NYC steel guitar store?

Josh Yenne · Post by **Josh Yenne** » 22 Jul 2010 8:31 pm

Going to NYC this week. Any good stores in the city that stock steels? Just wondering.

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 22 Jul 2010 8:42 pm

Not really any pedal steel stores in NYC. Some of the vintage places will have a steel occasionally.... usually wildly overpriced.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 23 Jul 2010 5:02 am

A few carry some overpriced lap steels. But that is it.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 23 Jul 2010 5:42 am

I have been conferring with a local investor that has asked me to open just such a store. The store will be selling Mullen Guitars primarily and expansion to repairs, trades, instruction is planned as well...No word on the time-frame but the money and the idea is there...Now If I can just find the T I M E!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Jul 2010 6:05 am

Mickey Adams wrote:...the money and the idea is there...!

Not to be cheeky, Mickey, but are the customers there to support it (enough of them, that is)? I would imagine that you might need to carry a broader product line, including a range of less costly lap steels (which are fairly popular these days), to make a go of this. Are you planning to move to NYC yourself to run it?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 23 Jul 2010 6:13 am

If you plan to move to N.Y. City bring money. Lots of it. You're gonna need it, and then there are the taxes. My home town.

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 23 Jul 2010 7:29 am

See below. I'm just outside NYC. Glad to help if I can.

Jeremy Steele · Post by **Jeremy Steele** » 23 Jul 2010 10:13 am

I recently saw a Carter Starter in the Guitar Center on 14th Street, and there used to be one in Umanov's on Bleecker...that's about it for steels in NYC music stores....good luck if you follow through with your idea to open a place specializing in steels.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 23 Jul 2010 11:00 am

I think everyone in New York who plays steel has seen that Carter Starter at the Guitar center at 14th street.

As far as opening a store, I would suggest looking in the east village. There are a number of specialty guitar stores here, the rent is about the best you will find in the city, and it is a great place to live.

Plus I'd be able to walk over and give you some money now and then.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Jul 2010 11:48 am

... or a sandwich.

Josh Yenne · Post by **Josh Yenne** » 23 Jul 2010 1:17 pm

Wow. Not enough people in NYC to support selling steels.

The definition of a nitch instrument!!

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 23 Jul 2010 1:32 pm

I'm not so sure. You could build a mail order business and certainly a good store could draw people in from PA, NJ, CT, and upstate. Have to sell lap steels.

Great to see a store have a new york flavor: jazz, sacred steel, robert randolph, blues instore concerts to build interest in the instrument.

Depends on how deep the money guy's pockets are.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 23 Jul 2010 4:25 pm

NYC??? nah. Not enough players... Even if most of the players from 4 states visited on occasion, there would never be enough foot traffic to be able to maintain the strore with the massive operating costs in NYC.. There is a reason why a Big Mac costs 30% more in NYC than anywhere else...

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 23 Jul 2010 4:36 pm

That is certainly the conventional wisdom. But since moving to the east village a few months ago I've seen some specialty stores making it that wouldn't exist in other parts of manhattan

Philip Sterk · Post by **Philip Sterk** » 23 Jul 2010 5:28 pm

From what I've seen, I think the general consensus for admirers and players of steel guitar along with its varied musical applications played in the NYC music scene is that it (steel guitar) is certainly supported here, much like the rest of America and it cultural/musical scenes, big and small.

In regards to a steel shop; like most business' in NYC (and the rest of America) you need to work in high volumes (supply), move people through the door (demand), and keep overhead (rent) low to subsist and make that profit and keep it going...even the higher priced boutique shoppes are committed to this concept. Unlike the rest of America, the NYC real estate and tax codes are simply "different" than say, many other places.

The passion, creativity, along with the curiosity is here, but the demand and shear numbers of players of all ilk, just isn't as bountiful.

good luck to any entrepreneurs...I will swing by your shop.

Ron Castle · Post by **Ron Castle** » 24 Jul 2010 2:44 am

some years ago the was a nice new Fessenden PSG in Rudys guitar shop on 48th st in NYC ( a high-end "boutique" )- Don't know if it's still there or if it was ever sold, but I think the prices would have to be prohibitively high just to pay the rent.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 24 Jul 2010 6:21 am

JMO, but opening a steel guitar specialty store in the heart of Manhattan is a fool's errand.

Bob Dylan said (probably paraphrasing him here) that you may have a dream; but if you're dreaming, you've gotta be asleep.

Frank Ortega · Post by **Frank Ortega** » 24 Jul 2010 7:28 am

I think it would be worth a shot. It would be expensive as already mentioned doing business in NYC but with support from the steel playing community it could work. Especially helpful would be to hook up with the Pedal Steel Guitar Association who could reach out to it's local members. Also, the already mentioned in-store clinics and seminars would be a great way to attract potential players to the instrument.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 24 Jul 2010 7:49 am

I think its a great idea but for it to work it may need to be a front for a mafia money laundering operation, tax shelter for a Wall st guy or some other criminal activity.

Rob Segal · Post by **Rob Segal** » 24 Jul 2010 11:16 am

If combined with a coffee/croissanterie it could perhaps stagger along for a while. The issue is the cost of rent; too high in central Manhattan typically to be supported by selling picks, bars, and a few steels.

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 24 Jul 2010 11:26 am

...and square neck resonator guitars?

Rob Segal · Post by **Rob Segal** » 24 Jul 2010 11:31 am

....true reso guitars might draw some; but those aren't real steel guitars

Jonathan Lam · Post by **Jonathan Lam** » 24 Jul 2010 6:00 pm

Bob Hoffnar wrote:I think its a great idea but for it to work it may need to be a front for a mafia money laundering operation, tax shelter for a Wall st guy or some other criminal activity.

Exactly

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 25 Jul 2010 7:37 pm

Well...the space is being donated...Now do you think it could work?....Could be a different ballgame huh?>.

Bill Howard · Post by **Bill Howard** » 25 Jul 2010 7:46 pm

OK this will spark a debate usually anything I write someONE always will find a fault in it:).
Lets say that .25 percent of New Yorkers had an interest in Pedal Steels 9 Million People. 1% of a million is ten thousand so 2500 per million times 9 this would be over 20 THOUSAND People even HALF of them would still be over 10 THOUSAND, Not a lot of places can beat those numbers if you look at it like that, OK go ahead now tell me everyone in New York HATES Steel Guitars:),I Played in Maryland not far from New York I had People from there really interesed one guy even ask me where to buy one,I gave him Scottys name told him about ZUMs Mullen Franklins,so there is an Interest, far as high prices New Yorkers are like Canadians their used to paying more its the way it is there, This is only my HUMBLE Opinion

The Steel Guitar Forum

NYC steel guitar store?

NYC steel guitar store?

Steel in NYC

Pedal Steel Shop in NYC

Manhattan

Figure this