Sam Ash Done - Where Do We Go Next?
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- čas přidán 6. 05. 2024
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They are???? Oh no no no! I’m gonna miss Sam Ash. I’ve bought so much gear out of them. Sam Ash is an American Institution to me. Damn
Just want to thank you for all you share. Been a sax player & audio tech for many years. You have a great perspective with our music arts communities. I still play at 68 yrs old and we don’t see enough younger players out in the clubs, live events, wineries & so forth.
Barry, you are 100% spot on. My wife was a manager of a local pharmacy for about 32 yrs. She always said that the only thing her store could offer better than anyone was SERVICE, know your customer by name if possible. The product is the same how you present and deliver is the deciding factor. I get most of my drum gear from Dales drum shop in Harrisburg Pa about a three hour drive for me. In my opinion it is well worth my time. Love your channel!! I enjoy the drive and the folks at Dales. I’m about 50 miles from Phila or nyc but would rather travel to Dales, I think they do a lot of things right.
I totally thought Barr was about to go on an epic anti-politics rant... and I was all the way down for it lol 🤣
My sister introduced me to Sam Ash in Tampa Fl and I moved to NYC in 1992 and have been going to Sam Ash since the late 90’s. They were the only store that had lay away
As a musician who spent 35 years working in music stores I can tell you what's wrong. The last store I worked in after the Dallas, Tx. stores was in my hometown Tyler, Tx. They had been a Gibson and Fender dealer since 1965. Fast forward to 2009. Gibson demanded them purchase at least $75.000.00 of Gibsons ever year to remain a dealer and we were not selling that many. We cancelled our dealership with Gibson after 55 years. Sold a lot of Epiphones but their new rule applied only to Gibson's so we can see their intent was to flush mom and pops out of business since they decided to go to bed with Guitar Center/Musicians friend. This affected a lot of brick and mortar stores and Sam Ash as big as it is was not exempt. If Guitar Center ever crashes Gibson is going down with it because they crapped all over the little guys. Sweetwater Audio which is huge also may keep them alive possibly. I'll buy a Chinese copy any day before an overpriced Gibson.
"$75.000.00 of Gibsons ever year to remain a dealer." I've heard that from others too. Insane. What does Gibson think is going to happen? Teens are going to start buying $3000 guitars? Not happening. Even $20,000 spread out annually is barely doable.
@@houdinididiit It cost them at least one dealer and that dealer had all the business in East Texas for 55 years.
Wow I did not know this.
$75,000 is only 18 $4,000 guitars. they are selling less than 20 les pauls or sg’s a year?
@@anthonysmithjr.7388 Yes. Sold tons of Epiphones but $3k and above is out of reach of most musicians and even the parents. The entire Metroplex around Tyler is only about 500,000 people. Then 100 miles away is Dallas and Guitar Center. Plus tons of online sales. Brick and mortar days are about over except for guitar center.
I'm havin' fun with you! I go way back with Sam Ash as well. From New York. Good Talk, Barry.
love your candid confession videos man. true to feelings and down to earth.
So true. The problem is that Business School/MBA mentality. They are taught to think that “business is business”. That all businesses function the same….
…and the don’t. Which is why these guys run places like Guitar Center into the ground. You can’t run a music retailer like a big box electronics store or a Wal-mart.
Shopping at my local GC is so painful and frustrating that I only continue to do it out of sheer determination to support them locally. But I have walked out of there on many an occasion cursing under my breath wondering why I continue to subject myself to such a poor shopping experience…..
Sure you can. Just not very long...
Barry! I have the 16Rig! Please go into great detail on the routing matrix! I’m still wrapping my head around it.
Barry, you are absolutely correct about the current state of music gear retail. It’s sad that another retailer has gone under. So glad I have most of the gear that I will ever need and don’t have to depend on retailers. I am extremely lucky to know a high profile recording engineer that always happily and honestly answers my gear questions. It’s just a matter of finding what I need.
