Lee Anderton Shares his Secret to Better Budget Guitars
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 เม.ย. 2024
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Behind the Scenes at Andertons, Lee shared a whole lot of secrets about his entry level guitars.
Discover all the essential details right here! 👇
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Lee Anderton invited me to the Andertons Studio to talk about East Coast guitars and how they are taking on huge brands like Squier and Harley Benton. It seem that by spending more money in the build stage can drastically affect the quality for the better. Want to find budget-friendly guitars that sound great? Lee Anderton reveals his secret to finding the best budget guitars in this video!
𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
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𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨.
#TheGuitarGeek #andertons #leeanderton #guitarshop - เพลง
Wow - I talk so much 😂😂😂 but you’re a great listener so thanks for letting me rabbit on!! And thanks for sharing the same passion for guitars as I do. Stay well & I’ll see you soon I’m sure. Cheers, Lee 🤘🤘🤘
You? Talk? Nothing new there Capt LOL 🙂
You do, and we know that, but this was the first time I think it was the right amount of talking. Usually I felt it was on the too much side. I'm very impressed with your approach to the business, and it was great to hear this. We need more business owners with this mindset.
Honestly, I've always felt odd, that they call you the Captain. I understand who Is the boss, but still sounds cocky to me if you are not running a pirate ship.
But now i really appreciated the vision of the Andertons shop, and I'll feel a lot less bothered by the name.
@andertons Lee, I bought my first electric guitar from Anderson’s aged 13 in the early 80s. Even back then I remember the guys in the shop always being happy to stop and chat to a kid who was keen and wanted to learn more. I’m still playing and still totally in love with the guitar. You’re continuing a fine tradition and, for what it is worth, you have had a fair few more purchases from me over the years so the strategy works 😊
Please send Andy a Soloking.
Your a kind person Lee and its very appreciated in the guitar world
What a great philosophy for a retailer
definitely
I genuinely think the thing thats special about Andertons is how it literally grew out of a very old school local music store, the ones where guitarists used to hang around all day before youtube, and where all the local musicians used to go to get a job, and Lee literally grew up in his dads shop. From everything I heard and saw it really seems they managed to grow into an international mailorder powerhouse without losing that specific kind of relationship and care. (Without having been there but I heard the same about the feeling when you actually go to Thomann in bavaria).
@@ithemba For how big thomann is they still manage to keep the personality of a local family run shop. Been there once and spent almost an hour with the guy talking about everything. Even swayed me towards a less expensive guitar that played and suited me perfectly
@@Naytexo yeah thats about what I've heard, too. A bandmate of mine actually plans to go and travel there (basically across germany from the Ruhrgebiet) to check out and playtest Basses since he plans on spending big but is genuinely not into youtube and second hand knowledge and just wants time and as many interesting instruments as possible to check out. It'd be a two day trip basically. When you got to that level of basically being an traveling destination and adventure park for musicians when they plan their next bigger acquisition (compared to the less expansive ones that you order online without thinking too tuch) you've done hell of a lot right.
Its kind of like what business call a loss leader, I think its great, get everyone playing.
It was nice to see Lee "out of character". Came across as really genuine with what he was saying.
"Out of character"?????
You could hear the passion and emotion. Lee has a great sense of humour but it was great to hear the care and responsibility.
TBH I don’t think he puts on a character in the Anderton’s videos. What I like about their channel and the That Pedal Show lads is that you get the presenters as their genuine selfs (something I can confirm having met Mick and Dan from TPS). Sometimes they are tired and grumpy, sometimes animated and enthusiastic. They are being their authentic selves.
The one thing that separates Anderton’s and TPS is that Anderton’s is a shop, so it’s a given that there is a promotion aspect. But I think this video shows that Lee has a genuine desire to bring quality budget beginners guitars out to the world.
I have to say. I think the customer service at Andertons (the store, I can’t comment on online sales) is excellent. A few years about we took my 15 year old to buy him a guitar for his birthday. He knew nothing about what hewanted and we were looking at an East Coast of some sort, but the guy took Tom aside and talked about the music he liked, looked at his build, and suggested some (starter alternatives) but with the proviso he should buy one that he wanted to pick up. He left with a Squier Bullet Mustang which was an excellent choice.
The service was so good indeed, and I learned so much about guitars that it rekindled my own ambitions to learn to play from when I failed to stick to a crappy acoustic 45 years ago. In the middle of lockdown I picked up that Mustang and had so much fun I went back to Andertons and bought a tele contemporary. Then a Epiphone Coronet and just recently and FGN Iliad.
