Europeans - Where to Buy Stuff

[alexreinhold]

Living in Europe, I am regularly struggling to find products (e.g. Timbermate or Duplicolor) recommended here as they're simply not available in EU - and ordering from the US is usually a financial disaster. That's why I wanted to start this thread for all EU/UK-based people to share good shops and products. The main aim is to facilitate awesome builds of EU-based Warmoth customers. Here are some of my recommendations:

- www.thomann.de (DE) - for all kinds of parts, electronics, etc.
- www.spraydosenshop.de (DE) - for all kinds of high-quality lacquer (Spraymax, Duplicolor clones, etc.)
- www.crazyparts.de (DE) - for all kinds of homemade/vintage guitar parts like knobs, etc.
- www.tlcguitargoods.com (NL) - for luthier tools and cool stuff like custom neck plates
- www.birchwoodcasey-deutschland.de (DE) - for Tru Oil
- www.royaltalens.com (NL) - for indian ink that contains shellac
- www.electronvolteffects.com (ES) - for vintage pickups

disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of those shops, just wanting to help other Europeans avoid the hours of research I did and hopefully learn about some other cool shops.

 

[stratamania]

Good idea for a thread :icon_thumright:

Perhaps change them into active links which would be helpful. Good to know about the link for Tru-oil in Europe. I used to get a lot of stuff in the UK but since I now live in Europe and the changes from Brexit my supplier is not really a good choice any longer.

Here are a few more to keep you busy.

Rothko and Frost although in the UK they are shipping delivery duty paid so there should mostly be no additional cost when receiving in Europe. Decals, paint, grain filler etc.

https://www.rothkoandfrost.com/guitar-making-supplies-c83
https://www.musik-produktiv.com/ - Pickups etc.
https://www.emma-music.com/ - based in France, pickups, parts, tools etc.
https://www.nonpaints.com/en/ - based in the Netherlands, largest range of paints and car detailing etc in Europe.
https://www.haarguitars.com/ - based in the Netherlands, parts and pickups etc. Also offer a Plek service.
https://schaller.info/ - all things Schaller.
https://shop.warwick.de/ various parts and pickups etc.
https://www.musicstore.com/en_OE/EUR/Guitars/Guitar-Parts/cat-GITARRE-GITERSATZ various parts and tools
https://www.mk-guitar.com/ various Mark Knopfler inspired parts and pickups.
https://amberpickups.com/ pickups
https://www.haeussel.com/index.php?id=30 - pickups
https://shop.gitabou.de/ parts, templates, tools, etc
https://guitarsandwoods.com/ parts, templates, tools, wood etc
https://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/parts-for-guitars/ - amp parts but also sells parts and tools etc.
https://www.banzaimusic.com/ - various parts
https://www.mec-pickups.de/en/ pickups, parts, wiring harnesses, switches etc.
https://vegatrem.com/tremolo-shop/ vegatrem tremolos
https://www.crazyparts.de/index.php - various parts including aged parts.
https://www.sever.si/luthier-professional-tools/summit-professional-luthier-tools - luthier tools and some parts
https://gitaarbouwwinkel.nl/en/ Dutch luthier wood and supplies etc
https://www.mahoganygreen.com/ In Republic of Ireland so part of EU have used to obtain Jescar fretwire. They have other parts, pickups etc.
https://shop.espen.de/en/ Supplier of woods.
https://abm-guitarpartsshop.com/ ABM Bridges. German Bridge manufacturer also pickups.

I am not affiliated with any of these shops either. I have only personally used some of them. Apologies if I inadvertently duplicated any shops already provided by alexreinhold.

 

[TBurst Std]

While I am in the US so no need by me, this is valuable information and should be a sticky

 

[ValeBliz]

That’s a great thread, I just took a hit ordering some tools from stewmac but it doesn’t really makes much sense being in European…

 

[stratamania]

That’s a great thread, I just took a hit ordering some tools from stewmac but it doesn’t really makes much sense being in European…

Sometimes in the end though StewMac is often the choice that is needed if others do not have what you want.

It almost sounds like that Rolling Stones song...

 

[alexreinhold]

To be honest, what I've been struggling with most are finishes (for example, the German word for dye and stain is the same). Maybe you guys can help zoom down to the product level and complete the following list with high quality products only:

