Where to shop for guitars in London, UK

deefstes

I might be going to London earlyish next year and was wondering if it might be a good idea to shop for a guitar (like an American Standard Strat) while over there. A perfunctory Google search indicated that the prices over there might be a fair bit cheaper than over here. (ex. http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/34695-fender-american-standard-stratocaster-sienna-sunburst-maple.html)

So I was wondering, would anyone know of good guitar shops in London? How about online shops so I can start browsing their guitars?

Cheers

guidothepimmp

denmark street. prepare to be overwhelmed

guitarboy2828

I was in Denmark Street (check it out on google maps on street view, all you see is guitar shops) about 3 weeks ago for a day. I'll be honest, I was very disappointed. It could've been that they were smaller shops, maybe it was a very expensive place, i'm not sure, but really things weren't a whole lot cheaper there than in SA.

USA is a different story all together, but that has been spoken about many times on the forum. USA is MUCH cheaper!

If you want to go to a street to see diversity, go to Denmark street, over 10 guitar shops in the space of 100m and they have EVERYTHING (nearly).

Banditman

+1 for Denmark Street. Plan on spending at least a full day. Most shops are on Denmark Street itself, though a few are on Charing Cross road (the main road you'll walk down to get to Denmark St.). You can also check out the big Fender selection in the basement of Virgin Records on Oxford St.

If by tube, the easiest way is to get to Tottenham Court Rd. station (on the corner of Oxford St & Tottenham Court Rd.). Virgin is just into Oxford St. For Denmark St head south into Charing Cross Road. Denmark St. is (IIRC) the 1st or 2nd left on the way down.

For Fenders try Rockers (3/4 of the way down from Charing Cross Road on the right side). There are some used gear places as well.

Take a towl for the drool.

deefstes

Thanks guys, seems like a resounding endorsement for Denmark street then ? I'll check it out.

Squonk

Denmark street was great but not too overwhelming. The good thing was all the guitar shops in one little area.

The best thing about it was the history, Keith Richards, Ray Davies and a host of others all set foot in those shops.

There is a great Guitar Shop in Guildford, not too far from London called Andertons, Guildford also house ACM, which is one of the prime guitar colleges, maybe have a look at the campus. Also interesting about Guildford is that there are all these students walking around with guitars and the customary black T-shirts with either Led Zeppelin or The Ramones across their chests.

Also try GUMTREE if you are staying for awhile!

vic

Wunjo guitars in Denmark Street is good...staff are competent and friendly. Ask for Brian...

http://www.wunjoguitars.com/

Then there's Angel Music ....nice shop

http://www.angelmusicguitars.com/

Also Vintage and Rare Guitars
http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/

Then just round the corner in Charing Cross Rd is Macaris...this place has history. Sold the first Vox to The Shadows, Beatles, Stones, etc. etc. ...Ask for Anthony

http://www.macaris.co.uk/

plus many more...excellent book shops as well.

Enjoy ! ?

infernox

Watch out for 'high street" stores as they are expensive. Smaller store off the beaten track will always be cheaper in the UK

DaFiz

D'Ya facebook...? My mate Lee recently emigrated and send pics from a guitar shop on that side of the pond,
I nearly wet my pants... :-[

singemonkey

+1 on gumtree. Same as here.

Look, there's masses of gear in London, but don't ever expect anything in the UK to be cheaper. It isn't. The prices in the shops are frightening - just like here except they have more expensive instruments to start with.

Take advantage of the availability of the equipment and shop on gumtree. Even if you've only got a spare day or two - if you're really serious about picking something up, scan gumtree and go check out some private sales.

DaFiz

singemonkey wrote: don't ever expect anything in the UK to be cheaper. It isn't.

Yep :yup:... Twas a year ago when another GFSA member arrived in CT and I took him to a few guitar shops. I bought a left handed Cort acoustic here and found the pricing to be more favourable than in the UK... ? http://www.guitarforum.co.za/general-discussion/cape-town-guitar-shops/

kayDUB

yip, i was in Denmark Str a couple of weeks ago, very cool having all the guitar/music stores together! I found that the stores in Southampton where cheaper than in London, so try check out some stores away from the centre. Can't beat the choice though!
I ended up buying a guitar back home - to me the price saving didn't warrant the risk of traveling with it, amongst other things.

I am however kicking myself that I didn't pick up the Wampler Ecstasy I saw in one of the shops. Hopefully i'll order one soon ?

