The Blues World of Jimmy Wiggins

The Guitar Spot- We can laugh at ourselves (honest)

2012-01-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

This contribution was a follow up from one of our best customers..... We had been in the Nottingham Post ref the Tram that will be gracing our door step. Click images to enlarge

More Gordon Smith Stock

2012-01-25T04:29:00.000-08:00

Just in- Gordon Smith GS1 in tobacco sunburst. Wrap around bridge and coil tapped Gordon Smith humbucker.

£508.00

www.theguitarspot.com

http://theguitarspot.com/gsguitars.html

As if that wasn't enough here is a video demo of a strikingly similar one

Note- it can also be played with less treble...... And according to some less reverb... No comment...

The Raw and The Cooked- Mickey Baker

2012-01-24T04:22:00.000-08:00

On planet Jimmy Wiggins, I have always admired both the raw end of music and the sophisticated. Sometimes both at once. In the specific area of the guitar my main influences have been gut bucket stuff with an edge such as Johnny"Guitar" Watson and the more sophisticated stylings of the likes of Kenny Burrell, and anything in between.

One thing that has always puzzled me is the lack of accolades or interest in Mickey Baker. To me he embodies both ends of the spectrum simultaneously .. Check out this clip of him with Coleman Hawkins

Cool eh? To read more about him, see this excellent article on Jim Herrington's blog here

See, we are not only about selling you guitars,

www.theguitarspot.com

Peerless Demo's

2012-01-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

A couple of video's of some of our current Peerless stock. Who is that fat bloke?

www.theguitarspot.com

Part Exchanges @The Guitar Spot

2012-01-04T03:57:00.000-08:00

For those of you taken by any of our new guitars or any of our pre owned stock that we own, we also offer part exchange. Just thought we would remind you (we would definatley take in the pictured guitar)

www.theguitarspot.com

james@theguitarspot.com

Current Peerless Stock 03.01.12

2012-01-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

From bottom to top-
Gigmaster SC £579.00

Revolver £599.00

And finally the best selling Songbird £479.00

All with hard cases.

www.theguitarspot.com

Peerless Guitars- Who are they ?

2012-01-03T03:48:00.000-08:00

As Nottingham's only dealer for Peerless Guitars, I am duty bound to talk to you about them. For the past 40 years the Peerless factory has been manufacturing both archtop and solid body guitars for a number of big names- Gretsch, Epihpone, Gibson , Fender et al have all used the factory.

Until a few years ago if you bought and Epiphone semi guitar it was likley made in the Peerless factory. However these days all the Epiphone semi's are made in China. The guitars made in the Peerless factory are now sought after items.

Peerless guitars are very high quality, good value instruments- with endorsees such as Martin Taylor, Big Jim Sullivan and Richard Thompson, isn't it time you checked one out? I even play one myself...

www.theguitarspot.com

james@theguitarspot.com

Tom Jones is Black??

2012-01-03T03:13:00.000-08:00

This might take a bit of getting your head round, but here we go (don't give up on me too early). Ever since I had a teenage altercation with a Chess Records compilation, I wanted to be black like my new heroes. This is not unusual behaviour in the blues community- Johnny Otis, although of Greek extraction considered himself black. Mainly due to all the time he spent with black artists and performers and being part of that community. If you go back to the 1960's all the Jewish blues guys like Mike Bloomfield really were striving to be like their black contemporaries and idols. However for a white kid from Hucknall it's pretty far fetch.

Knowing my luck I would probably end up like Steve Martin's character in The Jerk ( I also hold a delusional desire to work in a petrol station with Jackie Mason)

Well lets look at Tom Jones. Although there have been recent attempts to make him cool and contemporary (Let's not forget his various efforts in the 80's and 90's) many musicians knew how cool he was in the first place. Forget Delilah, Tom Jones has the voice and moves of a black man. Now if you don't believe me, this view is confirmed by none other than the Elders of The Israeli Church of Universal Practical Knowledge- a black Hebrew community. Yep they say Tom looks White but is actually black, they say no white man can sing and dance like that..

All the above was basically pre amble for the below link. It should be called Tom Jones blows away Crosby Stills Nash and Young. They all sound great, but check out Jones, a huge performance. It's also funny seeing Stephen Stills (who I really like) trying to keep up with him in the vocal department... Watch and decide for yourselves..

The White Heat of Technology

2011-12-31T04:33:00.001-08:00

Or maybe just, if you want quicker stock updates- Follow us on Twitter http://bit.ly/sEwR7C

Post Christmas reductions part 2

2011-12-30T02:58:00.000-08:00

We may as well be the Trotter brothers with these deals. Del boy and Jimmy Wiggins present
Deacon Deals-

Before anyone says anything, it comes in black and red as well. Wilkinson pickups, vintage style fender saddles, large matt maple neck. Compare this to a Squier..... We are giving them away at

£139.00!!!

Jim Deacon Honeyburst- bolt neck lp type guitar. Two hubuckers. Everyone admires it, so somone should just buy it. So to help you its now only...........................

£120.00

Classic Les Paul. Although our resident David Bailey has effed the photo up, these are excellent Les Paul copies, wilkinson pickups, the lot. Far superior to Epiphone. Do we want £350, do we want £299.... For a limited time yours for

£225.00

New Stock 29.12.11

2011-12-29T05:34:00.000-08:00

Burns Legend Dream- Ultra posh ultra rare. UK made Burns only 12 made. This is number 4. Preowned but in excellent condition.

£1675.00 w/case.

Peerless Revolver- Brand new in. It's like a Casino with a centre block. 2 P90's. Worth checking out. The last one we had in didn't hang around long.

£599.00 w/case

www.theguitarspot.com

james@theguitarspot.com

Post Christmas reductions part 1

2011-12-29T04:34:00.000-08:00

Well it had to happen, so to see in 2012 we've gone all Swiss Tony on your colletive backsides. Reductions galore- come in just to see the look on mine and Derek's faces as we virtually give guitars away, hear the Derek classic about living off beans on toast (and meaning it this time). See "young" Jimmy Wiggins groan in despair as you get the bargain of the year.

Save yourself some cash. For a limited period, reductions on in store Gordon Smith stock. SG2 P90 reduced from £734.00 to £699.00

Gordon Smith GS1 in red gloss, with adjustable bridge and chrome humbucker, reduced from £599.00 to £499.00 (really??? , er yes really, you could use the £100 you save to buy your partner something nice)

Gordon Smith GS2 gloss front maple neck reduced from £686.00 to £580.00

www.theguitarspot.com

james@theguitarspot.com

Extra Festive opening @The Guitar Spot

2011-12-20T03:18:00.000-08:00

Just so you can make the guitarist in your life happy this festive season, we are opening on Thursday 22nd Dec, 10-5pm.

www.theguitarspot.com

Tradition Guitars at The Guitar Spot

2011-12-13T06:08:00.000-08:00

"Another telecaster............ But Ive already got 3....."