They created not one but two customers for life. So Lee’s philosophy definitely works.
This is fantastic to read!
Bullet mustang in white was my lock down project and it's in heavy rotation now (after zebra humbuckers and a black pearl pick guard) that I'm out with band mates. Picked up the ss mustang in green and it was near flawless neck wise. The singles are great. Look into them!
This was a very open and honest conversation between two individuals who have been heavily involved with music, education and informing consumers to make the best decisions for themselves. This was a really enjoyable watch. Thank you!
Hi Tim. Thanks for your kind words. Was a pleasure talking to a like minded person like Lee
I’ve watched thousands of Andertons videos and this one needs to be distributed to the entire industry. I wish I had a way to promote it myself.
Thanks for doing this. I don’t know how you got the information out of Lee but now instead of watching your videos when it shows up on my suggestion list, I’ll be searching them out. Appreciate all the hard work. (Signed Your new biggest fan.)
I currently live in Guildford (Englands dullest town by a mile) so am lucky enough to shop in Andertons (was in there last week picking up a Katana Go like ‘000’s of other players). I’m nearly 60, and still get as excited in Andertons as when I was 12 buying my first guitar and DS1 at Rock City in Newcastle. Andertons is a buzz, if you’re drooling over PRS or just buying a set of Rotosound you get the same attention.
Those East Coast are fantastic starter guitars…what a great feeling to be able to see a kid open that CAR Strat for the first time. If those had been around when I was a kid I would be typing this from my mansion in L.A. rather than my Ikea sofa in Stoughton. Great interview Andy…
I've seen the East Coast brand of guitars and ukuleles in PMT in Leeds but, have had just had the big reveal from Lee Anderton. Kudos to him for his philosophical way to get people playing! Wonderful. How many young people might he inspire?
I started using Andertons when I was in the army based in Winchester years ago. I live in Kent now and still always use Andertons, even had a chat with Lee about the mid boost kit for a Strat. He’s exactly as you see him here! The staff are all great as well, nothing too much trouble. Worth the drive for me.
My first experience at Andertons was superb. I went in to buy a Tone City drive pedal which cost about £35 but to demo it the sales assistant took me into a room full of custom shop guitars, handed me a Broadcaster and plugged me into a Milkman amp without batting an eyelid. Needless to say the pedal sounded great and I bought it there and then! I actually had to return the pedal a few months later as it developed a fault but again the experience was faultless - the sales assistant took me at my word and just swapped out the pedal without any fuss. Superb customer service every time I have been there. Lee’s idea of spending $5 extra in the factory to give budding guitarists a better shot at sticking with it is fantastic - I’ll definitely check the range when I can next get to the store 👍🏼
I bought an East Coast for my grandson and was stunned at the quality for the £149 price. The setup out of the box was perfect, too - unlike my Gretsch and Squier guitars!
I nearly gave up on guitar as my mum and dad bought me a really cheap, nasty acoustic thing. The strings were so far away from the fretboard that a container ship could easily pass under it. I didn't know any better and thought that's how it was until I played my mate's Yamaha acoustic with a super low action. What a revelation it was. I saved up as much as I could and when I started work at 16 I saved a bit more and finally bought my first proper guitar. It was a 6 string Yamaha and I never looked back. I actually found out I could play! That was 43 years ago. Moral of the story, don't buy a piece of junk that doesn't play or feel right for your kid, it will only put them off! Today's entry level offerings are so much better.
Great video as always.
I had the same experience and almost quit. I never bought anything from that store again; not even one single pick.
Good advice
Great to hear someone thinking this way! Retailers have forgotten that you often need to sell product #1 at low margin in order to ever sell product #2 + at a profitable margin. Consumers have long memories, despite what marketers would have you believe. Feeling screwed over and taken advantage of lasts forever.
As a genuine customer of Andertons for 28 years, I just have to say that every word Lee says is true. Professionally, as an organisational expert, I have always wondered how Lee and his family have maintained consistently excellent service for 28 years. This is amazing! With a lot of effort you could do it for a few years…but 28? That is true commitment. I have bought my PRS core and used Suhr from Andertons, but also many other cheaper guitars over the last years. I have to say that the Eastcoasr range is as described and I will at some point buy an L1 to mod, as the chassis is so good. The SoloKings are high quality, and amazing value for money. Well done Lee and team. A customer for life as you have earned it.
I've never forgotten the Christmas morning I got my first guitar. I even remember the smell of the guitar.
I've owned many guitars at this point, all much better than the first, but none have ever given me the same feeling.
