Music / News
Man giving ‘second life’ to unwanted guitars
A shop owner is breathing new life into unwanted or defective guitars so they can be used by students at local learning institutions.
David Gillam, owner of All About Guitar, repairs such guitars from his home studio in Hanham before they are donated to local schools and academies like Bristol Brunel Academy.
“Restoring guitars isn’t just about fixing old instruments; it’s about giving them a second life”, said David when speaking to Bristol24/7.
David Gillam restores guitars from his home studio in Hanham
The 41-year-old, who by his own admission has a “slight obsession” with the instrument, added: “Each guitar has its own story — maybe it was someone’s first gigging instrument, a student’s first step into music, or just a forgotten piece that’s been sitting in an attic.
“When you restore a guitar, you’re not only saving wood and metal — you’re preserving the potential.”
David sees the work of restoring guitars as a way of fostering sustainable solutions and reducing waste. Most unwanted and defective guitars, he explains, could “be easily repaired or repurposed”, preventing them from being dumped in landfills.
After he saw a social media post by Bristol Brunel Academy for music instrument donations, David got in touch and has since successfully sent them the first batch of restored guitars. Beyond the academy in Speedwell, the guitarist and musician has been involved in teaching music and donating restored guitars to students at Christ Church CE Primary School in Hanham and Beacon Rise Primary School in Kingswood.
Despite drifting into other careers over the years, David admits to being involved in “semi-professional” bands and nurturing his obsession with guitars throughout. He opened All About Guitar in 2019, with a vision of teaching and aiming to “inspire the next generation as well and pass on my knowledge and experience to gigging musicians in and around Bristol.”
David continued: “For me, gifting guitars back to kids and schools who want to learn is about sharing the joy that music brings. Every old guitar has a story, and giving it a new life in the hands of a young player feels a bit like passing the torch.
“It’s amazing to see a child light up when they realise they can actually make music — that moment of excitement is what it’s all about. If a restored guitar can inspire someone to start their musical journey, then that’s a win for everyone.
“During my time as a peripatetic music teacher in the local school system, I was noticing that instruments were dated and not a priority for schools to spend budget on. This led to the instruments being mistreated and not well respected. I wanted to change that perspective.”
Anyone who has an unwanted or defective guitar can donate them to David’s shop All About Guitar
All photos: David Gillam
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