Belfast Guitar Emporium. Still open?

bat boy

Their website seems to be gone and phone number ain't working. Anyone from up there know what the story is, has it shut down?

Chuffola

Phone was answered when I called yesterday. Looks like rumours of it's demise have been greatly exaggerated

sh1tin-a-brick

i heard it was having a closing down sale weeks ago. My friend bought some stuff up there. I dunno though, I tried their site too and it's gone

Chuffola

Yes, it appears they have now gone. It all happened quite quickly - to my knowledge there wasn't a closing down sale (certainly not advertised as such.)

Rumours are that its being taken over by Music Matters (a store in Lisburn) - never been in it.

The Guitar Emporium was a nice idea - high end gear - but destined for trouble given its target market was quite small. Not too many of us can afford £2k - £3k guitars. Pity though, had some nice stuff.

Ah well, there's still Bairds which is, quite clearly, the greatest guitar store in the world with real, honest-to-god musos who aren't just hitting puberty. Great for second hand gear, nice selection of amps and import Japanese Tokais.

darrenw5094

Chuffola wrote: »

Yes, it appears they have now gone. It all happened quite quickly - to my knowledge there wasn't a closing down sale (certainly not advertised as such.)

Rumours are that its being taken over by Music Matters (a store in Lisburn) - never been in it.

The Guitar Emporium was a nice idea - high end gear - but destined for trouble given its target market was quite small. Not too many of us can afford £2k - £3k guitars. Pity though, had some nice stuff.

Ah well, there's still Bairds which is, quite clearly, the greatest guitar store in the world with real, honest-to-god musos who aren't just hitting puberty. Great for second hand gear, nice selection of amps and import Japanese Tokais.

Where is Bairds?? Do you work there?

Chuffola

Ah, I wish I did - so much better than working for a Bank.

No, I just think its a great store. Its on York Road - just off the M3/ M2 motorway in Belfast. Not that well known, except to those in the know. Been there for decades - great old school vibe and nice stuff with decent second hand equipment (which is hard to find in Belfast, let me tell you).

Bairds Sound Systems - do a search on google. I'm not even on commission!

Gaspode

Chuffola wrote: »

No, I just think its a great store.

Crap website though , why even bother.

Chuffola

Like I said... old school!

But the web site does list up to date secondhand stock, which is a bonus. Anyway, if you want a website - go to GAK. A decent guitar store should be an Aladdin's Cave of treats that you stumble upon. In my opinion, anyway...

tokaitelejohn

Yep, the emporium is closed. Was in yesterday in the 'new' shop which has replaced it - Music Matters. They also have a shop in Lisburn.
All the high end gear has gone too - the wall is mainly full of G&L Tributes and there's no amps worth speaking of. I am sorry for the guys who lost their jobs - always found them very friendly and helpful, not like in many musis stores. Can concur with the remarks on Bairds. Nice people to deal with too.

Taxpayer

Would suggest that you shop at Mattchets in Belfast or Music Galleria in Lisburn. Bairds are mostly hire.

Chuffola

Yea, mostly hire apart from the 40-50 guitars on the walls, dozens of amps, basses, pedals ...

Taxpayer

Chuffola wrote: »

Yea, mostly hire apart from the 40-50 guitars on the walls, dozens of amps, basses, pedals ...

Fair enough, it's six months since I was there in fairness.

I would still recommend Matchetts tho...