SAM ASH remains as an ONLINE Music Retailer ( confirmed)
I believe ‘direct to consumer’ is the future.
Great channel, keep up the great work
Yeah. So right. I bought my bass on the internet, because there was NO local store around anymore. This is a very sad thing. Luckily I moved to another area and here we have a big musicstore just 40mins by car. They also sell recording stuff besides instruments. So I am very happy to visit them regularly. And of course the next piece of gear will be from them. 🙂
Sam Ash in NYC was so many things. A meeting place of musicians, artists, creative people. A showroom of new equipment. A place for the guys who love music, the business didn’t love them, but they got love in that store. It was a safe space where famous musicians could come and try new equipment and not be mobbed by fanboys, and meet creative artists and talk shop. From the 48th Street Shuffle, as it was known throughout my time visiting there in the 80’s and 90’s, and early 2000’s. Sam Ash helped many artists and musicians over its extensive years. Salute Sam Ash!!!!🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
You are spot on sir
Talk about all the monuments.....Reliable Music, Thourobred, Atlanta Rhythm Music....I did 30yrs
Bought my first electric at Reliable Music, Grew up in Cornelius NC, always went down to Reliable and Action music.. then Mars sometimes as well. Brings back lots of memories
Barry, appreciate the passion!
Right on point Barry!
Yes you are spot on with your take
Founded in 1925, Festool is like the Neumann of wood working tools.
Sweetwater is about as a good of a music store as you could want.
I agree, except when it comes to instruments, I like to play in person and have a physical interaction.
Nah Prices Suck
if you live near there
I worked for Two Sam Ash Music I opened and worked Charlotte NC and ATL....Keyboards and Recording...Hired by the family Mother and sons...
Hi Barry - very interested to see your Big Six review. I am in the market for a unit like that and I can't decide to go with big six or modular set up with a mixer, some outboard and a new interface/converters. For the price I am intrigued but I wonder if I am better served to save up longer-term for something like an API box. I like the idea of a small format console for workflow in a small studio. Big six is at an interesting price point where the "next step" up is... about 15k...
Its been Sweetwater for the last 3-4 years. GC went bad. Sam Ash was better but I just said to heck with it. I will say I got a Lot of nice used gear from Sam Ash. Never really knew why. RIP Sammy!
Barry Mann…your videos are looking better and better! Great job as usual.
I’m always trying😁
The last time that I was in a Sam Ash the store staff was urging me to shop their on line store. They had a lot of used gear in stock but the selection of new gear was declining. Sad to see.
Bought a couple of things from them. Service was great and the products lasted a long time.
Too bad they couldn’t hang on.
Im in nyc and i also agree. I was a Sam Ashian lol guitar center had more stores but Sam ash felt better! Id always go to them first.
I loved Sam Ash…when I got that email I was immediately sad. Sam Ash was the best place for me to try out saxophones and accessories.
Sad thing they are closing! We def need places like Sam Ash. Is the same thing in store for Guitar Center?
RIP SamAsh that’s a bummer- that’s cool you’re a big fan of Stam - Joshua just delivered my SA-2A+ it’s my first of those!! I love it! I use the BigSix for my drums, MPC- I love it- you may… I put another one out today! Went on spotty.. Man, I’d love to talk to you about doing those tables bro I do woodworking also.. The epoxy… I want to get into that- stand up Palm Beach 🙏🏼 good show Barry (I had to edit your name. These phones are evil. 😝)
I’m happy to help with the epoxy, send me an email.
I didn’t realize Barry lived in O-town. I grew up just south of there in “the county”
I’m not surprised, in the mid 90s I worked at the flagship store on 48th St. in New York, so the owners were in and out all the time, and that’s where they one of their best managers and stuff like that, nothing was run very well at all, I found myself seeing what the hell are we doing many times a week, it was only a matter of time, one time a couple mics went missing, and they blamed the staff, and had us all questioned in a very amateur insulting kind of way, I’m glad they’re gone
The one on colonial had the crazy crazy closeout sale. I bought a pop filter that was $75 bucks for $25 bucks. They had interfaces for the cheapest price. I mean it was like a kid in a candy store. Midi Keyboards, Stands etc… almost bought gear I didn’t need. The one on Lee road as well.
