gear shops in new york city

bojan_1 · 5th August 2005

any gearslutz' favorite equipment shops in new york city?

thanks,

bojan

themaidsroom · 5th August 2005

i've lived here for 19 years and i buy nothing here................
instruments are a different story.........
mandolin brothers.....
rogue music........
and probably the weird little places........

the 48th street situation is so pro-sumer, and then you've gotta listen to
someone playing "cat scratch fever" really loud - i can't handle it anymore ........
the new guitar center is even worse.........

i buy things online and i like walking in new york

be well

- jack

Carlos Boll · 5th August 2005

The only thing I buy at local stores are strings.

Bob Ross · 5th August 2005

You can occasionally get a better-than-retail experience at Dale Pro Audio, but there's definitely nothing here that compares w/ Mercenary or Atlas.

audioez · 5th August 2005

Yes, or you can check out the used dept at B&H. One engineer I worked with bought a Neve33609c there years ago... good luck

grahluk · 5th August 2005

Can't say enough good things about 30th street guitars. Neither has the above mentioned prosumer hell or the snooty boutique vibe. They seem like serious lovers of what they sell and their luthier (Matt?) is excellent and personable. +1 to Dale Pro Audio. Prices might not be as close to margin as someone out of state but they do give good support and they are here in the city. If you are on good terms they'll allow you to demo stuff at your place.

FMNYC · 5th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaidsroom

i've lived here for 19 years and i buy nothing here................
instruments are a different story.........
mandolin brothers.....
rogue music........
and probably the weird little places........

the 48th street situation is so pro-sumer, and then you've gotta listen to
someone playing "cat scratch fever" really loud - i can't handle it anymore ........
the new guitar center is even worse.........

i buy things online and i like walking in new york

be well

- jack

the man speaks truth.
i could not agree more.
all i can add is some little places in brooklyn have sometimes interesting finds, rumbleseat music for example, when it existed that is.

FM

FM, ask for him by name.

Kenny Gioia · 5th August 2005

I get all my Pro Tools and Plugin crap and Dale Pro Audio. Great prices.

Everything else from Fletcher.

I can't stand going to the 48th Street stores either. It can take you an hour and a half to get a freakin mike cable. geez.

Although I do buy my drum stuff their.

jerkrecords · 5th August 2005

rogue music rocks.
just got an 1176 from them yesterday.

pete

Jan Folkson · 5th August 2005

There's some nice shops. On 44th bet 8th and 9th, there's a great nylon string guitar shop called Luthier, and on 9th in the high 40's, there's a great guitar shop called NY Guitar and Bass Boutique.

48th street is great if you need something fast, but I get nearly all my stuff from Alto Music in Middletown, NY.

eligit · 5th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahluk

Can't say enough good things about 30th street guitars. Neither has the above mentioned prosumer hell or the snooty boutique vibe. They seem like serious lovers of what they sell and their luthier (Matt?) is excellent and personable. +1 to Dale Pro Audio. Prices might not be as close to margin as someone out of state but they do give good support and they are here in the city. If you are on good terms they'll allow you to demo stuff at your place.

been going to 30th st guitars for years. good people. TONS of great blackfaces and tons of used guitars. no BS. obviously ebay is cheaper but you can't try before you buy on ebay....

you can try everything at 30th st. no pressure.

no recording gear there that i have seen.

cdog · 5th August 2005

For pro audio the 8.25% sales tax just kills it for me. Plus, I have a guy in Cali who crushes Dales's prices by 15-30% WITHOUT factoring in the 8.25%

They make a killing on commisions there at Dale.

My guy in Cali makes a tiny percentage, but I buy EVERYTHING from him, from mics and cables to $4000 EQs.

I have never put a ton of stock in pro audio "service".... you either have a good price or you don't, you either have a return policy or you don't. If something breaks, I send it to the manufacturer.

For guitars, amps, FX:

30th Street Guitars
Carmine Street Guitars
Ludlow Street Guitars
Rudys Music (48th st)
Rogue Music
Matt Umanov Guitars
Mandolin Bros if you have a car and $$,$$$

Jim vanBergen · 5th August 2005

I have found great USED gear deals at the pro audio companies that service NYC and the Broadway community. Cadac mixing consoles (you simply may not believe how amazingly good they sound!), Summit tube EQs and comps, lots of good BSS and dbx gear used (who was looking for 903 racks?) all of it well loved but VERY well maintained by quality engineers. I bought some EQs from Sound Associates, comps, mics and DI's from PRG Audio (used to be ProMix/ElectroTec) and a bunch of other stuff from Masque Sound.

