Categories > Other Services
The 6 Best Music Stores in Manchester
How We Picked
1. Forsyth Music Shop
Services: Instrument Repairs And Servicing, Piano Hire, Piano Tuning, Repair And Restoration, Music Publishing, Music Education, Purchase Finance, Instrument Buyback Plans, Others
Website: https://www.forsyths.co.uk/
Address: 126 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GR, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 834 3281
Operating Hours: Sunday: 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM–5:30 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.6/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.4/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.5/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Range of Products | 5/5 |
Variety of Service | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 4/5 |
Pros
- Has an accessible location
- Offers a wide range of products
- Offers musical lessons
- Hosts recitals
Cons
- Has inconsistent customer service
Forsyth Music Shop is one of the most accessible music shops in the area because they are located near John Rylands Library. Many bus routes will pass by the area, which makes the commute to their establishment easy for their customers.
As for those who wish to bring their own car, there are also many paid parking slots available and you will have no issues finding one.
We think that it is great that they are easy to access because music enthusiasts will surely love coming back here often. For one, they retail a wide range of musical instruments, such as pianos, guitars, and more.
Aside from this, we find it commendable that they also offer music lessons in-store. They have a roster of commendable teachers who can teach how to play various instruments.
Prospective students may even check their bios on the website to check the qualifications of each instructor!
On top of this, they also host recitals in their piano room. Most of the events are free of charge unless the performer decides to charge an entry fee.
Overall, we think Forsyth Music Shop is a good destination for music lovers in Manchester.
The only downside is that there have been reports where their staff members were unattentive. Nonetheless, many clients we spoke with mentioned they were happy with the service that they received.
2. Johnny Roadhouse Music
Services: Guitars and Bass, Folk and Strings, Drums and Percussion, Pre-Owned, Brass and Wind, Pro Audio, Others
Website: https://www.johnnyroadhouse.co.uk/
Address: 123 Oxford Rd, All Saints, Manchester M1 7DU, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 273 1000
Operating Hours: Sunday | Thursday: 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Monday to Wednesday | Friday to Saturday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.6/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 4.8/5 |
Total Reviews | 4.7/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Range of Products | 5/5 |
Variety of Service | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 4/5 |
Pros
- Has a wide range of products
- Offers brand new and pre-loved instruments
- Has knowledgeable and helpful staff members
Cons
- Some customers received faulty items
As for those who are looking to buy instruments, Johnny Roadhouse Music is a good place to be. We commend them for having a wide range of products.
Here, they have almost all types of instruments, including guitars, pianos, drums, and many more. For each instrument, they also carry various types and brands.
With this in mind, we highly recommend them to clients who are looking for something specific. Since they have a lot of stocks in-store, there is a big chance that they will have what one is looking for.
Another notable thing about them is that they sell both brand-new and pre-loved instruments. On this note, we like that their customers have even more options to choose from.
We appreciate that they also have a variety of accessories musicians would need.
Aside from instruments, they also sell pro audio essentials like audio interfaces, headphones, drum machines, microphones, and many more.
Aside from their selection, their staff members are also commendable. For instance, some customers we surveyed shared that the employees here are knowledgeable and helpful.
We believe that their excellent staff will be perfect for those who have a lot of questions about the item that they would buy.
Unfortunately, we are a bit letdown that a significant number of customers received faulty items. We recommend testing products thoroughly before leaving the store because there are also instances where they did not provide a refund for such items.
3. Chase Direct
Services: Pianos and Keyboards, Guitars, Drums and Percussion, Instrument Bags, Orchestral and Folk, Accessories
Website: https://chasedirect.co.uk/c
Address: Chase Music Shop, 58 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 244 5555
Operating Hours: Monday | Wednesday to Saturday: 11:00 AM–5:30 PM
Google Reviews Score | 4.2/5 |
Facebook Reviews Score | 3.4/5 |
Total Reviews | 3.8/5 |
Score Consistency | 4/5 |
Range of Products | 5/5 |
Variety of Service | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 4/5 |
Pros
- Offers discounts
- Carries a lot of brands
- Has attentive customer service
- Has reliable online shopping
Cons
- May release a faulty instrument
As for those who are looking for a good deal, we recommend that you try Chase Direct. They always have a clearance sale where you can score big discounts on instruments and accessories.
There are instances where you can save as much as £300 on pianos, keyboards, guitars, and many more.
On the other hand, clients who are on the hunt for top-of-the-line items will also find something here. The store carries a lot of brands and they have the latest models on display.
If a customer is looking for a specific item and it is not readily in stock, they can even help you source it. We find their helpfulness incredibly useful for those in a pinch for hard-to-find instruments and accessories.
Another good thing about them is that they make shopping convenient. Clients who prefer shopping in the store will be greeted by knowledgeable staff members who will patiently guide them through all the relevant products.
For those who like online shopping, they have an organised catalogue of stocks that can help you narrow down the items. We appreciate that they also waive delivery charges for orders above £100.
When it comes to their return policy, we were happy to learn that they offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for items bought in-store and online.