I missed that🤦♂️
Im So sad. I Love Sam ash!
I was sad to find out they’re closing. I got my first real electric guitar and amp at Sam ash back in middle school after saving up for so long. I walked in to my store the day of the announcement and it felt rough. My home town brick and mortar shut down in 2020 and the local guitar center is in bad shape. I’m gonna miss it all if this truly is the end of the guitar store age where you can try it out before you buy it while you listen to the latest high schoolers playing Metallica, sabbath and nirvana in the background
So glad for 2x>>
I like Festool too! Precision…
I love Sweetwater. Have had Ryan as a sales engineer since 2010. I’m real curious about how the big six works out for you. Cause I’ve been really thinking hard about buying one. But still looking for all the real information on them instead of just the hype. Just because I have a love for their products. But it does a lot for a low price. Which means that some corners were cut.
I find I am only sympathetic to staff and friends that will lose their jobs. I am one of the few that remember Sam Ash’s BS when they ruined Thoroughbred Music here in Clearwater. Sam Ash’s quality of selections are just barely a step above GC.
Today correct.
Mind blown. First time hearing this. I think it's also that they were terribly slow integrating an online store with physical stores. I remember it being a pain to browse or purchase online. Everyone talks about Sweetwater, but there's also B&H which does a tremendous job in the pro audio dept.
Will miss em. I've made major purchases from them, mostly in-store.
Barry, I would really love to hear your thoughts on that Arturia 16rig interface. Especially coming from the perspective of an RME user. i’m in the market right now.
I’m working on it😁
Barry wow i just released your in Florida like me wow i stay in Port Richey! Sad to see the one in Clearwater go!
You have Replay Guitars.
Columbus, Ohio and old enough to remember Sam Ash and Guitar Center putting around a dozen local mom & pop music stores out of business when they moved in. I've probably bought more gear from sweetwater and Reverb however, nothing compares to actually being able to take a guitar down from the rack and feeling it, the action the set-up, the tone, like a local music store can provide. I had good relationships with the store employees and management but also noticed a big change after covid era. Now, I have to find someone to unlock my priced guitars to play and may wait a long time since very understaffed at GC. And when I stopped into Sam Ash, my old managers where gone and even though new staff were accommodating, there was not enough inventory that interested me. Finally, Power Tools are different because you invest in a Battery Platform then are tied to the tools. As a younger HVAC tech I got a great deal on a refurbished Makita impact wrench, and over twenty years later still a Makita Guy!!! Haha!
Great choice!
Mr. Barry, when will you review Steinberg AXR4U, please?
I can’t wait for him to review the SSL Big Six. I was going to get that, but I’m thinking about the Tascam Sonicview.
Him here, that one will be a bit, lots to become familiar with.
Sweetwater is cool
Can I say something and not get blasted off of here please? Sorry to disagree with you, but I can't say Sam Ash was better than Guitar Center. GC is not great either... whole other story. Sam Ash sales employees were beyond obnoxious, including the owner who passed away just a year ago or so. We exchanged some contentious words by mail. He passed away way too early, God bless him and his family because he got really sick with cancer I heard. It is terrible when people get sick like that and especially at his young age. I think he was only in his 60's. Not trying to slander the man, hate, or paint an unfair picture of him either. But this reflection here on that company is a very long time in the making and from so many different angles. thank you so much for posting your video here by the way. You hit some great points here. I just subbed too.
I have hit the guitar store scene since the very late 80's very early 90's time period as a teenager when MTV and rock/metal was God.
