CamdenRob Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 If there was a shop combining Wunjos customer service with the gallery / bass directs stock I would be a regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlittle Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 The Gallery still wins on both counts for me every time. Probably my favourite shop in the country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I still think a BC bash must be the ideal place to try out gear... no pressure to buy and first hand experience from current owners. Must get myself along to one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) Edited March 12, 2015 by pierreganseman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 If you are a dedicated bass player after high and basses then (barring a stroke of luck) Denmark isn't going to be the place for you. Having said that even some of the specialist shops away from there have a lot of product on their websites that say "Please Enquire" or words to that effect. ie we don't have but we'll order it in if you want it. If you're a multi intrumentalist then that part of London is great. I'm not looking for top end, I want something to take my fancy and there's a really good selection. OK, it may not be top end but on my last visit I picked up a Xaphoon (having had the chance to play one and getting good advice on reeds) and my son got a great deal on a Moog Phatty. Horses for courses. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Denmark St was always a bit of a tourist trap. Plus ca change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) I dropped into a number of shops today. Wunjos was clearly the best. The other shops had a small to medium bass selection. Wings had a wider range and some things I found interesting (e.g. Eastwood basses). One other shop had the biggest selection of Schecter basses that I've seen, and a selection of 8/9-ish string guitars. Another shop had a variety of Revelation basses, but mostly normal ones and no LP bass. All the shops had people working in them who were friendly and helpful. Edited August 3, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassix Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Slight derail but hopefully nobody minds.. I'm going to London on Saturday for a day out, I'm going to take in wunjo and bass gallery, anywhere else worth a look? Also, do they price match? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 If you have the time Bass Gear is a 40 minute train journey from Paddington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 [quote name='bassix' timestamp='1438658284' post='2836154'] I'm going to London on Saturday for a day out, I'm going to take in wunjo and bass gallery, anywhere else worth a look? [/quote] Andy Baxter is in Hoxton Street N1, but you'll need to make an appointment. [url="http://andybaxterbass.com/"]http://andybaxterbass.com/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 [quote name='bassix' timestamp='1438658284' post='2836154'] Slight derail but hopefully nobody minds.. I'm going to London on Saturday for a day out, I'm going to take in wunjo and bass gallery, anywhere else worth a look? Also, do they price match? [/quote] Wunjo will price match (at least, they have in the past, what with the battering the Euro has taken they may shy away from a certain German internet site)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassix Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Andy Baxter looks fun but out of my budget unfortunately! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHW Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 I've not been in years but I visited quite a few times back in the mid 90's. I was in my late teens at the time and felt that it was something of a pilgrimage in many respects, however, I feel that I was treated pretty rudely by most of the shops at the time. Now I know that at 17 I was very much not in the viewscreen as a great customer who would spend a significant sum with them, but a different impression left with me as a 17 year old kid may have changed my longer term intentions regarding where to buy. I also wonder whether the decline of Denmark Street is associated with the rise of music superstores- Bass Centre (as was), GAK, Academy of Sound and PMT. In the past, when we were used to a local independent music shop on the outskirts of our local town centre, alongside the double page Flying Pig adverts in music mags, Denmark Street was a little piece of heaven. Now it is tired and out of date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 [quote name='bassix' timestamp='1438686135' post='2836344'] Andy Baxter looks fun but out of my budget unfortunately! [/quote] No-one said you had to buy anything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 I,m up in London on Saturday and may pop in Wunjos. However, the last time I popped in for a browse, I came out with a Sterling Ray 5 string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Whoops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassix Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Easier said than done!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1438689561' post='2836379'] No-one said you had to buy anything! [/quote] Got to get to Andy Baxter's one day. His website makes me drool on a daily basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairychris Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I go to JPF Amps (at Angel Music) for amp services & repairs. He knows his stuff and is very reasonably priced. It's been years since I bought anything other than cables or a gig bag on Denmark Street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybertect Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 (edited) [quote name='CHW' timestamp='1438687383' post='2836354']I've not been in years but I visited quite a few times back in the mid 90's. I was in my late teens at the time and felt that it was something of a pilgrimage in many respects, however, I feel that I was treated pretty rudely by most of the shops at the time. Now I know that at 17 I was very much not in the viewscreen as a great customer who would spend a significant sum with them, but a different impression left with me as a 17 year old kid may have changed my longer term intentions regarding where to buy.