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Retirement
Having started this business in 2001, the time has come for me to retire and cease trading. Having reached 70 years of age, my wife Christine and I have many other things that we would like to do, not the least of which is to spend more time with our sons, their partners and our grandchildren …. ‘time to smell the roses’ – as Christine puts it.
All of our owned guitar stock is sold now. We do still have some very fine new guitars by Stephen Frith, on commission sale, which will still be available for some time yet.
For enquirers of the student range of guitars by Altamira, Paco Castillo and Juan Hernandez, we are happy to advise about selection but then put enquirers in direct contact with our trade supplier who will look after you. Our Cadenza models; which have been so fantastically successful, will continue to be made in exactly the same way but from the new year will be available by direct purchase from the maker Stephen Eden. Pricing, quality and service will remain the same. Please contact:- sabrina@cadenzaguitars.com.
We have made so many friends with suppliers and clients alike; not just as business colleagues or acquaintancies but friends with whom we plan to keep in contact. We thank all suppliers and customers over the years with whom we have had a very enjoyable relationship.
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Thank you Tomas.
I still remember your kindness in helping me to secure a Visenut case for the guitar that Gary Southwell made for me in July 2019. Many good wishes for your retirement. - Tomas Brooklyn, New York USA
Thank you Lee
The most decent, patient, honest and generous guitar dealer on Planet Earth. And someone I truly loved to hear from, or contact, on occasion (because a rather nice instrument might be available and temptation can be such a beautiful thing, irrespective of the damage to one’s pocket). Is there such a thing as retirement for a man like you Miles? ;) Wishing you and Christine a long and happy retirement. Lee
Thank you John. Time spent with Canterbury Guitar Society has been enjoyable and rewarding - and long may it continue.
Dear Miles and Christine, On behalf of myself and as Secretary of the Canterbury Guitar Society, we wish you both health, peace and contentment in the new phase of your lives, with time for more contact with your family, and visits to France. In the early days of our friendship you were seminal as our new Chair in reinvigorating the Canterbury Guitar Society, and personally, in giving me some more long overdue guitar lessons. At the same time you were starting up Kent Guitar Classics, and as a result of your professional contacts upgrading our biannual public professional concerts such that we were on occasion getting audiences of over 100 (requiring us to move the venue from the Quaker Meeting House to St Paul’s Church), to hear a stream of world class performers. Not only were you enticing them to perform for us, but Christine and yourself also frequently provided them with very comfortable overnight accommodation, and transport to Canterbury. Some of our members were delighted to buy instruments from you, but you were always free with your advice on all matters relating to the guitar, and never played the pushy salesman. It’s lovely to continue meet you and hear your playing on our monthly CGS meetings, now on Zoom, and we all look forward to resuming our contact in person as and when we can, and as and when you can between your other activities. John Kemp
Thank you Paul.
Dear Miles, I would like to wish you and your wife a fantastic, long and fulfilling retirement. I still enjoy and play the guitar you hand selected for me from Paco Castilo, your expertise was such that the guitar was an instant fit and felt so good I new I had found my instrument I thank you very much for that. Kind regards Paul Newbon.
Thank you Jim - I shall have to call you Gentleman Jim from now on!
Miles, You are sorely Missed. You were the most honest and knowledgable of any dealer I ever dealt with. I will miss our conversations. Sincerely...Jim
Thank you Jim & Colleen.
Dear Miles, Just seen that you are retiring - hope you have as happy a time as we have had. We bought a guitar from you ten years ago. It was a wonderful experience visiting you at home, you made us so welcome and provided the expertise we needed. We saw you many times since at the Canterbury recitals which were so good. A couple of years ago, now retired ourselves, we moved to Chesterfield - to be near our grandchildren. All the best to you, Jim & Colleen
Thank you Matthew. I hope your Oren Myers guitar continues to serve you well.
Dear Miles, I want to wish you both a wonderful retirement. Your understanding, patience and kindness helped me, and many others I’m sure, find the quietude to sense and hear an instrument. Few people could match such a service. Kind Regards, Matthew Allsop
Thank you David. I am sure your continued success is assured, even in these difficult times.
