Colin. Dude!!! What a fantastic episode. I loved that it was truly like taking a trip to the music stores with the friends. Unlike most other channels where these kind of trips are staged, you continue to be one of the last genuine channels out there. I will continue to sing your praises and share your vids to everyone I can.
Speaking as a Mancunian, it was great to see some of the sights of London that us musicians find of interest. I’ve seen lots of Art galleries and one or two pubs in London, but never any guitar stores. It was really fun to watch.
I'm from Little Hulton but spend quite a bit of time in the capital. It's great for Guitar hunting but not what it used to be. It's still a mecca in the UK for Musical instrument shops and absolutely worth a visit a couple of times a year.
@@garygritter5701 I went to school in Little Lever. I was born in Townleys. Don't know if that Hospital is still there? If you can get to London now and again Guitar hunting you won't regret it. I'd do some planing though, it can get a bit overwhelming when your unprepared. Good luck 🤞
Denmark Street is, sadly, a shadow of its former self. I remember when I moved to London from Glasgow in 2000 being absolutely enthralled by the place. But most of the old guitar shops have gone, to be replaced by "trendy cafes". I used to rehearse with various bands in the studio there but that's gone too. Very sad,
i agree,its generally overpriced,being bang in londons west end,used to find deals,or haggle deals back in the day,i got to personally know the owner of andys guitar shop,he allways did you a good deal,but i wouldnt shop in denmark st now,though its good to see tokai have distribution in the uk,hard to fault the japanese models.and it still has a bit off historical value
As someone who has been pressing his nose up against the shop windows there for an embarrassing number of years, I'm pleased that Denmark Street still exists. I think it was quite threatened by the recent redevelopment around that area of Tottenham Court Road. Plenty of names have come and gone. I've bought guitars from Boogie and Andy's Guitar Workshop in the past. Wunjo have been in a variety of the premises. It feels like they are somewhere different on the street each time I go. Slightly saddened that Macari's have retreated from nearby Charing Cross Road to deepest Sussex. I believe that one of the past managers of Macari's now runs Six Sixty Sounds in Denmark Street. I think that Regent Sounds and Rose Morris have been a couple of the longest lasting shops in the same spot.
The attitude on Denmark Street has improved since the ‘90s when I was a teenager. It’s quite a friendly place these days. Still quite a great range of guitars, basses and amps available.
Yeah greedy Property Developers and the internet managed to fuck it up perfectly.... the current Mayor has zero respect for history and culture... London has become a theme park and Denmark Street a shopping Mall.... I tell people not to bother when they come to London.
Most excellent video , Colin . Last bit of business i did in Denmark Street was 40 odd years ago . Sold an Ibanez Explorer ,to help fund a deposit on my first flat in London .
I found a shop like Hanks in Arroyo Grande California called lighting Joe's guitar haven. As soon as I walked in it took my breath away and I almost couldn't move I was so overwhelmed. Anyway another great video. Cheers
That was an awful lot of fun, thanks man. (David Attenborough voice) "And here we see the steel-topped Eastern guitar addict in hunting mode. I believe that he may have even caught a couple!"
Brilliant, Colin as soon as I saw you were going to Denmark Street I knew you would finally encounter a Japanese Tokai Love Rock...as I have posted previously I have 7 Japanese Tokais - a Breezysound and a Hardpuncher bass - for recording purposes...my LP style guitars are 4 Love Rocks - 2 traditional series - a sea foam green standard and a white custom...plus 2 premium series (1 piece backs, nitro finish, etc) a black custom and a P90 Gold Top...my other MIJ is a TV Yellow Special - as the chap in Rose Morris said, these are players guitars for people in the know who don't care about having G on the headstock. All my LP guitars get rotated for every gig with fresh strings as I play in a very active punk rock band - all originals not covers - and next week I'll be taking one of my Tokais to Blackpool as we are playing Rebellion. I knew when I saw the case in front of you that you would have succumbed to Tokai Gas once you had played one and can't wait for next week's full review. Enjoy your new guitar and carry on with the best YT guitar channel. Cheers, John x (my band is called Slow Faction as per my YT monniker)
What a brilliant way to start my Friday morning drinking my Earl Grey! Before this show, I only knew about Denmark Street from watching C.B. Strike. Definitely will have to check it out next time I visit London. Great show, and I love the change up for this week's gig.
I’ve just discovered this brilliant video Colin, what a rare treat to see you filming in some of Londons greatest guitar shops, with some equally brilliant guitars & the history of many of the Greatest icon bands we grew up with, the history behind that they actually played & recorded in a guitar shop is just amazing! Your new Stoner Burst looks beautiful and sounds equally beautiful, looking forward to hearing you play again, thanks Colin for a brilliant insight into the guitar world🎸🤗
Really interesting and packed video. Again, guitars I’ve never heard of but look great and to me at least sound fantastic and as good as the big names. Thanks for the work and effort you put in for us every week 👍🏻🎸
A really good, fun video Colin. Intentional or no, it's a happy blend of the modern and the nostalgic, something for everybody, really. Time was that these stores were more common, but now I guess I'll have to book a trip to the U.K. I wonder what I'll come home with...
In the 80s I worked on the top floor of centre point so spent many hours in Denmark St and Hanks when it was Andys. Still have some guitars from there.
Most excellent Colin!!! The V led you down the path to the Tokai❣️🎸❤️😍 What a wonderful episode of The Guitaristas. I’ve been away from my guitars for a week, I’m getting the shakes.
