Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 35

Thread: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

  1. #1
    NY Naturalist BradKlein's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,276

    Default Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    The news from the Umanov Website:

    After fifty-three years of having been in the business of helping so many guitar (and all the other fretted instruments) players have the tools with which to make music, forty-eight of those years at my store here in Greenwich Village, in the great City of New York, it is finally time for me to close this chapter of my life, relax some, travel some, play with the grandkids, all that kind of thing, though I wouldn’t quite call it “retirement”; I’ll still be around. Having been both mechanically and musically inclined since I was very little, I started out, when a teenager in the early 1960s, taking apart, and rebuilding, and building, guitars and banjos; nothing could stop me, and I was fortunate enough to be able to support myself doing that full time by the age of eighteen. One thing led to another, and by 1969 I had opened my store. I continued to do repair work while selling my favorite instruments too; the reputation spread, and I was able to build a clientele that included neighborhood kids, working musicians, working pros in all areas of the arts, and just about everyone in between. The list seems endless.

    I think that what I’ll miss the most will be having what someone called “my clubhouse”, where so many of you have come over the years to look, to buy, to get their treasured instruments back into working shape, to hang out and shoot the breeze. I’ll miss the unpredictable, terrific array of all of you coming in and being who you are, fascinating and wonderful every one, made my day, every day. I won’t be going away entirely, will still be reachable by email, happy to help with anything I can, so please keep in touch. And thank you all for so much great music which, after all, is what all this is about.
    BradKlein
    Morning Edition Host, WLVR News
    Senior Producer, TwangboxŪ
    TwangboxŪ Videos

  2. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to BradKlein For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    First Mandolin Brothers, now Umanov's. Is Retrofret the last store left in NYCity? Shows again how personalized the business of buying, selling and repairing vintage instruments can be; when the founder decides to retire, or is forced to by illness, age, whatever, the business closes -- no heirs waiting in the wings to carry it on. Sandy's in Cambridge too, a few years ago.

    Think of how many of the stores we discuss, respect, and deal with are one-person shows, or nearly. I'd cite Denver's Folklore Center as an exception, as there seem to be successors to run it after Harry Tuft doesn't do the day-to-day.

    Here in Rochester John Bernunzio said he was going to cut back his involvement, just do the big "buys" and appraisal and dealing in vintage instruments, leave the rest to Julie and the staff. Know what? He's in the store every time I go there. So much for "cutting back."

    I only hope that our other "fave" dealers have a succession plan of some sort. Not seeing a whole bunch of Gen-X's or millennials starting vintage instrument dealerships. They may be out there, but I've missed 'em...
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  4. The following members say thank you to allenhopkins for this post:


  5. #3
    Middle-Aged Old-Timer Tobin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Kerrville, TX
    Posts
    4,004

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Well, crud. That's disappointing. Inevitable, I suppose, but still...

    I bought my Ome banjo from him a few years ago. Still has the Umanov sticker on the back of the peghead. I thought about taking it off, but I guess I'll just leave it on there forever. It'll be a nice nod to the past, and things that were.
    Keep that skillet good and greasy all the time!

  6. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    720

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    That's too bad, it was a cool place to have around, although priced beyond my means when I lived in New York.

    Elderly seems to be still going strong, I sure hope it continues when Stan Werbin decides to retire.

  7. The following members say thank you to jesserules for this post:


  8. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    First Mandolin Brothers, now Umanov's. Is Retrofret the last store left in NYCity?
    Not quite... there is still TR Crandall started by one former head repairman at Umanov. Actually Steve Uhrik, owner of RetroFret was head repair guy at Umanov in the 1980s.

    I used to go to Umanov's years ago. One day I walked in and Matt said I have something with your name on it. He took it out and I said, "My name is not Martin." I walked out of there with a beautiful 1920's Martin 3K uke which I still have.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jim Garber For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Bellingham, WA
    Posts
    3,110

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    "Matty", like Stan Jay and George Gruhn was a force of nature and a gentleman as well. Even as a 17 year-old, no nothing, play nothing aspiring mandolinist I was treated like "one of the guys" by Matty and everyone else who came through those doors and believe me when I say some amazing people came through those doors on a daily basis. Whether hanging in the front room or the back room, the Bedford Street shop was a never-ending, always educational party. Love that guy!

    Thanks for all the memories Matt and for treating me with respect... even though I was just a punk. Wishing you all the best with whatever life should offer you next...

