Hey, rock star

Time Out gets to grips with where to buy everything from a guzheng to a guitar

I've got a band – where's the best place to get the kit we need?

Heng Yun Music on Xinjiekou is a one-stop-shop for budding bands. From guitars to keyboards and almost everything in between, there's a good selection of things like Behringer effects pedals (190RMB), Fender 10 foot vintage jack leads (60RMB) and, (mostly imported), amps. A Marshall JCM 2000 stack costs 18,500RMB. Look out for the guitar signed by the sadly late 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott of Pantera on the way out. God rest his soul.

Heng Yun Music 105 Xinjiekou Nandajie, Xicheng district (tel 6618 8745; www.hengyun.com). 恒韵琴行 西城区新街口南大街105号

What about some really kick-ass electric guitars?

Thanks to the fact that a good portion of China's 'yoof' aspire to be punks, or at least to imitate their favourite bands in their bedrooms, a guitar is one instrument you won't have difficulty finding in Beijing. However, finding one that won't sound like a tin sitar is another matter entirely. For Korean-made international names try Qiaoyou Yuelin, a well-stocked but tiny shop, made smaller by the fact that owner Sun Ke's friends are permanently sitting around the place. They'll be honest about the quality of their guitars and recommend something within your price range. A Dean 'Flying V' for 1,800RMB and a handful of BC Rich guitars make it worth a trip. For Ibanez fans, try specialists Zhiyin Wanli where you can pick up a 2005 Prestige guitar for 5,800RMB. And Heng Yun (mentioned above) have a vast selection in their sizeable basement store, including genuine Gibson Les Paul's such as the Classic for 15,000RMB.

QiaoYou YueLin 76 Xinjiekou Nandajie, Xicheng district (tel 8794 2578). 侨友乐林 西城区新街口南大街76号

Zhiyin Wanli Room12, Building 8, Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District (tel 8403 7683). 知音万里 东城区交道口东大街8号楼12室

I quite fancy playing around with a guzheng, where can I buy traditional Chinese instruments?

If you're cultured enough to be learning a more unusual type of instrument, try Junjie Qinhang Musical Instruments, set back off the road in Liulichang, who have scores of erhu lining the walls, Chinese flutes (known as diza) ranging in price between 100 and180RMB and several guzheng that average around 1,200RMB.

A more fun and friendly shop is Yangshi Yueqi who stock a bit of almost everything. From pipa (a lute like instrument) to yangqin, erhu and traditional drums and cymbals (together known as luogu), they've everything you'd need to join in at Jingshan Park on a Sunday afternoon.

Junjie Qinhang 56 Nanxinhua Dajie, Xuanwu district (tel 63027986 www.bjhuicui.com). 俊杰琴行 宣武区南新华大街56号

Yangshi Yueqi 122 Xinjiekou Nandajie, Xicheng district (tel 6615 8552 www.bjysyq.com). 杨式乐器 西城区新街口南大街122号

And the best place to buy Western string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments?

For a great selection of all of the above, it's definitely worth a trip to the famous Tom Lee Music Emporium. Whether it's a drum kit, acoustic guitar, trumpet or keyboard you're after, they've got the lot, with enough of a range to suit most budgets. For stringed instruments, the Beijing Hai Xing Violin Factory have cellos (around 18,000RMB) and more violins than you can shake a bow at, including half a dozen or so brightly-coloured ones (500RMB each). For a good deal on pianos, the Yi Lun Piano Centre sells good quality second-hand models. A Yamaha grand piano, for example, costs a very reasonable 76,000RMB.

Tom Lee Music Emporium (flagship store) 57 Tiantan Lu,Chongwen district (tel 6702 0099); 120 Zhushikuodong Dajie, Xuanwu district (tel 6304 9657).  通利琴行 崇文区天坛路57号; 宣武区珠市口东大街120号

Beijing Hai Xing Violin Factory 68 Nanxinhua Dajie, Xuanwu district (tel 6315 0786). 北京海星小提琴厂 宣武区南新华大街68号

Beijing Yi Lun Piano Centre 48 Zhongguancun Nan Dajie (opposite the National Library Concert Hall), Haidian district (tel 6218 3582). 北京艺伦钢琴  海淀区中关村南大街48号(北京图书馆对面)

I want my child to learn an instrument, where can they get beginner's instruments?

