The 5 Best Suppliers of Musical Instruments in Ottawa
When it comes to musical instruments, it’s essential to find a good supplier that offers good quality options. Luckily, Ottawa residents have a lot to choose from.
In this article, we have gathered some of Ottawa’s best suppliers of musical instruments. Whether you’re looking for a new keyboard, guitar, or drum set, these providers have everything you need and more.
But before we get to the list, let’s first discuss the costs.
How much do musical instruments cost in Ottawa?
The price of the musical instrument will depend on its quality and type. For example, electric guitars are usually less expensive compared to acoustic wooden guitars.
But it is also important to note that the most expensive electric guitar is more expensive than the most expensive acoustic guitar.
This is because electric guitars can be considered collectors’ items for their unique designs and their association with famous artists.
For more specifics, refer to the table below:
The Best Suppliers of Musical Instruments in Ottawa
To find the best suppliers of musical instruments in Ottawa, we based our list on the following criteria:
1. Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Selection | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback | ★★★★(4/5) |
Long & McQuade Ottawa Musical Instruments is a music store and supplier located in Hunt Club Road. It is a great option for all your musical instrument needs.
It offers a wide range of instruments, including guitars, keyboards, drums, and basses. It also offers exclusive deals so customers can buy instruments for cheaper prices.
We also love how Long & Mcquade has its own online shop. Customers who prefer to shop online and are too busy with their schedules can visit the store’s website and make purchases.
What makes this place unique is the fact that its employees are also musicians. If customers have questions, they can ask one of the employees about the instruments and get first-hand information about them.
If you’re under a strict budget, you can rent out instruments instead of buying them.
Long & Mcquade has an extensive selection of used instruments, and customers can rent them on a monthly basis.
Overall, the only downside of this music shop is its limited stock. However, if you are able to call in early for your orders, it should be able to provide you with the instruments you need.
With that said, when it comes to music instruments, this is definitely a solid choice because of its wide selection and discount options.
Pros
- Exclusive deals
- Online store
- Multiple locations
- Employees are also musicians
- Rental services
- Good selection
Cons
- Limited stock
Customer Reviews
Great service
“Bought a brand new Fender acoustic/electric guitar here today. Service was great and very helpful….very good price too.” – Uni R.
They know their stuff
“I’ve always enjoyed coming to this store seeing the new guitars and amps trying stuff out and falling in love with sounds you’ve never experienced. When I walked in originally I planned to buy a 200$ squire and saw this even they call Gibson Month I am so happy I walked in then. Yeah I spent 1000$ on an SG instead but I fell in love with it and they have in store payment option that worked great for me and I know I made the right choice because it always felt great never hurt the fingers and the sound was amazing if you r played a Gibson then you know! Love it so much I went back to buy a Les Paul and tech tip Bobby is awesome knows his stuff too!” – Joshua Hiscoe
2. Lauzon Music
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Selection | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback | ★★★★(4/5) |
Lauzon Music is another great option for your all your musical instrument needs. The company has been around since 1945 and although it is a small store, it has almost thousands of clients from all over the country.
Lauzon sells guitars, drum sets, pianos, violins, and even accessories that go with these instruments.
It is also quite popular, especially for those who love collecting electric guitars. It has a wide selection of instruments but it specializes in famous guitar brands like Gibson, Fender, and Ibanes.
We also love that Lauzon offers lessons for anyone interested in learning how to play an instrument. The employees are not just there to show you where the instruments are, they’re also available for instructing you on how to use them.
Another thing we love about this store is the fact that it accepts pre-orders. Since it’s a collector-friendly business, it allows customers to pre-order specific types of instruments that aren’t displayed in the shop.
The only drawback that we could think of when browsing the place was the fact that it was too focused on guitars. If you’re a dedicated drummer, you may be disappointed in their drum kit selection, but you can still pre-order specific accessories if needed.
Overall, Lauzon is an excellent choice if you’re looking for instruments in Ottawa because of its pre-order system and its collector-friendly policies.
Pros
- Has an online store
- Offers lessons
- Allows pre-orders
- Great for guitar collectors
- Also sells accessories
Cons
- More focused on guitar stock
Customer Reviews
Positive experience
“I’ve been going to Lauzon Music a lot between 2005 and 2016 while I was living nearby. I bought quite a few pieces of equipment there (bass amps, guitar combo amps, strings, pedals, etc. I even took bass lessons there for a while. I unfortunately don’t have the opportunity to go as often now as we live out of town. But to me, the experience at Lauzon has always been extremely positive. “ – Pat Guay
Great place to buy and learn
“A beautiful space with fantastic staff. We bought a wonderful second hand piano, and the process, including delivery and installation was completed in less than 24 hours. Sheila, and everyone their, is great to deal with and we are absolutely loving our piano.” – Keith Willey
3. Steve’s Music Store
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Selection | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback | ★★★(3/5) |
In-store and curb-side pick-ups are what make Steve’s Music Store a great option for musical instruments. As a supplier, SMU is able to offer a great selection of instruments at justifiable prices and it’s also able to provide most of these instruments on the go.
