The Knowhere Guide

Making Music in Bradford, West Yorkshire*

Bradford, West Yorkshire Guitars and Instruments, Recording Studios, Rehearsal Rooms, PA Hire

Musical Instrument Shops and DJ Gear

• Theres a new music shop just opened round the corner from gasworks. Guitars Pa amps and stuff
• Musician's Centre have opened a new Music Shop in Bradford Town centre. We will do guitars, keyboards, PA, amps, books, accessories and much more. We are just round the corner for Gasworks club and up the road from the back entrance to Marks & Spencer. Anyone is welcome to come visit for a chat and a brew, oh and help if you need anything musical :-)
• woods, disc
• Williams music. (Was Woods before) After spending a while trying to find Woods store, I happened upon Williams. After a conversation with one of the managers I found that Woods merged with Williams some six years ago and has only just changed its name. I have to say that after reading some of the comments here on knowhere I was a little dubious about going to "Woods", but it appears that there have been a few changes in staff since some of the comments were placed on here. I only found really friendly and knowledgeable staff: no ignorant fat bloke in the guitar department as previously described by someone! I went to buy a guitar for my son and a piano for my daughter. I found both transactions painless. There was a slight problem with the piano I bought which came to light after a couple of months. I rang the guy I dealt with at the store and he organised a piano technician to come immediately to rectify the problem. He even ordered the piano to be tuned at the same time and then he rang the day after to make sure everything was in order. I've had nothing, but top class service from Williams and I've been looked after really well. I can't really say anything bad about the store. Will definately go back in the future.
• There are a few. Very few infact. There is Aire Guitars on the way to Greengates, at Harrogate Rd / St Lukes Church Pullan Ave. In town there's Northern Drum centre with it's guitar selection and the guy with the curly blonde hair who looks like Bill of 80's time travelling stoner dude caper flix Bill and Teds Excellent adventure. There was Minstrels on Sunbridge Rd, but closed around 2002/03 and was replaced by a comic book type shop, which is now closed. Near Discovery and Northern Drum Centre there is Manning Musicals, a strange little shop, with an even stranger man running it. He's a Bohemian Type, dresses like he's in Dexy's Midnight Runners circa Come on Eileen, that perenial 1983 Ragged Gypsy folk look. For years i thought it was just me he was rude and funny with, but after talking to mates about his shop, it turns out he's funny twat with everyone who goes in his shop (that's when it's even open.) Still he has some curiosities in there. Things that wouldn't look out of place in a vaudevillian Victorian Music hall variety show, circa 1884. Haybe he's from that time, and come's to Braford every now again with Bill from Bill and Ted guy who works uop the Road in Northern Drum Centre. Yes, the two of them repeatedly travel back and forth in time between 1884 and the present day. Oh and then there;s Woods. Twats. The guitar guy, a fat and bald oldish man, just is really ignorant. I took a guitar there to be fixed,and they didn't call me for 5 months. I had to go back in person and explain. Wrong label apparantly. So they had my guitar lying round for 5 months with someone elses name and mobile number on it. Customer service is second to none in that department. I'm sure.
• Woods, Manningham Lane in Bradford
• all the city centre ones have closed down, why not try the one on manningham lane
• There is Woods which is acually really good. I've seen Fineapple in there a few times buying loads of extravagant musical equipment, like pink saxes and transparent trumpets. The drummer uses gold sticks i heard too. Other than that, Westgate is your best bet. Not Cash Converters though.
• Northern Drum Centre, or Woods, or else try Leeds.
• minstrels has now shut down!! its been replaced with a shop called where the wild things are which sells comics and related stuff :D
• Woods
• Best one to go to is Spectre sound in Bingley which is about 5 miles away.
• woods
• Woods Minstrels
• Carlsbro Leeds.
• Minstrels - for good expert customer service Woods - the PC World of Music shops. Good if you know what you're buying, but don't trust them if you don't.
• Spectre Sound in Bingley (20 mins or so by bus) Minstrels on Sunbridge Road
• Mannings Musicals, Woods
• Mistrels on Westgate
• Big Rock in Woods on Manningham Lane is the place, see Tony, he will look after you.
• WOODS
• - Woods - avoid, they are over priced. Personally if I was buying an intrument I would try Minstrels or LEEDS
• A drum shop etc near Rock's off.
• Minstrels Music on Sunbridge Road- one of the shop assistants looks like Statto.

Recording Studios, Rehearsal Rooms, PA Hire

• Voltage
• GOT A BAND? WANT A BAND? NEED SOMEWHERE TO PRACTISE?. Hallam Street sound in GUISELEY is a fully equipped practise rooms including drum kits, amps and p.a's with no extra equipment rental fee. 2 mins walk from guiseley train station with easy access by car and parking. Call 07883 732 445 or info@hallamstreet sound.com
• For a reasonable studio, try SMV (Sound Music Vision) in the Try Mills Industrial Complex, at the corner of Thornton Road and Preston Street. http://www.s-m.v.co.uk Or try Voltage for lots of Rehearsal space, up Manchester Road, at Ripley Street by the CTC.
• I know of a quality rehearsal room and I know that the owners are looking for some new bands to take rehearsal slots on evenings and weekends. Their rate is £10.00 per hour, which includes a choice of drum kits and use of 1000 watt Wharfedale pro vocal p.a. You can also record your rehearsal for only £25.00! Storage space is available for minimum cost. They are based in Idle village and they are next door to a pub! You can email them at ivolv_music@yahoo.co.uk for further information.
• Voltage recording studios, Thetre Royal workshops - Tim & the camp boyz are truly superb!
• RIVERSIDE STUDIOS EST 1981 HAS MOVED TO HUDDERSFIELD PREMIER RECORDING STUDIO & SPACIOUS QUALITY REHEARSAL ROOMS
• Coast to Coast Concert Productions have got a shedload of PA including some of the biggest mixing desks you'll ever see. They can do smaller local stuff as well if that's what you need. www.ctc-productions.co.uk.
• Several disused mills (ali's and further up Thornton Road) have studio facilities. Gotta get the connections before you get the access tho.
• Voltage Studios does recording, rehearsals and PA. Also has a label, latest release is a compilation of skater bands called Gnarly Dude! Check out www.voltagestudios.com and www.voltagerecords.com
• The top recording studio in Bradford has to be Mutiny 2000 on the corner of Preston St & Thornton Rd.(Top floor of Ali's mill) Check it out on www.mutiny2000.com

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Last updated: 2008-05-15