Guitar stores in New York, New York

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Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

Guitar stores in New York, New York

Hi, guys, some of my friends and I might head down to catch a game at Yankee stadium before they tear it down and while I'm there I want to see all the notable guitar shops in town. I'm talking about classical/flamenco guitar shops, not yer guitar center stuff obviously. I can so far think of just Luthier Music. Please tell me of any other merchants if you can, classical shops, too, or private people that have things for sale. It's probably a great opportunity to play some beautiful guitars which are scarce in Toronto and I'm definitely in the market for something substantial. I would ask for places to see flamenco but I really won't have that much time. Thanks!!!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 1:03:36

rpguitar

Posts: 27
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: New Jersey, USA

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

Conrad,

If you are successful in locating any stores other than Luthier, please post about them! For such a large city, NYC is strangely bereft of classical/flamenco specialty shops.

There is The Guitar Salon, which is by appointment only and sells only top dollar stuff. I have not been to Savage Classical Guitar, but it looks very interesting. It's out on Long Island though.

Mandolin Brothers is a fantastic store, and might have some good nylon guitars, but is primarily a vintage electric / top dollar steel string shop.

I actually don't know of any other stores in NYC proper to recommend. I've lived across the river in NJ for decades and this is the story!

Regards,
Roger

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 5:45:44

Ricardo

Posts: 14222
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

The guy at Luthier can be a bit moody. I was in there with a Gitano singer last year, and I wanted to try some Conde's and John Price guitar my friend had recommended. The guy freaked out when I did one golpe. He was like no "golpes!!!". Then the gitano singer made be play some bulerias and he did palmas, and the guy came again and said "look guys, no flamenco in here, you might scare away my classical guitar customers!". Some BS like that. We left right away. The guy who sent me to the store to try that guitar was surprised by what happened. So the guitars are there to try, just do tremolos only.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 8:30:30

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

The guy freaked out when I did one golpe. He was like no "golpes!!!". Then the gitano singer made be play some bulerias and he did palmas, and the guy came again and said "look guys, no flamenco in here, you might scare away my classical guitar customers!".

Jeez...

The guy doesn't happen to have a brother that runs a Flamenco Forum site....does he?

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 9:05:23

DonS

Posts: 232
Joined: Mar. 1 2007
From: Florida and San Francisco Cali

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M

quote:

The guy freaked out when I did one golpe. He was like no "golpes!!!". Then the gitano singer made be play some bulerias and he did palmas, and the guy came again and said "look guys, no flamenco in here, you might scare away my classical guitar customers!".

Jeez...

The guy doesn't happen to have a brother that runs a Flamenco Forum site....does he?

cheers,

Ron

haha! typical classical guys...just kidding I love classical players!

Ahh it's nice to be back to the good ol' forum...gracias a todos.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 9:21:51

DonS

Posts: 232
Joined: Mar. 1 2007
From: Florida and San Francisco Cali

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

Con, I don't know many stores in NY but if you were in LA you'd have a blast with Kamens, Dan Zeff's and GSI's shops all within a few hours of each other. Even Lester DeVoe's house is not too far away...that's another trip in the future Con.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 9:28:01

rpguitar

Posts: 27
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: New Jersey, USA

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

Not to defend Luthier, as I have no personal stake, but...

If you had a room full of $8,000 USD guitars that you were expected to sell "as new" you might be "touchy" if somebody jabbed his fingernail at them too, tap plate or not!

But that said, Tony from Luthier seems very nice but also reserved. I have been there twice and treated the guitars gently, but I've managed to audition things to my satisfaction (at least at my level).

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'08 Eliasson hybrid blanca, '07 Hmnos Sanchis Lopez Bulerias negra, '72 Conde blanca

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 9:40:46

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to rpguitar)

Thanks, Roger! You're a king. It is strange indeed. I had heard of The Guitar Salon and Mando Bros. and would love to check them out, thanks for reminding me! I might be limited to subway and my knowledge of that will have to be refreshed and I have no idea the proximity of all these stores so I'll have to research it. Potentially stupid question: Can you get to Long Island by transit and in reasonable time?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 9:44:00

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Ricardo)

Thanks, Ricardo. Maybe the guy's ideals of flamenco are limited to solo guitar and he was thrown off by your friend's singing. Shame.