Lee has always been an inspiration to me, and I've been super jealous of him as long as I can remember for this very reason. I want to be in that position not to make piles and piles of money (although a good bonus haha), but because I have a passion for sharing my love of music and the joy of making it. I would get so much happiness being able to make sure someone gets a good first guitar and them coming back and continuing their journey as a musician/guitar player, and being able to say "hey, you could save a little bit of money but please don't, because it will be bad". You obviously can't do it for everyone infinitely, but hell I'd probably cover the difference out of my own pocket if a parent was coming to me and saying that price difference was going to force them to buy the crap option for their kid instead. Lee just always seems like a good dude who really wants people to enjoy music and playing the way he does.
I have already made a few purchases through Andertons, and after hearing Lee speak so openly, I am sure I will be buying more from him. Thanks, Lee, for caring.
It's obvious from Andertons videos that Lee loves guitars, but that really comes through here in a way that I'm not sure I've seen before. If I lived across the pond I'm sure that Andertons would be my go-to seller just based on that.
A thoroughly enjoyable interview, Lee's enthusiasm for every thing guitar is obvious and that's how Andertons have built up such customer loyalty.
It was so great hearing Lee talk about getting decent guitars in new players' hands, and the business model behind it, which is so rare to hear. I usually never recommend guitar packs but I would those.
Lee's spot on with getting new players to keep playing and get the repeat business. Loved hearing what Lee had to say about the new player experience he wants to give them!
Fender started "Fender Play" because lessons were an issue for people, price-wise and availability, and a major hurdle to keeping players. They did a study that showed the average guitar player spends $10,000 over a lifetime If they get new players learning on their course, and discounts on gear, they're investing in brand loyalty. So Lee's nailed it, getting traffic through his doors and website with basically the same experience. It's so great that he wants to get guitars into the hands of kids. It really does change lives!
Kinda funny, and cool, hearing you two talk money in USD. lol
We love watching the two channels at our house!
They're not really decent guitars. They're guitars that are reasonably playable compared with cheaper, guitar shaped objects that appear outside traditional guitar retail- i.e like on Amazon or Argos etc.. I think Richard from Richard guitars largely went nuts because he created the premise that he could reject enough of these mass produced guitars, and then get a guitar tech to set the remaining ones up (all for free?!?) in a way that made them into decent guitars. But they'll never be that and you don't make any money selling them for all that effort you put into selling one. You'll start to become really, really busy trying to keep on top of all the orders. You're better selling one or two boutique guitars a week with that level of attention rather than trying to fool yourself and the world that a £120 guitar is decent. Good pickups retail for more than this guitar costs. It's intended to be 2 things (a) Close enough in price that a few parents get it from Andertons rather than Amazon and (b) Good enough that in 6 months time you'll progress in terms of your playing ability that your parents will buy a better guitar.
The other side here is, we see a lot of handpicked guitars on youtube where someone is playing something that is mass produced and they'll nearly always get a good one. When you actually ask about people's experiences with not just the cheapest guitars, but even stuff like Ibanez premium etc, there's a ton of QC issues - sometimes just with fit and finish - which doesn't affect playability but it takes the shine off it a bit when loads of people get a guitar and the tone knob is loose and there are sanding marks etc etc...as well there are often issues with frets etc etc.
That's why people pay £2k+ for a guitar. Because they know the lower tiers of guitars is, at best, a lottery, at worse a delusion that you're getting a les paul for £120 - it looks nice and shiny with a maple top etc, and a lot of parents would be asking junior "Well why would you spend more - this guitar looks just as good as the others" - if junior is clued up enough to know that the cheap guitar isn't a scam per se but it isn't honestly sold. Take, e.g the ichi10 guitar or Tim Henson signatures and you end up with 2 high profile players demoing them (and they obviously get a good version that's made in japan) and then every youtube channel waxes lyrical because they want more free stuff from Ibanez...and these guitars are £800+,, so they should be more than good, right? But the reality is most of them are not. Pretty much all of them have flaws and arrive in a way that means the player has to either reject a few times, fix issues themselves or take it to someone who can fix it.
There is, of course, a point at which the amount of money you're paying you're not really getting anything - this is because there are as many fools with lots of money as there are without any - which is where stuff like PRS private stock comes in or the other really expensive custom shop.