  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Glassweb For This Useful Post:


  12. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Johnstown, Ohio
    Posts
    10

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Elderly although seeming to have a great reputation has dealt me badly. They sold me a 1924 Roth Violin for $4000 that turned out to have a bad soundpost crack on the back and won’t take it back. Plus they tried to tell me a mint octave mandolin needed “set up” work before taking it on trade, which they wanted to charge me for. It was an old Weber with new strings and a brekke bridge in mint condition. To set it up to their specks all you have to do is turn the bridge wrench. Sheisters!

  13. #8
    Registered User Cary Fagan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario Canada
    Posts
    1,174

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    The last time I was there, a woman was very generous in bringing out the mandolins for me to try. Then when Andy Statman's name came up she called him on his cell for me to see if he was playing. Sorry to see it go.
    Cary Fagan

  14. The following members say thank you to Cary Fagan for this post:


  15. #9
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    It is sad to see one more classy place close down, time changes everything. The days of real local shops are dwindling to be sure. Through the excellence of classified opportunities offered here (and at several other online dealers, of course) small shops have a hard time. Sad but, true.
    As for a bad experience at Elderly, I'm sorry to hear that. Everybody has a bad day, I'm quite surprised that they were not more cooperative with your needs Montanamark. Maybe everyone had a bad day.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  16. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Timbofood For This Useful Post:


  17. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Conneaut Lake, PA
    Posts
    4,147

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Montanamrk- I too am sorry to hear of your negative experience at Elderly. I have dealt with them for many years, buying several instruments and many accessories, as well as having sold dozens of instruments through their consignment process. So, having dealt with them on both ends, I think I am qualified to speak to their service. Which I have always found to be excellent. Their consignment process does not put huge piles of money in your pocket, but it does no good to ask 20 percent more money for your instrument if you can't find a buyer. The visibility of their website is second to none. One of my instruments was sold to someone in Japan. Another to someone in the UK. Could I have done that on my own? I think not. And they worry about the packing and shipping. In my opinion, they really work for that consignment fee.

    Regarding the violin with the soundpost crack, that is unfortunate. In fairness, though, we are only hearing your side of the story. Not trying to imply anything by saying that, simply pointing out that most stories have two sides, and we are not hearing Elderly's side on that, nor will we ever, in all probability.

    Regarding the Weber OM, you say it's "mint", but you also say it's "old". How do you know all that it needed was the bridge adjusted? Are you a professional luthier, as they are? Believe me, I know what you're talking about when it comes to work needed before they will sell it. Of the roughly 2 dozen or so instruments I've consigned there, only a couple of them needed nothing. Most needed a little work, not much though, always less than a hundred dollars, usually much less. Did you ask them to explain what it needed? I have done that and they have always been happy to explain what they found out. Sometimes, rather than being upset, I was happy to find out about a high fret or a neck with upbow that I wasn't aware of. If you have an "old" instrument as you did, isn't it possible that they could have found other issues with it that you simply weren't aware of? Instruments definitely change as they get older, even if they just sit in the case.

    Elderly is an excellent business in my opinion. They have been in business for a very long time, with thousands upon countless thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. If it were otherwise, they simply wouldn't have been able to stay in business for so long. If they ever do go out of business, it will leave a gaping hole in the music business that I can't ever imagine being filled by anyone else. Where else, pray tell, can you go and find a 135,000 dollar Loar mandolin and a 5 cent screw given equal space on a website? And where else can you find inventory space devoted to esoteric instruments like harps, dulcimers, concertinas, and tin whistles as well as the much more popular and profitable guitars and ukuleles?
    Don

    2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
    2011 Weber Bitterroot A
    1974 Martin Style A

  18. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to multidon For This Useful Post:


  19. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    12,258

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    I was there once. They had an A-3 which was way overpriced. The staff was rude and seemed to 'couldn't be bothered'. That said, sorry to see it close.

  20. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    So Oregon
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Too bad about the closure.

    As to Elderly. " everybody has a bad day" ?

    I was a loyal customer for 3 decades.. until..
    two very expensive back to back custom Martin guitars were both fatally flawed. Elderly's involvement, participation, customer service was non existent and they doubted and challenged my observations about the guitars. One I never played as the defects were so obvious and when Martin finally got it ( after I had to pay to ship it back to Elderly having owned it all of one day after waiting 8 months for the guitar) they said it was unrepairable and destroyed it. The other spent 5 months at Martin being repaired, the repairs failed, it was returned ( first to Elderly at their request and my expense and then sent to Martin and Elderly charged me the shipping from them to Martin.. )
    Martin promised repairs, then changed their minds, then lost the guitar, then made a replacement not to the specifications of the original. Once again they offered an equal value guitar in exchanged, the person who offered was fired.. they decided to fix the first which was "lost" then they decided to make another... and it was grossly flawed including neck set off kilter to the center line of the guitar etc... All the while, both this instrument and the first one I repeatedly asked Elderly for help, none given.
    I had the original guitar for 30 days, Martin and Elderly had it for 13 months. The second one I had for 24 hours. Martin had it for 3 months until they made a decision to have the dealer reimburse me as they said it would take a year to make a replacement and I declined, and brought to their attention the fiasco with the other guitar still in process. . Elderly was not happy about this but did reimburse me. The first guitar that was "lost" was eventually found and destroyed.. but they had finally decided to have the dealer reimburse me as they declined to build a third replacement and had retracted the offer of an equal value instrument.

