Post by scorpiodog on Mar 13, 2014 12:49:21 GMT
I went to Oasis in Ringwood yesterday and didn't play a single guitar!
Let me explain. Some of you may remember, I bought a Martin HD28 from a short lived member of the forum last September. Well I haven't really got on with it, but I've really been thinking I need to give it a proper chance and try everything before I consign it to ebay or whatever. So I resolved to have the fretwear sorted out and a decent pickup installed (the one that was in it when I bought it was the quackiest ust it's ever been my misfortune to use).
Now I usually take my guitars to Brian Hayward in Winchester, but I haven't been to Winchester for months, and as I had a day off yesterday and was going to Ringwood, I thought I'd take it to Oasis (both Howard and Andy have a good reputation for repairing and setting up guitars).
It's the first time I've been there since their recent refurbishment. Now they've retrenched to just one shop, with acoustic guitars all down the left hand side and planks down the right hand side (some rather nice planks, it has to be said).
When I walked in there was a chap in there chatting to Howard, the proprietor. They were negotiating for a second hand pedal, but Howard asked me what I wanted and seemed quite happy to interrupt what he was doing with the other guy, who only stayed for a few minutes before telling Howard he'd be back later.
From that point on, it was a case of Howard telling story after story:
About how he'd bought all the Vox AC 30's used by Brian May in the Freddie Mercury memorial concert at The Albert Hall, and how the Freddie Mercury fan club had accused him of profiteering from FM's death. Until Howard pointed out that he was only charging recommended retail price for them. He said that one customer had bought 2 and was using them (with the addition of a bit of smoked glass) as a coffee table;
About how he'd bought a job lot of K&K minis when he was at NAMM and brought them back in his suitcase but got stopped by US security before he got on the plane (the sensor had picked up the superglue)) and the security guard had to refer to a colleague to see what they were (Howard had thrown away the boxes) and how the colleague had taken one look and said "guitar pickup" (a pretty clever identification if you ask me) at which point Howrd was left to repck his case;
About how Hank Marvin (recently retired) has a new album coming out in June, and HM hasn't even gone into the studio yet;
About Ovation, Guild and (until recently) Hamer guitars are all made in the same factory in Connecticut, but that most of the mill that houses the facility is let out for other industrial units and the Fender guitar facility is quite small and cramped;
And all manner of other stuff. It was one of the most entertaining hours I've spent in a long, long time. He tells a good story, does Howard.
Any road up, my reason for posting this rather self indulgent thread was to say that Howard reckons times are really tough at the moment. He was saying how his sales of Brook guitars (one of which was to me!) has been buoyant for ages, but it's as though everybody locally who wants a Brook has got one, so his sales have fallen off. And all sorts of other tales of woe.
So, on the use it or lose it principle, I'm imploring all those of us in this area who use Oasis in Ringwood to visit soon, and to put your guitarring transactions through them to the extent that you can. I'm sure he's not going to close (bloody hope not, I prepaid for sorting out my Martin) or go bust, but he runs a good shop, he's knowledgeable and he's entertaining.
I guess the same goes all over the country for local guitar shops. The easy availability of really good value guitars has affected margins. And I guess, people tend to do fewer repairs on cheaper guitars. So they're suffering. So here's a plea for them too.
Go in and buy something. Even if it's only a set of strings or a capo. Soon. And often. We may well lose them otherwise, then where would we be?
Oh yes, he's going to install a K&K mini into my Martin, dress the frets and set it up with a fairly low action, and put a compensated saddle on, and the total it'll have cost me including buying it, will be just under 60% of the new price.
Glad to go second hand!!!
Let me explain. Some of you may remember, I bought a Martin HD28 from a short lived member of the forum last September. Well I haven't really got on with it, but I've really been thinking I need to give it a proper chance and try everything before I consign it to ebay or whatever. So I resolved to have the fretwear sorted out and a decent pickup installed (the one that was in it when I bought it was the quackiest ust it's ever been my misfortune to use).
Now I usually take my guitars to Brian Hayward in Winchester, but I haven't been to Winchester for months, and as I had a day off yesterday and was going to Ringwood, I thought I'd take it to Oasis (both Howard and Andy have a good reputation for repairing and setting up guitars).
It's the first time I've been there since their recent refurbishment. Now they've retrenched to just one shop, with acoustic guitars all down the left hand side and planks down the right hand side (some rather nice planks, it has to be said).
When I walked in there was a chap in there chatting to Howard, the proprietor. They were negotiating for a second hand pedal, but Howard asked me what I wanted and seemed quite happy to interrupt what he was doing with the other guy, who only stayed for a few minutes before telling Howard he'd be back later.
From that point on, it was a case of Howard telling story after story:
About how he'd bought all the Vox AC 30's used by Brian May in the Freddie Mercury memorial concert at The Albert Hall, and how the Freddie Mercury fan club had accused him of profiteering from FM's death. Until Howard pointed out that he was only charging recommended retail price for them. He said that one customer had bought 2 and was using them (with the addition of a bit of smoked glass) as a coffee table;
About how he'd bought a job lot of K&K minis when he was at NAMM and brought them back in his suitcase but got stopped by US security before he got on the plane (the sensor had picked up the superglue)) and the security guard had to refer to a colleague to see what they were (Howard had thrown away the boxes) and how the colleague had taken one look and said "guitar pickup" (a pretty clever identification if you ask me) at which point Howrd was left to repck his case;
About how Hank Marvin (recently retired) has a new album coming out in June, and HM hasn't even gone into the studio yet;
About Ovation, Guild and (until recently) Hamer guitars are all made in the same factory in Connecticut, but that most of the mill that houses the facility is let out for other industrial units and the Fender guitar facility is quite small and cramped;
And all manner of other stuff. It was one of the most entertaining hours I've spent in a long, long time. He tells a good story, does Howard.
Any road up, my reason for posting this rather self indulgent thread was to say that Howard reckons times are really tough at the moment. He was saying how his sales of Brook guitars (one of which was to me!) has been buoyant for ages, but it's as though everybody locally who wants a Brook has got one, so his sales have fallen off. And all sorts of other tales of woe.
So, on the use it or lose it principle, I'm imploring all those of us in this area who use Oasis in Ringwood to visit soon, and to put your guitarring transactions through them to the extent that you can. I'm sure he's not going to close (bloody hope not, I prepaid for sorting out my Martin) or go bust, but he runs a good shop, he's knowledgeable and he's entertaining.
I guess the same goes all over the country for local guitar shops. The easy availability of really good value guitars has affected margins. And I guess, people tend to do fewer repairs on cheaper guitars. So they're suffering. So here's a plea for them too.
Go in and buy something. Even if it's only a set of strings or a capo. Soon. And often. We may well lose them otherwise, then where would we be?
Oh yes, he's going to install a K&K mini into my Martin, dress the frets and set it up with a fairly low action, and put a compensated saddle on, and the total it'll have cost me including buying it, will be just under 60% of the new price.
Glad to go second hand!!!