Manny's NYC Closing

[soldersucker]

Just got back from Manhattan today and i stopped in at Rudy's,Sam Ash and Manny's on 48th while the wifey shopped away.They told me they are closing in mid May.Another victim of the times bummer.
Any stories to share?

[todd richman]

One of the first stores I ever went to in NYC back in 1979. I will always remember the feeling being a 12 year old kid and walking up that ramp under the awning into the store knowing that my idols like Page and Hendrix walked the same path into the store. I also remember buying a Korg Triple DDL and Korg Multi-effects rack unit, haivng them box them up and put a handle on the box so I could tote it around NYC all day and on the train ride home to Philly. The last few times I was there, the best part of the store was the gallery of signed pics on the walls and the drum section upstairs. Most of the other stuff was generic and bland.

[StompBoxBlues]

Unfortunately no...I always wanted to visit that music store, and now it looks like I never will. It's a shame. In the musical world, that store had some heavy history!

[dantedayjob]

Originally Posted by todd richman

One of the first stores I ever went to in NYC back in 1979. I will always remember the feeling being a 12 year old kid and walking up that ramp under the awning into the store knowing that my idols like Page and Hendrix walked the same path into the store. I also remember buying a Korg Triple DDL and Korg Multi-effects rack unit, haivng them box them up and put a handle on the box so I could tote it around NYC all day and on the train ride home to Philly. The last few times I was there, the best part of the store was the gallery of signed pics on the walls and the drum section upstairs. Most of the other stuff was generic and bland.

The last time I went to NYC, about 3 yrs ago, I made a point to go to Manny's... I was thinking Hendrix and those guys too, but also "This is where Johnny Ramone bought his first Mosrite"...

[fullerplast]

Originally Posted by todd richman

One of the first stores I ever went to in NYC back in 1979. I will always remember the feeling being a 12 year old kid and walking up that ramp under the awning into the store knowing that my idols like Page and Hendrix walked the same path into the store. I also remember buying a Korg Triple DDL and Korg Multi-effects rack unit, haivng them box them up and put a handle on the box so I could tote it around NYC all day and on the train ride home to Philly. The last few times I was there, the best part of the store was the gallery of signed pics on the walls and the drum section upstairs. Most of the other stuff was generic and bland.

Sounds much like my story, except I was about ten years earlier. I remember my first purchase there......a pair of Altec Lansings for my BF Twin Reverb and carrying them around the city and the bus as a 13 year old. I was amazed seeing the same photos that were hanging there back in '69 still there almost 40 years later. Those were about the only things that hadn't changed.

I'll never forget those days in the city, along with all the the Fillmore shows. A time not likely to be repeated anytime soon.

[sideman]

That's a shame. Anyone know some history of the place, like who owned/started it? Some say that Rockefeller Center financiers are buying up all of "music row" on 48th to expand Rockefeller Center. There's a book out about Manny's: The Wall of Fame : New York City's Legendary Manny's Music. Alot of music history there -- it started in the 1930's.

In the Summer of 1976, my best friend Peter and I drove five hours to NYC to buy a PA. Peter had been playing drums, and I guitar, for several years and we were starting a band. We had saved $500 or so for a PA -- it was a big day for us. We found a great starter PA at Manny's -- I remember loading it into Peter's pick-up truck parked out front on 48th that day. The sales staff was very helpful choosing the right one. Kept the receipt in my guitar case for years -- lost now. We used the h--- out of that PA for years, playing all over New England. A dozen bands later now I can't remember the manufacturer. Took another friend there to buy a new Les Paul a year or two later. We had to look at five or six before we found a good one. Went to Manny's every visit to NY for many years. That trip to Manny's in August of 1976 was the beginning of three decades and counting of playing in club bands. It's been a fun ride - thank you, Manny's -- you'll be missed.

[guitarb]

I used to go to Manny's in the 80's and 90's...it was "the" place. I want to say I walked in there in 98 or 99 and it was a corpse and never went back(which I think coincides with Sam Ash purchasing them) . Back in the day that street was a very cool place to shop for guitars.......no longer.

[PedalFreak]

Originally Posted by todd richman

One of the first stores I ever went to in NYC back in 1979. I will always remember the feeling being a 12 year old kid and walking up that ramp under the awning into the store knowing that my idols like Page and Hendrix walked the same path into the store.

I remember the same thing (except I wasnt 12). Been to NYC one time, and stopped here. had the same feeling about all the people that have shopped there. Cool store.

[Big Boss Man]

That sucks. I have a feeling there will be more stores and gear manufacturers going under due to the collapsing economy.

[MSS]

That is a bummer! Also the place that David Gilmour bought his infamous black strat in 1970. Ah well, you win some and you lose some!

[Evan Gluck]

Wow! I worked in the guitar department there for years in the 90's. It was a great place at the time. I often get clients in for repairs who look at me and say "you sold me this 10 years ago!" So many memories.

[Sub City]

They closed down a few years ago and then re-opened. Now it looks final. Pretty soon it will be nothing but Sam Ash & Guitar Center!

[soldersucker]

Originally Posted by Sub City

They closed down a few years ago and then re-opened. Now it looks final. Pretty soon it will be nothing but Sam Ash & Guitar Center!

Exactly what the guy at Manny's told me it's a two horse town now.I was expecting more of a vibe that wasn't there at all.I think they could have marketed thier history a bit better. Shit i've got more vintage gear in my basement than they had. on display.
Rudy's was ok but git's were behind a glass display case it's not the Gugenhiem people.Found NYC to be a great city,very tightly controlled security wise but them's the times i guess.

[arthur rotfeld]

Doesn't Sam Ash own Manny's? That's what I always hear....for what it's worth.

[DaveNJ]

Yup, they do...

Now, if they do close, it would be cool if they auction off all of the photos...