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Ace Music in Santa Monica Ca

Guitar Whiskey

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Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
Being that I'm pretty much an old guy now I often think back fondly to being a kid around 1970 and hanging out in the best guitar shop I knew of at that time. Little did I know that this would shape the rest of my life. Back then, Ace was a store front on Santa Monica Blvd just up from Ocean Avenue, probably about 4th street. The two owner brothers (Hank and Jack) were great guys who answered all my juvenile questions and offered advice that I still live by to this day. It was amazing to be there and watch them work the deals with guys. This was a lesson in salesmanship for sure. I remember Jack was the one who I felt more connected to; he'd demo stuff for me and anybody that walked into the shop. Most of the guys that came in were older than me so a great opportunity to watch and learn from the more experienced. In the late 70's I moved from the area but went back years later to visit but the store had moved to Wilshire and the brothers were no longer there; don't know the history on this.

Wondering if anyone knows what happened to Jack and Hank, or has any old photos of the shop (inside or outside) they can post. Would love to see pictures to relive some of those memories. So many amazing stories must have evolved from this excellent guitar shop.

Side note; I remember agonizing over 2 guitars that I wanted to buy there which would become my first ELECTRIC guitar. One was a 64' Mustang for $75, the other a '65 Strat for $225 (too expensive for me then). Jack told me the smart thing to do is save up and get the Strat. Months later (seemed like years) my dad conviced me to get a new 71' ES 335TDC which was actually more expensive than the Strat, but sold it 5 years later. In hindsight should have got the Strat because #1, I would probably have kept that one because it was such a great guitar and #2 we all know which would cost more to purchase today.
 

Jeff West

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2002
Messages
877
Isn't that where Albert Collins got his tele as used in his Alligator Records years? I'd heard that, back then, maybe from them.

I used to drop in, in the later '70s, ca. '78 -'81. They had cool stuff, for prices that seem quaint now. I distinctly remember a pair of '50s P90s from an early goldtop they had for sale, which I nearly bought, complete with covers. $30 apiece, or maybe it was 30 for the pair. I intended to go back for 'em before flying out of LAX, but I didn't get around to it. I remember regretting it, jumped on one a little later for $50, which I still use constantly.

As long as we're reminiscing, there was also a little music shop on Washington Blvd (I think- it might have been on Venice) near Venice High. When I would visit my parents near Palms and Sepulveda, I'd jog down there. It's long gone now, but at that time, ca. 1980 they always had several original Fender tweeds right on the floor, some in remarkable shape. This was before vintage amps really took off, even in L.A., so prices were modest. I did come out of 1981 with my tweed Champ (which I could just carry onto a plane), but sometimes wish I'd been a little more expansive at the time.
 

K_L

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
566
FWIW I found this little bit on the Internet:
Truetone Music was founded in 1998 by co-owners Ken Daniels and Paul Flynn. After working for many years at Santa Monica's legendary Ace Music, Ken and Paul decided to open Truetone when the owners of Ace Music decided to close up the shop and retire. Through the years, we have built our reputation as one of the best music stores in Santa Monica.
 

Bruce R

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Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
1,029
Do you remember Sol Betnun Music in Hollyweird?? I loved that place. Traded my '62 Bassman to Sol for a '58 Bassman (recovered in Tolex) that had "Crazy Horse 6" stenciled all over it. I regretted it because the '62 Bassman actually made a better guitar amp!!

Ah, the old days!!
 
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Guitar Whiskey

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Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
Do you remember Sol Betnun Music in Hollyweird?? I loved that place. Traded my '62 Bassman to Sol for a '58 Bassman (recovered in Tolex) that had "Crazy Horse 6" stenciled all over it. I regretted it because the Bassman actually made a better guitar amp!!

Ah, the old days!!

Yes I remember this was on Larchmont. Basically an old house used as a guitar shop. I bought a nice sunburst Gretsch Double Anniversary there without a case in 1975 or so for $175. Not really a top tier shop but certainly a great place to buy old guitars we now call vintage guitars.
 

