Denmark Street on a sunny day (some snaps and a longing for an afternoon of window shopping)

boogieman

GJK1959 said:

boogieman said:

GJK1959 said:

I purchased gear from Wunjo's, Regent Sound, and Angel Music. I also pulled the trigger on a 1982 Gibson Challenger from Macari's online shop a year ago or so.
My favourite London guitar shop was Wild Guitars at Highgate, owned by the late Dave Wild

I liked Wild’s too, he always had some really nice vintage stuff in there. His prices always seemed a bit rich to me but then I don’t suppose his shop rent was cheap. 

He kind of specialised in vintage amps too. 
I bought a mint 1977 Precision bass and a few other guitars over the years. 
I remember seeing a white EDS 1275 on his bench, which belonged to the Pilot guitarist Ian Barnston. I used to see him playing it on Top of the Pops as a kid.
Also propped up against the wall in the toilet was a toaster Ricky bass....!!! 

I almost bought a Levinson Blade off him once, played really nicely and it wasn’t too badly priced, but I decided I couldn’t really live with the purple finish and the smoked chrome scratchplate. That was when he had the original shop before he moved to the top of the hill

Bramley

Great feature from Tony Bacon from the days when stuff like this happened  every day in Denmark Street.

https://reverb.com/news/the-definitive-story-of-bob-marleys-les-paul-special

MikeC

I live near wild guitars in Highgate so popped in there all the time for about 20 years. Dave was an excellent restorer (if you were prepared to wait), and had my favorite guitars - vintage and MIJ’s. Also always had vintage Vox and Marshall amps and fx. Was gutted when it closed on his untimely passing. 

Also shopped at Angel music, I trusted Andy a lot. Shame he closed. Lovely guy. 

Stevepage

I was in London Thursday afternoon/evening for a show at the Royal Festival Hall (Wardruna). We made a thing of it so got off at Tottenham Court Road and would walk towards Embankment.

Stopped off at Denmark Street just to see how things have changed (expecting it to be even worse than my last visit) and I walked away even more saddened than last time. The whole area has become soulless, with over priced fancy flats where The Astoria once stood and most shops closed in Denmark Street with only a few remaining. What was open didn't interest me much either. 

That'll be the last time I go there. Quite sad to see a place that I thought was once guitar heaven become what it is now. Hey ho.  Sorry to beat a dead horse

guitarjack66

I think it would be a good thread for people to post guitar shops that are actually worth visiting given how few and far between they have become. Many people visit the bigger cities for breaks and might fancy looking over some guitars. Local knowledge might help them.

GJK1959

MikeC said:

I live near wild guitars in Highgate so popped in there all the time for about 20 years. Dave was an excellent restorer (if you were prepared to wait), and had my favorite guitars - vintage and MIJ’s. Also always had vintage Vox and Marshall amps and fx. Was gutted when it closed on his untimely passing. 

Also shopped at Angel music, I trusted Andy a lot. Shame he closed. Lovely guy. 

Yeah he was a top guy. 
I believe the shop continued for a short time after his death. 
I actually still have an old ex ILEA owned classical guitar which I bought from him.