Reidys Blog

Gibson Les Paul Guitar 30/05/2023

An Expert Buyer’s Guide to Gibson Les Paul Guitars

Gibson Les Paul Guitars are some of the most recognisable in the world, played by countless famous musicians from Jimmy Page to Slash.  Credited for shaping the sound of rock ‘n’ roll ever since they were released in 1952, Les Pauls are genuinely iconic, and having been around for over 60 years, the popularity of Les Paul is certainly not fading anytime soon.  Whether you’re looking to add a new guitar to your repertoire or ready to start the learning process, follow our guide to find the answers to some... Read More

The best beginner cellos to buy

The cello is not an easy instrument to play, it’s not an instrument to cut corners on. Hopefully this blog points you in the right direction and highlights 3 of the best beginner cellos to buy. It’s big, it’s daunting, there are no frets on the fingerboard to help you play in tune. It’s definitely a challenge. That said it’s a great instrument to play, there are paybacks!It’s got a great sound and range. It’s the instrument that most imitates the human voice. Some of the best music ever written... Read More

What are the best beginner violins to buy?

Here at Reidys Home of Music, we stock a wide variety of violins from the industry’s leading manufacturers including Stentor, Primavera and Eastman Strings. If you’re new to the game or if you’re buying a violin for your child then making the right choice can be a real minefield. So, with this in mind here’s a quick blog to point you in the right direction and highlight some of the best beginner violins to buy. So what are you looking for, which beginner violin should you buy? All violins look... Read More

The 3 best intermediate violins

So you’re no longer a beginner, you’ve put the time in and can now play violin. You’re an intermediate player and you need a better violin! Here’s our choice of the 3 best intermediate violins here at Reidys Home of Music. Hidersine Venezia Each Venezia violin is unique, genuinely hand carved from maple and spruce by Hidersine’s luthiers. Fitted with Ebony fingerboard, pegs and chin rest. Deliberately antiqued using clever techniques developed over many years. The slight pitting and wear marks are intricately done with a skilled hand. Each violin... Read More

03/11/2022

Do Taylor Guitars Get Better With Age?

We often consider whether the age of the guitar and how much it has been played affects the instrument’s tone and value. You want to make sure that your guitar sounds great on the day you buy it, but with acoustic guitars, the sound will continue to change the more you play it. The more you play the guitar, the more the tones and overtones will change as the guitar wood becomes flexible, moving more easily.  Follow our guide as we look at how guitars change with age and whether... Read More

15/10/2022

A Look At The Taylor Academy Series Guitars

As one of the best-selling acoustic guitar brands in the world, Taylor offers an expert range of quality guitars.  Each series of Taylor guitars, from the Baby Taylor to the GS Mini, offer a unique combination of tonewoods and aesthetics to deliver a beautiful sound. The Academy Series mixes innovative designs with a focus on comfort and affordability, which is ideal for those looking for a new guitar on a budget.  Follow our guide as our experts answer your questions on Taylor Academy guitars, including the designs, where they’re made... Read More

08/10/2022

The Ultimate Guide To Baby Taylor Guitars

Taylor guitars are a joy to play whether you’re a seasoned professional or an aspiring beginner. From the Academy to the GS Mini, Taylor offers an expert selection of series, each delivering unique tonewoods, aesthetics and sound.  The Baby Taylor Series offers the most compact guitar size, suitable for children or people travelling with their guitars. Follow our guide to some of the most asked questions about Baby Taylor guitars as our experts answer in detail about the range. Table of Contents What is the Baby Taylor Guitar? Where is... Read More

06/10/2022

Everything You Need to Know About Taylor Guitars

Over the last decade, Taylor has become one of the biggest and best-selling guitar brands in the world. They’ve managed this by consistently building guitars that not only sound great but also are easy and comfortable to play. They’ve done all this while also managing to focus on sustainability, ensuring that the woods we all love and know will be available and continue to exist for centuries to come. We’ve sold our fair share of Taylor guitars over the years, so we’re here today to answer some of the questions... Read More

08/09/2020

Yamaha Clavinova CLP-745 vs CLP-775: What’s The Difference?

The Yamaha CLP-745 and CLP-775 Clavinovas represent the two middle models in the new 700 series. Both boast a raft of new features introduced across the range, including the newly sampled CFX and Bosendorfer grand piano sounds. These are two of the most desirable concert grand pianos in the world, fetching incredibly hefty price tags, and they’ve been painstakingly sampled using brand new technology to ensure that the sound you get from your 700 series Clavinova is expressive and truly authentic. Whilst these two models share many similarities, there are... Read More

08/09/2020

Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 vs CLP-745: What’s The Difference?

The Yamaha CLP735 and CLP745 are the first two models in the latest series of Clavinova digital pianos. They’re both very similar, if not identical, visually, and on paper they look pretty evenly matched spec-wise. As you’d expect though, there are a few important differences between them that justify the price gap. Both pianos include the big improvements Yamaha have made across the 700 series, such as resampled CFX and Bosendorfer concert grand piano sounds that utilise new sampling technology. The samples are also voiced specifically for the speaker system... Read More