Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: _tom_ on November 26, 2009, 07:13:01 PM

Title: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: _tom_ on November 26, 2009, 07:13:01 PM
I'm looking to get a new guitar as my parents want to buy me something nice as a 21st b'day present (which is tomorrow, btw :D ).

I'd like a Gibson SG of some kind, the faded worn brown look really nice, but I can't find any to play and don't dare order one online in case I get a "bad" one.. And I'd need to play one strapped on to see how bad the neck dive is.

So, any suggestions? I live in Leicester (cr@p for guitar shops) and would probably travel as far as London if that'll get me what I want!

Cheers :)
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: 38thBeatle on November 26, 2009, 07:23:05 PM
No I dont but happy birthday Tom.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: d1dsj on November 26, 2009, 07:28:25 PM
Happy birthday fella! You could try PMT (they have LOADS of guitars and amps), Reverb music or Fairdeal music. All in  Birmingham.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: Ian Price on November 26, 2009, 07:28:50 PM
Sorry Tom - I don't know of any. If you are looking to travel as far as London you could always give guitarvillage a go - they always have a few faded SGs in stock as well as hundreds of other guitars. Not London but probably not a significant difference in distance.

EDIT - I got my strat from guitars4you in Derbyshire. Very nice people and well stocked - not sure what they have in the way of SGs though.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: Jonny on November 26, 2009, 07:32:09 PM
Fair Deal in Brummyland is REALLY good, I love the place.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: badgermark on November 26, 2009, 09:24:27 PM
Just to point out I love my faded brown SG, even more now it has a set of MQs in it. The stock pickups are pretty good though, i didn't upgrade until a fit of boredom struck. Mine has a few quibbles, the low e pops out of its slot very easily and the high e chokes on the 8th fret. But definitely try them out.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: indysmith on November 26, 2009, 10:29:09 PM
I'll pop into the brummy shops some time over the next few days and see what they have in the way of SGs.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: dave_mc on November 26, 2009, 10:37:48 PM
lots of good shops in and around london, but they tend not to be in the centre... if you're already making a fairly long journey to london it mightn't be possible, in other words.

happy birthday... :)
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: WezV on November 26, 2009, 11:53:10 PM
there is always a good deal to be had in the middle of this fair country   :) ;)
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: AndyR on November 27, 2009, 01:21:16 PM
Regent Sound in Denmark Street had a nice brown one two weeks ago, much nicer than the one that was there a couple months back when I bought my red one. I used it to try an AC4TV, I was probably playing it for 20-30 mins, and then I suddenly realised I'd switched over to trying the guitar not the amp!

They seem to be doing reasonably well for turning stock round though - and it is the christmas period now - so whether it's still there is debatable...

Even with what I'd call a good one, I suspect it won't really shine until you've had a decent fret-dress and set-up though. I'm happy with the way mine plays, but I suspect that someone else might think "don't you want the frets crowned??!"

Btw - I'm not convinced there's much in the way of neck dive at all on mine. Might have got used to it though so don't notice (and I'm at work so can't test it...)


AND!!! A big happy birthday! :D

Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: gingataff on November 27, 2009, 02:22:19 PM
Happy Birthday Tom,
I hope you have a great 21st and get a nice guitar whatever you choose.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: badgermark on November 27, 2009, 04:26:44 PM
Yeah Andy I don't have any neck dive problems on my brown sg. And happy birthday Tom.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: _tom_ on November 27, 2009, 04:42:38 PM
Thanks for the birthday wishes :D I shall be on the beers shortly.

As for the neck dive, I've only played a few cheaper (epiphone) SG's, all of which had the horrible neck dive. I'd probably end up getting the top strap button relocated to the top horn (like iommi) if its safe to do that without fear of cracking or ruining the horn. Seems like it'd hang better that way rather than the button on the back.

Wez, I would've loved the custom SG we discussed but just couldn't afford the deposit in time. If I cant find a Gibson I want, you may be the only option after all and I'll just have to get it late :P

I'll pop into the brummy shops some time over the next few days and see what they have in the way of SGs.

Cheers :)
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: Jonny on November 27, 2009, 05:40:02 PM
Happy birthday Tom. Hope you had/have a great day/night.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: Brow on November 27, 2009, 05:45:49 PM
Happy Birthday Tom!

Can't say as I know of any decent guitar shops round this way neither  :?
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: roland_rat on November 27, 2009, 06:35:26 PM
Enjoy the birthday. If you fancy a drive in search of that guitar it is liverpool guitar show on sunday.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: Alex on November 28, 2009, 02:07:36 PM
Fair Deal in Brummyland is REALLY good, I love the place.

Fair Deal is the nicest place IMO with good prices.

PMT is overpriced and a lot of the staff are rather unhelpful. They do stock Gibson however, what Fair Deal does not.
I`ve been in PMT far too many times and sometimes even was set on buying something and then I thought "f*ck, I`m not giving these guys my money!"
Letting me try a 200+£ reverb pedal only on an MG15.... trying to convince me that the BOSS they have in stock is much better than the (much more expensive) pedal I wanted to buy (and which of course they would have had to order).
Not having basic stuff in stock.
Ridiculous prices on stuff you get a lot cheaper from GAK or Thomann...
Basic result - I'd rather order something online than buy at PMT.
Ironically the guitar repair guy, very nice fellow and very competent, is not acutally employed by PMT, but freelance.

There`s also one store I think its City Music OR Reverb in Birmingham, it`s small but the staff is friendly and they have a lot of good Orange and Hughes&Kettner gear.

Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: MartinS on November 28, 2009, 09:57:18 PM
I'd highly recommend City Music. Bought my 335 from them 25 years ago, bought my daughter's first guitar from them 12 months ago (it HAD to be pink, and they recommended a nice little Ashford which stays in tune well and sounds lovely). Great personal service. Google them for directions, phone number, etc.
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: _tom_ on November 29, 2009, 01:04:43 PM
Thanks for the suggestions

PMT in Northampton is really shitee for Gibsons, last time I went in I didn't see ANY that I liked the look of, they only had 1 or 2 Gibson SG's and the rest were epiphones or Les Pauls.

Oh and indy if you're going guitar-spotting in Birmingham, I would also be tempted by a goldtop Les Paul (yes, another les paul  :roll: ) so let me know if you come across any nice ones of those :)
Title: Re: Good guitar shops in the Midlands
Post by: indysmith on November 29, 2009, 06:28:34 PM
I'm going to check out the looks of things tomorrow todge, so I'll be sure to let you know!