The guys at the marvelous Twelfth Fret here in Toronto unfortunately have the same tensions about golpes. If only they all realized that there are proper, non-hazardous ways to do golpes and the opposite.

To be honest, although we can get a good deal on tix for the game, my inclusion in this trip kind of hinges on what the shops are like and what I can find to do around Manhattan etc... because as much of a baseball guy that I am, I'm not super enchanted by the idea of seeing the house that Ruth built... plus considering the cost of hotels, gas prices etc...

Tell me, Ricardo and others... what is Luthier's stock really like and are their prices decent, do they carry used guitars? Is their website accurate because it does seem as if they have lots of Condes and I want this to be worth it. I don't mind tiptoeing about his guitars as long as he'll let me play everything. Perhaps I should email the guy.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 10:02:50

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to DonS)

Don! That would be a dream in so many ways, I know. Some day. Maybe it's almost worth the flight out there because the selection of guitars would mitigate that extra cost.

I guess acoustic nylon guitar playing is more appealing to flaky Californians.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 10:08:38

rpguitar

Posts: 27
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: New Jersey, USA

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

Conrad, as a spoiled suburbanite I always drive on my NYC sojourns.

While mass transit can get you from Yankee Stadium (Bronx) to Manhattan pretty easily, LI is a stretch. Especially since that store is in Bay Shore I think (Google Map it... kinda far). Mando Bros is in Staten Island, but I think that's reachable.

Also, there is the famous 48th St guitar and music shops; not flamenco, but still cool if you are on a guitar quest in a foreign town.

As for the Luthier stock, their website is not complete according to my 2 visits. They do have numerous Condes, R. Sanchis, and Hmnos Sanchis Lopez. I bought my "Bulerias" model there. But many other instruments lurk. There is one room with stuff around the $2K - $3K mark, and another with maybe up to about $10K.

Then they have a "closet" with things he can pull out for you. I am not sure about the stocking philosophy exactly, but Tony was accomodating, and I am not a stupendously impressive player by any means... I just tried to be polite and calm.

They're not great about emails though. Try giving them a call instead.

Peace-
RP

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'08 Eliasson hybrid blanca, '07 Hmnos Sanchis Lopez Bulerias negra, '72 Conde blanca

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 10:15:50

DonS

Posts: 232
Joined: Mar. 1 2007
From: Florida and San Francisco Cali

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Conrad

Don! That would be a dream in so many ways, I know. Some day. Maybe it's almost worth the flight out there because the selection of guitars would mitigate that extra cost.

I guess acoustic nylon guitar playing is more appealing to flaky Californians.

Hey who you calling "flaky"

I'm a laid back Californian stuck in Florida... at least thats what I tell folks here..nothing like Cali..I miss it big time. I guess I can't complain though, living minutes away from the beach is always nice....ask Errol...where is flamencoguru?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 17:07:12

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to rpguitar)

Roger, thanks for all the info. You've gone above and beyond. Google Maps is great. At the least I can get to Luthier Music and Rudy's on 48th in one afternoon, perhaps Guitar Salon, too, but it appears they have no flamencos at the moment, although I've contacted them.

Haha, just kids, Don...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2008 19:05:12

Adam

Posts: 1156
Joined: Dec. 6 2006
From: Hamilton, ON

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

Conrad, you serious? First of all, the Mets are playing way better ball than the Yankees right now, and more fun to watch too

Second, who cares if there's flamenco guitars or not, there's so much to do in NYC you'll barely be able to spend 10 years there and see it all, much less a few days. Try Central Park, the museums (American Mus. of Natural History and Met. Museum of Art, also MoMA), SoHo, Greenwich Village, Times Square (touristy but fun at night) to start and oy, the list goes on... have fun here man :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2008 12:15:00

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Adam)

Hey, Adam!