Another great thing about this establishment is its special orders. If you’re looking for a special instrument that isn’t available everywhere, Steve’s has contacts that can provide you with the said instrument.
If you’re under a strict budget, SMU also has its own financing options. That means you can pay in installments so you won’t have to stretch your finances too much.
You can peruse its website to see its full catalog. The online store is organized pretty well and you can easily find what you’re looking for from the comfort of your home.
We also love that this establishment offers free shipping for some of its items. A lot of musical instruments are very expensive, so it’s nice to know that customers can save a bit of money by having them delivered for free.
The only issue we have when it comes to this shop is the feedback it’s received from some previous customers. According to them, the customer service wasn’t all that great.
However, it is clear that the employees of this establishment are doing the best they can to remedy these complaints and we believe it’s still one of the best musical instruments suppliers in the city.
Pros
- Has an online store
- In-store and curb-side pick up
- Special orders
- Financing options
- Free shipping for some items
Cons
- Complaints on customer service
Customer Reviews
Great place and staff
“They have almost if not everything you need. The best place to go in Ottawa for drum selection. At the moment with the covid they leave the door lock, you need to knock on the main door and the staff will escort you to what you need. “ – AI
Excellent options
“Great and knowledgeable staff, been buying guitars here for almost 30 years and have never left disappointed.” – Phil Doyle
4. Dave’s Drum Shop
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Selection | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Services | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback | ★★★★★(5/5) |
If you’re looking for a solid drum kit, look no further than Dave’s Drum Shop. It is a popular music store located on Catherine Street.
While its selection for other instruments is not that vast, its options for drummers are a pot of gold. It has brand new drum kits, used drum kits, and even vintage drum kits.
We love this shop because it’s a rare breed around the city. Most music businesses are too general when it comes to the items they supply, so it’s nice to see that there’s actually a store out there that’s just dedicated to our percussionists.
Aside from drum kits, it also has a solid selection for other audio needs. Capos, microphones, and other accessories that aren’t readily available in other music shops can be found at Dave’s.
Aside from the unique selection, we’re also happy to report that this place offers free shipping if you buy anything over $199. This is good news for those who are trying to save money because drum kits are already expensive as it is.
The only complaint we have about this shop is the fact that it doesn’t have that many options for other services. The employees there don’t clean instruments, they don’t repair, and they don’t teach.
Other than that, it’s a great place to shop, especially if you’re a drummer or planning to become one.
Pros
- Great drum selection
- Free shipping for orders over $199
- Offers curb-side pick up
- Knowledgeable staff
- Vintage options
Cons
- Limited services
Customer Reviews
Love it
“Recently I was looking for a black beauty Ludwig snare drum, a good friend of mine Brian suggested that I contact Dave at Dave’s Drum Shop and talk with him. Dave was very knowledgable and helpful. I ended up purchasing a 6.5 x 14 inch, Dave arranged shipping and forwarded all the tracking info to me, it too about 8 days to get to me from Ontario and well worth the wait. Would definatly purchase from them again, love the new snare.” – Rob M.
Delivery was perfect
“The drums we SO well packaged and protected, that it was clear to me that there was someone on the other end who really cared about the customer experience and delivering on their part.” – Gabe Kane
5. Fleet Pro Sound & Lighting Inc
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Selection | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Services | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Feedback | ★★★★(4/5) |
Fleet has been around since 1989. Although it’s an old company, its website is still regularly updated with blogs and news about the music industry and the instruments that it sells.
If you’re a collector of different instruments, the website also features news about specific collectors’ items that you may be interested in.
For collectors, Fleet is a great store to visit. Its physical location already has a lot of valuable instruments on display, and you can also make a special request for a specific instrument you’re looking for.
We also love that Fleet has an online store that is regularly updated. Sometimes, there are cases where the item in the online menu isn’t available in the physical location yet — but again, customers can make special orders.
Special orders can become more expensive. But luckily, Fleet has the option for financing.
Customers can pay for their orders through installments, which is always welcome.
The only problem we have with Fleet is its limited stocks and long wait times for special orders. This can be a big turn-off, especially for customers who are in a rush to buy a specific instrument.
Other than that, because of the fact that it accepts special orders and it has a regularly updated website, Fleet is an excellent option for anyone looking for quality musical instruments.
Pros
- Website is often updated
- Has collectors’ items
- Online store
- Financing options
- Has its own blog for musicians
Cons
- Limited stocks
- Long wait times
Customer Reviews
Great store
“Nothing I like more than being greeted at the store front and asked how you can be helped. Nice loaded store with lots of instruments to try. From stage equipment to basement set up they got something for you. Must have been an excellent experience since I walked out with over$500 worth of stuff!” – Michael D.
Go-to for audio
“Fleet is my go-to for audio expertise. They have all of the cables, lights, and gear, but most importantly their staff are indispensable. Very highly recommended for purchasing and rentals as well.” – Bengt N.
FAQs about Musical Instruments
That concludes our list of Ottawa’s top suppliers of musical instruments. With this list, you should be able to find the right store for your needs.
Now that you have your instrument, you may want to learn more about playing it. Check out our article on the best schools for music lessons in Ottawa!