Oakwood 3-voice, Castagnari Sander, Salterelle Pastourelle II, Smythe "Flea," and a crazy blinged up Pokerwork

pipives

  • Respected Sage
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 254
    • Pip Ives
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #38 on: December 16, 2016, 09:54:12 PM »

They were (and still are) good friends of mine. They leave a large hole in the festival music traders scene and will be sorely missed.

Indeed they will. Although I'm employed within a similar line of trade I completely agree with you Rees
Logged
Faversham, Kent

Jonathan Arnett

  • Member
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 40
Re: The Music Room - Closing down
« Reply #39 on: January 25, 2017, 07:48:22 PM »

They were (and still are) good friends of mine. They leave a large hole in the festival music traders scene and will be sorely missed.

Indeed they will. Although I'm employed within a similar line of trade I completely agree with you Rees
Sad too. I didn't know they were in trouble. Went to the shop in September and resolved to go back when I had sold my Piano. This tool longer than I would have liked. Finally I was ready to buy something though still unsure what. The Sandpiper was high on the list. Nobody answering the phone and no website. I missed the boat. The two guys there were helpful and friendly and I had a good time that afternoon. Gutted.
Logged
Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Up
 


Melodeon.net - (c) Theo Gibb; Clive Williams 2010. The access and use of this website and forum featuring these terms and conditions constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions.
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal