Buying Guides
Plain-English advice from real players — what to look for, what to spend, and the mistakes to skip. Browse our buying guides below, then talk to the team if you want a hand.
How to Choose a Violin or String Instrument
Whether you're a parent kitting out a school-age beginner, an adult finally starting lessons, or a teacher steering families, the same things decide whether a string instrument helps or hinders:...
How to Choose a Violin or String Instrument
Whether you're a parent kitting out a school-age beginner, an adult finally starting lessons, or a teacher steering families, the same things decide whether a string instrument helps or hinders:...
School Band Instruments: A Parent's Survival Guide
Your child has come home with a note saying they're in the school band, and a list of things to buy that may as well be in another language. Mouthpiece,...
School Band Instruments: A Parent's Survival Guide
Your child has come home with a note saying they're in the school band, and a list of things to buy that may as well be in another language. Mouthpiece,...
How to Choose Headphones & Studio Monitors
This is the gear you hear everything through, so getting it right matters more than most people expect. Whether you're practising silently on an e-kit at midnight, tracking vocals at...
How to Choose Headphones & Studio Monitors
This is the gear you hear everything through, so getting it right matters more than most people expect. Whether you're practising silently on an e-kit at midnight, tracking vocals at...
Home Recording Starter Guide: Your First Track
You don't need a studio to make a real recording. You need four things that talk to each other - an interface, a microphone, a set of headphones, and software...
Home Recording Starter Guide: Your First Track
You don't need a studio to make a real recording. You need four things that talk to each other - an interface, a microphone, a set of headphones, and software...
How to Choose a PA System
A PA system carries your voice and instruments out to the room, and the right one depends almost entirely on two things: how big the space is and how many...
How to Choose a PA System
A PA system carries your voice and instruments out to the room, and the right one depends almost entirely on two things: how big the space is and how many...
How to Choose a Microphone: Vocals, Streaming &...
Picking a microphone gets confusing fast because the same word covers a $50 USB stick and a $2,000 studio classic. The good news is that for most people the right...
How to Choose a Microphone: Vocals, Streaming &...
Picking a microphone gets confusing fast because the same word covers a $50 USB stick and a $2,000 studio classic. The good news is that for most people the right...
How to Choose Your First Ukulele
Walk past any primary school in Melbourne's west and you'll hear them: ukuleles are the first instrument for thousands of kids, and one of the friendliest starting points for adults...
How to Choose Your First Ukulele
Walk past any primary school in Melbourne's west and you'll hear them: ukuleles are the first instrument for thousands of kids, and one of the friendliest starting points for adults...
How to Choose a Drum Kit: Acoustic vs Electronic
The most common drum question we hear in the Footscray showroom isn't about brands or shell woods — it's how to start drumming without starting a war with the neighbours....
How to Choose a Drum Kit: Acoustic vs Electronic
The most common drum question we hear in the Footscray showroom isn't about brands or shell woods — it's how to start drumming without starting a war with the neighbours....
How to Choose a Synth or MIDI Controller
Walk into any music store and the wall of keyboards, synths and controllers can look identical — black boxes covered in keys and knobs. The catch is they do very...
How to Choose a Synth or MIDI Controller
Walk into any music store and the wall of keyboards, synths and controllers can look identical — black boxes covered in keys and knobs. The catch is they do very...
How to Choose a Digital Piano or Keyboard
Walk into our Footscray showroom on a Saturday and the most common question we hear is some version of this: my child has just started lessons — do we need...
How to Choose a Digital Piano or Keyboard
Walk into our Footscray showroom on a Saturday and the most common question we hear is some version of this: my child has just started lessons — do we need...
Guitar Strings Guide: Gauges, Materials & When ...
New strings are the cheapest upgrade in guitar. A fresh set costing less than a takeaway lunch will make a tired instrument sound brighter, hold its tuning better and feel...
Guitar Strings Guide: Gauges, Materials & When ...
New strings are the cheapest upgrade in guitar. A fresh set costing less than a takeaway lunch will make a tired instrument sound brighter, hold its tuning better and feel...
How to Choose Your First Guitar Pedals
There's a moment every guitarist remembers: the first time you stomp on a drive pedal and your amp suddenly sounds like the records you grew up on. This guide is...
How to Choose Your First Guitar Pedals
There's a moment every guitarist remembers: the first time you stomp on a drive pedal and your amp suddenly sounds like the records you grew up on. This guide is...
How to Choose a Guitar Amp: Watts, Valves & Mod...
Your amp is half your sound — arguably more than the guitar itself. Whether you're buying your first amp, upgrading from a tired practice box or putting together a proper...
How to Choose a Guitar Amp: Watts, Valves & Mod...
Your amp is half your sound — arguably more than the guitar itself. Whether you're buying your first amp, upgrading from a tired practice box or putting together a proper...
How to Choose an Acoustic Guitar: Sizes, Shapes...
Whether you're buying a first guitar, choosing one for your child, or replacing the one that's survived twenty campfires, the acoustic wall can look overwhelming. It isn't, once you know...
How to Choose an Acoustic Guitar: Sizes, Shapes...
Whether you're buying a first guitar, choosing one for your child, or replacing the one that's survived twenty campfires, the acoustic wall can look overwhelming. It isn't, once you know...
How to Choose a Bass Guitar
Bass is the best seat in the band. Whether you're picking up your first instrument, you're a guitarist who keeps getting asked to cover bass, or you're a parent kitting...
How to Choose a Bass Guitar
Bass is the best seat in the band. Whether you're picking up your first instrument, you're a guitarist who keeps getting asked to cover bass, or you're a parent kitting...
How to Choose Your First Electric Guitar
Walk into any guitar shop and you'll see a wall of electrics that all look brilliant and all claim to be perfect for beginners. The truth is simpler: a handful...
How to Choose Your First Electric Guitar
Walk into any guitar shop and you'll see a wall of electrics that all look brilliant and all claim to be perfect for beginners. The truth is simpler: a handful...
Skip the reading — talk to a player
Tell us your budget and how you'll use it — our team gig, teach and record, and we'll shortlist the right gear. In Footscray or on the phone, no pressure.