The store and the folks than run it
"At Diplomate Musique,
we don't choose a guitar for you...
It is our strong belief that the guitar chooses you !"
- Franco Amante
There is a long history behind Diplomate Musique. This music store opened on Beaubien in 1959 and became Diplomate Musique in 1972. Franco Amante was a local musician playing in Montreal when he took a job at the store in 1978.
Approximately 10 years later, the owners decided to sell and Franco went from musician to entrepreneur,
although he doesn’t see himself as a businessman selling musical instruments, but as a musician running a business. “It’s passion that keeps me going. You have to be passionate about your work,” explains Franco. “That makes the long hours we put in very easy to handle because we are working in the field we love to work in. We love working with people. Music is our life.”
Franco Amante
Steve Amante
Music is always a priority at Diplomate Musique. The store is staffed with people who are experts in their craft. “The main thing is that we are ex-musicians,” says Steve. “We got involved in this type of business because we wouldn’t want to do anything else. We work as a business, but it’s not handled like a regular business. When you don’t make a purchase in a regular store, you bother the owner. Here, it’s not like that. We enjoy each other’s opinions, ideas, and experiences.”
Great service never ends with Musique Diplomate, a family-owned business with almost 50 years of experience.
SPECIALIZATION
As Bob Dylan would say “The times they are a changing”, And so has Diplomate Musique adapted to the times.
EXCLUSIVITY
Diplomate Musique Features the ONLY Taylor Room in Quebec as well as the ONLY Fender Custom Shop Showcase Dealer in Montreal.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customers come back because there’s no pressure to buy.
Changing Times
Through the decades, Diplomate Musique sold every item that had to do with music, but with the Internet changing the habits of shoppers, the store decided to become more specialized. “Times change. The Internet makes it difficult to be a Jack of all trades,” insists Franco. “We are trying to find a niche. We are more of a boutique for high-end instruments now. It was hard to be a general store where we would sell pianos, organs, flutes, saxophones, guitars; all of these types of stores will start disappearing. Everybody will have to specialize in certain fields.”
Fender Custom Shop & Taylor Room
Diplomate Musique is the only showcase dealer for Fender guitars in Quebec. It carries upscale models of Gibson and Taylor. It is also the only store that sells custom Fender Team Built guitars made to customer specifications. “We have unique instruments and we try to be a little different from others,” says Franco. “At the same time, we’re still a music store and we cater to the musician.”
No Pressure
What has helped Diplomate Musique last for so long is the quality of customer service it provides. “References and word of mouth are very important. That can get you quite a few customers,” states Franco. “That’s how we survive. We have faithful customers.” Customers come back because there’s no pressure to buy. Diplomate Musique takes a relaxed approach with each person who walks through the door. “Some people come in and eventually, they become friends. Sometimes they come in because they need something and sometimes just to say hello and chat about music. That’s the difference between a real business and our type of business,” concludes Franco.