Mr Zhang is a friendly old fellow just dying to impress you with his erhu playing and ability to say each instrument's name in English. His shop HongYi on Xinjiekou is a fun place to explore and sells mostly children's violins (from 200RMB) and flutes (from 600RMB). There's also a selection of guitars at the front; the 3,000RMB Emily the Strange electric guitar would be great for a teenage girl with rock 'n' roll aspirations.

Further along the same street, Sunny sell all manner of brass and wind instruments, some in outlandish colours like the fluorescent green clarinet or red trumpet.  Pick up saxophones from 2,600RMB, clarinets from 1,800RMB and kids'  tambourines for 30RMB. And for parents upset that their child has taken a shine to the drums, silent impact drum pads costs 230RMB from Qiaoyou Yuelin (see above). 

HongYi Musical Instrument Factory Shop 70C Xinjiekou Nan Dajie Xicheng District (tel 6618 3305). 红艺乐器厂门市部 西城区新街口南大街丙70号

Sunny 98 Xinjiekou Nan Dajie Xicheng District  (tel 6616 3316; 8066 9260) Ask for Yang Jing. 阳光 西城区新街口南大街98号

Wow, iLoop and DJ Wordy are two cool dudes. How do I follow in their footsteps?

Well, if making electronic music and fiddling around with knobs DJ-style is your thing, then there are a few options. Either go to the supplier directly -  for example Pioneer and Roland both have agents/warehouses in Beijing, or try a shop such as JTD Audio on Xinjiekou where you can bag top-of-the-range Technics headphones for 1,400RMB and a Stanton SMX 211 2-channel mixing desk for 1,600RMB. They also sell mics and turntables and rent out speakers.

For instruments and electronic equipment in particular, your best bet is Zhong Yin, the Central Music Electronic Company (CME), otherwise known as the biggest instrument wholesale group in the country. They stock everything from Yamaha synthesizers to Ableton software and Audiotrack home music production kits. However, they don't have retail shops in Beijing, so contact one of their agents instead.

Pioneer 42 Xizhimennei Dajie, Xicheng district (tel 6618 8768). 派安公司 西城区西直门内大街42号

Roland 10F, 18 SanQu Anhua Xili, Chaoyang district (tel 6426 5050; 6426 7070). 乐兰 朝阳区安华西里三区18号10F

JTD Audio 70 Xinjiekou Nan Dajie Xicheng district  (tel 6612 3440) 金通道音响 西城区新街口南大街70号

CME (Shi Ji Jia Yin) Guo Ying Apartments, Room 11K1, 68 Xizhimennei  Nanxiaojie, Xicheng district (tel 6650 3888). 中音(世纪嘉音) 西城区西直门内南小街68号国英公寓11K1室 

CME (Xuan Yu Zhi Yin) Building 6, Room 1601, Unit 4, Bailing Jiayuan, Sihui East, Chaoyang district (tel 5131 6903) 中音(轩宇知音) 朝阳区四惠东白领家园6号楼4单元1601室      

Where do the city's musos buy their stuff?

To be honest,' admits Hang on the Box drummer Shen Jing, 'I buy nearly all of my instruments on ebay, it's really the best place to find the really good quality stuff.' 'Failing that,' she adds, 'one of the most professional shops in Beijing is Fierce on Xinjiekou that sells Zildjian hihats (from 1,000RMB), crashes (from 2,800RMB), and Pearl snares (from 3,600RMB).'

Top cello professor Chuyi Bing suggests the best violins and cellos in the city are the ones custom-made by Mr Shen Fei, who for 17 years was particularly well known in Japan and has finally returned to Beijing. Prices available on request.

DJ Nee Bing, who's recently returned from his European tour says that when you want spinning gear in Beijing, there's only one guy you need to speak to:  Lao Song. 'He helps supply the sound system rentals for the Yen boys, gets us good prices and is a really friendly guy. Just call him, tell him what you need and he'll order it in.'

Fierce 64 Xinjiekou Nandajie Xicheng District (tel 6618 1825/6611 4630). 西城区新街口南大街64号

Shen Fei (tel 8352 5323).

Lao Song (tel 133 1121 1843).  

               

Sarah Keenlyside and Ann Wang