Great music shop, certainly the most genuine music shop in Edinburgh…read more Rikki's stocks of crazy guitars you've probably never heard of but if you have something paticular on your mind they can no doubt order it in for you. I ordered a Danelectro 12string from Rikki's that I hadn't seen in any music shops in Edinburgh or even on Londons Denmark Street and had presumed impossible to find in the UK (and Rikki got it for a better price than any place online) Rikki's also seems to have the weird ability to have in stock the exact thing you are looking for. I was on the hunt for a multitrack cassette recorder and Rikki's just happened to have a Tascam 244 tucked away. Lovely guys who always have a chat and help you out, even taught me how to restring my guitar when I was 13.

While out wandering around Leith Walk trying to see where I could find a decent guitar to start…read morelearning with my new copy of Rocksmith we came across Rikki's with it's bold shop sign popped into view ahead. We were warmly welcomed when we entered and he was quite helpful in finding the right guitar to start with, giving me a quick demo to get a feel for it and hooking me up with gear for it. They are pretty crammed wall to wall with all sorts of instruments and with the really warm service i'd recommend a visit if you're ever that way inclined.

had a fret issue with my baritone ukulele. had problems finding a possible time for Chris to fix it…read moreas I work with it 3 days a week. It would have meant having to cancel a couple of gigs. He took it in and fixed it for me on the same day despite him being booked to the gunnels with other just as vital jobs. It sounds brilliant and I'm very grateful to him for doing this for me so quickly . He's a wizard. I have used him in the past and his work is first class. Cannot recommend him highly enough.

I'm incredibly picky when it comes to my guitars, how they play, how they are stored etc. Wouldn't…read moremess around when trusting them to someone else - particularly someone who is going to be using power tools on them! I would not hesitate to recommend Chris McIntyre - he has done lots of work for me over the last few years, all of which has been done to an exceptional standard. The instruments he makes are beautiful too. Good guy, excellent work, fair prices. I'll be sticking with Chris!

From the moment you roll up to the swanky York Place address of Stringer's, it's apparent that…read moreyou're in a shop for music professionals. Not really a place to browse, you have to wait for a receptionist to buzz you into the premises, and then are immediately met by solicitous sales staff eager to know your business. The walls are lined with beautiful and shiny stringed instruments in different shades of mahogany and teak, and although I am a strictly amateur musician and simply came in to pick up some rosin for my cello, I could sense that the people here have real expertise, and are used to dealing with players of all levels, from those who play as a hobby to virtuoso performers. This is not the place to pick up a fiddle on the cheap: it is instead somewhere you can depend on for dependable and quality service, whether you're hoping to repair an instrument or acquire something new.

I've played the violin all my life, and when it came for me to get my own it had to be from…read morestringers. Being a musician, I've found that a lot of other musicians (myself not included) tend to have a fairly high opinion of themselves and there is always an air of superiority when I've looked to buy my own violin from other people. But not in stringers. The building is beautiful and as soon as you go in you are greeted with that magnificent smell of polished varnish (...ok maybe it's a violin thing). In the main rooms the walls are lined with beautiful violins, cellos, viola's and a couple double bass. Upstairs is the same but even better...bows and mahogany everywhere. I was quite literally like a kid in a candy shop. I was undecided about which violin I wanted - I had a choice of 3, and whilst I was dithering the staff put the 3 violins away in their cases and just gave them to me for the weekend....they just gave them to me! This gives you an idea of the level of friendliness in this place. There are leaflets everywhere too with details of instructors and concerts as well as leaflets on how to maintain your instrument and how to improve your playing. I was quite lucky in that my violin was being paid for by the BBC via a bursary, otherwise it would have been well outwith my price range. The prices can start from around £200 up to £20,000! But it's a great place, even if you don't play an instrument, just walk around and smell the varnish!

I highly recommend The Wind Section. I went to enquire about buying a flute. As I entered to shop I…read morewas struck by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere and was immediately put at my ease. Malcolm was so helpful and the service I received was second to none. I was allowed to take a selection of flutes to try on my own and when I was having difficulty, Malcolm suggested he listen to me play each one. He is very knowledgeable and advised me which sounded the best. I acted on his advice and now have an amazing flute. The after service is also brilliant. I know that I can trust Malcolm with any further help and advice I might need, something I find to be very rare.

It's a small shop - but gives exceptionally good service - especially after-sales and repairs or…read moreservcing of instruments, which, in my experience they do (expertly) on the spot or same day, if possible - great if you have to travel any distance. Recently the workshop identified a fault with my clarinet, which was still under warranty, and they offered to negotiate with the maker to fix the problem - even though I'd bought it elsewhere and the Wind Section had no responsibility. Fantastic service! They're now my go-to shop for instruments.

