Mr. Billy, the guitar luthier.
In Bangkok, we always stay in the cheapest place nearby Khao San Road, PC Guesthouse (200thb for a room for two, that’s cheap), and play in a bar at night. As musicians, we always need to buy some musical stuff (guitar strings, pickup, strap) and we know a lot of small music shops just nearby Khao San road (I call it music street). I was thinking to install a Fishman pickup into Tammi’s guitalele so we bought the pickup from a nearby shop ( I recommend Meesin music shop because they always offer a discount) and then we start asking around, to whom we should send this guitarlele to install.
We walk along the Phranakorn road, and no one can really help to tell us where to do this repair, but we heard from lots of the music shop owner that there is a guitar luthier nearby (sometime the way they explain the direction can be a bit confusing). WE FOUND IT, a small shop on Bonsiri Road, I saw a guy repairing a guitar. His name is Mr.Billy. A ROCKABILLY signboard made from wood and leather (the name of the shop), and a lot of Elvis Presley memorabilia. He saw me, smile and straight away saying “Hello, may I help you? Please sit down. Do you want some coffee?”
The way he greeted me, makes me feel so welcomed. And I tell him about what I want to repair and he said yes, bring it here. Installing a pickup only takes 1-2hours only. And he charged me cheap (much cheaper than any repairing job in Malaysia). He always plays classic romantic songs whilst repairing customer’s guitar (he repair almost everything, banjo, microphone, any musical stuff, man I think he could repair your car if you gave him a chance).
In Bangkok, we always stay in the cheapest place nearby Khao San Road, PC Guesthouse (200thb for a room for two, that’s cheap), and play in a bar at night. As musicians, we always need to buy some musical stuff (guitar strings, pickup, strap) and we know a lot of small music shops just nearby Khao San road (I call it music street). I was thinking to install a Fishman pickup into Tammi’s guitalele so we bought the pickup from a nearby shop ( I recommend Meesin music shop because they always offer a discount) and then we start asking around, to whom we should send this guitarlele to install.
We walk along the Phranakorn road, and no one can really help to tell us where to do this repair, but we heard from lots of the music shop owner that there is a guitar luthier nearby (sometime the way they explain the direction can be a bit confusing). WE FOUND IT, a small shop on Bonsiri Road, I saw a guy repairing a guitar. His name is Mr.Billy. A ROCKABILLY signboard made from wood and leather (the name of the shop), and a lot of Elvis Presley memorabilia. He saw me, smile and straight away saying “Hello, may I help you? Please sit down. Do you want some coffee?”
The way he greeted me, makes me feel so welcomed. And I tell him about what I want to repair and he said yes, bring it here. Installing a pickup only takes 1-2hours only. And he charged me cheap (much cheaper than any repairing job in Malaysia). He always plays classic romantic songs whilst repairing customer’s guitar (he repair almost everything, banjo, microphone, any musical stuff, man I think he could repair your car if you gave him a chance).
From minor problems to major problems, he even makes his own guitars (with a Rockabilly signage on it). I even sent my guitar to be repaired. Tam and I become a regulars here who always come to his shop, just for chilling and have a chat with him. I can see that he have a lot of friends who always come by and he always offer coffee to everyone. He enjoys his job and we realise now that it’s more a hobby that he makes some cash from and gets to meet all types and nationalities of musician, more than a business. I ask him to come and see us play in Happy Bar, he did come and he love our music and even asking Tammi to sing one of his favourite songs.
No wonder so many musicians who know him, always come back to him to do repairing stuff (all musician around the world, lots of musician fly to Bangkok just to see this guy again). His friendliness, cheap, great repairing job and he didn’t try to cheat on you. I will try to draw a map so anyone who come to Bangkok, can easily find him. Billy, you are the best !
No wonder so many musicians who know him, always come back to him to do repairing stuff (all musician around the world, lots of musician fly to Bangkok just to see this guy again). His friendliness, cheap, great repairing job and he didn’t try to cheat on you. I will try to draw a map so anyone who come to Bangkok, can easily find him. Billy, you are the best !