High end audio new? Fletcher or direct from the maker whenever possible.

Dot · 5th August 2005

Rogue Music and 30th Street Guitars are right across from each other. I lived and worked in NYC for nearly 10 years and did almost all my gear shopping at Rogue. They've got a mix of everything, and you never know what you might find. Coolest store in the city, IMO.

It's worth a stroll down 48th street, but more to just take in the freak show.

Riad · 5th August 2005

Whatever you do don't buy anything from SamAsh or Manny's music (owned by SamAsh) they're overpriced assclowns.

I like Dale Pro Audio.

FMNYC · 6th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riad

Whatever you do don't buy anything from SamAsh or Manny's music (owned by SamAsh) they're overpriced assclowns.

I like Dale Pro Audio.

so so true.
thumbsup

FM

Lek · 6th August 2005

Lark Street Music over in Teaneck, NJ (not too far from Manhattan) has great vintage and boutique guitar gear. Buzzy, the owner is great, extremely laid back.

u b k · 6th August 2005

my impression of dale pro is that their rooms sound like ass, the staff is useless, and they don't know what good sound is.

also, their prices are high.

other than that, they rock!

gregoire
del ubik

warhead · 6th August 2005

Dale Pro sho' do look perty in them pitchers...

War

rll · 6th August 2005

Chris at Tekserve on 23rd Street is really amazing. Bought my PTHD rig and it has been humming along, no problems. I've sent about 5 others to them, and all had great experiences. Best price I found after mucho shopping around, although this is almost 2 years ago when they just got into the pro audio game, so things may have changed. Beat the tax by sending it to NJ or CT. Amazingly good support, which can come in handy on the computer front, perhaps more so than other gear. 48th Street is hilarious. Sam Ash Pro was on Broadway and they were decent for cable, connectors, etc., but have been reduced to 1/100th of the size. They now linger on the 48th St. Music Strip Mall.

themaidsroom · 6th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rll

Sam Ash Pro was on Broadway and they were decent for cable, connectors, etc., but have been reduced to 1/100th of the size. They now linger on the 48th St. Music Strip Mall.

i used to get stuff at sam ash pro.......at the old store.........

on a side note, for any nyc slutz into vinyl - colony music - right there at that
corner has a hidden, but un****ingbelievable basement full of vinyl in pristine
shape, some of it sealed - you've got to convince the guy you're serious to have
him open the door, but then.........more vinyl than i've seen in any one
place in 20 years.....

be well
- jack

Lek · 6th August 2005

Calistro Music in Connecticut is only like an hour from NYC. Great service and very knowledgeable!

absolutkj · 6th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by themaidsroom

i used to get stuff at sam ash pro.......at the old store.........

on a side note, for any nyc slutz into vinyl - colony music - right there at that
corner has a hidden, but un****ingbelievable basement full of vinyl in pristine
shape, some of it sealed - you've got to convince the guy you're serious to have
him open the door, but then.........more vinyl than i've seen in any one
place in 20 years.....

be well
- jack

colony music is on Broadway and what? They may have a great selection but how are their prices? I was shopping in New Jersey they other day and I found original pressing of Les Paul and Mary Ford's How High the Moon, as well as some mint Errol Garner and other gems... $2 a piece!!! I've found decent vinyl and cds in Brooklyn too, but they tend to be a little bit more pricey.

themaidsroom · 6th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by gp71

Calistro Music in Connecticut is only like an hour from NYC. Great service and very knowledgeable!

i have had nothing but great experiences buying stuff from Craig Calistro

- jack

NathanEldred · 6th August 2005

If you are in New York, look up Studio Consultants, they go back further than anybody in that immediate area that I'm aware of, and IMO are more knowledgable than Dale or Calistro. They are one of the 'good guys' too IMO...not just trying to move boxes.

Studio Consultants, Inc.
321 West 44th Street
Suite 908
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 586-7376
Fax: (212) 582-2169

themaidsroom · 6th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by absolutkj

colony music is on Broadway and what? They may have a great selection but how are their prices? I was shopping in New Jersey they other day and I found original pressing of Les Paul and Mary Ford's How High the Moon, as well as some mint Errol Garner and other gems... $2 a piece!!! I've found decent vinyl and cds in Brooklyn too, but they tend to be a little bit more pricey.

the prices were o.k. to expensive, but the guy would haggle if the pieces
weren't clean - good clean vinyl that doesn't require searching is never cheap
right now, in my opinion, the internet has changed so much of the old pricing/
geography equasions.............if you are willing to spend $30 on one piece
of vinyl , a title you really love, try speakers corner....... its amazing new vinyl

be well

jack

thethrillfactor · 6th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

If you are in New York, look up Studio Consultants, they go back further than anybody in that immediate area that I'm aware of, and IMO are more knowledgable than Dale or Calistro. They are one of the 'good guys' too IMO...not just trying to move boxes.

