I feel much, much the richer for the experience; guitar shops aren’t supposed to be like this anymore – surely they are supposed to be air-conditioned, slick corporate entities with commission-driven salesmen who know very little about the stock? Electric Ladyland merely illustrates how rich life could be if Steve was in charge.

Without prompting or request, he clambered over cases and amps simply to dig out various guitars he knew my son and I would love to see, with absolutely no mention of sales or any pressure whatsoever. He took us into his amp room next door to show us a few early 60′s AC-30′s and shared memories and expertise with us, in his own entertaining and inimitable fashion; the guy really is a wonderful one-off.

He also shared the circumstances of why he’s not on the phone at the moment, but I think those facts are for him to tell you when you pop in! Suffice to say, although he’s not presently on the phone, the shop is still up and running and you still have to enter through a door around the back that looks anything but the entrance to a shop; you enter feeling slightly like a burglar and the narrow channels and walkways between amps, guitars and other associated musical ephemera make you realise it’s time you started that diet. Steve, however, is built like will o’ the wisp and clambers around like a sprightly mountain goat.

All in all, a great way to spend a few hours; we’ll definitely be going back and when the money is available, I want to purchase something, just to be able to say ‘I once bought a guitar from Steve at Electric Ladyland’.

If you read this Steve, thanks for your time. Dory and Chris Buck

Apart from the fact that feeling has 100 times more value than technique there is certain things to consider; nearly everything he played was improvised, his songs were written specifically to allow improvisation between themes this alone boasts an amazing song writing talent.

No one these days improvises anything maybe the odd solo but mostly it will be a string of pre determined cliches. The only thing hendrix’ reputation is ever pulled on is his technique ..and the mistakes he made.. well he was improvising, and some of the most astonishing melodies and harmonies I have ever heard were Hendrix improvising.

The more we worry about being perfect and never making mistakes the less human and the less feeling we will end up having in music, and music will end up being ..well how it is now in 2012 .. drab lifeless and copied.

I’m a spanish guitarist… Sometimes people criticizes these stock pickups, but i think the problem is the way that they plays guitar. Tentamente un cordial saludo amigo.