Denmark Street, London- What a disapointment

[Purple ASS]

Denmark Street, London- What a disapointment

For those of you who may not know of it, it's affectionately known as 'Tin Pan Alley' and it's full of music shops. I've not been there since I bought a drum kit in 1982 so whilst in London today I thought I'd pay a visit. Obviously I was looking out for Balls, but only managed to find a couple of JP's and an AL in all of them apart from basses of course of which there were plenty. There wasn't even a plethora of PRS's which I thought was the norm these days. Loads of Vintage F's and G's if that floats your boat though. I had my lad with me who wanted to look at drum kits, but apart from 3 or 4 mediocre setups there was very little to see. I reckon my nearest store (GAK) in Brighton has far more to offer. Very disapointed.

 

[paulstew64]

Totally agree. I went recently too and there was only one shop with any balls. Tried an AL and was disappointed with the state of the guitar (old strings, guitar was dirty) that I didn't even plug it in.

They really do need to look at the better retailers in the country like Guitars4Youin Derbyshire. When you try a guitar in that shop, it's cleaned in front of you before it's put back on its hanger - now that's what I call dedication to the guitar.

If anyone in UK hasn't tried them, phone Mark - the number's in Guitarist magazine or check the web. He has some beautiful balls although I wish he'd stock more of them.

Paul

Radiance red Luke

 

[Smellybum]

Yes,

The decline of the UK guitar market can be summed up in 1 street!

I go to Denmark Street every time I'm in London, at least twice a year, over the years, the guitars have gotten more expensive, the sales staff younger, and the choice poorer.

When Andy's closed it was a huge loss (Andy's was a really cool shop, with hit or miss days!) -

Checkout my thread from last year
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/26795-smelly-hits-denmark-st-ball-patrol.html

It's very sad, but hopefully the UK econommy will crumble internet sales will suffer and the little shops will make a comeback - I quote Sound Control as an example, they went south now varius consortiums have shares and were selling sub1's for £139 last week - (They've all gone so I can post the price!)

The guitar market in the UK is poor right now to say the least, althoug companies like GAK (And of course machiehead) are doing a fair bit to keep it going with price and customer service.
Sorry if this wandered a bit - I just like to rant about this!

On the plus side Denmark Street is Ball hairs from Soho!!!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

The thing about Tin Pan Alley is that you have a small road about 400 yards with shops on either side of the road, all selling guitars, basses, drums, wind instruments etc...

Now, a few years back (about 6 or 7 years ago) these shops had a real hard time keeping afloat, because in order to be competitive and draw clients in, they were killing each other trying to undersell one another, to the point where they were making very little profit.

This was great for the buyers but the shops were risking to close down because such a low profit margins meant that they could no longer afford to pay the high cost of site rent which in Central London and especially the Borough of Westminster, is incredibly expensive.

So what they all did they became a co-operative and decided each of them to specialize in a different market or brands which they had to stock.

You can see the main shops list in this website and they all belong to this new cooperative
Denmark Street Online - Music Ground London

The oldest of these shop is Andy's Guitar Shop which really deals in old vintage instruments and the high end second hand market, then you have other shops like the Bass Cellar which is dedicated to the bass, you have Rose Morris that mainly deals with Fenders and other Jap makes and so on.

As you said you get a lot of EBMM basses but not a lot of guitars I have to admit.

I agree with GAK in Brighton being an excellent shop but to me in London the best guitar shop is Chandler Guitars in Kew Gardens, Richmond and if you are ever in the area you must check them out.
CHANDLER GUITARS - 020 8940 5874 - Gibson, Fender, PRS, Mesa Boogie, Rivera, Soldano, Marshall, Mojave, Tom Anderson, Engl, Gretsch, Tokai, Cornford

And the best bass shop in London is the Bass Centre
http://www.basscentre.com/default.asp

But don't forget that in Shoreham by Sea you have the main UK Ernie Ball distributor which is Strings & Things as per the link below. You should contact them to find out where you can view a full range of EBMM instruments
index.jpg

 

[Purple ASS]

I was keen to visit it as the sax player in my band has just expanded his business Saxophones.co.uk Index into London, above Rhodes music in Denmark Street. He has a fantastic business selling saxes all over the world and to all ages. It seems to be doing very well in London too, so I guess I just expected the place to be buzzing a bit more than it was with more variety. I thought I would be able to find anything there. Top be honest I was looking for drums with my son more than anything and wasn't looking to buy anything in particular, just had to look out for some EBMM's at the same time. I was quite keen to check out the new Peerless range of semi's but nobody had even heard of them

 

[Bungo]

but to me in London the best guitar shop is Chandler Guitars in Kew Gardens, Richmond and if you are ever in the area you must check them out.
CHANDLER GUITARS - 020 8940 5874 - Gibson, Fender, PRS, Mesa Boogie, Rivera, Soldano, Marshall, Mojave, Tom Anderson, Engl, Gretsch, Tokai, Cornford

...And don't forget the other half of the Chandler brothers who now has his own shop in Hampton Wick, Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience.

