Kosmic Sound is one of the largest music stores in Perth, and if you’re looking for a specific instrument or equipment, they are one of our first picks to visit.

They sell almost every musical instrument, from guitars to basses, drums, keyboards, synths, and equipment, like amps, speakers, in-ear monitors, microphones, and even DJ mixers.

We like how you can browse their whole catalogue on their website, which gives you an idea of what they have available. They also have the occasional sale, and you can check some items they have on clearance sale.

However, we encourage you to double-check with them if the items are still available, as there were some customers who reported that their orders online were cancelled because they were no longer available in-store.

We don’t recommend that you shop on their online site because of its issues. It’s also possible that the prices online don’t match the ones in-store and your order will be cancelled again.

Thus, we can only recommend using their website for browsing their catalogue and not for actual shopping.

There were also some complaints of a lack of responsiveness when you call them, so the best option is to shop in-store, as multiple customers have said the customer service they received in-store was great, with staff being attentive and helpful.

Zenith Music’s location may not be as large as other stores, and you may feel conscious about knowing some instruments down while you’re inside it, but when it comes to instruments, we’re sure they have what you need.

They have all kinds of instruments, from string instruments to bowed instruments, brass, wind instruments, and other instruments such as percussions, harps, mandolins, accordions, and harmonicas.

In the unlikely instance they don’t have the instrument you’re looking for, they can accommodate special orders for as long as you’re willing to wait.

We like the ease of browsing their catalogue online, despite not having the option to shop on their website. It’s a good way to see what they have available, but we still encourage you to call them and enquire if they have the specific item available.

The prices for their instruments are also not available online, but you can enquire through a phone call, and from our research and customer feedback, we find their prices to be reasonable.

They don’t hold sales or promotions often, but we don’t see this as too much of a problem. On top of that, they also have excellent customer service with staff who are knowledgeable about the items available.

Additionally, if it’s your first time with an instrument, they can also help set it up for you for free after purchase.

Manny’s Music has multiple locations around Australia, with stores in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. You can also shop online on their website, and they offer free shipping for orders worth at least $100.

This is a good option if you want to shop from the comfort of your own home or if you’re only looking to restock musical accessories, like strings, picks, or bags.

If you’re going to shop for instruments, we still suggest that you visit their store in person. Not only do they have a wide range of merchandise available, but their location is spacious enough for you to browse around and try the instruments.

They usually have items on sale, but these items might not be available in their Perth location, so for this category, you’ll have to shop online.

One of the main complaints we heard was regarding their customer service, with a couple of customers claiming that they weren’t attended to or that the staff didn’t bother to help them.

This can make the shopping experience difficult for some, especially if you’re a first-time buyer of instruments who has yet to know what to look for. Thus, if you want hands-on staff to be able to assist you, other options on this list may be better.

Another complaint was that they don’t restring instruments, which is a huge disadvantage for a music store. As for repair, they can facilitate the repair for you, but it is likely your instrument will be repaired by another provider and not them.

The Rock Inn is one of the stores that sell both brand new and pre-owned instruments, which makes them a great option for those who want to learn a new instrument but are on a tight budget.

Of course, there’s more availability for brand-new instruments, but if saving is your top priority, we suggest that you routinely check their website for new stocks of pre-owned instruments.

Not only that, you can sell, consign or trade in your instrument or equipment if you’re no longer in need of it.

You can fill up their online form if you’re interested in doing this, but it will take some time for them to fully process your equipment. For a speedier transaction, it will be better for you to go to their store in person and hand in your equipment.

Their staff is constantly busy, so it’s normal to have a waiting time for processes like these, especially for instrument setup and repair. It usually takes one to two weeks before you get your instrument back, and they don’t have rush services.

Hence, if you’re in a rush to get your instrument back as soon as possible, you may want to look at other stores on this list or an independent repair centre.

There were also minor complaints about customers realising the new instruments they bought had some damages, but because of The Rock Inn’s return policy, this was resolved quickly.

Concept Music is a music store that was made for musicians by musicians. Its founder, Graham Hoskins, is a passionate trombone player who decided to open up his own music store in 1980.

Since then, Concept Music has gained a reputation among local musicians who are not only looking to shop for new instruments or equipment but also a place to hang out and meet people with the same interests.

We appreciate how they understand how expensive instruments can be and can be inaccessible to most starting musicians.

They offer multiple options such as a buy now, pay later scheme, or you can choose to buy pre-owned instruments or even rent an instrument!

Their staff are all musicians themselves, so they’re knowledgeable about all the items for sale, but feedback about the quality of their service is mixed. 

Most claim that the staff were able to assist them in their buying choices, but others reported that they were not assisted. We later found out that this was because the store has busy hours or days and there wasn’t enough staff to attend to everyone.

It’s generally better to shop during weekdays when there is less foot traffic if you want staff to be able to attend to you properly.

They also have certain periods when they have limited stock available, and for this, we recommend that you check their website to see what’s available and confirm if they have it in store before you give them a visit.