THE VIRTUAL WALL OF FAME

I went to Manny's last because I knew it was the coolest and I wanted to savor it.

About 9 years ago when I really started to get a handle on soloing I walked into

Manny's confident for the first time...previously I had only gone in with my

guitar playing older brother and uncle (having grown up in VT, but having a dad

from Brooklyn we would go to NYC pretty often).



It was amazing, it was the first time I went to the store alone (I was 18), I

did my usual walk around Sam Ash and the couple of other guitar shops on 48th

St, but I went to Manny's last because I knew it was the coolest and I wanted to

savor it. I window shopped at first, then I walked in floored by the Pensa

guitars with pictures of Mark Knopfler next to them, I walked through the

acoustic rooms playing Guild and Martin 6 & 12-Strings and vintage dobro's

first. But then I went back downstairs into the back room where a couple of

people were playing vintage strats and gibsons (les pauls and ES models). I

walked into the little room (there were about 3 of us) and was smiled at but the

two other guys. I picked up an old SG plugged into a twin reverb on the floor

and started picking along with the two guys (just blues licks and shuffles,

nothing fancy). They were taking there time and told me to take a few solo's

(which I did) and we just sat there playing for 20+ minutes.



Afterwards one of the guys got up and left. The older of the two gentlemen (who

I had figured out worked at Manny's) stayed and started talking to me about my

playing, what kind of music I liked, where I was from, and giving me all sorts

of guitar and love life advice...I have no idea how long I was there, but it was

great. He let me try all sorts of guitars even though I told him I didn't have

enough money to buy that day. I played ES-335's and pre-CBS Fenders (and getting

full instruction as to why there were better). After a while it was time to go,

I had to get back to Brooklyn for dinner...before I left I said my goodbye and

this man gave me a hug ad told me to come back and play again soon as if we had

known each other forever.


As I walked out I looked at the pictures behind the register...that guy was in a

lot of them. I had no idea what his name was or if he was the owner or what...so

I asked one of the younger salesman on the way out...he said the older guy was

Henry and he "ran the place", that was all I was told. Manny's was one of the

coolest shops I have ever set foot in.



RIP Manny's, thanks for the memories!



Sincerely,

Tom Cusimano

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Mike Sarubbe posted a discussion

IMPORTANT : !!!!!!!! Very crucial Family Heirlooms I need to return to Goldrich family !!!!!

Hey everyone. It Is Mike ,down in S. FL. I have at least 2 items that I really need to get returned to you guys. It is from the 30+ Boxes of stuff Marc left in my Garage . Please contact me ,Either , Laura ,Stu , Holly ,  Ian ,or Judd ,or anyone in the Manny's Family only please!     561-245-1769. I have for sure ,The Manny's 50thh anniversary Plaque, and Manny's fine China set maybe from his wedding .  English  ? Just call me Holly !  I really want to get this back to you guys . Not an Hr.…See More
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Ah yes. . . Henry.  Always a hot experience for me at Manny's.It was there in the 70's (Harry with albums and Tom on tv with Make a Wish), that he referenced me as the "no-talent Chapin" one occasion while Tom and I were shopping there - it was actually very funny at the time, a Rodney Dangerfield moment.                                            But for the next two decades, every time I would drop $5K a pop for PA equipment, TEAC recorders, ADAT machines, Mackie boards, outboard gear,…See More
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