Musicians looking for a great instrument or a unique bit of top-end gear haven’t been spoiled for choice lately, what with the ailing state of music retailers in Australia and worldwide. But a new boutique second-hand musical instrument store that’s recently swung open its doors in Melbourne is offering a slightly different approach to music retail, and it’s a veritable haven for gear-heads on the hunt for that perfect piece of equipment.
Located on Carlton’s historic Elgin Street, Found Sound opened its doors last week and its specialty range of vintage recording gear, distinctive instruments, amplifiers, pedals, studio gear, equipment hire, repairs, books, and more, is enough to have any music fan drooling.
Found Sound’s range has been pieced together from “years of scouring pawn shops, garage sales, and auctions,” explains Lewis Boyes, the brains behind the new boutique store’s operations who is not only a keen working musician himself, but a retailer with over 15 years experience.st
There’s all manner of kit on offer, from a cornucopia of guitars, keyboards, and samplers through to amplifiers, cases, books, and an enviable range for those who know their Mercury 611‘s from their Rickenbacker Jetglos and MD-1 TUBE Manias.
“I’ve always been a bit of a gear nerd, but I realised I just wasn’t making good use of all the gear I had,” Boyes tells Tone Deaf. “A lot of it was being looked after and used at Head Gap [Recording Studios, Preston] and they didn’t need another Mellotron. I had been talking about opening my own store for years, and when a shop came up for lease in the perfect location, it seemed like the time was right,” he adds.
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Boyes currently shreds as part of Adalia’s live band after having played for the likes of Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males, Lost Animal, St Helens, Kirin J Callinan, and Brous (to name a few), but before his new retail venture the Tasmanian native could be found working just down the road from Found Sound, in Carlton’s Music Swop Shop – and it’s no coincidence.
“I’ve worked there on and off for the last 16 years, and I also designed the in store inventory system which I still maintain, along with my friend Keith Urquhart,” says Boyes, noting Swop Shop’s proprietors have “been an enormous help and very supportive.” In fact, Boyes has hopes that the closely linked stores won’t be competitors but in fact transform the Melbourne suburb into a must-go destination for music lovers.
“Along with Fretted Instruments close by we are hoping to turn Elgin St, Carlton into Melbourne’s own Denmark St/ Ochanomizu music precinct,” Boyes says, referring to the respective London West End and Japanese neighbourhoods that have become famed music shopping destinations, and Found Sound has already drawn some notable clientele.
Last Friday, the fresh-faced store welcomed members of Bob Dylan’s very own ‘Never Ending Tour’ backing band (“No Bob though”) perusing their wares and a visit from US songwriter Charlie Sexton. “My friend Alex Gow from Oh Mercy sent [them] down … which was a nice surprise,” says Boyes, adding that the customers thus far have been “massively diverse.”
“Being a smaller space it is a little more intimate and easier to engage with people. It feels like a bit of a community hub which was something I had hoped for,” he continues. “A customer demoed the J Mascis Fender Jazzmaster with a Vox Tone Bender and played a few [My Bloody Valentine] songs which was pretty cool.”
For everything that Boyes won’t part with (“I don’t think I could sell the Jupiter 8, TR-808, Binson Echorec or the Mellotron”) there’s plans to offer the rarer items for hire at some point in the future.
Though Found Sound also offers an easy to browse web store for safe buying and shipping online, its within the walls of the shop – located in a restored and repaired 150 plus year old building that the real shopping experience lies offering a one-of-a-kind boutique approach.
“It’s the only way I know to be honest!” Boyes admits. “Selling new equipment is very competitive, and I think it is very difficult for those retailers when it is so easy to buy internationally.
“Found Sound is a lifestyle choice. I’m under no illusion; it’s a tough market. My aim is to create a fun environment for myself and other likeminded people. I love the atmosphere of places like Tym Guitars in Brisbane and Polyester Records and Guitar Emporium down here [in Melbourne] and also hope to be one of the places you can’t miss when you’re in town.”
As for the store’s all-important soundtrack, when customers aren’t busting out MBV covers, you’ll probably catch local musicians on the Found Sound stereo (“Laura Jean’s new record is on high rotation), or even a sneak peek of the new album from Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – the follow-up to 2012’s Mature Themes.
My friend Shags [Chamberlain, bassist] and I played together with Ariel Pink’s back in ’06, and he ended up playing on the new record which I’ve had on repeat for a week or so,” Boyes reveals. “It’s gonna blow minds!”
To browse and buy from Found Sound’s full range – or if you have anything you’d like to sell – check out www.foundsound.com.au or head in-store at 155 Elgin Street, Melbourne. Check online for opening hours.
