Ed Roman, World Class Guitars, Has Passed Away

hifibass · #1 12-17-2011, 01:05 PM

Please folks, many of us had "challenging dealings and communications" with Ed, but let's keep this thread 100% respectful..... Ed left a nice family behind who loved him, we should all be so lucky!

Apparently last Wednesday, after a short illness, Ed passed away due to a major heart-attack in Las Vegas.

Ed was a "one-of a-kind" in Musical Instrumental Retailing and Manufacturing. He was his own man, no question about that. Flamboyant, opinionated, sometimes over-bearing and difficult, but he always knew where he fit in and didn't. I will miss him this year at NAMM 2012 in January, he was always "a show unto himself"!

My condolences to his wife Joanne (a really nice lady) and his daughter Lindsey, who were ALWAYS his partners. RIP Ed, "you were one of a kind", no doubt about it! KWS/NY

TTK's Exclusive Footage of The Ed Roman Custom Shop - Las Vegas Nevada - YouTube

reasonbass · #2 12-17-2011, 01:13 PM

I always enjoyed reading his rants. RIP Mr. Roman.

**pacojas** · #3 12-17-2011, 01:21 PM

RIP, Ed

thank you for your years of service!

ps: my Steinberger thanks you, also.

lowendgenerator · #4 12-17-2011, 01:26 PM

Ed Roman personified the saying "He who dies with the most toys wins." Like him or not, he had a hell of a collection.

xaxxat · #5 12-17-2011, 01:27 PM

P. Aaron · #6 12-17-2011, 01:27 PM

Enjoyed many of the articles on his website. RIP Ed Roman.

LiamPodmore · #7 12-17-2011, 01:31 PM

RIP Ed Roman, i was looking forward to getting one of his custom basses in the future too, such a great loss to the guitar industry.

Liam

**superdick2112** · #8 12-17-2011, 01:35 PM

The one & only time I visited his store, he personally showed me around and was very courtious to my me & my wife. He was a collector like few others, and he marched to his own drum.

RIP Ed...

**superdick2112** · #9 12-17-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hifibass

Apparently last Wednesday, after a short illness, Ed passed away due to a major heart-attack in Las Vegas.

HIFIBASS - where did you hear about Ed's passing? I can't find a single article or obit on any of the Vegas news sites.

hifibass · #10 12-17-2011, 02:02 PM

THANK YOU GUY'S!!!!! I was scared to death that someone would use this link to vilify Ed, the fact that everyone so far didn't, shows that WE AS A GROUP, simply get it and are sensitive to those close to Ed. My personal thanks for showing the restraint and decency appropriate to a situation like this, and to the group that we all share is simply profound. We all have to find our own way in the end.

Ken

Art Araya · #11 12-17-2011, 02:04 PM

Knew him from his music stores in Danbury, CT. Started with a small shop and then expanded to a music mall in the same city. I bought my first professional rig from his small shop.

Didn't know him personally since I was so young and interacted mostly with his sales staff.

hifibass · #12 12-17-2011, 02:06 PM

From the Steinberger Group Website. I've been there for years ('84 before there was a group) and Andy Yakubic/Moderator., has a sterling reputation that I know is true.

BrandonA119 · #13 12-17-2011, 02:23 PM

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php...233261&sk=wall

**JxBass** · #14 12-17-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Araya

Knew him from his music stores in Danbury, CT. Started with a small shop and then expanded to a music mall in the same city. I bought my first professional rig from his small shop.

Didn't know him personally since I was so young and interacted mostly with his sales staff.

I too was a customer for a number of years at his East Coast Music Mall in Danbury, CT. I spent several thousand $$ at his shop over the years before he moved West.

Ed had a strong personality and very definite opinions but he was always very helpful and spent quality time with me when I was there. The last time I saw him was at a guitar show in New Haven - he had a booth where he was showing and selling some really beautiful instruments. He was very kind and pleasant.

mmbongo · #15 12-17-2011, 02:31 PM

Say what you want about Ed, but we share a love for anything Steinberger...as well as the early PRS guitars. RIP man.

throbgod13 · #16 12-17-2011, 02:34 PM

my condolences to his family and friends..

kjpollo · #17 12-17-2011, 03:42 PM

I bought/sold/traded various basses and amps when they were in the Music Mall store. Sometimes I felt like I got a good deal, other times I KNEW I didnt.

But my best memory of Ed and that store was when I bought my white Steinberger XM-2. Ed had them throw some freebies in the gigbag. I know they werent big-ticket items by any stretch but that was my most expensive bass purchase at that point and no one else ever added as much stuff. Guitar polish, cleaning cloth, set of allen wrenches, and an extra set of double ball end strings. At the time probably $40-50 worth of stuff. A drop in the bucket compared to the grand I dropped on the bass but a nice gesture anyway.

I wonder whats going to happen to that vast stock of Steinbergers and parts now.

**JxBass** · #18 12-17-2011, 04:00 PM

A vivid memory I have, from probably 25 years ago, is spending some quality time with Ed during one of my several bass purchasing experiences at his Danbury store. He was really trying to talk me into a very early NS-2 Spector, saying that it would in time become a well-regarded bass. I passed. Several years later it became a "one that got away" decision that still haunts me.

Jeff Scott · #19 12-17-2011, 04:02 PM

RIP, Ed.

spade2you · #20 12-17-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendgenerator

Ed Roman personified the saying "He who dies with the most toys wins." Like him or not, he had a hell of a collection.

That he did. Salud!