A common phrase heard in The Guitar Spot.. However you haven't got one of these.

Tradition guitars are American designed and built in the factory that makes Korean PRS guitars. They are immensley high quality, come with custom wound pickups- one of the best tele bridge pickups I've ever heard...... But heres the different thing... The Trem King fixed bridge vibrato... Does what is says on the can- when not in use you are playing a fixed bridge tele.

All for £599...

Model shown is the Jerry Reid. Come and try it, we can try and explain who Jerry Reid is ( Not the one you were thinking but he is dead as well)

www.theguitarspot.com

Happy Festivus

2011-12-13T04:27:00.000-08:00

A fictional tale of the dangers of retail in the Festive season.

The Scene- Beeston’s fine purveyor of guitars- The Guitar Shoppe. Customer enters shop to be greeted by grumpy owner Jimmy Miggins-

Jimmy Miggins (for it is he) - Morning Sir anything I can help with? If you wish to try anything please feel free.

(Miggins slumps down, wondering what time the pub opens)

Customer- Good day sir, I seek to buy my young son Tommy an Electric guitar and amplifier.

(Miggins springs into sales mode, as much as possible due to his demeanour and dodgy ankle...)

Jimmy Miggins- Well Sir we have a fine and varied selection, from excellently sourced above specification Chinese Strats to handmade Gordon Smith guitars from Manchester. How much do you love your son??

(Here Miggins is using a technique from the repertoire of Miggins senior, Derek)

Customer- Well maybe not enough to spend £500. (Laughter from both parties)

I am thinking of one of your bespoke starter packages, £199.00 you say?

Jimmy Miggins- Aha sir, good choice. Which colour would suit?

Customer- I think the red one, I know nothing about guitars but little Tommy loves red.

(Miggins reaches under counter and produces poorly paper wrapped, none refrigerated beef joint. The exposed sections of the meat almost look green)

Jimmy Miggins- Whilst you are here, may I interest you in a joint of beef, it’s really cheap I’ll throw it in for another £3. This would cost you a tenner at the butchers or supermarket.

(Customer recoils agog at this bizarre proposition)

Customer- You are a guitar shop, why are you trying to sell me a joint of beef? Do you know anything about meat? That joint of beef is green and smells funny. Why would I want this! You’re a guitar shop not a butcher!

Jimmy Miggins- Well it’s cheap...

Customer- It also looks f*cking inedible, if I want beef I’ll go to the butchers, you are a guitar shop you buffoon...

Miggins- Well I was just trying to make Christmas easier for you sir...

Customer- Kill me more like you f*cking idiot. Why don’t you stick to what you know?

(Miggins produces tatty old jumper, with holes in, also smells funny)

Miggins- Jumper sir? £1.99 it would be twice the price in the charity shops

Customer- Are you taking the piss? Just sell me the guitar

The above Scenario has been exaggerated and names have been altered, in fact nothing like that has ever happened.

However many other high street chains have recently started stocking cheap guitars for the Christmas market. You wouldn’t buy a joint of beef from me would you, or a jumper? Why would you then buy a cheap piece of junk from the likes of T*sco or Sue Ryder?

In the past few years supermarket chains and the aforementioned charity shop Sue Ryder have all started selling cheap electric guitars and acoustic ¾ guitars, at ridiculous prices. You get what you pay for. Unplayable junk, that will inspire no one to progress with it much after Boxing day.

Now whilst I don’t want to come across all Lynn Faulds Wood, a lot of cheap electric guitars are just plain badly made. Usually the metal used for tuners, saddles and tremolo springs and claws are no better than using lead. The strings are usually cheap and the tuning machines stiff.

Now let’s think about the advice offered, know how to tune it, where can you get lessons, what is a pickup, what’s the difference between a single coil and a humbucking pickup? Try asking these questions at Tesco…….. (Please try, video it on your phone and send it me)

Being a specialist shop, we offer high quality product, granted it may cost more than the junk sold by certain high street chains, but think of the advantages- far superior product that inspires someone to play, knowledgeable friendly staff, a rapport with your local music shop (As my good friend Dave Mann says – “At Dave Mann music your face is your discount card”).

Think what Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall would do, support your local independent guitar shop this Christmas… We guarantee no beef or jumpers, just what we know about, guitars.

Wildgut Guitar Straps

2011-12-06T04:22:00.001-08:00

Another Guitar Spot exclusive..... I mean really exclusive, hand made in Nottingham. Excellent quality guitar straps, made out of alternative materials. At the moment we have a selection of denim and other materials.. More to follow... The ideal Christmas gift for the guitarist in your life (or maybe the one you can't get rid of). Prices from £30.. Have to be seen to be fully appreciated...

For more details contact james@theguitarspot.com

But I don't like Jazz.... Free guitar lesson

2011-11-29T05:11:00.000-08:00

In our continuing journey into the cracks occupied between Jazz and Blues, I have included a free small guitar lesson (I have been asked to do this sort of thing for a while, honest!).

We are going to be looking at playing a blues in the key of A. As is common with alot of blues players I am going to be using ninth chords for my I and IV and V chords.

What is different is that we will substitute one bar of our V chord with the IIm7 (Bminor7). We are then going to add a turnaround that goes from A7, F#7, B7, E7 resolving to A7.

After the first substitution of the IIm7 we go to the V but then back to the I missing out the IV.

We finish with a guitar lick that you can work out for yourselves (go on it's fun).

Where is the relevence to the title you ask???. Listen to almost any Jazz Organ combo (Jimmy Smith, JackMcDuff, Jimmy McGriff etc) and this is how they often play a blues. Try this when jamming with friends to add a new level of sophistication to your playing (but what if it kills my feel man?, it won't).

This was played entirley fingerstyle, which I feel gives comping a more organ like feel due to damping and a fuller sound.

Included is a chord chart

Eko Ghost Demo

2011-11-28T06:50:00.001-08:00

The Eko Ghost is a reissue of the Vox Phantom, this was made for Vox by Eko. Here is a short video by Jimmy Wiggins. Available at The Guitar Spot £369.00

Blues on an odd shaped guitar....

Video demo's return

2011-11-28T05:24:00.000-08:00

The faceless marvel returns. Food and booze loving (excuse for figure) Bluesman Jimmy Wiggins demos the Eko Kadett 67

Stay tuned for more video demo' s and some suprises.............

And remeber you can buy this guitar from us for £299.00

More Christmas opening

2011-11-23T03:46:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Smith is back.......................... To tell you we are opening late for an extra late night

Wednesday 30th November until 8pm

Maybe in tribute to Jimmy Smith we will have fried chicken and champagne

www.theguitarspot.com

But I don't like Jazz.... Part 2

2011-11-22T06:37:00.003-08:00

"Yeah but Jimmy , you know those Jazz guys just don't have the feel of the Blues , they can't play it......."

Really got told that once. Cause they f*cking well can. Jimmy Ponder ventran of many Jazz organ dates (many with Jimmy Mcgriff), as well as pseudo fusion albums and straight ahead Jazz. Pittsburgh's best kept secret is going to show you how to play Blues war horse Stormy Monday.....

