Northwest Guitars

Northwest Guitars, online supply of guitar parts and accessories

On its website, Northwest Guitars presents itself as the UK's largest online supplier of guitar hardware, luthier tools, accessories and guitar paints. The shop operates exclusively through its website and offers international shipping, as well as same-day despatch for orders placed before 3pm.

Guitar and bass parts catalogue

The range is organised into several product families. In the bodies and necks section, the shop sells Fender-compatible necks for Jaguar, Jazz Bass, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass, Stratocaster and Telecaster models, as well as bodies compatible with Stratocaster (SSS, HSS and Hardtail), Telecaster (Standard, Deluxe and La Cabronita), Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Jazz Bass and Precision Bass, among others.

The hardware area includes acoustic guitar and bass bridges and tremolos, Hardtail bridges, Jaguar and Jazzmaster bridges, saddles, tailpieces, Telecaster bridges, tremolos and vibratos with their arms and parts, Tune-O-Matic and Wraparound bridges. It also covers covers and plates (bridge covers, control plates, jack plates and neck plates), plastic covers, metal, plastic and wooden knobs, knob pointers, bone, brass, graphite, locking, plastic and roller nuts, as well as Graphtech TUSQ nuts. Scratchplates and pickguards for acoustic, Jaguar, Jazz Bass, Jazzmaster, Les Paul, Precision Bass, Stratocaster, Telecaster and Yamaha Pacifica are also included, along with pickguard material, screws and fixings, strap buttons, string trees and string ferrules.

In tuning machines, it offers 6-in-line tuners (right and left), 3+3, bass, classical and ukulele tuners, together with spare parts.

Pickups, electronics and wiring

The pickups section covers acoustic, Filtertron, humbucker, Jaguar, Jazz Bass, Jazzmaster, P90, Precision Bass, Stratocaster and Telecaster models, as well as covers and surrounds, individual parts and loaded pickguards. Pickup brands distributed include Artec, DiMarzio, Fender, Northwest Guitars, Seymour Duncan, Tonerider and Wilkinson.

Electronics include capacitors, on-board effects, output jacks, potentiometers, resistors, switches and their tips and surrounds, wire and shielding, wiring kits and pre-wired harnesses. Electronics brands present are Alpha, Artec, CRL, CTS, Fender, Gavitt, Jupiter, MOD, Northwest Guitars, Oak Grigsby, SoZo, Sprague and Switchcraft. The shop also publishes wiring diagrams for Strat, Tele and other models.

Strings, paints and finishes

The strings catalogue is divided by type (acoustic, bass, folk/classical and electric) and by brands such as D'Addario, Elixir, Ernie Ball and Martin. The shop maintains a blog with comparisons, such as D'Addario versus Elixir coated strings, and featured sections for the Elixir and Ernie Ball collections.

In paints and stains, it offers finishing oils, nitrocellulose aerosols, nitrocellulose repair paint, nitrocellulose for spray guns and for the trade, as well as sanding and prep and water-based stains/top coats. The brands in this category are Hosco, Northwest Guitars, Rustins and Nitro. The website includes a step-by-step guide on nitrocellulose structured in eight parts: introduction, grain filling, sanding sealer, primer, solid vs transparent colours, top coats, best practices and sanding and polishing.

Accessories and luthier tools

The accessories section brings together cables, capos, cleaners and polishes, guitar maintenance, humidifiers, plectrums, stands and hangers, straps, string winders and tuners.

For luthier work, the shop supplies materials such as bindings and purflings, fret wire, position markers, sanding supplies and truss rods. Tools are grouped into files, gauges, hammers, knob pullers, pliers and cutters, saws, workbench and wrenches, and also by task: fret work, knob removal, neck adjustment, nut shaping, sanding and finishing, and setup and maintenance.

Repair and setup services

In addition to selling parts, Northwest Guitars offers repair and setup services, with options for delivery and collection of the instrument. The website details the procedure for dropping off or shipping the guitar to the shop.

Shipping, returns and customer service

The shop advertises free UK shipping on orders over £199 and a hassle-free 30-day return policy. For international orders, the site displays a prominent notice and allows selecting country and currency from a wide list of destinations. Same-day despatch applies to orders placed before 3pm.