Matt Umanov Closing

Richgj3 · #1 10-02-2017, 06:11 AM

Got an email from the store stating that.

Stevied63 · #2 10-02-2017, 06:19 AM

Yeah, I just got the same email. Very sad - it's been quite an institution here in NYC. I've bought a few guitars from the store- and have done a ton of browsing here over the years. The staff are wonderful, and I'm sorry for them. A big loss for NYC as the number of independent guitar stores has diminished considerably in recent years. The only place in Manhattan now comparable is Rudy's - and he is down to only the one location. Unfortunately I think the days of brick and mortar stores in general is on the wane. I think about my own patterns, and how much I buy from Amazon these days. While its a lot more convenient to browse and buy online, it doesnt replace being able to touch and feel/hear things. Very sad news anyway.

Bob Womack · #3 10-02-2017, 06:27 AM

I read his article about guitar repair in the 1971 Festival Program when I was first getting started and learned a lot. I visited once.

Bob

WHguitarNYC · #4 10-02-2017, 07:43 AM

AGF-

Some sad news. After 50 years, Matt will be closing his doors. Statement taken from his website below. Such a shame - it was an institution and it's where I bought my first serious guitar many years ago...

Closing After 50 Years

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.

KevWind · #5 10-02-2017, 07:51 AM

While I completely understand the desire to retire, it is a shame that yet another guitar institution is closing as opposed changing ownership.
Even though I live in the west I actually bought one of the two Taylor guitars I own there. An 810 ce which has been my main gig performance guitar since 2003

#6 10-02-2017, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevWind

While I completely understand the desire to retire, it is a shame that yet another guitar institution is closing as opposed changing ownership.

Aside from the market conditions, it's difficult for a service oriented business to pass from one owner to another, especially when the new owner is not already involved, and especially when one person dominates the existing business. Even the name complicates that in this case. Would it be Umanov's without Matt Umanov? What would anyone buying that business gain by the purchase? It's easy to value the inventory, but more difficult to value the name, for Umanov and the new owner. If the new owner changes the name, what have they really purchased? If Umanov lets them retain the name, how does he control use of his name and reputation?

We saw Mandolin Brothers rapidly decline after Stan Jay's death, although I think business had been slow prior. Stan WAS Mandolin Brothers. Matt Umanov IS Matt Umanov Guitars, in name and practice.

There are business that do better at setting themselves up for this kind of transition. Many small business follow exactly this path though.

KevWind · #7 10-02-2017, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

Aside from the market conditions, it's difficult for a service oriented business to pass from one owner to another, especially when the new owner is not already involved, and especially when one person dominates the existing business. Even the name complicates that in this case. Would it be Umanov's without Matt Umanov? What would anyone buying that business gain by the purchase? It's easy to value the inventory, but more difficult to value the name, for Umanov and the new owner. If the new owner changes the name, what have they really purchased? If Umanov lets them retain the name, how does he control use of his name and reputation?

We saw Mandolin Brothers rapidly decline after Stan Jay's death, although I think business had been slow prior. Stan WAS Mandolin Brothers. Matt Umanov IS Matt Umanov Guitars, in name and practice.

There are business that do better at setting themselves up for this kind of transition. Many small business follow exactly this path though.

All very good points. Interestingly Umanov's and Mandolin Bros were the two shop I happened to frequent most while I was in NYC for 18 months both great places for a guitar nut . Both a shame as was the closing of Apple Music in Portland Oregon

Truckjohn · #8 10-02-2017, 10:20 AM

Such a shame...

I think part of the sadness is knowing that sort of people who have the knowledge and passsion don't have the business acumen and capitalization to be able to get into a business like this...

And so these businesses just end up closing...

The hard part for me is seeing the recession kill off so many of these guys.. very few of those guys had the resources or customer base to withstand a 5-10 year turn down.... And the ones that did are now the ones more likely to literally die - like Stan at Mandolin Bros...

Bob Womack · #9 10-02-2017, 10:55 AM

I've gone through the same experience with my favorite two stores in my hometown. I bought all my early significant guitars and amps through two dealers in Knoxville, TN:

Lynn's Guitars, where I first met the man who would become my cousin, Chet Atkins, and spent hours and days playing vintage guitars
Pick & Grin, where I bought my oldest electric guitar and one of my favorite amps

Both have since gone out of the biz as their main personality retired. Lynn's building was razed. It feels like a little bit of your life has been snatched away, but such is life in the big city. Like friends who pass, you just hold on to great memories.

Bob

brencat · #10 10-02-2017, 12:37 PM

Sorry to hear that yet another B&M store is closing, yet for this particular one, I can't say I'm entirely surprised either. Expensive rent where they're located, and the few times that I went in there to sample a few wares, they had their Collings stock ticketed at full MSRP (not MAP like every other dealer), and Martin stock ticketed somewhere between MAP & MSRP. Gave me the impression they were doing to you a favor to make a sale at MAP for the boutique stuff, to say nothing of the reality of where Martins can be bought new elsewhere. That's simply not realistic, and frankly, I found it insulting... especially in the era of the internet and with not even 10 minutes of research on a cell phone.

Stomp · #11 10-02-2017, 01:30 PM

A great pity and the end of an institution, I often visited Umanov's when in NYC.

chitz · #12 10-02-2017, 02:38 PM

50 years is a loooooong time. He's probably ready for a break.

dbintegrity · #13 10-02-2017, 03:57 PM

Nice picture there Stomp.... Last time I was there the gentleman next to Matt in the picture was having a photo he purchased on ebay analyzed to find out if it was an uncirculated picture of Robert Johnson... anybody know about that? if so, what was the outcome ?
Dan

dbintegrity · #14 10-02-2017, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brencat

Sorry to hear that yet another B&M store is closing, yet for this particular one, I can't say I'm entirely surprised either. Expensive rent where they're located, and the few times that I went in there to sample a few wares, they had their Collings stock ticketed at full MSRP (not MAP like every other dealer), and Martin stock ticketed somewhere between MAP & MSRP. Gave me the impression they were doing to you a favor to make a sale at MAP for the boutique stuff, to say nothing of the reality of where Martins can be bought new elsewhere. That's simply not realistic, and frankly, I found it insulting... especially in the era of the internet and with not even 10 minutes of research on a cell phone.

LMAO Brendan is 100% correct.... Only Matt could sell a 1966 (500.00) Gibson LGO for $3500.00 20yrs ago....

Richgj3 · #15 10-02-2017, 04:01 PM

In 1964 I went to Northeastern University in Boston and checked into the West Dorm at 21 Forsyth Street. Across the hall from my room 217 was Jay Geils, also a freshman in Engineering. Since both our last names started with "G" we shared all classes that year and even pledged the same fraternity, dear old GPK. Even though he dropped out and headed for greater things, we remained good friends until he died this year on April 11.

On the third floor of that dorm was Matt Umanov, also a freshman. He was already into guitars and guitar repair. According to Jay, Matt would charge $5 to teach you the Lester Flat G Run. Matt also dropped out after one year and went on to greater things.

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic now and old, to boot.

Rich