Regarding prices, just take Vat into consideration and how you intend to travel with it or get it back here.
Their stores seemed to work similar to ours in that you could ask for a better price than what was displayed... even when the tag said "Best price" ?

[deleted]

guitarboy2828 wrote: If you want to go to a street to see diversity, go to Denmark street, over 10 guitar shops in the space of 100m and they have EVERYTHING (nearly).

My definition of everything must be completely different... I found V**OL there worth my time and effort...

+1 on Denmark Street however

I was there earlier this year, I was pretty disappointed. Couldn't even get or order a Rothwell Lovesqueeze anywhere (and its a UK company) No stock...
Was planning on sneaking a Swart 6V6 back.. no stock...

No decent guitars... Nothing really... Try find a Larrivee in London? Not a chance... Try find a Dr Z in London? Not a chance...

If you want selection... and probably the best in the world (that I have seen)... Music Connection! (and the space to walk around at least, and not bump shoulders constantly with sales folk and other customers and.... keep ducking so those guitars above you dont knock you on the forehead)

The End....

Prepare to be bored in Denmark street ?
Well worth a look, not to buy.

guitarboy2828

Brentcgp wrote:
guitarboy2828 wrote: If you want to go to a street to see diversity, go to Denmark street, over 10 guitar shops in the space of 100m and they have EVERYTHING (nearly).
My definition of everything must be completely different... I found V**OL there worth my time and effort...

+1 on Denmark Street however

I was there earlier this year, I was pretty disappointed. Couldn't even get or order a Rothwell Lovesqueeze anywhere (and its a UK company) No stock...
Was planning on sneaking a Swart 6V6 back.. no stock...

No decent guitars... Nothing really... Try find a Larrivee in London? Not a chance... Try find a Dr Z in London? Not a chance...

If you want selection... and probably the best in the world (that I have seen)... Music Connection! (and the space to walk around at least, and not bump shoulders constantly with sales folk and other customers and.... keep ducking so those guitars above you dont knock you on the forehead)

The End....

Prepare to be bored in Denmark street ?
Well worth a look, not to buy.

True fact, they don't stock everything, maybe a generalization from a Durbanite who is used to going to a music shop that ONLY stocks Ibanez and Fender. So, the shops in Denmark street were heavenly in terms of stock.

I was DYING to play a Larrivee, but they are an American brand, so I wasn't too surprised i could only find one, which had SUPER old rusted strings on it and played terribly. Dr Z is also American, so not surprised they aren't there.

That being said, they have got A LOT of stuff. You godda give them that. For someone just shopping generally, it's a pretty cool place to go. If you want specifics, maybe not. They are also super expensive! ?

vic

guitarboy2828 wrote:
Brentcgp wrote:
guitarboy2828 wrote: If you want to go to a street to see diversity, go to Denmark street, over 10 guitar shops in the space of 100m and they have EVERYTHING (nearly).
My definition of everything must be completely different... I found V**OL there worth my time and effort...

+1 on Denmark Street however

I was there earlier this year, I was pretty disappointed. Couldn't even get or order a Rothwell Lovesqueeze anywhere (and its a UK company) No stock...
Was planning on sneaking a Swart 6V6 back.. no stock...

No decent guitars... Nothing really... Try find a Larrivee in London? Not a chance... Try find a Dr Z in London? Not a chance...

If you want selection... and probably the best in the world (that I have seen)... Music Connection! (and the space to walk around at least, and not bump shoulders constantly with sales folk and other customers and.... keep ducking so those guitars above you dont knock you on the forehead)

The End....

Prepare to be bored in Denmark street ?
Well worth a look, not to buy.
True fact, they don't stock everything, maybe a generalization from a Durbanite who is used to going to a music shop that ONLY stocks Ibanez and Fender. So, the shops in Denmark street were heavenly in terms of stock.

I was DYING to play a Larrivee, but they are an American brand, so I wasn't too surprised i could only find one, which had SUPER old rusted strings on it and played terribly. Dr Z is also American, so not surprised they aren't there.

That being said, they have got A LOT of stuff. You godda give them that. For someone just shopping generally, it's a pretty cool place to go. If you want specifics, maybe not. They are also super expensive! ?

Look and thou shall find...in Denmark Street....Wunjo guitars stock Larrivee http://www.wunjoguitars.com/