Sam Ash Question

[Keith Erickson]

Hello & Good Morning Folks,

Next week I'll be in the NJ/NY area for 2 days. #My time is extremely limited to say the least.

Since Mandolin Bros. is a little far from my parents house, I was thinking of checking out Mando's at Sam Ash in Paramus.

Since my last Sam Ash experience, I've been leaning towards not going. #However that was way back in the 20th century.

Any suggestions? #Is it worth my time?

Thanks,

[Philip Halcomb]

Just low-end mandos there, I would really recommend taking the time to go to Mando Bros. definitely worth the trip...

[jim simpson]

Has anyone here been to Lark Street Music in Teaneck, NJ? I see Collings, Gibson, etc. listed on his page in Vintage Guitar.

[Keith Erickson]

Jim, If my memory is correct, I think Teaneck is not too much further down on RT 4 east? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Probably this will be easier to fit in my schedule than going to Mandolin Bros.

Flip, If Sam Ash doesn't have the selection, I will probably skip the trip.

Mando Bros. is going to have to wait until next time

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[Philip Halcomb]

Yeah, ever since Gibson dropped Sam Ash as a dealer the selection there is shall we say, grim... bleak... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Rick Schmidlin]

Lark Street is a great place to check out.I used to live in Maywood and Teaneck and Paramus are both close.

[J. Mark Lane]

There's a Sam Ash right down the road from me in White Plains, NY. I stop in now and then, out of pure masochism. Their mandolin "selection" is invariably nothing but absolute garbage. I wouldn't waste my time. I only go there if I'm in the immediate area and feel like wasting time (like when I'm waiting for my appointment at Big Joe's Tattoo Parlor, next door).

[flairbzzt]

The "new" Sam Ash in Springfield NJ has Tacomas and/or Ovations and unplayable Fenders only. Don't bother. Go to Lark Street.

[steve in tampa]

Sam Ash Tampa had 2 Crlo Ronbelli A's and a Martin backpacker, none of which was even worth the effoert to try to tune up.
Guitar Center has 2 Fender Fs ,and 3 Fender A's, which were way up high, and not worth the effort to get down.
The new Gibson guitars are sounding better than ever. Played a J-200, J-100, Songwriter and another model I don't remember. Had to tune them all up on dead strings, but it was worth the effort. Great clarity up the neck and super sustain. The J-200 was the best, followed by the J-100.

[Mandobar]

just remember if you go to larkstreet he is closed from sundown friday until sunday at around noon. as for sam ash or the springfield GC, i never go in either one anymore. there is also a high end music store in westfield, nj

http://www.goldenageguitars.com

i believe john reynolds worked at mandolin bros for years. there's also robbies in totowa (route 46) and a robbies on route 17 out towards mahwah.

[Rick Schmidlin]

AS for Ash in in Hollywierd. Two Fender mandolins.The high end Martin a D28, They have a D45 in a glass booth. All other Martin's are low end. There Gibson amd Laravee gave all seen better days and newer strings. Sam Ash is at a low/

[Elliot Luber]

My family has been shopping at Sam Ash for four generations, and it's not the store it used to be. Selection is poor. Staff don't know anything, or the few that do are too busy. The store I was in had two mandolins, both poor Chinese stuff from known brands, and the strings were full of paint or lacquer -- obviously out of the box with no real set-up.

[Big Joe]

Contrary to J. Mark Lanes comments, I do not have a tatoo parlor in New Jersey http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif . I'm sure that person makes much better money than I do!

[Pete Braccio]

Big Joe's Tatoo parlor. Man, that's a place I haven't though about in #a long time (even though I carry a permanent reminder of the place). Does the local chapter of the Hell Angels still run it?

To our Big Joe: You sure that wasn't you running the place in 1980? I thought for a second there that I might have had some Gibson art after all.

Pete

[J. Mark Lane]

That's not you, Joe? #Dang, I guess that explains why they gave me such funny looks when I brought in my Bibey for a setup. #

I have two "reminders" of my visits to Big Joe's, and plan on getting another one very soon (prolly this week).

I may walk though Sam Ash, just to remind myself of how disgusting the musical instrument business can be these days. #I won't buy anything. #

Mark

[Mando4Life]

Sam Ash is a perfect example of how not to do business. #The one here is Cincy is a total joke. #They do not care about quality of the instruments on display (cracked D-28 listed at $2200 and a fine selection of warped neck, 6 and 7 string mandolins) or customer service at all. #It's a long story that I won't get into, but Sam Ash will never ever see my business again nor will I ever walk into one of their stores anywhere in the world. #It takes a lot ( and I do mean A LOT) these days to get me angry, and they did it in a matter of a few minutes.

Avoid them at all costs. Make the extra trip to Mando Bros if you can.

WBL

[Keith Erickson]

Sam Ash is a perfect example of how not to do business. #The one here is Cincy is a total joke. #They do not care about quality of the instruments on display (cracked D-28 listed at $2200 and a fine selection of warped neck, 6 and 7 string mandolins) or customer service at all. #It's a long story that I won't get into, but Sam Ash will never ever see my business again nor will I ever walk into one of their stores anywhere in the world. #It takes a lot ( and I do mean A LOT) these days to get me angry, and they did it in a matter of a few minutes.

Avoid them at all costs. #Make the extra trip to Mando Bros if you can.

WBL
Wayne,

Don't hold back your feelings.... ...just tell us how you really feel http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Yeah, I guess we all have a Sam Ash battle story to share. My visit also left a bad taste with me and that was over 15 years ago.

Anyway, I'm looking at my itinerary for this trip and it looks to be that Mando Bros. is going to have to wait until next time.

Thank you for all of your feedback and assistance http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Mando4Life]

8_string_keith,

believe it or not that is holding back how i really feel... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

hope you can make it to Mando Bros on your next trip.

WBL