Tone Dispensaries : Brooklyn
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No! Sleep! Till! ... (sorry, we had to).
In what will become a regular feature on our blog, we’re going to spotlight some of our many incredibly amazing independent brick and mortar dealers, and get some local tips while we’re at it. We love all the cities and towns of this great continent - heck, all the continents - and we’ll get to many of them later this year, but we figured we’d start with the city that played host to Dog Day Afternoon, Saturday Night Fever, The Warriors, Do The Right Thing, and of course, everyone’s favorite, Goodfellas. Um, that’s Brooklyn, but hopefully you figured that out by now.
One of the many wonderful things about our Brooklyn dealers is that each store is truly unique. We spent some time chatting them up, and their answers made us love them even more (IF THAT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE!) Now, without further ado, please get to know Geek Forest, Main Drag Music, Orphan Guitars and The Guitar Shop NYC!
Main Drag Music
50 South 1st Street
Williamsburg
Year opened: 1997
Tell us a little bit about Main Drag and what makes it special.
Main Drag at its core is a community space. Built into the store's ethos is the importance of getting the tools to make music into the hands of people at every skill level and economic situation in a non-pretentious environment. It is also the only place that ever could have sent me from a strict acoustic guitar nerd down the endless pedal and synth rabbit hole. We're also really excited about our new space and things to come.
What’s the coolest or weirdest piece of gear you’ve had in the shop?
On my first day at Main Drag, I was told I had to sell a Pan-Jo, a shaved down Fender neck mounted on a cast iron pan. I'm not sure I was ever successful (but here I am all these years later regardless). I also recall falling in love with a very small Martin tenor guitar that I've never seen before or since.
What’s your favorite item in the store right now?
I'm always a sucker for a USA Tele - this particular one is a 2011 60th Anniversary Edition and you can already see where the nitro finish is starting to discolor.
Favorite Brooklyn lunch spot?
Luigi's Pizza in South Slope. While I'm at the store I generally get takeout from all over but I really love the lunch specials around the corner at Aurora.
Favorite Brooklyn venue?
I love the Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook - always great music and has a great vibe that feels almost like it could be one of my old haunts upstate.
Favorite non music store in Brooklyn?
I recently discovered GiftedBK- they have great art there.
Favorite Brooklyn band/musician, current or past?
The list of personally significant musicians hailing from Brooklyn is extensive - everyone from Dave Van Ronk to Lou Reed to Simon and Garfunkel; Gershwin and countless more contemporary local acts - it really has been a breeding ground for great music for generations.
-Lauren Levy, salesperson extraordinaire
Geek Forest
122 Bedford Avenue
Williamsburg
Year opened: 2015
Tell us a little bit about Geek Forest and what makes it special.
Geek Forest is a multifaceted brick and mortar store selling tabletop games, sci-fi books, graphic novels and Manga, odd music devices, makers kits, vinyl toys and collectibles while also offering classes, workshops, and remote Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.
What’s the coolest or weirdest piece of gear you’ve had in the shop?
What’s your favorite item in the store right now?
Favorite Brooklyn lunch spot?
Favorite Brooklyn venue?
Our favorite non secret underground spot is Saint Vitus.
Favorite non music store in Brooklyn?
Favorite Brooklyn band/musician, current or past?
-Carmen & Ricky Sutton, owners
Orphan Guitars
493 Court Street
Carroll Gardens
Year opened: 2018
Tell us a little bit about Orphan Guitars and what makes it special.
Orphan specializes in used and improved instruments in a workable price range. We’re big believers in the bang for the buck you can find in Japanese copies, bolt-on Gibsons, etc. Proceeds from the store go to the CHiPS Food Pantry in Park Slope.
What’s the coolest or weirdest piece of gear you’ve had in the shop?
When we first opened we had a great Red Label Yamaha acoustic that was absolutely beat to shit, but sounded like angels. It was a magic guitar.
What’s your favorite item in the store right now?
1979 Gibson GK-55
Favorite Brooklyn lunch spot?
Court Street Grocers right next door makes one of the greatest sandwiches in the world, but paying $20 for a sandwich makes me lose my appetite. Gimme a Tupperware of reheated pasta and I’m happy.
Favorite Brooklyn venue?
Hank’s. RIP.
Favorite non music store in Brooklyn?
Favorite Brooklyn band/musician, current or past?
Johnny Thunders
-Dwight Weeks, owner
The Guitar Shop NYC
225 34th Street
2nd Floor
Sunset Park
Year opened: 2015
Tell us a little bit about The Guitar Shop NYC and what makes it special.
The Guitar Shop NYC is a truly new and dynamic approach to the traditional style guitar shop found anywhere! We have the honor of representing the very best guitar, bass, amp, and pedal builders from around the globe. We carry vintage gear, as well as the highest end in amplification, pedals, and accessories. The shop doubles as a guitar building facility for Olinto by La Bella, Carbonetti Guitars, and Mas Hino NYC. All our guitars are hand built on the premises. We also offer a top notch repair & setup service to the professional and enthusiast guitar community in the tri-state area. The shop boasts the largest selection of strings for any style guitar on the planet! La Bella strings offers their full catalog of strings direct from the factory for even the most discerning of players. Over the past several years we have hosted countless free clinics, and have produced guitar and bass shows inviting builders from over 30 different countries. We consider the shop the U.N. of guitar players & builders!
What’s the coolest or weirdest piece of gear you’ve had in the shop?
The coolest gear we sell are our hand built guitars, and EQD pedals of course!
What’s your favorite item in the store right now?
Our favorite item in the store right now is our 1938 D'Angelico.
Favorite Brooklyn lunch spot?
Japan Village in Industry City.
Favorite Brooklyn venue?
Favorite non music store in Brooklyn?
Favorite Brooklyn band/musician, current or past?
-Eric Cocco, owner
Anna Blumenthal handles Sales and Artist Relations for EarthQuaker Devices. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, plays bass in Sit N Spin, DJs 60s soul and R&B at various Brooklyn bars, and has seen Cheap Trick over 30 times.