But I don't like Jazz....

2011-11-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

I have come across alot of folks who for one reason or another react to Jazz a bit like Marmite. Some do really cry and vomit, others reckon that there couldn't possibly be a form of Jazz that they liked. They usually then go on to almost refer to it in a fashion that hints the only Jazz they had experienced was John Thompson's Jazz Club sketch on the Fast Show..

Well I'm now on a mission to convert people to my ideology. If you like Blues, Rock, Rockabilly, Funk, R and B even Country- There will be some Jazz you like!!.

First up Calvin Newborn. To achieve what this guy has done most people would have to be reincarnated 5 fucking times!. Just a brief overview- An early influence on Elvis's dancing style, Blues sideman to the likes of Walter Horton, whilst also playing with his JAZZ pianist brother Phineas Newborn, he has starred in plays and written books. He has also backed the likes of Jazz saxophonist Jimmy Forrest. He plays Jazz with a heavy mix of blues or is it the other way round ????.

No vomiting please

Christmas opening at The Guitar Spot

2011-11-21T03:23:00.000-08:00

Check out my man Jimmy Smith..... Much as we would love to drop you round your Christmas presents in such a style, we can't.

But what we can do is offer late night Christmas opening !

Wednesday night late opening until 8pm

Wednesday 7th December

Wednesday 14th December

Wenesday 21st December

Wine and mince pies will be available

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

Deacon Strats

2011-11-19T02:18:00.000-08:00

A well respected guy in our trade once told me that he wouldn't pay more than £180.00 for a bolt neck strat style guitar. His reasoning was that you could get such good guitars for that amount that it wasn't worth shelling out on a Fender.

Whilst I don't totally agree with the idea, I am begining to be brought round to the argument.

Here at The Guitar Spot we have just taken delivery of these Deacon Strat style guitars. Not only are they great looking, they are aslo very well appointed-

Wilkinson Pickups

Vintage style thick maple neck

Vintage fender style bridge and trem

The headstock looks alot like the modern Tokai one (draw your own conclusions).

This would make a great starter guitar or a spare for a more experinced player or as one of our gigging customers calls them a rough pubs guitar.

All yours for £169.00

Guitarist Magazine reviews Gordon Smith GS2.60

2011-11-16T05:13:00.001-08:00

Many of the three blog subscribers we have already know about our love of Gordon Smith Guitars. They were the first company we dealt with when we opened The Guitar Spot six years ago.

Some of you will be familiar with our usual Gordon Smith spiel- A handmade guitar for under £500, made in the UK just outside Manchester by John Smith and his wife Linda. You even get handmade pickups... And we all know what they cost.

What you may not be familiar with is that Gordon Smith do not advertise. So most of their business is based on their excellent word of mouth reputation. So imagine our surprise when we hear of them being reviewed by Fender and Gibson sycophants, Guitarist Magazine. Despite some of their slightly patronising assertions (a great spare guitar?, plenty of the ones we sell are gigged regularly) it's an overall great review that can't find fault with the guitars.

Click here to read review

And remember you can come and test drive one at The Guitar Spot

Hubert tells you how it is......

2011-11-16T04:58:00.000-08:00

My all time Blues favoutite , Hubert Sumlin, discusses his work with Howling Wolf and plays some great guitar. Circa late 70's. You really should buy the DVD it is promoting......

Starter packages at The Guitar Spot

2011-11-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

Thinking of a guitar as a Christmas Gift? Thinking of getting into electric guitar for the first time?

Want to have something different than the usual Strat style package?

Jim Deacon Tele Package

A Jim Deacon Telecaster (very similar to Chinese Tokai). Available in Black, Red, Butterscotch and Sunburst. Comes with bag, strap, lead and 10 watt practice amp.

£159.00

Jim Deacon Upgraded Package

A slightly more upgraded package. With a bolt neck twin humbucking Jim Deacon, or a red set neck SG. Comes with bag, strap, lead and 20 watt pro formance 2 channel amp with reverb.

£199.00

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

Eko guitars at The Guitar Spot

2011-11-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

Italian Retro cool at affordable prices. Prices from £229.00. Pay a us a visit and check them out.

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

A suprise from The Guitar Spot

2011-09-29T09:18:00.001-07:00

Why is Hound Dog Taylor (famous 6 fingered bluesman) looking so happy? Maybe it’s his love of whisky and House Rocking or maybe it’s because he just found out it’s The Guitar Spot’s sixth birthday on Saturday (Yes this Saturday). Join us for celebrations and more (bring your own booze, and your own cake).

The real reason my man Hound Dog looks so happy is that we are offering 10% off any new guitar (1 day only Sat 1.10.11). There are also some none published special offers…

So don’t have that late summer BBQ, get down to us and celebrate (Really…….. Small Happy Derek and Jimmy “Oscar the Grouch” Wiggins will be glad to accommodate

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

Tilt Bar Dates Sept 2011

2011-09-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

Live at Tilt in September

Thursday 1stMartin ‘Horse’ Draycot

Friday 2^ndMighty Lupo

Saturday 3^rdBlues Lobsters

Tuesday 6^thMartin ‘Horse’ &Raph Apache

Wednesday 7^thJohnny Slim

Thursday 8^thMighty Lupo

Friday 9^thTheUndercats

Saturday 10^th The Bowman & Hull Experience

Tuesday 13^thMartin Sanders

Wednesday 14^thDave Bristow

Thursday 15^thMartin ‘Horse’ Draycot

Friday 16^thMoules& Wiggins

Saturday 17^thBoobadust

Tuesday 20^thThe Doc

Wednesday 21^stLeo Whisky

Thursday 22^nd Colin Staples

Friday 23^rd Groove Merchants

Saturday 24^thOld Dog

Tuesday 27^thDave Bristow

Wednesday 28^thThe Bowman & Hull Experience

Thursday 29^thTim Disney

Friday 30^thMoules& Wiggins

0115 9501226 – info@tiltbar.co.uk - www.tiltbar.co.uk - Upstairs, 9 Pelham St. Nottingham, NG1 2EH

Music now available for Film, TV or online productions

2011-09-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

Just a note to say that the acoustic and electric slide guitar work of Jimmy Wiggins, is now available to be licensed through Pump Audio (The music wing of Getty in New York). There is already a collection of music avaiable but more will be added over time. Click on the link for more details. You can hear a sample of my work below

License this music for commercial use through Pump Audio

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License

Guitar Lesson slots available

2011-09-05T02:56:00.000-07:00

Just a note to say we have spaces available for guitar lessons at The Guitar Spot. They tend to get booked up pretty quickly in September, especially for school children. We also have evening slots available in the week and some availability Saturday mornings.