Home - Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience

Charlie is arguably the top tech/repairman in the UK, and his shop is piled high with all sorts of weird and wonderful gear, much of it secondhand but always interesting. Much smaller than Chandlers in Kew, but more of a lucky dip as to what you'll find when you go in there.

 

[brownpants69]

What a brilliant shop! I went there once- I had the shop to myself- no primates working behind the counter trying to sell me crap I didn't want. I got a lovely second ball that day. A sparkly red SS. Lovely stuff!

 

[brownpants69]

I mean't guitars 4 you- not chandlers guitar experience- only dealt with them via mail order. Very helpful guys on the phone.

 

[brownpants69]

Balls in the UK

I think a lot of shops in the UK won't touch Musicman guitars because IMO the majority of UK guitarists aren't familiar with the range. Basses are a different story- you get quite a range of shops with big balls Fender and Gibson on the other hand, can't move for them- mainly because shops can and will sell them for nothing. Selling a MM involves pricing sensibly.

It's a real shame- I've had loads of comments about my "little guitars" but whenever anyone plays with my balls they love them, and wont put them down.

I love the innuendos involved in the conversations about, well, our balls

 

[dannymusic]

I was there last Oct.

I got there late on a Sat and all but 2 were closed. I was only gawking.

<sigh> I wanna go back. I LOVE the UK!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

...And don't forget the other half of the Chandler brothers who now has his own shop in Hampton Wick, Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience.

Home - Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience

Charlie is arguably the top tech/repairman in the UK, and his shop is piled high with all sorts of weird and wonderful gear, much of it secondhand but always interesting. Much smaller than Chandlers in Kew, but more of a lucky dip as to what you'll find when you go in there.

I know Charlie Chandler very well, I went to his wedding in Brighton, I actually worked with him and his brother Doug before Doug went to work for PRS in the US, anyway.... there was also another very good repairmen musician in that shop called Phil Joiner who died in a car crash, and I have very fond memories of Saturdays evening in that shop all making fun of each other, that was over 17 years ago. I also did a couple of gigs playing bass for Charlie's band. It was fun.

 

[colinboy]

The best thing to do is to go to LIMS next year and go to the S&T stand and you will get to try out all the different guitars that EBMM make.that what i did this year!

 

[Thew Ebow]

i used to work in Andy's..

i know lots of shop owners in the street and could write a long essay about the development and its decline!

ok.. well for a start the only shop in denmark street to be an real ball guitar stockist is roka's.. and the only other place would be under virgin.. but selection is small... blind lemon from strings and things might be able to confirm this.. the only others places in reach of London is indeed Chandlers in Kew or the amazing Machinehead all the way out in Hitchin, Holiday music in Wood Green and finally GAK in brighton..which for a muso with no car is a day trip out to most..

it is strange that the main street for musical instruments should be so lacking in such a quality brand.. but the money for them is in the vintage market or the 'power' guitars... ibanez, prs, fenders.. yuck... no one seems to understand the great ethos of balls.. great guitars, great woods, great electronics, great build quality.. quality everytime.. i mean the only balls which seem to make it in the history books are 1. stingray bass 2. silhouette baritone guitar 3. silhouette..

in anycase.. i think this won't change.. i think independent stores out of London.. really are the only hope for ball lovers.. London isn't set to change..and the street is as dodgy as it ever was.. there is some great finds still.. if you look deep in Wunjo's and Angel's.. but you need to know your stuff and not put up with their BS.. musicground and Vintage and Rare although certainly having the vintage pieces and boutique pedals always seem to be pushing the boundaries of acceptable pricing!!

i still frequent the street twice a week to visit friends, shop owners, luthiers, guitar builders and see what's new and coming out.. but hardly ever to buy.. online gets me better deals on strings.. and no one stocks balls..

