Best shop for acoustics in South East?

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Enjoyed Hobgoblin in Canterbury today. No hassle from staff and played an Atkins model that fair took the breath away. Blueridge stuff impressive too but pricey. Where else can a man of Kent head to try out a nice range of acoustics? I fancy testing out some of the new Sigmas. Or is Denmark St the only way...
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  • mcsdanmcsdan Frets: 451
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  • VimFuegoVimFuego Frets: 15476
    depending on how far you're willing to go, CODA in Stevenage have an excellent acoustic section.

    I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.

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  • scarry67scarry67 Frets: 143
    Both are wonderful shops if a stretch on beloved M25. I could head Surreyward for GV and take in Andertons and even GuitarGuitar in Epsom if the spirit is willing. Upstairs at Stevenage Coda is one of my favourite places to ponder loans...
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  • crunchmancrunchman Frets: 11413
    Ivor Mairants used to be very good.  Haven't been in there for a while though.  You can pop into Denmark St while you are there as well.
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  • tonyrathtonyrath Frets: 51

    Wunjo's are friendly and do not take part in the usual Denmark St attitudes. Mairants yes, Chappells do stuff other than Yamaha as well and are helpful 
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  • JalapenoJalapeno Frets: 6378
    All of these are excellent suggestions !
    Imagine something sharp and witty here ......

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  • bertiebertie Frets: 13564
    edited August 2013
    Hobgoblin (just up from Mairants on t'other side of t'road ?)  have(had) a good selection of Blueridge (martin clones)  if that floats yer boat.
    But the last time I was there the strings on these were Timmyo'd
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • axisusaxisus Frets: 28280
    Massive plus one for Guitar Village. I spent an enjoyable couple of hours there trying out a selection of acoustics, Taylors, Matons, Takamines etc. Coda has the 2 shops about 13 miles apart so you can get to both in the same session. Sadly we no longer have Machinehead, which was very conveniently placed beftween the two.
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 26750
    I love Guitar Village and wish I lived there. Massive acoustic stock and a lovely place to visit.
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    scarry67 said:
    Both are wonderful shops if a stretch on beloved M25. I could head Surreyward for GV and take in Andertons and even GuitarGuitar in Epsom if the spirit is willing. Upstairs at Stevenage Coda is one of my favourite places to ponder loans...
    +1 to the "Surrey Trio". Good stock, good staff and good attitude, particularly Guitar Guitar.
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  • scarry67scarry67 Frets: 143
    Agreed. The staff at GV are remarkably relaxed given their stock. There used to be a shop in Canterbury (which went bust) where one particular employee would follow you around the small shop scenting the potential for an imminent citizen's arrest. Most off putting. The American Guitar Centre in Tonbridge can be interesting but rarely economical.
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  • fatherjackfatherjack Frets: 180
    scarry67 said:
    Agreed. The staff at GV are remarkably relaxed given their stock. There used to be a shop in Canterbury (which went bust) where one particular employee would follow you around the small shop scenting the potential for an imminent citizen's arrest. Most off putting. The American Guitar Centre in Tonbridge can be interesting but rarely economical.
    Socodi, with such lovely charming owners.
    You don't need much knowledge of anatomy to appreciate the fundamental ubiquity of opinions.
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  • scarry67scarry67 Frets: 143
    And they appeared to pay the price...
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  • Great selection and staff at Guitar Guitar!!! IMHO
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  • matdotcodotmatdotcodot Frets: 179
    edited August 2013
    If you are ever down Brighton way, there is a very small shop/workshop called Woodys in Baker street, The guy who runs it does a lot of set ups for Blueridge guitars at the Hobgoblin warehouse in Worthing, and he always has some nice Blueridge guitars ex-demo at really good prices, seen a few parlours and OMs with nearly £200 off before.
     really nice bloke as well.

    https://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Woodys-Music/376828519061810
    If you can read this then my time machine works.

     My feedback thread is here.

      http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57602/


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  • scarry67scarry67 Frets: 143
    I lived in Brighton as a student and still remember when what became GAK started as a tiny room in an indoor market. Woodys sounds good. Is Tiger Music still there? And what of Peter at Impact Music?! I left in 1994 alas to train as a teacher in Kent. A sorry move perhaps...
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  • matdotcodotmatdotcodot Frets: 179
    edited August 2013
    Sorry Tiger music is not around  anymore although Brighton Guitars is in Sydney Street, (near where Tiger music was),and is pretty interesting, nice Stonebridge/Alvarez guitars upstairs,  Alfies in the North Laine area is new and pretty good, lots of secondhand Japanese and Korean Strats / teles last time I checked,
    I think Impact music is now called Badlands Guitars and is up by Preston Park, nice shop with the owner Graham running a blues jam night in town once a month

    Bit spoilt for choice round these parts.

       http://www.alfiesmusic.com/
    If you can read this then my time machine works.

     My feedback thread is here.

      http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/57602/


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  • ToneControlToneControl Frets: 11789

    what about the specialist £3k+ shop in Brighton, with the biggest range of top-notch stuff I have ever seen?

    http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/

    I am not aware of any other shop with this much stuff at this quality level, even the excellent Coda and Ivor Mairants do not compete, I suspect because the owner's objectives are more to do with stocking what he wants rather than doing more business selling cheaper stuff, which is a fair choice if you can accept the lower profits

    Everybody who plays acoustic should visit this shop, if only to find out what you like the best and work your way to it. Other stores' stock is patchy in range in comparison

     

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  • scarry67scarry67 Frets: 143
    Wow. Time for one of those new £2 lottery tickets... On a cheaper note, City Music in Canterbury had a used Faith Saturn for £189 last week.
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