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Steve's Music Store
Categories: Shopping Musical Instruments & Teachers Event Planning & Services DJs Musical Instruments & Teachers, DJs [Edit]
415 Queen St WToronto, ON M5V 2A5
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Queen Street West, Downtown Core
(416) 593-8888
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 9:30 am - 7 pm
Thu-Fri 9:30 am - 9 pm
Sat 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Steve's Music Store
15 reviews in English
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Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
4/11/2012
Great place to purchase and service your instruments. The sales people are generally helpful and EXTREMELY knowledgable. They are pretty honest too. The brands for electrics are diverse. The bass selection could be better. Drums are a bit limited, but this might be a good place to start if you're a beginner. There is a room dedicated to acoustics and classicals. The selection is pretty solid.
The service is what keeps me coming back. They perfectly fixed 2 guitars. One was beyond repair but they restored it with new parts. And another had incomprehensible electric problem, but they found the issue and fixed it! Another store gave up and charged me a lot. But the cost at Steve's seems pretty decent.
And I had to drop off a pedal since it made weird interferences. They wanted me to play a guitar with the pedal on to see the problem. But somehow, the pedal's issue wasn't replicated at Steve's. But they waited patiently for the issue to appear. For about 30 minutes. In the end it didn't. But they wanted to have a look at it anyways. They had it for 2-3 days and they couldn't find a problem. And they didn't charge me! Instead they suggested bringing the amp. Turns out the amp had a faulty connection! They fixed it for me at an awesome price.
What's not to like about Steve's? -
Review from Tara A.
4/6/2012
I have to admit, I'm not a musician.. (pause for gasp) so to be writing a review about a store who's sole focus is to satisfy the musical orgasms, musically talented people crave, seems a bit far fetched for me... But alas, it's not. You see, I go to this store with the sole purpose of finding something to make the BF happy.. Whether it's a music book or a few interesting picks or even a mandolin once, I've always found something unique.
A few months ago, I accidentally broke a guitar... it was an accident but alas, it has been weight heavy on me... so off I went to Steve's music to find something that would make the BF equally as happy. What I found, was the banjo section. I knew he'd be impressed with a banjo... but I wasn't keen on buying him one that was manufactured in China.. I wanted a real american made, solid banjo. An incredibly helpful sales rep told me there was one he could ship to me from Montreal and I could have it in a week. I was impressed with the turn around and paid for it in full right then and there. I figured I would be back in a week to pick up this banjo and off I went...
WRONG.
I got a call personally from the sales rep who sold me the banjo with bad news. Someone in the MTL store mistakenly sold my banjo to someone else... and there wasn't another one that I could get in the turn around i needed. I was devastated and a little pissed to be frank but the sales rep assured me he would fix this hiccup... and fixing it is what he did. He got an even better banjo (from the same great company) and it came with all of the fix'ins, bag, strap, picks, and a DVD. Well all better things come at a greater cost than originally anticipated... but the manager agreed to pay the difference. (a $200 difference I might add) and with that, I was able to bring home a newer, nicer banjo than I ever would have expected. And all because of a sales rep who just gave a shit..
I will continue to go to Steve's Music moving forward for all of my BF's musical needs as they went far above and beyond to fix what could have been a real crappy situation. -
Review from Pierre D.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2011
I have been to Steve's in the past to pick up instruments and accessories in the past, but never for an instrument. Last weekend I went to pick out a new bass with a budget. It was really cool to see the selection they had - more than I had seen at any store before, with a wide range of styles and prices, from less than 200 to well in the thousands. Being on a budget, I had already done my research online and had a pretty good idea what I was going in to get, narrowed down to 2-3 different models.
After checking them out, I got staff (who was always around but never pushy, letting me check things out by myself as needed - a welcome quality when so many other shops get so pushy it's uncomfortable to shop there) to help me out, they showed me that they had the basic model I wanted (settled on a LTD Viper bass, I just wanted something simple to play at home). Turns out they had a more deluxe model than the one I was looking for for only $10 more than I was looking to spend - ka-ching!!!
Staff was very good at explaining the warranty, etc, so I felt confident in my purchase and the store I bought it from standing behind their product.
I would recommend this store to anyone looking for anything to make music happen! -
Review from Lauren M.
12/13/2011
After talking about it for nearly 3 years, I finally decided it was time to restring my guitar.
I popped into Steve's to grab a new set of strings. Staff were plentiful and very helpful/knowledgeable. Dude even gave me a youtube link I could watch if I needed a refresher video on restringing my acoustic.
I had to get the feck out before I left with a new guitar! They have a lot of guitars in there. (I had to keep reminding myself I'm not in high school anymore and I don't have 6 hours a day to mess about playing 4 different guitars in my basement).
