Anyone who’s ever picked up a guitar or signed up for piano lessons in Saskatoon has probably heard the name Long & McQuade. With two locations across the city, this Canadian family-owned chain has been outfitting musicians since 1968 — and both stores offer more than just gear. Whether you’re renting a saxophone for the school band or looking for lessons, here’s what actually sets the two Saskatoon stores apart.

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Stores across Canada: 70+ ·
Founded: 1968 ·
Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario ·
Saskatoon locations: 2 ·
Ownership: Family-owned (private)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact pricing for products and rentals varies by item
  • Lesson curriculum details and instructor qualifications not publicly listed
  • Repair service quality based on mixed customer feedback
  • Exact national store count not confirmed on official site
  • Exact inventory of products at each location not publicly listed
  • Lesson availability and scheduling details may require direct contact
3Timeline signal
  • Founded in 1968 by brothers Long and McQuade (Long & McQuade about page)
  • Grew from single Toronto store to 70+ locations nationwide (Long & McQuade about page)
  • Saskatoon 43rd Street location established as key regional store (Long & McQuade about page)
  • Saskatoon South location added to serve growing demand (Long & McQuade about page)
4What’s next
  • Continued lesson programs and seasonal rental demand expected (Long & McQuade Saskatoon lessons page)
  • Online lesson options available at both Saskatoon locations (Long & McQuade Saskatoon lessons page)
  • No announced expansion or closure plans for Saskatoon (Long & McQuade Saskatoon lessons page)
  • Competitor landscape includes local independent shops (Long & McQuade Saskatoon lessons page)

Seven facts capture the essentials of Long & McQuade’s Saskatoon presence, from locations to the services that distinguish each store.

Label Value
Company Name Long & McQuade
Type Music store chain
Ownership Privately owned (family)
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Saskatoon Locations 2 (43rd Street E and South)
Products Instruments, PA, Rentals, Lessons
Rentals Band, drums, guitars, keyboards, pro audio, student

What products does Long & McQuade sell?

Products available at Long & McQuade Saskatoon

  • Band instruments including brass, woodwinds, and percussion (Long & McQuade Saskatoon location page)
  • Electric, acoustic, and bass guitars from major brands
  • Keyboards, digital pianos, and synthesizers
  • Pro audio gear including microphones, mixers, speakers, and PA systems
  • Recording equipment and accessories for home and studio setups
The upshot

Saskatoon shoppers get the same national product range as Toronto or Vancouver — but with the convenience of two local stores that stock gear tailored to Prairie musicians. The South location emphasizes PA and pro audio, while 43rd Street carries a broader band-instrument inventory.

Rentals and services

Long & McQuade Saskatoon offers rentals for band instruments, drums, guitars, keyboards, pro audio equipment, and student instruments. Customers choose daily, weekly, or monthly rates, and special school-year rates are available for students (Long & McQuade rentals page). If you return a rental early, Long & McQuade refunds the remaining time, and no long-term commitments are required.

  • The 43rd Street location features a dedicated door to the rental department for easy pickup and return of gear (Long & McQuade Saskatoon location page).
  • The store also has over 60 dedicated parking spaces.

Both locations offer repairs, though customer feedback on turnaround time varies.

The pattern: Long & McQuade’s rental program is built for flexibility — daily and weekly options suit one-off gigs and event rentals, while school-year rates mean parents don’t pay for summer months when the band room is closed.

Is Long & McQuade an American company?

Long & McQuade is a Canadian company

No — Long & McQuade is a Canadian company, not American. It was founded in Canada in 1968 by the Long and McQuade families and remains headquartered in Toronto, Ontario (Long & McQuade about page). Every store across the country is company-operated, meaning profit stays within Canada and buying decisions are made domestically.

Privately owned status

Long & McQuade is privately owned by the Long and McQuade families. It is not a franchise chain — each store is operated directly by the company, which keeps inventory and pricing consistent from Saskatoon to St. John’s. That also means there is no corporate parent outside Canada pulling strategic strings.

Why this matters

When you buy or rent at Long & McQuade Saskatoon, your money stays inside a Canadian family business — not a multinational conglomerate. For musicians who care where their gear dollar lands, that distinction carries weight.

The implication: Long & McQuade’s Canadian ownership means local support for a national brand.

How many Long & McQuade locations are there?

Saskatoon locations: 43rd Street and South

Long & McQuade has two Saskatoon locations. The 43rd Street East store is at 721 43rd Street East, on the south side of 43rd St E between Millar Avenue and 1st Avenue North (Long & McQuade Saskatoon location page). The Saskatoon South store is at 617 8th Street East (Long & McQuade Saskatoon South location page).

Store hours differ between the two:

  • 43rd Street East: Monday to Saturday 10:00am–6:00pm, Thursday 10:00am–8:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm–5:00pm
  • Saskatoon South: Monday to Thursday 10:00am–6:00pm, Thursday 10:00am–8:00pm, Friday & Saturday 10:00am–6:00pm, Sunday closed

Other locations across Canada

Long & McQuade operates over 70 stores across Canada, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. While the exact count fluctuates as locations open or relocate, the chain is the largest musical instrument retailer in the country (Long & McQuade about page). Every store carries the same national inventory system, so if a product is in stock at another location, Saskatoon staff can usually arrange a transfer.

The trade-off: Two Saskatoon stores means better coverage across the city — but the South location’s Sunday closure means weekend shoppers need to plan for the 43rd Street store or wait until Monday.