I first came into scayles when a friend was planning on buying a guitar. There was a lot to choose…read morefrom (the store seems to specialise in this department) and the staff was eager to assist and advise. They have a good selection of instruments. All are fairly competiively priced. The shop isn't the biggest but they make the most of the space.

Scayles is one of Edinburgh's many music stores, and is perhaps one of the smallest. Selling a huge…read morerange of musical instruments including trumpets, guitars, tamborines and mandolins they will cater to almost your every musical need. We bought one of our guy friends a pink Ukelele from here for his 21st and filled it with condoms. It was only around £20, bargain! I saw a Spongebob Square Pants Ukelele in the window once and was mega impressed. This shop also had a good selection of accessories for a variety of instruments and music books to go with your instrument. There is also a board at the back which musicians use to find a new drummer/singer/whatever so a handy hint of your on the lookout for a band.

These guys are great. I had asked folks around Edinburgh where I should take an old guitar of mine…read moreto be worked on and everyone recommended GuitarGuitar. I took this old electro acoustic in and they knew exactly what the issue was and gave me a few options on some possible other work. I stuck with the basic option and they happily obliged. They repaired it at a good price and it works great. I've yet to shop for a new guitar in the shop, but they have a good selection of great guitars. Whenever I go for my next guitar or gear, then I'll definitely be stopping here to check out the options.

Guitar Guitar can be summed up with one word: impressive. From the outside, the guitar enthusiast…read moreis immediately drawn into it's embrace with well presented window displays giving a taster as to the wonders that lie within. The range of guitars that are stocked here is incredible. Just about every brand of guitar I am familiar with was present here. Electrics, acoustics, electro-acoustics, classicals, 12 strings... you can find them all here. And it's not just guitars. Amps, strings, bags, straps, picks, tuition materials are all to be found. The prices are surprisingly reasonable. I was looking at Freshman acoustics and was very pleased to find them at a price not considerably more expensive than if I were to buy them online (usually a lot cheaper online as they don't come with the same warranties,standards of service etc). Furthermore, there are a great selection of second hand instruments available at respectably discounted prices. The staff are very easy to approach and very helpful. A pleasure for any existing or potential guitar enthusiasts to visit, even if you don't have an intention of making a purchase.

With a gloriously old fashioned sign, I was enticed into Varsity for the variety of instruments…read moredisplayed in the window, and the promise of low prices. Vasity have been supplying the Edinburgh musical community with good quality instruments for over 30 years. Although they primarily specialise in selling and repairing beautiful pianos, they also have an impressive brass collection, with flutes selling for as low as under £200. They also have a number of affordable, good quality electric guitars that would be good for beginners like myself wanting to get a handle on things. For aspiring musicians and people wanting to teach themselves scores, they have a number of song books at the back along with some classical sheet music. A perfectly adequate music store with numerous services, Varsity is good for people in high school playing instruments to professionals who are in need of good equipment or repairs. The staff are friendly and great at pointing you in the right direction.

Situated on the bustling Nicholson Street, Varsity Music is in a great location for catching any…read moremusic fans as they pass through. They aim to specialise in pianos and seem to have a good range, but they also offer brass instruments, a wide selection of bass, acoustic and electric guitars and even accordions. I'm no good at music myself, but the staff in here are friendly and keen to lend a helping hand to anyone looking to into an instrument. They sell plenty of instructional books and DVDs for all the instruments they sell along with sheet music. Whether you're looking for a new instrument to take up or just a renewal, Varsity Music is the place.

James Stewart was so helpful when we visited Edinburgh over the summer, even giving my son a quick…read morelesson after we bought some practice pipes. Ralph was also great, answering our questions by e-mail even after we had returned to the States. Several months on now, I can say that their practice pipes are still going strong and my son is actually starting to sound decent, which is no small feat when it comes to bagpipes!

It's best to start with some details on opening hours. The opening hours for Saturday are like…read morenormal shop hours, however, you can also visit during the week. If you call ahead to tell the shop you are coming then you can visit Monday to Friday 10am till 5pm, but not unless you do this. When you get there the staff are normally working elsewhere repairing some pianos (I guess they don't think you're likely to just walk off with a piano) you unless you request some guidance and advice (which I suggest you do early if you want it) then you will be left to your own devices. The first thing you'll notice about these pianos is that they are stunning. Put any of these in an art gallery and they won't look out of place. You are looking at a reasonable sum of money spent here, these aren't some cheap Casio keyboards, but you are getting something of unbelieveable quality. Even if you aren't looking to buy a walk around here is a fabulous use of time, but if you do this I suggest you go on the Saturday not during the week as the staff won't mind you looking on Saturdays, but they prefer buying during the week.

Upmarket piano store, now run by "sons" rather than Allan Makin. This is where the Edinburgh elite…read moregoes for its Steinways, Bechsteins and Bosendorfers. Refurbishment and piano tuning services, too.