Alan Yates Music Reviews 25

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.7

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had repairs done to the bottom of my Kiwaya KT7. Alan did a faultless , beautiful job , I actually prefer it better than before . Very , very fair price . Very , very happy !!!

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely superb service, recently got my Dallas D Banjolele back from Alan Yates Music, completely restored in amazing condition, it looks and sounds fantastic, an amazing job, I'm delighted with i... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Alan & Alyson are a small business in the North West, they are so friendly and helpful and incredibly knowledgeable. I had a Banjolele that was in a poor condition. Alan gave it the care and attentio... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The craftsmanship is of a high standard and worth waiting for

Company replied

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Company details

  1. Music shop
  2. Musical instrument repair shop
  3. Musical instrument shop
  4. Musician
  5. Luthier
  6. Used Musical Instrument Shop

Written by the company

Alan Yates Music is a proudly independent, family-run business offering a wide range of products and services for musicians, collectors, and music lovers. Our online music shop features a carefully curated selection of instruments — both new and secondhand — as well as parts, accessories, gift vouchers, licensed merchandise, and hard-to-find items, including rare vintage pieces. We are proud to be the UK’s leading specialist in all things banjo ukulele, offering trusted advice and international shipping for customers worldwide. We’re also known for our comprehensive instrument care service, covering everything from basic set-ups to sympathetic repairs, professional maintenance, and full restorations — all completed with exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. Whether your instrument needs a fine-tune or a full revival, it's in expert hands. As professional entertainers, we perform across the UK with a variety of themed musical sets to suit any audience or occasion — from vintage singalongs (with Alan recognised as one of the UK’s finest George Formby tributes) to 1950s–70s favourites, classic country, and more. We also offer private tuition, instrument valuations, and proudly run the Banjo Ukulele Society, supporting a growing community of enthusiasts. Whether you're booking a show, restoring a family heirloom, or shopping for something special, Alan Yates Music offers friendly, knowledgeable service with a personal touch. Visit www.alanyatesmusic.co.uk to find out more.


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4.7

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

25 reviews

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Kiwaya KT7 Repair.

I had repairs done to the bottom of my Kiwaya KT7.
Alan did a faultless , beautiful job , I actually prefer it better than before .
Very , very fair price .
Very , very happy !!!

28 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind review, Anthony — it really does mean a great deal to us.

We’re delighted to hear how pleased you are with the repair work on your Kiwaya KT-7. Alan takes great care to ensure any work carried out is sympathetic to the instrument and enhances it rather than detracts from its character, so your words will mean a lot to him.

We truly appreciate your trust in us, and we’re glad you felt the work and pricing were fair. Wishing you many more years of enjoyment from your ukulele.

Warmest regards,
Alyson & Alan.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Alan Yates Music

Alan & Alyson are a small business in the North West, they are so friendly and helpful and incredibly knowledgeable. I had a Banjolele that was in a poor condition. Alan gave it the care and attention it needed. It was a difficult job getting the original colour to match, but what a great job he did and at a fair price.
I highly recommend them.

9 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much, Gary, for taking the time to leave such a lovely review — it really does mean a great deal to us.

We’re delighted that you’re pleased with the work Alan carried out on your banjolele. Restoring instruments sympathetically, especially when it comes to matching original finishes, is something we take great care over, so your comments are truly appreciated.

Thank you also for your kind words about our service and knowledge, and for supporting a small independent business. It was an absolute pleasure working on your instrument, and we wish you many years of enjoyment playing it.

Warmest regards,
Alan & Alyson

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

If you’re looking to have any work done…

If you’re looking to have any work done on your Banjolele take it to Alan Yates.
I took my cherished Banjolele to be restrung and what a difference it made, he also tightened the velum and cleaned the fret board.(very reasonably priced)
Genuine nice Guy.
Would highly recommend.

11 December 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Hi M Wragg,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind review — it really does mean a lot to us. We’re delighted to hear what a difference the restring, vellum adjustment and fretboard clean made to your banjo ukulele.

It was a pleasure looking after such a cherished instrument, and your recommendation is genuinely appreciated.

