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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 69
Location: UK | Just got back from my vacation in New York and Washington. I've always wanted to visit the guitar stores on 48th street to compare them to the one's here in London, on Denmark street. This time I got a good conduct pass from my wife to go off and visit them for a couple of hours.
I hope the following report is of interest.
I visited Rudys, Mannys and Sam (whathisname?). All except Sam had a poor selection of Ovations. In fact the only Ovations in both Rudys and Mannys were ultrathin backed Elites and Legends.
Not that I'm complaining. In fact I was staggered at how LOUD the ultrathin Legend that I played was.
The best selection of Ovations was at Sam's. I played a gorgeous Elite 12 string (also ultrathin back) which was a very tempting price (can't remember exactly right now!).
Also at Sam's was a Collectors 1997, the parlour guitar, without case in good condition for USD 500. I'm glad I played it because I had secretly coveted one for some time but found it less interesting that I thought it would be. It was in great condition but I suspect it has been hanging in the shop since 1997. Still, for $500 it has got to be worth considering (and is probably still there if you are quick about it!).
Best value had to be the two deep bowled, roundholed "balladeers" with natural satin finish which were USD 650 each. I'm fairly certain they were deep bowled but there again, I could be wrong.
We then went to Washington to do the sights (v. interesting indeed) and while I was there I went down to a shop in Alexandria, called Acoustic Axis, which was doing some very keen prices on Ovations.
I was offered a Melissa Etheridge 6-String Adamas for $1150 which was absolutely gorgeous sounding. However (please don't flame me for this) I think the looks are an acquired taste and not for me. Also very tempting was a 2003 Collectors for only $895, which in UK terms is a ridiculous price for this guitar (I was offered the same here in the UK for UKP 1,850). I'm definitely thinking about this one!
I also played a twin neck Celebrity, which once and for all diminished my desire for this instrument. It is a matter of taste, of course but I could not find a comfortable way to play this guitar. I've fantasised about owning a twin-neck acoustic for years but I think it will remain in my dreams for a lot longer (unless I can afford an Ovation custom shop job).
Hope that was of interest to the board's readers
Louis |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I did the same thing last year. I thought the stores on 48th were a disspointment, especcially the pissy 'tude of the staff in Sam's Ass. Umanov's in Greenwich village was good & Mandolin Brothers on Staten Island was definately worth the effort and I found a couple of small stores in Brooklyn which had some interesting Mandolins & Lap Steels. US prices are very keen compared to the UK. On my way out we had a few days in London, so I did the usual trawl around Denmark Street & Charing Cross Rd. One dealer (guess who, Big L.) had a '68 Thunderhead up at £1200, which I later found out sold at that price, another was asking over a grand £GBP for a beaten-up '72 1621 Artist. When I asked why the price was so high he said, and I quote "It's the first Ovation ever made" What a Muppet.
This year it's Nashville, then SoCal to get a guided tour by Moody of the live sex shows, sorry I meant guitar stores. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Sorry you blokes were disappointed.
48th (like most everything else nowadays) was much, MUCH better back in it's "heyday" (mid '70 until like 1990-or so). Much more choices in regards to both establishments and inventory. Manny, Matt, and Sam (sounds like the "PepBoys") are the tenacious survivors who were (just by their size and reputation) able to ellude the demise of other smaller, independent stores caused by the advent of disco/rap/hip-hop/electronica.
"Back In the Day" it used to be quite an "eye-opening" experience for a young, virile, mop-topped muso to venture on down to 48th St.
(Back before Mickey Mouse owned Times Square) ;) |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Cliff, I may have been dissapointed, but it was still a lot better than the London stores. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Yep, Mandolin brothers is world class. And as for 48th street, it is true, pre-1990 it was something else, though, you know, it may be because we were young and enthusiastic, god I feel old. |
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November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Well, on a MUCH less significant note, I will be venturing forth for a one-day tour of the Seattle Ovation scene, from the hinterlands of the Inland Empire. I have been doing some on-line research; not particularly auspicious indicators. I will let you all know what I find. I wonder if the sales staff at any of the establishments will be impressed by my OFC membership? No matter, "casting pearls before swine", probably. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Yep, Mandolin brothers is world class . . "
They certainly are.
Last week, Jeanette called me from her cel phone in her car to tell me to tune into the local NPR station (WNYC-FM). They were doing their weekly feature in which they pay tribute to a specific NYC borough or neighborhood. That day they were doing Staten Island, and were just going into an hour-long "radio tour" of Mandolin Bros. It was VERY interesting and informative and explained alot about their history, clientele and inventory - especially in the (cue the angelic choir) "High-end Room". At home later that night we were discussing how much we enjoyed it, and Jeanette asked:
"Y'know, I heard all of these beautiful sounding guitars, and all of these names repeatedly bantered about, . . .
. . . but I didn't once hear 'Ovation' mentioned".
I cracked open a new tray of cubes and grabbed the rum bottle. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | When I was there they had a reasonable selection of Ovations in stock. A while ago they had the balls to ticket an early shiney bowl at $3K. He could have started a whole "vintage" Ovation market. Or maybe not. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I too have watched 48th street go down hill. Actually it started going downhill about the same time they "cleaned up" 42nd street.... hmmm???
DC area, where I am I cannot use the word to describe the music scene here. The biggest market for instruments are the schools, and few people who grow up in this area stay here, and few who move here stay here. Near Baltimore (which is still considered the DC area there was Bill's Music (local version of big store like Sam Ash), a small Vintage shop, Mars and Guitar Center all within eye-line of each other. Music & Arts Centers chain everywhere. There are a few local shops and few institutions like Washington Music and Victor Litz, but the majority is geared toward sale to the teen and under crowd.
The "professional" musician in MD is more likely someone (or band) who gigs once a month for free, or makes a living teaching some aspect of music. The few clubs that used to be, are pretty much gone.
Sad for the nations capital. There are pockets of support for kids music programs in schools and the such. But as I said, they don't grow up to play around here, they leave as soon they are able.
My studio was founded on the idea to find some of the closet players that just don't have time to play out anymore, but miss it. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 69
Location: UK | Great responses and very interesting. I should have mentioned Mandolin brothers, especially as over the years I've bought several guitars from them.
As my days of flashing mucho cash evaporated with the end of the dot-com bubble I thought it best to avoid temptation entirely and not visit Mr Jay's House Of Joy at all.
But of ALL the guitar stores I've frequented in the US, Mr Jay's establishment would have to be a point 10 on the Richter. And over the years he and his staff have always answered with diligent detail any enquiry I've asked of them.
Shame he doesn't do more Ovations! |
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New York state of mind (and Washington)
