What Is Classical Guitar Centre (classicalguitar.co.uk)?

Classical Guitar Centre is the online shop of The Classical Guitar Centre Ltd, a UK-based retailer specialising in classical, Spanish and flamenco guitars. It sells instruments alongside strings, accessories, music, books, CDs and DVDs, and carries brands including Ramirez, Raimundo, Almansa, Asturias and Conde Hermanos. You can order online, or visit the store in person by prior appointment.

What the site sells

The catalogue is organised into clear sections rather than one long list:

• Instruments — new arrivals, guitars under £1000, guitars above £1000, smaller models, electro classicals, flamenco guitars, left-handed guitars, second-hand models and an in-store clearance sale.
• Strings — brands listed on the site include Augustine, Conde Hermanos, Jose Ramirez, Knobloch, La Bella and Aranjuez.
• Accessories, music and books, CDs and DVDs — including the site's own ASG Music Publications.
• Brands — Almansa, Asturias, Alastair McNeill, Manuel Contreras, Felipe Conde, John Callinan, Jose Ramirez, Marcelino Lopez, Marco Tejeda, Raimundo, Teodoro Perez and Victor Anglada.

The site describes itself as holding the UK's largest stock of concert instruments and Europe's largest stock of fine classical guitars, with a particularly wide choice of concert models. Treat those claims as the retailer's own description rather than an independently verified ranking.

Who it is for

The stock spans beginner-adjacent and professional instruments, so the site suits more than one type of buyer:

Smaller-scale models are worth noting if you need a reduced body size — for example, the Asturias Custom Spruce 63cm is listed at £2,600.00.

Buying online vs visiting in store

Online ordering works through the site's cart, with free UK shipping on orders over £50. Product pages show prices and options; some items, such as books with multiple variants, require you to select an option before adding to cart.

In-store visits are by prior appointment only:

• Tuesday to Friday, 10:00–15:30
• Saturday, 10:00–17:00

The site asks you to contact them before visiting, so plan around that rather than turning up. For a high-value classical guitar, an appointment visit lets you play several instruments side by side — something an online order cannot replicate.

Practical points to check before ordering

• EU shipping restrictions: the site states that, due to current postal restrictions, it cannot supply EU countries with music, books or accessories. If you are outside the UK and buying printed music or accessories, confirm availability before checkout.
• Contact details: the site lists T: 0121 429 7446 and E: [email protected] — useful for appointment bookings, stock questions or delivery queries.
• Prices: figures shown on the site (for example, £2,460.00 for a Ramirez Del Tiempo Spruce) are listed prices at the time of publication; confirm at checkout.
• Second-hand and clearance items: stock is typically single-unit, so availability can change quickly.

A sensible way to use the site

1. Decide your budget band and use the Under £1000 / Above £1000 categories to narrow the field.
2. Filter by type — flamenco, electro classical, left-handed or smaller models — if you have a specific requirement.
3. Shortlist two or three models and compare specifications on their product pages.
4. If you are spending a significant amount, book an appointment and play the shortlist in person.
5. For accessories or sheet music, check the EU restriction applies to you before ordering.

The site also publishes buying advice and a blog, which are worth reading before you commit to a particular scale length, wood combination or brand.