Internationally renowned blues and slide guitar player and specialist tutor James Wigginton (or "Jimmy Wiggins" as Chicago Bluesman Jimmy Burns interpreted it)

I am a member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT) and can teach their programme of fully accredited exams. I am also fully CRB checked. I teach from age 8 upwards, in styles ranging from pop to metal and everything in-between. I teach all ages and abilities from my shop – The Guitar Spot, Nottingham – and have done so for the past 5 years. My students keep coming back year after year so I'm taking that as a sign they are happy and progressing with their playing – I have plenty of testimonials should you wish to check out my credentials.

I specialise in teaching blues and slide guitar – one of only very few slide tutors in the UK (and under the age of 35!). I teach beginners to advanced, experienced enthusiasts and professionals, in many styles and tunings, both electric and acoustic. I also have expert knowledge of techniques such as fretting behind the slide.

I can also re-string and re-tune/set up guitars.

Included are some samples of my work.

Rates start at £15.00 for 30 minutes and £25.00 for an hour; for advanced teaching rates drop me an email or give me a call.

See the following websites if you would like more information:

http://www.rgt.org/tutors/
www.myspace.com/thebluesworldofduncandjim
www.theguitarspot.com

Contact details........ 0115 913 9141

Or email james@theguitarspot.com

Fender Stratocaster 1979 Hardtail

2011-08-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

At The Guitar Spot, we pride ourselves in our selection of preowned guitars. Over the past 5 years we have sold many excellent vintage guitars, at sensible prices.

This 1979 hardtail strat is in good condition and has its original 3 way switch. Hardtail Strats (no trem fixed bridge) put you in the unique company of players such as Billy corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame, and blues guitarist Walter Trout.

Check out our video............

For more details contact james@theguitarspot.com

The guitar is available online with free uk delivery - click here

Nottingham's only Gordon Smith Dealer

2011-08-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

If you live in the East Midlands and are interested in Gordon Smith Guitars , we are your fellas. For the past 6 years we have sold more of these than I have had hot dinners (and looking at how fat I am , thats alot).

Whether it's bespoke ordering (you can have one custom made for just £150.00 deposit), or off the wall we have a range of models to suit.

Featured in this blog we have our latest stock- A GS 1.5 with a P90 and a contoured front, all this for £592 .

For more information or simply just to come and try them, get in contact-

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

New in stock- Diamond Bottlenecks Pill Bottle Slide

2011-08-08T05:03:00.000-07:00

We have just taken delivery of these wonderful new slides. Diamond Bottlenecks have made a great reproduction of the coricidin pill bottle slide. For those who don't know, this type of slide has been used by many electric players- Duane Allman, Rory Gallagher, Derek Trucks, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes ..... erm struggling a bit now , Gary Rossington of Lynryd Skynrd.... You get the idea. Because of it's light weight its great for playing slide on electric guitars with lighter strings (10's or 11's).

Get yourself a cranked up marshall, a Les Paul tuned to open e and one of these slides and you are in serious Duane Allman territory.

Unlike all the other coricidin type bottles on the market, this one is actually made of soda glass, not pyrex. This gives it a richer warmer tone. There is also a small hole drilled in the top to stop your finger sweating, a common problem for coricidin users.

Here's what guitarist magazine had to say about them-

......."full and liquid sounding....a perfect gap-free finger fit, definitely the best of it's type we've encountered".......

July 2011

Available at The Guitar Spot for £9.95 for more details contact us

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

Fender American Standard Telecaster on Ebay

2011-08-08T04:54:00.000-07:00

As the title suggests we have this wonderful guitar going up for aution on Ebay. Click here to view auction. Starts at £590.00

In the listening room with Jimmy Wiggins

2011-07-28T04:50:00.001-07:00

In terms of sequels, how many are actually better than the original?. Maybe we would have to delve in to the world of films to find an example- Godfather II as good as or a bit better than the original Godfather?.

Jimmie Vaughan has succeeded in bettering 2010's Plays Blues, Ballads and Favorites. No mean feat when you consider that said album was his best, in my opinion, since 1994's Strange Pleasure. And when your Jimmie Vaughan , one of the finest most economical , stinging contemporary blues guitarists, thats saying something. For the uninitiated, check out Vaughan's playing on "Full time Lover" off the first Fabulous Thunderbirds album, or the little heard "Dengue Woman Blues" from the Dusk till Dawn soundtrack.

The lineup for More Blues, Ballads and Favorites is the same as the the first album (Jimmie Vaughan, Lou Ann Barton, Billy Pitman, George Rains, Derek O'Brien and Ronnie James form the rhythm section). The late organist Bill Willis is replaced by Mike Flanigan. The Horn Section is comprised of Greg Piccolo and Doug James.

With a lineup like that you can't go wrong, as proved on last years album. There's a bit more energy about this album and if anything both Vaughan and Bartons vocals sound fuller and stronger. Vaughan's guitar is his usual biting strat through a bassman , modern day take on the gulf coast style (for those unaware- playing with a capo , no plectrum ala Johnny Guitar Watson and Gatemouth Brown) that has been present in his style for a number of years, he sounds like he has upped the energy level whilst maintaining his laid back economy.

Vaughan's guitar tone , whilst having become a bit thinner and cleaner, is a real turn on for any fan of 50's blues. Like it's predecessor this album has all the good stuff from the 50's without sounding like a corny museum artifact. Stand out tracks for me are the upbeat opener "I ain't never" and the many times covered"Bad Bad Whiskey" (having always loved Jimmy Witherspoon's interpretation I was surprised to hear a version that gave it a run for it's money).

Vaughan and co. got it right the first time, and give a rare example of getting it even better the second. I can't wait for the next installment. .........

So that's it for today's listening room, - I'm off to drink beer until I can't speak .........

Buy this album

Gordon Smith Video

2011-07-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

Not courtesy of us at the Guitar Spot , but rather Mick Abrahams of Blodwyn Pig and Jethro Tull fame. Great tone and feel coming from an SG2. Remember you can order one from the Guitar Spot for just £100 deposit.

Current Gordon Smith stock

2011-07-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

GS1.5 - P90 and single coil £652.00

GS2- Rosewood neck £646.00

GS2 - Maple neck £686.00
GS1- Adjustable bridge , chrome pickup £599.00

All of the above available in store now. More on order. Clicke images to buy online. Remeber we are alo offering 9 months interest free on Gordon Smith. Part Ex also welcome.

Coming soon - SG2 P90's, gloss front and tunamatic bridge.

For more details call us on 0115 9139141 or email : james@theguitarspot.com

Spread the cost on Gordon Smith

2011-07-19T06:27:00.000-07:00

Due to changes to the Take it Away scheme, many of our customers (those over 25) can no longer take advantage of the 9 months interest free. We have decided to rectify this and offer finance ourselves. This is offered in store. See below for example and terms –

Representative Example: Cash Price £1000. Deposit £100. Rate of Interest 0%. Representative APR 0%. Total Amount of Credit £900. Duration of Agreement: 9 months. Monthly Repayment Amount £100.00. Total Amount Payable £900

Terms and conditions apply.

