PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER - 2008 REVIEW
Best independent musical instrument store
Pianos N' Stuff Music
468 Freeport Road, Blawnox. 412-828-1003 or www.nstuffmusic.com
Want the huge inventory and premium brands of a chain store, but prefer to buy the instrument of your dreams -- or your budget -- from a local outlet? Blawnox's Pianos N' Stuff, in business since 1968, should be your first stop. Play a little "Stairway" in the front room, surrounded by gleaming guitars and amps, or try out your chops on an electronic drum kit in the percussion area. A separate room offers keyboards, synthesizers and electronics; another has recording equipment; and downstairs, you'll find a few used instruments. But most useful for a musician on a budget is the rental service, offering everything from an enormous PA and recording equipment to guitars and microphones -- what better way to try out gear before splurging on it? And Pianos N' Stuff's annual March Madness sale is legendary, drawing lines of bargain-hunters around the block.
Adam….Since I can remember I have been coming to pianos and stuff for all my music needs. i have every option of ordering equipment online or going to guitar center but there is one reason why I don’t go there, customer service. I recently bought a used Marshall amp and couldn’t be more happy with the service I received. The associate was incredibly well rounded and gave great advice as I do with every associate I talk to. You guys had my business before and will keep it for all my music needs. ˜ Pennsylvania
James….When I talked to Mike Caldwell about the issues I'd been having (despite many years of trying different fixes) with my strat, he told me it'd take a couple days to get to do it. Well, after I explained that I was from out of town and my wife was expecting within the week, he went out of his way to get it done before close THAT DAY! I spent the time test driving guitars from the wide selection in store, figuring this might be the end of the line for the old strat, and worried I'd never be able to go back after playing high end Fenders, Suhrs, and PRSs. When he brought my guitar back a few minutes after the lights went down, I was astonished. My American strat was playing like a custom shop job. The intonation and action were perfect and the fret work was so precise, I thought he had to have done it by machine. Nope, the guy is just that good. Thanks so much Mike. It's a couple hour drive, but Mike is my go-to guy for guitar work for life! ˜ Pennsylvania
Ken….The VR 700 arrived and your service has been excellent. I like the keyboard very much . Once again thanks for your help and your service and price are great thus I will braodcast your name to any musicians who will need equipment. ˜ Indiana
Terry….Just a note to say thanks for the great guitar and, as always, the good conversation. Jason, I just wanted you to know that this guitar really knocks my socks off! Not only does it sound awesome, but looks great too. I want you guys to know how much I appreciate you and all the help you have given to me all these years. Pianos N Stuff is THE only music store, period! Hope to see you soon. Your friend and customer forever. ˜
Pennsylvania
Steve….My Alvarez 12-string arrived in pristine condition and the setup was perfect. Just wanted to thank you. It's the first time I used your site. I'll definitely revisit. ˜ Connecticut
Sam….Testimonial on my store visit yesterday and past visit history…I noticed your testimonial section on this website and wanted to share my most recent experience. First off I have been a customer since the 80's and have always had a great experience each and every time I visit the store. Yesterday was no exception. Although it was pretty busy being March Madness and all I received the same professional level of service that I have any other time I come in the store. Your staff still to this day is one of the best and most approachable I've ever dealt with and I always feel comfortable with shopping there for any of my music needs. 2 thumbs way up high and I look forward to many more years of shopping for my gear at your store. ˜ Pennsylvania
Pete….It is not often that I take the time to leave positive feedback and I'm more inclined to leave feedback when things have gone wrong. However, I really felt that I had to speak up this time. I have had such a great experience with my recent purchase. Let’s start with the staff. They are great! They know what they are talking about and take all the time you need. I never once felt rushed. I purchased a guitar and when they say they make sure that everything is in great shape -- they mean it. When I received to order I noticed that the packing was outstanding. When I checked out the guitar -- it was blemish free and exactly what I expected. When I went to tune it -- I could not believe that it was pretty much in tune. This was a 12 string that I purchased and the only string out of tune was the octave string for the low E. I called them to follow up and also ask about strings and once again I was treated like royalty! Let me just say, thanks guys. I appreciate the great service. I wish I had known about this site long before now. But, this will not be the last time I do business here. Oh -- by the way, they really do have the lowest prices too! ˜ California
Kevin….Have been dealing with P N S since 1968. Great store, great prices and great people. ˜ Pennsylvania