@@michael1 exactly right - everyone wants brand loyalty. ive bought a couple squiers in my time, some have been awful and needed a lot more set up than they should of, others were perfect and played as great as a real fender right out of the box. all a potluck - lee has clearly had some success with the east coast brand getting more loyal customers etc. and the slightly higher tier brand he discussed in the video is just going to continue people down the andertons path. truth is there will always be QC issues with guitars, and that's how It Will always be with all these guitars made in china, Indonesia etc. some will be great, some fine, and other will just be shit. there's a reason why Fender kept Squier from being labeled Fender. They know its a gamble with those guitars so they want to distance the shit from those less so.
As a product manager for +20 years, all I can say is: what Lee said is spot on.
After 35 gap years I decided to learn keys from scratch, learn guitar properly, and get a DAW to produce a (amateur) performance piece I'm writing; my first experience with Andertons a few months ago was better than good when they supplied a KK S88 keyboard (lowest price available) and even the delivery team were faultless.
Recently, I needed a Maschine drum pad, and then a KK audio interface (best price again - 2hr delivery windows) so I was already sold on staying with Andertons, but now even more so, now I know of Lee and his ethos - I would look no further for an entry level guitar, and if their other gear was ever a few quid more than elsewhere, that would not sway me (forgot to mention the loyalty bonus discount I was given; a nice surprise at the checkout!). Great interview.
I accidentally managed to upsell to a slightly higher spec east coast last time I was there. A family were looking to buy for their son. It was busy and I happened to be noodling around and they asked me the difference between a single coil and humbucker equipt guitar. So I played both (with a bit of gain) for them and the kid immediately opted for the humbucker equipt ST Guitar
Nice work!
As someone who has started many hundreds of children on what i hope to be a long and hopefully enriching journey into music (on the violin) i applaud Lee for his commendable attitude to giving beginners the best possible start to their own journey. Im a big fan of Andertons and as a very average guitarist too, ive bought quite a bit of gear, guitars from them over the years. But he is also correct about the attitude and enthusiasm of the staff in the store. I play and perform on electric fiddle regularly and i went to the store to try and then buy a Katana 2x12 100 watt (which is the best fiddle amp I've ever played, due to its acoustic modelling setting). The staff were very interested as i was properly cranking it in the demo room and quite a few of them came in to listen as they said they'd not had a fiddle player play like that in the store. They were proper enthusiasts who just came to talk and asked me a lot of questions about how I felt about it. Really gave an excellent impression about the whole ethos of the shop, and if their aim is to create customers for life, then they certainly did that for me. Great to see you in there Andy, and hopefully video's like this help those children young and old into a better quality instrument compared to the £99 starter packs you talked about. Great content as usual! 🙂
I've only phone ordered or online ordered from Andertons and his staff are truly great, never rushing me and giving great advice each time.
To be fair, PMT and GAK are also great but the advice from Andertons' staff is next level.
bought two guitars from Andertons, even if I'm from germany with musicstore in cologne being 20 minuters away and Thomann 2 delivery days away.
beside the additional cost for customs... yeah that's a pitty ... I like Andertons! great support! great videos!
btw. thanks Andy, for removing the clip on tuner when you were done ;)
A really interesting video - thanks! I've played a couple of East Coast in GuitarGuitar and I was stunned by their playability.
Lee is everything we should applaud, what a great guy, and seeing as I'm soon looking to get a guitar for my son, I'll certainly be looking at his range of beginners range for him. Bravo!
And that is why when I visit England I will be visiting Lee's store and making a purchase. Bucket list. Excellent video
Andy, this was a real treat. This little collector’s item two parter has been nothing less than a heartwarming experience. Cheers to the Captain, Danish Pete and everybody at Anderton’s. If I’m ever in the UK, I’d love to go there and buy a guitar and pray it survives the plane trip back.
This was actually pretty inspiring! I know my first guitar (1981) was unplayable at any skill level - I can only imagine what it would have been like to start with a decent guitar.
Great interview, Andy.
I was very impressed with Lee's attitude of long-term relationships with their customers and not just selling something for the sake of a one-off sale.
Congrats, Lee.
I applaud you both for this video. While I absolutely understand the commercial decisions that can result in cost cutting, the mindset behind these guitars is awesome. I am a 57yo who has just purchased their first guitar, sorry Lee you don't ship what I bought to Australia, where your and the Anderton's videos have certainly led to this happening. I truly apprecite the knowledge you convey and look forward to the next 6-18 months.
Having been a Andertons Customer and spent literally thousands of pounds over the years, I've always been happy with the service and always gone back because of that. That said when Lee says all amps should have reverb and that should be law...Victory Sheriff, Copper, the jack and kraken don''have reverb, slightly contradictory..but then I do own a sheriff 25 and love it...what do I know...? What I will say is that Lee always comes across well and I do applaud his ethos on getting young guitarists playing. Nice one and keep it up, thanks for all the videos, tips tricks and service.
