FAQs

Yes, you can try out instruments in our shops.

We offer part-exchanges and a commission sale service, and sometimes we can buy instruments outright. Contact your closest branch to find out how we can help you to sell your instrument.

The 5-String G Banjo is used for Bluegrass music, usually in the style popularised by Earl Scruggs, and players look for a resonator and tone ring. For old time clawhammer or frailing styles, an open backed simpler model is better. Finger style classical banjo also uses the 5 string, but is less common now. Used for bluegrass and country music, and for old time and song accompaniment in the British Isles.

Gibson pioneered making mandolins with front and back carved into an arch from sold wood similar to a violin. These days arch tops are also created by pressing the wood to shape. Generally with f-shaped soundholes, this style is preferred for bluegrass...

Carved top mandolins made by Gibson in their F style, with a scroll and point on the body, have remained popular and there are many similar models on the market now. We offer Blue Moon, Ashburyand Kentucky. These all have an arch-top and f holes.

It has 12 strings tuned strictly in fourths EADGCF one ocatave lower than a 12 string guitar. It usually has a deep cutaway.

The Balalaika is a triangular bowl backed lute from Russia. The Balalaika is a family of instruments, the soprano one here is the lead instrument. The family includes six sizes of instrument; Piccolo, Prima, Sekunda, Alto. Bass and Contrabass- the Prima being the most common. They are either 3 string EAA or six string DAE. Sometimes strung with 2 nylon As and a 0.10 plain steel E

Bandurria, a short necked pear shaped flat backed lute not unlike a flat backed mandolin. It has 12 strings and takes parts in Spanish music that would be taken by Mandolin in Italy.

The Laud is very much the same having 12 strings but with...

The Banjo developed in America from its African origins, and is now immensely popular, due to its unique sound, suitability for a wide variety of music, and because it is so easy to play. Common types include the 5 - string, the tenor with four strings, the mandolin banjo or banjolin with eight and the ever popular uke banjo with four nylon strings.

The Baritone uke is the biggest in the family and tunes to DGBE or EAGD. When tuned to DGBE this is the same as the top four strings of a guitar, so it's a very easy instrument for guitar players to pick up.

The Bouzouki is a long-necked Lute developed in Greece from its Turkish roots. Originally 6 stringed, it now usually has 8 strings tuned CFAD. It was picked up by Irish musicians travelling abroad and adapted for their use by retuning to GDAE or GDAD. Modern makers then started producing them with flat backs which made them almost identical to the octave mandola. The crucial difference is the scale length, which is longer. This can affect fingering, but also affects sound because the strings are thinner. Generally the mandolas are better at tunes, bouzoukis for accompanying, but this is not a strict rule.

The Charango has a carved wooden or Armadillo shell back, and 10 nylon strings,

Two row chromatics have the rows tuned a semitone apart. The first key quoted is the lower. B/C is most common but we do sometimes have C/C# and C#/D. Chromatic tuning is normal in Ireland and popular as well in Scotland.

Two row diatonics have rows tuned one fourth apart, D/G is most common in England, while C/F is preferred in Germany and G/C in France.

Three row melodeons expand the possibilities, we sell new ones in A/D/G. We sometimes have secondhand ones in B/C/C# as well.

GENERAL INFO FOR ALL ACCORDIONS & MELODEONS

The Anglo is commonly used for dance-music, particularly Morris, and Irish music. It's also used to accompany songs, shanties etc. Each button produces a different note on the push and draw of the bellows (so there are TWO notes per button). The high notes are on the right-hand end, the low on the left. So you can play the tune with the right hand, and vamp chords with the left.

Blues Harmonicas have 10 holes with a single reed per note, which should be easy to bend.

Chromatic harmonicas usually have 10 or 12 holes, with a slider to provide all the semitones, similar to a B/C melodeon.

The concertina was invented by Charles Wheatstone, and the earliest examples, which he called the symphonium, were made in 1829. Its huge popularity in the 19th century was diminished by the arrival of the piano accordion in the 20th. The folk revival has see the concertina back in demand, There are three quite different fingering systems in common use: Anglo, English, and Duet.

We can supply any part needed through the repair departments in each shop. The essential pads and springs for running repairs are a main stock line and listed here.

The Duet Conertina is probably the hardest to play, but the most versatile. Like the English, the same note plays in both directions, but like the Anglo, the treble notes are on the right hand end, and the bass notes on the left.

The Ashbury range of acoustic basses covers 4 and 5 string models, fretted and fretless, all with solid spruce tops and good 4 band EQ systems.

Arch-top guitars first came in in the early 20th century. They often have a fat body, f-shaped sound holes and an adjustable bridge. They have always been popular for jazz and are often known as Jazz guitars.

Bass guitars usually have four strings, tuned to E A G D (one octave below the bottom four strings of a guitar). Five string (and occasionally six string) basses are becoming more common lately. They are either played with a plectrum (some players prefer a bass pick which is larger than a normal plectrum) or by finger picking. Can have either an acoustic hollow body or a solid electric one.

We stock strings for both acoustic and solid electric basses.

We stock acoustic basses in all our shops. Canterbury is our main stockist of electric basses and the staff there are players and enthusiasts. We recommend Ashbury for acoustic basses and Fender, Cort and Yamaha for electrics.

Blue Moon has a great range of beginner guitars from China available in three sizes. All of them are excellent value for money, sturdily built and ideal to start on. Yamaha is the first choice for many people, with all models guaranteed to be reliable...

The Dobro or Spider bridge style of Resonator is also a single cone however this time it is inverted in the body of the guitar, like a bowl, and is generally 10 9/16 inch in diameter or there abouts. The bridge is a lightweight metal alloy eight legged...

