If you’ve ever wanted to explore your musical side in Cardiff, then a historic music shop,GM Music could be the place to start.
The first thing you notice as you walk through the door of GM Music is the smell of new instruments.
Lined up in front of you are hundreds of guitars, banjos, multi-coloured ukuleles and mandolins waiting to be played.
Shop owner Jake Beese, is proud of the variety on offer but it’s the price that he thinks gives him a real advantage in a crowded market. For Jake that means he is making instruments accessible to a new generation of musicians.
“We have now a lot of people bringing their children to get their first guitar, later then they may bring their sons or daughters to buy their first,” Jake said, who admits he doesn’t actually play himself.
He is, however, proud of his huge knowledge of the instrument market, “My father is a musician, playing guitar and flute, and he opened the shop first in our hometown, Newport.”
In 1984, GM Music opened another shop in Cardiff, where operations are still based to this day.
Every day, various new comers as well as loyalty guests walk into Jake’s shop, playing some new arrivals, buying new accessories, and having a small chat with “Professor” Jake, who is knowledgeable, helpful and courteous in his special ways.
If you’re a beginner and have no idea about choosing a suitable guitar, the best solution is coming to the shop.Touching the string and listening to the beautiful sounds always work.
“I like the cream-colored one. The sound is much sharper,” a passing guest attacted by a wide variety of guitars in the shop, compares sounds of these two and tells us contently.
However, the cost of musical instruments has increased a lot because many are made in China.
Due to Chinese strict covid policy, import form China seems harder than before. To decrease the delivery and storage fees, Jake says he considered importing from Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Vietnan, which is a good way to lower risks and keep price in a reasonable level.
Another amazing part of GM Music is its flexible trade system.
“People still love buying new guitar. But we have more people maybe exchange old guitar for a new guitar, rather than buying another one,” Jack laughed, “They have one guitar, and trade it. They still have one guitar. That’s how it works”
For certain “second hand” products, the price can be shown in the website. But the most effective way is to come to the shop and negotiate with Jake!
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083368357852
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/gmmusiccdf/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GM_Music1
Opening hours:
Mon- Fri 9:30am-5:30pm Sat 9am–5:30pm Sun 11am–4pm