The Knowhere Guide

Making Music in Walsall, West Midlands*

Walsall, West Midlands Guitars and Instruments, Recording Studios, Rehearsal Rooms, PA Hire

Musical Instrument Shops and DJ Gear

• Georges is run by a maniac....dont go there he's mad. TR Music is o.k they have a good selection of electric guitars. Bole Music in Sutton coldfield is worth a trip over,very helpful there .
• Georges and TR music on Stafford Street.
• George's music store on Stafford street is my favourite, as they are down to earth.. T R music, i only go in , so that i can get a sun-tan on my back from the moody looks of the staff who like to mind thier own buisness- from a glare!. Octaves...... its a bit like visiting the canal.... bits of dead wood floating and if your lucky you might see a dead cat or a fisherman( try not to hang yourself on the strings- although it would be understandable to smash your fingers in a piano lid to check your still alive).They are bars on the windows to stop something???..... stampede of customers perhaps?.
• Hi! George here. I absolutely love this site. We all need some knocks some time, but! there are times when innaccuracies need to be countered with fact otherwise the assumptions can ahave an adverse effect on the businness concerned. So here goes.These remarks are directed to the writer of the paragraph ending in "Discuss" Georges did in fact supply all of the Peavey equipment to J.J studios. The total bill was around £18,000. It was delivered by Lynx contractors in two seperate deliveries on a Wednesday and Thursday. Peavey agreed to deliver on our behalf because of the size of the order. There is approximately one third of the equipment on loan to J.J's from Peavey, and is held on Georges stock inventory, the rest was a straight purchase. It was all delivered with the correct voltages 230/240 volts AC. And with the correct leads supplied. The wooden speaker cabs are built in Corby (which any year nine student will tell you is a decent step from Meridian in Mississipi USA.)By aligning ourselves to a major manufacturer, we avail ourselves of good service, factory know how, training schemes and a very prompt spare service. Spread loyalties tend to weaken all of these. Our staff are trained by Peavey for which we have to go to their teaching college twice a year. Look at the certificates on our walls, then try to find them in another shop. This makes sure that the goods we recommend are specified safely and are fit for the purpose. Repairs.. True- we do use Barrie Ray for some of our repairs, better to use someone tried and tested in the trade than a person with no reputation. We also use Complete Sound Services at Smethwick for heavier work. But!! most of our repair work is done by Peavey in house with a very good labour rate. It's normally free!!! There is no point in competing for repairs, they are after all peoples problems. The person who writes that he was made to feel stupid on his first visit and then ignored on his second must realise that we don't stand for bad manners and we don't respond to grunts and other animal noises. Youngsters are welcomed with open arms BUT!! We insist on being treated with some respect, shopkeepers are people as well.
• the place to buy guitars n shit is t.r.musik or goerges i live in walsall n i skate there n abouts so there we go
• Octaves man (Bridge St) knows his keyboards, helpful. T&R Stafford ST, own car park at rear, very handy in busy town, relaxed atmosphere no pressure. Georges Stafford St, smaller shop characterful owner.
• TR music in stafford street-helpful enthusiastic staff who actually love music!Rock on Terry!
• I always go to TR Music. They have a lot instruments & accessories there & the staff seem to know their stuff. 2nd hand things tend to be very cheap but their new equipment is usually over priced. I've been to George's a couple of times: 1st time I was insulted, 2nd time I was totally ignored. I wouldn't buy anything from there.
• I would like to make a few adjustments to what I've just read about TR Music & Georges music store JJM Studios did not get their peavey gear from Georges , it was shipped directly from Peavey USA and was then found to be the wrong voltage Somone mentioned that Georges staff are trained by Peavey....True ! but TR Musics staff are trained by Every other manufacturer!! Georges sell mainly Peavey TR Music are not held over by one company and therefore sell Everything else and are trained by the respective manufacturers Georges repairs are carried out by a TR Music outworking engineer named Barrie ! In summary both shops have something to offer everyone I personaly know the staff from both shops and have no gripes with any of them no one here has mentioned the sometimes impossible customers that both shops have the misfortune of enduring I know I've seen it in both shops also did you know that the average labour rate in the UK for electronic repairs is approx £40+ but TR Music is between £16-£20 !!!!!! Discuss.
• Don't bother with Georges or TR music they're both a waste of time and space, take a trip down to Bole music in sutton, the bloke in there knows all there is to know about guitars and is a lot cheaper than the others.