Mark….Just had to write to you to thank you and your friends for your help with choosing my Martin acoustic guitar. When I left your place I forgot to get some picks so I went to the Guitar Center in Monroeville. I saw my D35 there and it was priced $300 more. Just had to laugh and thought I would relay that information to you. I have been playing every night so far and still can't believe how nice it sounds. Anyways it was good to see you again. ˜ Pennsylvania
Kelly….Today we have a lot of choices when it comes to making online purchases of musical instruments. Typically getting a great price comes at the expense of a personal connection and customer service. NStuff Music breaks this equation by both offering great prices, and an outstanding personal experience. With my new
Hammond XK-3c, I got the best price I could find, in addition to the kind of communication, service, and attention that usually only comes with a face to face transaction. This was my first purchase from NStuff, but definitely not my last. I recommend them to anyone looking for high value in an online transaction! ˜ New Hampshire
Greg….I appreciate your customer service. This is not something that is particularly common in the online music store business today: 1. finding someone who actually knows something about the product and 2. answers emails, questions and follows up. Much appreciated. Thanks for the great service! And your prices are so competitive. I think you are my go to store from now on! ˜
Oregon
Dave....I Ordered a Paiste Cymbal pack from you guys yesterday afternoon and now, one day later, it was waiting at my door. All I can say is wow. Thank you for awesome service at an incredible value. Musicians Friend & Guitar Center can't even compete with this customer service. ˜ Maryland
Simon….I received the ‘62 strat last night. Thank you so much for your excellent customer service and attention to detail - The guitar is immaculate and beautiful and plays excellent. Very pleased customer of your store here and I’ll be back again. Please forward this to your owner if you can – I want them to know how great of a job you guys are doing in making customers happy. ˜ Massachusetts
Edward....Just wanted to let you know that you run a great business there. I always get great prompt service from a knowledgeable staff. keep doin what you do, and I will continue to be a customer. ˜
Pennsylvania
Steve....Got the pedals in on time, set them up, and everything so far is great.
Thanks again! ˜ Florida
Dave....My guitars came in this afternoon safe and sound, loved 'em. Thank you for the quick turn around and hope to do business with pnmusic/nstuff in the near future. ˜ Washington
Erin....I just wanted to thank you for all of your help with me purchasing this guitar. I genuinely appreciate how helpful and kind you were. You made this experience a lot better than I thought it would be, and made me that much more excited about giving the guitar to my fiancé. I truly appreciate everything you've done. I'll definitely recommend your store to everyone I know in need of musical equipment. Thanks for making this experience so wonderful! ˜ Virgina
Vic....Got the mic's on time and as described. Glad I gave you guys a shot. Would recommend your site highly. Thanks ˜ Indian
Charles.…Hey guys, just wanted to drop a note, I received my AS93 Ibanez today. It exceeded any expectations I had. What fast delivery also. Thanks so much for making my transaction effortless and the fantastic price I got. I will look forward to doing much more business with you in the future. ˜ Maryland
Patty….I just wanted to let you know know that the Martin DX1 guitar that I ordered on Tuesday was just delivered on Wednesday, which was incredibly FAST! This guitar is just beautiful to look at and has a very deep and rich sound to it. It really is beyond any expectations that I had when ordering it. I also appreciate that a guitar dehumidifier was added to prevent warping during shipping, and this extra care also did not go unnoticed. A big thank you to Chris who patiently helped me with any questions I had with my order and who made the whole shopping experience stress-free! I can't wait to give this guitar to my son at Christmas! If anyone out there is looking for a store that offers outstanding staff and service, as well as great prices on some of the finest guitars out there, look no further...you found it! ˜ Pennsylvania
Rich….My son and I recently purchased a guitar and amp from PNS. I just want to tell you what a pleasant transaction it was, particularly due to the attentiveness of salesperson Steve. He explained everything to us with patience and expertise and was most friendly and helpful throughout the process. We will DEFINITELY be happy to do business with you guys again. Thanks. ˜ Pennsylvania
Patricia….Thanks for your help in purchasing my first guitar [MartinOMCRED BIRCH]!!! What a incredible place! ˜ Pennsylvania
Jason….I had an issue with a product that I ordered from your company where I was sent the wrong part. I would like to say that the store bent over backwards for me to get me the correct part that I ordered. I really think this store shows a customer service which is something that you don't get every day. Thank you so much for the prompt attention to the issue and I will for sure order from you again. ˜ Texas