    I kept Elderly aware of all this and asked them to intervene. Nothing resulted from this.
    My guess is that Elderly did not want to compromise their relationship with Martin and would sacrifice a customer to that end.

    Later I decided to order another in stock guitar from Elderly and found my account "flagged".. meaning a troublesome customer after 30 years and no glitches up to this point.. the exception being the two custom ordered guitars. And in both cases the guitars were eventually destroyed by Martin as un repairable. Nothing whatever to do with me as I had no influence over the defective construction.
    I had nothing whatever to do with Martin's in house bungling with respect to the repairs or replacement or lost instruments.

    So after 30 years.. and a "flagged" account.. I have no need of Elderly. It is not the same company it was in the past.

    PS'
    As a former National Management Training Manager for two high line European auto manufacturers I travelled the country teaching customer service.
    I was also Field Service Manager for the best engineered car in the world where my responsibility was customer service for Nor Cal Nevada Utah.. Same job for a Japanese auto manufacturer of high regard.
    I have some familiarity with customer service. Some businesses are clueless.. and to prove that Martin's former "customer service" Department ( I have owned 14 Martins since 1961) now calls their former customers "consumers" and their dealers are their customers.
    This right from Martin when in the course of my discussions with them over the two failed custom guitars. BTW the customer service manager was also booted during my year long ordeal.

    Again, too bad about Umanov Guitars. Never heard a bad word about them.

  21. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Jeff Hildreth For This Useful Post:


  22. #13
    NY Naturalist BradKlein's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,276

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    I'll second the observation by Jim Garber. TR Crandall Guitars and Retrofret are the standard bearers for serious vintage instruments in NYC now.

    As for bad experiences, and customer service complaints, Umanov has had them... like all the dealers in the country.

    In later years, Umanov's, the store, focused less on vintage high end instruments, and had to move a lot of 'standard' new electric guitars and amps and acoustics too, to keep the doors open. Remember they are located in the Village, amid super-high value real estate, with a steady stream of tourists and one-time visitors coming through.

    But even then, if you did catch Matt in the store, and engaged him in a subject that interested him -- he was passionate and opinionated and informed. I learned from his passionate opinions about mid century martin tenors, and the best espresso and Italian pasties nearby. A special place, for sure.
    Last edited by BradKlein; Oct-04-2017 at 9:50am.
    BradKlein
    Morning Edition Host, WLVR News
    Senior Producer, TwangboxŪ
    TwangboxŪ Videos

  23. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Conneaut Lake, PA
    Posts
    4,147

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Wow Jeff, that is quite a story indeed!

    Elderly used to advertise themselves as the largest Martin dealer in the country. Don't know if that's still true but they sell a lot of Martin guitars. I guess it makes sense that they would want to maintain the relationship. If the facts are as you state, you were treated poorly indeed. But I might also point out it had as much to do with Martin as it did Elderly. Perhaps even more. Martin is also not the company it used to be. From "mahogany" that isn't really mahogany to Masonite guitars, to cheesy pictures printed on faux "collector's editions", they have lost me, and many others. Now apparently add poor customer service to the list. Too bad. My main guitar axe is a Gibson now. Love the short scale, build quality, classic design, and no mystery wood. I know Gibson as a corporation has problems, but thankfully they seem to leave the Montana shop alone to do what they do. They make some outrageously good guitars at a reasonable cost. Also, I love Larrivee. Very nice for the price, no garbage wood or components. With all the choices out there, who needs Martin?
    Don

    2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
    2011 Weber Bitterroot A
    1974 Martin Style A

  24. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to multidon For This Useful Post:


  25. #15
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,487

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    The good, the bad, and the ugly always comes out when customer service is concerned, I have had nothing but good experience at Elderly, I have had good and bad experiences other places, then I have had some ugly ones at other places too, like I say, something can go sideways at any point and get unpleasant.
    I was never a customer at Umanov's. Now, it seems I never will.
    Sorry Jeff, didn't mean to bring up a sore spot.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  26. #16
    NY Naturalist BradKlein's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,276

