Music Shops in Birmingham, AL (Instruments & Gear)

Searching for a music shop in Birmingham, Alabama?

You’ve got quite a few options.

From pianos and guitars to rare instruments, these B’ham music stores have you covered whether you’re a vintage collector or looking for something new and functional.

So, presto, let’s dive right into Birmingham’s locals and see what they’ve got in stock.

Birmingham Local Music Shops

These are The Magic City’s local music shops that specialize in instruments and gear:

Highland Music

Rare & Vintage Instruments & Gear

Location

3000 Clairmont Ave
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205) 254-3288

Hours

Monday-Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: Closed

• Instruments for All Levels
• Instruments for All Genres
• Knowledgeable Sales Staff
• Good Customer Service
• Instrument Repairs/Maintenance
• Amp Repair/Maintenance
• Custom-Build Amps
• Lessons

Tom’s Sound

Used Gear (DJ/Studio/Lighting
Gear Rentals
Vintage Stereo Equipment
NO Instruments

Location

4013 1st Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35222
(205) 595-4530

Hours

Monday-Friday: 9 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday: Closed

• Knowledgeable Sales Staff
• Rehearsal Space

Homewood Musical Instrument Co

New and Used Instruments
Specializes in Concertinas

Location

1712 28th Ave S
Homewood, AL 35209
(205) 879-4868

Hours

Monday-Friday: 10 am – 2 pm
Saturday-Sunday: Closed

• Vintage Concertinas
• Knowledgeable Sales Staff
• Good Customer Service
• String Instrument Repairs/Maintenance

Ellis Piano & Organ

New & Pre-Owned Pianos & Keyboards

Location

Golbro Shopping Center
1550 Montgomery Hwy, Ste A
Birmingham, AL 35216
(205) 979-4463

Hours

Monday-Friday: 9:30 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am – 5 pm
Sunday: Closed

• Extensive Selection
• Knowledgeable Sales Staff
• Good Customer Service

Bailey Brothers Music Company

New & Used Instruments & Gear
Vintage Guitars
School Band Instrument Rentals

Location

4673 US-280, Ste 7
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 271-7827

Hours

Monday-Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 1 pm – 6 pm

• Extensive Inventory/Wide Range of Instruments
• Instruments for All Levels
• Instruments for All Genres
• Knowledgeable Sales Staff
• Good Customer Service
• Instrument Repairs/Maintenance
• Gear Repair/Maintenance
• Lessons/Workshops
• Vintage Guitar Shop in Montgomery

Art’s Music Shop

Rent-To-Own Student Band Instruments

Location

4647 US-280
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 995-8376

Hours

Monday-Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday: Closed

True Vintage Guitar

Rare Vintage Guitars

Location

2301 1st Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 913-1084

Hours

Monday-Friday: 8 am – 4 pm
Saturday-Sunday: Closed

This one is less an instrument store than a collector’s shop.

It specializes in vintage guitars in the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars ranges.

The Chains

These are the Birmingham chains that specialize in instruments and music gear:

Guitar Center

New & Used Instruments & Gear
Lighting Supply
Rentals

Centre at Riverchase Shopping Center
1694 Montgomery Hwy
Hoover, AL 35216
(205) 824-6454

Hours

Monday-Friday: 11 am – 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 7 pm

• Extensive Inventory/Wide Range of Instruments
• Instruments for All Levels
• Instruments for All Genres
• Knowledgeable Sales Staff
• Instrument Repairs/Maintenance
• Gear Repair/Maintenance
• Lessons

Instrument Price List

Since an instrument is a major investment that can require some saving up, we thought it might be helpful to have an idea of how much you can expect to spend.

So, here are the average starting prices for some popular instruments.

Keep in mind, these are starting prices for new, relatively decent-sounding beginner models that will give you a good introduction to an instrument.

• Accordion – $500-600
• Bagpipes – $1,000
• Banjo – $300
• Double Bass (Upright Bass) – $2,000
• Baritone – $3,000
• Bassoon – $5,000
• Box Drum – $100
• Cello – $1,000
• Clarinet -$400-500
• Contrabassoon – $10-15,000
• Crash Cymbals – $100
• Dobro – $250
• Drum, Bass – $600-700
• Drum, Snare – $500
• Drum Set – $500
• Flute – $500
• French Horn – $2,500
• Glockenspiel – $500
• Guitar, Acoustic  – $200
• Guitar, Bass – $200
• Guitar, Electric – $200
• Harmonica – $30
• Harp – $500-1,000
• Keyboard – $200
• Lute – $1,200-1,500
• Mandolin – $200
• Oboe – $2-3,000
• Piano, Upright – $2,000
• Piccolo – $1,000
• Saxophone, Alto – $1,000
• Saxophone, Tenor – $1,500
• Steel Guitar, Lap – $200
• Steel Guitar, Pedal – $1,000
• Trombone – $700
• Trumpet – $600
• Tuba – $5,000
• Vibraphone – $1,500-2,000
• Viola – $500
• Violin – $500
• Xylophone – $200-300

How do rent-to-own musical instruments work?

Rent-to-own programs are one option to make musical instruments more affordable.

And they are just what they sound like.

With a rent-to-own instrument, you sign a contract to rent the instrument for a set price per month and when you reach the agreed upon number of payments, the instrument is yours to keep.

This allows you to buy an instrument that you may not be able to afford in one go by paying for it in increments.

What’s good about rent-to-own musical instruments?

Rent-to-own options are typically geared toward school band instruments and beginner orchestral instruments.

So, basically, they are geared toward students.

This means if your fickle ten-year-old decides she wants to be in the school band, but then changes her mind, you can simply return the instrument at no further cost.

You were technically renting it anyway.

What’s bad about rent-to-own musical instruments?

When you rent to own an instrument, you end up paying more for it than you would if you had purchased the instrument straight out.

How much more should be clear in the terms of your rental contract.

So, always compare the rent-to-own price to the purchase price.

But if you’re unsure about an instrument, renting to own can be the way to go.

It’s better than buying the instrument straight out only for it to end up sitting in a closet.