Carbon Copy Denmark Street adventures

A friend and I enjoyed a lovely long lunch break on Denmark Street yesterday. It's just round the corner from my office but it's a good while since I've been. Not what this is about, but it really is a shadow of its former self, isn't it? Stalwarts like Hank's and Wunjo provide some comfort, but central London has enough coffee chains and steak restaurants without them replacing guitar shops on a street that's already been cut in half and I was surprised to see there's now a Dawsons there. Ugh. 

Nevertheless, we had a pint and a burger in The Angel and then wandered the shops trying delays before my pal plumped for a Carbon Copy. I've not used one of those for years and had forgotten how lush they can be. I'm hoping we can repeat the experience. 

I'm pretty sure Dawsons has been there for 10+ years now, or am I getting mixed up with MusicRoom or a similar white, black & red-fronted store?

Yes, the street's changed a lot though - my first was back in 2004 and even since then there's been a big loss of storefronts and variety.  That said, I do love Flat Iron's food so I don't begrudge them opening up there at all

Flat Iron have been there since about the time of the demolition/death of the current street, so can't blame them.

Denmark st died years before that when the shops all stopped stocking the same brands so they weren't competing against each other and didn't need to undercut everyone else to get the sale. That, and the internet. I was away for the first few years of the 00s so I missed the changes on Denmark St then. But yeah, when you realised that it was kinda easy to buy an MIJ Fender via the interwebs, the place lost a lot of its amazement for me. 

It's sad the 12 bar is gone, but nice that Regent Sounds is at least still named. Frank & Tim Marten are still there for amp & guitar repairs, so that makes me happy. I still pop in every few weeks if I'm nearby because I love looking at guitars.

Revolutions said:

Flat Iron have been there since about the time of the demolition/death of the current street, so can't blame them.

Denmark st died years before that when the shops all stopped stocking the same brands so they weren't competing against each other and didn't need to undercut everyone else to get the sale. That, and the internet. I was away for the first few years of the 00s so I missed the changes on Denmark St then. But yeah, when you realised that it was kinda easy to buy an MIJ Fender via the interwebs, the place lost a lot of its amazement for me. 

It's sad the 12 bar is gone, but nice that Regent Sounds is at least still named. Frank & Tim Marten are still there for amp & guitar repairs, so that makes me happy. I still pop in every few weeks if I'm nearby because I love looking at guitars.

Thanks for that I thought Tim moved out.
he’s gruff and unsmiling but does great work based on my 3 experiences

The Angel is a bit of a tradition whenever I visit Denmark Street, although those visits have been getting rarer and rarer these days. 

I do love the Carbon Copy though. I own several delay pedals and it is the one that is the constant on the board. 

guitargeek62 said:

I'm pretty sure Dawsons has been there for 10+ years now, or am I getting mixed up with MusicRoom or a similar white, black & red-fronted store?

Yes, the street's changed a lot though - my first was back in 2004 and even since then there's been a big loss of storefronts and variety.  That said, I do love Flat Iron's food so I don't begrudge them opening up there at all

Dawson’s is new - they were only just revived out of bankruptcy last year I think (or maybe even earlier this year?) - anyway I’m not even sure you can buy the stuff they have in Denmark St, they are treating it as a showroom rather than a shop. 

I recently picked up a Carbon Copy to stand in for my temperamental Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail and I'm impressed. It's basically the same thing mind. 

I worked there in my theatre days back in the late 80’s.  It was properly thriving and Soho was still seedy, and Ronnie Scott’s had a late second set.

I was passing a few days ago. Indeed a sorry shadow.

skunkwerx said:

I recently picked up a Carbon Copy to stand in for my temperamental Seymour Duncan Vapor Trail and I'm impressed. It's basically the same thing mind. 

Love analogue bucket brigade delays that can do the whole infinite repeat madness thing :) 

I only recently discovered they do a carbon copy bright, but, I like the darker delays!

The CC Mini has both modes. 

Dawsons first shop was in Warrington up north…traditional store for the 1960’s…..I bought a Gibson Mercury  Piggy Back amp there in 1965….traded a fawn Vox AC30 in for it….that shop would have fitted into Denmark St perfectly…..but alas the Superstore Concept came in  ….

Denmark St has always been full of fraudsters, gloomy and angry pushy shop merchants, and overpriced - its demise, while sad for the (non twattish) employees, was long overdue!  The contrast with the service in e.g. Andertons or GG is vast.

I had a great experience on Denmark St last time I was there. I thought the staff, especially in Wunjo and Regent Sounds, were really cool. Really helpful and lacking pretension.