Moneyway is a trading name of Secure Trust Bank Plc. Registered in England and Wales 541132. Registered Office: One Arleston Way, Solihull, B90 4LH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and licensed by the Office of Fair Trading under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Financial Services Authority does not regulate consumer credit.

The retailer acts as a credit intermediary and only introduces to Secure Trust Bank PLC.

For more details call us on 0115 9139141 or email : james@theguitarspot.com

Facebook Reminder

2011-07-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

For those who prefer more interaction we aslo have a Facebook page. Join up and get regular updates. Click logo to view.

1973 Telecaster Deluxe

2011-07-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

Refinished in original colour,couple of small dings on front and a bit
of belt rash on back, but otherwise a good
example of a guitar this old.
Plays and sounds really good and comes
with a non original case.

£2200.

Pre-owned Gordon Smith GS1

2011-06-29T03:03:00.000-07:00

Only 6 months old, natural finish, maple neck, single coil tapped humbucker. In excellent condition. This one won't be hanging around for long, so get in quick.

£385.00

Press the above button to pay.

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

Gordon Smith GS 1.5

2011-06-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

We really wanted something different for our latest batch of Gordon Smiths. So here we have a GS1.5 with a p90 in the bridge and a single coil in the neck. It also has a gloss front. One of our shop regulars reckons its the best one we have had in.

Yours for £652.00

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

Moules and Wiggins

2011-06-20T03:31:00.000-07:00

For those that don't know Moules and Wiggins are Nottingham's premier blues duo/trio . Comprised of Duncan "Tin sandwich" Moules on vocals and harmonica, Jimmy "Slideboy" Wiggins on slide guitar and guitar and recently returned Rocking Steve Riley on drums (and occasional cardboard box).

They formed after years of playing with other musicians. Duncan and Jimmy got together after a particularly bad experience backing someone else. Rocking Riley and Jimmy have played together on and off for the past 15yrs, backing the likes of local legend Colin Staples, and numerous others.

They can be found every month at Tilt bar , Pelham Street, Nottingham. Listings for Tilt available here

With a sound best described as a combination of 50's Chicago grit, greasy Delta Blues and a side order of Gospel, Moules and Wiggins have been keeping the patrons of Tilt Bar entertained for the best part of two years.

Their debut album is available for download via CD baby.

Come and check them out at Tilt- as promised by their debut recording , they really do have Blues for the soul , Rhythm for the feet and Advice for Sinners!

New Gordon Smith Stock

2011-06-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

Just in!!. A slightly different spec GS1. This time we have a chrome covered humbucking pickup, Gloss front and adjustable bridge.

Yours delivered for £599.00 (UK Mainland only)

Press the above button to pay.

The Guitar Spot

106 Chilwell Road

Beeston

Nottingham

NG9 1ES

Tel 0115 9139141

www.theguitarspot.com

email : james@theguitarspot.com

Mailing list

2011-05-28T02:59:00.000-07:00

Find out about our latest stock, offers and much more -

Join our Mailing list- Click Here

Big Diehl !!!

2011-05-25T06:16:00.000-07:00

Eddie Diehl is one of those Jazz guys who managed to fall under the radar. He has played with Hank Mobley and Jack McDuff amongst others. I first heard him play on Jack McDuff's - Brother Jack meets The Boss. I heard his solo on "Buzzin' Round" and have always been eager to find out more about Eddie Diehl.

Well, Uptown movies have made this fascinating film available on Youtube. Eddie is now a guitar and amp repair guy. He still plays jazz, and is an interesting character.

Its really worth putting the time in to watch this film. You get to find out about Jazz greats - Hank Mobley, Ike Quebec and Jack McDuff, Heroin abuse in jazz and being dropped from a Blue Note Session to make way for Kenny Burrell.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did

Another Happy Customer !!

2011-04-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

As you may know Gordon Smith guitars are our best selling guitar. Below is a testimonial from one of our customers.

Hi,

just want to let you know - I bought a GS (one and a half) about 6 months ago as I liked the unamp'd sound (it really resonated in the shop - Guitar Spot in Nottingham). One piece wrap over bridge with no intonation problems. Plugging in and gigging it was unbelievable.

I also have 2 PRS Custom (1991) guitars, a '78 Fender strat, a Gibson Les Paul Classic, and a G&L Telecaster.

I gig with the Gordon Smith and leave the others at home now or take one of them as a spare. I wish I'd bought one before I'd spent all that money!

Thanks

Jim

Slidefest 2011 Update !!

2011-04-05T04:24:00.000-07:00

Colin Staples interview

2011-03-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

This was done for Left Lion and can be seen on this link http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/id/3522 . Or just read below

Colin Staples

If you are a fan of the blues, you have probably at some point come across the name Colin Staples. He is synonymous with Blues in Nottingham. As well as being a great band leader, singer, harmonica and guitar player, he has run blues jams in the area for the past thirty odd years, helping many start there fledgling blues careers and providing great live music every week. He was recently the recipient of a Lifetime achievement award from the Nottingham Blues Society. He can still be found running his popular blues jam at the Salutation (Maid Marian Way) every Wednesday. In his career as a bluesman he has also played with such blues legends as Champion Jack Dupree and Eddie Burns. With another resurgence in interest in things Blues related, it seemed a good time to speak with him……

JW: What are your views on your lifetime achievement award?

CS: Unexpected, I didn’t really understand what it was for. I suppose it was for running jam sessions for years and years. People playing at them and moving on and doing other things…

I was pleased about it, particularly after the event. It was nice to see friends and people who have supported the jam over the years.

There have always been a lot of people who have been coming to the blues jam for years and supporting it – if it wasn’t for them it wouldn’t exist. I couldn’t do it without all these people who have supported me for years.

JW: At the award ceremony, Ian Siegal stated that without Colin Staples there would be no Ian Siegal, what do you make of this?

CS: I’m glad you said that because it’s not true! I run jam sessions and people can come down and play; it may help people to get into what they want to do even if they are not that experienced. I’ve got nothing to do with the talent they’ve got. Its more to do with facilitating them to play with other people, sometimes they are playing with more experienced players, which helps them. Sometimes people are playing with people not as experienced as them, which also helps as you can learn from other people’s mistakes, as well as your own!

JW: Surely you could have just had your own career as a blues player, without running all the jam sessions. Why did you choose to go down this route?

CS: Well I’ve had various bands at the same time as, or inbetween, running the blues jam. I’ve also done solo and duo things as well.

I enjoy the idea of getting up with different people and playing in a local environment where people come that you know, it’s a social thing as well. Obviously I want to encourage the music, but I get as much of a kick out of playing a small venue where I’m close to the audience than I would in a big auditorium – more so in fact. I prefer the smaller venues.

As regards my own band, I don’t think of what I do or play as being all that commercial – not that I’m deliberately not being commercial, it’s just that I’m stubborn and only want to play what I want to play!

JW: What do you think is the biggest misconception about blues music?

