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once.

create an account just to post how much you generally dislike Denmark street?

I actually went into a couple places down there the other day with a fairly bizarre question and got a really good tip, so I can't say I agree.

Are you Captain Fantastic or The Brown Dirt Cowboy?

for my Digitech Hot Rod distortion pedal. In every shop I received a blunt "don't stock Digitech stuff", or at best "sorry, don't do that". But in one shop I got the best reply ever.

"HAHAHA, NO! We don't stock Digitech products I'm afraaaid (massively mocking tone) .... Try the internet!".

Pretty hilarious.

The Northern guy who fixes guitars is a legend though. Once fixed my pickup switch given about an hour's notice allowing me to use my guitar at a gig later that evening.

expensive as shit, but nice blokes. music ground has good gear but wanky staff. Obviously you'd have to be made of money or have a head full of cheese to actually buy anything at the prices the shops on Denmark Street charge...

are alright, in my experience.

if you're coming from Holborn to Soho though.

Try the guitar village in Farnham.

My god, those self righteous cunts take pomposity to a new dimension.

If I had found out that the whols shop had burnt down with all the staff in it, it would make my year.

He's happily fixed my 12-string Mosrite when I've busted it, and sold me my pride and joy Burns Sonic, and generally chatted shti about FX pedlas for hours.

Also, the bloke in Angel Music was very pleasant and let me try out loads of amps and guitars knowing full well I had no intention of buying.

I think a lot of people's bad experiences can be put down to any of the following:

1) Terrible n00b questions you would have been more advised to have looked up on Google rather than wasting the staff's time with.

2) Staff having to waste time dealing with the query of a customer who is there just to poke about rather than buy anything.

3) They're twats.

On one occasion I went into one of the bass shops to poke around, asked the guy there a n00b question concerning the likelihood that they'd be stocking any upright electric basses that weren't made of cheap plywood and deservedly got a shirty non-response.

On another occasion I went to another shop to buy a pair of earplugs and the guy was so friendly and helpful that I felt I needed to ask supplementary advice on drumming equipment, which he was only too happy to answer for about 45 minutes.

So in conclusion... I dunno.

the first place I went into (Rock Stop) I asked if I could try out some pedals and the response I got was "no, we're too busy, come back in the day time during the week". I initially thought he was joking.

Yes, it was busy, but the correct response surely would be along the lines of "we're quite busy at the moment, but if you're willing to wait for us to serve the customers who were here before you then we'll be happy to help". Staff in the other places I tried (I think Hank's, Rockers, then Macari's just down Charing Cross road) were much more helpful.

never quite had a good time looking for things there on a few occasions. The one good experience is overshadowed by the crap others.

I don't even want to get into the whole "I'm a girl" thing fully, but yes unfortunately I've noticed that my gender is a factor in the cursed experiences I've had on Denmark Street looking for instruments :/

Basically guys and girls, Denmark St is, sadly, dying on it's feet. As a working pro musician since around 1991, I can honestly say that I am one of MANY pros that have now abandoned Denmark St altogether. Even, say, five or six years ago, if I bought anything in Denmark St, it would almost be guaranteed the cheapest I'd find it anywhere, the best advice anywhere and usually friendly. Last two times I went there, it was full of tourists taking pics, the prices are not the cheapest by a LONG chalk, the staff seem to know less and less every time I go there, the attitude of staff seems very arrogant, you know like "we work in Denmark St". Big deal, I always think! It's sad but true that Denmark St will be pretty much finished as a working musician's place for supplies very soon I think. I chatted with other pros about this a few months back and we all said it's been years since we bought anything there at all. I think it's the end of an era and a shame, but I know of very few people who disagree. It's just a tourist trap now really. It still has a place in all our hearts and that won't change. But, it's finished as a serious option for the pros that I know. If you want a piece of equipment these days, the Internet is your best friend. And, i don't listen to all that rubbish about it being dodgy to buy online or that you get some kind of extra special service in a shop. It's all bull. Especially when half of the shop staff are useless, lazy and treat you as if you are disturbing their tea break. And, anyway, if you do your homework, you don't need someone pretending they know about equipment when they mostly don't anyway. Shame, but buy elsewhere is my advice.

Never said that in 15yrs!

goddamn strings man, and I wanted to get singles cos I'm always breaking my E string.

Most of the staff in most of the shops were unhelpful and rude, which just doesn't cut it in my book. Considering that most of them gave you a look like 'what the fuck are you doing in my shop', it really wasn't worth it.

However, one of the shops was mega useful and i ended up getting my stuff from there.

I do agree with GDB's sentiments though, Denmark St is going to go under soon.

And also, I can't believe that someone created a username just to create this thread.

that's pretty sad dude.

they are going to go under soon?

i really don't think the shops will close for good. people will always go back there despite the cunts who work there just because it's denmark street.

but yeah, those guys are idiots basically.

I find the drum stuff they sell on denmark street to be pretty shit. Stagg cymbals and mapex gear, all overpriced. It's like where you go if you want to start off buying stuff but if you know anything at all about what you want you should steer clear.

I find the staff to be pretty rude and elistist on the whole. loads of terrible cock rock coming out of the soundcsytem in every shop. A horrible place.

all i have ever heard about denmark st is what a legend the place is.
well let me tell ya if thats all the little street can offer it is a joke.there were 2 shops that were kinda helpfull .but the likes of rockers.i tried a ltd viper in there that was 700 pounds the strings were so bad thay were on the verge of rusting.and that guitar is 200 cheaper at gak.com.but to be fare this problem dosnt just stop with denmark st.i couldnt find 1 guitar shop in camden.these places are hot spots for music venues what the fuck is going on

the one that's at the end, next to the 12 Bar Club? It's where they have guitar repairs in there. Absolute miserable bunch of people, even if you don't ask any stupid quesitons. They've always treated me with total disdain.

Quote:
I think a lot of people's bad experiences can be put down to any of the following:

1) Terrible n00b questions you would have been more advised to have looked up on Google rather than wasting the staff's time with.

2) Staff having to waste time dealing with the query of a customer who is there just to poke about rather than buy anything.

Shock horror, people in a shop having a look around! Disgusting behaviour. If they don't like it, they shouldn't be working there. Blaming the customers is ridiculous

treat anyone who can't play Jo Satriani or Steve Vai riffs perfectly with disdain

I brought a couple guitars there a few years back and the staff where always helpful, I remember it used to have a sign saying "we like to haggle". But I went back a couple months ago looking for a left handed arch top, and couldn't find a single one. Staff where pretty bad too, just saying "no we don't stock those"... Did seem very busy with tourists too.

I used to go there when I was desperate for last minute things the day of a gig as I work around the corner, until I discovered Chappel Music (which while still not cheap at least isn't full of tossers).

On two occasions in the past month I was so determined to avoid Denmark St that I got the train to Romford to buy from Digital Village, who are f*cking great and do online as well.

It made me laugh the times when I tried to get the dinosaurs on Denmark St try to match internet prices and they made some snide remark. Get with the times or disappear. Denmark St is destined for the latter route....