Forsyth occupy all five floors of their building on Deansgate

Our company

Forsyth Brothers Ltd. has been a leading specialist music retailer for over 150 years.  We provide a range of services and products relating to all aspects of music and music appreciation.  This includes CDs and DVDs, Sheet Music and Books on Music, Pianos, Guitars and Orchestral Instruments. In addition to retail, we also operate a music publishing and distribution service and a piano tuning, hire and repair service that operates throughout the North West of England and beyond.

Our team

Our staff are highly experienced, both in terms of retail and musical experience generally.  We are all musicians or music lovers on the staff and this passion and commitment is present in everything we do.  We are fortunate to have a variety of highly qualified performers, teachers, scholars and technicians throughout the store.

• Over 40 staff - all experts in their field
• 15,000 sq feet full of musical merchandise - the largest general music shop in the UK
• PIANO DEPARTMENT - Largest display of quality new and old acoustic pianos in the UK
• Concert and Event Piano hire
• Piano tuning, regulation, voicing and rebuilding services.
• SHEET MUSIC DEPT - Comprehensive and  independant Sheet Music department - over 30,000 titles in stock and rapid customer ordering service.  Many schools, libraries and universities trust us to supply them their music.
• RECORDED MUSIC DEPT (classically orientated) acclaimed by the Guardian, Gramophone Magazine etc
• GUITARS - Outstanding array of interesting Acoustic and Classical guitars as well as many specialist electrics all carefully chosen by our enthusiast staff and knowledgeable- over 300 guitars in total.
• STRING - Superior range of instruments including our own brand instruments made for us in Europe.  We have a fully qualified Luthier in store.
• WOODWIND - Full range available at all levels.
• BRASS
• PERCUSSION - from School Percussion to full drum kits and timpani
• ACCESSORIES

History and background of Forsyth Brothers Ltd.

In 1857 the Forsyth brothers settled in Manchester to help Charles Hallé set up the Hallé orchestra having learned their trade with their father - the factory manager for Messrs Broadwood in Golden Square, described by Beethoven as the “prince of piano makers”.  After initially specialising only in Pianos Forsyth soon diversified into supplying Sheet music and all other instruments.  Forsyth is still run by the same family (4th and 5th generation) over 150 years later.  During our 150th anniversary year we researched our archives and found a wealth of fascinating information about Forsyth’s history and our customers.  This includes an article that was written about the firm in 1905 for the London Musical Chronicle which is available to view and read here.

In the January 2008 issue of Music Teacher Magazine there was a two page in-depth article about our history and current plans etc. which you can view and read here.

For over 150 years the name of Forsyth has been synonymous with the supply of musical merchandise, particularly pianos, not only the length and breadth of the United Kingdom but to many parts of the world also.  Whatever your requirement you can trust us for advice and after sales service.  In Manchester we have a large shop on five floors (three floors of showrooms) in total covering over 15,000 sq ft.  We have well over 200 quality acoustic pianos and 40 digital pianos for you to choose from including Steinway, Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Ibach, Eavestaff, Boston, Schimmel, Yamaha, Kawai, Kemble, Opus, May Berlin, Vogel etc.

We have, over recent years, added automatic pianos to our list of specialties and are able to provide a variety of alternatives at exceptional prices.  We stock a range of Disklaviers and a variety of other automated instruments including Pianodisc and QRS.  Indeed we can automate almost any piano such that it will perform when you press play on a CD player, disc drive or iPod!

In addition to pianos we have a comprehensive Instruments and Accessories department with over 300 Guitars, many String, Wind, Brass Percussion instruments, plus many other instruments and accessories. We also have a very large Sheet Music department and a classical Recorded Music Department all backed up by our efficient Mail Order service and friendly expert staff- nothing is too much trouble.

Over our 150 years in business we have made many contacts in the music business all over the world.  If you have any unusual requests please don’t hesitate to ask.