Liverpool has always been a music city. It’s built into the place. So it still feels strange to me, and honestly a bit sad, that when you look around the city centre now, there are hardly any guitar shops left.
Years ago, places like Hessy’s Music Centre were part of the furniture before closing back in 1995. More recently, shops like Dawsons Music, HMV, and the Liverpool side of PMT have shut their doors since the pandemic. Each one going has left things a bit quieter for musicians looking for somewhere to go, try gear, and talk music.
At Austin Guitars, we’ve seen this change happen first-hand. Guitar shops used to be places you’d make a proper trip out of. You’d travel in, try guitars you’d only seen in magazines, chat to people who were just as obsessed as you were, and sometimes end up talking to other players while you were there. They weren’t just shops, they were places to learn, hang about, and feel part of something.
That’s something we still believe in at Austin Guitars. There’s a lot you just don’t get from buying a guitar online without trying it first. You can’t feel how a neck sits in your hand through a screen. You can’t really hear how two guitars compare when they’re plugged into the same amp. And you definitely don’t get proper, honest advice based on how you play and what you actually need.
In our shop, we want people to feel comfortable taking their time. We encourage players to try things properly, ask questions, and leave with something that genuinely suits them. That’s how guitar shops used to be, and it’s something we’re proud to still offer at Austin Guitars, even as the high street changes around us.
When guitar shops disappear, we lose more than just somewhere to buy gear. We lose knowledge, experience, and community. We lose places where beginners feel comfortable asking “daft” questions, and where experienced players can talk details without being sold something they don’t want. Keeping small, independent guitar shops relevant and welcoming is something we care deeply about.
Of course, not everyone can always buy a guitar or new gear, and that’s completely fine. The good news is there are plenty of free ways you can support independent shops like Austin Guitars that genuinely make a difference:
– Follow us on social media
– Like, comment on, and share our posts or stories
– Send our page or website to a mate who plays
– Tag us when you visit or try something out
– Leave a review if you’ve had a good experience
– Tell ya mates!
All of those small things help more people discover Austin Guitars, especially now when online visibility plays such a big role in whether small businesses survive.
Liverpool deserves guitar shops that players can walk into, talk shop, and feel welcome in. We’re proud that Austin Guitars has gone against the trend by staying small, staying relevant, and staying focused on the people who play the instruments.
If you’re ever nearby, pop in, have a look around, and have a chat. For us, it’s never just been about guitars, it’s about the people who love them.
📍 Austin Guitars, Liverpool
Sources -
https://guitar.com/news/industry-news/dawsons-music-enters-administration/
https://nostalgiacentral.com/blog/hessys-music-centre-liverpool/?