CS: That it’s too simple, all the same and therefore easy to play. And its not… to make something work out of a simple structure is difficult. To put feel, dynamics and colour into it is not easy. You’ve got to put something of yourself into it.

JW: What are the difficulties in running a blues jam?

CS: You’ve got to have a suitable venue. Sympathetic management of the venue. The people who come really need to be into the thing themselves. You want people to be committed to watching the whole night, not just turning up and doing their own thing and going. If everyone did that it would soon disappear.

JW: What qualities do you enjoy from the musicians you see getting up at your jam session? And what can they learn from jamming?

CS: The main thing is being able to put something in to what’s going on, without destroying anything else. So what they put in is an addition, but it doesn’t get in the way of anyone. I think that is one of the greatest skills any musician can have, to be able to play with other people and contribute without forcing someone or something else out the way. Not everybody has that skill. That is one thing that I can say people learn from coming to a jam session regularly – how to play with people without being destructive.

JW: You are in a rare position among your peers, as you have played with legendary bluesman Champion Jack Dupree and many others. How did this experience affect you?

CS: Well, Jack Dupree, as well as being a great musician, was a real character. Every time he got on stage it was a big performance and show, but he was very good at playing with us as a pick-up band. But the band also had to be very good at playing with him. He would often stop in the middle and talk to the audience and then start again. Sometimes he would throw us, but even if something went wrong he would never blame us, he maintained a really warm atmosphere by encouraging the band. I think the reason he liked playing with us was that we were the kind of band that could listen, which is what we did when we jammed. I think that’s what Jack liked about us – that and being cheap!

Jack was a really funny, nice character; he was the same onstage as he was off – always cracking jokes and telling stories.

JW: What’s the first blues music you heard?

CS: Right from being a very young kid I liked music that had a bluesy feel to it, even though it wasn’t actually blues. I liked Josh White, he was always referred to as a folk singer; I didn’t even realise he was black.

Earlier on, I also liked Hoagy Carmichael, he had a song called Hong Kong Blues, it had something in it that just fascinated me, which I later realised was blues phrasing. I liked vocal groups like the Mills Brothers and The Inkpots for the same reason: that blues-like quality to their singing.

In 1959 I accidentally bought a Howlin Wolf record. I read the titles on the sleeve and thought they sounded like blues songs. When I put it on, the first thing I heard was Smokestack Lightnin – I couldn’t believe it, that was it, I was a Howlin Wolf fan from then on. Big Bill Broonzy was another early influence on me. These two were the biggest influences on me at first.

JW: You started your musical career during the heyday for blues in Britain in the 1960s, with the likes of John Mayall being popular. There have been many peaks and troughs of interest in blues since. At the moment there is a revived interest, with the likes of Seasick Steve and others introducing the music to younger audiences. Do you see this having an effect on you?

CS: Yes, it usually draws more people into the music. For some people it’s just a fashion thing, but others get more deeply into it. It’s all good.

The 60s blues boom was good as there was a lot of experimentation, mixes of blues and jazz with rock. A lot of these musicians were mainly playing club gigs. The first time I saw John Mayall , he was backing T Bone walker!

JW: Where did you get your records from in Nottingham in the late 50s early 60s? I assume it was difficult to get your hands on American blues at that time?

CS: There weren’t many places, to be honest. There was a place on Kings Walk, which mainly sold jazz, but sold blues stuff as well. I got my first blues album from ????. It was difficult. Some shops would have the odd popular blues artist, but what you couldn’t get was the pre-war blues artists from the 20s and 30s; someone may have had an old 78 as they weren’t re-released on albums. Not like now, when you can get everything blues-wise easily and cheaply.

JW: Recently you’ve been taking your music to a different audience at the Tilt Bar in Nottingham. What do feel about playing to these younger, cocktail-drinking audiences, who probably have never experienced your style of blues before?

CS: It’s fine. When you play to an audience that may not stay all night it’s a bit different.

Once you get used to the fact that they’re coming in and having a good time and then moving on to the next place, it’s great. I don’t really like a concert-type audience, that’s not my scene, I don’t put on a show, just play music. As long as I can play music on my terms I’m happy. I’m not saying that I’m not influenced by the mood of the audience, I might play a certain type of thing to suit their mood, but it’s not anything I wouldn’t normally play.

Im not the sort of person who would be on stage if I wasn’t playing music. In fact, I’d hate to be on stage if I wasn’t playing music! I only get up there because I want to play, I’m driven by the music, I would hate to get up there and tell jokes on stage. I don’t like the showbiz side of music at all.

Wyres Strings Pierre Bensusan Offer

2011-03-21T05:11:00.000-07:00

You've heard us rave about these strings before. As an introductory offer we are offering them at £14.99 delivered , to the UK mainland.

Gordon Smith GS2 Demo

2011-03-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

Yet another demo........................ This time a Gordon Smith GS2. Going into a Fender Blues Deluxe , mxr carbon copy delay and analogman KOT. Available instore £646.00

Email James@theguitarspot.com for more details

Second British Slide Festival

2011-03-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

Delta Charleston Wood bodied Resonator Guitar Demo

2011-03-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

One for the slide guitar aficionado's . A Delta Charleston single cone wood bodied resonator , played in open g with an Elmore Steel Slide (hurry while stocks last). The guitar is available in store, custom made by John Alderson at Delta Resonator guitars. The Charleston is priced at £1795.00.

Elmore Slides are still available in limited numbers

Peerless Wizard Demo

2011-03-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Back again. This time a short demo of the Peerless Wizard. This is played with the middle and neck p90 pickups only. Again its amplified though an early nineties Fender Blues Deluxe amp.

Available in store and online

Peerless Renaissance Demo

2011-03-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

I once tried to get into boxing, I kept getting told by the guy who's gym it was , practice and patience. Maybe this can be applied to our product demo's!!!.

Here is a brief demo of the Peerless renaissance Custom guitar. Played straight into a Fender Blues Deluxe amp. the guitar is available instore @ £599.00 w/case. email james@theguitarspot.com for more details. More demos to follow..........

Support your local Blues Jam (Especially in Nottingham)

2011-03-14T06:18:00.000-07:00

Colin Staples has been running his blues jam for the past 30 plus years. It has been in various different venues over the years , and now resides at the Salutaion Inn , maid Marion Way, Nottingham. Its every wednesday from 9pm. New players are always welcome!!!

http://www.myspace.com/thesalutationnottingham

Time running out on the Take it Away Scheme

2011-03-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

After April 2011 , the take it away scheme will no longer be available for customers over 25 years of age. This scheme has allowed many of our customers to purchase both new and pre owned instruments, that they might not otherwise have been able to do. The scheme offers 9 months interest free credit on any new or pre owned instrument (sorry no amps , accesories etc).

So if you are over 25 and fancy using this scheme , you have until the end of this month !!!

2011-03-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

Due to the speed that some of our pre owned goods are leaving us, we thought it might be good to remind people that we have a mailing list- all the latest new and preowned stock before it hits our website- click here to join !