Sam Ash stores NEVER budged on fixing their internet profile and two specific things that were beyond intolerable and it was not just me either. Sam Ash absolutely positively would NEVER BUDGE on their Used/Pre-Owned guitars/basses/pro audio/drums/misc prices. They could not be reasoned with. I saw a Used/Pre-Owned Gibson Les Paul Standard hang on the same wall for over two years at the Cerritos store. I asked different staff about that same Used Les Paul on and off trying to reason with them... NO CHANGE.
My last time in that Cerritos store I asked one of the staff about it, he was an older gentleman, and I must say was too my surprise, much nicer than the typical Sam Ash and his almost exact words were this > > >
"That's funny you should mention that. If management wants to sell products, especially the Used gear, they have to price it accordingly. I actually talked to management and even upper management about the Used/Pre-Owned gear topic and they don't listen to even the employees. I told them, this stuff is never going to move off the wall."
There is *NO SHORTAGE* of guitars and Sam Ash employees always acted like they are doing you a personal favor by getting a guitar down from the wall in this effed up God awful economy. I saw this over and over again for more than twenty years. It was not just with me either. Other customers and other musicians and friends who have gone through there told the same tale 95% of the time. I have been to multiple store locations including Hollywood, Cerritos, Canoga Park, Torrance, that Orange County one in Westminster, Ontario, that one by City of Industry/Commerce and I believe there is or was at least one in either Las Vegas or Phoenix. I don't remember. I have been to all of those stores dozens of times each spread out over more than two decades.
There are countess Guitar Centers, authorized online stores such as Sweetwater, Musicians Friend, eBay, Reverb and they think we are convinced they have the only musical gear for sale or offering something that is super rare. And my God, do they know how to gaze and assess you down when you first walk into that store and showroom. If they get the slightest of vibe that you don't have money or are just there to "browse/try" guitars out... you are done. They are not going to help you. Their slogans of "Family Owned" and "Come in and play" mean nothing. When sales staff are this ice cold combined with pure ignorance to the economy and online platforms for years and years, the company is going to lose. Sam Ash has lost at this game miserably. West LA Music had two locations, simliar problems...they shut down. I have no idea how some of these smaller "brick and mortar" stores stay in business with this putrid economy. I don't feel sorry Sam Ash one bit.
When I started ordering from Sweetwater I had a musician/ salesman... Dude got promoted now I'm stuck with are salesman...ishhh sux😢
Ouch. My sales rep over there is a musician, composer and audio engineer, so I got lucky. When he has been out of the office and I get another person it's just not the same, so I hope he never leaves. His teammates are ok, but I always wait until he comes back.
I've bought from GC, Sam Ash, and Sweetwater over the years. I prefer Sweetwater even though I can't audition the gear first. GC used to be a showroom for all of the latest and greatest gear. For the past decade or so they've had very limited stock on everything. I used to live in GC but now I don't even go there to kill time anymore.
I don't know what it's like in the states, but over here in the UK most guitar shops have them locked on the wall so you can't just go round and have a feel of each one at your leisure. People don't want to keep asking for a guitar to be lifted up so they can feel it and it really ruins the experience, that's the main reason I don't go as much as I used to.
I never had much dealings with Sam Ash, but Guitar Center is trying to turn a corner, because they have adopted the assigned Sales Rep approach and is the contact for new and used gear. I spoke to my Guitar Center Rep and he echoed everything you said Barry about the vision of the new CEO. The CEO said mid tier and high end gear must be in stock and accessible in the stores and offer more variety. I was told the CEO is a musician himself, so that helps. They even spoke about how Sweetwater does things right and how they need to adapt and provide better service similar to them.
Me personally, I don't have the hatred for GC as others as I have dealt with them for decades, but yes they have screwed things up and began to go down hill, therefore Sweetwater and Vintage King entered the chat. I like the service from those two for sure not to mention the free warranty. Kellards in NY is another good one too.