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    One more Matt Umanov recollection, (and maybe an effort to steer the thread in that direction :-) )

    Matt and I once got into a conversation about how price related to an 'exceptionally good sounding instrument.' He surprised me by saying that it did not relate at all and he made no effort to price by sound 'quality' in vintage instruments. That he priced by model, year and condition. As I recall the conversation, his point was, no matter what a guitar/mandolin/etc sounds like to him, SOMEONE will walk through that door and it'll be just what that one person is looking for. He was seeming to say that it's a fool's game for a dealer to try and predict what guitar will ring some customer's bell. And it only takes one buyer to make a sale.

    I've spoken since to those who agree and those who strongly disagree, but that's how I remember the conversation with Matt.
    BradKlein
    Morning Edition Host, WLVR News
    Senior Producer, TwangboxŪ
    TwangboxŪ Videos

  27. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to BradKlein For This Useful Post:


  28. #17
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Quote Originally Posted by BradKlein View Post
    ...his point was, no matter what a guitar/mandolin/etc sounds like to him, SOMEONE will walk through that door and it'll be just what that one person is looking for. He was seeming to say that it's a fool's game for a dealer to try and predict what guitar will ring some customer's bell. And it only takes one buyer to make a sale. I've spoken since to those who agree and those who strongly disagree, but that's how I remember the conversation with Matt.
    Hijack warning: what Brad says reminds me of a trade-in I made once. When I was in the Army (1965-67) I loved the Byrds' sound, so took some of my Sp4 money and bought a Japanese-made Univox electric 2-string, cherry-red hollow-body, from a music store in Manhattan KS. I never really played it, being basically "Mr. Acoustic," so decided to trade it in when I purchased some other instrument from my then boss, the late Eldon Stutzman, founder of Stutzman's Guitar Center here in Rochester. He was pretty contemptuous of the Univox, offered me a minimal trade-in allowance, said "I'll never be able to sell it."

    About a half-hour later, a customer walked in, said he was looking for an electric guitar that he could adapt to play Greek music -- sorta an "electric bouzouki." Double-string courses, etc. I showed him the Univox, which had just become property of the store. He thought that was a good fit for him, bought it for about double the trade-in allowance. I said to Eldon, "So, you'll never be able to sell it, eh? How long did it sit in inventory, about 30 minutes?' He and I had a little chuckle about it, but it really speaks to Brad's, and Umanov's, point. As Johnny Cash wrote, "There's someone for me somewhere"; applies to instruments as well as lovers, I guess.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  29. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to allenhopkins For This Useful Post:


  30. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    720

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Hildreth View Post
    ...Martin promised repairs, then changed their minds, then lost the guitar, then made a replacement not to the specifications of the original. Once again they offered an equal value guitar in exchanged, the person who offered was fired..
    Does not seem like Elderly is at fault there in any way. Doubt that they were/are in a position to put pressure on the Martin Custom Shop.

    ......................

    I was mostly thinking in terms of nationally (or even more widely) known fretted instrument places that people can still just drop in to; places that are strongly identified with their owners. There's Gruhn's of course. Never been to Gryphon, looks like a great place. Carter Vintage Guitars, a rare new venture into the field. I'm sure there are others.

    It's a shame to lose any of them. There are things a place like that can do for you that an internet site just can't.

  31. #19

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Quote Originally Posted by Glassweb View Post
    "Matty", like Stan Jay and George Gruhn was a force of nature and a gentleman as well. Even as a 17 year-old, no nothing, play nothing aspiring mandolinist I was treated like "one of the guys" by Matty and everyone else who came through those doors and believe me when I say some amazing people came through those doors on a daily basis. Whether hanging in the front room or the back room, the Bedford Street shop was a never-ending, always educational party. Love that guy!

    Thanks for all the memories Matt and for treating me with respect... even though I was just a punk. Wishing you all the best with whatever life should offer you next...
    I had a similar experience, knowing him casually from the guitar shows. I was in NYC for a guitar show, he invited me and my co-worker to dinner at one of those cool, outdoor sidewalk cafes in Greenwich Village. I remember the food was great, the weather was great, as well as the conversation and company. A real gentleman. Good luck, Matty!

  32. #20
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Manchester - Lancashire - NW England
    Posts
    14,187

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    I must come down on the side of Brad & Allen - ALL our tastes are different. I've heard folk enthuse about banjos & guitars that i thought were abominable !!. I remember being at one UK Bluegrass music festival,when a guy who was a mandolin player, & regular festival goer,turned up with a mandolin of a very prestigious make,that he told us had once belonged to Dave Grisman. He was over the moon regarding this mandolin. However,when he played it,it became fairly obvious why Mr Grisman might have sold it - it sounded like a plank !. Nobody said this. The guy was obviously smitten with his new purchase - why destroy that !.