No one in the world could have played my first guitar. No one. If i hadn't been lucky enough to try a good guitar at the right time, I would have given up guitar and missed a pretty phenomenal life. Being a musician for a living can be incredibly hard, but it can be so rewarding. Friends of mine who are from all walks of life and play just for the fun of it have enriched their lives without having to deal with the nastier business side. ( never sign anything without a music business lawyer ) Playing an instrument is never a bad choice. Kudos to Lee and anyone like him for putting principle before greed.
I really love the honesty and commitment of Lee and his company to get decent equipment out to the young folks that want to get into playing guitar. This also shows the company's dedication to music in general...this is GREAT stuff and I wish the rest of the retailers could see this and learn.
Lee and Andy are both really likable, really helpful guys. Thanks to both for all the enjoyable content.
I've just bought an Eastcoast T style Thinline. It's exemptional.
Interesting - I'd seen Eastcoast in PMT - this explains why. Having seen and tried a few £99 kit guitars, this is a really great move for anyone who needs a starter guitar. And kudos to Andertons for their approach in general.
I visited Andertons for the first time today. It’s such a great environment for trying guitars out without feeling judged!
I teach guitar in a school, and a parent was looking for her child’s first guitar. I came across these East Coast guitars, and for the price for spec I was blown away…. Roasted Maple Neck!!?. Anyway, she bought the “T-Style” one and I got to play the guitar after Xmas.
It is so comfortable to play, and it sounds decent!. I’m really impressed.
Love it when two of my favorite channels collide! Thank you!
Much respect to Lee…if all managers/business owners had his ethics…then the workplace would be a very happy place. The passion comes through, and his genuine honesty is refreshing. Glad to hear the East Coast range tries to correct issues that continue to blight budget instruments…bad hardware, sharp frets bad QC etc.
The entry level - second guitar sales are what keeps this market alive, considering that brands like Gibson are suffocating the retailer with margins as low as 10%.
Andertons will profit around 20% from EastCoast, still not great but quite healthy if they move enough instruments.
Bravo Lee, a very ambitious investment, I really hope it’ll be fruitful 🎉
I always wondered about the origins of the Eastcoast name because I remember going into my local PMT store over 20 years ago and seeing Eastcoast branded instruments---not just guitars. There was an electric double bass for instance. So thank you Lee for clarifying.
and now I’m waiting on east coast drums!
This is really about making a difference. I first started in the 80s on a Hondo II LP copy that was terrible…. Sharp frets, terrible tuners, dodgy pickup selector. But I played it for about 5 years everyday (a real battle!) Lee is right keep them playing and before you know it they will be back wanting a core PRS and a quad cortex…. But more importantly inspiring people to keep developing musically and playing more is a truly great thing to do.
Similar story with a Hondo strat copy which was solely responsible for me finding a weekend job at 13 so that I could buy a better guitar! A model 3 Charvel which got dusted off last week as my Ibanez was being re fretted. That Hondo could easily have killed my love for guitar. But the Charvel completely ignited it - once the music shop owner let me take it off the shelf after paying for half of it first!
That EastCoast JG looks amazing! I would have had that next to me in bed as a teenager! Lovely!
Had me in tears talking about wishing the kid to stick with it for 6 months. You can't fake that passion folks!
I've spent most of my life in art technical, and what Lee said about enabling the journey of people is SO real.
Its incredible to see people take the skills you show them to fill a gap in their process, and how huge a difference it can make to their development, even something theyve been stuck with for years.
I spent 4 hours at Andertons with several sales staff recently - they got in 6 different Les Paul 60’s standards for me to play. I left with ‘the’ one for me. Fabulous customer service
2 months ago i decided i wanted to learn to play guitar, did some research with the east coast vids and deciding what was the best bang for my buck. I got a HM1 black with the 35 watt amp starter pack for around £250. I can tell u as a starter this was the best choice i couldve made for me. Everything u could need for great quality considering the price for new, rather than risking a used squire or such without even accounting for amps and guitar stands etc. i love the guitar i purchased and is s great spring board to jump off. The ideal of having people then wanting people to stick with buying more from andertons is so true and already thinking of nee gear from the site to get like boss katana
Brilliant interview and love the open and honest dialogue.
