Try Scayles Music on St. Patrick St. (between Nicolson St. and Clerk St.). It's not a trad. shop but it does stock bazoukis and mandolins and the like (banjos too I'd imagine).
There is Ray Mac's on Queensferry street and there is another one just off the royal mile going towards Morningside next to a Thin's book shop if my memory serves me (but it was a while ago)
mind you I have never seen a 4 string banjo in either of them (saw a 5 string in Ray Mac's once though, though it is mostly sheet music - including traditional stuff)
Look at http://www.andybanjo.com - it's on your computer, which is nearer than Edinburgh, and Andy is the most helpful and knowledgeable banjo guy I have ever dealt with.
There's a guitar shop on St. Mary's street - unlikely to much in the way of Banjos. There's another on a parallel road going down next to the big posh hotel (I don't know its name I'm a student there and there's no way we can afford it) - mainly pipes and what not if I remember correctly. There's another on Nicholson Street just south of Old College on the other side of the road - mainly 'proper' instruments especially pianos. Scayles is your best bet. Fave shop of ed uni folk soc. Defintely have look. Enjoy edinburgh!!!
Try also Varsity Music shop, Nicolson Street-Gordon Simpson, Stafford Street-Mev Taylor's now in Grassmarket but used to be Morrison Street. There's also Blackfriars Music in Blackfriars Street which is a specialist trad music shop. Most of the banjos are fairly basic in the music shops but Scayles is probably the best bet. As Dave suggests, you'd be better to try Andy Banjo if you want a specialist range.
For a good selection of traditional CDs-the best I've seen in a shop--try Coda Music on The Mound.
Hope the rain stops before you arrive. :-0)
I'll second the views on andybanjo, I have never regretted anything I have bought from him. He has a broad range of instruments, old and new, (you should give him a ring to ask about the old ones) and his advice will save you loads in the long run - much much better than going to a mainstream shop which barely knows one end of a banjo from another - let alone a four string, let alone one tuned GDAE!
Definitely Scayles - I was in there a few weeks ago and they had a few four stringed ones. Don't know much about Banjos, but they had a good price range.
As John says, Coda Music has a great selections of CDs, which can compete with Custy's or Mulligan Music in Galway. You'll also get some infomation on gigs and ceilidhs there.
If you're heading on further north, Celtic Chords in Stonehaven near Aberdeen has tenor banjos, CDs and loads of othe trad-related stuff. http://www.celtic-chords.co.uk/
I'm not on commission either.
Music shops in Edinburgh
Music shops in Edinburgh
I'm off to Edinburgh for the weekend. Does anyone know of any good traditional music shops up there that sell banjos?
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by NickP
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
Try Scayles Music on St. Patrick St. (between Nicolson St. and Clerk St.). It's not a trad. shop but it does stock bazoukis and mandolins and the like (banjos too I'd imagine).
FMF
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by folkmasterflex
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
There is Ray Mac's on Queensferry street and there is another one just off the royal mile going towards Morningside next to a Thin's book shop if my memory serves me (but it was a while ago)
mind you I have never seen a 4 string banjo in either of them (saw a 5 string in Ray Mac's once though, though it is mostly sheet music - including traditional stuff)
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by nick b
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
Look at http://www.andybanjo.com - it's on your computer, which is nearer than Edinburgh, and Andy is the most helpful and knowledgeable banjo guy I have ever dealt with.
I am not on commission.
Dave
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
There's a guitar shop on St. Mary's street - unlikely to much in the way of Banjos. There's another on a parallel road going down next to the big posh hotel (I don't know its name I'm a student there and there's no way we can afford it) - mainly pipes and what not if I remember correctly. There's another on Nicholson Street just south of Old College on the other side of the road - mainly 'proper' instruments especially pianos. Scayles is your best bet. Fave shop of ed uni folk soc. Defintely have look. Enjoy edinburgh!!!
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by Nutty Nessie
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
Try also Varsity Music shop, Nicolson Street-Gordon Simpson, Stafford Street-Mev Taylor's now in Grassmarket but used to be Morrison Street. There's also Blackfriars Music in Blackfriars Street which is a specialist trad music shop. Most of the banjos are fairly basic in the music shops but Scayles is probably the best bet. As Dave suggests, you'd be better to try Andy Banjo if you want a specialist range.
For a good selection of traditional CDs-the best I've seen in a shop--try Coda Music on The Mound.
Hope the rain stops before you arrive. :-0)
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by Back for a while
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
I'll second the views on andybanjo, I have never regretted anything I have bought from him. He has a broad range of instruments, old and new, (you should give him a ring to ask about the old ones) and his advice will save you loads in the long run - much much better than going to a mainstream shop which barely knows one end of a banjo from another - let alone a four string, let alone one tuned GDAE!
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by nick b
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
Definitely Scayles - I was in there a few weeks ago and they had a few four stringed ones. Don't know much about Banjos, but they had a good price range.
Where are you staying when you're here?
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by Alister
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
I looked at your profile Nick. I thought it said Aspirin Tenor Banjo - I wondered if this was one that doesn't give you a headache.
# Posted on August 18th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
As John says, Coda Music has a great selections of CDs, which can compete with Custy's or Mulligan Music in Galway. You'll also get some infomation on gigs and ceilidhs there.
# Posted on August 19th 2004 by slainte
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
If you're heading on further north, Celtic Chords in Stonehaven near Aberdeen has tenor banjos, CDs and loads of othe trad-related stuff.
http://www.celtic-chords.co.uk/
I'm not on commission either.
# Posted on August 19th 2004 by Bren
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
Ho ho showaddydadito,
hmm that kinda rhymes too
anyway, swiftly moving on, it doesn't give me a headache but as for my wife, children and neighbours I am not so sure...
Learning the banjo is often a pain in the butt, I am thinking triplets in particular, so maybe aspirin would help
# Posted on August 19th 2004 by nick b
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
.... your kids are triplets?
# Posted on August 20th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
... i think twins were quite enough, eh nick?
# Posted on August 20th 2004 by rog
Re: Music shops in Edinburgh
twice as nice!
triplets (of the baby kind) don't bear thinking about - just imagine the nappy changing...... don't even go there!
think I will stick with the skiplets - sorry triplets - of the banjo kind
# Posted on August 20th 2004 by nick b