Warmest regards,
Alyson & Alan
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely superb service from Alan Yates Music

Absolutely superb service, recently got my Dallas D Banjolele back from Alan Yates Music, completely restored in amazing condition, it looks and sounds fantastic, an amazing job, I'm delighted with it, I highly recommend Alan Yates Music, who provide a completely friendly and professional service with very reasonable pricing, I will definately shop with A.Y.M. again.
Joel Pantry

19 November 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much, Joel! We’re absolutely delighted that you’re happy with your restored Dallas D Banjolele — it was a real pleasure bringing it back to life. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we truly appreciate your recommendation and support. We look forward to welcoming you back to AYM again soon! 🎶
— Alyson & Alan, Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Dallas E ukulele banjo

What a really nice couple Alan and Alyson are to talk to. Have just received my Dallas e ukulele banjo back from having a new vellum and set up. Absolutely amazing service from Alan and am so pleased with the finished look. Would thoroughly recommend his work to anyone. It is my pleasure to give both Alan and Alyson a 5 star review - thank you both - Tony and Mary

8 November 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much, Tony and Mary! It was an absolute pleasure chatting with you both and working on your Dallas E banjolele. We’re so pleased you’re happy with the new vellum and setup — it’s always rewarding to see these lovely instruments singing again. Your kind words and 5-star review mean the world to us. Thank you for your trust and support! 🎶
— Alyson & Alan, Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Banjo restoration.

A massive thank you to Alan and Alison .
The work Alan has done on my banjo is fantastic, it looks amazing , as Alan says it looks like the last time it was played by my father in law back in the 1920’s , just a very sympathetic restoration.
To find out a little of the history of it was also very interesting .
I can’t recommend Alan and Alison highly enough .
Again thank you so much .

9 June 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review.

It was an absolute pleasure to work on your father-in-law’s banjo — a truly special instrument with so much character and history. We're delighted to hear you're pleased with the results and that is has brought back such meaningful memories. Alan always takes great care to preserve the soul of an instrument, so your appreciation of the sympathetic approach means a great deal.

It was equally enjoyable to explore a little of the instrument’s background for you. Stories like this are exactly why we do what we do.

Thank you again for trusting us — and for taking the time to share your experience.
Warmest wishes,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Heirloom banjo repaired brilliantly

Alan repaired the neck of a banjo which had been snapped completely through. The repair is all but invisible, and although the instrument is no longer playable, as a family heirloom it can now continue to be on display. We were surprised at how little the repair cost and are grateful to Alan for taking it on and doing such a neat job. He was very personable to deal with. Thank you!

2 September 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for your lovely review.

It was a real pleasure to work on such a meaningful family heirloom. We're so pleased to hear you're happy with the repair — we're glad it can now take pride of place and continue its story as a cherished display piece.

Alan always aims to treat every instrument with care and respect, so your kind words about the finish and experience truly mean a lot to us.

Thank you again for entrusting us with something so special.
Best wishes,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Marvellous entertainers on top Formby

Outstanding entertainers, highly recommended. Alan and Alyson put on a terrific performance of mostly George Formby songs for my father-in-law's 90th birthday in the garden of his daughter's house. He was up dancing on his zimmer frame and absolutely loved it. It made his day. Alan and Alyson were great performers and extremely thoughtful, taking care to chat to George and do requests. They stayed much longer than they needed to despite their busy schedule and were absolutely brilliant. We can't thank them enough.

17 August 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for such a touching review — it truly means the world to us.

It was an absolute joy and honour to help celebrate your father-in-law’s 90th birthday. Seeing him up and dancing, smiling from ear to ear, is exactly why we do what we do. Moments like that are unforgettable — for us as well as your lovely family.

We’re so pleased the George Formby set brought back happy memories, and it was our pleasure to chat, take requests, and stay a little longer to soak up the lovely atmosphere.

Thank you again for your kind words and for letting us be part of such a special day.
Warmest regards,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Restorer extraordinaire

I took a couple of my highly prized Ukulele-Banjos to Alan Yates to have some restoration work carried out on them.
One was in need of a new vellum as the old one had split.
The other however, required the bezel to be straightened and re-shaped back to it's original position, the frets needed to be levelled and polished, new strings were fitted and it's been set up for the George Formby style of playing.
The difference between how it sounded before the work and after are night and day. The volume it throws out is noticeably louder and the tone is richer.
I will have no hesitation in using Alan's services for my other uke's as and when the need arises and of course in recommending him to others.

30 November 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for your generous and detailed review.

It was a real pleasure working on your treasured ukulele-banjos. We're thrilled to hear you're enjoying the transformation — especially the improved tone and projection for your Formby-style playing. Alan always aims to bring out the best in every instrument, so knowing the results made such a difference is incredibly rewarding.

We really appreciate your trust, and we’ll always be here when your other ukes need a little TLC. Thank you again for the kind words and recommendation.

Warm regards,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great company to deal with

I ordered 2 vellums, they were great quality, great price, and delivered very quickly. What more can you ask?

27 September 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for your kind feedback!

We’re really pleased you were happy with the vellums — we always aim to provide quality, fair pricing, and a quick turnaround, so it’s lovely to know that came through in your experience.

