Ronnie's Allbang and Strummit

Bob-Dubery

This shop gets mentioned on GFSA from time to time. With good reason I think. I was in there for strings on the weekend and got chatting to Ronnie and looking at his stock. I don't think this shop carries any new stock at all - but that's really part of the charm and the attraction.

In this tiny little shop there was a '62 (as in "made in 1962") Jazzmaster, a '62 Jaguar, a very nice 70s "Keith Richards" Tele, a 12-string Burns electric, an amazing Hofner electric with those old car radio style push buttons and some kind of mock MOP finish on the fingerboard. Also a very nice 2nd hand MIA strat. The price of that is not especially high or low, but the guitar is in tip top condition and has the headstock painted to match the body (fiesta red). What else... just generally a very interesting selection of 2nd hand amps and guitars, many of them a little off the beaten path. Like I said, this is the charm of the shop.

It's not a Fender specialist, that's just what they have in stock right now. On the previous occasion on which I visited the shop they had several interesting Gibsons, so I suppose their stock varies with what they find or are offered.

I don't know as much about drums or take as much interest in them, but they do drum kits as well. He has a set of Ludwigs there with a pyschedelic paint job and of a type that's not made anymore. These even have the old oil based finish which is prone to catching fire if you do things (as people apparently do from time to time) like sticking a firecracker in the bass drum.

Quite an interesting shop.

I have no relationship with the store other that having bought a packet of strings there. I do think that this is a shop worth getting to know, a little treasure trove.

No web site. Theyr'e in Darrenwood Center. If you follow Republic Road from Cresta towards Linden, you'll find Darrenwood Center on your right, just before the big traffic circle. If you get to the traffic circle then just go all the way around and then Darrenwood Center is on your left ?

VellaJ

Glad you found them ?

I bought all my first gear from Ronnie, and I've still got all of it. He's trying to make a living, but he doesn't rip you off in any way IMO. Whenever I can I get my stuff from him, he doesn't stock rubbish.

And he'll tell it to you like it is. What a Scot! ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

+1

Bought a killer 70s J-bass from him but had to stop myself from spending even more. A lot of gems on the walls...

Attila

+1 for Ronnie

My only "beef" with Ronnie is that the really good stuff goes to the UK and US to fetch top dollar.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Attila wrote: +1 for Ronnie

My only "beef" with Ronnie is that the really good stuff goes to the UK and US to fetch top dollar.

S'true, he did tell me that one of the guitars (Jag?) was not for sale locally... but I'm sure anything can be negotiated... maybe...

Bob-Dubery

Jack Flash Jr wrote:
Attila wrote: +1 for Ronnie

My only "beef" with Ronnie is that the really good stuff goes to the UK and US to fetch top dollar.
S'true, he did tell me that one of the guitars (Jag?) was not for sale locally... but I'm sure anything can be negotiated... maybe...

Collectible guitars don't fetch here what they can fetch overseas. It's that simple. Hugh Cummings sells most of his collectible instruments to buyer's overseas. If he could get the price here that he could get in the USA then he'd sell locally as it's a lot less hassle, but he can't so he doesn't.

Attila

No believe me I understand this... its pure economics at play ..... I am thinking of it purely from a selfish perspective. :'(

Conversly I supose Andreas Barth's from http://www.guitarexperience.net imports many colletables :woohoo:

Andreas is no relation to me ...I am Barath he is Barth