About Guitar Gallery
The Guitar Gallery is a small independent musical instrument shop, located in the heart of Melbourne's Fitzroy. It's owned and run by musician Gerry Hale.
Our Customers
All my customers are important to me whether you're a new or couch performer, semi-pro or professional. When you visit me you'll find quite a small space packed with all kinds of instruments so I would kindly ask everyone to enquire before handling instruments. If you are a interstate customer, we are just a phone call or email message away, to answer any questions you may have.
I actually prefer a simple call it's enjoyable and more information can be exchanged far quicker plus you may not end up in my spam folder.
It's old school service here.
Not only do we carry a good selection of guitars, we are mandolin, banjo and gypsy jazz specialists. We also have ukuleles, charangos and lots of other interesting musical instruments.
All instruments will be set-up and shop adjusted to suit the player.
The playability of an instrument can be adjusted to suit the needs of a novice or the seasoned professional. Instruments from budget lines often have not been adjusted or "set-up" at the factory. It is quite a delicate job. The Guitar Gallery will never provide an instrument that is unsuitable for the musician. Entry level mandolins especially, require that little bit of extra attention. Lower action and lighter gauge strings can do wonders for a new player.
Gerry is the man...watched him and his band Uncle Bill years ago and what a dynamite team, great vocals and a very talented musician. Can play anything he picks up... Still love playing his CD's. Regards Greg Lambert.
All about me
I have been a professional musician since leaving school at 16 back in 1973. I actually did my first paid gig in 1972 while still at secondary school I started teaching myself at 12 so by 17 I felt like a seasoned pro getting five pounds for a night and with no rent to pay. My first overseas gig was in Goteborg, Sweden at 17 years old, 6 nights a week for a month.
My first taste of Australia was in 1986 where I worked at The Last Laugh with a quirky cabaret band called the Bouncing Czechs, a bad pun and our act was full of them, it was cheesy but obviously deliberate. We were actively taking the piss out of ourselves. The daggy poms but the music was pretty hot.
Eventually after the third visit, I stayed, and worked in some local bands then in some Melbourne Theatre Company Productions, as well as some musicians you may know such as Colin Hay, Paul Kelly, Vika and Linda, Paul Norton, Wendy Stapleton, Deborah Conway, Broderick Smith, and numerous country music performers.
The shop was never something I'd planned for. I was a well seasoned professional musician and lucky to be one.
My Favourite Music Store
Back in the day, whilst working with Colin Hay, we were making a record for MCA Records.
LA is famous for its music stores and being there for a month the hunt was on to find them all.
First stop was always going to Sunset Boulevard and Colin was immediately spotted and jumped on.
My main interest being the acoustic side of things there was not much there for me. Subsequently after many disappointing outings I finally struck gold - McCabes Music Shop on Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica.
- there was an amazing selection of mandolins, banjos, acoustic guitars and charangos and other curious items.
- It was quiet.
- No one hassled you.
- There was free coffee but coming from Melbourne not the best,
The staff provided assistance only when I needed it and I finally bought a Flatiron F-5 mandolin and mandola, plus a fine squareneck dobro and even my first charango. Never seen one before.
McCabe's left a big impression on me. And so years later when the opportunity arose to open a music shop that shop was in my mind.
