A1 MUSIC CENTRE of Manchester is owned and operated by Graham and Ann Mellor, and their emphasis is always on the personal touch. "Our shop is a bit like an iceberg", Graham says. "The majority of it is below the surface". Most of the A1's gear — which includes Fender and Gibson guitars, HH and Tuac amplifiers, Crumar and Hohner pianos, and a wide range of drums, disco and lighting equipment and effects units, is on display in the shop's ground floor.

The shop's two basements are the area where musicians get their best chance to really try the equipment. The first basement houses an acoustic guitar showroom, with all the Fenders, Gibsons, Ibanez, country and westerns and jumbos, as well as a showroom for such up-market electric guitars as the Guild, Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, and Rickenbacker models, as well as a good selection of copies. This first basement also includes a workshop, and the Mellors make every effort to see that bands who need it receive a one-day turn around service.

The second basement includes a separate showroom for P.A.s and speakers, disco gear and lighting, and drums. Tony Brian and Phil serve the customers in the shops and they are all experienced musicians. They aren't the only ones either - recent visitors include 10cc, Barclay James Harvest, the Bay City Rollers, Guys and Dolls, and Mud.

BRADLEY'S of Glasgow is Scotland's largest drum retailer. In addition, they hold both Fender and Gibson franchise, and their regular visitors range from local groups like The Chris McClure Section, to international favourites like The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Bradley's manager Cyril Livingston told us that they carry every line of drums in their compact but friendly shop as well as Paiste and Zildjian cymbals. George McGowan and Ron Moore offer drum and guitar lessons respectively under the auspicies of Bradley's and their workshop will undertake repairs of most instruments. It's not a stand-offish shop, and if it's a bolt or a nut that you're wanting Bradley's are as likely as not to give it to you free. Bessie, Bob (the assistant manager) and Ann are all there to help the customer.

CABIN, London, W12, have lots to offer the modern musician, with a retail shop carrying both new and secondhand guitars, amplification and keyboard instruments, a hire division covering everything from hire a P.A. to hire a roadie and a rehearsal studio always in big demand as one can imagine in the London area.

Bands in for equipment recently include Stray, Jailbait, Hot Rocks, Savoy Brown and the roadies from Baker Gurvitz. Cabin specialise in amplification and guitars with Fender, Hi-Watt and Topgear equipment being their main new lines.

Ted Macdowall mentioned that although the general trend was for new gear over second-hand they did a big business in secondhand keyboards, especially old Hammonds and Fender Rhodes. Also they had a very fast turnover in secondhand Fender and Gibson guitars.

Custom built guitars by Peter Cook of Axe Guitars are another special service offered to musicians.

JEAVONS of Newcastle have been an established music shop for years and it is not surprising that their manager, Colin Rowell, is used to dealing with bands of International status such as Geordie and Sandgate who were in the shop quite recently.

The groundfloor showroom carries accessories, effects units, small portables, low priced copy guitars, and a large selection of accordions whilst the first floor is given over mainly to guitars, amplification and Wurlitzer organs. Jeavons find that local musicians seem to favour Fender and Ibanez guitars, WEM and H/H amplification and on the portable side the Wurlitzer 200 electronic piano and the Boosey and Hawkes Diamond range of portables.

A special display of disco set-ups will be demonstrated on Saturdays.

JOHN KINGS of Kingston, Surrey, carry a wide range of guitars, amplification and drum kits to attract bands like Cockney Rebel, who were in for accessories recently.

There is quite an emphasis on acoustics such as jumbos and other steel strung guitars and in the solids, Fenders, Rickenbackers and copies are stocked. King amplification is their own special keen priced line with a 50-watt general purpose amplifier at £50 and the 100-watt model at £65; speaker cabinets are also available.

John King told us that musicians are showing a lot of interest in the Elka Rhapsody which as a keyboard instrument gives quite a range of interesting string sounds.

MORAN SOUND in Liverpool have been serving the Merseyside area for three years, and shop manager John Keegan had no trouble in answering us when we asked him what lines he carried. "Everything" was his reply, and it was only a mild exaggeration.

Moran are a Fender Soundhouse, a Gibson Star Dealer, and also carry Arbiter, Antoria and C.S.L. guitars as well. Their sound equipment includes Carlsbro, Ampeg, Marshall and they are beginning to market their own Dynacek range, although at the moment only cabinets are available.

The customers are pretty much a cross-section with perhaps a slight emphasis on cabaret. Recent customers include Candlewick Green, Alvin Stardust, and local bands like The Hillsiders and Charlie are in regularly.

Moran do their best to make sure that their customers are never without the equipment they need, repair service is on the premises and there are four people in the workshop most of the time.

S.A.I. stock a wide range of musical instruments as well. They are a Fender Soundhouse, and also carry quite a bit of Gibson guitars as well as Rickenbacker and Guild models. On the amp side, their customers have a choice of Ampeg, Carlsbro, Hi-Watt, Sunn and Traynor gear, as well as S.A.I.'s own fine range of sound equipment. Rogers and Hayman drum kits are both in stock as well.

Another of S.A.I.'s strong points is their 24-hour repair service. Four repairmen under the supervision of technical director Jim Collins are always ready to effect repairs on equipment.

S.A.I. of Chorley can consistently come up with the answers to most of the questions asked by music people in the North West.

CHRIS STEVENS of Southend are very well known to top local bands like Dr. Feelgood and the Kursaal Flyers (recently signed up by Jonathon King) who buy their equipment from Chris Stevens and Roger Stanley.

The shops, including the new one in Romford run by Dave Sibley, specialise in drums and guitars although a good range of amplification, brass and woodwind is always carried in stock. The shops also have a good selection of sheet music and rock albums.

'Roost' amplification is a special line custom built for the shop to satisfy musicians who require extra facilities not found perhaps on standard brands of amplification.

Chris informed us that musicians were buying more acoustic guitars than ever and on the keyboard side that the Fender Rhodes was very popular with local bands.

SUN MUSIC of High Wycombe provide a varied range of equipment, and are regularly visited by customers from Reading, Cheltenham and Oxford areas, as well as from High Wycombe itself, a long established centre for progressive music.

Roger Batchelor, the shop manager, told us that his lines of amplification include HH, Elgen, Simms Watts, Ampeg, WEM, and Fender. The guitars available are Fenders, Rickenbackers, Micro-Frets, as well as such well known copies as Antoria and Ibanez. Since the 1st April, Sun have also been a Gibson Star Dealer.

Their drums include Gretsch, Ludwig, Hayman and Beverley, complemented by Zildjian and Paiste cymbals ("as well as Zyn and Super Zyn, when we can get them", Roger told us).

Sun is a great place for secondhand year. They are quite near the Elgen factory, so there are loads of Elgen amps available, as well as used HH and Vox gear. When we spoke to Roger, he said that his bargain of the moment included a Les Paul 1960 Custom for £427, and an old Gibson SG Custom for £324.

S.M.I., London WC2 (formerly Selmer). Representatives for Steve Howe, The Andy Fraser Band, Jack Bruce and The Glitter Band called at their large showrooms in the heart of London's West End recently. Steve Howe sold his Gibson ES5 Switchmaster guitar which was later sold to Marci Dadi, a well-known French guitarist and publisher.

A tremendous range of guitars both solid and acoustic, together with a comprehensive range of new amplification is always in stock. S.M.I. are H/H main dealers in the West End. Graham Osborne, the manager, mentioned that semiacoustic jazz style guitars are very popular now and they are carrying a good selection of them.

Drum kits including all the American prestige kits are on display in the basement showroom. Brass and woodwind instruments are well represented and instrument repairs can be taken in.