O.M.D. The Icicle Works…read moreTeardrop Explodes Echo & The Bunnymen Frankie Goes To Hollywood The La's The Coral The Zutons & Candie Payne The list of artists that have bought instruments from Curly Music probably stretches the length of the shop. The reason they've chosen to shop there is simple, it's one of the longest running independent music shops 'run by musicians for musicians'. That means there's a top notch selection of guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, synthesisers, drum machines and percussion from leading brands. Beginners can pick up special guitar packages (including unbranded Telecasters and Marshall amps for a bargain £159) whilst there's a great secondhand section including Rickenbackers, Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Les Pauls for seasoned musos. Helpfully, Curly also sell spares and mend instruments on site. The thing that's most endearing however, is the staff's obvious love of all things musical. If you don't play an instrument yet, they'll make you leave wanting to!

Curly Music stock a huge range of musical instruments and is one of three musical shops on the same…read morestreet. It is argubly the best of the three. I am no music expert but I don't have to be, as anybody (whether or not you're a novice) will realise that staff here are passionate enough in the field to provide sound advice on all your musical needs. You can feel and sample instruments to your heart's content given permission, which is more than welcome. Curly Music are the most affordable out of the three music stores. It is undoubtedly a well-established independent shop, that ranks high with many music lovers.

The BEST music company in Wigan. They hired friendly polite, educated staff, considerate and…read moreinterested in what YOU need instead of what they want to sell you. They didn't have "an attitude" etc.... They have floors of all sorts and used equipment too. The girl was really nice and the prices were really good too, I did notice a really well made mandolin that was very cheap indeed..

As you would expect from a city that boasts about its musical heritage and contribution to pop…read moreculture as much as Liverpool, there a few independent music shops that can be found around the city centre. Music Notes is one of the smaller music stores that I have come across and placed in an odd area of town, in my opinion, to find it. Being small seems to encourage this place to stock mainly small musical instruments. I'm not entirely sure if they offer more online but you wont find any pianos or drum kits although there are plenty of half size guitars, eukeles, bongos and harmonicas. However they do stock a wide range of sheet music and song books. Good for those looking to take up a new hobby or dwarves in folk bands.

A nice and friendly music shop on North John Street. Very helpful staff which meant I didn't have…read moreto hunt through all the books in their well stocked music shop. The shop has been open for over eight years and really know what they are doing. The stock includes music for all abilities and tastes from the beginner to the professional musician. If you want to find the right music to learn to sing or play your chosen instrument be it piano, guitar, saxophone, drums, trumpet, violin, recorder, penny whistle, banjo etc. then you have come to the right place. There is a noticeboard in the entrance of the shop where you advertise concerts and gigs.

Seriously folks if you're looking around for the best place in Liverpool to buy a guitar or have…read morelessons, HARMONICS is the place to go. I tried 2 city centre music shops...got ignored in one and told not to touch the guitars in the other. Finally went to harmonics. One of the guys helped me straight away and told me to pick up and try anything I wanted. I played a few sitting on the couch and he came back with a cup of coffee!!! His about that for customer service!!! Will never shop anywhere else now. Roger Panning.

Violins Violas Double…read morebass Flutes Clarinets Trombones & Saxophones Situated on the first floor of Curly Music, Curly Woodwind is a brilliant woodwind shop that sells the best instruments you can get your hands on. Run by professional musicians, it's a friendly environment where you can stock up on spare strings and mouth pieces and get instruments mended. There's a trial room for trying different models and if you can't afford to buy the sax, flute or clarinet of your dreams, there's an option to rent them from £10-£30 a month. Now, let's hear you try 'So What' again... Miles Davis & John Coltrane in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIU-2N7WY4

Curly Woodwind is situated on the first floor of Curly Music. The name isn't accurate as it…read moreactually not only sells woodwind instruments but it also sells string and brass instruments as well!! They also have a good range of sheet music available and will order anything in if they don't have it. They have a good range of instruments on sale such as Violins, Flutes, Oboes, Saxophones and Clarinets. The instruments are available to buy outright or there is the option of organising a 0% finance scheme to pay for the instrument over 12 months. Instruments can also be rented for as little as £9.95 a month. The staff are friendly and very helpful. They are very knowledgeable about the instruments they sell. They are able to suggest an instrument appropriate for the level and age of the player and they do not push you to get the most expensive models. They can advise you on anything additional that needs to go with the instruments such as reeds and again they are very knowledgeable about the appropriate item to go with the instruments. This is an excellent specialist store. A great place for anyone whose children are starting to play an instrument.

Apollo Music is a small music shop in the Grange shopping centre in Birkenhead. If you need…read moreanything music related, they can at least tell you where to find it even if they don't stock it. They seem to be heavy on stringed instruments, as seems to be the case with most music shops in the area. They are friendly and helpful, though, so even if you just want to ask a question about music they would probably be willing to offer advice or suggestions.

nice shop nice staff, i have bought four microphones, a behringer mixer a couple of speaker leads…read morefrom apollo music all very reasonably priced and all very good quality and even now when i go into town i allways pop in to say hello.i would recomend them to anyone .

I'm not sure what constitutes a musica shop but I'm pretty sure it's instruments? Now I am no…read moreMozart, listen I'm honest so I can even say I'm no Ringo but for me penny whistles, harmonicas and flutes do not really constitutes a musical shop. There were a few other items here such as a violin and a trombone but it is a pretty limited selection. I think the speciality is repairs and tuning rather than the selling but you have a pretty small window of opportunity to find out when the store opening is limited to Tue - Fri 10 til 5.30 and only 10 til 1 on saturday.

Richard Behrend's shop is only a small concern but this is its greatest asset in my opinion. You…read morewill usually be served personally by Richard and his friendly and helpful approach and encyclopaedic knowledge, particularly of brass instruments and tuition mean that you will always get the best possible advice. Buying musical instruments and sourcing tutors can me a nightmare for inexperienced parents who want the best for their children. Richard will always help to make sure you get the best possible value for your money

Vibraphones Glockenspiels…read moreCymbals Xylophones Marimbas Crotales Gongs Tambourines Tubular bells Chimes Snare drums Orchestral whips Sleigh bells & Timpani Jam Percussion call themselves The Percussion Professionals because between them they've played with the New London Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. At the moment they run their business purely as an online shop selling new instruments but if you ask nicely, they might let you go to their warehouse and look at the stock in person. All the instruments they sell are brand new and they stock both fibreglass and copper timpani. If you're after something in particular and can't afford it, it might be worth dropping hints to your friends and family that Jam Percussion sell gift vouchers!