• Goerges and TR (oh, and octaves for you keyboard type people)- where to start?? The two shops are at opposite ends of the spectrum- basically dont go to TR for a chat- its pretty depressing in there (not as bad as PMT at Brum- "no i wont take it out of the box so that you can try it- Im too cool to work in a music shop"- whatever....) Georges are always up for a jam, a chat and a cuppa- mark and adam are great players (who know their gear) and they have talked me into spending loads of my student loan there... lol. Good value, and they can get repairs and spares done dead quick. Georges also has loads of character- its a cool old building thats slightly weathered, yet its so cool, and erm, old and stuff. Please dont bad mouth either shops though- that just aint fair- Octaves on the other hand....
• What's wrong with telling people they're being ripped off in walsall? I have seen guitars £300 cheaper in Brum than in TR's! Have we got to spend over the odds to be 'supportive' of Walsall businesses? I don't think so...
• George in Stafford Street Walsall has just had an award for helping youngsters, teens etc in music from the Lyons club international. Did you know that all of his staff have to go to Peavey for Training??Who's the moron who doesn't know how to spell using the letter "K" as in Knob. English please.
• just tr
• Tr Stafford St.
• birmingham
• Must disagree with comments about George in Georges. I have been going in there for twenty odd years, always been helpful, obviously he's looking for a sale, but he's a businessman! Always worth a look, as there's always a bargain that you might not find elsewhere. Strings and plectrums are average price. I bought some 'cheap' strings recommended by bloke in TR music, and they were absolutely toneless crap! George wouldn't do that to you!
• Don't bother with TR music cos their guitar strings are overpriced and they all look like they'd stab you for not knowing how to play 'Stairway..'. even though they'd kill you if you did play it.
• Georges music is a specialist Peavey dealer in Walsall. T.R are specialists in Fender and Gibson and the like. Both shops have been there years which shows that they must be doing something right. Walsall is very lucky to have 3 music shops when places like Stafford have only got one. What every shop DOESN'T need is a recommendation from anyone to take their money out of the area(GO to brum) and to use very immature, behind the bikesheds bad language to slag someone off on a personal basis.
• Georges music store has always been at the front for helping young musicians for 43 years. Ever since it was called Harrys and the lads from slade were in there along with Judas Priest Rob Plant Fish Magnum and the Wets.Could be he's getting a bit brassed off with know nothings having opinions they can't back up. Two faced? (Don't think so)Unhelpful? (Rarely) SuckS?(only Soleros and then only in the summer). The difference is that you know where he is every day and you know who he is. If you want an honest opinion he's there along with everyone else who works with him. If it's bull and half truths ..well? Incidentally Walsall is very lucky to have three music shops to choose from so stop moaning or i'll take yer dummy away.
• I've noticed they've got some nice music shops in Wolverhampton,they are at every corner
• TR's about the best in walsall, but if I'm making a big purchase such as a new guitar or amp, I check out the prices, They're usually about £100 over the prices anywhere else, then piss off to Birmingham Sound control or fairdeal music to actually buy.
• the ones by the bong shop on stafford street, theres 2 of em opposite each other.
• T.R Music and George Music both in Stafford Street. T.R MUSIC IS COOLER.
• TR MUSIC HAVE DONE ME A GOOD DEAL IN THE PAST. STAFF COULD BE FRIENDLIER AND TRY SMILLING. DIDNT LIKE THE LITTLE MUSIC SHOP OPPOSITE
• georges but its a pile of wank
• Geoerges and TR on Stafford street. both are okay as shops but the owners are very arrogant!!
• Georges music shop is good but there is a rival over the road i don't now what it's called but sheet music,instruments and everythin is dead cheap so it's worth looking into
• Anyone been to the DJ department in Georges Music Shop??? If your thinking bout becoming a DJ check it out there is some wicked gear available - dead cheap aswell!. A bloke called Graham does the disco stuff.
• if you don't play an instrument or anything,still visit georges and gaze adoringly at the guitars and go to the place over the road and hire a smoke machine to scare your mum and dad when they get home!!sorry don't want to give u ideas
• Octaves, again on bridge street.
• tr music stafford street
• Once again I'll state, Georges in Stafford Street Sucks nob. Now print that!!!
• I agree that T R music is a great shop, Mike, Ken & terry ( who desperately needs a hair cut) are great blokes. DONT go to Georges music shop, he is arogant two faced bloke and is not very helpful.
• GEORGES IS CRAP. TR IS BETTER BY FAR EXCEPT FOR THE MISERABLE GUY WITH THE BEARD.
• TR music is run down, and the old bloke with the beard is a miserable git! Georges is far worse though, hes a twat!
• T R music in stafford street is ok, not the crap little shop opposite, George, he's an arogant git!
• Georges Stafford Street
• TR music - Great shop, great people, decent prices and the occasional amazing bargain. I once picked up a 1970s epiphone 12string semi-acoustic for £100 - BARGAIN!!
• Theres too many little dodgey ones that cost a fortune, however if you want to find one, small side streets are you best bet.
• that one on stafford st is the only one i know but couldnt tell you the name of it
• T.R music is a good musical instument shop. Notoriously expensive if you ask me.
• Go to Brum. T and R needs a paint job and the staff are crap.
• TR Music or Georgies
• The best music shop in Walsall is on Stafford St. Hello George if you read this. From Sonya.
• George's~sell mainly music