Thanks again for your support — we truly appreciate it!

Best wishes,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Super swift service

Super swift service, advice, great price and such good quality stock.
I wouldn't shop anywhere else.
Looking forward to using my new Shrubb capo from AYM on my ukulele.

18 February 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for your wonderful review!

We're so pleased you’re happy with the service and your new Shrubb capo — it’s a fantastic choice, and we hope it brings you plenty of enjoyment in your playing. It means a great deal to know you wouldn’t shop anywhere else — that’s the highest compliment we could hope for!

Thanks again for your support and kind words.
All the best,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ludwig case refurb

A wonderful job refurbishing my Ludwig Wendell Hall Case which was in need of a lot of TLC. Very pleased with the result.

20 November 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for your kind words!

We’re delighted to hear you’re pleased with the Ludwig Wendell Hall case refurbishment — it was a pleasure to bring it back to life. Every case tells a story, and it’s always rewarding to give something so special the care it deserves.

Thanks again for choosing us — we truly appreciate it.
Best wishes,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Quality craftsmanship

The craftsmanship is of a high standard and worth waiting for

21 February 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you for your kind words!

We’re so pleased to hear you appreciated the craftsmanship — Alan always takes great pride in delivering quality work, and it means a lot to know it was worth the wait.

Thanks again for your support and trust in our services.
Warm regards,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely the first port of call for…

Absolutely the first port of call for everything banjo-ukulele. Alan is an expert player and his knowledge is second to none. He’s resprayed a New Concert banjo ukulele for me and it’s like it’s just out of the factory!! Fabulous. I’ve bought the best calf skin vellums available and strings that surpasses any other shop. Highly recommended!!

21 February 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you so much for such a fantastic review!

We’re truly honoured to be your first port of call for all things banjo-ukulele. Alan puts great care into every detail — whether it’s a restoration, setup, or sourcing the finest materials — so hearing your instrument looks factory-fresh and that our vellums and strings exceeded expectations means the world.

Your recommendation is greatly appreciated, and we’re always here whenever you need us.
Warmest thanks,
Alan & Alyson
Alan Yates Music

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Alan resprayed and restored my New…

Alan resprayed and restored my New Concert banjo uke for me and did a first class job. I’ve also bought the best calf skin vellums and strings available from the shop which are fantastic. Excellent service and professionally packed. Highly recommend you using this shop!

21 February 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you for your lovely review Sean. It was an honour to restore such a beautiful vintage instrument. Thank you for your custom it is greatly appreciated and it is our pleasure to be of service.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

One stop shop, its all here

i was searching online shops for pufling to finish off a uke banjo that had a piece missing from the resonator.
I didn’t realise how much officially licensed stock they held. For anything ukulele banjo related they have everything including, repairs, setups and (hooray). That elusive Purfling…. At last no need to trawl the internet for spare parts. This is a one stop shop with the shop keeper being so helpful. Thank you Alyson and Alan. In the words of the big Austrian Chap. “Ill be back”

Gerry Mawdsley. Ex President George Formby Society

12 June 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you Gerry, glad we could be of service. Thank you for the kind review.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fred Stevenson uke banjo.

I sent my Fred Stevenson uke banjo to Alan for a new vellum and set up etc. 10/10 for Alan’s skilled work and Alyson’s after sales.
Highly recommend 10/10. I will be using them again for guitar strings etc. Many thanks again to both of you.

1 June 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

You are very welcome Colin. We are glad you are pleased with your uke banjo as well as our service. Many thanks for the review.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The service is second to none

The service is second to none. The strings arrived on time. Thank you Alison for the great service

20 February 2022
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you. It is a pleasure to be of service. Thank you for your review, it is greatly appreciated.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Alan Yates Music to the rescue.

I recently received a Ukulele Banjo from a friend of mine who is in his nineties and registered blind.
He had a problem with one of his tuning pegs and due to his poor sight, he lost a couple of parts for re-assembly.
I sent the tuner to Alan Yates Music, who took the trouble of finding a suitable replacement nut, who then promptly sent the tuner back to me so I could reinstate it on this chaps instrument. My thanks to Alyson and Alan Yates for taking the trouble to help this elderly man out, which in essence, saved him a lot of money as a complete set of new tuners would have been necessary.

8 November 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you Dave for the review. It was a pleasure to assist.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly recommended.

I can thoroughly recommend Alan Yates music for their helpfulness, speed of service and their range of top quality products. And if you need any advice on instruments or musical accessories, they really know their stuff. Thank you Alan Yates Music.

6 September 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Alan Yates Music

Thank you Stuart for your lovely review. It was a pleasure to be of service. Kindest regards Alan & Alyson.

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