I'm sure the Belfast boys cc and tochai can relate to this. We've three main shops in town. We'll call em A, B and C cuz i'm interested to see if you's can guess who's who (that's cc and tochai btw). Currently A is the best for guitars. Two years ago it was C since it just opened. Before that it was B. But before that it was A. I'm just judging this on the standard of gear they've got. Just wonderin from the rest o you's , do you have to suffer what we do with a dirth o really good quality guitars? To get a fender custom shop here, we'd have to go over the water as we say, to maybe glasgow or london to pick one up. That or the internet. And does it fluctuate between various outlets? Thoughts

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thought of you tonight, in simple twists and turns, incarcerated here, i'm handcuffed to your world, your innocence is cruel, coquettish and arcane, but i need it all the same

First off Im guessing A is matchettes, B Marcus and C is guitar emporium?
Also you wouldnt have to go over seas to get a custom shop, theres a dealer in blackrock (obviously the one in louth not the one in england =p)

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Rated "M" for meaty.

Well, personally I live here on the North Coast of Ohio in the US of A and I have to say that things have changed out here a lot over the years. The number of smaller shops has dropped considerably since Guitar Center opened back around '96 or '97...and the smaller shops that are still hanging in there aren't really what they used to be. We have a small "Fender Authorized" shop here in Lorain for example...Ron Zehals, and to be honest, I can't remember the last time I saw a new Strat hanging on their wall...Fender or Squier. There is a Sam Ash here on the North Coast but it's still a good hour and a half drive from my house...not exactly convenient for any "casual browsing". Even Makin' Music where I recently bought my '85 Squier is almost an hour drive from my house. Since GC opened...Ohio Guitar Center, Midway Music, Sam's Music, Marios, Parma Music, Midpark, Lentines, Domans...all gone and DeFiores and Cleveland Music are really on their last legs...little more than bad jokes as far as music stores go. Considering Cleveland still tries to bill itself as the "rock and roll capitol of the world", it's really a very sad thing to see.

Now in all fairness I do have to say that growing up, those stores never had the internet to content with and I'm sure that's a big factor as well...it's really hard to say just how much of the gear I have today would have come from those shops if the internet had of been around back then. I'm sure that Ebay has had a huge impact on small shop sales and with things like Craigslist, a lot of folks would rather sell their used gear directly rather than end up with a low dollar offer from a music store. Still, the opening of Guitar Center changed things...that really seems to have been the catalyst...and it's not really a change for the better.

Growing up, I never had to drive more than half an hour to find a decent guitar or amp or pedals or even just to "play with the toys". Now a days it feels like I have to either drive half way across the state or simply be content with what Guitar Center has to offer...it really sucks any more.

Ok...just my very depressing $.02 worth,
Jim

C= next to Laverys

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Why don't you Brits and subjects just leave that mess to the Muslims and
move over here? It would be great to have immigrants that speak our language, for a change.

There's 2 Custom Shops next to me. Oh, and Fender HQ is just blocks away.

And we have dentists.

Think about it.

Yes C is next to where me and binterz live....LAVERY'S! (was there 45 mins ago, lol)

A- Matchetts
B- Marcus (downhill bigtime!)
C- Emporium (At the end of the Hill!!)

Thats why as you know bro, I shop at hotroxuk, Soundlive and Thomann now.

Its 5h1t.

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

If you think guitar emporium is bad, you should see music matters in lisburn.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

There is nothing. Now when I say "nothing" there is one store that primarily sells pianos and rents school instruments. They are an auth'd Fender dealer but the guitar room has like 4 $1k plus new Strats and 2 or 3 really low end Affinity's. Nothing in bass to speak of....it's crap.

I can get strings there which is pretty good. But a decent guitar store I have to drive to Appleton/ 1 & 1/4 hour or Wausau/45 mins.

There used to be a good 2nd store here but he kept hs prices in check and couldn't keep up the overhead. Our band did all of our business with him and plugged his store all the time but he couldn't make it. Sucked when they closed.

I dont speak your language, i speak norn iron.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

I speak Weedgie but I am fluent in Norn Iron myself. lol

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Yeah but we have history, you just cant buy that .

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No no and no

CC

Watch Hotroxuk. Some of his prices can be a tad steep. He's only 25 miles from me, I buy strings there and thats it (£3.50 a set for fenders £42 a box of 12 sets). Let me know what he charges shipping and I'll see if I can get any cheaper.

He's fantastic for valves.

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No no and no

Cool stuff Niki. I've been going there for my valves and strings as of late. I also got my Small Stone Nano Series there a few months back.

Good man yourself!

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Hi guys in NI. I've spent my whole life going to and fro between London and Devon in the South West. I must say, to my eye things have improved immeasureably since I was a kid.

Back then down in the rural outback there was one music shop in town. It was quite nice, but almost entirely stocked with budget gear - plus the one or two "good" items up out of reach, just for looking at. If you wanted serious stuff it was off to London or nutt'n.

Nowadays down there they have a row of good guitar shops, including one of my favorites in the whole world; Mansons in Exeter. And they are chockablock with up market gear: the days of hick pickings in the sticks seem to be long gone.

Not to mention how much the quality of the product has improved compared to the price. Gearwise, there's never been a better time to be a musician, far as I can see. And I bet it's the same in Belfast too, really. Ask an old timer what it was like back in the day...

Cheers - C

I have to suffer with the same thing in my town and it is unbearable. Option A has been around since 1901 and has guys who have no product knowledge at all, but they don't have to because the store is located in the middle of downtown and they get so much walk through traffic they can stay afloat. Option B has nothing but punk $@! "I'm a better guitarist than you" hardcore sh1thead$ working in it who always give you attitude if you second guess them or ask for something that will require them to do anything other than stand behind the counter and direct you or sell you something that has been there for 2 years and they can't pay someone to take off their hands. Option C is always helpful but isn't a licensed Fender dealer and just doesn't have a great selection.

SO that's what I am basically resigned to buy stuff directly from Elderly or Sweetwater whenever possible, or search craigslist and ebay.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!