Lee sounds so passionate. Must be trustworthy 😊
Great video, and hats off to Andertons for making these part of their range. Yes, they're a retailer, so they're in the business of persuading people to part with their hard-earned cash, but it's good that they're prepared to sacrifice a bit of margin if it helps them in the long run, ie people sticking with them and buying more expensive kit a few years down the line.
I've bought a few things from them and the service has always been excellent.
I've been a customer since 2020 and I've never had a negative experience - I can see why after watching this.
Lee, great to know you and Anderton's launched a decent entry level guitar and amp to encourage the budding guitar player to stick with the instrument rather than get discouraged with a piece of junk. Invest in the youngsters and they will continue playing and become loyal Anderton's customers in the future. Bravo!
Fantastic interview!! Thank you Lee for trying to help so many when others will spend less in greed. I live in the U.S. and enjoy yours and Andy's videos. Thank you both!!
What a great watch and Lee is defo the best guy in the music industry!
I wish you both all the best for the future. Great interview, good guitars!
Great episode Chris and thanks for the honesty as always. Nice campervan as well! Good to hear you're doing well.
No shame in a starter kit as a kid. I got a $99 pack in the late 80s. If they'd been to this quality I would have been amazed. Love Lee and Anderton's, can't wait to visit someday 🙂
Hi Lee, Just to endorse what you've said, your sales guys are really helpful and your customer support is epic! It doesn't hurt that you are also a principled guy & enormously charismatic.
I love the Captain. Thanks for the great interview!
Great vid. Thanks guys. Do more
Shoot. I live in the US, and Andertons has ALWAYS answered my questions as if I lived next door and was a regular customer. I contemplate ordering something and have it shipped overseas just to return the favor. That is good service.
I enjoy this channel because the narrator just talks without a script, without rambling or boasting or trying to impress - he is just another guitar kid talking guitars among friends - and that sort of genuine chatter is very hard to find nowadays.
TT
Absolutely loved this video 😀👍🏻
I could kiss you @andertons - this is how retail is done in the C21. Customer experience. Want cheaper? You might find it elsewhere. Want better? You might find that too. But want a great experience from the moment you walk through the door to the moment you leave, not matter what you bought, how much you spent? Look no further. Making music is a delicate, complex, intimate experience (and that’s when you’re doing it alone) - helping people into that and making them want to come back to enhance their experiences of doing so is a vital part of that and make great business sense. Brilliant interview.
I like Lee and respect him. I have had friends like him. I wish him great success in life. I like the guitars he has played and feel that it is tough to do podcast and not make ridiculous claims. I also enjoyed when Rob Chapman would come on. He's a really good player and enjoyable to listen to.
My first guitar as a kid was a 300 dollar red ibanez RG. Compared to my other friends squire's and other knock off brands, this thing was practically made of gold. The extra money goes a long way. I was also very interested in guitars so my parents knew buying me something a little more expensive would be better for me. That being said, a brand new squire is actually a really good choice.
Really interesting conversation, really cool looking guitars too! Love the philosophy behind Lee’s thinking
Bought couple of guitars from Andertons online but my first interaction was one I remember. Bought a FSR thinline tele on sale. It was the last one in stock. They phoned me up described the condition to check it was all ok and threw in new pack of strings.extra little step above other UK online retailers 👏
Great video thanks for the effort
Great video Lee!
I know it's lame but throughout the Pandemic I realised that over the years I've spent so much time listening to Lee speak, just as I have with Andy, Dan, Mick, and all the other great guitar channels. They've all made a meaningful difference to my life. Guitar is my love and main hobby, it gives me great joy and helps me cope with life's stresses. To hear the person I buy most of my gear from demonstrate what an authentic good dude he is, it's just brilliant. There are a lot of dicks in the world, especially in business. So awesome that people like Lee and the gang are setting young guitarists out on their journey with empathy and excitement. Super lame I know but I'm grateful for the TH-cam guitar community.
This is lovely to read and so accurate.
As a businessman and empresario for your channel, you're a Rock Star!
PS: After having Sandercoe on your channel a few years back your playing improved 200%. Consider some cross promotion/s for your beginning customers. Cheers!!! 👍👍👍👍
Great video Andy! I always visit Andertons on the rare occasion I visit the UK. Aside from the range of products etc, the staff are awesome! Super helpful if you want help and advice and super out of the way if you just want to wander around and stare at stuff, just dreaming! :- )
What a great interview, you can see how genuine Lee is about the products and what they want to achieve. I have recently bought the T1 thin line in sunburst and it is a great guitar.
