The Music Box

I bought an Irish Bouzouki from them over the phone, but I had some very specific questions about it, and some requirements on how I would like the instrument to be set up. After the stand-​offish treatment I’d had in person at a rival folk instrument shop (whose name begins with ‘H’ and is the name of a mythical creature) I was really impressed. The shop manager listened to what I wanted, and took notes, and gave me reassurances (this was after I told myself I’d never buy an instrument without touching it first). He told me about their professional luthier who does instrument setup, who would set up the bouzouki to my exact requirements, which I duly explained. There was no pressure on me to buy there and then, and I needed to have a think about it.
Having been impressed with my initial call, not to mention the price, I called back the next day. I spoke to someone else, who had actually been briefed about the conversation the day before, and had the notes to hand. I explained that I was ready to buy it, and he was very helpful, informing me when they would get the instrument from the warehouse, confirming my setup requirements, which day the luthier would set it up, and which day it would be shipped. I haven’t had such courtesy from a shop in a very long time.
It arrived today, exactly when they said it would, perfectly packaged, and most importantly, set up beautifully. I will buy from The Music Box again in a heartbeat!

These guys must have been in business for just over a year now. I remember them opening just after I started working as a workshop manager for a nearby cycle shop. I also remember wondering if they were going to survive. When they first set out they seemed to stock exclusively weird and wonderful guitar based things like twelve strings and guitars with seventy three necks. They seem to have calmed that side of things down now though and focussed mainly in the folk side of things.
The service is still the warm personal experience that I have always had from them though, when I looked in briefly today, only after a business card, the man who I spoke to was so welcoming I thought he was about to offer me a cup of tea.
Not only have these guys got their stock to be a bit more down to earth but they now offer a really comprehensive range of services too such as set ups for all your string instrument needs and lessons for about every folky device you can imagine. Don’t worry though, if you do still want and axe with a neck sticking out at either end or a thrash metal Ukulele this is still the place to come.