Miles, it was a delight to get to know you in Rome, Italy! Although we bought some guitars from you over the years, it was a different and great experience getting to dine (and drink!) with you in person, and share not only guitar stories but also the non-guitar stories - about ourselves, families, friends and experiences. I wish you all the best in this next chapter of your life, take care and enjoy it!
Thank you Jonathan. So happy that the guitar has helped you. The Cadenza production continues with sales managed by Sabrina and Stephen.
I was a relative new comer to Kent Guitar Classics, but was lucky to be introduced to the Cadenza guitar developed by Stephen Eden and yourself. It has really turbo charged my playing and passion for the guitar. So thank you and have a happy and well deserved retirement.
Thank you Alexandra. It is a pleasure to see your career blossoming. I'm very happy to hear you continue to love the Christopher Dean guitar.
Wishing you all the best for your well-earned retirement, Miles! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed coming over and trying the guitars you had, and feel very lucky to have found the one I still absolutely love to play. Sending best wishes and hope to cross paths again in the future! Alexandra
I visited your store in September 2019 looking for a Hauser like guitar. You allowed me to play on many really great guitars. You also allowed me to play on Hauser I 1936 which I will remember forever. I greatly appreciate your unique approach - only sell guitars that you would buy for yourself. Thank you and my best regards!
Hi Dominik - I recall your visit. Like all enquirers, you were very welcome.
Miles, you may not remember me but I visited you back in 2016 looking for a "Hauser" style guitar, you picked me up from the train station, give me 2-hours of your time and let me play for a few mins on your 1940 Hauser model. I will never forget it. I never bought an instrument from you but I really really apprecaited the wisdom, time and respect you showed me. I just wanted to say thank you so much. Much love
Many thanks Guy - keep safe.
Miles, Thank you again for your kind help with my purchase last year. The whole experience was perfect. I wish you a healthy, long, and contented retirement.
Dear Jan - thank you for your kind words - very generously expressed as always. We will stay in touch for sure.
A Milestone. It feels like the end of an era. A time where guitars could be admired, played, discussed and acquired in a warm homely atmosphere of trust, wise knowledgeable advice and a genuine commitment and dedication to how to best help and serve each and every customer that came throug those Sevenoaks doors, from Julian Bream himself to the local 8-Year Old looking for a new hobby. Each and every one were treated with the same attention, patience and respect. And l count myself fortunate to have been one of them. Many a luthier, young and old, owes a debt of gratitude to Miles for his (or her) start in professional life. While many players, from amateurs to some of our greatest names in guitar today, perform, record and play on instruments they once discovered and fell in love with at Miles’ place. Again, me among them. Miles, today l raise a celebratory glass to you, in gratitude for your life-long dedication to our instrument, wishing you all the well-deserved comforts and pleasures of your retirement. I’ll be seeing you. To Miles
Many thanks Gill.
Wishing you all the best for your retirement, Miles. The end of an era! - but hoping it will be the start of a good new one for you and your family. Best wishes, Gill Robinson
Grazie mille Davide.
Forse il più serio e competente rivenditore internazionale di chitarre. Grave perdita.
Dear Steve and Sabrina - Thank you for your very kind and touching remarks. It has been a pleasure for me too and I wish you much deserved, continued success. Rest assured we will stay in regular contact.
The guitar world is losing a remarkable asset, as anyone will say and have said, you are an absolute pleasure to share company with. Your wealth of knowledge and warm approachable presence is rare and inspiring. Wishing you all the happiness in the world for your retirement, we thank you greatly for all your business, guidance and inspiration over the years and look forward to keeping in touch as friends. The Cadenza collaberation has been a remarkable journey which will continue on with the greatest respects to it's origins, without you it may not have ever been possible! Best wishes for many more years of joy and health, Steve and Sabrina x
Thank you Sumeth.
