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Long & McQuade
Categories: Shopping Musical Instruments & Teachers Shopping Electronics Musical Instruments & Teachers, Electronics [Edit]
925 Bloor St WToronto, ON M6H 1L5
Neighbourhood: Dufferin Grove
(416) 588-7886
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sat 9:30 am - 6 pm
Thu-Fri 9:30 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
12 reviews for Long & McQuade
Review Highlights
12 reviews in English
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Review from Brianna R.
Toronto, ON
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've had some bad experiences with Long and Mcquade in different cities around Canada. None of them can compare to this location.
Amazing and friendly staff -- extremely knowledgeable. Went to get a keyboard and I couldn't put the whole 20% down, put down 10% and let me come in 2 weeks to pay the other 10. That was really awesome of them.
Just every little thing they do is so much superior to every other long and mcquade around Canada... and they don't lie -- a bonus! -
Review from Eliah H.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2011
I've been a customer of L&M for about 15 years, having bought items from various departments. It's basically the other go to place for musical instruments and DJ gear in Toronto. The store is big and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They excel in band department (woodwinds, brass and similar), keyboards and guitars. A little less so in drums and bass guitar.
They often have blow out sales where you can pick up new and used gear for a significant discount. Just recently I picked up an effects pedal at $100 off. They also have a really good rental and finance center which I've partaken in a few times.
The only reason I give them 4 instead of 5 stars is that I had an issue with their guitar repair department where I had brought a bass guitar that I bought from Steve's that needed a neck correction/set up. I went to L&M first because they are much closer to where I live. Long story short they had told me my bass was toast and I needed to replace it if it was still under warranty. I was told the neck was cracked at some area and wasn't capable of a proper truss rod adjustment. So I took it to Steve's and they were able to get the bass sorted and working no problem. They said they couldn't find no evidence of a cracked neck and that apparently L&M "do not like working on guitars bought at Steve's." Well from going from a guitar that was headed to the garbage bin to something fully working like new with the proper adjustments I sided with Steve's on the whole issue.
At any rate, aside from that one experience, everything I've done with L&M has been positive and I recommend them as a musical instrument store. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2011
I am by no means a music store connoisseur, but this place has great staff w/ no mightier-than-thou attitudes - so important for someone who is a relative newbie to music.
Plus, I'm renting an instrument for $12/month. That's just three fancy coffees! -
Review from Tina H.
4/6/2011
I came here looking for computer speakers (or studio monitors) for my computer off the recommendation of a friendly guy at the Apple Store.
I thought Long & McQuade was only for people who make music but they have stuff for people who like to enjoy music too! They have a whole room dedicated to monitors, which are essentially high quality speakers you can hook up to laptops and mp3 players. Everything they had had great sound quality and I was only looking at entry level ones! The guy helping me was really patient, letting me listen to the different monitors all I wanted. Bring your own tunes, plug and play and then try to decide which of the many monitors you want to buy!
Everyone there seems to enjoy their job which makes me feel good about shopping at a place.
I ended up getting Fostex PM0.4n at $199 for the pair, which is $20 cheaper than at Moog. It also sounded better at L&M than at Moog. They also have the Rokit5 if you want those, also $20 cheaper than at Best Buy. Those were my second choice, only because they were too much for my small apartment. When I upgrade my apartment I'll upgrade my speakers to those!
A 1-year warranty is included with purchase. You can get an additional year (totalling 2 years) for an extra $10 (possibly more, if what you're buying is really expensive). They keep your info on file so no worries if you lose your receipt.
Awesome place if you're looking to upgrade your computer speakers! -
Review from Michelle C.
Toronto, ON
7/31/2010
I've purchased a guitar from a similar music store in Toronto and previous instruments from small stores around Ontario. While I'm no instrument purchasing expert, I can say that my experience with Long & McQuade was so painless that I just have to share it.
On a whim one day, I decided I might want to try the banjo. I had next to no idea how much a banjo would cost or if renting them would be an option while I tried it out (I had never even picked one up before). Since I was already on my way to Bloorcourt Market, I ducked into Long & McQuade to ask these questions. Approximately 20 minutes later I was out the door with my very own rental banjo.
The staff member, whose name I wish I remembered, quoted me $30 a month to rent the banjo (an Epiphone bluegrass banjo) and even grabbed a brand new one off of the shelf for me since they were all out of previously rented ones. He explained a really cool policy to me, which is that if I decided to buy the banjo I would get 60% of whatever I pay in rental fees off of the final price. They also took my credit card info down so that the payment could just keep coming out every month until I decided I wanted to return it. Not too much pressure for insurance or warranty stuff, next to no annoying upselling, and the application for the rental took no time.
I've called a few times to ask questions about this and that and while I don't usually get someone polite on the switchboard, everyone in acoustic guitars has been fantastic.
Today, I dealt with someone named Josh who walked me through the process of actually purchasing my banjo. Josh himself deserves a 5-star after thoroughly explaining all of my options and suggesting some cost saving things I could do. I walked away to think about it for a few hours and ended up calling later at which point he did the purchase for me over the phone in all of about 2 minutes.