Studio Consultants, Inc.
321 West 44th Street
Suite 908
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 586-7376
Fax: (212) 582-2169

Are they still around?

Last i heard they became a place for post and then they shut their doors.

absolutkj · 6th August 2005

There is this guy in the Hamptons, Long Island who has a huge selection of vintage American gear- Fairchild, RCA, Ampex, Altec, etc. I wasn't happy with his prices because he bases everything off of what they are going for on ebay (and people pay stupid ammounts for vintage shit on ebay, regardless of the condition). But I was super impressed with his collection of about 100 RCA 44bx and 77dx mics. He said that he bought Gotham Audio a while back, and that he also bought a few big studios or something. His name is Robert Van Dyke. Anyone know anything about this guy? I wish I could afford his gear.

cl516 · 6th August 2005

i got my myteks from studio consultants in nyc also,
they were very helpful and knowledgable.

themaidsroom · 6th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by absolutkj

There is this guy in the Hamptons, Long Island who has a huge selection of vintage American gear- Fairchild, RCA, Ampex, Altec, etc. I wasn't happy with his prices because he bases everything off of what they are going for on ebay (and people pay stupid ammounts for vintage shit on ebay, regardless of the condition). But I was super impressed with his collection of about 100 RCA 44bx and 77dx mics. He said that he bought Gotham Audio a while back, and that he also bought a few big studios or something. His name is Robert Van Dyke. Anyone know anything about this guy? I wish I could afford his gear.

he quoted me some ok prices on some rca pres, but in a raw state, ultimately, he
was always GROUCHY NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS ARE YOU GOING TO BUY IT??
sometimes i didn't know whether to believe him or not, things like :
me : "do you have any altec birdcage mics?"
him: " have any? i have 57 of them all set to go........."

i gather from your post that you have been to his spot.........

- jack

5th August 2005	#1
bojan_1 Gear Head Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 58 Thread Starter	gear shops in new york city any gearslutz' favorite equipment shops in new york city? thanks, bojan

5th August 2005	#5
audioez Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 627	Yes, or you can check out the used dept at B&H. One engineer I worked with bought a Neve33609c there years ago... good luck __________________

5th August 2005	#8
Kenny Gioia Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 8,323	I get all my Pro Tools and Plugin crap and Dale Pro Audio. Great prices. Everything else from Fletcher. I can't stand going to the 48th Street stores either. It can take you an hour and a half to get a freakin mike cable. geez. Although I do buy my drum stuff their. __________________ It's a journey. Not a destination. Enjoy yours.

5th August 2005	#10
Jan Folkson Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NYC, NY Posts: 629	There's some nice shops. On 44th bet 8th and 9th, there's a great nylon string guitar shop called Luthier, and on 9th in the high 40's, there's a great guitar shop called NY Guitar and Bass Boutique. 48th street is great if you need something fast, but I get nearly all my stuff from Alto Music in Middletown, NY. __________________ - Jan Folkson www.janfolkson.com If you can't make it good, the least you can do is make it perfect.

5th August 2005	#14
Dot Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on the beach in warm, sunny SC Posts: 872	Rogue Music and 30th Street Guitars are right across from each other. I lived and worked in NYC for nearly 10 years and did almost all my gear shopping at Rogue. They've got a mix of everything, and you never know what you might find. Coolest store in the city, IMO. It's worth a stroll down 48th street, but more to just take in the freak show. __________________ Dan Richards Yackin' about gear and recording techniques at http://studioforums.com

5th August 2005	#2
themaidsroom Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: nyc / london Posts: 3,510	i've lived here for 19 years and i buy nothing here................ instruments are a different story......... mandolin brothers..... rogue music........ and probably the weird little places........ the 48th street situation is so pro-sumer, and then you've gotta listen to someone playing "cat scratch fever" really loud - i can't handle it anymore ........ the new guitar center is even worse......... i buy things online and i like walking in new york be well - jack

5th August 2005	#3
Carlos Boll Gear addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 442	The only thing I buy at local stores are strings.

5th August 2005	#4
Bob Ross Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 2,560	You can occasionally get a better-than-retail experience at Dale Pro Audio, but there's definitely nothing here that compares w/ Mercenary or Atlas.