The cashier set up is ridiculous. There are two girls sitting behind a glass booth in the middle of the store. You have to go around and they write up this really old school looking carbon copy receipt. Considering I was spending $6.99 on a set of strings, I thought this was a complete time-waster! -
Review from C L.
Toronto, ON
3/7/2012
This store is only a block away from my office, yet I avoid it despite being an avid guitar player. Most of the employees are kids who are more concerned with when their next smoke break is than helping you out. I go out of my way to Metro Sound on Yonge street, or drive out to Cosmo Music in Richmond Hill rather than go to Steve's and put up with the surly kids.
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Review from Malini D.
Toronto, ON
6/20/2011
Steve's in Toronto has some of the best staff that I've ever dealt with when it comes to music stores. I've been playing guitar for almost a decade and have visited my share of guitar shops, but this has to be the best one thus far. They give you freedom to look around, but should you need help, they'll gladly service you and will probably teach you a few new things about new guitar models, bands or special events going on in store.
The last time I bought a guitar from Steve's Toronto, I left with two new friends, and staff suggested bands (that ended up being awesome). This past week, I went in to research some 7 and 8 string guitars and once again met with incredibly helpful and supportive staff who were able to give me maintenance information and added a few new guitars on my list of equipment to try out. They seem to really want to find the right guitar for you, even when I said up front that I'm in no position to make a purchase at the moment. The jackass music staff you usually find in other music stores (like I found at Steve's Montreal, or some smaller shops...) won't be found here; the staff seem to check any egotistical aloofness at the door, and are actually really friendly!
As for the selection, obviously, it's a huge store. What they don't have on hand, you can order (usually with no obligation unless it's some obscure item), and they let you try out anything you're interested in. Great selection, and they always bring in new stuff to try out.
Most importantly for me though, being a female guitarist, I recommend this place wholeheartedly because of the staff's inviting and respectful nature. The people here take you seriously without any need to "prove yourself worthy". No looks of disdain, no sarcasm, and no bullshit. I have had nothing but good experiences from the friendly and informed staff.
tl;dr: Awesome selection, staff and service. -
Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
4/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Friends, you've got to help me! You must keep me away from this store. Failure in doing so will lead to my financial ruin!
Not that Steve's is a particularly expensive music store - much on the contrary, actually - but they have all the new toys on display. I work pretty close, but I can't plan to just come around during lunchtime because it would easily become a three-hour lunch.
Their guitar section is pretty complete, as is their drums room, DJ department, recording department and so on. You can test mostly everything they have - which should be a given on music stores, but there are a few that treat you like a kid in a museum. You can find mostly anything there, and they'll be happy to order it if they don't have it.
This brings me to the staff. Differently from, say, Long&McQuade, people here really know what they're talking about - and you get the added bonus that they're not dressed like accountants. I've never had a bad experience with them; I actually managed to get a few good tips regarding microphones and assorted studio equipment.
Steve's is basically my go-to place to buy music equipment, even after cross-checking prices on the intertubes. There's nothing not to love here, really. -
Review from Eliah H.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been going to Steve's on and off for about 15 years. They are probably the second largest musical instrument store in Toronto. Though Steve's has a variety of musical departments what they are known for are guitars and drums. Many a rock band have passed through Steve's, their rock heritage is strong in T.O.
Yeah so guitars...Holy crap they got a lot of guitars! From floor to ceiling; bass, regular electric and acoustic. I must have herd "Crazy Train" and "Enter Sandman" a half gazillion times walkin through the store over the years. Huge amp and guitar pedal effects selection too. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and are willing to suffer any wide eyed teen who walks in and asks "Hey man I want to sound like that guy from Slipknot!"
Their drum department is also pretty legend, it takes up a whole upper level of the store. They also have a pretty decent keyboard department as well as the odd DJ related equipment. Steve's band instrument department is pretty weak over all, I think it's just a side novelty department. You might find a horn here to your liking but really these kind of instruments are not what Steve's built their reputation on.
As for prices, they aint the cheapest in T.O. Time to time you'll find stuff on sale though and there is good deals to be had their. Word of advice, their website only has a portion of what they actually have in stock.
All in all I recommend Steve's. Especially if you wanna rock out. -
Review from ness y.
Toronto, ON
12/23/2008
I'm not particularly versed in music stores, but i've been to a fair share while looking for a gift for a musically talented friend. steve's has a huge assortment compared to other stores i browsed. everything (instruments, books, etc) looks hands-on, as though experimenting is encouraged. grrrrrrreat!
