I stopped by at my local SA and they will still be around (for now, who knows what will happen down the pike).
My last major purchase there was this bass, around Thanksgiving '22.
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Sam Ash is closing 18 stores
- Thread starter bassfiddlesteve
- Start date
My last major purchase there was this bass, around Thanksgiving '22.
That sounds like how I found my Conklin at the Torrance CA, LA's South Bay with the 2009 stimulas check in the bank. That was my go to store to try basses before that location moved to a smaller space and the new staff started hovering. I only tried one bass after there move and actually ended up getting that model years later after the COVID shortages
I stopped by the Clearwater store today and there are more customers and employees than I’ve seen in years.
I thought they would be moving a lot of their inventory to the Tampa store, but it’s all is still there and marked down by 5%. My guess is that they will progressively increase the discount on the remaining merchandise until everything’s gone.
- Steve
I thought they would be moving a lot of their inventory to the Tampa store, but it’s all is still there and marked down by 5%. My guess is that they will progressively increase the discount on the remaining merchandise until everything’s gone.
- Steve
I bought a few basses from the Huntington Store. I spent hours there.
My first experiences at Sam Ash were at the Margate, FL location. I remember picking up and playing a Rickenbacker 4003 for the first time in that store and it was a life changing experience for 18 year old me! Playing that fireglo 4003 made me want one really badly. Eventually, 4003s became my main (and favorite) bass model. I also bought my 1st Gen Scarlett 2i2 DI there in 2013. I've been using that DI ever since to record music. I found out that 1st Gen 2i2s are rare nowadays as the 4th Gen models are out.
My current local Sam Ash is the one in Westminster, CA. I hope it's not closing, even though the bass selection isn't the best. If you're in or around Orange County, CA, check out International House of Music in Tustin. Unlike Sam Ash since the pandemic, they have a plethora of nice basses from budget options to high end ones. I got my 2021 Fender American Pro II Precision Bass from there.
My current local Sam Ash is the one in Westminster, CA. I hope it's not closing, even though the bass selection isn't the best. If you're in or around Orange County, CA, check out International House of Music in Tustin. Unlike Sam Ash since the pandemic, they have a plethora of nice basses from budget options to high end ones. I got my 2021 Fender American Pro II Precision Bass from there.
I worked as the guitar repairman in the original (the second location actually) Kings Highway, Brooklyn Sam Ash Music store on the corner of Coney Island Ave.
I started in November, 1979. The store relocated to Forest Hills, Queens- 113-25 Queens Blvd. I relocated there with the rest of the staff- this, after moving two blocks away from the Brooklyn store! My Brother still lives in the Pinnacle, a tall luxury apartment building on the same block as SA Forest Hills. They had only New York stores, and Paramus, New Jersey stores then, and a very successful mail order and rental business out of Hempstead, Long Island. The huge expansion came much later.
I left in 1982... after three years of seeing all kinds of funny business, stupid middle management, thieving low class wanabee employees, and a lot more.
The Late Tommy Erdelyi- (Tommy Ramone) worked the drum counter in that Forest Hills store for a bit. Nice guy.
Before my time as an employee, I used to shop at the W.48th. St. location. I bought my first lefty Fender P-bass there.
As an employee, who is privy to the inner workings of businesses, there's things you see, and learn that are disturbing, and sometimes get you pissed off.
There were some great people in the family and the whole family, was involved in the business. Jerry, Paul, Bernice, and Rose were all alive and on premises during my time with the company. I got along pretty well with all of them, although Jerry, and Richie his son, seemed to look at us unfavorably.
Paul Ash (R.I.P.) was a very nice, laid back guy, and Sammy Jr. was totally cool as well. Their long term managers- who I worked directly under, had vastly different styles. One was tough, but cool- the other one was very covert, always trying to 'catch' you doing something wrong. In spite of all of this, I, and some of my insane friends there had a really fun time working especially in the Brooklyn store. We had a riot, most of the time. We were truly nuts. It was a great time in my life. I learned a lot, and am grateful for having had the gig. I'm sorry to see they're hurting now. I hope they remain open, and recover to stay in competition.
