If you just can’t decide on the perfect musical gift for Christmas, here’s an idea you might not have considered.

Have you got an old musical instrument stored away?  Perhaps a family heirloom, maybe a vintage guitar, or grampa’s old banjo?

Well, your perfect gift may be closer than you think.

Many old musical instruments that might look like they’ll never be played again can in fact be restored to their original beauty and playability.  In fact, some instruments may play better than they did when they were brand new.

As many of you know, Don, at Ryson’s, has decades of experience in the fine art of musical instrument repair.  What you might not know is that he’s also very skilled at bringing those old vintage musical instruments back to life.  Who knows, you might even have a very valuable instrument in your attic.

What a great Christmas gift this could be for your children or grandchildren.  Christmas is a time of reflection of past Christmas memories.  Imagine how appreciated grampa’s old banjo, looking like new, and playing even better could be.  Truly a gift that would last a lifetime.

Here are some other musical Christmas Gift Ideas.

If you’d like to have your vintage musical instrument assessed, or value appraised, give Don a call at Ryson’s.

Our store hours for the holidays are:

Monday to Friday 9:00am-9:00pm,

Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm

Sunday (in December) ll:00am-4:00pm.

Back to school registration is well under way at Ryson’s!
Be sure to call and reserve your music lessons time while there’s still room.

Music lessons:
Have been proven to be a terrific benefit
to the growth and well being of a child.

“It’s no coincidence that success in music is success in life”.

photo credit: eflon

It’s also a great time to take a close look at your musical instrument and make sure it’s in top playing condition.

An instrument that is in need of repair can adversely effect the tone quality, ability to stay in tune, and generally make the instrument more difficult to play.

A vocal student of course is fortunate to possess their own natural instrument. Our qualified vocal teachers ensure that proper technique, and vocal exercise, is practiced in order to keep the voice in good condition.

Brass and Woodwind instruments must be properly maintained for performance. These instruments can leak air and require pad or valve repair or replacement, or key adjustment. They also require lubrication and general cleaning on a regular basis.
Ignoring this type of regular check up can result in the student becoming frustrated with trying to play proper notes and get good tone quality.
Brass instruments are just that. Brass. This is a very soft metal which can be dented and damaged very easily. Dents can be and should be promptly repaired.
photo credit: strbn

Classical violin, cello, viola and string basses require proper care as well. Things such as neck adjustments, bow re-hairing and proper set up are imperative to the performance of these instruments. These are of course string instruments and so the strings themselves need to be changed periodically as well.

Classical Guitars, Electric Guitars, and Acoustic Guitars need to be regularly checked as well. Guitar strings don’t last forever. In fact, they need to be changed on a regular basis depending on the frequency of use.

Guitar necks are made of wood and as such most require adjustments from time to time in
order for the instrument to stay in tune. Fret wear needs to be monitored as well. If the frets are showing small grooves from the strings, they need to be dressed. In addition to proper bridge alignment and tuning pegs checked for proper operation.

Musical Instruments are a valuable investment. A good quality instrument can, and should provide musical pleasure for years. But they must be taken care of properly. Most instruments are fairly fragile and need to be handled with care and maintained on a regular basis.

Finding a good musical instrument repair person can be a challenge these days. Most music stores don’t have the proper facilities or expertise to do many of the maintenance and repair tasks required to keep your instrument in top working condition.

We at Ryson’s are very fortunate in that regard. Don has been doing musical instrument repairs since 1965. We can usually provide same day service, and all repairs are done right here on our premises. And what’s most important is that it’s done right…the first time!
We are proud to be the musical instrument repair facility used by the Niagara Instrumental Program and Ridley College.

By the way. Have you got an older musical instrument in the closet, or stashed in the attic? Vintage Fender Guitar, Gibson Vintage Guitar, or maybe a vintage Les Paul? Vintage guitars, can be worth quite a tidy sum of money as can other vintage instruments.

If you need an appraisal for your vintage instrument, for estates, or insurance claim purposes, bring it in to us. We are authorized and will provide you with a written value of your instrument. Don will check the condition of the instrument, and the guitar serial number in the guitar vintage reference guides we have and give you an accurate value appraisal. Although I’ve made specific reference to vintage guitars, you’re welcome to bring in all instruments.

New Musical Instruments;
If it’s time for you to upgrade to a new instrument, come on in and see us. We will ensure that your new instrument is just right for you, properly set up before you take it home, and we’ll provide you with our exclusive 2 Year Warranty.

Hope to see you soon!
Anne.
Ph: 905-682-6832
Email: anne@rysonsmusic.com