Fender SCOTLAND

[Kuroyama]

Ive heard that buying US guitars in the UK can be a challenge per availability and pricing. Can anyone here speak firsthand to this? How hard would it be to obtain a, MIA or MIM telecaster in Scotland?

I know that the pricing in Japan can be funky, but I dont know about Scotland... Ive a friend wholl be looking soon. Any advice on what prices to expect?

 

[A.B.Negative]

It isn't too difficult to get hold of MIM or MIA Teles in Scotland, at least in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A MIM Standard Tele is around £400, Blacktops £450 and Classic Players and Bajas between £500-£600. Road Worn is around £800.

As for MIA, Specials are between £750-£800, Standards £1000 and an AVRI around £1500.

 

[Cymro14]

Why should you not be able to get a Fender in Scotland. I was there last year....plenty around ..just like in Wales, England Ireland.Prices normal...as above post stated.

 

[gusironside]

I totally agree with the previous post...there are some great musical instrument shops in Scotland, such as:
Glasgow: CC Music; Merchant City music; Guitar Guitar; Strung Out Guitars (great second-hand store).

Edinburgh: Red Dog Music

Dundee and Dunfermline: Kenny's Music (excellent selection and customer service)

Stirling: Barnton Street Music (very interesting second-hand shop with a fondness for Teles; also stocks G&L guitars).

Do you want information for a particular city/part of Scotland?

 

[Manolete]

Edinburgh: Red Dog Music

Edinburgh also has Scayles music, Guitar Guitar and the import place down at Ocean Terminal which even has rarer CIJ Fender guitars in stock. Scayles has a huge selection of Fenders from all lines.

Stirling: Barnton Street Music (very interesting second-hand shop with a fondness for Teles; also stocks G&L guitars).

I'm staying with my parents in Dunblane and I had no idea Barnton Street Music existed. In Stirling I always went to Andy Simpsons or Roadshow Music. Neither are the cheapest stores out there, and neither has the most amazing stock. Will try Barnton Street Music next time I'm through.

 

[gusironside]

Manolete, Barnton Street Music has a Facebook page where they post stuff about their stock, and you can contact its owner, Neil McCulloch, through the page. He always has some very interesting guitars in stock.

Hmm...Scayles sounds interesting, must check it out!

 

[Tonemonkey]

Ive heard that buying US guitars in the UK can be a challenge per availability and pricing. Can anyone here speak firsthand to this? How hard would it be to obtain a, MIA or MIM telecaster in Scotland?

I know that the pricing in Japan can be funky, but I dont know about Scotland... Ive a friend wholl be looking soon. Any advice on what prices to expect?

Get him to try some out in Scotland, tell you the model and colour he likes, buy him one in the States and ship it ($100 USPS). Even if he gets charged VAT by customs it'll only be £100 and he'll still be massively ahead.

If he buys second hand privately he can equal US new prices without troubling you.

 

[Manolete]

Manolete, Barnton Street Music has a Facebook page where they post stuff about their stock, and you can contact its owner, Neil McCulloch, through the page. He always has some very interesting guitars in stock!

I went in this afternoon very friendly guy who didn't mind that I noodled around on a few basses. Was a nice shop, much better atmosphere than other guitar shops I've been in.

Scayles is an ok shop. I always feel like I'm about to knock something over, they have a lot of stock. Live Music right round the corner (down the side street with the Green Lantern on the corner) is probably more interesting as it has more vintage and 2nd hand gear in stock, and its stock changes quite regularily.

 

[dan79]

I buy all my Fender Telecasters and other equipment from Guitarguitar or Merchant City Music in Glasgow. Very competitive prices too!

 

[BadgerDBad]

i got my mim std for £350 on gak

 

[Manolete]

I buy all my Fender Telecasters and other equipment from Guitarguitar or Merchant City Music in Glasgow. Very competitive prices too!

Guitarguitar always seems a bit pricey, maybe its just me.


Last time I was in the Edinburgh Guitarguitar, they had £1000+ Lakland basses that had fret buzz all up the neck. They don't set up their stock but expect it to sell at that price! I wager they cater for the rich but stupid clientell quite nicely.