[/quote] In the mid-90s I think I would have agreed with you. Music Ground's various stores, Turnkey (round the corner on Charing Cross Road) and Andy's did a lot of damage to the reputation of Denmark Street. Turnkey didn't seem to have any interest in talking to you if you didn't have at least £1000 to spend right then. Music Ground's directors ended up being convicted of selling stolen guitars on a grand scale. A number of the shops that were there then have since closed and I am genuinely of the opinion that those that have replaced them in the last ten or fifteen years, like Brian at Wunjo and Crispin at Regent Sounds, have been working hard on fixing that. Edited August 6, 2015 by cybertect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Hanks guitar shop in Denmark St featured in the opening credits of New Tricks on BBC1 the other night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I've also worked around the corner from Denmark Street over the last 20+ years and its downhill over that time has been a sad one. Back in the day (over 15 years ago now) each shop was independent and had its own character. Each had its own manufacturers link ups and many had interesting new and second hand treats within. A bit overpriced, yes, but... hey... "London Prices". Back then Rose Morris had an exclusive deal with the mythical Takamines which were just starting to appear (a chum of mine got a prototype Tak electric in three back in about 1990!). Rokas was aimed at, well, rokas but also had some interesting second hand stuff (sparkle silver double neck Wal anyone?). Hanks had everything from beginners guitars to top end US and UK luthiery. Andy's was just mad and disorganised. Every visit was a treat whether you bought or not. Then as I recall about 10+ years ago almost all of the shops got bought up by the same conglomerate and, although they retained separate names and fascias were little more than a glorified musical Department store, and similarly homogenised. All run out of one corporate centre and without soul.it felt like it went from being a musical Diagon Alley to House of Fraser. Then, of course, there was the big implosion which others have alluded to and the Music Ground scandals from about three years ago. Had a look around the other week and it's barely a shadow of what it used to be. (Back in the days we always think about when we talk about Denmark Street). However, it's nice to see that Wunjos is bringing a bit of personality into the place since it moved into Denmark Street from its premises round the back. Would be a shame if the developers drive that little bit of history out of the west end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mingsta Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 While I'm a compulsive window shopper and always stop by, I always find the experience massively underwhelming. Props to wunjo bass who have some decent stuff and friendly helpful staff. Not bothered about the rest of it. I much, much prefer places like Andertons in Guildford or guitar guitar in Epsom nowadays. I was at Andertons a few days ago and got that kid in a candy shop feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnythenotes Posted August 15, 2015 Author Share Posted August 15, 2015 (edited) Just a thought on this thread / Denmark St. discussion..... Are there any folks reading this who work in any of the shops on the street. It would be great to get some of your views or opinions, and maybe a bit of insight into what may be in the future. It seems pretty apparent that people who have contributed to this thread, and Basschat in general have a genuine soft spot for Denmark St, and we really do want to support the shops along it, but when the experience falls short of the expectation it creates a disappointing and almost sad feelng considering how it used to be.. I always seem to spend maybe a £1000 or so on all things musical every year, and Denmark Street used to be where some of it went. Nothing would please me more than a trip 'down the smoke' again, and leave some of this money behind me in a couple of the shops, but will it ever happen again ? I hope so... So if you work in one of the stores, tell us something...give us a bit of hope... Edited August 15, 2015 by jonnythenotes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybertect Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 (edited) [quote name='jonnythenotes' timestamp='1439630758' post='2844496'] Just a thought on this thread / Denmark St. discussion..... Are there any folks reading this who work in any of the shops on the street. It would be great to get some of your views or opinions, and maybe a bit of insight into what may be in the future. It seems pretty apparent that people who have contributed to this thread, and Basschat in general have a genuine soft spot for Denmark St, and we really do want to support the shops along it, but when the experience falls short of the expectation it creates a disappointing and almost sad feelng considering how it used to be.. I always seem to spend maybe a £1000 or so on all things musical every year, and Denmark Street used to be where some of it went. Nothing would please me more than a trip 'down the smoke' again, and leave some of this money behind me in a couple of the shops, but will it ever happen again ? I hope so... So if you work in one of the stores, tell us something...give us a bit of hope... [/quote] [shameless plug] As it happens I've recently started a documentary photo-project gathering the stories of people working on Denmark Street. The first in the series was an interview with Graham Noden, who has run his repair shop in the basement of Andy's/Hank's for the last 30 years http://streetofsound.uk Brian Rowe of Wunjo coming soon... Edited August 15, 2015 by cybertect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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