Allans Music + Billy Hyde

Don’t go here
Staff are more concerned about making you leave your bag behind the counter than helping you find something amongst their less than mediocre selection
Seriously had two staff members ague with me about leaving my bag behind the counter
Then they had one dedicated stAff member just standing there telling people off for not doing it and I couldn’t get a person to help me on the floor for Over ten minutes in an otherwise mostly empty store
Give it an A for AVOID

I had a gig at the Valve Bar, previously the Harp, and I had a problem. My keyboard didn’t work. Being a keyboard player, this was defined in my book of definitions as a problem.
Problem. (Noun) When a keyboard is the primary instrument used, but the keyboard doesn’t play.
I resolved to rectify this problem ahead of my gig that I had labeled, «Let’s get Sheepy!» by buying a new keyboard, a better keyboard, one with more functions that I wouldn’t know how to use. One with better sound quality and one that was possessed of more voices.
Allans is broken up into two main levels, on level one there are hundreds of guitars, woodwind and brass, a large assortment of electronic devices, including midi controllers and drum pads. There are microphones and leads and a veritable feast of other technological gadgets that I do not possess the knowledge or experience to appropriately address.
Then, when you go up the stairs, you are met by a room full of books and sheet music; this then splits into a further showcase room that is brimming with pianos and keyboards.
This was were I wanted to be, I perused the pianos and played them pathetically until the Allan’s staff member approached me and offered his help. He took me through the functionality of various keyboards, I explained my usage, what I needed it for and what kinds of things I was likely to get up to on it. He grimaced at the more perverse activities I planned, but was very helpful in aiding me in making my final choice ahead of this sheep filled performance I had in a matter of days.
We made a deal, (great deal makers these guys) and he threw in a stand, a gig bag and an expression pedal and gave me a total, reduced, price.
I returned a day later with a car (and a driver) and I picked up the goods, paid the money and rocked out in a sheep costume on my new Allans bought keyboard. Ewe!