The Guitar Spot on Twitter

2011-03-05T05:12:00.000-08:00

Everyone else is doing it , so why don't we. Probably many reasons why not.

But if you want another outlet to keep up to date with the latest happenings or non happenings, we now have a twitter account..............................

click here

Elmore No more!!!!

2011-02-28T06:32:00.000-08:00

We are saddened to announce the end of our Elmore Steel Slide. Due to reasons beyond our control, it is now out of production. However we have some stock left. So if you want to know what you have been missing out on , you can order online . Hurry while stocks last (literally)!!.

New Gordon Smith GS2

2011-02-28T04:20:00.000-08:00

Just in a black Gordon Smith GS2. Double cutaway with two coil tapped humbuckers.

£646.00.

call on 0115 9139141 or email for more details

Wyres Strings Now available at The Guitar Spot

2011-02-28T04:08:00.001-08:00

We now have Wyres Strings in Stock!!!. People have been raving about these , we have had many people buying multiple sets of the Pierre Bensusan signature set. These are priced at £14.99 . The full range is also available via ourselves. See below for more details -

Pierre Bensusan's signature set of Wyres Strings, STRING GAUGES: E .013, B .017, G .023, D .032, A .042, E .056.

"Wyres Strings is the answer to all my concerns. They sound wonderful, feel great under the fingers, allow for an extensive use of their sustain to "WORK" the touch, the tone and the history of the note and, the icing on the cake, they last a very long time!

Wyres Strings surpass any other brand on the market today. I feel completely relieved and am honored to collaborate on a Signature set with Nick Walton and his company."

Pierre Bensusan

As you can see Pierre is very pleased with them.

Wyres strings are hand made and PTFE coated .

Call us on 0115 913 9141 or email for more details .

Peerless Renaissance Demo

2011-02-19T05:37:00.000-08:00

Great online demo of this guitar. We have one in stock at £599.00

More Gordon Smith Stock

2011-02-19T04:52:00.000-08:00

Just in… a black GS2 . Double cutaway with 2 coil tapped humbuckers. Get in quick currently on a 3 month wait !!

Currently in store £646.00

Call us on 0115 913 9141

Get on our mailing list email james@theguitarspot.com

New !! Delta Charleston Wood bodied Resonator Guitar

2010-10-18T03:52:00.000-07:00

We are proud to have taken in our latest arrival. The Delta Charleston is a 12 fret wood bodied single cone resonator guitar, Handbuilt by John Alderson in Leicestershire. Has to be played to be believed.......... A new favourite of ours from the excellent Delta Guitars

Currently in store at £1795 w/case.

Call us on 0115 913 9141

Or email sales@theguitarspot.com for more details.......

Going , going .................

2010-09-29T04:12:00.000-07:00

We have alreadysold 2 of our most recent delivery of Gordon Smith Guitars. We now have 2 GS1's left (more on the way) see our online shop or call us on 0115 9139141 for details.

More Gordon Smiths

2010-09-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

As Nottingham's only Gordon Smith dealer, we feel a responsibility to bring more of these fantastic guitars in . They are not yet on our online shop , but are available in store.

We have a GS1 with a single P90 and gloss front £543.00

A GS1 with a single coil tapped Humbucker £485.00

And finally a GS2 with 2 coil tapped humbuckers in natural at £567.00

See www.theguitarspot.com for more stock

Gwyn Ashton Endorses Elmore Slide

2010-08-31T05:12:00.000-07:00

We are proud to have blues rock guitarist Gwyn Ashton endorsing our Elmore guitar slide. We also now have a thinner walled version available for those who want a lighter slide.

The Late Great Mel Brown

2010-08-17T05:22:00.000-07:00

It has been some time since my last music related post. Mel Brown was somone I meant to mention a while back...............

In a time when alot of peoples focus in blues seems to be on the guitar itself, rather than the music , here is a reminder that you also need style , not flash , style. Some of my favourite guitar playing from a man who understood about such matters. He almost has the minimalism and style of a jazz player like Kenny Burrell , but on top of that he has that really raw T Bone Walker or Lowell Fulson thing going on........

The second clip features Mel Brown with Snooky Pryor. Just goes to show that when blues is played well it needs no bells and whistles, different chord changes or stupid names..........

Gordon Smith Guitars back in stock!! Part 2

2010-08-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

We also have a very nice Gordon Smith GS1 , in a natural finish with a maple neck and a single coil tapped humbucker.

£449.00 delivered to mainland uk from our online shop.

Gordon Smith Guitars back in stock!!

2010-08-16T03:22:00.000-07:00

After a change in the way they are distributed , Gordon Smith guitars have been in shorter supply than in the past. The good news is we have two new models in stock.....

Firstly we have a Gordon Smith GS1.5 in cherrry red. It has a coil tapped humbucker in the bridge and a single coil in the neck. It is available from our online shop £564.00 delivered to mainland UK.

Elmore Slide Demo

2010-05-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

Being as just showing people a picture of a slide is a bit useless, here is a video of our slide being demo'd . It is a steel Elmore , being played on a Pete Woodman single cone resonator guitar, tuned to open g.

I am also available to teach slide guitar. I charge £20 per hour for one to one lessons in my shop or £25.00 per hour to travel (Nottingham, Derby, Leicestershire area). I will also consider travel to other UK areas for appropriate travel costs. Contact james@theguitarspot.com for more details. Equally the Elmore Slide is available from our website www.theguitarspot.com

The Elmore Steel Slide Now available !!!!

2010-04-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

For many years we at The Guitar Spot have been purveyors of quality items related to slide guitar . Ever been in need of a really good glass slide ?- we are stockists for Diamond Bottlenecks , we always carry a selection from their range.

However for a long while now there has been something bothering me. Often my small father would find me sobbing over my resonator guitar , why ?- beacause of the lack of commercially available high quality metal slides. Most steel slides that you buy in shops are just thin pieces of tube , producing not particularly good thin sound. The thicker and heavier the slide you have , the better sound you have. So we have started making our own. The Elmore slide is bored from solid steel rod , which gives good weight, wall thickness and most importantly tone.

These slides are hand finished and exclusive to ourselves and our friends at Diamond Bottlenecks. When we previewed the Elmore at the first British Slide Guitar Festival , the reaction was great. Its not the cheapest slide on the market but we believe we are producing the best steel slide available at the moment. The slide is available instore or online for £35.00.

Peerless Guitars Now available at The Guitar Spot

2010-03-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

Ocasionally the Blues World of Jimmy Wiggins like to do a few infomercial type affairs on the behalf of Nottingham's finest purveyor of quality new and rare second hand instruments , and Black books style customer service The Guitar Spot !

We are proud to now be stocking Peerless Guitars !!!. These fine instruments are made in the Korean factory that made guitars for Gretsch and some of the higher quality parts of the Epiphone range.

Endorsees include Big Jim Sullivan and Richard Sullivan ......