Hello Miles I am Sumeth from Thailand . I hope you enjoy your time after retirement . Cheers Best regards Sumeth
Hi Pauline - that's very kind of you.
Dank je wel Arnold.
dear Miles, i wish you and your wife a fine retirement , thanks for the nice time we could spend together .
Dear Miles I have just sent you an e mail as I have only just read that you are retiring to spend more time with Christine and your family. It's been a long time since I visited you to buy my beautiful Antonio Marin Montero Satinwood guitar which I still enjoy playing very much. Grateful thanks for being such a devoted ambassador of fine guitars and for looking after all those who visited you for many years. You will be much missed. I wish you a very happy retirement with time to pursue new ventures - or to relax and to put your feet up! Warmest wishes Pauline
Thank you very much Michael.
Dear Miles, I wish you and your wife a wonderful time with children and grandchildren! Thank you for the visit I payed to you a couple of years ago, it was so nice and an unforgettable time bringing home my "new" guitar.
Thank you Niko.
Dear Miles, enjoy your life with your beloved family and I wish you a nice time. Thank you for your nice work. Best regards and wishes Niko (from Germany)
Hello Thomas. I thank you for your kindness. Yes, I remember, with sadness now, our time in Munchen with dear Fritz. Be safe.
Dear Miles, thank you very much for this great time with you and your guitars. You have always inspired me with your good taste. The one or other guitar I got from you. They were always exquisite instruments. But also the videos with your explanations were always a great help for me in the world of the guitar. I also fondly remember the wonderful dinner with our friend Fritz Ober in Munich. We spend a good time with some beer. I wish you and your wife all the best and hope you will enjoy your life. If you come to Bavaria, get in touch! Best regards, Thomas
Steve - Many thanks for your generous comments. It has been a pleasure and fun. I have been very content selling your very fine guitars to many happy customers. I also thank you for all the help and service you have given in your repairs and restorations.
Good luck in the years to come Miles and Christine. It's been a brilliant collaboration with you especially the opportunity to repair and examine great master guitars from the past. You have been a wonderful mentor in my own work as the guitars made in my workshop matured. I shall miss all the help you extended freely and the great advice that has been an added significant influence on my own guitars. Have a super time for many years to come, Steve
Peter - It has always been my pleasure to spend time with you and hope we will continue to have our conversations in the future.
Dear Miles, while I am happy for your and your wife, the guitar community will miss you very much. I have spent many hours in your house where you always generously hosted me, it was always fascinating listening to you and your great wisdom and expertise about guitars, especially Hauser. Your stories about your personal interactions with Bream and others, I will truly miss all that. Enjoy your well deserved retirement, wish you and your wife all the best!
Thank you Phill - and you'll always be welcome.
Best wishes on your retirement Miles! Also many thanks to you and Christine for the times I have visited to buy or sell guitars and been made so welcome. Kind regards, Phill
Thank you Carlos - and also Jon, Chan Allan and Phil - it is very kind of you to have sent your comments which are very much appreciated.
Dear Miles, I never bought a guitar from you but was often checking the many wonders you had for sale, and thought I would probably end up finding one for me. Thank you for all the work you did during so many years to bring fine guitars to us amateurs, helping us getting in touch with them and their sound even from a distance. I wish you and your wife a nice retirement time, and I hope you still managed to keep a few fine guitars for your private enjoyment in the years to come. we will definitely miss your shop, Best wishes, Carlos.
Thank you for everything Miles and not least your expertise and enthusiasm. Your store will be greatly remembered and sorely missed. Best of luck from Sweden. /Jon
Dear Miles, Congratulations on your decision to retire. I would also like to thank you for all you've done for the classical guitar community. Your knowledge and professionalism in the industry have been second to none. I purchased a 2001 Gary Southwell guitar and a 2004 David Rouse guitar from you, which I still play today.
Here's to a long and happy retirement together. Thanks for all you've done for the guitar community worldwide. You'll be missed. Cheers.
