My more independent streak want's to give this place less stars, and bang on about how the staff…read moreare unfriendly an aloof and this place just doesn't have a feel for the people like Badlands Guitars (which their is some truth in). The big BUT is though, that this place is simply the biggest and most wide ranging guitar shop in Brighton, and stocks the most things. Electrics, Acoustic, Basses, Amps, Keyboards, Stomp boxes, recording equipment, song books etc etc... will be found here. I was half expecting the store employee to eat me alive or stand around me whilst I played one of the guitars and point and laugh, as I had heard some less than good things about this place, but I was pleasantly surprised to be served by a nice, chilled out dude who was helpful and unpushy. I bought a direct jack to USB to record on garage band, though could have stayed for days just looking at the guitars and dreaming. If your wanting to get a starter electric guitar as well as a high end option, this place will no doubt come in handy due to the sheer amounts they have here. I would though recommend starting at Badlands and chatting to the owner first, as he can really spend a bit of time with you and maybe take you through things, in a less frantic and busy environment.

If anyones ever been to a guitar shop in the States, then they'll know that this shop is pretty…read moresimilar. Its pretty big as the place goes back a fair old way and there is just about evey different kind of guitar, amp or drum kit to chose from. I recently bought a Squire Telecaster from them and a little practice amp as I hadn't played for yonks and they were so helpful. No hard sales and no trying to impress you with long complicated solos. I do pop in now and again for the odd tip and bit of advice and they're always happy to help. Fantastic shop!

I bought an Irish Bouzouki from them over the phone, but I had some very specific questions about…read moreit, and some requirements on how I would like the instrument to be set up. After the stand-offish treatment I'd had in person at a rival folk instrument shop (whose name begins with 'H' and is the name of a mythical creature) I was really impressed. The shop manager listened to what I wanted, and took notes, and gave me reassurances (this was after I told myself I'd never buy an instrument without touching it first). He told me about their professional luthier who does instrument setup, who would set up the bouzouki to my exact requirements, which I duly explained. There was no pressure on me to buy there and then, and I needed to have a think about it. Having been impressed with my initial call, not to mention the price, I called back the next day. I spoke to someone else, who had actually been briefed about the conversation the day before, and had the notes to hand. I explained that I was ready to buy it, and he was very helpful, informing me when they would get the instrument from the warehouse, confirming my setup requirements, which day the luthier would set it up, and which day it would be shipped. I haven't had such courtesy from a shop in a very long time. It arrived today, exactly when they said it would, perfectly packaged, and most importantly, set up beautifully. I will buy from The Music Box again in a heartbeat!

These guys must have been in business for just over a year now. I remember them opening just after…read moreI started working as a workshop manager for a nearby cycle shop. I also remember wondering if they were going to survive. When they first set out they seemed to stock exclusively weird and wonderful guitar based things like twelve strings and guitars with seventy three necks. They seem to have calmed that side of things down now though and focussed mainly in the folk side of things. The service is still the warm personal experience that I have always had from them though, when I looked in briefly today , only after a business card, the man who I spoke to was so welcoming I thought he was about to offer me a cup of tea. Not only have these guys got their stock to be a bit more down to earth but they now offer a really comprehensive range of services too such as set ups for all your string instrument needs and lessons for about every folky device you can imagine. Don't worry though, if you do still want and axe with a neck sticking out at either end or a thrash metal Ukulele this is still the place to come.

My flatmate- pre-moving in with boyfriend- played the sitar. So cool, I know. It was a lovely…read moreinstrument to hear wafting through the floor and looked incredible in the living room but was understandably hard to maintain. It is because of this sitar that I first entered Adaptatrap- in search of sitar strings. Boy! Does the shopkeeper/owner know his stuff! He was a mine of useful information about sitars, as well as all the other percussion items I picked up and played with. This is a brilliant place to go for an unusual gift, for something small and fun for kids (maraccas, small bongo drum, kazoo!) or for anyone who happens to play an unusual instrument. They stock some lovely African and South American instruments in here as well- really interesting stuff. The prices range from just a few pounds to a fair chunk- go and have a peek, the owner's passion is contagious.

