About Kilkenny Vintage Guitars
Since I first started coming to Ireland several years ago, I was surprised at the selection that I found in the guitar shops. There was the odd Fender or Gibson, maybe in a cryogenic chamber, but mostly I would see off-brand or low end guitars. This place is loaded with musicians! Surely there must be one really cool guitar store, with all kinds of vintage stuff, and Fenders and Gibsons, etc. I looked and looked, and couldn't find it. Then I went and bought strings and picks, and almost fell over. €1.25 for a plec? I thought, "If someone ever did open a serious used and vintage shop here, they'd be the best damn guitar store in Ireland."
So that's what I did.
In 2005, I opened Ireland's first shop solely devoted to vintage and high end used guitars. We were also the first shop in Ireland to offer a modern vintage guitar website, complete with photos and detailed descriptions, and the first to charge prices in line with the international vintage market. Others may have followed, but no one can match our reputation for consistent quality, credibility, and competitive prices. The competition may have some great guitars, too. We should know--several of them came from our shop!
For the past five years we've been based in the artsy and picturesque village of Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, where we've made many good friends and have seen some great gigs. In 2010 we changed to an online only business - less overhead means better value for our customers. We still offer the same great guitars and services, take trade-ins, buy, sell on consignment, etc. We now offer online appraisals and a new 'Just The Price' service. Need information on your old guitar? Looking to trade in or trade up? Need an obscure part for your vintage guitar? How about a good setup? Give us a call.
At KVG we keep our customers happy—so they'll keep coming back.
-Tom Peterson, Founder, Kilkenny Vintage Guitars
After gaining a degree in history and music from Colgate University, Tom Peterson began his career in the financial industry, spending 10 years as a floor trader on the Chicago Stock Exchange. After spending several years in New York, Tom moved with his family to Ireland and founded Kilkenny Vintage Guitars in 2005.