Currently we have several models on order... but in the shop, and on the website to tempt you we have the Peerless Songbird. Yours for £495.00 with hard case.

I played it through a small valve amp and it put me in mind of

Now I know hes using humbuckers in this clip, but earlier on in his career he used a Gibson 330 with p90's .

So anyway just buy the Peerless and I will stop having to do adverts like this...........

Vox Conqueror 1969 - Head and cabinet

2010-03-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to pretend you were in the Beatles ?- No ?, good neither did I. But if you like that kind of thing from that era why not snag yourself a Vox Conqueror. Vox's first attempt at solid state and allegedly used by the Fab Four on the Sgt Pepper album, and the promo video for Hello , goodbye.

We have recenty had this amp worked on by our amp tech, its mainly in original condition, all the opamps are original . The cabinte has one original vox 12" speaker and one marshall. For full details contact us at sales@theguitarspot.com or visit us at www.theguitarspot.com .

The amp sounds great and has wonderful reverb and tremolo , for about three seconds I thought I was John fogerty or Slim Harpo. All this could be yours for £950.00

If you can't be Black....... be Jewish

2010-01-22T03:01:00.000-08:00

At first glance the above statement may seem odd, is it a mantra by which I live my life?, no its not as important as that ........

As a longtime devotee of the blues there is always seems to be a point where someone brings up the argument can white people play blues. Personally I think the answer is anyone can play it, but here's the thing- all the blues I really like is 50's black music or things that sound like it. To me it is the benchmark by which you judge your own playing (would Otis Rush have played this ???). So the situation for me is a little confusing..........

There are still those who believe that no-one can play the blues like the early black players as we have not suffered the hardship of those people. Not a view I agree with , but I see its validity, maybe the music was the only way of escape from harsh reality ( after all its not all doom and gloom and crying into your beer , that's why God created Country music!).

So for any of those white middle class aspiring blues musicians, what do you do. Well if you want any kudos the answer is be Jewish! (also rich and tragic... but we'll come to that in a bit).

Two under sung favourites of mine, Michael Bloomfield and Hollywood Fats, were rich Jewish kids !!. This didn't stop them gaining the respect of all their black contemporaries ( Bloomfield as a teenager in the 50's sat in with Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters, Hollywood Fats got his nickname from Buddy Guy). Unfortunately both are now dead due to personal demons and substance problems- Bloomfield was found dead in his car in 1981 aged 37. Hes was suspected to have overdosed on synthetic heroin, but there are many rumours surrounding the circumstances. Hollywood Fats died of a heroin overdose in 1986 he was 32.

So there you have it two tragic greats of the blues, rich Jewish kids who wanted the funkier side of life ..

All this talk of race and blues reminds me of two statements . When playing golf with Dean Martin , Sammy Davis Jr was asked by Martin what his handicap was, to which he replied " I'm a one eyed Jewish Nigger". (He really did say this).

Or on a more serious note from Miles Davis ( He was middle class and his father was a dentist)-

"I don?t care if a dude is purple with
green breath as long as he can swing."

......and another one

2010-01-20T05:26:00.000-08:00

Another guy to check out, especially his 50's stuff is Clarence Gatemouth Brown. A really great guitarist and bandleader . Apparentley a bit of a gruff guy , but whats that matter when you can do this

If you like blues guitar , then maybe....

2010-01-20T05:10:00.000-08:00

When people ask me , as they occasionally do, why I got into blues music and which guitar players I like , I really tend to struggle to answer and give a list of about 20 or 30 and then keep thinking of more after the event . If I had to put it down to one person I always say Hubert Sumlin !. His work with Howlin Wolf did and still does blow my mind , see below for him talking to Chicago blues guitarist Dave Specter

And here he is in action

Welcome to my world !

2010-01-20T04:44:00.000-08:00

Having decided there weren't enough quality blues based blogs about , sometime Guitar Spot owner and half of popular Nottingham duo Moules and Wiggins has decided to start his own !

Stay tuned or logged in or whatever for more updates

www.theguitarspot.com

http://www.myspace.com/thebluesworldofduncandjim

The Blues World of Jimmy Wiggins

The Guitar Spot- We can laugh at ourselves (honest)

More Gordon Smith Stock

The Raw and The Cooked- Mickey Baker

Peerless Demo's

Part Exchanges @The Guitar Spot

Current Peerless Stock 03.01.12

Peerless Guitars- Who are they ?

Tom Jones is Black??

The White Heat of Technology

Post Christmas reductions part 2

New Stock 29.12.11

Post Christmas reductions part 1

Extra Festive opening @The Guitar Spot

Tradition Guitars at The Guitar Spot

Happy Festivus

Wildgut Guitar Straps

But I don't like Jazz.... Free guitar lesson

Eko Ghost Demo

Video demo's return

More Christmas opening

But I don't like Jazz.... Part 2

But I don't like Jazz....

Christmas opening at The Guitar Spot

Deacon Strats

Guitarist Magazine reviews Gordon Smith GS2.60

Hubert tells you how it is......

Starter packages at The Guitar Spot

Eko guitars at The Guitar Spot

A suprise from The Guitar Spot

Tilt Bar Dates Sept 2011

Music now available for Film, TV or online productions

Guitar Lesson slots available

Fender Stratocaster 1979 Hardtail

Nottingham's only Gordon Smith Dealer

New in stock- Diamond Bottlenecks Pill Bottle Slide

Fender American Standard Telecaster on Ebay

In the listening room with Jimmy Wiggins

Gordon Smith Video

Current Gordon Smith stock

Spread the cost on Gordon Smith

Facebook Reminder

1973 Telecaster Deluxe

Pre-owned Gordon Smith GS1

Gordon Smith GS 1.5

Moules and Wiggins

New Gordon Smith Stock

Mailing list

Big Diehl !!!

Another Happy Customer !!

Slidefest 2011 Update !!

Colin Staples interview

Wyres Strings Pierre Bensusan Offer

Gordon Smith GS2 Demo

Second British Slide Festival

Delta Charleston Wood bodied Resonator Guitar Demo

Peerless Wizard Demo

Peerless Renaissance Demo

Support your local Blues Jam (Especially in Nottingham)

Time running out on the Take it Away Scheme

The Guitar Spot on Twitter

Elmore No more!!!!

New Gordon Smith GS2

Wyres Strings Now available at The Guitar Spot

Peerless Renaissance Demo

More Gordon Smith Stock

New !! Delta Charleston Wood bodied Resonator Guitar

Going , going .................

More Gordon Smiths

Gwyn Ashton Endorses Elmore Slide

The Late Great Mel Brown

Gordon Smith Guitars back in stock!! Part 2

Gordon Smith Guitars back in stock!!

More Slide Guitar

Elmore Slide Demo

The Elmore Steel Slide Now available !!!!

Peerless Guitars Now available at The Guitar Spot

Vox Conqueror 1969 - Head and cabinet

If you can't be Black....... be Jewish

......and another one