Manny's New York City

FreedomStain · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:25 pm

schnepf13 wrote:

FreedomStain wrote:

schnepf13 wrote:

You do have to do a bit of traveling when instrument shopping in the City these days. There are some good places outside of Manhattan, as well. I used to take lessons at a place called Astoria Music on 30th Ave in Astoria. Not really a huge selection of stuff but very reasonably priced. George the owner was a very nice guy, as well!

I live a block away from that place and only go when I need Greek Bouzouki strings. Otherwise, I don't even look at it when passing by. That place is a HUGE rip off when it comes to buying instruments and I've seen George make some sales that he shouldn't have.

I've seen him put an acoustic guitar on the ground, standing straight up. He then said it was a good guitar because it stands on it's own... He was serious.

Yeesh! Seems like time has clouded my memories of the place. Still, I enjoyed taking lessons there, and it's nice to know there's a good place to get bouzouki strings in Astoria if you need to!

The Dark Side clouds everything.

It seems so stereotypical, but Astoria is the place for bouzouki stuff. Ever since luthier Dino Bersis moved to Ohio, there is only one luthier left in Astoria, which doesn't make it the place for quality bouzoukia that it used to be. Two great luthiers in one spot is a great thing. BTW George at Astoria Music had a bit of a reputation for making knock-offs of Dino's bouzouki.

Bouzouki is the ultimate heavy metal lead instrument- it is loud, percussive, it squeels, and is tuned CFAD. Yes, the Greeks invented a tuning that lead to drop C heavy metal. Didn't you guys hear the soundtrack to the film "300"? The Spartans were marching to heavy metal. Like most aspects of the movie, the music is historically accurate.

soggycrow · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:57 am **Posts:** 602

Just come down to Washington DC and visit Chuck Levin's, also known as Washington Music. Chuck's always did better in national trade surveys than any of the New York stores anyway. Who needs them?

strangedata · **Joined:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:05 am **Posts:** 12

Sad, sad, sad.

I bought my first real strat there last year and they've given me the best service in NYC (specially after coming from Guitar Center -- the worst service in town.)

I'm grateful that the person who got my order also gave me a handful of picks with their name on it.

Is this decision final?

Todd Montgomery · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:26 pm

strangedata wrote:

Sad, sad, sad.

I bought my first real strat there last year and they've given me the best service in NYC (specially after coming from Guitar Center -- the worst service in town.)

I'm grateful that the person who got my order also gave me a handful of picks with their name on it.

Is this decision final?

Ya, Manny's is closed. It's owned by Sam Ash and the store will be renamed a Sam Ash when it opens in the summer.

Love,
Todd

ZZDoc · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:10 pm

[quote="Martian"]I remember back in high school, my friends and I would sporadically cut out of school and go up to 48th St. There were several great stores there with Manny's being the focal point and cornerstone of it all. This was in the early 70s (yea, I'm old).

Think you're old??? Try 'Manny's ca. 1958. Remember going in there one Saturday and asking Henry..."What was that guitar Jimmy Burton was playing on the Nelson show this week. Never seen one like it before."

"That" he replied, was a Rickenbacker!" :wink:

FreedomStain · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:25 pm

Call when they open, the salesman may be working there still. Nothing will really change, only the sign out front. The same people and equipment, down to the outdated registers and broken guitars, will probably be there.

strangedata · **Joined:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:05 am **Posts:** 12

FreedomStain wrote:

Call when they open, the salesman may be working there still. Nothing will really change, only the sign out front. The same people and equipment, down to the outdated registers and broken guitars, will probably be there.

Hope you're right, because I have a bunch of things to buy in September and I was not considering any place else. Hopefully I'll be able to get the same service.

strangedata · **Joined:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:05 am **Posts:** 12

Oh, curiously I was reading this on Gibson's website today:

Quote:

But the punch of Townshend’s SG Special-based sound is unbeatable. He played the model exclusively on-stage from 1968 until 1971, and reportedly bought his first at New York City’s Manny’s Music in July ’68. Mostly he used Specials from 1966 to ’70, with full black pick guards.

By the way, even though I play Fender exclusively, I always read something interesting on Gibson's site.

It would be nice if Fender had something like the Gibson's Lifestyle section (they even talk about strats a lot there!)

Todd Montgomery · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:52 am

zzdoc wrote:

Martian wrote:

"That" he replied, was a Rickenbacker!" :wink:

Nice.
I don't remember Burton playing Ric's - do you remember which model it was?

Love,
Todd

ZZDoc · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:46 am

Todd Montgomery wrote:

zzdoc wrote:

Martian wrote:

"That" he replied, was a Rickenbacker!" :wink:

Nice.
I don't remember Burton playing Ric's - do you remember which model it was? Love, Todd

It was in one, and only one episode. It had to be an early model, the number of which I do not know. The thing which caught my eye was their characteristic crescent shaped upper and lower horns. So it sparked my question.

Todd Montgomery · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:01 pm

zzdoc wrote:

Todd Montgomery wrote:

zzdoc wrote:

Martian wrote:

"That" he replied, was a Rickenbacker!" :wink:

Nice.
I don't remember Burton playing Ric's - do you remember which model it was? Love, Todd

It was in one, and only one episode. It had to be an early model, the number of which I do not know. The thing which caught my eye was their characteristic crescent shaped upper and lower horns. So it sparked my question.

Wow, that's really cool. Thanks.

Love,
Todd

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