If someone told you they'd just been to a shop called Adaptatrap, you'd not be crazy for thinking…read morethat it was a ridiculously niche shop focused on helping people who needed to tinker and customise or turn their mice and rat traps into something completely different. But...It is not. What Adaptatrap is though is probably the best shop in Brighton to look at/talk about/purchase percussion instruments. My old flatmate was really interested in African music and Adaptatrap was always his first port of call. He brought I think what was called a Tuning drum from their. which is an African drum where the tuning is changed by squeezing it (like a bagpipe, in a way). What a crazy instrument. If your into similar things, COME HERE.

A really cool place. Owned by Dr Bob. Its nice to talk to someone who really loves what he sales…read more He's the sort of guy that would give as much time to a customer as possible. I bet he would make sure the guitarist gets the right product rather than sale just anything. The walls are covered in cool guitars. Its a shame I'm not musical because these instrument are still hip after 50 years of Rock,n,roll. The guitars are 2nd hand but look new. Theres a variety of colours and shapes. Accessories can be purchased here as well. The doorbell has to be rung to enter the shop but that doesn't mean its not a friendly place. Anything but!

shop looks great now the refurb done well done doctor bobread more

Wanna be the new Jimi Hendrix, Joan Jett or Jack White?…read more Better get your ass down to Brighton Guitars then. They sell amplifiers, FX pedals, acoustic guitars and recording equipment but the main selling point is their brilliant selection of Fender Stratocasters, Burns Scorpions, Tanglewood 4 and 5 string basses and Crafter electro-acoustic guitars. You can road-test them, buy spare strings and get advice on which guitar sounds best for the type of music you want to play. Don't even think about picking up the Howe Gibson ES-175D however, unless you have a cool two grand in your pocket and fingertips like Chuck Berry.

My brother is the musician in the family. I managed about 1 year of guitar lessons and some bad…read moretab playing. Still, I always have a soft spot in my heart for the six stringers. In a lot of ways being above a second hand clothes store is perfect for a guitar shop such as this. They tend to stock a more vintage and purist breed of guitar and I don't need to go into the Howe Gibson, Jack and Sarah-Jane have more than done it justice already. I would not suggest any hard core metal axe-men to come here (although they may still enjoy an alternative instrument to their staple piece), but if you want that 60's/70's spirit of Woodstock and related guitars then you will be in heaven. I had a wander round during the week and it was a pretty quiet day, so the staff were pretty chatty and good for a laugh. They did make a valiant attempt to return me to the path of the musician, but alas I knew my credit card would not allow such a venture. Still, if I was ever to think about picking up a guitar in the future (most likely a mid life crisis moment in 10 years time) then I reckon these guys would get my business.

This shop, nay, great shop crammed to the hilts with handcrafted guitars is one of the best I have…read morebeen to. The owner or sales assistant is very passionate about his craft and gives great advice for anyone looking to buy their first guitar. You will have to pay the price, but if you are serious about playing guitars, you will have to make a serious investment.

Dean's Electronics is a local shop for local people, and one of the handful of surviving…read moreindependent businesses on St James' Street that sell practical goods rather than luxury items (think patisseries, delis, clothes, plants, furnishings...). Here's the place to go if you need an extension cable, a toaster, a wall clock and such like. There's a great stock with plenty of models of each item. The shop specialises in home electricals, incliding tv parts - though if you need anything computer related you wont find it here. And expect to pay a full whack £14.99 - £24.99 for a toaster - there're no smartprice options here! I asked the owner how he does for business when I went in there recently to buy a tv scart lead, and he sounded pretty positive, as I guess there's not too much competition this end of town. Nevertheless I imagine many people head to the city centre chains and the Asda hypermarket for many item... Anyway, enough waffling! Support Dean's Electronics because it's local and the owner is lovely - he even gave me money off my purchase cos it was near closing time and he'd had a nice day!

Deans is one of those amazing shops that will never, ever not have what you need. Well, providing…read morewhat you need is electrical, that is. The place is packed full of various household electrical goods, such as kettles, toasters and radios, as well as all kinds of cables, extension leads, lightbulbs and wires. If electricity runs through it, they sell it. Like many independent places, the quality of the service here is fabulous - I went in with an unusual shaped lightbulb which I had given up hope of being able to replace - they found it for me instantly.