Question: So what brands and/or products do you buy at your local music store?

Mark Wein

Mark Wein

Grand Poobah
Staff member
I'm going to restock our retail players supply here at Premier and I need to order strings, picks, straps, drum sticks and whatnot. I'm not carrying instruments or amps - nothing with a serial number is the rule around here. But I want to get back to carrying the "consumables" and useful tools that players need. I am a dealer for Ernie Ball and D'Addario specifically and I can get most other brands of strings through my account Kaman so I don't think there is too much I can't get at this point.
 
I like Everly strings when I can get them. I dig Souldier and Couch brand straps. Picks, I'm not too picky about. There are a few different brands that will get me by just fine. I like to experiment though. I bought some Graphtech Tusq picks at my last music store stop. Those are pretty cool. For sticks, I usually buy Vic Firth Buddy Rich signature. Remo Tom and snare heads, Evans for the kick drum.
 
Accessory-wise, I tend to travel light, honestly.

Kaman carries CBI cables, right? If I recall they have a lifetime warranty without being filled with Monster bullshit.
 
I only buy conumables from a local shop.D'Addario is a favorite for strings,though Dean Markley Blue Steel is #1. picks I go with Dunlop tortex or gator grip.Planet Waves makes some decent that would fit in a student's budget.
 
If it were me, I'd stock:

D'Addario and Ernie Ball electric strings
D'Addario and Martin acoustic strings
Dunlop and Planet Waves accessories (picks, straps, etc)
Either Evans or Remo drum heads
Vic Firth or Pro-Mark sticks

That's about it.
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
If it were me, I'd stock:

D'Addario and Ernie Ball electric strings
D'Addario and Martin acoustic strings
Dunlop and Planet Waves accessories (picks, straps, etc)
Either Evans or Remo drum heads
Vic Firth or Pro-Mark sticks

That's about it.
Click to expand...
Thats about what I used to do.
 
Strings: D'Addario, Elixir, John Pearse, Martin.

I've tried DR strings on acoustic because so many people rave about them. Not for me. Too squeaky.

Almost everything Dunlop is making these days seems pretty good.

I picked up a Planet Waves cable a few months ago that kicks the shit out of everything else I've tried. I'm definitely buying more from them.

Semi-boutique pedals seem to be hot these days. It makes sense: they are cheap enough to be within reach of most players. I think a store carrying brands like Mojo Hand and Earthquaker would do well. Seems to be a somewhat trendy market, though -- yesterday's garage genius is today's corporate sellout.
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
If it were me, I'd stock:

D'Addario and Ernie Ball electric strings
D'Addario and Martin acoustic strings
Dunlop and Planet Waves accessories (picks, straps, etc)
Either Evans or Remo drum heads
Vic Firth or Pro-Mark sticks

That's about it.
Click to expand...

Yep, you've hit everything that I use, with the exception of the planet waves accessories. I don't like nylon straps, but for most people, those straps offer the greatest variety of styles.
 
I'm partial to Snarling Dog picks. D'Addario/Planet Waves products. I had a padded, wide strap from Planet Waves (meant for a bass, I think) that was great for my boat anchor T-60, and I've had a bunch of their products that are high on the cool factor.
 
Tuners - clip on ones
Straplocks - Schaller and/or Dunlop. Also I have an Eagle Mountain Lock-It Guitar Strap which I cannot recommend highly enough which solves both the strap and straplock issues in ones. Info here.
 
Favorite thing to buy at local Mom and, Pop store is speaker cables. Sorry, don't remember the brand. The plugs are huge, absolutely no mistaking them for guitar cables.

Adapters, like xlr to trs.

Clayton acetal picks.

Eminence speakers.
 
Most of what I use I get on line....and don't usually find in local brick and mortor shops.
So for example I use Curt Mangan strings for my wound strings, get them on line, nobody anywere near here has them.

Thomastik aren't used by the majority, I love the flats...but again, I would be a good guide as to what NOT to carry local if you want to stay in business.

And with JustStrings.com, I can't see how any shop can drive string sales ... just cover your students...in which case, ask them and then you'll have sales cause you're supporting them.

Now for picks, LOVE Jazz Tones... They are heavy and the tone .....yeah love them. But again, nobody here carries them so I get them on line.

I guess the peeps you really need to ask are your students and customer base. The rest of the world knows where to get stuff and unless we're in a lesson and don't have something or we're in your shop and happen to need say...strings...

Maybe some spontaneous things like guitar straps....cables.... Then again, your customers are the ones you need to ask...
I'm probably never going to just walk into your shop and buy consumables unless one of us moves :)
 
D'Addario strings, Dunlop picks. Can't go wrong with Levy's straps. I would encourage everyone to have a mini headstock tuner on every guitar. I need a new capo, so I'll go by the local place for one. String cleaner, guitar polish and good, affordable cables.
 
Ernie Ball 9's and 10's, jazz picks. I think that patch cables would sell, as would string winders (those cheap little plastic things that keep you from breaking your wrist...)
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
If it were me, I'd stock:

D'Addario and Ernie Ball electric strings
D'Addario and Martin acoustic strings
Dunlop and Planet Waves accessories (picks, straps, etc)
Either Evans or Remo drum heads
Vic Firth or Pro-Mark sticks

That's about it.
Click to expand...

This and some Kyser or Dunlop capos. And the clip-on tuners.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top