The shop

Since 2008,
rue de Douai

Woodstore opened in 2008 in Pigalle, in Marcel Dadi's former shop.

Julien and Vincent pick every single instrument themselves, one at a time, with passion, all over the world.

Every instrument is played and set up here before it goes on sale.

01The team

Julien

Founder

What did you do before Woodstore?

Born and raised on rue de Douai, in Pigalle, I started selling guitars at twenty. Tired of — and frankly disappointed by — new gear, I opened Woodstore in 2008 with one simple idea: to sell guitars that have a soul, a story and some Mojo.

What did taking over Marcel Dadi's old shop mean to you?

I only found out afterwards that the shop had been Marcel Dadi's. As a tribute, we kept the little pewter badge reading « Dadi's Music House » on the front door.

When a guitar comes in, what makes you say yes?

This job is selfish in the best way: I buy the gear that makes me happy, the gear I dream about.

Is there an instrument you found hard to let go?

I see myself as a caretaker passing things on. It's a good feeling to know that an instrument you've loved and played will carry on in someone else's hands.

Vintage or recent reissue — what do you tell people?

With vintage prices going through the roof and reissues often disappointing on value for money, we hunt down real, affordable vintage guitars — in Japan in particular, a country of demanding luthiers.

You write every description yourself. Why does that matter?

Every guitar is played and set up here by us. No AI will ever put into words the smell of nitro lacquer or the wear on the neck of a Strat, so I write down how each one feels to me.

Who walks through the door at Woodstore?

Our door is open to everyone, from the international rock star to the kid looking for gear that sounds good and has something to say. The common ground: passion.

What still gets you excited today?

I'm more excited than ever at the idea of finding and playing this or that guitar, amp or pedal in the shop. The vintage grail hunt is a noble one, and it never ends — our customers know that too.

Vincent

In the shop since day one

How did you end up at Woodstore?

In the early 2000s I was putting on concerts in Paris and I met Julien, who was a salesman back then — I booked his band. We became friends, and he kept telling me: « one day I'll open my own shop and you'll come and do it with me ». Eighteen years ago he called me: « it's done, I've got the keys… »

What does a typical day in the shop look like?

At Woodstore the mood is relaxed: we laugh, we talk with friends who drop by, we play completely crazy guitars, and in between all that we help people find their next beautiful instrument.

What do you play yourself?

Personally I play a 1960 Danelectro DC-1 in Copper and a black Travis Bean — a seventies aluminium neck, with a body rebuilt in 2010 by our dearly missed friend Johan Hervé. Those are my two main guitars, the ones I record and gig with.

If you could walk out with one guitar tonight, which one?

If I could, I'd walk out with another Travis Bean… we happen to have a TB1000S in the shop right now, and every single one sounds different. So it's decided: tonight I'm leaving with a second Travis!

The advice you give most often?

I'll happily admit to being shallow when it comes to choosing a guitar: take the one you find most beautiful. It's subjective, but a guitar you find beautiful makes you want to play it. And that, in the end, is the whole point.