I'm going to Ireland in November to visit family - definitely going to visit Crowley's to see where Rory Gallagher bought "the strat" but was wondering if there were any deals to be had in the EU? The Euro/dollar isn't the best right now, but it's not bad, and I was wondering if there were any European guitars that I could pick up cheaper in the EU than here in the states. I know it's a lot cheaper to buy a Fender here - is it a lot cheaper to buy a Vox or a Hagstrom there?

Thanks!

I bought my strat in Ireland nearly a year ago, as I found it to be alot cheaper there than in Norway. The general prices for guitars in Europe, especially brand name ones, are HIGH. As you say, American classics like Fender and Gibson are much closer to a give away price on the other side of the Pond from where I live. Of course, luck might occur at all times. But a European would save alot more dough by going to the states for a Fender, than an American would by getting a Hagström in Europe.
But still, I am absolutely not telling you to keep your eyes closed for guitars when you get here!

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When 900 years you reach, look as good you will not!
- Master Yoda

Hi stratstang: about three years ago the effect of currency rates against one another meant that American guitars were almost exactly the same price in the US as in the UK, where I am. (Britain tends to be the cheapest for these things in Europe.)

With currency fluctuations through the recession that position is very different at present. Comparing the price of American Standard Strats from mainstream big name outlets I find that today they cost around $999 / £641 in America, $1322 / £849 in the UK. So it is clearly a bad time to be buying American gear in Britain and therefore the rest of Europe right now.

However, all of that should in theory mean that European gear is much cheaper from your point of view than in the past. The comparison I just ran for Fenders you could think of doing for our amps, and see if they are better purchased here. (That certainly seemed to be the case with a recent Marshall purchase of mine, that cost me far less than the same thing in North America...)

British amps to consider include

Marshall; Laney; Trace-Elliot; Blackstar; Cornell; Vox; Hiwatt; Cornford; Ashdown; Nikininja; and some others my colleagues will name.

And of course there are some mainland European contenders to factor in:

Hughes & Kettner; ENGL; and others.

As you know, there is no mass market European guitar maker of a size to remotely compare with Fender or Gibson. However, some names to think about include Lag if you are going to be in France (some tasty stuff you won't find your side of the Atlantic); Hagstrom in Sweden (though I didn't see them any cheaper there than in the UK, last time I visited); and Trev Wilkinson's excellent FretKing guitars - the Blue Label ones are made in the Far East, the top end Green Label are made in Trev's own facility here in the UK. Ivor Mairants shop in London is the place to find those, if interested. Here's Trev's latest offering; unique in the world at present. Fairly funky:

http://www.fret-king.com/supermatic.html

Eat your heart out, Gibson Robot guitar!

Many superb boutique guitar makers in Europe include Nik Huber in Germany ( www.nikhuber-guitars.com ) and my personal fave in all the world, Martyn Booth Guitars here in England ( www.martynboothguitars.co.uk/gallery/ ). Worth a stroll around that website at the very least.

And if you are going to be in Ireland, what better than to look at dragging home one of Ireland's very own acoustic guitars? Avalon build guitars at least as well as anyone on the planet and better than most:

http://avalonguitars.com/

That's what I'd be demo'ing if I found myself in a musical mood in the Emerald Isle...

There. That lot should give you something to think about...

Cheers - C

Thanks - great info!