Looking to purchase musical instruments but don’t know where to start? Look no further!
Singapore is home to a vibrant music scene, with several stores across the city catering to musicians of all levels, regardless of whether you’re a seasoned musician or an ardent hobbyist.
Offering a diverse selection of products, these seven stores are guaranteed to cater to your needs and fuel your creative journey, whether you’re looking for guitars, drums, keyboards or more.
Davis Guitar
Credit: Davis Guitar
Location: Peninsula Shopping Centre B1-40/41
Website: https://davisguitar.com/
If you’re a guitar enthusiast, Davis Guitar is the place to be. Starting as a small-scale local shop in 1989, Davis Guitar has since garnered over 30 years of experience, evolving to become one of the major distributors and retailers of musical instruments in Singapore. The store carries renowned brands such as ESP Japan, Takamine, Orange, and more.
Serving a wide range of high-quality products including acoustic, bass and electric guitars, its accompanying accessories, as well as amplifiers, you will undoubtedly be spoiled for choice.
Swee Lee
Credit: Swee Lee
Location: Star Vista: 1 Vista Exchange Green, #01-07/08/09/10, S138617, Bras Basah: 231 Bain St, #03-27/29, S180231, Clarke Quay: Blk 3B River Valley Rd, #01-06 Clarke Quay, S179021
Website: https://www.sweelee.com.sg/
Swee Lee is a well-known name in the music scene and for good reason. Founded in 1946 in Singapore, Swee Lee has grown into Southeast Asia’s leading multi-brand musical instrument and lifestyle retailer and distributor.
Swee Lee offers a wide curation of over 25,000 items from premier brands, including guitars, drums, keyboards, and a range of accessories. The all-in-one store also provides repair and maintenance services, making it a convenient choice for most musicians. Swee Lee fosters a sense of community by creating a space for musicians of all styles and abilities, emphasising its belief that “music should feel like a home for all”.
Just recently, Swee Lee unveiled their new store located in Clarke Quay. Along with getting to demo and purchase instruments, visitors will be delighted to know that the latest storefront features a cafe, a bar, vinyl listening stations and live event spaces, providing an all-encompassing space for both artists and music lovers alike.
Luther Music
Credit: Luther Music Instagram
Location: Peninsula Shopping Centre #02-16
Website: https://www.luthermusic.com/
Located in Peninsula Shopping Centre, Luther Music is known for its wide variety of gear, including keyboards, acoustic guitars, electronic drums, live sound and even recording equipment. The best part? The Luther Music team remains committed to keeping their prices affordable, ensuring you get the best value for your money.
“We know gear, we talk gear and we love serving those using our gear” is a tagline that rings true for the team who are ever-so-ready to impart their knowledge and provide ample advice to find the gear best suited for your needs. Luther Music also offers wide-scale services for varying clients such as installing sound solutions, live sound and backline, stage effects and video lighting, and more.
City Music Co Pte Ltd
Credit: City Music Co Pte Ltd
Location: 701 Sims Dr, #02-05 LHK Building, S387383
Website: https://www.citymusic.com.sg/
Established in 1968 by Willy Hoe Chian Kok, City Music Co Pte Ltd has been a cornerstone for our local music scene, offering a comprehensive range of musical instruments, audio equipment, accessories and more. Just last year, City Music moved out of its Peace Centre unit and shifted its operations to LHK Building to change its business strategy and find new ways to serve customers and cater to the needs of the new age of local musicians.
With decades of experience in the industry, the family-run business by Willy and his sons, Hoe Yeegn Lougn and Hoe Hsin Loong, provides expertise in handling a wide range of equipment from traditional acoustic instruments to modern hi-tech musical instruments and equipment. Alongside its business-as-usual services, the latest outlet offers an experiential studio, with performances and demonstrations, audio solutions, content creation, and live broadcasting.
“We have emphasised to our sales team that it’s not important what brand or products we are selling; what matters more is that we are the ones offering the solution,” Yeegn Lougn shared in a past interview with Hear65.
Singapore Drum Shop
Credit: Singapore Drum Shop
Location: Excelsior Shopping Centre, 5 Coleman St, #02-01, S179805
Website: http://www.singaporedrumshop.com/
Singapore Drum Shop is the perfect spot for those hoping to channel their inner Phil Collins. Founded in 2013 by Benny Lim who drew inspiration from a three-month internship at a drum store in the US, the Singapore Drum Shop remains a haven for drummers and musicians looking to buy instruments at an affordable price.
Since its establishment, the store has welcomed numerous famed drummers including Mikkey Dee from Scorpions and Motorhead, Josh Baker who plays the drums for Mariah Carey, Mamas Gun who has performed with Beyonce, Pharell Williams, and Ed Sheeran, among others. Singapore Drum Shop distributes a wide range of respected brands such as DW, Paiste, Sonor, ATV Drums, Schlagwerk, and more. Additionally, beginners will be pleased to learn that the store’s sister company SG Drum Academy offers a variety of drum lessons, ranging from freestyle learning sessions to examination grading courses.
Check out the rates for the lessons here:
Credit: Singapore Drum Shop
Music Elements
Credit: Music Elements Instagram
Location: 150 Sims Dr, #02-00, S387381
Website: https://musicelements.com.sg/
Music Elements is a one-stop destination for all things music, offering everything from wind band and orchestral instruments, guitars and basses, keyboards and synthesisers to sheet music and books, and repair services. In line with its goal to “share their knowledge and provide quality advice,” the Music Elements team comprises teaching professionals and musicians with years of combined experience, highlighting its mission to listen to customers and provide satisfactory service.
Music Elements also offers production services, including video and audio recording, mixing, video filming, editing and more at the Blackbox. Supported by Audio Technica and Blackmagic, the Blackbox comes with an in-house sound engineer and video crew ready to assist you during your session.
The Band World
Credit: The Band World
Location: Esplanade Mall #02-08
Website: https://www.band-world.com/
Classical musicians in Singapore, The Band World has got you covered. The Band World offers a wide range of classical musical instruments including woodwinds, brasswinds, double reeds, percussion, and related accessories. The store carries renowned international brands such as Yanagisawa, Sankyo, Adams, and even The Buffet Group, which encompasses nine other brands of which The Band World is the sole distributor.
Under the ownership of Band World (Asia) Pte Ltd, the establishment has been in the industry for over two decades. With its years of expertise, the store serves as a strategic partner for school bands, musicians and students. Its retail store in Esplanade not only features quality instruments from said exclusive brands but is also managed by musicians who can provide valuable insight on what’s best suited for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or a connoisseur.