 

[Purple ASS]

I guess I thought it would be a place to find anything and everything. I understand that good displays of EBMM's are rare and that wasn't really meant to be the main theme of my post, it was just an observation and I'm sure that topic has been discussed many times before. I just found the whole place was a bit of a dissapointment generally. Even if I was looking for a PRS (which I wasn't ) I didn't see a good selection. And as for drums, a couple of electronic kits, but not much else. There was a drum 'den' in one of the stores , but it wasn't open till 11 am

 

[Blind Lemon]

i used to work in Andy's..


ok.. well for a start the only shop in denmark street to be an real ball guitar stockist is roka's.. and the only other place would be under virgin.. but selection is small... blind lemon from strings and things might be able to confirm this.. ..

Yeh Roka's (Rockers now) has the best selection

 

[Purple ASS]

Yup...they had a Vintage S/burst AL, 2 JP's and a Silo

 

[Bungo]

I know Charlie Chandler very well, I went to his wedding in Brighton, I actually worked with him and his brother Doug before Doug went to work for PRS in the US, anyway.... there was also another very good repairmen musician in that shop called Phil Joiner who died in a car crash, and I have very fond memories of Saturdays evening in that shop all making fun of each other, that was over 17 years ago. I also did a couple of gigs playing bass for Charlie's band. It was fun.

I wouldn't claim to know either that well but they both know my face well having spent many £000's in their shops over the last 25 years or so (in fact I've been a customer at all three of the shops in Sandycombe Road down the years). I'm sure I must have spoken to you at some point then?

I had a good haggle with Charlie about two weeks ago over a 2nd hand Hotplate. I think I did alright in the end which frankly surprised me!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I have nothing but praise for Charlie Chandler. I decided to stop using Chandler in Kew a while ago (something that does not need discussing here) and give my business to Charlie's shop in Hampton Wick. He always does an amazing job when it comes to repairs and upgrades, and seems to know everything about guitars.

I have always been disappointed with Denmark Street. All they ever have is overpriced 'vintage' guitars and snooty and unwelcoming staff. I remember being very much younger with money to spend and being spoken down to in one of those stores. I never forgot that! Where as Project Music in Hounslow (RIP) could not of been more helpful and happily took my money!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I wouldn't claim to know either that well but they both know my face well having spent many £000's in their shops over the last 25 years or so (in fact I've been a customer at all three of the shops in Sandycombe Road down the years). I'm sure I must have spoken to you at some point then?

I had a good haggle with Charlie about two weeks ago over a 2nd hand Hotplate. I think I did alright in the end which frankly surprised me!

Its possible that we have spoken, but bear in mind I only used to work there p/time on weekend between 1991 to 1992 as I had a weekly job in a boring office up town, and I tell you something else, I worked there for 2 reasons neither of which were the money,
1) was to get away from the gf (nag nag nag) and
2) to cleanse my mind from the tedious office work I was doing in the week.

Nowadays I am happy as Larry working as a port captain in Tilbury Docks, no more office for me! (and the nagging gf is history)

I do miss Chandler but hey you can't have it all. (I used to live 5 min up the road from there)

If you go to Chandler now the new staff are all cool and friendly, but the only person that is still there today from the days when I used to work there, is the legendary Brinsley Schwarz (who played on many Graham Parker records) who is the Don on guitar setup and amplifier knowkledge and also Ian Allerton (aka Brains) who still does their body spray in his outside workshop (hence you'll never find him in the shop), I was told Brains went to work with Charlie when he first set up Experience up in Hampton but later left for whatever reasons and went back to work for Paula (Chandler) in Kew.

But the person I miss the most is Charlie's brother Doug, one of the warmest gentlemen I have ever met, Doug has a heart of gold and he is a very freindly and polite person, wicked sense of humour, and always cool and composed in the shop no matter what. God knows where he is now... I wish him best of luck whichever venture he is pursuing.

 

[DaveB]

Evening folks,

Just to update you....

Doug Chandler and his wife Tina now operate a distribution firm in the UK called Guitar XS who import Collings and Groove Tube products. They are still wonderful people to deal with.

Its nice to see people praising my store - and I thank you. When I was a punter I always found Denmark St very overrated and intimidating. At Machinehead we always regard customer satisfaction as the ultimate aim - you may find other stores charging a few quid less but we will always look after you if you need an action tweak or want to change string guage etc.

Cheers

Dave