Kouga Guitars

Well to put this simply...I will definitely be visiting Andy and Keith again if I have any problems.

So, I brought my mandolin in to get looked as it had some problems with it (being a beginner on this instrument, I felt it was likely me that caused it). Firstly, one of the problems was my fault to do with the location of my strap. The other was due to the setting (intonation) of the instrument.

Aside from a decent level of friendly banter, and both Keith and Andy being very welcoming. Andy showed excellent knowledge on my mandolin. It took him literally 30 seconds to figure out and rectify the problem. At no charge too. The only charge was to rectify my strap placement, which was done for a very fair price.

Once done...Andy's friendly little spaniel came to say hello aswell. Which to me, summed up the whole visit.

I would recommend anyone with any musical issues to come and see these really decent guys. You will not be disappointed with the service provided but also how welcome you feel.

Never use this store again.
A fortnight after leaving my guitar for repair I phoned to ask how things were proceeding and greatly surprised to be told, "It's on the bench being looked at now".
I phoned again that weekend to be told, "It'll be ready on Monday, promise".
...I left it until the following weekend until I phoned again (being patient).
"Yes, he's just doing it now!"
After a fortnight away I came back and VISITED the store to be told ashamedly over the counter "He's not got round to looking at it yet".
I said I was happy playing it as was and would return another time when a voice boomed from upstairs, "WHY do you want to take it now"?
"I need my guitar and you're buggering me about"-Me
"You can't have it, it's up here being glued".-Andy
"Can I see it?"-Me
"No you're not allowed up here"-Andy
"In spite of the tour you gave me?"-Me

Things got heated and I EVENTUALLY left with my UNTOUCHED guitar.
The string tension hadn't even been relaxed.

I like having a local music store and supported this store with several (over the odds) transactions.
Were a gentler person at the mercy of this cowboy, you'd be better served buying a new instrument.

Outrageous behaviour and overpriced goods, but can and will tell you at length all about how awful other local music shops are.

Extremely rude owner.

Phoned for a simple question to see if they had XLR cables, owner told me they were closed due to internal company issues, which is wholly inappropriate in and of itself.
When I tried to ask if there was another store in the area that might help, as all I wanted was an XLR, he started getting angry with me, saying he didn't want people phoning him about anything work related and then started shouting that I should hang up and leave him alone, despite me having only said about 2 things over the entire phone call.

If the owner has closed up shop, even temporarily, he should mark that on Google, and if he doesn't want people calling him he should probably make it so his Facebook page doesn't automatically send you a message telling you to call his mobile for any queries.

A wonderful selection on instruments on display, Andy & co. are happy to order in through catalogue anything they don't have in stock.

I brought my 5-string banjo in to get an armrest fitted, and Andy was kind enough to lend me a beautiful 5-string banjo to keep me pickin' whilst mine was having the upgrade done!

Friendly, knowledgeable staff and a relaxing atmosphere.

Great service and staff. Took my daughters electric guitar there to be restrung on her birthday, even though they were busy they managed to fit me in and i had it back in a few hours so she could enjoy it on her birthday. Very happy daughter and good value.

Even though it took a lot longer than planned it was worth the wait! The repair job on my 12 string is soo good you wouldn't thought that my bridge had come up and the body had swelled up! On top of the amazing repair job the guitar was step up and plays and sounds a thousand times better!!!

I wish I could share a pleasant experience, but unfortunately it was not. I've lived in Paris for 15 years and always been a drummer but tried to learn guutar in the past few years as its pretty difficult to own a drum kit in Paris apartment, even electric and I've only been back in the UK à few months.

After staring at a guitar that I fell in love with on looks alone, Keith took the ladder and handed me the guitar. I sat down on the sofa and played roughly 4 chords before the owner made fun of my guitar playing loudly in front of the other 5 customers inside the shop. I mentioned I hadn't held a guitar in at least a year and had surgery on my wrist and he remarked "yeah I can tell" in front of everyone and guffawed. I dont mind a bit of banter but I just felt that was out of line. I was ready to walk out of the shop with that guitar but changed my mind after that embarrassing moment. Keith was a star and a knowledgeable chap. The other guy made me want to leave the shop within a few minutes. I'll get a harley benton online or a cheap ibanez or something instead.

Hyvibe install gone bad. Terrible experience. Took 8 weeks for them to install my hyvibe and ship the guitar to me. Lies upon lies every time I contacted them. Telling me they had shipped it when they didn't. Promised to throw in some goodies to make up for the extremely long wait but they didn't do that either. Avoid at all costs. Andy the owner just spins a web of lies and has no follow through. Hyvibe system is fine but not worth the effort, money, or time that kouga put me through. Find a different install partner of you're considering a hyvibe