Operating for as long as I can remember, Drum Power stocks and sells a huge range of Drums for all…read morecalibres of percussionists. From entry level gear to pro kits, Drum Power also have a large range of microphones and pro audio gear on offer, and will match any advertised price. When shopping for my last microphone, the guys let me try out a range of mics in their rehearsal rooms, and helped me make an informed choice. They then went and beat an eBay seller's price on the same mic. Drum Power have recently added a guitar shop and service centre in an adjoining building, and again stock all calibres of guitars. The service is always part of why I go here. Most of the guys working at Drum Power have been doing so since I was 16 and having my mum drop me off at weekend rehearsals. Each member of the staff is a working musician who knows their stuff and can help you get what you need for a good price.

I have been a customer at Drumpower for many years now. As a drummer who has been playing for a…read morelong time I have shopped at most of the drum stores in Victoria, and Drumpower has become my shop of choice now. Their great stock of high end products such as Sonor and the fact that you are dealing with drum "enthusiasts" rather than salesmen keeps me a loyal patron. They are one of the most competitive stores in Melbourne and have also done great deals for my fellow band members on Guitars, amps, mics and PAs etc. The staff have great product knowledge and are very helpful and are willing to source stuff that they don't have in stock. I often recommend Drumpower, but most people I find are loyal customers already. There is a good reason for that!

It is very easy to get the vibe of a music shop wrong, especially in today's market, when shopping…read moreonline is often much cheaper. Some music shops make you feel resented, as if 'just browsing' is somehow unacceptable. The "Swoppy", as Melbourne musicians affectionately call it, is a Melbourne Music institution. The staff aren't snooty, pretentious or condescending. They can be a bit 'cool', but not hipster (rare in the inner city). Almost all of what they sell is second hand on consignment (they sell strings etc too at quite competitive prices). Their terms are 20% of the sale price of an instrument, and it can stay there 'til it sells. Their inventory updates to the website live, (or close enough, they don't always get the photos up straight away on busy days) so that every item that is in the store is on the web. It's also possible to get an RSS feed from them, so every new item is emailed to you almost immediately. The bargains can get snapped up quickly, so this is great. I've visited music shops and their websites in the US, Canada, Germany and Japan, and this is unique. Their descriptions of the items are usually precise and helpful, and are often quirky ("BASS GRUNGE! w/box. Replaced switching mechanism. OMG YOLO!"). They have fun, but usually not at the customer's expense, no matter how pointy the guitar is. I've bought and sold through them, and they are fair and honest. The fact that they sell on consignment means they don't tell you what to sell something for, and have no interest in ripping you off, as they aren't reselling it. None of that "sorry, there's not a lot of interest in Strats from the 50s" guff here. When you ask them what they suggest you sell something for, they check with their previous sales and internet listings to see what's reasonable. You can specify a listing price and a lowest price, and they call with offers they're getting from people in the store. Music shops are a bit of a tricky prospect in the inner city, closing or moving or put into receivership, but the only current one I would miss if it moved is the Swop Shop (I still miss Lamberti Brothers in North Melbourne). It's not perfect, but there's very few things I would change.

I have a thing for musical instruments. I just love to collect them, any of them, despite the fact…read moreI can't play. But now, after a long and embarrassing intervention, I've learnt to control my addiction and just look but not buy. Music Swap Shop played an integral part in my past hording. Every time you visit you don't know what you might find, so if you're on the hunt for something in particular check back regularly or log on to their website. It's also a good place to sell off instrument you might have. The guys there are really good to talk to if you need any info. I brought in a saxophone I had picked up from an op-shop to see what condition it was in. They gave it a look over and lucky for me it was in good working order, just not the prettiest they've seen is all.

Hard to find used Matons up here in the states, but I got a nice Tommy Emmanuel from these kind…read morepeople, for a good price too! Highly recommend!

Amazing service! Super fast shipping to Germany (actually faster than from Germany itself in my…read morecase!). Found an amazing module, which I couldn't get nowhere else. Found Sound all the way!

Deluxe Guitars in South Melbourne sell one of the widest range of guitar effect pedals I've ever…read moreseen in a single shop. They tend to specialise in boutique manufacturers, which is refreshing because there's only so many Boss pedals you can be bothered checking out. They also have a good range of amplifiers, and stock Nash guitars. Unusually they stock quite a few left-handed instruments in their "Leftorium", which is great for lefties. Aside from the usual guitar and amp servicing. they can also help with putting together a well-laid out pedal board and have a massive range of power supplies and switching units. For guitarists this is a great place to check out, although be careful - your wallet may not survive the visit.

One of Melbourne's worst kept secrets... Deluxe Guitars is THE place to go for the widest and best…read morearray of guitar and studio quality pedals. They also do quality guitar servicing/setups... and offer some rehearsal rooms... They offer a friendly and relaxed approach... which is refreshing... lots of fun to be had

Boy there's nothing like a steel guitar to set you apart from the rest…read more Talk about a crowd gathering instrument! Now all I needs to do is play the thing. As I have no comparison or reference point to speak of when it comes to guitars there's not much bad i can say. It's a good layout upstairs and down, and one can test out some ukes, banjo's and other acoustic guitars. There's the bogan room or "bass Centre" downstairs, for you guessed it bass guitars. More importantly, they stock a great range of gear and thing to go with your eventual purchase. Calm professional service, courteous too. It's a great entry or foray into the world of guitars when you don't know anything about them.

Do not believe the ?fictitious person who has given the bad review…read moreI am a real person, not affiliated with The Acoustic Centre and have never met any of the staff and have only dealt with them over the phone. Their service has been nothing short of exceptional. Honest, helpful and just want to help you get what you want. Josh went above and beyond in helping me purchase my guitar I would absolutely recommend giving them a go if you are looking at getting a high end instrument I don't think our relationship has finished after this guitar purchase!

A great combination of friendliness, professionalism and fair pricing…read more Couldn't recommend them more highly

I have used the services of Cobblers of Kew for over a decade. The team are consummate…read moreprofessionals who are incredibly friendly and accommodating. The service costs are ridiculously inexpensive and the quality of their work is outstanding! Thank you.

These guys are professionally set up, clean office environment, courteous service and, most…read moreimportantly, they're SUPER fast and reasonably priced. They fixed my iPad in under an hour whilst I went to grab some lunch - I went for the genuine glass option and it look like it's brand new now....very happy indeed.

I've been really bummed by the lack of quality op shops/charity stores around the Northern suburbs…read more There's nothing I love better than trawling through glorious vintage clothing, antique furnishings and quirky homewares at an awesome op shop. Which is why I'm ecstatic about this Vinnies in Glenroy! Great fashion for cheap cheap CHEAP! I've bagged some designer bargains recently including a pair of Guess Jeans for myself and black Calvin Klein pants for my husband. I probably love it here most for the home furnishings and eccentric homewares and antiques. They have a massive range of really cheap, furniture in good condition including desks, tables and chairs, cupboards and shelving. Take the time to check out the beautiful assortment of heritage glassware. A real gem of a find!

I enjoy op shopping here! I have found some lovely dresses and all reasonably priced. Plus the…read morestaff are friendly. There is lots to choose from!