Well I have always enjoyed coming back to your site and checking the guitars, even when I had no money to buy them.I've recommended you on various places. Does this mean the business is closing? No one to take it on? The classical guitar community will feel the hole your retirement will cause. oh well, I hope you have a long and enjoyable retirement.
Many thanks Roy. I am happy the Simon Ambridge guitar pleases - they usually do!
Sad to hear of you’re retirement but well deserved! Thank you for my wonderful Simon Ambridge guitar which you kindly delivered to me in person back in the summer. Have a great 2021 and happy future!
Manuel - Thank you very much for your kind words – it is very much appreciated. It is clear that Siccas Guitars has become the most active guitar seller in Europe and you have all worked very hard to achieve your deserved position in the global market place. I wish you continued success, Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Dear Miles, I just saw your retirement announcement and I would like to thank you for what you did for the guitar community. You are also an inspiration for us - always aiming to offer for the best quality instruments for guitar players all around the world. I remember the days when I regularly visited your website and how much I admired the beautiful guitars you showed to the world - long before we started our business. Best regards, Manuel - Siccas Guitars
Hi Michael - thank you for your kind thoughts. You shall always be welcome to call in here - when enjoying some of the Kentish hospitality.
Miles, while it’s a disappointment to hear KGC is winding down I would like to take the opportunity to wish you and Christine a long and happy retirement.
Hello Adrian. Thank you for your kind comments. I'm very happy your Marin Plazuelo guitar continues to please you. Keep safe.
Dear Miles, I never had the pleasure of visiting you in person, but I'm sure I speak for many when I commend the service your website has provided to the classical guitar community. The instrument descriptions and recordings are a wonderful archive and resource. I hope it might be possible to maintain public access to them in the future. In the meantime, I continue to revel in my Jose Marin Plazuelo, which you supplied earlier this year with your characteristic care and attention. Every good wish, Adrian Hunter
Hi Tom - it must be 40 years since we last saw each other at Ferens Art Gallery - they were good times too. I am sorry to hear of Joyce's diagnosis which must be distressing; oh for a magic wand! Thank you for sending your welcome message. Take care.
Hi Miles, Doesn't time fly, It does not seem that long since our meetings at the Bridge Guitar Circle in Hull, Happy Days. Congratulations on your retirement, make the most of your family time, Our family now live inTexas and although we see them at Christmas for our two month visit, (great weather) we do miss them the rest of the year and of course this year we can't visit at all. I have just purchased a Joan Cashamira Classical guitar, but it is a slimline model and I was very impressed with it, I also have a fine Flamenco guitar which I enjoy, Unfortunately I seem to have lost the desire to play since my wife,Joyce was diagnosed with dementia and needs a great deal of interaction, I feel I can't just leave her on her own while I practice, as she just wonders where I am and follows me, standing beside me until I finish. However I have very fond memories of our time in Hull and wish you and Christine many years of happy times together and with the family. It was a pleasure having an association with you Miles, and I will treasure those times. Tom.xx
Hello Bob - that's very kind of you. Many thanks.
Dear Miles, Similar to David Bollom, over many years I visited you just a few times, but always felt pleasure at our meetings and greatly appreciated your knowledge and generosity in allowing me to play some very fine - and sometimes rare and precious - instruments. So many thanks for your contribution to the instrument and its players and every good wish for a happy retirement with Christine and your extended family. Hope we cross paths in the not too distant future. With every good wish, Bob Money
Thank you David for your generous comment.
Dear Miles and Christine I only visited with you a few times but I felt welcomed everytime. I never felt rushed or under pressure and the calm environment of your conservatory at first and later your excellent showroom really allowed a player to get a feel for the very fine instruments you had. Your own knowledge and impartial advice was invaluable in helping to make the impossible decision of which guitar to adopt! I will treasure my Per Hallgren for ever and will have very fond memories of playing countless guitars in your home for hours on end! I wish you both only happiness and joy in the coming years as a well deserved reward for the joy and happiness you have given all the players who ever visited or bought an instrument from you. My very best regards David Bollom
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