We stock Fender, Yamaha, Cort, Spector, Dean and Blue Moon basses. Our best stocks are in Canterbury. Call 01227 769484

Electric Guitars are available mainly from our Canterbury shop. Please call for sales advice on 01227 796484

Electric Guitars are available mainly from our Canterbury shop where the staff are all players and enthuiasts. Please call for sales advice on 01227 796484. We stock Fender, Cort, Vintage, Jackson, and more at great prices and a wide range of secondhand...

Descended from the Northern European zithers, the Appalachian Dulcimer developed in the Appalachian mountains of the Eastern USA, where it was used in old time music. Its popularity has spread because of its delicate sound, and the ease with which it can be played. An ideal instrument for song accompaniment.

The Autoharp is associated with with American, particularly Appalachian, folk music. It is a development of the zither dating from the 1880s in Germany. The Autoharp is almost identical to a Chord Zither with the addition of a set of spring wooden bars with felt dampers which effectively fret and dampen the relevant strings for each chord. The Autoharp is currently easily the most popular instrument in the zither family,

The Autoharp is currently easily the most popular instrument in the zither family, while the cymbala sounds great and is a perfect way for children to learn to make music. We stock Autoharps, Cymbalas, Appalachian Dulcimers, Hammered Dulcimers and Psalteries...

Bows for stringed instruments are generally made from hardwood sticks with a wooden 'frog' at one end where the player holds it. A small hank of horse hair is stretched from the frog to the tip. A sticky substance called rosin is used to make the hair grip the strings of the instrument and force the vibrations from it.

The Bow plays a vital part in the sound produced by a violin, viola, cello or bass. So it is important to select a bow compatible with the payer's style and with the instrument being used.

The weight of the stick affects the feel of the bow in the player's hand as well as the tone of the instrument. 60g is a common weight for a good full size violin bow.

Around the world there are many variations of bowed instrument beyond the well-known violin family. We have included all the wheel-driven instruments here too.

The Bowed Psaltery is a triangular instrument with tuning pins on the short end and strings running from there to posts at intervals along each side. The strings are played between the posts with a short arched bow. It is generally tuned in a chomatic 2 octave scale with black notes on the left and the white on the right as seen from the blunt end.

The Celtic Harp or Clarsach is almost unchanged since the 11th century. The famous Brian Boru harp has the same shape as the harps we sell today. Early celtic harps had bodies carved from solid wood, and brass strings, and only played in one key. Nowadays it is usual to use a softwood soundboard, and Nylon strings, and there are semitone levers for changing key. The concert harp developed from the Celtic Harp and features increased tension, more notes, and pedals.

Blue Moon student violins are great fun, and very colourful. They have a high quality traditional construction using solid tonewoods. All models have a metal tailpiece with integral adjusters, and come complete with bow and case.

The Cymbala is a great way for children to learn music and pick out songs for the first time. Usually comes with song charts to go under the strings.

Rather than risk the setup on your acoustic violin by fitting a pickup, why not try a purpose built electric violin? It gives you freedom from the microphone, and a well balanced output from the specially designed pickup system.

The Headway Acoustic Amps are a new breed, designed especially for the professional and discerning acoustic musician. Ideal for the stage and the studio, the amps produce a uniquely true and clean acoustic sound, with all the effects you need to get ...

All our shops stock Marshall plus a small range of additional combo amps. Canterbury has a full range of amplification and stock Artec, Fender, Stagg, Marshall, Eden, Hartke and more. We offer amps for players of both Electric and Acoustic instruments...

Our main shop for Bass Amps is Canterbury. Call 01227 769484 for expert advice. Everything is available online and we have a small range in each of the other shops.

Leem is a highly respected maker of good quality electronics in Korea. Their reliable range of cables is one of the best from the Far East, but comes at a very sensible price.

All our shops have the Artec pedals and the Logarythm Stompbox. Canterbury has a much larger range of pedals and effects. Call 01227 769484

Artec make a practical and reliable range of small amplifiers. Ideal for use at home or for backline on stage. We stock Fender, Marshall and other leading brands. Our best stock of amps is in Canterbury.

Microvox microphone systems are suitable for many different instruments, and attach using a removeable velcro strip, which insulates from unwanted mechanical noise. It also allows you to transfer the microphone to another instrument instantly. Please...

We stock dynamic and condenser mics, also mic systems from Microvox which use small electret mics to attach to a wide variety of instruments. We also sell a rance of transtucers and magnetic pickups for guitars and other frets.

Artec and Belcat transducers come from Korea and are attractively priced. The quality of sound is excellent, and many well known guitar makers fit them as standard.

Canterbury is our specialist digital piano shop. We have a good stock in the showroom and expert staff to help. Call 01227 769484

Canterbury is our specialist keyboard shop, we have a good range on display there and expert staff to help. Call 01227 769484

Ball ended strings are the norm for acoustic guitars. Some other fretted instruments also take ball ended strings. Check the tailpiece of your instrument to see what kind you need.

We recommend Shubb capos, made in the USA, as the best on the market. We keep stocks of spare sleeves and caps for all the Shubb capos, call for details.

This section includes, soft and hard cases for all shapes of guitar. The rugged Ashbury padded bags offer several levels of protection, and we have traditional wooden and modern moulded and lightweight polystyrene hard cases.

Loop ended strings are generally suitable for fretted instruments like mandolins, banjos and bouzoukis, with some exceptions. Check the tailpiece of your instrument to see what kind you need.

Single Strings and String Sets for all kinds of instruments.