I honestly can't recall the last time I went into one of those stores ... other than to pick up a used vintage kit from another state. I REEEEEEEEEEALY don't want to ever go in to any of them, but I've had kits shipped to one or two of them in neighboring states. I walk in, pick up the kit, and leave. I'm a firm believer in supporting the 5 Stars, like Paul at Buffalo Drum Outlet or Memphis Drum Shop or Forks or whatever.

Why do you think I call those joints by the name of "Banjo Center"?

Unfortunately, the closest local drum shoppe around me is quite far away. I end up teaching the local Banjo Center employees a few things. I hate to think I am smarter than the local retailer. What happened to the sales person teaching ME something?

Bath Music... Bath Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Owned by: Momma & Pop. Phil and Mary to the regulars, but always Momma and Pop to everyone else. It was literally, a mom & pop music store.

I started buying stuff there when I was 13 years old. The last purchase I made from Phil & Mary I was 49 years old. I grew up in that music store. Mary had a kitchen in the back. She was always cooking and there was always hot coffee and Italian delicacies to be had. It was like family. I miss those souls. Those times are long gone. The world is a different place.

Today, it's; "Whadda ya want?" The humanity has been taken out of it.

John

Schneider's Music. It was the only music shop in the region when I was a kid. I asked someone about it. They said the building was torn down years ago. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I can still hear the little antique spring-loaded bell they had attached to the door....ll the Fenders and Gibsons...those blue sparkle padded guitar amps and speaker cabinets....checker tile floor...old csh register...glass counter with stuff inside the case -like Ruff Kote and those slide whistle things ...and harmonicas, etc.....bins of sheet music and, yes, vinyl albums!. I used to spend my afternoons there while my folks shopped. I probably drove the people crazy with all my touching the stuff...lol!

I feel privileged to have been there when they existed. It was real American small business in action. Oh how times change!

I think this is indicative of what's happening in the U.S. overall...

steveund!!! My Bakersfield brotha!!! I live up by the airport man... we should hang some time and talk shop.

Anyway, not sure if you are aware, but there is an awesome drum shop in Fresno... Bentley's Drum Shop. Dana Bentley is one of the classiest dudes around and always provides outstanding customer service. If you're back up there you should check it out.

Cheers,

Ryan

Hey Ryan

You might remember Pete Jones Music, I miss the very feeling I got while going in there. With Pete, Tim and Johnny Snyder SR, and of course Ed Sanners had his repair shop on the 2nd floor.

Yeah would love to hang out. I was just up in fresno friday and saturday, I wanted to run over there but just couldn't make it. But I plan on going up again in a couple of months and see it.

When I was a "kid" I had the priviledge of frequenting "Midwestern Music" on Gage Ave. in Topeka, Ks. Owned & operated by a great man named Cecil Baker and his family (son Larry was an original member of "Kansas"). It was just what you've all been talking about.

Moved to Hays, Ks to go to college. They had a family-owned music store named "Hays Music." Run by the Meckle (SP?) famiy. Another great place. One of my best friends (band member and sang at my wedding) repaired instruments there and I was in-and-out of there as much as I was the above.

Most of those places, even here in Kansas, are LONG GONE. One exception that I know of is Midwest Drum & Percussion in Wichita. I always stop by when we make it that way, and the mgr (Matt J) and the rest make me feel like it's back in the 70s again. So, if you're ever there, make sure you stop by!

My last experience with Banjo Center (in Wichita) wasn't a good one. I walked back into the drum department and basically was ignored by the two HS/College aged kids who where working. They probably wondered what some old **** (gas-passer) like me was even in there for. When I did get their attention and asked them a simple question about a Gretsch set they had on "sale," neither could answer without "looking it up on the computer" (as mentioneded in the original post by steveund). Funny thing -- I figured it out in my, slow, old-fashioned "mind" before they got the answer from the computer... oh well... enough ramblin' I'm sure...

BTW -- I need to point you all to SuperSonic Music (and Treehouse Custom Drums) in Topeka. Their owner-mgr (Derrick) and people working are great, too!

Bill