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Author Topic: Retail Therapy  (Read 3623 times)

MrBump

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« on: February 19, 2008, 12:31:02 PM »
Who knows where "the best" guitar shop is?

I know a few locally that are either staffed by decent people, or have a wide range of kit (but rarely both...)

I live in Essex, but travel widely.  To be honest, I'm not even that impressed with Tin Pan Alley, seems that there's a lot of kit that shops just don't stock.

Mark.
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FELINEGUITARS

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« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2008, 12:34:57 PM »
I quite like Peach Guitars out your way , but haven't been to Trevor Durrant

In London you have a lot of choice in the West End - cant guarantee what the retail experience is like though.
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jibidy

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« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2008, 12:35:24 PM »
Sounds great music in manchester?

Dealer for many good brands
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MrBump

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« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2008, 12:38:29 PM »
Yeah, Trevor Durrant falls into my "great guys, but often limited stock" category.  And it's not even that limited, it's just that my time is really scarce, and I need somewhere with EVERYTHING!

 :twisted:

Saw Peach online the other day, over by Braintree I think.  They look good, I'll definitely check them out.
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Antag

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« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2008, 12:39:57 PM »
Quote from: jibidy
Sounds great music in manchester?

I went there once & was surprised/disappointed by how small the shop is & how little they actually had in stock.

I love Coda Music in Stevenage (their website sucks, but the shop is a real Alladins cave), quite like Guitar Village in Farnham (though their prices are a bit steep on many things) & Machinehead in Hitchin.

Denmark street isn't bad, though I wouldn't make a special journey or expect any helpful advice from the staff...
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Philly Q

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« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2008, 12:45:40 PM »
Guitar Village has nice helpful staff, amazing guitars, a lovely old building and even decent prices!

Andertons in Guildford is good, and they have nice little rooms where you can try gear without being disturbed (or embarrassed!).

Coda and Peter Cook's have poky little shops but loads of stock and excellent prices.

And I've found Machinehead OK, but the bloke who owns (or used to own?) the place can be a bit arsey.  Haven't been there for years though.

Denmark Street is too expensive to buy anything, and a lot of the staff are dicks (apart from Hanks Acoustics).

That's about the limit of my experience.
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Ian Price

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Re: Retail Therapy
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2008, 12:57:11 PM »
Quote from: MrBump
Who knows where "the best" guitar shop is?

I know a few locally that are either staffed by decent people, or have a wide range of kit (but rarely both...)

I live in Essex, but travel widely.  To be honest, I'm not even that impressed with Tin Pan Alley, seems that there's a lot of kit that shops just don't stock.

Mark.


I only really go to three guitar shops:

Guitar Village in Farnham - very good with loads of guitars/amps and some pretty good prices (I recently haggled money off of a Laney amp)

Dawsons in Reading - loads of guitars but really nothing that I would call out of the ordinary (GV are good for unusual stuff). I also think they are too 'corporate' and a bit stuffy

Guitar Works in Reading - awesome collection of PRS and Fender guitars. Nice staff but sometimes a bit overpriced.

Never been to Denmark Street.
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noodleplugerine

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« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2008, 01:01:15 PM »
I haven't been to any UK shops outside of London, but for Denmark Street, I'd say all the shops are equally bad, but for best stock it has to be Rose Morris. Their prices are through the roof, and their staff aren't the most helpful, but they have Engls, ESP, Organic, Ibanez, PRS, and only the good stuff!
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dave_mc

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« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2008, 03:25:01 PM »
holiday music moved out to essex, didn't it? it was a decent shop the couple of times i was there when it was still in leytonstone.

wembley guitar centre is decent, and nice people, and sound-proof rooms.

machinehead was pretty nice when i was there.

oxford guitar gallery is cool (not really london though).

up north in edinburgh (!), guitar guitar is pretty sweet.

probably a bunch i don't know about as i'm not a local, of course.
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PoshCollins

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« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2008, 06:44:37 PM »
G.A.K in Brighton had little stock and the staff were rather rude.

The place I got my old Mesa from is a place in Worthing (West Sussex) called Guitar Junction.

http://guitarjunction.co.uk

Awesome shop for vinatge and rare gear.
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indysmith

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« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2008, 06:46:26 PM »
Peach is a good shop, with good stuff, only very small
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38thBeatle

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« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2008, 07:02:34 PM »
I like Guitar Village in Farnham and also Andertons in Guildford ( same as Philly). Andertons can be extremely flexible on price and I would also say that they have some of the most polite staff. Guitar Village is pleasant enough if you catch them on a good day but can be a little offish. GAK in Brighton-one of two guys there are pretty good but they can be a bit arrogant  -particularly with younger shoppers I have noticed(though maybe they have good reason..who knows). In Essex ( as I go there a fair amount as I originate from there) I have only been to PMT in Romford which I find pricey but friendly enough and prepared to discount without not too much prompting. I have a mate who works in one of the Denmark St shops-he has offered to get me stuff cheap but I have yet to take him up on it.
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Nolly

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« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2008, 09:05:13 PM »
PMT in Birmingham is worth a visit as well - they have every single ENGL there, as well as all sorts of other quality stuff, including the new Blackstar amps.
One or two of the guys are a bit up their own arses, and one will try and encourage you to buy a Marshall JVM no matter what you ask for, but the others are very helpful if you show you know what you're talking about.
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indysmith

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« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2008, 09:10:00 PM »
Quote from: Nolly
PMT in Birmingham is worth a visit as well - they have every single ENGL there, as well as all sorts of other quality stuff, including the new Blackstar amps.
One or two of the guys are a bit up their own arses, and one will try and encourage you to buy a Marshall JVM no matter what you ask for, but the others are very helpful if you show you know what you're talking about.

PMT is an AWESOME shop - and luckily about a 2 minute walk from my Uni at Millennium Point - drop by and see me!
The guys I've spoke to there are massive snobs, and all worship Gibson, but that's not reason not to check it out. Everyone's really cool about letting yu try gear, and they have a booth there if you're a bit nervous in stores (I am!).
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MrBump

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« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2008, 09:15:20 PM »
Quote
PMT is an AWESOME shop


PMT in Southend is OK...  I've had a couple of times when I've gone in looking for specific things, not even too select, and they weren't available.  Still, not too bad in terms of stock, but what I find with a lot of bigger shops is that they do the £99-300 range, and they do the £1000+ range, but the middle ground isn't particularly well catered for.

I'd love to try out some Schecters, but I can't find them for love nor money.  Same with Hamers, they seem to be quite difficult to find.

EDIT - Oh, AND Indie...

Mark.
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