Btw.. I accept distance is culturally relative, and the British 'miles away' is probably just a short hop by USA standards.
But I don't drive, and rely on the deteriorating expensive/inadequate UK public transport system.
My nearest cities, are Bristol, Bath, and Exeter which do have great guitar shops,
but they tend to be way out of my price range...

I can get the guitars I want brand new boxed at half price or less off the internet
if I wait long enough for them to be discontinued...