Great mom and pop stores of the past
- Thread starter Rockinvet
- Start date
There used to be a lot of small shops in the Buffalo area, and a few are still kicking. Twin Village in Lancaster is the place for band instruments and lessons. A few years back Fender in its wisdom pulled the plug on their dealership even though they always carried a great selection of their brands, that really ticked me off about Fender. They were a dealer since the late 50s.
Fiesta Red
Doctor of Teleocity
The lamentably deceased JAM Music and Sound in Arlington, Texas.
They sold me my first Shure SM58 mic, my first Shure Green Bullet (harp) mic, my first three pedals (Ibanez Sound Tank TS-5 Tube Screamer, Ibanez Sound Tank PH-5 Phaser and. Dunlop Crybaby), my beloved 63RI Vibroverb and my fiesta red 62RI Stratocaster…
I still have both those mics, the amp and the Strat.
I kinda miss the old C&S music…they didn’t have the coolest stuff, but they were there and they weren’t Guitar Center.
I still regularly frequent Competition Music in the beautiful Polytechnic neighborhood of Fort Worth (AKA “The Hood”)…Scott’s done right by me for over 25 years. That’s where I bought my avatar Telecaster.
They sold me my first Shure SM58 mic, my first Shure Green Bullet (harp) mic, my first three pedals (Ibanez Sound Tank TS-5 Tube Screamer, Ibanez Sound Tank PH-5 Phaser and. Dunlop Crybaby), my beloved 63RI Vibroverb and my fiesta red 62RI Stratocaster…
I still have both those mics, the amp and the Strat.
I kinda miss the old C&S music…they didn’t have the coolest stuff, but they were there and they weren’t Guitar Center.
I still regularly frequent Competition Music in the beautiful Polytechnic neighborhood of Fort Worth (AKA “The Hood”)…Scott’s done right by me for over 25 years. That’s where I bought my avatar Telecaster.
Hames Music has been closed since 2011.
Vic isn't there any more, but Tim still is (to my knowledge), so I'd recommend taking a ride south to Canonsburg to visit Guitar Gallery. Great guys, great service.
Fat Sound! That's where I got my Fralin Vintage Hots.
Rockinvet
Friend of Leo's
Aside from dealers, is the Anchor Lounge still around?
The Anchor Bar. home of the original Buffalo wings? They are still here and have multiple locations now.
orbit_caster
TDPRI Member
Captain Whizeagle’s in Portland, Oregon, owned by Fred and Toody, then of The Rats, later Dead Moon, and then Pierced Arrows. They catered to kids without a lot of money. Lots of Guyatone amps. I bought a strat copy (Taro, made in Japan) from them in 1982. I still have the body in action. Of all the music stores I’ve been, theirs was the one where I felt most welcome.
Rockinvet
Friend of Leo's
Great wings. Always stopped there when on the road. They used to have a trio there too with a B3. Back in the 80s.
Mandolin Brother on Staten Island, NY. Gone but not forgotten, as is Stan Jay, the inimitable owner.
Also in NYC, Matt Uminov on Bleeker St. They had great stuff, but very speedy. I bought an ESP Strat from them in the '80's. Still have it...
Also in NYC, Matt Uminov on Bleeker St. They had great stuff, but very speedy. I bought an ESP Strat from them in the '80's. Still have it...
Woodsy's?
Pointmonger
Tele-Afflicted
Shopped at both a lot.
Also Wurlitzers wax a national brand and I have had 1940s saxes engraved EU Wurlitzer. I think they started as a publisher of like marching band sheet music?
I visited Umanov a lot but I think only ever bought fret wire there.
Matt screamed at his staff for letting me use his calipers on the wire I was looking at and bought. Back then the box of 2’ lengths did not have specs on it.
Went to alla them shops, RIP!
Not sure of the name but I bought an Ampeg V4 half stack there in maybe 1984 and they were not around much longer after that.
Daddys I started shopping at in the 1970s in NH which was the first location, the owner of the chain was usually there and had the biggest collection of Tweed Fender amps I ever saw in one place.
The whole middle off the store, 3-4 rows 10-12 amps long in every size, and all for sale.
He had locations in several states and I hit many of them, bought and sold tons of gear, some locations let me take apart vintage Fender guitars just to look them over and check if they were legit or partly fake.
Now and then I needed an oddball cable and they would have ten made up so I could buy one.
Then one day I stopped in and the place was empty.
Read they got behind and merch was going to be seized so they loaded out and we’re gone from every location.
RIP
In Pensacola, Florida, my go to store was Warrington Music. Except for the Telecaster in my avatar pic, I bought all my guitars, new and used, and most of my amps there (over an 8 year period). It was a working musician hangout.
dmrogers
TDPRI Member
Tommy Covington
I did a recent search and you can still find info about Mister Covington online.
Lineville65
TDPRI Member
Des Moines, Iowa:
Red Scobee Music- where my first Telecaster was bought in 1968 along with a Standel Artist amp. Still have it with it’s hang tag price in Charlie’s writing.
Des Moines Music House-In my mind can still see the rows of sparkling Kustom tuck and rolled upholstered heads and cabinets.
Red Scobee Music- where my first Telecaster was bought in 1968 along with a Standel Artist amp. Still have it with it’s hang tag price in Charlie’s writing.
Des Moines Music House-In my mind can still see the rows of sparkling Kustom tuck and rolled upholstered heads and cabinets.