What I spotted when you asked is a Watkins Rapier. The main reason I'm aware of those is because that's what Danny Kirwan was playing when he was invited to join Fleetwood Mac.
What an original episode, Colin! Adventurous, educative and with a bit of guitar drama as well 😉 You really don't stop surprising me. The guitar store guys were great. And I'm looking forward to your new Tokai's demo! Hope you compare it to the Chinese one if you still have it...
@@theguitaristas Cool, hope to see another episode of this new format sometime in the future again, too! Very refreshing and seems to suit you well, the shop shoots were very immersive and well done IMO 👍A great opportunity to see unique places and an inspiration for a future visit in person maybe...
Darn! I used to spend a lot of time in that area (British Museum, Tottenham Court Road stop, great area) ... I guess I was "young and idiotic" and not enough cash at the time! of course, I would have been young and penniless if my guitar juices were flowing back then
Very cool video! I liked the tour. .since my great, great grandparents came from London to the states it was nice to get a little music store tour. Thanks!
I’ve been looking on the Rose Morris site at the Tokai’s it’s nice to see the guys that run it and getting an insight …I think my next guitars going to be a Tokai les Paul or ES not sure yet .great video as always 👍👍👍.
wow Denmark street the home of Avon Rose Morris, can`t believe they`re still there, I am so pleased to own a 1970 Les Paul pre Law Suit , fully original with a few dings but hey its over 50 years old, its the only one I own that sounds like my childhood, thanks for the safari trip Col what a great vid, just picked it up and played life on mars thanks to you cheers Col
Those shops are dangerous! I would have to take my blood pressure medicine just to go in there.( and leave my credit card at home). If you ever get to L.A., you have to go to Norm’s Rare Guitars. One shop had a Les Paul Deluxe in Wine Red. I have a 79 wine red deluxe I bought new. I have never had a speck of trouble with it. That sun burst Tokai is gorgeous. Can’t wait for next week.🎸🎸
Well the Flying V sold within a few days at the value I hoped for so all is well that ends well! Plus the thought of lugging it back with me to Amsterdam, well, my back is pleased! Great fun! Next you come over and visit with us here! Cheers!
I misspoke about one thing. I know of three personally owned two of the four. A little bit of research shows there may have been a fifth which was a burst similar to the one I own.
I set my alarm clock early Friday mornings so I can be ready with coffee and snacks for the 6am video drop. My reward?....an hour of hanging with Colin and fellow Guitaristas that never disappoints!! 🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶👍😊
I was there last week! Jack and Nick at Regent were awesome. Hanks was incredible. Wunjo and No.Tom let me try their oldest and best very grasciously. The guy at the sixty sixty sound was like Jim Morrison with a better hat. I didn't give Rose Morris enough time because I wanted to try the vintage stuff, so I really appreciate this video even more. Thanks Colin!!! Thanks also to the guys at the Roland store who let me play with their insane synth collection.
What this proves to me is that my credit cards need to stay locked up or locked out when visiting Denmark Street. Thanks for sharing the sights and sounds!
Gosh, I once knew every foot of the areas you were in. Enjoying your playout jam now. FWIW, I think you have the approx length of these videos about "bango" now, IMO. Great stuff again, and thanks for some nostalgia also for areas I no longer see very often.
What a timely episode, I will be visiting London and September and I'll have some time to look around.I very much enjoyed the tour of Denmark Street and will definitely visit some of the shops outlined in this video. I'm definitely going to play an ES style tokai. Thank you
brilliant video. i used to visit denmark street a couple of times each year a while back with my son who was guitar mad. he was actually filmed playing with the bryant bros american tennis doubles champs for american news channel in regents sounds aged around 11-12. so thanks for a trip down memory lane. still hoping that you get back to making your budget tele vids you was talking about a while back. keep up the great work.
Those trim pots are in place of fixed resistors like on the PRS partial coil splits. The higher the resustance the less of the signal from the coil that's split is shunted to ground (its likely the slug coil and you're getting full signal from the screws.) Most folks that want partial splits are trying to balance the volume between full and split for live performance. But in your fortunate case you can dial those trim pots down to zero and get single coils when you like, more of a studio tool kind of thing. Very cool
Cheers for the Denmark Street tour i really enjoyed it…I’m in Longford Tasmania which is the little island at the ass end of Australia… we only have two great old school guitar shops here…keep the content flowing and thanks…
Loved seeing Denmark St. It's been years since I was last there, but good to see some of the old shops still going strong. The Tokai was an excellent choice.
Roadtrip. Nice stores. Time for Gibson to license Epiphone to use their headstock. Quite silly other brands are allowed. Bought some parts from Vox Humana in the past when I ordered stuff from my local guitarstore. That Tokai 😍 See you next week
What a wild and wacky safari you took us on - not the video we (and, I suspect, you) had envisioned. Great trade, great tour, great demos and great stories. I'm sure RoseMorris used to distribute Gibson guitars in the mid-to-late Seventies, because I remember requesting, and getting by return of post, a RoseMorris catalogue, over which I used to salivate. I know you have wanted to, at least, try a more expensive Tokai single cut, even though Teles and SGs are more your bag. I look forward to your review, next week, or whenever! That 'Stoner' guitar (I know I've spelled that wrongly) sounds absolutely belting, really clear but incredibly powerful, as if you had loads on tap with the volume control, if you wanted it. Conversely, you have loads of control at your fingertips. Maybe a quick comparison with the Tokai, even comparing this week's footage with next week's? Just a thought. One of your best videos, it was all the things you listed, and more besides!