General Rock

New member
Joined
Apr 16, 2020
Messages
1
Being that I'm pretty much an old guy now I often think back fondly to being a kid around 1970 and hanging out in the best guitar shop I knew of at that time. Little did I know that this would shape the rest of my life. Back then, Ace was a store front on Santa Monica Blvd just up from Ocean Avenue, probably about 4th street. The two owner brothers (Hank and Jack) were great guys who answered all my juvenile questions and offered advice that I still live by to this day. It was amazing to be there and watch them work the deals with guys. This was a lesson in salesmanship for sure. I remember Jack was the one who I felt more connected to; he'd demo stuff for me and anybody that walked into the shop. Most of the guys that came in were older than me so a great opportunity to watch and learn from the more experienced. In the late 70's I moved from the area but went back years later to visit but the store had moved to Wilshire and the brothers were no longer there; don't know the history on this.

Wondering if anyone knows what happened to Jack and Hank, or has any old photos of the shop (inside or outside) they can post. Would love to see pictures to relive some of those memories. So many amazing stories must have evolved from this excellent guitar shop.

Side note; I remember agonizing over 2 guitars that I wanted to buy there which would become my first ELECTRIC guitar. One was a 64' Mustang for $75, the other a '65 Strat for $225 (too expensive for me then). Jack told me the smart thing to do is save up and get the Strat. Months later (seemed like years) my dad conviced me to get a new 71' ES 335TDC which was actually more expensive than the Strat, but sold it 5 years later. In hindsight should have got the Strat because #1, I would probably have kept that one because it was such a great guitar and #2 we all know which would cost more to purchase today.

I was wondering the same thing. I used to shop at Ace a lot in the 80s, 90s. Bought a LOT of guitars and amps and other stuff from Hank and Jack. I've been wondering what ever happened to them as well. Hope they're doing good. The best guitars I ever bought from them were a Les Paul Studio, several Yamahas off the used wall, an Explorer, a mint condition early 80s Charvel strat with an original MJ wound Duncan JB which is the best pickup I've ever owned to this day. Wish I still had it. Also bought a number of strats, had a lot of work done on my guitars. They also saved my neck many times when I came close to buying absolute junk at other shops like DiMarzio pickups (pure garbage!). They always insisted, "Get Duncans!" and they were right. I was crazy about customizing my axes with pickups and tuners, brass nuts, etc. I also used to buy old fuzz boxes and other effects from their shop, like an MXR Distortion Plus and Tube Screamers, etc. The sheer number of strings and picks I bought from them was staggering! I tried a Dumble at ace too. Someone just wanted to show it off, wouldn't see it to Hank and Jack. Wow did that amp sound amazing! Great memories of that place, miss it so damn much.
 

AMMEAST

New member
Joined
Apr 28, 2020
Messages
1
Being that I'm pretty much an old guy now I often think back fondly to being a kid around 1970 and hanging out in the best guitar shop I knew of at that time. Little did I know that this would shape the rest of my life. Back then, Ace was a store front on Santa Monica Blvd just up from Ocean Avenue, probably about 4th street. The two owner brothers (Hank and Jack) were great guys who answered all my juvenile questions and offered advice that I still live by to this day. It was amazing to be there and watch them work the deals with guys. This was a lesson in salesmanship for sure. I remember Jack was the one who I felt more connected to; he'd demo stuff for me and anybody that walked into the shop. Most of the guys that came in were older than me so a great opportunity to watch and learn from the more experienced. In the late 70's I moved from the area but went back years later to visit but the store had moved to Wilshire and the brothers were no longer there; don't know the history on this.

Wondering if anyone knows what happened to Jack and Hank, or has any old photos of the shop (inside or outside) they can post. Would love to see pictures to relive some of those memories. So many amazing stories must have evolved from this excellent guitar shop.

