About Us

Our Story

About Us - Richard Thompson

With many years of experience as a musical instrument retailer, we identified a growing need for a reliable instrument hire service—one that supports and inspires both beginners and developing musicians.

We believe every student deserves access to a high-quality instrument from trusted, reputable brands that are endorsed by music teachers. Poorly made, unfamiliar, or low-cost instruments can limit progress, create unnecessary frustration, and ultimately discourage learning.

Seeing students struggle to develop their skills on inferior or badly set-up instruments is something we aim to prevent. A quality instrument makes learning more enjoyable, builds confidence, and allows musicians to focus on what truly matters—their progress and passion for music.

Through experience, it became clear that a dedicated musical instrument hire service was essential.

The early stages of learning an instrument can be challenging. Questions such as “Have I chosen the right instrument?” or “Should I try something different?” are common. As musicians gain confidence, they may also wish to explore a second instrument or experiment with several options before making a long-term commitment.

Our vision is to make high-quality instruments from leading, trusted brands accessible to everyone. By offering reliable, well-maintained instruments, we give students the best possible opportunity to progress—and, most importantly, to truly enjoy the music they play.

OUR MISSION

We provide high-quality, professionally set-up musical instruments for hire, designed to support and inspire anyone learning to play.

OUR PROMISE

We are a family-owned, trustworthy business, dedicated to making musical instrument hire simple and hassle-free for you.

Welcome to Musical Instrument Hire Co.

 

The owner, Richard Thompson, has spent his career in retail, beginning at John Lewis, then moving to Fox’s Music as a piano specialist and demonstrator, Sheehans Music as Stock Controller and eventually Managing Director, before founding Musical Instrument Hire Co.

Over the years, we have built an extensive knowledge of musical instruments and brands, visiting workshops, tradeshows, and factories around the world, including Yamaha, Paesold, Buffet, and many more.

We have also had the privilege of learning from some of the UK’s most renowned instrument technicians. Time spent in the workshops of Paul Windridge, Matthias Ziemann, Cédric Berthier, Pierre Pannetier, and David Snelling, among others, has provided us with invaluable experience and deep insight into instrument care.

Our workshops are purpose-built and fully equipped with a mix of the latest technology and traditional tools that modern equipment cannot replace.

Years of experience in musical instrument retail and hands-on work with instruments have shaped our approach, with customer service and satisfaction at the heart of everything we do.

We work with schools and music services across the UK, including Ratcliffe College, Willington Independent School, and Hackney Music Services, offering a bespoke service to music departments and instrumental teachers.

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