Musical Instrument & Orchestra Accessories

Top Musical Instrument Accessories in the UK: Where to Buy Picks, Drumsticks, Cables and More

Why the right accessory matters more than you think

Have you ever felt like your guitar sounded a little flat even though the amp was cranked and your technique was on point? More often than not, it’s the accessory — the tiny pick, the wrong cable, or a tired set of strings — that’s holding back your sound. Accessories are the unsung heroes that shape tone, protect instruments, and make practice painless. Think of them as the spices in your sonic kitchen: a pinch of the right pick or a dash of quality cable can turn a bland dinner into a feast. In the UK market, choices range from fun, personalised plectrums to pro-grade audio cables, and knowing where to look saves you time and money.

Menkind: quirky, personalised picks and playful percussion

Menkind is a go-to for musicians who want gear with personality. Best known for novelty and gift items, they stock personalised colour guitar plectrums, photo plectrum sets, and eye-catching drumstick alternatives. If you’re after a pick with your name or a photo on it — great for bands, gifts, or merch — Menkind’s offerings are ideal. They make accessories fun, and that’s useful for beginners, hobbyists, or anyone wanting a memorable stage prop. The products are designed more for character than pro studio duty, so they’re brilliant for gifting and casual play.

Personalised plectrums and photo sets: customisation that sings

Personalised plectrums are perfect for adding a unique touch to your kit. They often come in sets — think five-piece packs with images or names printed on each pick — so you can hand them to bandmates or fans. These make brilliant onstage giveaways or rehearsal icebreakers. While they’re not always the top choice for tone purists, having a stash of customised picks is both practical and fun. If you like the idea of carrying a piece of personality in your pocket, this is a low-cost way to do it.

Digital and novelty drumsticks: practice meets play

Among the more playful items Menkind markets are digital or novelty drumsticks. These can include sticks with LED tips or unusual materials designed for light shows and casual practice. They’re great for busking, parties, or beginner percussionists who want to add visual flair. For serious drummers looking for balanced feel and durability, standard wooden sticks remain the reliable choice, but novelty sticks can inspire creativity — and sometimes that’s half the battle in staying motivated to practice.

Expert Electrical: the backbone of technical maintenance

When you need the more technical side of instrument upkeep — spare bridge parts, robust wiring, and specialist fittings — Expert Electrical covers that niche. They supply components like steel spacer bar saddles and heavy-duty cables that are essential for instrument repair and robust stage rigs. These are the kinds of purchases technicians and DIYers make when a guitar’s action needs a tweak or an amp needs new signal cabling. If you tinker with gear or maintain instruments for a band, this is a store to have on your radar.

Steel spacer bar saddles: tweak your bridge like a pro

One of the practical items on offer is the steel spacer bar saddle, often listed with sizes such as 20 millimetres — roughly 0.79 inches — which is useful when adjusting string height or intonation on a bridge. These little metal pieces play a big role in getting your action comfortable without changing scale length. If you’re setting up a guitar for a specific playing style — low for shred or a touch higher for slide — investing in the right saddle spacers can save hours of frustration at the workbench.

Heavy-duty cables and connectors: keep your signal honest

Expert Electrical stocks things like Lapp Olflex-style cables and other tough, shielded wiring that technicians use in stage and studio environments. For guitarists and engineers, choosing the right cable is like choosing the right road for a journey: a smooth, well-built cable will carry tone without adding noise. Whether you need a robust instrument cable for gigging or replacement leads for a pedalboard, aim for cables with solid shielding and good connectors to minimise hum and hiss.

Other top UK music retailers to know

The UK has a healthy ecosystem of specialist music stores that cater to everyone from beginners to touring professionals. Stores like Gear4music, Andertons, PMT Online, Dawsons, and GuitarGuitar offer wide ranges of accessories — picks, strings, drumsticks, cables, stands, and cases — and often blend competitive pricing with helpful customer reviews. While some retailers focus on guitars, others cater more to orchestral or studio musicians, so it pays to match the store to your needs. Looking around these shops can lead to bargains and specialized items you won’t find in general retailers.

Gear4music: breadth for every budget

If you want one place to browse almost everything, Gear4music is a solid option. They carry big ranges — from entry-level tuners to advanced interfaces — and are particularly competitive on bundled deals. For accessory shopping, this is a great spot to compare picks, cable types, and practice aids in one go. Their site often has user ratings that help narrow choices, which is handy when you don’t have a local shop nearby.

Andertons and PMT: trusted by gigging musicians

Andertons and PMT Online are staples for gig-ready equipment and pro-level advice. These retailers frequently stock boutique accessories and higher-end brands that serious players trust. If you’re selecting a premium capo, specialty strings, or professional drumsticks, they’re worth checking. Their specialist staff (and in-store setups where available) let you test gear, which makes a difference if you rely on tactile feedback for picks or stick balance.