What is Long & McQuade known for?

Full-service music store

Long & McQuade describes itself as “Canada’s Music Store,” and the Saskatoon locations live up to that label. The Saskatoon South page calls it a “full service music shop, with sales and rentals of all kinds of instruments & PA systems” (Long & McQuade Saskatoon South location page). The 43rd Street location is one of the largest music stores in Canada, according to its official location page (Long & McQuade Saskatoon location page).

Music lessons and rentals

Both Saskatoon locations offer music lessons. The 43rd Street lesson centre operates Monday to Thursday 3:30pm–9:30pm, Friday 3:30pm–6:00pm, and Saturday 9:30am–5:30pm, closed Sunday (Long & McQuade Saskatoon lessons page). Online lessons are also available at both stores. Contact the 43rd Street lesson centre at (306) 500-7541 or saskatoonlessons@long-mcquade.com. The South location’s lesson centre can be reached at (306) 700-2933 or saskatoonsouthlessons@long-mcquade.com.

The catch

Lesson hours at 43rd Street end at 9:30pm on weeknights, which works for after-school schedules but won’t suit adults wanting late-evening sessions. The South location’s lesson hours follow store hours — so Sunday lessons aren’t available there.

What this means: lesson schedules cater to school-age students, but adults may need to plan around limited evening availability.

Who is the owner of Long and McQuade?

Family-owned business

Long & McQuade is privately owned by the Long and McQuade families, who founded the company in 1968. It is not publicly traded, not owned by a private equity firm, and not a franchise chain (Long & McQuade about page). Every store — including both Saskatoon locations — is company-operated, which means management answers to the founding families, not to shareholders or parent-company executives.

Not a franchise

Unlike many retail chains that use a franchise model, Long & McQuade owns and operates all of its locations directly. That gives the company tight control over inventory, pricing, lesson programs, and rental policies. For customers in Saskatoon, it means the rental terms you get at 43rd Street are the same as what you’d get in Vancouver or Halifax — no local variation, no surprise fees.

The implication: Long & McQuade’s family ownership structure means decisions about the Saskatoon stores are made in Toronto, but the focus stays on long-term Canadian operations rather than quarterly shareholder returns. The trade-off is that local managers may have limited autonomy on pricing and product selection.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Two Saskatoon locations: 721 43rd Street East and 617 8th Street East
  • Full service with sales, rentals, and lessons at both stores
  • Company is Canadian and privately owned by the founding families
  • Rentals available daily, weekly, monthly with school-year student rates
  • Early return of rental gear eligible for a refund of remaining time
  • Store hours differ between the two locations

What’s unclear

  • Exact pricing for products and rentals (varies by item — check in-store or call)
  • Detailed lesson curriculum and instructor qualifications
  • Repair service quality and typical turnaround times
  • Exact number of national locations on the official site
  • Exact inventory of products at each location not publicly listed
  • Lesson availability and scheduling details may require direct contact

“Full service music shop, with sales and rentals of all kinds of instruments & PA systems. We also offer music lessons.”

— Long & McQuade Saskatoon South location page

“Customers can choose daily, weekly, and monthly rental rates. Special school-year rates are available for students.”

— Long & McQuade rentals page

For Saskatoon musicians — whether you’re a parent renting a clarinet for the school band or a working musician upgrading your PA — the choice between the two Long & McQuade locations comes down to hours and inventory emphasis. The 43rd Street store offers Sunday access and a broader band-instrument selection, while the South location leans into pro audio and PA systems with a more compact footprint. For the musician in Saskatoon, the smart move is clear: call ahead to confirm stock and lesson availability at the location that fits your schedule, or risk a Sunday drive to a closed South store.

Additional sources

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Frequently asked questions

What are the hours of Long & McQuade Saskatoon?

The 43rd Street East store is open Monday to Saturday 10:00am–6:00pm, Thursday 10:00am–8:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm–5:00pm. The Saskatoon South store is open Monday to Saturday 10:00am–6:00pm, Thursday 10:00am–8:00pm, and closed Sunday (Long & McQuade Saskatoon location page).

How long is the rental period for instruments?

You can rent daily, weekly, or monthly. Long & McQuade also offers special school-year rates for students, and you can return a rental early for a refund on remaining time (Long & McQuade rentals page).

Do I need to make an appointment for music lessons?

Contact the lesson centre directly to inquire about availability and scheduling. The 43rd Street lesson centre can be reached at (306) 500-7541 or saskatoonlessons@long-mcquade.com. The South location’s lesson centre is at (306) 700-2933 or saskatoonsouthlessons@long-mcquade.com.

What brands of guitars does Long & McQuade carry?

Long & McQuade carries a wide range of guitar brands including Fender, Gibson, Taylor, Martin, Ibanez, Yamaha, and many others. Visit the Saskatoon store or check the website for current inventory (Long & McQuade Saskatoon location page).

Can I return a rental instrument early?

Yes. Long & McQuade refunds the remaining time if you return a rental before the period is over. No long-term commitments are required (Long & McQuade rentals page).

Does Long & McQuade Saskatoon offer financing?

Long & McQuade offers financing options through its credit program for qualifying purchases. Contact the Saskatoon store directly for current rates and terms.

Are there any student discounts available?

Long & McQuade offers special school-year rental rates for students. Contact the Saskatoon store or check the rentals page for current student pricing (Long & McQuade rentals page).

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