If you lived about Sunderland and wanted to buy
your
first or maybe 100th guitar you probably went to
one of the many
Cash converter shops around the city or to the
small weird music shop opposite the empire theatre, but if you wanted that
Marshall 100-watt amp or a Gibson les Paul, you probably hopped on the metro to
Newcastle to Guitar Guitar or sounds live. Or maybe sat in traffic on the A1 to
get to the metro centre for JG Windows, like I did when I bought my cherry red
vintage SG.
Now if you were a drummer in Sunderland you could
walk down Borough Road
and walk in (if you could) to willy's drum shop to
get any snare, cymbal or drum kit you wanted for a really good price as well.
Not that long ago back in the cold winter of January
2013 a new shop opened up next to willy's drum shop and wouldn't you know it,
it wasn't another charity shop or Pound land but an actual Guitar shop. Yes a
guitar shop in Sunderland it's a shock!!
So anyway, the owner of the business we all know
as Shaun is here to stay
selling used and new guitars, amps, FX Pedals, and
PA systems. However, not only does he sell the stuff that all musicians need. He
does repairs too, so no more messing about on google looking for a guitar
repair place thousands of miles away or on YouTube on how to wire in a pick up
while burning yourself with the soldering iron. Yes, Riff Raff Guitars is a
great local independent business that Sunderland badly needed. Reasonably
priced equipment and repairs with a friendly service.
Walking into this little shop you will see Guitars
galore and Shaun at his bench working on a customer’s guitar, or if you’re
really lucky he might be going to make a cuppa and might even offer you a
coffee or tea even a biscuit unless you bring them yourself.
looking about the shop's 3 walls you will see
plenty of Stratocasters, les Pauls, bass guitars and maybe the odd rare
collectable guitar from 1960 hanging up on display, if you look through all of
that and above you will see various music memorabilia from Shaun’s personal
collection though not for sale, if you fancy a laugh check out a few notices
hanging from the door including not asking about black beauty les Pauls. to the
front window will be a wall of various amplifiers and a constant changing of
effect pedals, depending what is hot at the time, and of course hanging up is
the most unusual back to front reversed Stratocaster you will ever see which
everyone keeps asking is it for sale and no it's not for sale,
So from being a guitar shop it is also a store where
local bands can sell their music, there’s a few CDs available to purchase. Including
Fire Lady Luck, Spitfire Bullets, a few solo albums, and folk music.
Be sure to check out Riff Raff Guitars on Facebook
here >> Riff Raff Guitars
Or if you’re in the town centre pop down to have a
look about the shop and maybe buy a new guitar at the same time.