5th August 2005	#6
grahluk Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 554	Can't say enough good things about 30th street guitars. Neither has the above mentioned prosumer hell or the snooty boutique vibe. They seem like serious lovers of what they sell and their luthier (Matt?) is excellent and personable. +1 to Dale Pro Audio. Prices might not be as close to margin as someone out of state but they do give good support and they are here in the city. If you are on good terms they'll allow you to demo stuff at your place.

5th August 2005	#9
jerkrecords Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 144	rogue music rocks. just got an 1176 from them yesterday. pete

5th August 2005	#12
cdog Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 3,437 3 Reviews written	For pro audio the 8.25% sales tax just kills it for me. Plus, I have a guy in Cali who crushes Dales's prices by 15-30% WITHOUT factoring in the 8.25% They make a killing on commisions there at Dale. My guy in Cali makes a tiny percentage, but I buy EVERYTHING from him, from mics and cables to $4000 EQs. I have never put a ton of stock in pro audio "service".... you either have a good price or you don't, you either have a return policy or you don't. If something breaks, I send it to the manufacturer. For guitars, amps, FX: 30th Street Guitars Carmine Street Guitars Ludlow Street Guitars Rudys Music (48th st) Rogue Music Matt Umanov Guitars Mandolin Bros if you have a car and $$,$$$

5th August 2005	#13
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,562	I have found great USED gear deals at the pro audio companies that service NYC and the Broadway community. Cadac mixing consoles (you simply may not believe how amazingly good they sound!), Summit tube EQs and comps, lots of good BSS and dbx gear used (who was looking for 903 racks?) all of it well loved but VERY well maintained by quality engineers. I bought some EQs from Sound Associates, comps, mics and DI's from PRG Audio (used to be ProMix/ElectroTec) and a bunch of other stuff from Masque Sound. High end audio new? Fletcher or direct from the maker whenever possible.

5th August 2005	#15
Riad Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 1,097	Whatever you do don't buy anything from SamAsh or Manny's music (owned by SamAsh) they're overpriced assclowns. I like Dale Pro Audio. __________________ www.carvelstudios.com "I like my women the way I like my scotch, 20 years old and mix up in coke."

6th August 2005	#17
Lek Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 620	Lark Street Music over in Teaneck, NJ (not too far from Manhattan) has great vintage and boutique guitar gear. Buzzy, the owner is great, extremely laid back. __________________ ----- http://www.facebook.com/lekmusic.1 http://www.lekmusic.com

6th August 2005	#18
u b k Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Land of Sunshine Posts: 11,037	my impression of dale pro is that their rooms sound like ass, the staff is useless, and they don't know what good sound is. also, their prices are high. other than that, they rock! gregoire del ubik

6th August 2005	#19
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 11,910	Dale Pro sho' do look perty in them pitchers... War

6th August 2005	#20
rll Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 240	Chris at Tekserve on 23rd Street is really amazing. Bought my PTHD rig and it has been humming along, no problems. I've sent about 5 others to them, and all had great experiences. Best price I found after mucho shopping around, although this is almost 2 years ago when they just got into the pro audio game, so things may have changed. Beat the tax by sending it to NJ or CT. Amazingly good support, which can come in handy on the computer front, perhaps more so than other gear. 48th Street is hilarious. Sam Ash Pro was on Broadway and they were decent for cable, connectors, etc., but have been reduced to 1/100th of the size. They now linger on the 48th St. Music Strip Mall.

6th August 2005	#25
NathanEldred Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: West Coast Central Florida Posts: 7,130	If you are in New York, look up Studio Consultants, they go back further than anybody in that immediate area that I'm aware of, and IMO are more knowledgable than Dale or Calistro. They are one of the 'good guys' too IMO...not just trying to move boxes. Studio Consultants, Inc. 321 West 44th Street Suite 908 New York, NY 10036 Phone: (212) 586-7376 Fax: (212) 582-2169 __________________ Nathan Eldred Visit Atlas Pro Audio USA Distributor for Buzz Audio Atlas Recording Studios, Inc.

6th August 2005	#28
absolutkj Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 87	There is this guy in the Hamptons, Long Island who has a huge selection of vintage American gear- Fairchild, RCA, Ampex, Altec, etc. I wasn't happy with his prices because he bases everything off of what they are going for on ebay (and people pay stupid ammounts for vintage shit on ebay, regardless of the condition). But I was super impressed with his collection of about 100 RCA 44bx and 77dx mics. He said that he bought Gotham Audio a while back, and that he also bought a few big studios or something. His name is Robert Van Dyke. Anyone know anything about this guy? I wish I could afford his gear.

6th August 2005	#29
cl516 Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,218	i got my myteks from studio consultants in nyc also, they were very helpful and knowledgable.

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