EXCEPT. as a musical-know-nothing-friend, i don't want to try-it-and-buy-it. i want a sales person to help me, please!
there were staff "available", but i had to approach (and interrupt their conversation amongst themselves) before anyone even seemed to notice me. and then, musical snobbery was felt. when i finally broke down explicitly that "I AM A MUSICAL DUMMY", they finally treated me like a customer (instead of challenging and sussing out my worthiness of the gift i planned to buy).
this store makes me want to become more musically-inclined, but it also intimidates me from trying. -
Review from Bryan T.
Toronto, ON
3/30/2011
The staff here is friendly, and generally offer helpful advice. The inventory is nothing too exciting-- no interesting vintage instruments; the place is mostly stocked with lower end instruments from the major manufacturers. On weekends, prepare for the place to be very crowded, with lots of teenage guys plugging guitars into high gain amps and wailing out some metal riffs.
I dislike the general vibe of distrust in this store-- which must emanate from management. For example, when you purchase something (e.g. a guitar pick) the transaction is processed by the person behind the counter, and you then bring your receipt over to a second person behind a GLASS CASE, who inputs something into a computer and stamps the receipt, at which point you return to person 1 to collect your wares and exit the store. To my knowledge, this is the only shop that processes sales transactions in this way this side of the Iron Curtain. Everything smaller than a guitar is kept behind a lock and key here, but nevertheless you are obliged to check your bag upon entry. I bought a piece of gear here that was not compatible with my guitar, and when I returned it they first insisted I could only have store credit; when they agreed to a refund, they insisted on a $20 restocking fee, though I returned the item packaged exactly as I had taken it.
Long story short Toronto: this is a mediocre chain store that operates on the assumption that its clientele are thieves. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
12/23/2008 1 photo
I used to be a meek little girlfriend to two musicians. This involved many trips to Steve's, watching said boyfriends slobber over guitars, take different ones down, mutter something technical like I cared, and then play them while I sat on a monitor.
Oh, youth!
I agree with Vanessa -- as a music numbskull, I am terrified of this place. I think the thing to do is to be upfront with them and let them guide you through the instruments and equipment available. Otherwise, you'll look like a fool just walking around, pretending you know what you're doing and then making a whole row of instruments collapse because you're so fidgety and nervous. (This is all in my dreams, but I'm sure it would happen.)
Anyway, this fear probably comes from the fact that these guys know their stuff, and I just don't even know where to begin. The selection is great, and the banjos in the front display case make me all giddy. I'd definitely come here if I needed more information on an instrument and needed help on to the next level.
I'll just make sure to write some technical notes on my arm before I go. -
Review from Todd V.
Toronto, ON
9/18/2008 1 photo
I'm not an accomplished musician. In fact there isn't an instrument out there that I can't play really, really badly. But it came to pass one day that I was doing a stand-up show and needed to get a mic stand. I went in with the sole purpose of purchasing a mic stand. Twenty bucks, in, out, be done with.
$250 worth of equipment later and I left with the same sort of look on my face as everyone coming out of Steve's. Myself, guitarists and drummers alike all had the same look on our faces, "I didn't mean for this to happen."
Everywhere you look in the store, there's musical instruments or the things used to make music. It's pretty overwhelming and even when crowded, the staff find time to get you sorted out with the stuff you came in for and give you the time to let you browse for the things you didn't. That's where the danger is.Listed in: Born to Shop
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Review from Fareeda S.
St Catharines, ON
11/19/2010
Good selection of musical instruments and the staff was very friendly & busy. Only problem with their Toronto office is that parking is a major issue on Queens. Worth wile to visit the store...
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Review from Lynda W.
Toronto, ON
9/5/2008 1 photo
I love Steve's! Brings back memories of when I was a kid and used to come here, and dream about buying up all the nice shiny guitars. Now that I'm grown up, this store still has that effect on me.
The store is pretty packed: guitars, basses, amps, petals and accessories stuffed to the max. They have a lot of more expensive pieces, but they also have cheap, affordable guitars for around $200. I bought a Yamaha acoustic guitar about 10 years ago and it still works beautifully. They carry the popular brands such as Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly, so a great place to come if you're looking to buy a guitar! -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
10/3/2008 1 photo
Even before I started playing guitar I knew about Steve's. It takes real talent to develop the kind of good reputation that Steve's has in the city of Toronto. When it comes to guitars there is Steve's and then there is everyone else. Every time I go into the store I am amazed at how they can pack so many instruments into one store. Steve's is of course about more than guitars they have all the instruments you need to form your own garage band. If you are the crazy one then you have to check out their drum selection, now I am not an expert on drums but I know that the ones they have at Steve's are very impressive. If you're the quiet one you'll be glad to know that while most of the stringed instruments at Steve's are guitars they also have a wide selection of basses. I can highly recommend Steve's for all you rock music needs, they have it all and if they don't, it probably doesn't exist.
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