Anderton's has become my go-to since Pro Music Tech Portsmouth closed and suddenly too - a few months ago it was open, now it's gone, so although the drive is a lot longer it's worth it. I've picked up some affordable gear like a couple of Behringer Vintage Delays, an EHX Volume Pedal and a proper 7.25" radius capo for vintage neck profile guitars (didn't even know that was a thing but it makes a big difference to tuning stability) and have found the level of service good, and you're not kept waiting long even when they're busy.
Having good budget guitars makes a difference because my first was a Vintage Strat copy which looked cool but played badly, and eventually ended up suffering a Kurdt-style smash to death at a school music event, partly out of frustration for how difficult it was for me to play as a young teenager.
With that in mind, it's nice to see Lee cares enough about the entry-level experience to not want other young starters to have the same experience I did. If your first guitar is good enough, should you stick out the first couple of years (a lot of people don't make it past the first) when you upgrade to something else it still serves you as a backup guitar rather than being something you sell.
Oh Lee, he gets a success, well deserved by his profound, sincere and professional approach and philosophy, and Andy is the nicest of all. Congratulations to you both. Cheers.
Great interview, both of you, I think, are genuine people and what Lee said, just make sense... Spend a little more, and you get much better results. So, thank you Geek for this, and Lee as well for opening up.
One thing I think is funny though, being born in 1964, that my first guitar was the result of doing a paper round during the summer holidays.. and it was an acoustic!! I don't remember any one starting on an electric guitar!! How times have changed 😊
When I’ve been in music stores over the years (as in visiting as a customer, but not an employee), inevitably there would be a family coming in, shopping for a beginner guitar. And even though I have never worked at a music store (if I did, I would never take home a paycheck, but a lot of cool gear!), I’ll take the time to help the parents in particular, but also the child, select a decent model for them. Way more often than not, the parents are also clueless about what to look for, so I try to give them pointers. I also listen to them, and what their price points are, for example. If I can do it, I will steer them away from the “stamped-out junk,” but only to something maybe $50-100 more (or thereabouts). A couple of my reasons include that a comfortable guitar is a better learning experience than trying to push your fingers down 3-4 inches, in order to push the fingers onto the fretboard; and that the resale of better equipment is a better return than those other “things” that pass themselves off as guitars (but that all beginner guitars will depreciate in value nonetheless).
I’m glad to see a business that is committed to their customers in the same way! And that they don’t want to be known as “that place that sells junky, worthless instruments.” Bravo, Anderton’s!
This is great! Thanks
I firmly believe, and I know Lee is in the business of SELLING guitars, he is utterly honest with everything he says in this interview. Lee seems like a legitimately good person. I live on the Western Coast of the US, and don't live in the higher tax bracket (if you get me), and wish I could buy from Anderton's... But, I'll support by viewing their TH-cam content and such... Great interview 💜
There’s a reason we all subscribe to the Anderton’s channel and it is 100% The Captain’s authenticity. We appreciate you Lee Anderton. 🫡
Authenticity??? You mean pretending he doesn’t own the brands then promoting them to death on his channel and having Rob pick Lees products over everything else in the shop, time after time? Yeah Lee’s just such an honest guy. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the channel but it’s hard to take them seriously when every single employee of Lee’s is choosing his £150 brand over everything else. It’s pure marketing and nothing else now. Look at all the epiphone vs Gibson videos and check out the dates….. if Gibson have a new line out then the extra quality you get from the higher price is evident even when blindfolded….. however, if epiphone have a new line, there’s no difference between them and it’s impossible to tell 🤔. Also look how flawless they claimed every chapman guitar was on the channel while every other channel was talking about QC issues with the range 🤷♂️
Agreed
Lee is a great dude. Found Andertons channel years ago. One of the reasons why I started playing again years ago.
This is so bang on. The humility and dedication shines through from both of you. I play electric violin and the message from The Electric Violin Shop is the same. They don't sell really cheap and nasty instruments because they make life impossible for people starting out. The message about what playing an instrument can do is so true too. Love this channel.
Hi Chris. Thank you for writing that. I think it’s important to actually care about what one does regardless of what that is
@@TheGuitarGeek ... and that shines through loud and clear.