Jess….I just wanted to send you a Thank-You note. I was at 2 different guitar shops in the Pittsburgh area before I decided to buy a guitar at your store. I guess I'm a picky customer. But, I have to say that I'm completely happy with the purchase I made at your store. The salesperson, I don't know what his name is (but he had grey hair and glasses), never fed me any useless information. Instead, he was genuinely interested in matching me with a guitar that was good for my body type, playing style, and price range. He brought me guitars that he thought I might like and set them up on stands in my vicinity where I could switch them and try them out in a room by myself. I love my guitar, and I think that I found the right guitar for me, thanks to the help I got at your store. It could have taken me hours to research and decide which guitar would be best for me at this time, but it only took me 30 minutes at your store because of your great dedication to serving the customer! Thank you very much. I will consider your store first when I am shopping for a guitar from now on. ˜ Pennsylvania
Rick….Nstuff can boast the most efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable staff in the music store business. I have purchased several articles, including my two babies (John Suhr Guitars) in addition to a whole load of guitar accessories and recording equipment over the years. These guys know their stuff and are eager to serve and please. In 99% of the cases, Nstuff offers prices lower than the various web-based discount stores. Prices are always much lower than other local retail stores. Special cudos to Jason S. He is the MAN! ˜ Pennsylvania
Dale….I've been a loyal customer since 1980. That's over 28 years of equipment and other procuct that has given me the opportunity to do what I do best...play music. Pianos n' Stuff is the ultimate distributor in the area and their staff is second to none. Anything you need and I mean anything, they'll do their best to get it for you. Rock on guys! ˜ Pennsylvania
Darryl….Hi. I traded in some gear today and bought a Mesa/Boogie 5:50 Express. The amp is absolutely wonderful! It does everything I thought it would only better than I imagined. Thanks for a great amp. What I really wanted to bring to your attention though is the wonderful salesman I had today. His name is Chris (I know you've got two Chris' - sorry, I didn't catch his last name, but he's the skinny guy that's sort of bald on top and looks at the stuff you're trading in). He spent loads of time with me both on my new amp and the stuff I was trading in. He even had to go back and forth between buildings a few times and was great about it and he answered all of my question about the amps. This is service! I almost bought the amp I bought from you guys at Guitar Center today but thought I'd take a chance and drive the extra distance to Piano's N Stuff. I'm glad I did. You do not get service like I got from Chris at Guitar Center or any other national chain. Service like that is worth far more than just a low price and because of the exceptional, personal service I got today, I'll be a Piano's N Stuff customer for a long, long time. Please keep up the great work. You guys are the best! ˜ Pennsylvania
Kevin….I have to congratulate you for my OCDP kit; no problem concerning shipping, it was fast and my kit was really well protected! I'm sure someday I will buy something else from you! ˜ France
Pianos n Stuff is the best place to go in the Tri-State area. By far the best selection and prices. Don't let the exterior fool you, the place is a maze with tons of gear at every turn. The staff is quite knowledgeable and fun to deal with. I always feel confident when I make a purchase there. It's worth the drive and easy to find! They kick the Guitar Center's butt any day of the week. ˜ Pennsylvania
Caleb….Pianos n Stuff is the way to go: if you’re interested in guitars, pianos, lights, drums, DJ equipment, etc. then this is DEFININTLY the place for you. The prices in this store are unbelievable. And they always have a sale of some sort goin on. I've went there numerous times to buy strings, picks, cords, distortion pedals, straps...anything you need to play your favorite instrument. And they even offer lessons by the best musicians in the Pittsburgh area. so stop in and see for yourself! ˜ Pennsylvania
Al….I know dozens of people that drive an hour or more to reach this cool Music Store. Could it be the selection? YES! Could it be the unbeatable prices? YES! I got a Fender there for $20 less (NEW) that Ebay's lowest price (USED). They have stuff for musicians AND professional studios, so check them out. ˜ Pennsylvania
Katie….I've been going to pianos n' stuff for nearly six years. Every time I enter the store a kind, welcoming employee is there to offer assistance to me. Pianos n' Stuff also offers a very knowledgeable staff that is there for you every step of the way when deciding what piece of musical equipment is right for you. ˜ Pennsylvania
Guitar Center lost my business! This place is realllllllly good, i went there the other night, and I was lookin at a guitar at guitar center, and it was wayyyyyy over priced. The dudes there are highly knowledgeable, and know about guitars. I recommend this place over annnny guitar/musicians store. ˜ Pennsylvania