Every Guitar Center I’ve been to the sales people or absent or horrible.
they have zero knowledge about the gear and there’s no used gear available
Overall, I cannot deny your assessment, because their sales staff in certain locations are missing in action or absolutely clueless. They were not always like that. I have 3 in my area and only one is worth dealing with. The store manager at that location schooled me on Adam Audio monitors and I must say he steered me in right direction. Now his employees? Meh. They are at least present LOLOL.
I agree the used gear selections in your local store is hit and miss, so their selection online is always going to be the best option. It seems like the Atlanta store always has some nice items depending on what you are looking for. GC is still unmatched overall for used gear although Reverb is a strong contender IF you can get the right price. Sweetwater has the gear exchange but I have never used it so I cannot comment.
I’m going to miss Sam Ashkenazi, bought my first guitar from there. Shout-out Papillon.
About to see alot of B-stock gear on Reverb. I mean how do you purchase monitors? We're just taking people's words for how they sound. Buy on online and return since we can't audition them. Our ears are are not all the same along with taste. I'm from CT all I know of in the state was Sam ash and Guitar center down the street from it. We have 3, but you should never put all your eggs in one franchise basket. Now it's like Barry said Alto music is in NY..that would be my closest stop for another gear shop.
My favorite is the Lee rd store I love the employees there. I’ve been going there for years. I was there yesterday, it really sucks they’re going out of business. I’ve bought so much equipment from them. Sad to see them go! 😢
Yep that is the good one I’m referring to.
@@BarryJohns I love going into that store it was like toys r us for me lol
All you need is Sweetwater. LOL!
I know Sam Ash didn't invest in their online business like others have. My last order through them was last year. The process was painful. Processing the shipment was slow. Everything in the purchase process was painful. The last Sam Ash I walked into was in Las Vegas years ago. Still sad to see them go.
Is that The stam I see
It is a larger retail collapse. They were old fashioned too a fault
sam ash should have partnered with sweet water, almost like geek squad at Best Buy. a pro section where you could go test and play with pro toys and make orders from there as well , sam ash would get more business and in turn sweet water gets 100s of brick and mortars and a national distribution network over night...
Sam Ash died of stubbornness. They were determined to be primarily a brick-and-mortar operation…and that model just isn’t viable anymore.
It was heartbreaking to watch my local SA slowly wither away. But you gotta put the sidewalks where the people walk…and they just refused to do it…
@@kellygreenii exactly that's why I respect b&h photo and video. I try to use them as much as possible. and in our new media age not only do they solve your pro audio needs but they also offer top of the line video equipment as well. and you can furnish your entire production setup in one place . and there prices are usually the same or lower than sweetwater . I really feel like if sam ash reached out to sweet water it would have been a match made in heaven. but that same play wouldn't work with guitar center because it would feel way to corporate..
@@GgWifi-ot2sh Agreed. Which is why I feel SA went under simply because they refused to change…. GC is on the brink because of greed, laziness and a lack of understanding of who their customers are.
Guitar center actually has the arturia stuff. SSL stuff too.
Not in any of the central Florida store’s as far as I’ve seen.
The one in my area is super awful in the keyboard section (all cheap entry level junk except for this huge outlier Korg arranger at almost 7k). Guitar selection is decent, but barely any effects selection.
Honestly I think you could go on even more on this topic. Felt like it was cut short
That’s funny that you say that, I edited it out over 20 minutes of what I said.
Sam Ash 45th Street NY NY was the wild west. Guitar Center is the Walmart of music.
I will say the GC on sunset strip is very good.
Just bought my dream guitar (new 912ce Builders Edition) for 43% off. Normally retails for $5,999. Sad to see them go away.
Enjoy your new guitar.
@@BarryJohns thank you! Great content btw. Good luck growing the channel. Cheers
It's actually very smart of Sam Ash to close their stores and do online only. No need to pay all that rent and other overhead for brick and mortar when they can sell it from their site and ship it to you like Sweetwater does. Because Sweetwater never had to worry about the extra overhead that Sam Ash had to, Sam Ash is now able to level the playing field a little bit. I'm still shopping at Sweetwater though, haha.
