London Music shops?

**caravan** · 05-16-2011, 08:00 PM

I'll be in Piccadilly Circus (whatever that is!) next month. I've found the following music stores nearby: Hanks- 24 Denmark St., Schott Music- 48 Great Marlborough St., Andreas Woywod- (2nd floor) 45 Maddox St., JP Guiver- 99 Mortimer St. and Hooters (no, not THAT Hooters)- 400 Oxford St.

Are any of these worth checking out? You can easily spot me... the big American taking pictures of the Thames river!

**pingu** · 05-16-2011, 10:45 PM

vintage and rare in denmark street is cool

**caravan** · 05-16-2011, 11:27 PM

So, Hank's is better than the others I mentioned?

**Bill C** · 05-17-2011, 01:53 AM

for jazz guitars try Ivor Mairants MusicCentre in Rathbone Place.

**reventlov** · 05-17-2011, 02:17 AM

Denmark Street is a short street, where pretty well every shop is a guitar shop, several of them are worth checking out. I'd also suggest Ivor Mairants' shop as Bill C suggested.

**mangotango** · 05-17-2011, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by caravan

I'll be in Piccadilly Circus (whatever that is!) next month. I've found the following music stores nearby: Hanks- 24 Denmark St., Schott Music- 48 Great Marlborough St., Andreas Woywod- (2nd floor) 45 Maddox St., JP Guiver- 99 Mortimer St. and Hooters (no, not THAT Hooters)- 400 Oxford St.

Are any of these worth checking out? You can easily spot me... the big American taking pictures of the Thames river!

Denmark Street is the place to go, several good guitar shops there. Ivor Mairants (just off Oxford Street, 5 minutes walk from Denmark Street) is the best for archtops. However, don't be expecting any bargains - US-built "name" guitars are massively more expensive here than there, by a factor of Many.

Also worth a visit in this area is Ray's Records, on the third floor of Foyle's bookshop. Specialist jazz records, plus they have listings of gigs on in the London area.

Picadilly Circus is effectively a fancy traffic island with a statue in the middle, in the heart of the Tourist area. Shops and theatres nearby, lights in the evening, etc.; but really, 5 minutes should do it for the Circus itself.

Oh and just to let you know - over here, we give our rivers more of a title and the word River appears first. Thus, "the River Thames" is the way to go. Saying "Thames River" will mark you out as a hopeless tourist and invite the attention of all sorts of unsavoury charlatans who will try to relieve you of your wallet or foist DeLorean shares upon you....

Good luck, enjoy your visit.

**jazzbow** · 05-17-2011, 12:48 PM

I bought a nice Japanese dreadnaught from Mr Mairants himself back in the day. An absolute gentleman and quite honestly the best guitar shop in London. Nowadays it is still one of the best, if you visit- there is also a shop opposite called Hobgoblin also in rathbone place that sell quality folk instruments from around the world and they have a good selection of second hand instruments.
If you are taking in the sights and you find yourself in Trafalgar square looking up at Nelsons column(ooer missus) may I suggest this pub. From Piccadilly circus down the Haymarket and opposite the National Portrait gallery, 10 mins max. Plenty of culture for the wife and a few beers for the gent!
Google Image Result for http://twochairmen.com/media/pub-outside.jpg
It's the smallest pub in London and pulls a nice pint of Best. I spent many an afternoon in there when I finished work as a window cleaner in the west end (30 years agooooo noooo).

**JohnW400** · 05-17-2011, 01:10 PM

@ jazzbow

I looked at the menu. (was just curious having been in London in 1984 and 1989)

What's American Sauce?

Also on page 2 they are advertising for bands to play on the first floor. Maybe Caravan can do a gig while he's in town

**jazzbow** · 05-17-2011, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by JohnW400

@ jazzbow

I looked at the menu. (was just curious having been in London in 1984 and 1989)

What's American sauce

Tomatoe ketchup

**JohnW400** · 05-17-2011, 03:10 PM

But of course

**jazzbow** · 05-17-2011, 04:11 PM

Yeah, beef pattie served on a wheat product with chipped potatoe and american sauce.....

Still that's better than nouvelle cuisine

I sneeze more than this

**caravan** · 05-17-2011, 05:48 PM

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Here in the US, most guitar shops have products for teenagers, like solidbody guitars that need adjustments. Jazz guitars are a minimally stocked and the good ones are too expensive for most folks.

The River Thames is often joked about on BBC television. I wasn't really going to take pictures of it.

**mangotango** · 05-18-2011, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by jazzbow

Yeah, beef pattie served on a wheat product with chipped potato and american sauce.....

Still that's better than nouvelle cuisine

I sneeze more than this

Nouvelle Cuisine (shudder).

For anyone who's not bilingual, "Nouvelle Cuisine" is French for "small portions".......

I presume that "fotalia" in this picture translates as "this bit's empty and could be filled up with some FOOD!!!"

**jazzbow** · 05-18-2011, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by mangotango

I presume that "fotalia" in this picture translates as "this bit's empty and could be filled up with some FOOD!!!"

Ha ha ha ha ha! Yup!

**jazzbow** · 05-18-2011, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by caravan

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Here in the US, most guitar shops have products for teenagers, like solidbody guitars that need adjustments. Jazz guitars are a minimally stocked and the good ones are too expensive for most folks.

The River Thames is often joked about on BBC television. I wasn't really going to take pictures of it.

All joking aside Ivor Mairaints in Rathbone Place W1 is the place for jazz guitars, all the others are teenage stuff and acoustic folksy stuff.

So here's a thought....

go for lunch here PizzaExpresss Live - Jazz Club Soho

Then go here for G.A.S Ivor Mairants Musicentre, the UK Number 1 Specailist Guitar Store Since 1958

walk down to denmark street for extreme G.A.S
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&bi...-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Then round off the day at this world famous music club
The 100 club - London's Premier Music Venue

All these places are within 10 minutes walk of each other and should put a smile on your face. If you start with my first post for Nelsons Column and the portrait gallery then you have culture in the morning and music for the rest of the day! Enjoy.

**Stian41** · 05-19-2011, 02:38 PM

I was recently in London, and Denmark Street is recommended. There are litterally over ten guitar stores there! Some of them small, but anyway

**apall** · 05-19-2011, 04:37 PM

Check out Ivor Mairants Music Centre...Ivor Mairants Musicentre, the UK Number 1 Specailist Guitar Store Since 1958

**apall** · 05-19-2011, 04:38 PM

sorry... didn't see you already had the info... first post..

**jazzbow** · 05-20-2011, 03:24 PM

Oh, how did I ever forget,

The Late Late Show: 11pm-3am Mon-Thur, £10 on the door or FREE for musicians! - Latest News - Ronnie Scott's

Number 1 jazz venue just 5-10 minutes walk from Denmark street. Let me know whether you've tried any of me top tips!

**Ged** · 05-24-2011, 04:07 PM

I visit Denmark Street about once every couple of months but have never bought a guitar there. All the good ones are overpriced compared with what you can get elsewhere. There's a 1966 Tal Farlow available...if you've got £17,000! And having tried it, it's not that great. OK if you hang them on your wall; that's what some of the stuff in the street is about.

However, look in the music shops in Denmark Street because they've got practically everything...and I do buy stuff there! Schott's is good for classical guitar music.