Riff Raff Guitar shop

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.