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Post subject: UK Fender Dealers
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:43 am
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Hi
I know there probably arent too many UK folk on these forums, but can anyone recommend a UK Fender stockist they have had good dealings with.

I've had an order fall through for my Olympic White Am Std (they "forgot" to order it from the distributor. 3-5 days turned into weeks. So I cancelled).

I'm based near Leicester. Am happy to drive a bit for a good service, or mail order if enough recommendations. My key criteria is not price, it is service i.e. a place that wont ship me a cosmetically damaged strat, and somewhere who will do a PROPER setup, not just open the case to check the colour.

I'm happy tweaking truss, bridge, saddles etc, but find if somewhere has done a fully setup, they are likely to have also done a half decent check over the guitar.

I recently had a not too cheap Ibanez Prestige from a Birmingham independent (who cover their website with promises of great setup) delivered in an unplayable state. No amout of my skills could get it as it should be. Have since spent £70 on a fret dress and setup and it now plays great (but the luthier trashed the finish whilst he had it - looks like it was played A LOT. What r ya gonna do? :roll: ).

Dont want a repeat. So want some guidance. Would rather avoid the box shifters. Looking at ProjectMusic.co.uk , Soundslive seem to have most colours in stock so must be pretty big, but not heard about their setup/service. And GuitarGuitar?
Its just the start really as also want a Blues Junior and maybe a MIM Tel in the coming 6 months. All my other gear is a bit "metal" and my tastes and style are a-changing!

Any help most welcome.
Cheers


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:14 am
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Location: Sunderland UK
Quick word about 'Guitarguitar' , first class service, gave me a great deal, I bought an am std strat got £100 off the list price, the guitar was set up spot on apart from me lowering the action a bit and adjust the pick up height, the staff were friendly helpful and not pushy,great service. FRANK


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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:13 pm
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I live at grantham just north of you by 30 odd miles. I had great dealings with harker&howerth in bolton. A travel i know, but they had what i wanted at a reasonable price. The guitar was immaculate and required no more than a bit of tweaking from me. They do mailorder too. Its the only shop i will use now for expensive stuff. PMT in brum are ok too, their just off the lawley middleway, the setup there isnt anywhere near as good as it could be though. Atleast it doesnt suit me as much.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:44 pm
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Hi SpacePig

Actually, lots of Brits on this Forum. In fact, it's the new British Invasion!

I divide my time between London and Devon and can recommend excellent shops in both those places - but that's not much use to you, is it?

Online I have had good, prompt, friendly service from SoundsLive in Newcastle and had a guitar from them with a reasonable "standard" setup. Although the other day someone on this Forum said it wasn't a nice shop to visit in person...

I know Project Music in Exeter, which you mentioned. They have a nice selection of gear, though I must say I wasn't overly impressed with the teenagers working in the place. More interested in lounging around strumming than helping customers. No idea what they are like online, though.

Another guitar shop in Exeter is Mansons, also on the net. Now that is one of the nicest instrument shops on the planet - but not cheap. Again, I haven't dealt with them over the net.

My brother-in-law has had useful dealings with Dolphin Music, another name that comes up a lot on Google searches. And I have done well with GAK, but only buying things like pedals, which don't require more input than popping them in the mail. No experience of buying guitars from them.

If you feel like coming to London ask again and I'll give you a list of grown-up shops to visit...

Cheers - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:27 am
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Many thanks all. Food for thought.
I'll sound a few of them out over the phone/email.
(If they sound worried about my pickiness following my Ibanez incident they can get lost).

Only local option is Sheehans in Leicester itself.

Now they have a longstanding reputation, but dont have a huge focus on electric guitars (mainly acoustic, violins, wind instruments), but they do stock Fender and do a setup before guitars go on the shelf (and tag theym with action measurements etc which is pretty unheard of for UK shops) and check them again or setup to a customers preference upon sale.

May try there just because its local which is good for any probs, and the tech/luthier has a great rep, albeit mainly for acoustics. They ARE about £50 overpriced at least and charge RRP for anything high end (52 RI Tele, or American Deluxe etc) and are known not to haggle.

Have next Friday off work so will go in and tinker (they have a candy cola and Sienna Sunburst in stock).

Thanks again people. Will update when the Oly White is in my hands.

PS. This forums is really wierd. I feel confused and uncomfortable due to the total lack of bitchiness and childishness that you get used to on every corner of the internet. Congrats to you all!


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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:43 am
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Location: Peckham: where the snow leopards roam
SpacePig wrote:
PS. This forums is really wierd. I feel confused and uncomfortable due to the total lack of bitchiness and childishness that you get used to on every corner of the internet. Congrats to you all!


Excellent! It's good, isn't it?

I believe I've heard good things about Sheehans, though, as you say, from folky types rather than electric players.

You're right, that thing of tagging the guitar with its setup stats is something I've never heard of elsewhere! Regent Sound, a major Fender stockist in Denmark Street, London, will do stuff for you prior to purchase and included in the price. But you have to ask: they're just as happy to sell you that guit off the wall without further tinkering.

Cheers - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:30 am
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SpacePig wrote:
PS. This forums is really wierd. I feel confused and uncomfortable due to the total lack of bitchiness and childishness that you get used to on every corner of the internet. Congrats to you all!


Ha! We have our moments, but most people here try to keep an even keel. Welcome! 8)


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:37 am
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Sheenans, i remember that place, its nextdoor to the train station right?
It is well overpriced if its that one. you could do well to take a local trip to pmt brum, their selection is vast and ranges from squire to customshop. Its where i saw the jaguar strat for sale @ £12000. Their reasonably priced too i got my baja tele from there 3 weeks ago for £420.
Were not bitchy here, this is a forum for people with a common goal, i.e musicianship. Quite unlike other guitar forums that are populated by people who like pictures of guitars rather than playing em.

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