Writing from the archive
Julian Deverell’s essays on Fender history, vintage values, collecting and the instruments that shaped Coffee House Guitars.
Coffee House Guitars was owned and run by Julian, who has played, bought, sold and collected guitars since the 1990s. His writing draws on hundreds of instruments handled, with particular knowledge of high-end Fenders.
If you’re looking for a brand new top of the range Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster you’d have already noticed that there’s a huge difference in the price between the Fender Custom Shop models and…
Of all the models made by the Fender Custom Shop the Stratocaster must certainly be the most prolific. While Fender don’t actually publish the numbers they have manufactured it’s fair to assume that the…
Fender in the 1950s If we scroll back in time to 1954 when Fender launched their ground-breaking Stratocaster . A new Strat cost $249, or $290 if you wanted a form fit case included.…
Truth, Myth & Market Reality If you’ve ever held a pristine 1950s Fender Stratocaster or gently strummed an early ’70s Gibson, it’s natural to wonder “Is this guitar actually a good investment?” It’s an…
The vintage guitar market has always been about more than wood, wire and lacquer. These instruments have acted as emotional anchors for generations of musicians and fans. For people who grew up in the…
There comes a point where collections change hands. Sometimes it’s planned, sometimes it isn’t. Maybe you’re reducing the number of guitars you own, maybe a collection has been inherited, or maybe life has simply…
If you’ve spent any time looking at Gibson Custom Shop Les Pauls , you’ll know the same four years appear over and over again: ’57, ’58, ’59 and ’60. These aren’t random model numbers.…
The Gibson Memphis Factory 2000 - 2019 If you've spent time exploring Gibson semi-hollow guitars, especially ES models like the ES-335 or ES-339, you've likely encountered the phrase "Gibson Memphis." The term sparks frequent…
After much preparation Coffee House Guitars is about to open it’s doors and begin selling top end guitars from our shop in Frome, Somerset. The mission of the business is to offer a range…
If you’ve ever picked up a Fender Custom Shop Strat or Tele and wondered why some feel merely “nice” while others feel magical , you’re not imagining things. Around the mid-2000s, Fender quietly transformed…
The story of how Fender clawed its way back from corporate chaos to global respect If you’re old enough to have played a few CBS-era Fenders , you’ll know the reputation they carry. By…
