Meet The Staff

Laurie - General Manager

I'm the store manager and have been with the company for 18 years. An electronics engineer by trade, I joined originally to run the service department which I still do, but now I also help run our e-commerce websites, as well as the store.

My technical background from the defence industry and years of music industry experience mean I can offer advice on most aspects of PA and sound reinforcement, as well as repairing your equipment.

Outside of work I enjoy travel, gardening, a spot of DIY and a nice meal out at the weekends.

Sam - Music Sales specialising in Drum, Guitars

I started at Nevada Music as a Saturday boy back in 1997 and have been full time for several years now. I front a band playing our own stuff and have been trying to write the perfect album now for the last six years. My weapon of choice is always the Gibson guitar.

If you have ever phoned up the store and been put on hold, then the chances are you will have heard some of my more amusing work! Outside work I'm a passionate Portsmouth FC fan, enjoy cycling when the weather's nice and occasionally try to stay upright on a surf board!

Steve - General Music Sales - specialising in Bass, Recording and PA

I've been part of the Sales Team at Nevada Music for over 10 years now and have 20 years experience playing live, sorting out sound and lighting, recording and all manner of things musical.

I've been playing bass since I was 15 and have been in bands ever since. You can currently find me playing with the Bog-Rollin Stones - a Funk-Hammond band - and the hilarious Corridors 80's cover band. I also enjoy writing and recording and have a home recording setup to indulge myself in.

Other interests are softball, photography, computing and unfortunately DIY.

Shaun - Guitarist

My guitar career began the very first time I heard 'All Along the Watchtower' by Jimi Hendrix. From that moment I had caught the bug and although I can only grow an afro on my chin it inspired me to get that first £40 acoustic.

Several guitars followed and right now my current trusty axe is an Epiphone Les Paul with EMG pickups, but my pride and joy is my Washburn Dimebag Darrel signature series Dimebolt with Bill Lawrence Pickup!

Music tastes? Well it has to be metal, with my favourites including Pantera and Metallica. I also love music festivals like Download and the odd pint of Jack Daniels.

Andy - Specialist in Bass, Guitar, Music Books

I started life as a guitar man but progressed to bass when I realised that all my mates' bands needed a decent bass player and that I'd get to play more gigs and now 7 years later I love it. I went to college and studied Music Technology and then worked in a local music store specialising in brass, woodwind and sheet music.

My first bass was the heaviest no name plank ever, but thankfully I'm now in a steady relationship with my Ricky Bass and my Peavey/Trace Elliott rig. Music tastes are pretty varied; anything from funk and jazz to heavy rock. Outside work I enjoy playing and going to gigs, a bit of skateboarding and Jack Daniels and Coke.

This is an ideal job for me as I get to play on all the cool toys I once could only dream of - although every day seems to bring plenty of new challenges, questions and more toys...

Jack - Drummer

Hey I'm Jack, I am the newest member of staff in the Nevada team. I started off playing music as a drummer. I have always felt like the kit was the most comfortable environment for me. I also play a bit of guitar, bass, and I sing. Also in my later years of playing I have developed a keen passion for both digital and analogue recording.

At the moment I'm currently sporting the Tama brand name (Tama Starclassic Maple) as I feel like they are the most sturdiest kits around at the moment hardware wise. Plus Maple is a winner when it comes down to making drums! When it comes down to cymbals I use Zildjian, PPMEINL and WUHAN. My other interest's including surfing and general water sports, and working on my car. (mainly due to the fact it chooses when it wants work!)

Gig Stig

The mysterious Gig Stig has been floating around the rafters of Nevada Music since time began and is the all knowing, all seeing muso. Rather like a gentle sea breeze, he drifts around the place. Some say they have felt his presence as they strolled around the store whilst others claim that they have experienced a peculiar odour in the demo room?!

No dingy pub venue has passed him by, no song remains safe, nor the Transit van that has been round the clock twice as his quest to find the ultimate tone continues.

The Gig Stig knows a thing or two about music gear and, if you choose to follow his wise words, you'll follow in the footsteps of a thousand tasty licks.

Living on a diet of fastfret dressed with lemon-oil, he drinks only the purest meths and where he lives, nobody knows. All we can say is that he's here, there and everywhere...

Some say, he is the love-child of Jim Marshall and Leo Fender - all we know is...he's called the Gig Stig. Read his reviews here online at Nevada Music.