Vito, Joey, Rudy, Manny & Sam [Archive] - The Acoustic Guitar Forum

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meridian
10-12-2002, 09:03 PM
Sounds like the cast of a "Sopranos" episode!

Well VFran (Vito) and I (Joey) met in the rainy Big Apple today had a nice brunch (thanks Vito!) and toured the legendary 48th street guitar shops.

Stopped into Colony to look over some sheet music and see a bunch of autographed guitars on the wall (Ringo, Cher, Johnny Cash, CCR).

First guitar shop was Rudy's (which is truly a great store). Vito and I ogled an LTG, a W65CE and Vito played a nice K20. Some really gorgeous PRS electrics behind glass there, too.

On to Sam Ash where I handed Vito a sucession of great and almost great guitars. He played a Martin MOM42 and MD42, a Gibson J200 and a bunch of Taylors: 614ce, 714ce, 812ce, 914ce and 355. Some of the guitars at Sam Ash were beat up pretty badly. The MD42 had a big dent in the back and we saw an Ibanez nylon with a 3 inch crack in the lower bout. The 714 was definitely shopworn NOS with a high price tag! The hygrometer in the high end room read 80%!!!!! Vito also played a Stevie Ray Vaughn strat in the big electric room.

Last stop was the legenday Manny's (now owned by Sam Ash, but retaining its own identity). They had a wall full of Martins, Larivees and Breedloves (great inlay work on the Breedloves). No Taylors at Manny's. Saw lots of autographed photos (Beatles, Who, Hollies, lots more). Vito got to see "Old Yeller" the ancient yellow painted (now broken) electric played by EVERYONE who ever tried out an amp at Manny's in the 60s or 70s before the headstock broke off. By everyone I mean Harrison (who tried to buy it) and Hendrix, etc. We didn't play anything there.

I resolutely refused to pick up any of these guitars! Abstinence is my only hope against GAS! Maybe "mittens" would work??

It wasn't Taylorstock, but a nice reminder of it and a great 3 hours!:)

charlemagne52
10-13-2002, 07:54 AM
I have to go to "the city" in December and hope to sneak out of meetings to hit 48th street and drool...I've been wasting salespeople's time for almost 40 years there!!

Did you see any AB's, maybe at Rudy's? I'd like to try out an AB 4 sometime...

meridian
10-13-2002, 09:24 AM
Originally posted by charlemagne52
Did you see any AB's, maybe at Rudy's? I'd like to try out an AB 4 sometime...

Weren't specifically looking for ABs, but if we had seen them we probably would have noticed. Sorry.

meridian
10-13-2002, 10:29 AM
Forgot to mention that Vito showed me a bunch of photos of his new baby -- his TS W65CE that is!

Gorgeous! And he has a cute dog, too!:)

VFran
10-13-2002, 08:34 PM
Hey Joe:

Just hooked up the laptop in the old Hilton Towers (these hotel rooms sure are small in New York). Thanks again, it was great going down to 48th and checking out the "guitar district." Those private stock PRS's at Rudy's were incredible. It was a shame to see the condition of the guitars at Sam Ash. They made Guitar Center look like a premium dealer!!

Remember, friends don't let friends pick up guitars and buy them. Fortunately I did have the new TS guitar pictures with me to remind me that I have a loved one at home waiting for me to be played.

Thanks again,

Vito