Side note; I remember agonizing over 2 guitars that I wanted to buy there which would become my first ELECTRIC guitar. One was a 64' Mustang for $75, the other a '65 Strat for $225 (too expensive for me then). Jack told me the smart thing to do is save up and get the Strat. Months later (seemed like years) my dad conviced me to get a new 71' ES 335TDC which was actually more expensive than the Strat, but sold it 5 years later. In hindsight should have got the Strat because #1, I would probably have kept that one because it was such a great guitar and #2 we all know which would cost more to purchase today.

I just joined on here this morning. I use to work at Ace Music-when they moved to Wilshire. Jack was there until about 1980+. Not sure when Hank sold/closed the store. .I am told Jack has since passed away. And that Hank lives up in the Calif. mountains. Loved working there.
 

Guitar Whiskey

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Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
Thank you so much Ammeast for your contribution to this topic. There is so much good that came from this wonderful store. Miss that place.
 
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Linaberd

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Joined
Nov 7, 2021
Messages
4
I'm not an elderly person, but rather young. But I also remember going to the store with my grandfather to pick out new guitar strings for him when I was a kid. Then when I was 6 years old I tried to play Gomez's Romance on the guitar for the first time. I'm left-handed and it was so hard for me to spread my fingers to take those notes to go from the first to the second part. I had studied the piano, I even played the moonlight sonata afterwards. But I distinctly remember discovering FREE MP3 Downloader and showing it to my grandfather. He didn't believe you could just download music. How many collections he made then, then he learned the sheet music for those songs and started playing in the evenings in the courtyard. Our neighbors said that they tried to show tenderness to these songs (well, it's clear what they were doing at home).
 
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bern1

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Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
So cool to think of all the old music stores, in LA and elsewhere.

I doubt many of us will terribly miss Guitar Center when they go belly up.
 

Joe Schleb

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Joined
Jan 18, 2022
Messages
1
Being that I'm pretty much an old guy now I often think back fondly to being a kid around 1970 and hanging out in the best guitar shop I knew of at that time. Little did I know that this would shape the rest of my life. Back then, Ace was a store front on Santa Monica Blvd just up from Ocean Avenue, probably about 4th street. The two owner brothers (Hank and Jack) were great guys who answered all my juvenile questions and offered advice that I still live by to this day. It was amazing to be there and watch them work the deals with guys. This was a lesson in salesmanship for sure. I remember Jack was the one who I felt more connected to; he'd demo stuff for me and anybody that walked into the shop. Most of the guys that came in were older than me so a great opportunity to watch and learn from the more experienced. In the late 70's I moved from the area but went back years later to visit but the store had moved to Wilshire and the brothers were no longer there; don't know the history on this.

Wondering if anyone knows what happened to Jack and Hank, or has any old photos of the shop (inside or outside) they can post. Would love to see pictures to relive some of those memories. So many amazing stories must have evolved from this excellent guitar shop.

Side note; I remember agonizing over 2 guitars that I wanted to buy there which would become my first ELECTRIC guitar. One was a 64' Mustang for $75, the other a '65 Strat for $225 (too expensive for me then). Jack told me the smart thing to do is save up and get the Strat. Months later (seemed like years) my dad conviced me to get a new 71' ES 335TDC which was actually more expensive than the Strat, but sold it 5 years later. In hindsight should have got the Strat because #1, I would probably have kept that one because it was such a great guitar and #2 we all know which would cost more to purchase today.
I lived in Santa Monica from 71 to 74 and was well acquainted with Ace music. I would also visit the store periodically. I was a 16 year old bass player and I eventually saved enough $$ to buy a brand new Dan Armstrong clear body bass guitar ($220.00) and a few months later, a hard shell case. (40.00) Yes, they were great guys. I did notice a tad bit of friction between them at times. It was like one of the brothers was given a subordinate roll in the business and he seemed to take direction from his brother - did the grunt work, so to speak. I don't have any idea what happened to the them. One day, I went by the store and is was closed-up. LOL I used to seriously drool over the huge Ampeg SVT bass amp and double speaker cabinet - had 16, 10" speakers in it. Those were the daze! PS - did you got to SAMOHI?
 
