Where can you buy music gear online during the Coronavirus lockdown?

By Chris Barnes
last updated

As the lockdown continues, many online music retailers remain open. Here’s where you can still buy guitar, drum and studio gear and how you can support your local music shop

Person buying products online using a credit card
(Image credit: Getty/Johnnie Davis)

Sales of music gear - and guitars in particular, according to this report (opens in new tab) - have seen a sharp rise as people occupy themselves with music creation in the midst of the global Coronavirus lockdown.

Can you catch Covid-19 from packaging?

Delivery of boxes waiting on a doorstep

(Image credit: Getty/cybrain)

Naturally you might be concerned about packages arriving at your door with particles of Covid-19 on them. According to this Guardian report (opens in new tab), while particles are detectable on cardboard surfaces for up to 24 hours, the risk of infection is low. However, as an extra precaution, we’d recommend leaving your parcels in a garage/shed/outhouse for 24 hours before bringing them into the house. Don’t forget to observe 2-metres of social distancing with your delivery driver, too.

Instead of binge-watching Netflix, this enforced downtime is proving to be the ideal time to make more music, start learning an instrument or to find a new hobby for your children who are suddenly home 24/7. 

Now could be the time to pick up an acoustic guitar, get in some more practice at home on an electronic drum set or upgrade your home studio with a new audio interface or MIDI keyboard – a new piece of gear can really get the juices flowing when it comes to making music.

But with certain products becoming increasingly difficult to purchase, maybe you’ve been put off ordering a new item of music gear? Of course, in some areas deliveries are taking longer than normal and many online services are understandably focusing on essential product deliveries, but if you’re a musician there are still plenty of places you can go to arm yourself with the tools for a more creative lockdown.

At this tough time for businesses around the world, it’s important to support the shops that are still able to operate online. First and foremost, you should send your custom to your local music shop wherever you can – we still want these places to exist once things are back to normal.

If you live in the UK, check out your nearest store on the map below.

Alternatively, here’s the latest on how some of the bigger retailers in the US, UK and Europe are coping with Covid-19, and where is best to buy your gear.

Sweetwater (opens in new tab)

Sweetwater (opens in new tab)
Sweetwater is open and accepting online orders, but their shipping is slower than normal. For the safety of their warehouse team, they are running at reduced capacity, but they hope to be back to normal shipping by early to mid-April. Right now you can save up to 77% off recording gear and software (opens in new tab).

Guitar Center (opens in new tab)

Guitar Center (opens in new tab)
It’s business as usual currently at Guitar Center. In fact, if you need to get a piece of gear sent out quickly, they are offering 2-Day Express Shipping for $10 or Next-Day Shipping for $15.

Reverb (opens in new tab)

Reverb (opens in new tab)
Many local music shops and gear makers are still shipping and open for business through Reverb. The Reverb team is hard at work uncovering the best deals (opens in new tab) on used and new gear from sellers all over the world. Aside from minor reported shipping delays, the vast majority of items are arriving on-time.

Zzounds (opens in new tab)

Zzounds (opens in new tab)
There are currently no publicized restrictions or delays for orders through Zzounds. In fact, if you're looking for free shipping with no minimum spend, this is the place to shop.

Musician’s Friend (opens in new tab)

Musician’s Friend (opens in new tab)
MF is monitoring the situation and the wellbeing of their workforce. For online orders nothing has changed and there are some active sales too. Save up to 35% off guitar gear in the GuitarFest promotion (opens in new tab) and their buy one Taylor guitar and get a second for $99 deal (opens in new tab) is still live.

ProAudioStar (opens in new tab)

ProAudioStar (opens in new tab)
PAS proudly states “We are open. There are no delays in shipping” at the top of their homepage. Reassuring indeed. They are currently running specific deals on Pioneer DJ gear (opens in new tab), plus a storewide sale offering 18% off select new gear, and 5% off already discounted gear.

Thomann (opens in new tab)

Thomann (opens in new tab)
Thomann remains open and offers free shipping Europe-wide on orders over a certain amount – the minimum spends vary based on the country you’re in.

Andertons (opens in new tab)

Andertons (opens in new tab)
The Andertons Guildford store is currently closed, but the online store is fully operational (and currently offering massive discounts in their Spring sale (opens in new tab)). Andertons says that currently “responses to email enquiries and dispatches of orders are being delayed by up to 3 days.”

For the very latest on delivery times, you should visit the sites direct.

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Chris Barnes
Chris Barnes

I'm MusicRadar's eCommerce Editor. It's my job to manage the buyer's guides on MusicRadar and help musicians find the right gear and the best prices. I'm a guitarist and a drummer and I've worked in the music gear industry for 18 years, including 7 years as Editor of the UK's best-selling drum magazine Rhythm, and 5 years as a freelance writer working with many of the world's biggest musical instrument brands including the likes of Roland, Boss, MusicRadar and Natal.