    Pricing an instrument by model/ year & condition seems pretty fair to me, as what we desire 'personally' tone-wise, is exactly that - personal preference,
    Ivan
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  33. The following members say thank you to Ivan Kelsall for this post:


  34. #21

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    When you do valuations, the exceptional sound never comes into the picture. You also cannot insure an instrument for more money because it sounds better than a similar one. "Exceptional sounding" is a subjective term. However, many dealers will set these instruments aside for their preferred customers.
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  35. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Mandobar For This Useful Post:


  36. #22
    Registered User grassrootphilosopher's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    2,117

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    I bought my first good guitar (Martin D-16M) at Matt Umanovīs. I wanted a better/good guitar. By chance my flight schedule was upset. So I had about a day to spend in New York City. I remembered a reference to Matt Umanovīs Guitar Shop in Happy Traumīs Bluegrass Guitar (Oak Publications). Itīs in the back of the book where he writes about "the Japanese" that came to Matt Umanovīs shop and asked about a herringbone guitar, measured it out and came up with their own version. I looked the shop up in NYCīs yellow pages and went to Bleeker Street. In the shop I played quite some instruments and finally bought my guitar. It was an okay deal, the sales guy was friendly. My guitar has served me very well since then. I still play it, though not as often, since my older and my newer guitar get more playing time. Lately we were in Rome together and had a blast picking again.

    So Matt Umanov... all the best in the future.
    Olaf

  37. #23
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Johnstown, Ohio
    Posts
    10

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    <violates forum posting guidelines. there's another side to this story that is not being presented and some of these statements are false. your further participation in this discussion will result in your permanent dismissal from the Cafe.>
    Last edited by Mandolin Cafe; Oct-06-2017 at 8:07am.

  38. #24
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Conneaut Lake, PA
    Posts
    4,147

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    Montananmrk- in your post #7, you called your octave mandolin "an old Weber with new strings". Now you say "my octave was not old, it was brand new." Both statements can't be true, and my comments were based on what you said originally. I tend to take what folks say at face value, unless there is evidence to the contrary. It now seems as if you are changing the narrative.

    I get that you had a bad experience with the folks at Elderly. And that you no longer wish to do business with them. That is fine, and that is certainly your right. But I did feel the need to defend them after your post. I kind of felt like your first post seemed a bit out of place here. One person just mentioned Elderly in a single sentence, a simple sentiment wishing them well in the wake of other music stores closing. You seem to have viewed that simple sentiment as an open door to grind some axe. This thread is supposed to be about Matt Umanov's, not Elderly. Perhaps you are not the only one who had a bad experience at Elderly, but like I said before there are literally thousands upon thousands with the opposite experience. I have made several trips there through the years, both to buy and to sell. It is a huge deal for me when I go there, being a six hour drive. I usually stay overnight in a motel, because it's just too much for one day. Any time I've been there, every employee I've had interaction with had been friendly, helpful, and professional. Any I know many others will say the same.

    I think it's a shame that this discussion has been derailed from Matt Umanov's closing, which should be the focus based on the original post. But I just could not let this thing against Elderly go unanswered. I suppose when you are in business, you can't please everyone all the time. It is inevitable that you will fall short in some people's views. But I did not want anyone following this thread to think that everyone going to Elderly would be treated like Montananmrk claims to have been treated. I would say, try them for yourself if you have an opportunity to do so and make up your own mind as to whether they are worthy of your business.
    Don

    2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
    2011 Weber Bitterroot A
    1974 Martin Style A

  39. The following members say thank you to multidon for this post:


  40. #25
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Lawrence, KS
    Posts
    3,835
    Blog Entries
    14

    Default Re: Matt Umanov Guitars (NYC) to Close

    There's another side to this story so the Elderly bashing will cease. A lot of facts are being skewed or conveniently eliminated. Start your own thread if you wish to use the internet for a razor, and do so at your own risk. Some of the information that's been presented here not only violates forum posting guidelines but is simply FALSE and misleading. If you want to provide misleading information, take it elsewhere. If this means the Cafe gets added to the list of hated businesses of one or two, so be it, but the discussion gets back to the original purpose.

    Or it ceases, I don't care. But we will not tolerate any more anonymous b.s., lies and game playing. You've been warned.

  41. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Mandolin Cafe For This Useful Post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •