The Guitar Show 2025 (now with added The Bass Show) March 1st & 2nd, Cranmore Park, B90 4LF

sweepy

Going Sunday, should be interesting 

Bradders

I'v never been and am thinking of going mainly to see and try all the boutique acoustics I would normally not have a chance to try. Can someone tell me, is there much chance to try the acoustic guitars and acutally hear what you are playing and have a decent amount of time on an instrument? I imagine it is very noisy with the crowds and plugged in stuff plus having to take turns trying guitars.

TimmyO

Bradders said:

I'v never been and am thinking of going mainly to see and try all the boutique acoustics I would normally not have a chance to try. Can someone tell me, is there much chance to try the acoustic guitars and acutally hear what you are playing and have a decent amount of time on an instrument? I imagine it is very noisy with the crowds and plugged in stuff plus having to take turns trying guitars.

Assuming the layout is like the last couple of years, the acoustic hall is separate from the main hall.

also even in the main hall they alternate 'noisy' and 'quiet' time (each half hour I think) which is enforced by @Guitar_Slinger and @Jetfire and their air horns! - so you can hear yourself to talk to stallholders/try acoustics in between being able to demo stuff at volume - it's a neat setup 

Jason

Bradders said:

I'v never been and am thinking of going mainly to see and try all the boutique acoustics I would normally not have a chance to try. Can someone tell me, is there much chance to try the acoustic guitars and acutally hear what you are playing and have a decent amount of time on an instrument? I imagine it is very noisy with the crowds and plugged in stuff plus having to take turns trying guitars.

Acoustic Hall is separate from the electric and bass halls. It is my favourite place to hang out, lovely atmosphere in there

Bradders

Great thanks for the info, I may head up and check it out!

Chris.B

Break out the southpaw guitars - ticket booked for Saturday.

YellowLedBetterMan

eSully said:

Booked in and going for the first time in a good few years, Can't wait. Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for live music bars/events on the Saturday night as we'll be staying in Brum the saturday before going to the show sunday. Cheers!

The West Midlands #1 90s and 00s covers band are on at Hollyfields Sports and Conference Centre in Erdington.

Crazed_Fandango

Jason said:

Kalimna said:

Tickets bought for Saturday. Mr Mastercard polished and ready. AirBnB booked.

Jason - as in previous years is there a discount for return attendance on the sunday?

Cheers,
Adam

Hi Adam, yeah you can pick up a come back tomorrow for a fiver voucher from the front desk

Last year it was quite song and dance as it you had to supply you name to the desk (no physical voucher) and the security stopped me getting to the correct desk.

Jason

There were vouchers. Maybe they ran out. Can’t remember now. But I have them printed every year. 

woodworm

Are ticket still available on the door ? Tried to book online and comes up with no longer available , says they maybe available on the door but a bit of a trek to find out .. 

Jason

woodworm said:

Are ticket still available on the door ? Tried to book online and comes up with no longer available , says they maybe available on the door but a bit of a trek to find out .. 

Yes. Says on the front page of the website. Didn’t know how to make it more obvious 

TimmyO

Jason said:

woodworm said:

Are ticket still available on the door ? Tried to book online and comes up with no longer available , says they maybe available on the door but a bit of a trek to find out .. 

Yes. Says on the front page of the website. Didn’t know how to make it more obvious 

Lots of users won’t hit the front page first - better to change the ‘buy ticket’ link to now go to that front page where it says tickets on the door, or replace the buy ticket button with ‘tickets on the door’ 

imalrightjack

Get yourselves to Stand 119 to see @Haydn ;

Brilliant luthier and lovely bloke. This year’s line-up is wonderful. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/28535903279387541/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Monkeybone

I was hoping to go today, but the sale of my Ibanez acoustic baritone fell through, so no spending money for me. It'd be a long way to go for me just to have a look then go home again. I would have liked to have wander round the Faith stall, they have prototypes for sale again (I have one of the prototypes from two years ago). Enjoy the weekend everyone. 

Amigo

What food options are there in the Hall? Anyone who is/there today care to describe the options?

Stevepage

Just left. Bought a pedal board kit from the  fretboard stand and a pack of 3 Dunlop string sets for 10 quid. Some good stuff on show but found it very difficult to actually get close to anything I liked the look of.

dindude

I went along this morning, only for an hour or so - great to see it so busy. The Bass room also a nice touch: 

Best bargain: on the Scan stand they had a couple of Jackson American Series Virtuoso’s for £1,099.

Best guitar: the 1955 Tele on the ATB stand for £32k please…..

Back in the real world: have had Gordon’s Smith’s through the years, including early Auden ones, and have an affinity with the brand, the lines I touched today seemed like the best they ever made, real quality.

timmypix

Had a great couple of hours today! Didn't buy anything (probably for the best), but got to meet some amazing builders and play guitars I'll never afford. Definitely felt busier than last year - I don't recall having to park in an overflow last year, so that's a good sign!

Swung by the TFB stand and got to meet who I think was @digitalscream, which was really nice

Patrick Eggle was very approachable and insisted I play a stunning 5k Macon.
Alex at Abhorrent Guitars is doing great stuff, and was a gent to talk to.
Stopped by the Balaguer stand and one of the staff started chatting to me... and then I realised it was Mr Balaguer! Again, a lovely bloke just happy to meet people and share his work.

And then on my way out I bumped into Chris Buck, who was very modest and gracious in being accosted by I think everyone who passed him.

Great show and a great day out

Unimprobable

Damn you guitar show! I've just bought the marshall jcm900 pedal and now I need to rearrange my entire pedal board! Joking aside, great show really enjoyed. In love with mod marshall amp great to play it and some other nice stuff. Well organised and worth a visit. This is my second year. I got a bit flustered talking to you fret boarders. I didn't mean to eye up the freebies

Roland

Unimprobable said:

... I didn't mean to eye up the freebies

More freebies tomorrow. If I remember I’ll bring a pile of unwanted plectrums, and a bag of my wife’s ginger biscuits.