 

[Tonemonkey]

I buy all my Fender Telecasters and other equipment from Guitarguitar or Merchant City Music in Glasgow. Very competitive prices too!

Last time I was in the Edinburgh Guitarguitar, they had £1000+ Lakland basses that had fret buzz all up the neck. They don't set up their stock but expect it to sell at that price! I wager they cater for the rich but stupid clientell quite nicely.

OUCH.............!

 

[Manolete]

My comment was only meant to be about the Edinburgh branch. *cough cough*.

 

[Masterbuilt]

GuitarGuitar = Guitar Center ! Nuff said.

 

[A.B.Negative]

Edinburgh also has Scayles music.

I didn't know Scayles was still going. It used to sell musical instruments and fishing tackle...

 

[KCJonez]

It isn't too difficult to get hold of MIM or MIA Teles in Scotland, at least in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A MIM Standard Tele is around £400, Blacktops £450 and Classic Players and Bajas between £500-£600. Road Worn is around £800.

As for MIA, Specials are between £750-£800, Standards £1000 and an AVRI around £1500.

I don't understand why guitars need to be so expensive in Europe. 800pounds is like $1250 (Canadian funds) and a roadworn sells for about $750 at Long+McQuade (our guitar centre). $500 difference is a lot of money (and it's only $500 because the pound has dropped significantly... used to be closer to 2:1).

Can't you just buy anything you want on Ebay and pay North American prices? How much can shipping be? Less than $500 I hope.

 

[notdave]

I don't understand why guitars need to be so expensive in Europe. .

VAT @20%.
Import duties.
Shipping costs.
Because the average Brit wears all that ****e without complaint.

It's not just guitars either..

 

[boosh]

Guitarguitar always seems a bit pricey, maybe its just me.


Last time I was in the Edinburgh Guitarguitar, they had £1000+ Lakland basses that had fret buzz all up the neck. They don't set up their stock but expect it to sell at that price! I wager they cater for the rich but stupid clientell quite nicely.

The Edinburgh shop will price match if you ask them, plus they price stuff higher in store than they do on their website - I wouldn't pay their full in store price, would want them to at least match their website.

I generally find their stuff to be pretty well set up, played a les paul junior & 50s telecaster in there that were near perfect, but on the same day played a pawn shop mustang that had such low action it was unplayable!

Generally though if I am making a purchase of significant value I will try guitar guitar first, although I have had loads of luck buying stuff on ebay and more recently gumtree. Better bargains to be had used over here!

Scayles, as someone else said is crammed full, but not in a good way IMO. Too much stuff for the size of shop & I always worry I'm going to knock stuff over. Find them expensive too.

Imported Instruments is the opposite, they never really have much in there and I try to avoid Ocean Terminal like the plague as it's a terrible place to shop in Edinburgh. Again expensive.

Where I live in Galashiels we have a wee guitar shop called music station, they've been here in one way or another for as long as I can remember. They do good set ups and are handy for strings etc, but they only seem to stock pretty crap guitars (chord are their new favourite). Every time they get something I'd consider it's used and they ask stupid money for it, like £750 for a daphne blue highway one.

I was in the USA in September for 3 weeks. Went to a couple of Guitar Centres (I can see the guitar guitar comparison, but GG is much smaller and I think more personal) in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Chicago (I forget which one). Really like the Brooklyn one to be honest but the other two were a bit meh' Did the Chicago Music Exchange too - wow! Didn't bring anything home though although I did think about it but in the end decided against it.

I find this whole thread a bit strange, although it has developed into a good discussion on music shops in Scotland. Why would we not be able to get Fenders in Scotland though?

 

[Manolete]

I find this whole thread a bit strange, although it has developed into a good discussion on music shops in Scotland. Why would we not be able to get Fenders in Scotland though?

Because we don't have electricity, running water or basic healthcare.... The Wicker Man is an interesting documentary 'round these parts!

 

[dan79]

My comment was only meant to be about the Edinburgh branch. *cough cough*.

Hee hee - no probs Manolete - I do see where you're coming from and I agree. When I think about it, I've bought my amps from Guitar Guitar but all my Telecasters came from Merchant City - maybe that tells the story!!