I can't speak for any of the other departments (and there are a lot - electric guitars, drums, recording equipment, band instruments, etc.), but I can say that dealing with acoustic guitars has been awesome. They had mostly Gold Tone and Epiphone banjos and carry a few varieties including bluegrass, claw-hammer, tenor and banjitar. Of course they also had a tonne of acoustic guitars and other traditional and folk instruments, most of which were stocked in a range of prices which is always helpful.
Sure, it's not a cute mom and pop store but if you want what you want and you want it now - quick, painlessly and expertly, Long & McQuade is the place. -
Review from Gaurav S.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2009
When people talk about Toronto, and how our city distinguishes itself from other major metropolitan cities, the standard replies pop up: diversity, cultural events, types of restaurants and foods, cleanliness, health care, we're not American etc. etc. etc...
You know what REALLY separates us from the the rest of the world though?... Long & McQuade!!
Aside from being a music store that sells fantastic equipment (and has an awesome staff who are all super knowledgeable), L&M is also a music equipment RENTAL company. You can rent anything from DJ equipment, to guitars and keyboards, amplifiers, big party speakers, microphones and stands, random cables that only sound guys with long ponytails know about, they have EVERYTHING.
It really is an incredible service, and it's frickin CHEAP!! I would have to argue that Long & McQuade is one of the reasons that we actually get to experience so many types of music in Toronto. They are true enablers.
PS - You can't rent music equipment ANYWHERE in New York (no shots) :P -
Review from Kris S.
Fisherville, ON
8/3/2011
This is my favorite long and mcquade location. I generally find I like all the locations I have been to, but this one always seems to have way more selection and things in stock. I have made the nearly two hour drive on several occasions just to have some actual choice in selecting my new music gear. They have free customer parking in Toronto. The only confusing part is that the store is split in two, with a convenience store located between them. I feel that this works to their advantage, however, since if your there to look at guitars you don't have to hear some kid banging away on the drums, or vice versa. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable too.
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Review from cailen s.
Oakville, ON
4/4/2009
This definitely sets the standard for music store in Toronto. This location is basically 3 stores all rolled into one. There a separate section for guitars, with 2 floors and a separate keyboard section. It should definitely be your first stop for anything music related.
I should mention that the parking lot is super small so parking can be particularly gnarly. -
Review from Emily T.
Toronto, ON
11/18/2008
Knowing little about musical instruments beyond my 8th grade band days, I went to L & M in search of a guitar. I came out with an extensive array of information about many makes, models, and histories.
I had a very knowledgeable and friendly salesman who even serenaded me a few times and let me try out a couple of the acoustic guitars. (Not that I had any idea what I was doing but it was fun nonetheless!)
Long and McQuade has long been a supply shop for musicians. They contain every instrument imaginable to human. Long and McQuade is also the place to go for tune ups, quick fixes and instrumental advice. And if you know nothing, like me, you'll come out with a solid base of info and a great guitar!
The prices can range from moderately inexpensive to extremely pricey and this all depends on what you are looking for. Either way, the staff is very smart and honest in their opinions. -
Review from Catherine M.
ON
12/8/2008 1 photo
While I've only had the occasion to purchase anything at Long and McQuade one time (and it was a gift card for someone else). As someone with a passing (if somewhat lazy) hobby of playing guitar, I do stop in occasionally to peek around and see what they've got. One thing I love is that the staff is super helpful about answering questions, with a relatively low-pressure attitude, especially if you make it clear that you're just looking around. Now, I make no promises for when you get to the further stages of purchasing as I'm sure these guys work on commission and as such they could get a little heavier handed with the sales pressure. But hopefully they stay their own chill, chipper selves throughout the process.
The staff are also super knowledgeable about what they sell, and if they don't know an answer they will find a way to answer your question as quickly as possible, without bullshitting you about it. This may even extend to offering to call you back later or to give you a number and time to call when someone will be in who can let you know. They also seem to have a reasonable number of price points available on offer, and if you let them know what you're looking for I'm sure they can find something that works best for you, including payment arrangements/financing on larger priced items.
I've also heard from people who are in bands that this is the place to go for equipment rentals, although from what I understand they aren't giving the stuff away. But I guess you pay a price for quality? -
Review from Mike M.
Gooderham, ON
2/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Picked up a Dusk Tiger but had a great time shopping at their other 'stores' (adjacent buildings, each with a focus).
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Review from Andy O.
10/11/2010
i wanted to have them setup my cheap 2nd hand guitar that i recently bought which i knew was shitty but at least i wanted to get lower action. but the guy there told me about precisely the problems the guitar has (which i didn't know because i'm rather new to guitars and don't have a friend who could teach me about various build quality aspects) and that he wouldn't put any money into it.
now that's what i call great service. not simply taking my money and seeing what they can do but instead telling me what exactly is going on with the guitar and recommending to actually not spend around 55$ on it.
i guess they are aware how much quality service means because i'm pretty sure i will buy my next guitar there.