Dye water-based:
Dye oil-based:
Dye alcohol-based:
Stain water-based:
Stain oil-based:
Stain alcohol-based:
Wood Filler:
Shellac:
Sanding Sealer: ​
Sealer & Filler: BC Sealer & Filler - https://www.birchwoodcasey-deutschland.de/holz-versiegelung.html
Clear Coat Oil: BC Tru Oil - https://www.birchwoodcasey-deutschland.de/tru-oil-holzoel.html
Clear Coat Wax: BC Wax - https://www.birchwoodcasey-deutschland.de/holz-schaft-wachs.html
Acrylic Primer & Filler: https://www.spraydosen-shop.de/Spray-Max-1K-AC-Fueller-hellgrau-400-ml
Acrylic lacquer: https://www.spraydosen-shop.de/autolack-spraydose-ral-9005-tiefschwarz-uni-basislack
Acrylic clear coat: https://www.spraydosen-shop.de/Spray-Max-2K-Klarlack-glaenzend-Spray-400ml
High-Gloss Polish: https://www.petzoldts.de/shop/Petzoldts-Premium-Hochglanz-Politur-p-2855.html
India Ink: https://tinyurl.com/feuvw7u8

 

[stratamania]

Another link for finishing products.  A while ago I had Behlen's Lacquer and some other products that were very good.

It turns out they have been rebranded as Mohawk and there is a distributor in Poland. Here is a link to the English catalogue. Lacquers, oils, fillers, stains etc.


http://techcontrol-polska.com/en/category/

 

[ValeBliz]

Anybody knows where to get japan drier in europe, or if there's any european alternative to it?

 

[Re-Pete]

The other thing to consider re: EU vs USA is that the EU may have prohibitions on the manufacture of some solvents & stains due to environmental concerns, and those items can't be shipped by normal FedEx/DHL type couriers due to their inflammable nature.
In Australia we have similar problems translating what folks here & on other US-based forums say about finishes & solvents because the brand names change or they simply aren't available.

 

[stratamania]

Anybody knows where to get japan drier in europe, or if there's any european alternative to it?

It might be an idea to start a separate thread in the DIY Finishing section and detail what type of finishing schedule you are trying to replicate that is suggesting Japan drier. perhaps there are alternatives and knowing what it is intended to be used for may rule in or out certain products due to (in) compatibility.

( traditional Artists Japan drier is available in Europe and contains lead which is not what you probably want)

 

[ValeBliz]

It might be an idea to start a separate thread in the DIY Finishing section and detail what type of finishing schedule you are trying to replicate that is suggesting Japan drier. perhaps there are alternatives and knowing what it is intended to be used for may rule in or out certain products due to (in) compatibility.

I read it can be used to speed up the curing times of varius oil based finishes, including tru oil. As far as I'm reading, today there are a few formulae which are lead free, like this one https://www.sunnysidecorp.com/product.php?p=t&b=s&n=72416
The guy from Highline Guitars on yt seem to use it quite often to speed up drying times.
It's far from something I *need*, i can wait no problem, but i was curious.

 

[stratamania]

A Terebine Drier is equivalent to the drier being asked about. Quite a few places in the UK sell it but in the EU here are a couple of links I have found.

(Ireland)
https://www.topline.ie/painting-dec...aration-cleaners/douglas/terebine-drier-500ml

Rustins Driers is also an equivalent product.

Paint Driers | Rustins

A special blend of chemicals to speed the drying of oil and alkyd based paints and varnishes. Particularly recommended for adding to old paint and...

www.rustins.ltd

There are stockists of Rustins products in the EU but I was not able to find a link of someone who has it in stock.

 

[ValeBliz]

Any advice on a decent brand of nut files I can get in Europe? I know Thomann sells Ibanez ones but those don’t seem to have the best reviews even if a 10-46 set is over 100€.

 

[stratamania]

Any advice on a decent brand of nut files I can get in Europe? I know Thomann sells Ibanez ones but those don’t seem to have the best reviews even if a 10-46 set is over 100€.

TLC have a number of Japanese nut files. Also have a look through some of the other suppliers linked above that sell luthier tools as there may be others.

https://tlcguitargoods.com/en/tools/rasps-scrapers/nut.html

 

[ValeBliz]

Thanks checking them out. I checked the link above but they got Ibanez and Goldo files, like Thomann.

 

[stratamania]

Thanks checking them out. I checked the link above but they got Ibanez and Goldo files, like Thomann.

The nut files at the link I posted are Hosco and Goldo.

 

[ValeBliz]

Yes, I may try the double edged Hosco ones, they are bit cheaper and I have just 3 nuts to tweak.

 

[alexreinhold]

has anyone made any experiences with https://www.btnmusic.co.uk/ ?

 

[Logrinn]

I have not, but have had excellent service from Banzai music
https://www.banzaimusic.com/hipshot-h-41105-c.html

 

[stratamania]

has anyone made any experiences with https://www.btnmusic.co.uk/ ?

No, I had not heard of them before and used to live in the UK. They seem to be a newer business.

One thing to be wary of when getting things from the UK now is the shipping and VAT.

Not all retailers are properly set up so that no further duty is paid when things arrive in Europe. Either they should not charge VAT to EU customers which reduces the price at the point of sale and then import duties VAT is added when it arrives and paid separately usually to the carrier. Or if the retailer is properly set up the VAT and charges are taken care of at their end and there should be nothing further to pay.