Dawsons, GuitarGuitar and specialist shops: classical to rock

For orchestral and classical musicians, stores like Dawsons and specialist woodwind or string shops provide rosin, replacement reeds, bows, and orchestral strings. GuitarGuitar is often a go-to for guitarists hunting for particular brands or unique accessories. If you play a niche instrument, seek out specialist shops — they stock items that mass-market retailers often overlook, from oboe reeds to cello endpin wedges.

Essential accessories every player should own

Whether you play guitar, drums, violin, or sax, a short list of core accessories will dramatically improve practice and performance. Think tuners, spare strings, picks, a good strap, a metronome, quality cables, and a sturdy case or gig bag. For orchestral players, rosin, spare reeds, and a lightweight case are mission-critical. These items are inexpensive insurance; they stop a rehearsal from derailing because of a broken string or a misplaced pick.

Guitar essentials: picks, strings and capos

Guitarists, listen up: a variety pack of picks, a fresh set of strings, and a reliable capo are the easiest upgrades you can make. Picks change tone dramatically — thin picks feel springy and bright, whereas thicker picks give more attack and warmth. Fresh strings restore clarity and sustain. And a decent capo lets you experiment with voicings without changing fingerings. Buying a few types to test is the fastest route to discovering what suits your touch.

Drum supplies: sticks, brushes and practice pads

Drummers benefit most from a couple of matched pairs of sticks in different weights and a practice pad for quiet practice. Sticks are labelled in the 7A–5A–5B range; 7A is lighter and faster, 5A is the versatile middle ground, and 5B is beefier for rock. A 16-inch length is common, and diameters hover around the half-inch mark to three-quarter-inch — choose what feels balanced in your hand. Brushes and rods expand your palette for softer dynamics and acoustic gigs.

Orchestral accessories: reeds, rosin and mutes

For classical players, small accessories are vital: spare reeds for woodwind players, fresh rosin for strings, and mutes for dynamics control. These items are often specific to make and model, so buying from a specialist vendor ensures compatibility and quality. Keeping a small emergency kit with common spare parts will keep you rehearsal-ready and stress-free.

How to choose the right pick: a simple guide

Picks may be the smallest accessory, but they’re one of the most influential. Rather than getting stuck on numbers, think in categories: thin picks (flexible) are great for strumming, medium picks balance control and flexibility, and heavy picks give precise attack for lead playing. If you like metrics, consider thickness in inches: thin picks are around 0.02 inches, mediums near 0.03 inches, and heavy options around 0.04 inches. Try a handful, because small changes to gauge and shape can create big tonal differences.

Choosing drumsticks: balance, wood and profile

Drumsticks vary by length, diameter, and tip shape. Lengths commonly sit around 16 inches, and diameters around 0.55 to 0.63 inches. Hickory is the go-to wood thanks to its resilience and shock absorption; maple is lighter and faster, while oak is harder and heavier. Tip shape affects the cymbal sound — acorn tips produce a full tone, while oval tips give a brighter attack. The best way to choose is to play with a few styles until one feels like an extension of your arm.

Cables and connectors: the quieter you are, the better

Good cables don’t just last longer — they keep your sound clean. Look for solid connectors, tight strain relief, and quality shielding. Balanced cables (XLR or TRS) are preferable for long runs to avoid hum, while instrument cables with high-quality shielding work well for short pedalboard connections. If you gig, investing in a couple of dependable spare cables is like carrying a spare tyre — it keeps the show rolling when the unexpected happens.

When to save and when to splurge

Not every accessory needs to be top-tier. Spend smart: buy good cables, a solid tuner, and a reliable set of strings, but you can save on novelty picks and basic straps. Splurge on items that are hard to replace mid-gig — a pro-grade microphone or a rugged stage cable — while experimenting with budget-friendly practice aids. Think in terms of risk and impact: if an item can ruin a performance, buy better. If it’s purely for practice or aesthetic, try economical options first.

Tips for shopping online in the UK

Shopping online gives you choice, but it’s easy to get lost in options. Start by reading user reviews and looking for verified images from buyers. Compare spec sheets — length, material, and connector type — and cross-check with the instrument you own. If a product description lists sizes in unfamiliar units, convert to inches so you’re sure about fit. Finally, if you’re buying accessories for a specific instrument model, check forums and community reviews; fellow players often know what works best.

Final thoughts

Accessories transform your playing, often more than one might expect. From Menkind’s fun personalised plectrums to Expert Electrical’s practical saddles and heavy-duty cables, the UK market offers everything from novelty gifts to professional-grade parts. Mix and match: pick up a few personalised items for fun, invest in the essentials that affect tone and reliability, and shop specialists when you need bespoke parts. Whether you play in your bedroom, a small club, or a concert hall, the right accessory can make the music feel effortless — like switching from a hand-me-down bike to a well-tuned road machine.