I started in November, 1979. The store relocated to Forest Hills, Queens- 113-25 Queens Blvd. I relocated there with the rest of the staff- this, after moving two blocks away from the Brooklyn store! My Brother still lives in the Pinnacle, a tall luxury apartment building on the same block as SA Forest Hills. They had only New York stores, and Paramus, New Jersey stores then, and a very successful mail order and rental business out of Hempstead, Long Island. The huge expansion came much later.
I left in 1982... after three years of seeing all kinds of funny business, stupid middle management, thieving low class wanabee employees, and a lot more.
The Late Tommy Erdelyi- (Tommy Ramone) worked the drum counter in that Forest Hills store for a bit. Nice guy.
Before my time as an employee, I used to shop at the W.48th. St. location. I bought my first lefty Fender P-bass there.
As an employee, who is privy to the inner workings of businesses, there's things you see, and learn that are disturbing, and sometimes get you pissed off.
There were some great people in the family and the whole family, was involved in the business. Jerry, Paul, Bernice, and Rose were all alive and on premises during my time with the company. I got along pretty well with all of them, although Jerry, and Richie his son, seemed to look at us unfavorably.
Paul Ash (R.I.P.) was a very nice, laid back guy, and Sammy Jr. was totally cool as well. Their long term managers- who I worked directly under, had vastly different styles. One was tough, but cool- the other one was very covert, always trying to 'catch' you doing something wrong. In spite of all of this, I, and some of my insane friends there had a really fun time working especially in the Brooklyn store. We had a riot, most of the time. We were truly nuts. It was a great time in my life. I learned a lot, and am grateful for having had the gig. I'm sorry to see they're hurting now. I hope they remain open, and recover to stay in competition.
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I went by the Hollywood Sam Ash yesterday. Sure enough, they are shutting down.
Their "everything must go sale" is only 5% off right now.
I'm tired of all the places I liked shopping disappearing.
Their "everything must go sale" is only 5% off right now.
I'm tired of all the places I liked shopping disappearing.
Do you ever go to Guitar Collector(City of Orange)on Chapman? Granted, that guy can be a pill sometimes, but always cool dtuff there. Then there’s Imperial Vintage.My first experiences at Sam Ash were at the Margate, FL location. I remember picking up and playing a Rickenbacker 4003 for the first time in that store and it was a life changing experience for 18 year old me! Playing that fireglo 4003 made me want one really badly. Eventually, 4003s became my main (and favorite) bass model. I also bought my 1st Gen Scarlett 2i2 DI there in 2013. I've been using that DI ever since to record music. I found out that 1st Gen 2i2s are rare nowadays as the 4th Gen models are out.
My current local Sam Ash is the one in Westminster, CA. I hope it's not closing, even though the bass selection isn't the best. If you're in or around Orange County, CA, check out International House of Music in Tustin. Unlike Sam Ash since the pandemic, they have a plethora of nice basses from budget options to high end ones. I got my 2021 Fender American Pro II Precision Bass from there.
I haven't been there in a few years TBH. I might take a trip there when I have some time.
Just got back from there. Wish I woulda seen your post before I went. 5% off is ridiculous. A normal sale is like 15% off.
Workers seemed to imply that everything will start coming down a bit every week. It sounded like they were being kept in the dark about a lot of stuff and they def seemed bummed.
anyway my guess is they’ll cap off sales at 20-25% then ship the rest to a warehouse where they’ll sell online. The only exception would be is if Sam Ash goes under completely and it’s not just those 19 stores.
Went today, same 5% on instruments, 10% pedals, 20% cables. A lot of stock left so a couple coworkers and I will be keeping an eye on it weekly until they're done. Gonna miss it! First they took over Manny's, then moved downtown, and now that my office is close by, what am I gonna do at lunch?!! For real, total bummer for anyone losing their job.
Almost ditto. My parents bought me my first strat there, and I later split the cost of my first bass, a MIM Jazz with my Pops. I still have the strat but the bass was sold off long ago (thanks Talk Bass). Will probably swing by Huntington at some point in the next couple weeks, but have not had the greatest interactions with staff there the past few years.
