The dimly lit wall of guitars inside the Wolfram Guitars shop floor

Est. 1998 · Bristol

Guitars with apast worth playing.

A room full of used and vintage instruments, every one of them set up on our own bench before it goes on the wall. No shrink wrap, no sales patter — plug in and find out.

Browse the wallWorkshop & setups

27

Years trading

180+

On the wall

48hr

Bench turnaround

7 day

Home trial

Just in
1965 Fender Jazzmaster — Sonic BlueTwo-Rock Studio Signature Head1958 Gibson ES-125 TKlon KTR (boxed)1973 Hiwatt DR103Collings OM2HFender Bassman 4x10 — 1963Duesenberg Starplayer TV1969 Guild Starfire IVStrymon Deco V21965 Fender Jazzmaster — Sonic BlueTwo-Rock Studio Signature Head1958 Gibson ES-125 TKlon KTR (boxed)1973 Hiwatt DR103Collings OM2HFender Bassman 4x10 — 1963Duesenberg Starplayer TV1969 Guild Starfire IVStrymon Deco V2

On the wall today

Used, vintage, and properly checked over.

Twelve of the instruments currently hanging in the shop. Stock moves fast, so if something catches your eye, ring us before you travel.

Showing 12 instruments.

A luthier levelling frets on a guitar neck under a work lamp

The bench

Everything we sell goes through the workshop first.

Two full-time techs, one amp specialist, and a queue that we keep honest. We work on your instruments too — you don't have to have bought it here.

  • Full setup

    from £65

    Truss rod, action, intonation, nut slots and a fresh set of strings. Most instruments back within 48 hours.

  • Fretwork

    from £120

    Level, crown and polish, or a full refret in nickel or stainless. Includes a setup afterwards.

  • Electronics

    from £45

    Rewires, pickup swaps, shielding, switch and jack replacements. Hand-soldered, no harnesses.

  • Valve amp service

    from £95

    Recaps, bias, valve matching and safety checks by our amp tech. Vintage circuits kept vintage.

What a Wolfram setup means

Five things we do to every instrument.

It's not a mystery and it's not magic. It's an hour or two of careful measurement, done the same way every time.

  1. 01

    Relief

    We measure neck relief with a straight edge and feeler gauges, then let the truss rod settle overnight before touching anything else.

  2. 02

    Nut slots

    Slots are filed to the string gauge you actually play. Nine out of ten 'hard to fret' guitars are a nut problem, not a you problem.

  3. 03

    Action

    Saddle heights set to your style — low and slinky, or high and loud. We ask before we assume.

  4. 04

    Intonation

    Tuned, stretched, retuned, and checked at the 12th with a strobe. Chords should ring true up the dusty end.

  5. 05

    Play test

    Half an hour through a valve amp, at volume. If it buzzes, rattles or dies, it goes back on the bench.

Part-exchange

Trade the one you've stopped reaching for.

Tell us what you've got and what you fancy. We'll quote a fair trade figure against anything on the wall, or buy it outright for cash if you'd rather.

  • Valuations from photos, usually the same day
  • Cash or trade — trade always gets you more
  • We take amps, pedals and cases too
  • Nationwide collection for anything over £1,500

No obligation, no automated lowball. A human reads every one of these.

Names that come through the door

  • Fender
  • Gibson
  • Martin
  • Gretsch
  • Rickenbacker
  • Vox
  • Marshall
  • Collings
  • Duesenberg
  • Two-Rock
  • Guild
  • Höfner

Try before you buy

A guitar you've only read about isn't yours yet.

Nobody should spend four figures on a hunch. Here's how we take the gamble out of it.

Seven days at home
Take it away, play it at rehearsal volume, live with it. If it isn't the one, bring it back for a full refund.
Booth time, no rush
Book a private room with the amp of your choice for an hour. Nobody will hover. Tea is free.
Swap within 30 days
Change your mind after the week's up? Trade it against anything else on the wall at what you paid.
Close-up of a sunburst electric guitar's bridge, pickups and control knobs

Lessons upstairs

Taught by people who still gig on Fridays.

Four tutors, two rooms above the shop, and no exam board unless you want one. First lesson is half price so you can see if you get on.

A guitar tutor and student playing acoustic guitars in a warmly lit lesson room

  • Single lesson

    £32

    30 minutes, one to one

    Good for a specific problem — barre chords, a solo you can't crack, or getting your hand off the fretboard's neck.

    Book in — Single lesson

  • Block of six

    £165

    6 × 45 minutes

    Our most popular. Electric, acoustic or bass, beginner through to grade eight, with a plan you keep.

    Book in — Block of six

  • Band coaching

    £70/hr

    Up to five players

    Bring the whole racket. Arrangement, dynamics, tightening up and playing to a click without hating it.

    Book in — Band coaching
The Wolfram Guitars shopfront at dusk, window full of guitars lit from within

Come and visit

Kiln Street, Bristol. Mind the step.

Two floors, one very old dog, and a wall you can reach. Everything is plugged in and ready — just ask and we'll get it down for you.

Opening hours

Tuesday – Friday
10:00 – 18:00
Saturday
09:30 – 18:00
Sunday
11:00 – 16:00
Monday
Bench day — closed

Find us