PMT Leeds Music Shop

So, once I’ve done with sniggering about the fact that the shop signage indicates that their name is PMT, I’ll get on and write a review. Yep –done laughing, I’ll behave and tell you about my experiences with this humungous musical haven now.
So. Used to be Sound Control, and is now Professional Music Technology. As music shops go, it’s a biggy, and covers most bases pretty well. Huge range of electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, acoustic guitars, and so on and so forth. Also, for a plethora of pedals and other electrical enhancements, this place is pretty boss.
Now, as with many things, I’m a jackofall. So, I sometimes feel a little like a charlatan on entering places like this. I could go and noodle on some acoustic guitars, but the guys in the shop can probably play in a more accomplished manner than me, so it can be intimidating coming into these places. Nonetheless, the order of the day was to *talk* about loop pedals.
As soon as we were passed on to the chap who knew a thing or two, I almost bought one right then and there. He covered all the bases, from a more than salesman point of view since he knew the limitations, the price, how much it would resell for, and whether it was the right one. Fab –but I still wanted to make sure it wasn’t a sales pitch. (It’s a sad world where that’s the first thing that you think of, but such is the way.)
So, I went away, I had coffee, I chatted at length about it, and basically spent the money in my head before we even returned. It was going to happen.
Essentially, on returning, I did a final check –was the upgrade in stock, and what was the bonus of it. Turns out it’s actually not horrendously high in price hike, and holds more channels to store on. And, now that I’ve played with the pedal, is probably more what I want for my plans –but! I have something to practice on, that won’t lose value for ages, and is top quality. And, on our reconnaissance research trip, we found that everything the chap had declared about the pedal to be true — thus showing he wasn’t pitching for a sale, but knew his stuff.
So PMT, I am a fan. And you know I’ll be back, eventually, to get my upgrade. Cheers!

PMT House of Rock is unfortunately-​named to such a ridiculous degree that you have to wonder if it was set up by male music geeks of such stereotypical geekery that they had such limited knowledge of the female of the species as to happily settle on the name PMT without any knowledge of their folly. Oh well — at least it stands for ‘Professional Music Technology’, which is somewhat more relevant to the products on sale than the alternative.
The shop is huuuge! And its layout allows it to display the products to almost terrifying peacock-​like effect, due to its open-​plan layout and central staircase leading to a balcony spanning the entire width of the shop. And due its size it was difficult to take in and remember the entire range of products but it really is extensive. Guitars, drums, keyboards and pianos are the focus of the instrument range with a huge variety of electric guitars, bases and acoustics and a balcony housing many a keyboard and piano. They sell a vast amount of equipment besides: mics, amps, effects pedals, recording equipment, speakers and everything in between. Prices are good, and they attempt to match any cheaper prices you have found, showing their commitment to value for money.
Because of the vastness of this shop and the fact that it is a chain it lacks the character and charm of a smaller music shop and so feels rather impersonal, but this allows further freedom to browse and try things out, as there always seem to be plenty of other people doing so! And my, what a lot to try!