About Guitars Plus
We are Melbournes leading independant guitar store, and started out as Musical Repair & Trading Co. on 8th Nov 1982, and initially did P.A and Sound Re-Inforcement as well as guitars and accessories.
Chris and Ross Nicol, now of Abbey Sound, Seaford, played in leading Melbourne covers band "The Davey Brothers", and Ross was a partner until 1985. After an amicable split the seeds of the present store were planted. An expansion into the adjacent store occured in 1988 and in the early 90s Chris changed the name to Guitars Plus. The second teaching room, in the second shop was underused by the mid nineties and was changed into an inviting 'high-end' room. Here guitarists can try out the instrument of their choice away from the chatter of the main store area. A high quality valve amp is kept in this room generally warmed and ready to roll for electric buyers, whilst a plethora of modern and vintage classics adorn the walls behind you.
Chris can draw on 33 years of retail experience, 30 of those in the guitar business. He started in guitar retailing in 1975 working in a shop in London and it was sink or swim with clientele like Alexis Korner, Dave Gilmour, Mario Maccaferri, Mike Oldfield, Stefan Grossman, Rory Gallagher, Steve Howe, John Williams and Joe Pass all passing through the store on a regular basis. He had to "get with the programme". These kinds of player assumed the guys in the store new their stuff!
Chris is proud of the fact that he is rarely, if ever, stumped on a guitar related question and has credits on many top selling Aussie recordings, including Australian Crawl, British India, Crowded House, Skyhooks, Southern Sons, Joe Camilleri, Matt Dwyer and Jimi "the Human" Hocking.
Recently the business has sold guitars to Jet, the Black Keys, British India and the Gingers, not to mention a Uke to Peter Mitchell the Channel 7 newsreader.
The shop has credits on CDs by Triple J performers like Sonic Animation and British India. These credits are generally earned by giving advice, support, repair work and occasionally product to up and coming bands.
Many famous identities have chosen to shop at the store, and regular visitors are amazed at who they spot in the shop! Actors & Film stars, V8 Supercar drivers, AFL players, NBL basketballers, newscasters and international rock stars have all been noticed at Guitars Plus.
All of the staff at the shop are well skilled at diagnosing problems with guitars and never charge for a quick tune - up or advice. This is well appreciated by the wealth of young people that have started guitar over the last few years.
He is backed up by the Guitars Plus Team.
Simon Croft plays in AC/DC covers band "Thunderstruck" and is Dave Evans first choice guitar player. Dave was the first singer in AC/DC before Bon Scott.
Simon also teaches and is our resident Print Music specialist. He also is a big rap for Behringer equipment and can tell all you need to know about this fantastic, value packed product which is rapidly taking the over from the previously buoyant second hand market.
Simon scored a major coup recently by landing the guitar seat in the musical "WE WILL ROCK YOU!". Simon came through with flying colours against some stiff opposition, having had to audition in front of Brain May and Roger Taylor.
Simon is quite well known around Melbourne as , formally the guitarist in the Queen tribute outfit "Killer Queen", and as such was well versed in all things Brian May.
Guitar Tech Rob Mitchell is the main man for your guitar problems, dodgy frets, mal-adjusted truss rod general set-ups and pick-up installations are his stock in trade. Very quick turnaround for rock bands on the move. Work done recently include jobs for the "We Will Rock You" Band, warranty work for leading wholesalers, more warranty work for local Cash Convertors stores, fret work for Doug deVries (on his Cavaquino) and full set ups for Outside Andromeda. Many of the guitars on sale are adjusted by Rob and with a stock this large we offer a complete 'pre - delivery' service, enabling your new purchase to play to your satisfaction.
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Geoff Whitehorn (Marshall demo), Chris and the legend Jim Marshall
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