Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

This past year I had the privilege of being able to buy one of my dream guitars, – the Martin 00-15m, and was fortunate enough to receive assistance from Paul Atkinson. From the moment I walked in, Paul was incredibly helpful. However, it was his unparalleled knowledge and passion for guitars that truly sets him apart.

What struck me most was Paul's expertise in every aspect of guitars, from the intricacies of different models to the finer points of maintenance and care. He walked me through various options, and took the time to understand my needs and preferences.

Moreover, Paul's passion for what he does was palpable. It wasn't just about selling a product; it was about sharing his love for music and helping others find the perfect instrument to express themselves. He patiently answered all my questions, offered valuable insights, and even provided tips on how to maintain my new instrument for years to come. His enthusiasm was infectious and made my entire experience all the more enjoyable.

I've visited other locations and encountered the same guitar. Feeling disappointed, I expressed to Paul my concern that perhaps I had overhyped the instrument, only to feel let down when it didn't play or feel right. However, Paul didn't let me give up on my dream guitar. Instead, he suggested I give it another try, explaining that the condition of guitars in other locations might not be as well-maintained, which could significantly impact the playing experience.

Thanks to Paul's guidance and expertise, I played it again and immediately fell in love. His dedication to his craft and commitment to customer satisfaction are truly admirable.

Months later, I returned to have an electric pickup installed. While I could have chosen any place for this service, I recalled the exceptional experience I had with Paul—his passion and customer service were truly remarkable. Once again, Paul exceeded my expectations. He ensured that the installation process was seamless and worry-free, leaving me feeling reassured. When I returned to pick up the guitar, he insisted that I plug in and play to ensure everything met my satisfaction, eliminating any lingering concerns I might have had.

In a world where exceptional service can be hard to come by, Paul Atkinson stands out as a shining example of excellence. I cannot recommend him highly enough and will undoubtedly be returning to this location (or wherever he is) for all my future guitar needs.

TLDR; Paul Atkinson embodies everything that is wonderful about the music world. Whether you're seeking your first instrument, your last, or anything in between, Paul is the go-to person! A heartfelt thank you, Paul, for your outstanding service!

The staff at this store are so friendly and helpful. Dennis and Nathan P. in rentals were genuinely sweet and efficiently secured the items we needed, which were in abundance (mics, speakers, monitors, a mixer, along with all the cords and stands neatly packed). A manager Micheal checked our account and had us out of there in record time. And Michael over in drums was also very willing to assist.

Bantering with these gentlemen was a delight. I also observed how they expertly managed the somewhat gruff and sometimes entitled, demanding attitudes of some of the patrons and offered solutions for their inquiries, including buy-out options on used items. Excellent customer service and people skills, guys!

L&Q is the only place we've gone for our audio-visual rentals and purchases over the last 35 years and we won't stop. Now a third generation of customer knows of the services you provide and we'll be back!

From your fellow YorkU Alumnus 😉.

Don’t know why anyone would pick any other music retail store. Went to the Steeles location today to buy an amp and every aspect of my transaction was met with superb customer service. Michael behind the counter was professional, quick, fair, friendly and efficient…need a music item…go to Steeles! Keep up the awesomeness! 🎶

My music lesson experience here was great!! The staff and the person who trained me on how to play drums, Jaden, were all supportive and friendly :). I can finally drum really well because of the amazing music lessons they provide here. 5/5. I'll bring a music notebook next time for sure.

They've always got some cool lesser known guitars in the little corner. I played a nice green Danelectro there.
The fellas in the audio department were very helpful when I bought recording equipment.
All around great music store.
Long live L&M.

After never getting my instruments looked at for years, in the past few weeks I had to visit the store a number of times to get my electric guitar fixed, and then my bass guitar, and rent an amp. In the past I haven’t had great experiences at music shops, but every time at this store, the staff were so helpful and friendly. Quentin and Joe were just so kind and delivered such top notch and personable customer service. Also, pleased at the really great rental rates. Thank you to the wonderful staff!

Marco's a true gem in this store! He's really knowledgeable with almost everything that's music related. I just got the Tonex pedal from him, he was kind enough to run through the basic instructions on how to use it and gave me a few tips on it as well. Top tier customer service!!

Been going here for over a decade always the best spot for any kind of music equipment. I want to shout out Quentin Wilson and Michael Di Monte cause they are always an incredible help. Always knowledgeable, kind, patient and easy to deal with. There are too many occasions to count where these two either together or one of them has gone above and beyond to help me with my purchases. I hope the management sees this because they truly deserve to be recognized for the service they provide. Long and McQuade is an asset to our community and I will always shop here.

CHRISSY was very knowledgeable and helpful when I had to change my strings VERY last minute. She was patient while I decide to put on D'Addario or Elixir. It might be a small thing but for a Long & McQuade client for 8 years like me, I appreciate the customer service experience where she went the extra mile! Thank you! (I chose Elixir...yet again!)

I would like to thank Michael Di Monte and Michael Parenteau for a really good service. My custom Charvel had a weird sound, took it there and it took nothing to be fixed. My baby is back playing :)
Thanks guys!

If you need studio / recording equipment Igor will take care of you. Extremely knowledgable and 10/10 with his recommendations. Truly passionate about music and helping people. When i'm famous i'm hiring Igor to build my studio.

Excellent friendly & knowledgeable staff! Always accommodating ! Prices are very competitive (even with Amazon) . Love this store and the staff ! Thanks for all of your help !

The staff were incredible. The manager is amazing. They use a electronic not paper based system for rental agreements. Rentals are a breeze and the technical knowledge from staff is top notch.

They are so helpful and knowledgeable
I like the prices as well! You can make your party with 21 bucks a hyper one! Make sure to get the Fog Machine as well! Christine was really such a helpful employee!!!!

Always a great experience with L&M. Just purchased the Alesis Strike Pro for my daughter's 12th birthday. Everyone is very knowledgeable. They also allow you to try out their instruments so that you can make a well informed and test driven decision before purchasing; unlike some places on Queen Street.

Helpful and professional service from Nathan L on electric guitars. Happy to buy from them.

I'm a working musician and I play regularly. I came one Monday morning with the intention of buying an amp and I decided to go all out and build a new pedal board to go with it. I specifically asked Richard in the guitar department if he could make time to help me select gear that will compliment the sound I'm looking for. He is clearly well versed in the gear he sells and soon recommended several pedals, a few of which ended up on my pedal board. Great experience and very patient, I wasn't playing to entertain, I needed to know what I was buying. Ask for Richard if you know what you want to hear but don't know which pedal to ask for.

Honestly, I love this place. Staff is friendly, welcoming and helpful. Instruments are out to try. Could spend hours here

It was my first time at this store for buying music book for my daughter, we love this store. Friendly and polite staff 👍👍

I recently bought a guitar from this location and the service from Paul in the acoustic guitar department was fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable and consistently went far above and beyond my expectations to ensure I ended up with an instrument in the best possible condition. If that level of service and expertise is any indication of the store as a whole, I couldn’t recommend this location highly enough!