Musician's General Store Closing
It was one of those days, post-summer but pre-fall, leaves still on the strees and muscat grapes in my bag from the Cobble Hill CSA. It was a day when I walked down Court Street and thought to myself, "How quaint that I live in a neighborhood that still has a music store. And how beatufiully that store is all lit up." And then I read the sign, about how the Musician's General Store was closing. Based on a note in the window, it seems that the owner's decision to not renew their lease was more personal than financial (i.e., they did not sayt they are being crowded out of the neighborhood by high rents). And the store will be continuing music lessons at the Micro Museum on Smith Street. If you're looking for good deals on instruments and other music-related paraphanalia, you have until the end of October.
On a music-related note, does anyone know of a place in the neighborhood where you can go to play a piano? I used to play, love playing, but have no piano. (And it has to be a piano, electric pianos don't count.)
19 Comments
Leave a comment
Also related: Have you seen the sign on the dry cleaner on Court & Luquer? They also lost their lease I think? I liked them :(
We noticed that Target on Atlantic was selling music equipment - like the kind you played in elementary school that you used to have to rent through the school! I felt sort of uneasy about that, but at the same time it was fun to look at; I've always wanted to pick back up that violin that I quit in 4th grade because the classes didn't move fast enough :P Maybe one day, I'll find someplace other than Target to purchase one from :)
I have a Casio digital synth with your name on it ;)
I used to rent a room with a piano at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in Park Slope. It's lovely to walk across the Gowanus looking forward to the joys of amateur musicianship... (Rates are pretty cheap, too, last I checked!)
Uggh, they just did a nice tune-up on my guitar! I hate Guitar Center--it's like being Wayne's World. What a bummer. Have you checked the music place on Court and Pacific? I definitely have heard piano coming out of there.
Oh no! That's where my stepson blew all his Christmas/birthday money on his first guitar. Great guys working there.
there's a great new spot called Jalopy down on Columbia @ Woodhull (next to Moonshine). they build/rebuild/sell all manner of stringed intruments. plus live music friday & saturday, coffee, art gallery.... great people too.
they were written up at the B61 blog, the third story down. http://www.b61productions.com/
the Brooklyn Conservatory is great (and reasonably priced). e: if you want to borrow my violin, it's gathering dust at the moment. I can recommend a terrific teacher...
I'm sorry, but the musician's general store was lame and annoying and expensive. I was really pissed because they used to carry individual blank CD-rs in the days before you can get them anywhere and they stopped because you could buy them cheaper online. Yes, but you are a general store, where people go when they need something...NOW. I hated them so much for that.
Anyway, don't forget that female run guitar shop on 3rd ave, that's supposed to be good.
Mom & Pop music stores throughout the U.S. are quitting due to the evil empire i.e. Guitar Center. It's awful to watch. They get special discounts from manufacturers that little stores can't match.
I've never been in Target or WalMart; I hardly go to supermarkets. But isn't a Target with inexpensive musical instruments in a place like AY a good thing - to the extent that that it makes musical instruments (and other stuff) more accessible to lower income consumers?
Just Asking.
PS: I love the Home D.
Apparently it is not. I read the reviews for each of the (Target) products and they said things like "don't buy this *instrument shaped object* it will break the first time you use it" and "this is a waste of time, it is so cheap and sounds so awful that your child will become discouraged and quit playing thinking that they don't have skill". I'd technically have to disagree with Wal Marts and Targets making things better for communities in any way...but that's another topic! :)
Oh that's so sad. I used to live near this store, and when I was back visiting some friends in New York a month ago, I was happy to see it was still open. Such a shame.
Yeah, I agree with that guy. Musician's General Store is lame. I like CD-Rs though. CD-Rs are cool. I use them all of the time. I usually get them in different colors. You can get them in red and green and blue and yellow. I still use Napster even though the music isn't free anymore just so that I can burn music onto my CD-Rs. Musician's General Store - lame. CD-Rs - kewl ;)
sad but true, the place was weak. pricey, and not immune to music store attitude (not all the clerks, but some). too much off-brand junk, as well, though i feel for them in this regard as it must be hard to get that big-name authorization. guitar center is NOT the only alternative. go to main drag in williamsburg and see how a music store should be.
sad but true, the place was weak. pricey, and not immune to music store attitude (not all the clerks, but some). too much off-brand junk, as well, though i feel for them in this regard as it must be hard to get that big-name authorization. guitar center is NOT the only alternative. go to main drag in williamsburg and see how a music store should be.
do you know where the guitar shop is on 3rd Ave., and what the name is? I'm just trying to find a place to have my guitar re-strung and tuned.
thanks.
Hi,
Mazzotti Music is the name and we are at:
284 3rd Ave. between President and Carroll
718*715*1420
www.mazzottimusic.com
Yeah, I agree that music store was lame. They had hardly any inventory and when they ordered something it took forever. But leave it to the local free press to mourn its passing. They did the same thing for College Bakery, which was also mediocre. These papers always claim these guys were driven out a) by high rent, which is code for gentrification,as if we have no right to quality goods and services in our neighborhood, or b) big chains, as though there's something inherently great in every mom and pop. (they can rip you off as much as a chain, and aren't necessarily any more knowledgable or helpful then the employees in a chain. There's so much self-hatred in buying into that. I have no guilt about preferring Marquet or Sweet Melissa over College Bakery, or the convenience and savings of ordering online from, say, Musicians Friend to supporting a lame local guy, as much as I like Mingo. And, by the way,don't cry any crocodile tears for him: he's going into commercial real estate development in our neighborhood, so he'll be cashing in on the nabe's hefty rents.
I was the repair tech at MGS for 2 years &, maybe it was the atmosphere of Brooklyn in general, but i miss that place everyday. I take it a little personal that people had issues with our staff & thought anyone working there had a "clerk's" attitude. I know for the most part all of the people working there genuinely wanted to help. Yeah prices were a little high, & as far as the cd-r complaints...c'mon. That's like saying you hate the corner bodega because they stopped selling loose cigs.
MGS closing is the passing of a chapter in Brooklyn history, at least as I know it. & I wish Mr. Tull & his family only the best every day.