Gibson Garage London opening videos.

[MarcB]

Here’s two YouTube videos from todays Gibson Garage London opening

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[goldtop0]

Across the pond partners, good to see

 

[MarcB]

Gibson “garage” pronounced like “marriage”


Bonjour.

 

[Wallace]

Looking forwards to popping in next week!

 

[fred dons]

I wonder why they opened it in the UK? it could destroy the business of local gibson deales in a relatively small market, and due to brexit anyone coming in from mainland Europe (their biggest market in that part of the world) will need to pay import duties and vat when they bring their purchase back to Europe (where Gibson has their distribution already)

 

[MarcB]

anyone coming in from mainland Europe

I wouldn’t be surprised if Gibson open a garage in the Netherlands next..

 

[fred dons]

Well I just moved out of the netherlands so that would be a pity , but from a more commercial standpoint; I would open one in Germany, much more central to Europe and already a big market to begin with

 

[MarcB]

Well I just moved out of the netherlands so that would be a pity , but from a more commercial standpoint; I would open one in Germany, much more central to Europe and already a big market to begin with

My guess was based on current locations of the Gibson Demo store locations.
*sidebar when you buy a guitar from the UK demo store it’s stored and shipped via the Netherlands. This may now change due to the new Gibson Garage UK having demo items shipped to them directly.

 

[jb_abides]

My guess was based on current locations of the Gibson Demo store locations.
*sidebar when you buy a guitar from the UK demo store it’s stored and shipped via the Netherlands. This may now change due to the new Gibson Garage UK having demo items shipped to them directly.

Yes, I hear they have warehousing and service there. I understand they are doing re-finishes for Euro Mod Shop too, although I could be mistaken...

 

[jb_abides]

At 1:25 in ...

The crazing on the Polaris White SG is actually shocking, not so much the depth of the cracks but that there's signs of it lifting off the wood.

Another bothersome tell tale about the Murphy Lab finish...?

 

[MarcB]

signs of it lifting off the wood.

Which I imagine would be dangerous while doing Pete Townsend windmills..!

 

[MarcB]

I hear they have warehousing and service

The LP standard I received was the best set up on any guitar I’ve ever gotten.. I even had to ask Gibson who he/she was..(thinking they were in the UK at the time)

 

[metropolis]

I wonder why they opened it in the UK? it could destroy the business of local gibson deales in a relatively small market...

I work in central London so I'll pop by as soon as I can break out of the office. London is interesting as there's not many standout Gibson dealers. The only ones that come to mind are Sixty Six Sounds (which never seems to let people in from my experience from walking by many times), and I think there's a Guitar Guitar in Camden. I think the Gibson Garage will be a tourist destination and sell a lot of accessories and t-shirts, and take a big share of the central London Gibson market of course, but that's because the alternatives are poor.

In terms of surrounding areas it may impact surrounding dealers (like Andertons) but travelling to central London is very different to traveling to Andertons (or Peach Guitars, etc.). I suspect the customer they might lose is the custom shop / M2M type, but even then both shops offer more than just Gibson so will still get the visits.

 

[jb_abides]

I suspect the customer they might lose is the custom shop / M2M type, but even then both shops offer more than just Gibson so will still get the visits.

Offset by the Made-to-Measure, customization on-site sales, I'll wager.

Also, there will be sales related to Gibson Exclusive offerings, and Mod/Demo Shop one-offs.

 

[MarcB]

Guitar Guitar in Camden

Guitar Guitar had a big Gibson event last year.. so I guess they’re the favoured dealer in London..but as for central London I guess all the guitar shops on Denmark St will now be in competition with a manufacturer that said I struggle to know how these stores stay open as the online used market is so strong.. but as a Londoner.. it’s a rite of passage to buy your first guitar on Tin Pan Alley (as I did)

 

[metropolis]

Guitar Guitar had a big Gibson event last year.. so I guess they’re the favoured dealer in London..but as for central London I guess all the guitar shops on Denmark St will now be in competition with a manufacturer that said I struggle to know how these stores stay open as the online used market is so strong.. but as a Londoner.. it’s a rite of passage to buy your first guitar on Tin Pan Alley (as I did)

From what I could tell it's only Sixty Six Sounds that has new Gibsons on Denmark St, and a lot of them are oddball M2Ms. Not much competition for Guitar Guitar! I think I might have been in GG once but only breifly many years ago. Didn't leave a lasting impression but then my local shop is Guitar Village which sets a very high bar (and Andertons is next closest).

I still find Tin pan Alley is very cool for vintage and slightly obscure, and I head down there every single time I have a meeting around Tottenham Court Road (and I 'accidentally' arrive early!)

 

[MarcB]

Sixty Six Sounds

I instantly lost all interest in the store.. when years ago they saw fit on their instagram (for fun and clicks) to smash up a perfectly good and useable guitar.. which could’ve been donate to a kid with no money.. idiots.. and then the whole fake Hendrix strat debacle..which they tried to sell by using a YouTuber Paul Davids to promote it.. proved they are dicks.

(R.I.P Mike CGS)

 

[jb_abides]

Speaking of Paul Davids.

Iommi, May, and Page footage at the London Garage opening.

Agnesi adds some color.

OK, I gotta admit the running intro montage was well done, catching all the sites like a Abbey Road zebra crossing, and leaping the trash, etc.

 

[MarcB]

Speaking of Paul Davids.

Iommi, May, and Page footage at the London Garage opening.

Agnesi adds some color.

OK, I gotta admit the running intro montage was well done, catching all the sites like an Abbey Road zebra crossing, and leaping the trash, etc.

This got me thinking.. is the solo to “stairway” the best guitar solo ever?

 

[J T]

This got me thinking.. is the solo to “stairway” the best guitar solo ever?

no