There used to be a store in Miami like that, Ace Music. It was a big mom and pop, started small and grew quite large.

It had instruments you can try before you buy. I tried out three top-of-the-line Selmer saxes (Mark VI) and picked the one with the best intonation. They carried Gibson, Fender, and other major brands too.

And it was a meeting place for musicians. Whenever you went there, a dozen or so musicians were hanging around, trading gig stories, sharing instrument experiences and just shooting the $@(%.

It was purchased by a chain called Mars, which was run by bean counters instead of musicians and Mars eventually went belly-up.

Broward Band Instruments in Ft Lauderdale was like that but with fewer instruments (no guitars, just wind instrument) and a bigger repair operation. They even had "Sound Proof" practice rooms where you could try things out before you bought them without disturbing the other customers.

The last two saxes and guitars I bought on the Internet, and didn't get to try them out first. I went on the recommendation of others, and they turned out fine, but I would have rather sampled before I bought.

But this is the present, and there is no going back. The Internet gave us a lot, but it took some things away too.

Insights and incites by Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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