Recording Studios, Rehearsal Rooms, PA Hire

• Our band have just recorded at Univibe audio - in JJM studios. And it was brilliant, the MP3's are straight onto our myspace and they sound awesome!!! check em out www.univibeaudio.co.uk
• jjm studios is good
• im in a band called radom day charger. for reheasrals i use jjm on pool street. simply cause its awesome. goodbye.
• for recording my band use JJM studios in walsall.
• Get down to Ricochet on Stafford Street. They've got brand new yamaha kits, marshalls, laneys, and sm58 mics. You get your cymbals included, its cheaper than JJM and there's no membership fees. Check the website out - www.ricochetmusic.co.uk
• JJM are the best by far, and ive been to every place in the midlands. Going in over christmas to record our album in their brand new state of the art recording studio.
• JJM studios in poole street
• Ricochet Studios on Stafford Street is great. It's run by a couple of decent, down to earth blokes, its cheap to hire a room and there's all new equipment there. Cool relaxed atmosphere about the place, and they have live music days too.
• The best place in the whole midlands is JJM.
• JJM Studios on Pool St is awesome. They've just had a massive upgrade of Marshall 150 heads and cabs. These guys got my band gigs in London and we're in the Emergenza Festival too which is organised by JJM. Really great place with great staff who know their stuff!!
• JJM Studios. Great place, a little bit expensive granted, but still great gear (Peavey, from George's no doubt), great staff. The Pro-Drum Studio at the bottom is operated by a great dude called Ash, he know's his stuff. Check out www.jjmstudios.co.uk for a great look around. My band and I sound a lot better since practising here rather than in my converted garage!!
• JJM! Great gear, good staff. This place used to be a dump! Now the amps work and the paint job is nicer. Apparentley the gear came from George on Stafford Street (So i was told by some dude) (Peavey dealership- put 2 & 2 together) and guess what- it sounds GGRRREEAAAT! Good rates too- and you can get your accessories there too.
• mpm records is up in caldmore is quite good.
• JJM Studios is a 5,000 sq foot complex in the heart of Walsall town centre. There are now nine practise rooms including recording studios. All the studios are fully air conditioned. Two of the practise rooms have been designed specifically as teaching rooms and are away from the main building. Fantastic place.

The Knowhere Guide started out as a list of places to skateboard in the UK. It is a compilation of (unedited) information and views supplied by users like yourself. It is not a conventional tourist guide!

In most cases, the information in each section has been submitted by more than one contributor (the credits at the bottom of the page list some, but not all, of the contributors) and some of it dates back to the 1970s.

We make no claims as to the accuracy of the information in the Guide - our only purpose is to provide a forum for users to share their knowledge and opinions. So please keep a large bag of salt handy and be prepared to read between the lines!

If you disagree with a comment, or information is out of date, please submit an update! The contributors come from all walks of life, and their opinions are bound to be subjective, so if your view isn't represented, please speak up and contribute to the balance of the Guide. See below in the 'Have Your Say' section for how to add your voice.

If we have helped you out or made you laugh you can buy us a pint.

Have Your Say...

You can tell us more about Walsall. This is also the method to use if you want to correct some of the information already here. (But please remember you're not mailing the person who actually wrote whatever-it-is.)

You can use the add an event form to tell us about events happening in Walsall.

Or, if you'd just like to leave a message for other users of this site, take a look at The Knowhere Board (handy if you're just trying to get in touch with someone).

Credits

Last updated: 2008-07-03