The online is shutting down as well. The Ash family is completely exiting the music retail business.
Online is what killed them. Terrible site, could not see local store inventory. Used to have store inventory connected to Google. Very amateur. Broke in 2020 and they never fixed it. I complained online in chat, at the store and emailed them. Never fixed. They failed that market segment big time.
They haven't been good in years
✌🏾
Yup- "Milwaukee" is the LEADER these Days...Plus "Festools" ( people really don't understand what we're talking about are top leaders. Dewalt I still use but has changed. Back to MUSIC though, yes we need to see middle to top ed=nd Gear ab=gain on the Walls/Displays so I stop BUYING & RETURNING their gear! their loss. You would think they get it by know and make the right change. George
Really sad.
What did we lose as consumers having Sam Ash go out of business? To me, the whole model of Sam Ash and Guitar Center doesn't quite work. The idea of having a bunch of guitars on the wall and constant noise (sometimes actual music) throughout the entire store is not conducive to judging whether or not an instrument is right for you. Plus, as you mentioned, they don't have a lot of the pro audio stuff available to see anyway.
sam ash in hollywood from my experience and from what i heard from others are rude snobs. there have been countless stories of getting ripped off by them. i literally walked across the street to guitar center. gc isn't perfect but at least they weren't as bad as them. no issues with any other sellers, only sam ash.
The MBA mindset has ruined America since 1980. Guitar Center is the CompUSA of music. Imagine what Sweetwater could do with Guitar Center/Musician's friend . . .
The enshittification of the world. More monopoly, less choice
It’s us the consumer that do that, business get money because we choose to give it to them. Can’t blame the business for competing.
You lost me at festool ew lmao
Now,lets get rid of guitar center. We had music stores before they were all run out of business by GC.
In the last year , Sam ASh' service sucked
Guitar center problem is how they hire an they don’t understand the type of people you talking about!
3/4th of the video in, I still don't understand what's that problem is....times changes, things changes, your previous deals might not get as easy as you used to...but, bottom line still is...what shot are you really getting done with the stuff you have ??...I too have a whole collection of guitars and synths.....mainly because....they fit me like a glove....let's face it.....economy suckk....oh man sorry I got tired of the rant.....so what's your point here ? you're talking so fast....what's the real thing you're actually pissed about ?
I’m surprised you came away thinking this is a rant and that I’m upset. These places “need” to hear “your” voice and they do so when they see the comments. The new CEO of guitar center commented on my GC trying to turn it around. This does matter, together we can do a better job of making sure they understand our need so those needs are more likely to be met. No rant, not mad about anything. Well regarding this……
@@BarryJohns yeah sorry about the harsh response/comment I guess, this is just passion talkin on both our ends! Lots of movements and transformations nowadays, my point is just that I went there because I wanted to get some inside opinion and more insights about a product and by extension a brand I'm interested in. And we're just getting ourselves caught into the whirlwind of what music industry is today...a big mess that's all good, as long as we all end up at sweetwater's 😄What brand are you talking about already ? 😛
This video was a complete and utter waste of my time. No, really, it was.
You’re welcome😁
👋 Bye-bye Scam Ca$h😅🎉
That’s not what this video is about, you should watch it.
What a ridiculous post.
@Ron-py7rt 🙄😒😑Sorry if today was not your day to be satisfied with my comment. I know that I can't appease everyone, and I certainly don't go out of my way to do so. Deal with it.
@BarryJohns Watched it, and I see where you're coming from and sympathize. I wish stores of that magnitude could survive forever as I like to try a guitar or bass before I buy. But in the end, Sweetwater and a few other online stores killed them due to superior customer service. They knew exactly what most of customers wanted - service and be treated like a person when it came to making any purchase whether it was a pack of strings or 5 guitars and a full stack amp and they weren't afraid to provide it. End of an Era, but time goes on.
Sweetwater were smart from the get go. Online. That was always the future. Surprised it took this long for samash to drop their stores.