The only caveat is that there are customers who complained that they received faulty instruments. While this is a bit disappointing since it caused inconvenience to some customers, we feel a bit better about this since they offers guarantees.
4. Rigby Music MCR The Guitar & Bass Shop
Services: Buy, Sell or Trade a Guitar; Service, Repair, Modify or Build a Guitar; Book Lessons or Classes; Custom built guitars and basses; Teaching; Amp Repairs
Website: https://www.theguitarandbassshop.co.uk/
Address: 7 Byrom Ave, Manchester M19 3HH, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 7969 177406
Operating Hours: Tuesday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Wednesday: 4:00 PM–6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 5/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 5/5 |
Range of Products | 5/5 |
Variety of Service | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 5/5 |
Pros
- Good for guitar enthusiasts
- Have good customer representatives
- Offers affordable guitar lessons
Cons
- Online catalogue cannot be filtered per category
Rigby Music MCR The Guitar & Bass Shop is a good shop for guitar enthusiasts. They have a wide range of services that can cater to anyone who likes to pursue the instrument.
The first service that they offer is retailing guitars. We appreciate that they have a selection of good quality electric and bass guitars.
On top of this, we were also happy to learn that they have staff members who can assist in narrowing choices based on why the customer intends to buy a guitar.
On top of this, there is also an option to shop online — which is commendable if you ask us. However, we did not like that there is no way to sort the items, making it difficult to find items.
Aside from selling guitars, Rigby Music has staff who can also teach you how to play them. One of their instructors has over 20 years of experience in playing the instrument and many other musical feats.
With this expertise, we think customers can be assured that they are in good hands with the team. Moreover, we like that there is an option to take classes as an individual or as a group.
The rate for guitar lessons starts here at £30 for 45 minutes, which is not bad if you ask us.
However, the limitation of this shop is that they do not offer any other products or services aside from electric and bass guitars.
5. C. Bechstein Centre
Services: Piano Retails, Piano Rentals, Practice Studios, Piano Lessons
Website: https://www.bechstein.co.uk/
Address: 7-9 Tib St, Manchester M4 1AD, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 527 7677
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Google Reviews Score | 5/5 |
Facebook Reviews | 5/5 |
Total Reviews | 5/5 |
Score Consistency | 5/5 |
Range of Products | 4/5 |
Variety of Service | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 5/5 |
Pros
- Sells top-of-the-line pianos
- Offers long-term and short-term piano lessons
- Offers piano lessons with competitive instructor
Cons
- Limited to pianos only
As for piano enthusiasts who are on the hunt for top-of-the-line instruments, we suggest that you drop by C. Bechstein Centre. We were impressed by their selection of upright and grand pianos.
Their bestseller is the C. Bechstein, which is a renowned manufacturer from Germany since 1853. This is best for both beginners and seasoned players who intend to play solo in chamber rooms.
Aside from retailing pianos, there are also many other activities that you can do here. For instance, there are six rooms that customers can use as practice studios – which we find convenient for students without a piano at home!
The rates start at £10 per hour. Since each room is already equipped with a piano and sound system, we think that this is a good deal for pianists who want to have privacy as they practise.
On top of this, customers may also rent pianos from them. They have both short-term and long-term rental options — which is convenient if you ask us.
Most customers who opt for short-term arrangements use the pianos for concerts, parties, and other similar events. On the other hand, those that go for long-term rentals place the piano in their home or office.
They also have piano lessons that start at £20 for a 30-minute lesson. Since the instructor has a degree in Masters of Music in Piano Performance Creative Practice, we think that this is definitely worth the price.
The only caveat is that they are focused on the piano only. If you want a store with more range of instruments, it would be best to explore other options.
6. Haunted Dance Hall
Services: Records
Website: https://haunted-dancehall.com/
Address:
Wellington House // Unit 10 – 2nd Floor
Pollard Street East
M40 7FS Manchester
Contact Details:
tel/whatsapp : 07413280088
email: [email protected]
ig: @haunteddancehall
Operating Hours:
monday: closed
tuesday: 11-20
wednesday: 11-20
thursday: 11-20
friday: 11-20
saturday: 14-20
sunday: closed
Google Reviews Score | 4.9/5 |
Facebook Reviews | N/A |
Total Reviews | N/A |
Score Consistency | N/A |
Range of Products | 4/5 |
Variety of Service | 3/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Customer Service | 5/5 |
Pros
- Extensive records catalogue
- Specializes in electronic music
- New and used vinyl records
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Closed on Mondays and Sundays
- Only sells records
Haunted Dance Hall is a record store located on the second floor of Wellington House.
This store specializes in electronic music, and focuses on dance floor tracks.
You can find a mix of new and used vinyl records, and also reissues. So if these are what you’re looking for, then we think you might want to schedule a trip to this store soon.
We like that they have a wide range of records on their catalogue and you can see what they have on their website as well.
There’s always something new you can find here, so there’s no limit to the amount of times you should go here!
We find their overall collection fantastic, and we’re sure you won’t come out empty-handed.
Their staff is also incredible and unparalleled when it comes to providing customer-oriented service.
All in all, we highly recommend if you’re looking for a record store to go to!