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Guitar Whiskey

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Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
I lived in Santa Monica from 71 to 74 and was well acquainted with Ace music. I would also visit the store periodically. I was a 16 year old bass player and I eventually saved enough $$ to buy a brand new Dan Armstrong clear body bass guitar ($220.00) and a few months later, a hard shell case. (40.00) Yes, they were great guys. I did notice a tad bit of friction between them at times. It was like one of the brothers was given a subordinate roll in the business and he seemed to take direction from his brother - did the grunt work, so to speak. I don't have any idea what happened to the them. One day, I went by the store and is was closed-up. LOL I used to seriously drool over the huge Ampeg SVT bass amp and double speaker cabinet - had 16, 10" speakers in it. Those were the daze! PS - did you got to SAMOHI?
Nice account. No, went to Thousand Oaks High; I graduated in '72.
 
Joined
May 9, 2022
Messages
1
I lived in Santa Monica from 71 to 74 and was well acquainted with Ace music. I would also visit the store periodically. I was a 16 year old bass player and I eventually saved enough $$ to buy a brand new Dan Armstrong clear body bass guitar ($220.00) and a few months later, a hard shell case. (40.00) Yes, they were great guys. I did notice a tad bit of friction between them at times. It was like one of the brothers was given a subordinate roll in the business and he seemed to take direction from his brother - did the grunt work, so to speak. I don't have any idea what happened to the them. One day, I went by the store and is was closed-up. LOL I used to seriously drool over the huge Ampeg SVT bass amp and double speaker cabinet - had 16, 10" speakers in it. Those were the daze! PS - did you got to SAMOHI?
Sadly, Hank passed away yesterday from a short bout with lymphoma. After Ace he worked on the railroad for a couple years then moved to Big Bear where he became a working musician. In the 18 years playing together as SILVER MOON we did nearly 1500 gigs and played over 5000 different songs. TrueTone always made Hank very proud and have been our go to guitar techs. Hank would love me to thank you all for your support and love.
 

Guitar Whiskey

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Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
Brad, thanks so much for sharing this sad news. Sounds like you guys have lived a very productive life. I really think Hank and Jack definitely played a part in how I got hooked on music more than 50 years ago. They treated me with respect even though I was just a kid and offered encouragement and wisdom. Not too common for guys who run a musical instrument store IMO. Great guys for sure.

Hank Kalvin in 2013

qtf4oQX.jpg
 

bern1

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Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
Ace was one of my accounts when I was the US rep for the German Rockinger products in the late 70’s.

I loved the whole music scene back then.
 

Mare

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Joined
Nov 6, 2022
Messages
3
Thanks for all of this info. I just bought an 88 LP prehistoric w Shaws. I fell in love with the flame top and I had to have it. The back of the head stock is stamped Ace Music and the inside of the pickup cavity is handwritten “Bernice”.
I’d love to try and find out how many of these LPs were made for Ace music and would love to know more of the history of this guitar if anyone knows anything. My theory is that if these were Gibson’s first attempt at re-creating the 1959 Les Paul, maybe these particular guitars that are stamped Bernice were Gibson’s attempt of re-creating a Rossington LP?
 

goldtop0

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Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Thanks for all of this info. I just bought an 88 LP prehistoric w Shaws. I fell in love with the flame top and I had to have it. The back of the head stock is stamped Ace Music and the inside of the pickup cavity is handwritten “Bernice”.
I’d love to try and find out how many of these LPs were made for Ace music and would love to know more of the history of this guitar if anyone knows anything. My theory is that if these were Gibson’s first attempt at re-creating the 1959 Les Paul, maybe these particular guitars that are stamped Bernice were Gibson’s attempt of re-creating a Rossington LP?

My prehistoric(lost a while ago) had Bernice in the cavity also.
 
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