Amandio….Dear Nstuff music crew: I have to write you to say that I had a perfect buyer's experience with your store! I was helped by Jason, who was more than helpful with my search for a new guitar. I originally ordered my new Fender Stratocaster online, but Jason called me to tell me that he looked over the guitar and found that it had a bad neck. Talk about good, honest service! I was very impressed with his commitment to excellence! Jason helped me over the phone pick out a different Fender Stratocaster, set it up, played it, and gave me his honest assessment of the guitars he played. I just got it today, and let me tell you, it rocks! I am very, very pleased with my experience and will definitely be coming back! Thanks again, Jason. Sincerely, Amandio ˜ Massachusetts
Steve….Got the XK3C (B3) set-up and running…..It's GREAT and looks beautiful! It surpassed my expectations. Took me a little while to figure it out and get it programmed (I'm no rocket scientist). Thanks for the great deal…..I'll definitely be talking you up around here. ˜ Washington
John….After having problems with both Musician's Friend and Sam Ash for two weeks I decided to look elsewhere for the bass I wanted. It seemed like nobody had it in stock until I stumbled upon N' Stuff Music. Not only did they have the item in stock, but forty dollars cheaper than the "big boys." The people on the phone at N' Stuff were really nice and my order shipped the next day. You guys rock, and I will definitely be returning for future purchases. ˜ South Carolina
Steve….I just wanted to say "Thanks" for offering quality service and fair prices through the years. Pianos N' Stuff has always been my favorite guitar store. There are truly none like it. I bought my first two basses and first two guitars at Pianos N' Stuff and that all started 13 years ago. I've moved from Pittsburgh to New York City and I was pleased to find the website. Your prices are still as good as always. When I get some extra scratch in a couple weeks, I'm going to order that new Seymour Duncan Delay pedal. Might need to save up for that American Deluxe used telecaster too... That's an incredible deal. Miss you guys. Keep up the good work! ˜ New York
Mike….As I walked up to my first trip into "Piano's N' Stuff", I must say I was a bit skeptical by the basketball sized hole in the sign above the door. But, as they always say, don't judge a book by its cover... I opened the door and was welcomed by no less than 15 Les Paul’s to my left and over 20 Strats to my right. A bassist myself, I wandered around and found the stairway to a bass guitar heaven. To the right, were many very nice basses, all with great prices. To the left, a seemingly remodeled amp room, also with very high-quality amplification. Service was great and didn't bother you when you wanted to jam. I'm definitely going back.... A lot! ˜ Pennsylvania
My husband loves playing piano & he has recently enrolled in this institution for some formal lessons as he never took one before. I noticed lot of change in the rhythm & notes. The one who teach is a very good professional piano player & he is teaching very well. He is very friendly & helps out of his way to make the person understand the notes. ˜ Pennsylvania
Mark….I bought my Ibanez XPT700 from here. By far the best buying experience I have had. Steve was the most helpful salesman I have ever dealt with. I will be buying more from here in the future. ˜ Pennsylvania
Jay….I ordered a Hammond XK-3C from NStuff on a Sunday night online. The organ which is not small was on my front porch Wednesday afternoon. I could not beleive it. They had the best price of all the music companies. I will recommend this company to everybody. Thanks for the great service. ˜ North Carolina
Anthony….Honestly this is the greatest thing to happen to me besides having an xbox. The people who work here are the nicest people and they know so much stuff, you can ask them about basically anything in the music industry and they will have an answer or a solution or a great deal. I take lessons here and the teachers I have been around are the best. I would tell anyone to come here because they offer great service at unbeatable prices. ˜ Pennsylvania
Mike….Very Awesome Guys, another thrilled customer! and I appreciate the personalized note about enjoying the new amp. Got the amp today and it's perfect for my current need. Goes great with the Ibanez SR700 bass I bought from you all a few weeks ago. ˜ Pennsylvania
Rick….I've been buying gear from your store for 30 years and I must say you have the absolute best musical establishment in the entire pgh area. The quality of both your gear and your professional treatment of customers is to be applauded. Thank you all for your awesome service! ˜ Pennsylvania
www.nstuffmusic.com gets my HIGHEST recommendation and has for years. They're almost always at LEAST 10% cheaper than any of their competition, and they have a massive selection to boot. They're the reason Guitar Center has had a hard time keeping their stores in the black in the Pittsburgh area.
Dan….These Guys are the greatest hands down! I worked with Justin and not only was he on his game but he answered every question and covered every detail completely period. He had follow up & return phone calls as always promised and he told me what I needed to hear with out the fluff. Forget the website warehouses X out before shopping cart! I purchased Numarks C2 & DDS 80 with JBL PRX535 and all of the accessories. This is the Place! ˜ Pennsylvania
Went to this store for the first time ever yesterday and just saying...greatest music store anywhere..and I have been all over the country...amazing selection amazing employees and great atmosphere...keep up the good work!