...Ya, I know. it's more that my buddies want to see the Stadium more than I do. Of course, being from Toronto etc... I kinda dislike the Yankees and A-Rod anyway

I'd like to see BoSox vs. Cubs in the Series this year. But stupid me... I never thought to come to Shea! Good idea. Maybe we'll come to see Tampa/Yankees and Mets/Braves on the same weekend of the 13th. Meanwhile, I have been to New York before and seen Greenwich, the Met. Museum, bits of Central and Battery, Empire State, Lincoln Center etc... but I know there's endless stuff to see so I'm stoked about it. Unfortunately, my friend can only take so much time off work so the guitar stuff is the priority especially as I'm in the market. I'd also love to get out to some jazz clubs or flamenco but I won't have time. MoMa would be cool and if I can I'll hang at Times Square a bit longer in to the night as I'll be down there. Thanks for your input, bro!

I almost got pick-pocketed on the New York subway... guy had his hand creepin' in my jacket on a super crowded train and I just threw him a smile and a look that said "don't even think about it". Also bought a $10 Folex that worked for about a year and a half, Yaaa!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2008 13:06:24

Pgh_flamenco

Posts: 1506
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

I don't know much about NY, but would it be worth it to contact Manny's Music? They might have something on consignment or know of other shops.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2008 15:42:38

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Pgh_flamenco)

Thanks, John. According to what I read about it, Manny's is more of a museum now than an interesting shop, and currently owned by Sam Ash which is right next door apparently. I will contact them anyway though.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2008 18:35:29

rpguitar

Posts: 27
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: New Jersey, USA

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

Just a follow up... I actually went down to 48th St with a friend today.

The only store there worth bothering with for nylon guitars is Rudy's. They have a little room (cubby? nook?) with some decent instruments. A bunch of Lorientes, Kenny Hill, and then cheaper stuff (Alvarez etc.). No flamencos at all. Manny's told me that they ordered a bunch of Ramirez a while back, and they took so long to sell that they don't bother any more. No nice classicals there. Sam Ash, same thing.

Now if you're into electrics and steel acoustics, look out! Tons to play with at all stores.

Luthier was CLOSED which was a huge bummer. We salvaged the day with awesome tapas and sangria at Meson Sevilla on 46th though.

Just thought I'd report this. Good luck with your visit!
Roger

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'08 Eliasson hybrid blanca, '07 Hmnos Sanchis Lopez Bulerias negra, '72 Conde blanca

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 30 2008 20:00:53

Conrad

Posts: 533
Joined: Jul. 16 2003
From: Toronto, ON, Canada

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to rpguitar)

Thanks, Rog. This will mos def save me some time!

However, I wonder why Luthier was closed... for Labour day weekend? I hope that was the case and that they're not closed for a while.

Apparently the train out to Bay Shore for Savage Classical is about 1.5 hours so it's tolerable I suppose. We'll be headed sort of that way out to Shea anyway so maybe I can do it.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 30 2008 21:05:09

rombsix

Posts: 7698
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to Conrad)

Necro-post

Thinking about going to the Guitar Salon. She appears to have Serranito's Domingo Esteso from 1922 priced as "Inquire" LOL - thinking of going there to play it and do some golpes.

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2023 7:28:16

zendalex

Posts: 133
Joined: Sep. 4 2010
From: New York area

RE: Guitar stores in New York, New York (in reply to rombsix)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rombsix

Necro-post Thinking about going to the Guitar Salon. She appears to have Serranito's Domingo Esteso from 1922 priced as "Inquire" LOL - thinking of going there to play it and do some golpes.

Post a review please. With Tony passing, I don't even know if there are any nylon string guitar stores in NYC area (note I am not even talking specialized flamenco stores)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2023 16:04:03