Payment Policy

Our service is unique in as much that the guitars we supply are often hand made by the likes of Auden, Furch, Dowina, Gordon Smith, Valenti and Eastman.

We are the UKs biggest dealer of all our main lines - and this is down to our 28-year reputation for excellence in service and our customer-centric approach to business.

Making Payment

When you place your order, your payment method will be "authorized" but ou will not see the payment collected immediately. We only charge you once we have made physical checks our side.

Please expect payments to be made that follow the following "guidelines" - We provide this information to give our customers total security, transparency and opportunity to discuss any personal requirements one to one - so please do that if you have any issues at all.

A product that is available, IE made and reserved for us or in our store rooms, we charge in full following confirmation of availability - with nothing to pay on dispatch
When a guitar requires building, we take 50% deposit and 50% on dispatch, but only once you have confirmed you are happy with the build time provided. We do this in line with the builders with whom we work who follow the same payment protocol enabling us to pay them - for you :)
When we have confirmed an estimated time of arrival of a guitar that is currently out of stock, and you are happy to wait - we take a 50% deposit with the balance to pay on dispatch.

Wherever possible, we provide accurate information on availability within the website search function (which you can toggle between in stock and out of stock items) so you can get a good sense of what is available and what we need to order in.

If you would like to order a guitar and you don't currently have the funds in your account - but you want to get the ball rolling - then that's fine too - we always want to help! Click on the chat button or call 01789 263333 and let us know your circumstances and we can work a solution for you too.

Cancelled Order Refunds

Any product that is ordered that is in stock and cancelled prior to dispatch will be refunded in full.

A deposit placed on a guitar that is being made / reserved for you is "non-refundable", so please do only order a guitar that you know you will be able to commit to.

Exceptions where a deposit will be returned:

When an estimated delivery date is double of its original quoted time we would be the first to recognize the sad situation and compensate you accordingly. We do not provide refunds to customers who suggest that a guitar builder who has provided a build time has "let them down" when a build time is exceeded by a couple of weeks of estimates provided in good faith.
We are a family business with family values which we never lose sight of. If you are concerned about your current ability to pay for a guitar being made or one that has been reserved for a lengthy period - please just talk to us as soon as possible. You could not be in safer or more understanding hands.

Guitars You'd be crazy to Ignore...

For me - there is no difference between "personal" and "business" life - It is all "my life". Interconnected and therefore highly personal. Every guitar I sell (EVERY) is one I can tell you the backstory - about the people who make them - the ethos of the brand and how they align with my own - they are a genuine personal recommendations based on 28 years in the industry.

With the industry dominated by marketing, hype, and "blinkered" brand loyalty - retailers focus on what they get asked for - with little effort in raising awareness of guitars that are better than the one you asked about. This leads to a lot of poor buying decisions!

Here is a quick introduction to the brands I often refer to as "my babies" but really you could simply refer to them as "benchmarks". Check the prices - check the specs - check the quality and back story - and find me a brand that does it better - or even close. The fact is you cant buy a bad guitar from Richards Guitars - you will only find the best - set up to your personal requirements.

Art Meets Craft - Artisan - Unique

Hand Made In Slovakia

I have the honour and privilege to be Englands exclusive dealer for Dowina guitars. A completely unique approach to guitar building that blends passion, art and craft producing the most inspiring and wondrous acoustic guitars that represent so much more than the materials they are made from.

Dowina is more than just a guitar - its an experience that you will appreciate and remember for a lifetime.

Buy Dowina Guitars Online

Detail - Clarity-Power-Resonance-Beauty

Furch Changed Everything...

I introduced Furch to to the UK over 20 years ago - with my good friend Keith Twine who has since retired.

At the time I was a leading supplier of brands such as Gibson, Martin & Taylor. Experiencing Furch guitars made me realize there is what you "know" and what you "should know". Just because you DON'T - doesn't mean it doesn't exist!

What does all this mean? Forget what you think you know and open your mind to the possibility that you can find better - and we will guarantee you an experience you will never forget - with help from Furch and my other personal finds from over the decades.

Buy Furch Guitars Online

Inspirational quality, tone & feel at a price you never thought would be possible.

A Benchmark British Brand

With an incredible Back story - A Truly Brtiish yet global brand utilising the shared skills of the Gordon Smith Team in England and a small boutique workshop in China - The result? Unbelievable quality that far surpasses that of recognised mass produced brands at the same price.

Buy Auden Guitars Online

Hand Made - Standard Setting - Affordable

We Were The First UK Dealer for Eastman Guitars...

....and continue to be their largest and most experienced dealer in the UK supplying Eastman guitars throughout Europe.

Originally known for their extraordinary quality, hand made arch tops - produced by violin makers - as their reputation spread they developed into the World of electric and acoustic guitar production which continue to be made by hand.

Eastman have now become a hugely dominant force in the Guitar World producing the "best in class" in any guitar genre they opt to focus on.

Nobody knows them better or can provide you a better experience.

Whether you decide on the showroom experience or buying online you could not be in safer hands.

Buy Eastman Guitars Online

The Truly Great British Electric Guitar Brand Since 1974

The Great British Electric Guitar Brand was born just 2 years after me!

I first became entwined with Gordon Smith in 1995 when I began selling guitars. My first experience was on receiving what I later learned to be a Gordon Smith Gypsy.

So powerful an impact that guitar had on me that I kept it and gave it to my Dad. Its the ONLY guitar in 28 years I havent parted with (well - My Dad has it and continues to enjoy it at 82).

The Gordon Smith Legacy rocketed to new heights when Doug Sparkes took over about 10 years ago - taking this great British Electric Guitar brand into new realms not just in terms of value but extreme quality too - making them not just a choice for people who want to support British Guitar Building but for people who want the finest electric guitars too.

Buy Gordon Smith Guitars Online

Quality - Versatility - Innovation

Canadas Finest

I have specialised in Godin guitars since 1995.

Godin have been solving problems for performing acoustic and electric guitar players for over 30 years, producing the most divine instruments which are stylish, of the highest quality whilst serving the practical needs of the modern performing professional

You could say Godin is the antithesis to Gibson! Godins reputation is built largely on the word of mouth of professionals and session musicians who need their instruments to be highly reliable and consistent night after night.

Get one in your hands, and you will soon understand their unique contribution to the evolution of the guitar.

Buy Godin Guitars Online

Perfection

Hand Made In Italy

I have to thank Stuart - Director of UK Distributor Selectron for thinking of me when he made a very special find in the guise of Luigi - A man building what can only be described as playable works of art. An extraordinary man - extraordinary guitars and I can only thank Luigi & Stuart for thinking of me as a perfect fit to help represent Luigis work in the UK.

Buy Valenti Guitars Online

The most comprehensive collection of affordable electric guitars money can buy.

We will help you find The best playing - Affordable electric guitar

I have been promoting Vintage brand guitars since the day they were "born" some 20+ years ago! In this time they have just got better... and better... and better! Not just that but the range has just become EPIC. Something for everyone!!

In the past couple of years ProShop has become one of the mmost exciting UK hand built guitars- using the Vintage range as the building blocks to create wonderful and exciting guitars that would normally cost thousands of pounds.

Buy Vintage Brand Guitars Online