The Captain is a great businessman/marketer. Actually cares for his customers/players and wants to earn a lifetime of business! Fantastic! I never got to see any of the cool guitar stores in my visits, (the one in Bearric upon Tweed was like a closet) but Ill have to swing by Andertons now that Germany has legalized ;-). And at that price, it would be really fun to buy it to write with while on holiday! Cheaper than a flight case lol.
no way! Ive been there loads. love andertons great shop great people. rock on!🤘
That discussion on the L1 made very curious about a 'JR1'. As a bassist I also saw that there are some Eastcoast basses, but the one called MB30 isn't a short scale! I'd defo consider a Mustang Bass lookalike from Eastcoast
As someone who's spent two lazy afternoons in the Anderton's store, I can attest to the fact that the staff there are some of the most pleasant people to deal with in a guitar store. Also, the fact that one has access to guitars worth up to £2500(!) just on the shelf with no questions asked is amazing. I don't think many other stores would keep guitars of that kind on display for all to try out! They're literally just there for you to play on and not locked away somewhere. Kudos to the Andertons guys for making the in-store experience for us guitar geeks so welcoming and enjoyable!
so true! walked in a few weeks ago and just played the ultra luxe American fenders there. great fun, and the staff will let you try all the pedals all the guitars and all the amps. lets you realise what the differences are between the cheaper and more expensive guitars, and choose purchases more wisely. makes andertons seem trustworthy and super customer friendly!
Your comments made me so happy. The memories, the feelings relived--over and over--with each new guitar, from el cheapos to D-41 Sunbursts, from Taiko Tingcasters (tingting) to American Standard Teles and Strats. Mmmmmmmmm Music a la PeanuButterSandwich!!!!
Fantastic. My first was a cheapish lefty squire strat and yes it was not spectacular BUT it allowed me to make music and learn and get inspired and through my first couple of years of hackery without spending a ton of money on the big question of whether or not I'd continue with it. That was about 13 years ago. I did stick with it, and I love it. It does change your life for the better and all that was said about the profound impact it can have is absolutely true. I now have graduated to bass and have a wonderful fender jbass that is just an amazing instrument. I play nearly every single day and truly can't imagine my life without it.
I was 40 when I picked up my first guitar which was cheap enough to be possible but GOOD enough to successfully learn and start my journey.
So many people I know got a cheapo guitar for Christmas and were done with it by Easter because it was terrible and they sounded and played awful. Those people are lost for good. Retailers need to embrace those people as they are the future of all better instrument sales going forward and with the knock off junk being so cheap and available, the quality stuff is going to get harder and harder to sell.
Cheers.
this is a GREAT vid! so much commonsense spoken by both of you. i've just realised that over the last few years i've become one of those andertons regulars - i don't go to the shop - i watch YT, and then order gear. andertons mail order service is faultless. also the budget gear is fantastic (Tone City in particular), and i'm just about to order a soloking axe because WOW! inspiring people is what we do in the culture sector whether it be the charitable end (me) or the business end (you). it feels so good when you light someone's imagination up - andertons are doing a bloody good job of that, as are you...
I really love seeing a guitar shop owner be so passionate about putting a quality guitar in the hands of everyone.
Guitars can be amazing value these days. I started on a Squier in 1988 that cost £199 which even then seemed cheap as there was little else in that price range with that quality. Now 30+ years later, they've never been cheaper and with phenomenal technology. Who could have imagined a clip on tuner? I certainly wouldn't! Had to make do with a tuning fork and pitch pipes!
The thing I always love about going into Andertons is I can pick up a guitar, go and sit in that acoustic room at the front of the store and play without being given the hard sell. Occasionally someone will come in and ask if they can help, get another guitar for me etc, but it is all so laid back. And I always come away with a new guitar! And just speaking for a moment about those Eastcoast electric guitars. As someone who is mostly an acoustic player, If I want to dip into electric I really don't want to spend a fortune as it won't be my main player. A good quality, budget electric is just the thing. So, not only for people just starting out.
Great interview @andertons
Lee you are 💯 on point with your philosophy. Bravo to you.
I loved it! These are the type of businesses that we should support! I love how Lee was brutally honest about his own product and I know my next guitar will be an East Coast!
This was a great video/interview. I appreciate how honest Lee was about costs, profits, and margins. I would definitely be a customer if it were more practical to get a guitar from them sent stateside.
I started playing late 1970's, grew up learning in the early-mid 1980's. I went through those horror years of budget guitars (it was all my parents could afford) that sounded bad and played even worse. I thought I was the problem because I didn't know any better. In 2024 I know better. Today's budget guitars CAN be really good, some are still really bad (hint Squire). I'm so glad that a 13yo in the 2020's has access to guitars that I could only have dreamed about back then. I thank companies like Andertons (Lee's passion here is obvious), Thomann and others for pushing the entry level guitars up to an acceptable quality so our future guitarists aren't fighting the instrument just to follow their dreams.