Guitar Brothers, up on the crest of Musgrave Road is the go-to place for guitar aficionados. They…read moreconsider themselves a 'boutique guitar store', which suggests to me that if you're looking for your more sophisticated, high end sort of instrument, you might want to come here for a gander. If you're looking for something specific, you'd do well to check in at Guitar Brothers. Catering to specific needs is what these guys do best. Here's the basics of Guitar Brothers offers: electric and acoustic guitars, basses, ukeleles, mandolins, banjos, amps and effects. Here's what set Guitar Brothers apart from other like stores in town. They've got a stellar vintage collection. Care for a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul '59? Sure. What about the 1960 Fender Esquire Blonde? Easy. I had my eye on the 1960 Gibson ES 125 TDC the whole time. If only I had $7,995 in my pocket. If you don't have the tens of thousands of dollars you'd need for some of the vintage beauties, it's ok. They can cater for most people's financial situation. If you're on a budget, they sell pre loved instruments there that won't cost you the world. The guys all play music themselves which means they have both the knowledge and passion to put you in the right direction of your new stringed love.

I don't know that I have enough superlatives for these fine blokes. I was on an international trip,…read moreand found a flaw with the lovely guitar I packed; it was pure acoustic with no onboard pickup. I generally prefer this, but that made it a bugger for open mic hosts. I came in just looking for some kind of miking solution. There really were no good options (no fault of theirs), however, they carried the complete line of my guitar model, including one with a lovely onboard preamp and pickup. They gave me full retail value on a trade and even knocked a bit off the new one as I was keeping my case. Now I am out wandering the earth with the loveliest little guitar ready to plug in at any open mic anywhere. They were so damn accommodating and helpful and genuinely concerned to find the right solution. I have been to plenty of guitar stores, never one so accommodating and friendly! My only regret is that I don't live in Brizzy so cant be a regular. But when I do return, I will pay them a visit!

A friend of mine has her son enrolled in lessons at Guitar Gym and he absolutely loves it. Every…read moreSaturday morning he can't wait for his lesson. The teachers seem to mix pleasure and learning well, and incorporate theory while also allowing their students to learn their music of choice. There are both group and individual lessons and an end of year concert that showcases the students' talent. On the one or two occasions I've been past the studios they appear well equipped with stands and television screens and access to internet to highlight a certain band or gain musical tab. And I've also been told the teachers hold about a thousand degrees between them, including a few PhDs! Just a few! What!! If my friend's son is anything to go by, not only is he becoming really good but he's also really keen which must have something to do with the teachers.

From the owner: We specialize in guitar tuition and coaching, including acoustic and electric guitar, bass, and…read moreukulele. Our teaching team are diverse and we have experts on staff in just about all genres of music. We offer "more than just guitar lessons" aiming to provide more opportunities for our members to get more value for money, gain more improvement and have fun. We offer private lessons, group lessons, and subject/topic specific courses. We have weekend workshops, Play In A Band (join a band and receive coached band sessions), an extensive library of learning resources and an online learning support forum.

The other day, I was surprised to spot a brand-new guitar string on the floor of my house. My…read moreimmediate thoughts: one of my housemates is either going to garrotte me, or is planning on learning the guitar. I hoped dearly for the former. Alas, this has been followed by hours of two young men attempting to learn the opening chords of Led Zepplin songs, despite my "No Stairway" signs about the house. I decided to visit Simply For Strings, partly because my housemates wanted to see if the place sold guitar-related stuff, partly because it's a quick walk from our house, and partly because the building looks beautiful. From the outside it looks like, and may well be, an old church. Inside it seems as though the church theory is confirmed - there are original stain-glass windows and other small signs - but it's been re-outfitted so that it now contains newer floorboards and white paint, making the interior with its high walls resemble a "local" art gallery or concert room. (By local, I mean the interior mimics the Red Hill/Paddington style of converting old buildings into funky, retro businesses.) As you walk inside, you're greeted by pure beauty. Honestly, I didn't know where to look first. I noticed a piano occupying a sturdy position in the corner, then my eyes ran across the selection of cellos, violins, violas, and double basses. Even those who don't play such instruments must admit that their construction is beautiful - pieces of art in their own right. There's also a lot of bright colours amongst the wooden instruments, including a splash of beautiful, brashly coloured music stands - and one brass stand with a harp-shaped top that looks like it came straight out of the 1800s, or Phantom of The opera, or bygone, magical times. I was struck to see a stage area, too. The store uses the stage for lessons - at present, Violin Technical Work Boot Camp is on for those already familiar with the violin and eager to improve their skills. I also imagine the stage is used for performances, but the pleasant male staff member (and perhaps co-owner) was busy and I felt guilty asking, knowing I wasn't intending to make a purchase. I scanned the Strings website and can't see any upcoming performances, however. Even if you don't play a stringed instrument, I recommend coming here - it's a visual delight, at the very least. And hey, I didn't notice any guitar sheet music for Deep Purple's Smoke On The Water, so that's an extra bonus!

We were recommended to visit Simply for Strings by our teacher, and we're so glad we visited! The…read morestore is stunning - built inside an old church, everything is beautifully presented and it's like Harry Potter for string instruments. Our teacher recommended my daughter purchase a set of Obligato strings for her viola, and the staff were very accommodating in letting her try Obligato strings on a store viola first so we could get a better idea about how they sound. They even put them on her own instrument for free! They have a beautiful sheet music library packed to the brim with books, so it looks like you'd be able to find everything you need under the one roof. Safe to say we'll be back soon!

As I walked into the Guitar Centre, a staff member with wild long black hair welcomed me most…read moreenthusiastically. I responded in a like manner, and before I knew it, we had skipped usual staff- customer repetoire and had begun goofing off. I remember asking as an afterthought, "oh, can I possibly find banjo strings here?". He responded with "pfft, no trouble. They're even up on the wall. Got tonnes of 'em. Now, what were we talking about..." They've got three rooms full, FULL of all sorts of guitars and related instruments. They've got a solid collection of classical, acoustic, electric, and vintage guitars. From there, we start shrinking down to your half size guitars, and then to your ukeleles. They've also got a couple of fine looking banjos. They sell amps, books, and all the other sort of paraphrenalia you'd need. Guitar repairs are also available. It's not the cheapest guitar shop, however, who really wants a dodgy instrument? You want to pay more for the new love of your life. If you're ever in the mood to fulfil Wayne's World type fantasies and mutter that legendary line "She will be mine, oh yes, she will be mine", you'd be best to do it here. The dudes who work in this place are extremely affable and helpful, (which earns them the 'dude' title), and I reckon they've got a guitar for almost every personality.

I walked in here looking to buy a new guitar and I was extremely impressed. The staff were…read moreknowledgeable and answered every question I had. I really liked their no-pressure attitude - I didn't even for a minute think they were trying to up-sell me. In fact I paid less than I expected to pay, for exactly what I wanted, and I got a free bag of picks as a bonus.

I walked in, quick conversation and the staff member quickly ascertained my needs. He even ran up…read moreand down the stairs to fetch samples. I really enjoyed my time here (First time here) and will return.

You will find every bit of hardware you could possible need for djing, music production and more at…read moreStore Dj. You can try out the equipment and have a play on their displays if you need to. The staff are laidback but willing to help with anything and really know their stuff. Being a specialty store the prices are high but they are better in comparison to other music stores around Brisbane and if you want to try haggling with the staff for a discount they will usually oblige.