Curly Music

I love Curly’s!
I like to play ukulele in my spare time and figured I should invest in a good one to replace my own (pink, very, very cheap) trusty uke. Curly’s was the first place I went, and proved to be the best — the staff here are friendly, realise that not everybody is a music expert and offer lots of service for your cash, unlike the staff at a certain other store!
The range here is really good. I’m not used to seeing so many ukuleles — ranging from some cheaper, but not poor quality basic sopranos to sturdy concerts and the most gorgeous glossy concert I’ve ever seen (the Ashton koa — heartbreakingly beautiful). They even had a banjo ukulele. Of course, the rest of their range seems pretty expansive too, at least strings-​wise — lots of beautiful guitars and a couple of mandolins and the like.
I picked a Stagg concert uke and the sales rep answered all my technical questions, plus my more trivial ones («Which one do I look better with, mahogany or spruce?»). He pointed me in the direction of some good YouTubers, saved my box in case I needed an exchange and cracked a little joke when I mentioned it was my birthday a week later (my exchange deadline). It’s the little touches that help — Curly’s is somewhere I’d definitely feel comfortable asking for some maintenance or lessons, and somewhere you and the SAs can call each other by name almost like old friends. I’m trying to think up an excuse to visit again really, really soon.

Curly music is one of the last remaining shops of this type in Liverpool City centre. As a former music student I came here often to get a variety of sheet music for the various instruments I learnt. The staff are happy to order any sheet music you need if they do not have it in their selection.
Years later I came back to Curly Music to buy my first bass guitar. There was a huge selection of guitars and bass guitars on the wall and I was a little overwhelmed.
A member of the staff was happy to help me and talked me through what I was looking for, my budget and musical ability with the bass guitar. He pointed me to a starter pack which provided a decent bass guitar, amp and accessories. This was excellent value for money and served me well for many years.
The good thing about this shop is that you don’t need to know what you’re talking about to get a good deal. The staff are extremely helpful and will not try and sell you something you do not need or that is not suitable.

Curly Music stock a huge range of musical instruments and is one of three musical shops on the same street. 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 most helpful music shop in Liverpool! I mean it’s as if these guys actually want to help you, certainly more so than most music shops that I’ve been in!
Having played bass in a band for four years up until a few years back, Curly’s was our first port of call for amps, new guitars, plectrums, strings, drum sticks etc!
The staff in here are amazing, you can barter with them, they are always chirpy and helpful, and they often give you free bits and bobs if you spend a lot of money in store!
They will help you in every aspect of being a musician, from starting out, to complex advice on techniques etc.
They also have a huge community board where bands post openings for new members and musicians post requests for auditions with bands! All in all a fantastic place

The traditional Scouse mop of hair is a curly one, hence that stereotypical image of the Liverpudlian with the perm and the ‘muzzy’ in the ‘trackie’. Yes, we do like to shorten words and stick a ‘y’ on the end, I should know. I’m of Liverpool descent myself. Anyway speaking of my roots, Curly Music is one of the places my semi-​famous uncle came to for many years, even before his band were famous for a while.
Established in 1977, Curly’s is an integral part of what we like to call the Musician’s Quarter. Famous patrons include my little claim-​to-​fame relation by marriage, as well as Cast (remember them? I loved them), Oasis (Mancunians in Liverpool? The SHOCK), Southport stalwarts Gomez and those lovely Zutons. The shop is famous also for supporting a lot of the second generation Merseybeat bands such as Echo and the Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Flock of Seagulls, The La’s, The Farm, Icicle Works… the list is practically endless. Of course even further back in the day they provided instruments and equipment for some band called the Beatles, dunno if you’ve heard of them but there’s a big fuss about them around these parts… *wink*
As well as musical supplies you can buy CDs here too, and they’re often a lot cheaper than the high street retailers like HMV and Virgin. Plus the service is classic, expert, salt-​of-​the-​Earth Scouser loveliness. These guys know what they’re talking about. It’s brilliant that it’s still thriving after all these years, and long may it remain a traditional and heartwarming Liverpool stalwart.

Curly Music have a MASSIVE range of stock which you can see, touch and try before you buy. This is the way it should be. No messing around, you can get stuck in and experience what you might buy. They have really helpful and knowledgeable staff which is great when you are likely to spend LOTS of money.
One really cool thing I like is that they have a price match policy for internet and mail order. Makes me want to spend even more with them.
Curly Music is great if you are looking for guitars, violins, clarinets, keyboards, flutes and saxophone but not too much on the brass side.
I also like to check out their notice board when I go in (just as you enter on the left hand side wall) — very useful.
I like film and show music and this Curly Music has in good quantities. Tra la la la la.

Curly Music have huge endorsements from the artists mentioned below, but also some other big names in recent years, including Oasis. They are practically a household name in Liverpool having been running for over 30 years.
Curly Music promote themselves as ‘run by musicians for musicians’ and from the second you walk in you can really tell that these people are passionate about their product. There is a huge range of musical instruments on offer and at a decent price.
Whether you’re a novice or expert within your field, you will receive excellent sound advice from the staff who have the experience to guide you in the right direction. The quality of customer service is second to none.

O.M.D.
The Icicle Works
Teardrop 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!