About Us

Every Monday morning at Wunjo Guitars, a long queue of sales representatives from some of the biggest musical instrument companies in the world trails through the shop and up to the door of Brian's office. They will never get in, because more often than not, Brian is having a jolly chat with one of our many dear customers. A chat about guitars, golf, the plight of Glasgow Rangers Football Club, or anything else that that particular dear customer may wish to muse upon. Wunjo Guitars exists because of this man, and it has become his labour of love. Years of graft have given way to an enduring passion for the things we spend all our days talking about, lusting over, dreaming of, and maybe, just maybe, actually getting to have a play on. And Brian's philosophy has never wavered: if you see it in our shop, then have a play on it! Guitars are there to be played, and it will always be our way here at Wunjos. Once finished putting the world to rights with the customers, maybe offering a couple of sweet deals along the way, Brian breezes out of the shop, affording a casual nod to the winding queue of sales reps, and heads to the golf course to enjoy the spoils of being the founder of the world's coolest guitar shop.

 

Staff Pick: Gibson LG-2 American Eagle

Song: The Snake - Al Wilson 

You thought it was Barry Gibb that was keeping the long-hair-and-a-beard look in fashion, but you were wrong. Tom 'Mr Minkley' Hinkley, the man who's hair and beard somehow remain precisely the same length day in day out, is doing his bit for those men who continue to rebel against society and their wives/girlfriends by preserving the look that is befitting of a guitarist/bassist who rues the fact that it isn't the seventies any more. And Tom most certainly is an excellent musician. Having spent a small fortune on mail-order jazz chords over the years, he's got as many excellent recordings, sessions and gigs under his belt as he does days at the helm of our bass shop. With a great eye for stunning vintage bass (see Wunjo Bass's Instagram feed), Tom has also made sure that Wunjo Bass has matured into one of the finest bass guitar shops in the world since its inauguration in 2012. So he's earned the long hair, and indeed, the beard.

 

Staff Pick: 1983 Fender Dan Smith Stratocaster

Song: Bob Dylan - Thunder On The Mountain

Having had a successful career in music, Harry Styles has taken up acting. Laurence, also hailing from the West Midlands, is doing things the other way round. Having set up a band with his actor mates for a laugh, they ended up doing a stint on a well know TV Soap (I think it's called Sevenoaks). But those are now just happy memories. Laurence now frequently tours the UK and Europe playing bass for one or two of the world's finest recording artists. And deservedly so! In those rare quiet moments back in Wunjo Bass (Laurence's 'other gig') you might get a little glimpse of Laurence's chops, all of which, much like his trousers and shirts, are the sharpest and most meticulously pressed in town. Quiet moments in Wunjo Bass are rare, of course, so the rest of the time, Laurence settles in to many a good chat about the wonderful wares we have on show, or reminisces about the time he convinced the gaffer that the singer from Dexy's Midnight Runners wanted to buy a Ro(w)land Cube amp.

Gus is a law abiding citizen. This is only made possible by the fact that ginger moustaches are not against the law. There was an attempt to make them illegal during the 90s when Mick Hucknall tried to grow one, but it never came to pass. As for Gus, the moustache coupled with wavy shoulder length locks and a fringe gives him the look of a man who knows his way round a Shoreditch pub or two, but fortunately for us, he also knows a thing or two about keyboards, synthesizers, organs and all things electro that we use to make that sweet sweet music. In fact, Gus is the captain of HMS Keys, and man who made it all happen, way back in 2013 when Wunjo Keys was just an empty room with bare orange walls. In recent months Gus has levitated up to the first floor into the office, where he now manages all the behind the scenes magic that helps Wunjo tick.  

Marc, who, as you can see, has completed a course on 'how to pose for an effective/moody band photo', does not know how to look uncool. He has tried desperately over the years, wearing his girlfriend's cardigans (nope, that's technically still cool), refusing to shave (now they're all doing it), and even trying to throw in a bit of classic double-denim (would you believe, it's now back in), but all to no avail. In one desperate attempt to shake off this burden of coolness, Marc tried to work less hours at Wunjo and become a DJ in Ibiza, but we weren't having any of it. Now he's back to a regular gig here, just like the old days, spreading his knowledge and friendly vibes across both our electric and acoustic shops. I say the old days, Marc is one of our longest serving members of staff, putting him firmly in the frame for the tag of 'part of the furniture'. He'll probably be here when he starts going grey and wrinkly, sort of like the Keith Richards of music retail. So, is that still...? Yeah, sorry dude, probably still cool.

 

Staff Pick: Duesenberg Starplayer

Song: Kiss - Lick It Up

Underestimate Annie at your peril, this flower child has worked at Wunjo’s since we used our time machine to pluck her out of the 1970s. Dungarees and a 1964 Gibson Country & Western are Annie’s usual attire, although you can sometimes find her in a stylish Ovation hoodie. She is not the daughter of the owner or the girlfriend of the manager, Annie may be sweet but has more chops than the Flat Iron. Our specialist in everything - mostly if they have Bigsby’s or were played by Neil Young - Annie has got her gun and is not afraid to use it. That being said, the sweetest member of Sweet Giant, Annie will know exactly what guitar you need from a quarter mile.

 

Staff Pick: 1960’s Harmony Meteor

Song: Neil Young - Unknown Legend

McCartney and Weezer enthusiast Henry is the owner of a 70’s Rickenbacker amongst many other bits-casters and a small collection of Hammond organs, Henry embraces the warm and cultivated manner reminiscent of the ‘good old days’. He’s the cleanest man on Denmark street adorned in an ever growing collection of vintage knitwear. Henry makes guitar buying like a trip to the library, calm and collected with an archival knowledge of the Beatles and British musical history. Rumour has it that Henry has once owned most of the music equipment in the uk, so it’s more than likely that one of your guitars has passed through his impeccably clean hands.

 Staff Pick: 1975 Rickenbacker 480

Song: Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead

Nick is the foster parent to many a half-useable semi-vintage guitar, enough so he could start a home for ‘unloved’ instruments - So he’s perfectly at home amongst Wunjo’s appetite for anything ‘weird and wonderful’, Nick is always here to reassure you that there isn’t a single instrument that isn’t worth investing in. Starting out his musical life as a viola player then jumping to a stint as an electronic grime producer, before settling on playing bass for folk-rock trio ’Sweet Giant’ which he’ll definitely tell you about. Oh, and he’s also the proud owner of a 90s Japanese P-bass.. He’ll probably tell you about that too!!

 

Staff Pick: 1970’s Epiphone EA-260

Song: Baby Huey - Hard Times

Plucked from the workhouse at age 15, Tom is youngest member of the Wunjo family, though his technical knowledge of fretboard radius and cockney-geezer rhyming slang may lead you to believe otherwise - a ‘teenage’ grunger trapped in the mind of a 60 year old amp technician. Tom keeps us on up to date on what pedals and brands are ‘on trend’ with the kids, and can answer the most niche questions on product specs and what order to put your boutique pedals in. Before Wunjo, Tom attended charm school, but didn’t make graduation… lucky for us or else he’d probably be making demo videos for our online chain competitors.

 

Staff Pick: 1978 Gibson RD Standard

Song: Goliath - Karnivool