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I had an interesting chat with a Lady who sold bursts in the 50s and is still at it ......

Dr. Green

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Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
I had a chat with a Lady who owns a music shop in southern California. She has been the owner since the 50's and is still at it ! I had been in the store a few times and did not know she was the owner although it did strike me that she seemed well pass retirement age. So this time I made a comment " wow this is the type of store that must have sold Les Pauls and Telecasters in the 50s " To which she replayed " oh yes - I was there "
I asked her if it was her parents store .... " oh no this has always been MY store "

I was a little flabbergasted to hear this as the store opened in 1955 . My mind at work ... I decided to ask her about Les Pauls as she would have been open at the perfect time to get in with Gibson. She told me that she did indeed sell the Gibson line including all the models you guys dream about here. She seemed shocked to find out just how extremely expensive the 56-60s are at this time. She said " you brought them in to the store to sell - you did not know they would be worth a fortune " Now the interesting thing is she said that Gibson was really easy to deal with back then " they were great to work with " At some point - I dont know when she no longer was a Gibson dealer anymore and seemed to not be as happy with them today as 60 years ago.
one final note is she told me her biggest regret was not keeping any of the 50's Martin D-28 which she told me that she got inexpensively wholesale back in the late 50 's

I am trying to get a few old photos from her back "in the good old days " and will post here if I ever get them.
 

GreenBurst

Active member
Joined
Mar 5, 2004
Messages
748
I had a chat with a Lady who owns a music shop in southern California. She has been the owner since the 50's and is still at it ! I had been in the store a few times and did not know she was the owner although it did strike me that she seemed well pass retirement age. So this time I made a comment " wow this is the type of store that must have sold Les Pauls and Telecasters in the 50s " To which she replayed " oh yes - I was there "
I asked her if it was her parents store .... " oh no this has always been MY store "

I was a little flabbergasted to hear this as the store opened in 1955 . My mind at work ... I decided to ask her about Les Pauls as she would have been open at the perfect time to get in with Gibson. She told me that she did indeed sell the Gibson line including all the models you guys dream about here. She seemed shocked to find out just how extremely expensive the 56-60s are at this time. She said " you brought them in to the store to sell - you did not know they would be worth a fortune " Now the interesting thing is she said that Gibson was really easy to deal with back then " they were great to work with " At some point - I dont know when she no longer was a Gibson dealer anymore and seemed to not be as happy with them today as 60 years ago.
one final note is she told me her biggest regret was not keeping any of the 50's Martin D-28 which she told me that she got inexpensively wholesale back in the late 50 's

I am trying to get a few old photos from her back "in the good old days " and will post here if I ever get them.
Cool. What's the name and location of the shop?
 

seafood

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Joined
Jun 11, 2003
Messages
379
thanks!!!!! this really interests me, i would love know more........i've been crawling around music stores in cali.....for decades and i have watched them disappear ,,,,slowly,one by one........thanks..!
 

Dr. Green

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
Cool. What's the name and location of the shop?
its called Alan's music in La Mesa Ca
the place is really old school looking both inside and out
there are other music shops from the 50s out there - not too many where the original owner still greets you 65 years later .....

o.jpg
 

Drayve85

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2019
Messages
195
Sadly, and unfortunately, her and her store and others just like all across America are a dying breed. And, I believe, are a part of the reason this country is where it is!
 

Vics53

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
149
Sadly, and unfortunately, her and her store and others just like all across America are a dying breed. And, I believe, are a part of the reason this country is where it is!
That's a great story. Sounds like she's still pretty much together and I'd love to hear more stories from this lady.

I was born in 1953 and am glad I'm from an era where there was still plenty of "old school" things to experience and to remember. It wasn't a perfect time for all make no mistake about it, but I do miss the simplicity of those times more than ever. So what if you had to wait for a while in lines? That's just the way it was and it taught you patience, something that is in very short supply these days. Ma and Pa stores was the way it was back then and helped make communities strong.
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Yes the world was a much simpler and less complicated place back then........and funnily enough that's how I keep my life now also.
Good to hear and see that there are still some old school stores going over there....all have gone from this place where I live.
 

bern1

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Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
Yes the world was a much simpler and less complicated place back then........and funnily enough that's how I keep my life now also.
Good to hear and see that there are still some old school stores going over there....all have gone from this place where I live.
I’m trying to get to a simpler place myself. Easier said than done for me….
 

Vics53

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
149
I’m trying to get to a simpler place myself. Easier said than done for me….
I hear you on that one. Was part of the rat race until March of 2020 when I retired. A family issue kept me from feeling retired until March of this year. Finally at age 68 I am all for living as simple a life as I can. Some would say my lifestyle is boring but I could care less. I'm a homebody and am very content with that.
 
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