Manny himself put a guitar in my hands when I stopped in with my mom the very first time. Actually I was looking at a guitar in the window (of the original store which was closer to 6th ave) & he asked if I wanted to try a guitar. It ruined any future medical school prospects!
Over the years Henry was a gentleman and a warm, nurturing spirit. He set up my first Rickenbacker 12 string right after I bought it. I used that guitar on many records including "Shannon". Years later (in…
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Added by Holly Goldrich on May 16, 2009 at 10:06pm —
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Thanks for your note re "manny's". I sent my son there about 5 years ago and he bought my grandson his first instrument. The kid is now a decent lead-guitar player (in Eugene, Oregon). He reported that he was impressed with a sign posted at Manny's that commanded "NO STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN."
Regards
Phil P.
Added by Holly Goldrich on May 16, 2009 at 10:04pm —
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I got my first good acoustic from Manny's in 1975. A 1975 Ovation Balladeer model 1112-1. The second one they came out with. Loved that guitar and had it redone recently thanks to saving my Manny's original hand written bill! Professional or amateur, the guys at Manny's took real good care of you and every year I brought my ax back for an adjustment.. no hassle. We loved going in and doing business knowing we were in the company of the greeats when we gazed at all the autographed photos on the…
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Added by Holly Goldrich on May 16, 2009 at 10:00pm —
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"In 1967 my dad took me to manny's to buy a farfisa mini-compact organ and an ampeg sb-12 portaflex bass amp. i feel like the music business itself is closing its doors."
Jon Cobert
Added by Holly Goldrich on May 16, 2009 at 9:58pm —
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My Dad bought me my first electric guitar (a Gibson SG) at Manny's in 1964 . I had just seen Hard Day's Night and knew I didn't want to play acoustic any more. Not when 1000's of screaming teenage girls were chasing these scruffy mop tops around. Sad to think it won't be there any more.
Pete Gitlin
Added by Holly Goldrich on May 16, 2009 at 9:57pm —
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I bought several instruments over the years at Manny's Music and simply hung out on 48th St. as a kid just to look in their window. I remember Billy helping me look at potential guitars and all the while saying, "it's all about what you like". I am a professional dog trainer with an ear towards the music. Many thanks for this wonderful tribute to the best music store in the world.
Steve Diler
Added by Holly Goldrich on May 16, 2009 at 9:55pm —
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When I was growing up in Princeton NJ, the biggest thrill for me was a Saturday trip to Manhattan to go to Manny's with my Dad. As a 12-year-old in 1967, I loved everything about that trip, with the exception of listening to my father complaining about finding parking next to Jimmy's, across the street from Manny's. I can still remember the SMELL of the new Fender amps in the store! (I lusted for a Deluxe Reverb or even a Bassman amp, and on rare occasions we would leave the store with a new…
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Added by Holly Goldrich on May 16, 2009 at 9:51pm —
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In 1979 I was a 19 year old kid sitting in Manny's, trying out a bass. The sales people would let me play for a while, never rushing me off. On this day I remember holding my head down while I was playing, then looking up and seeing Michal Urbaniak sitting on an amp in front of me, checking me out! He asked if I wanted to play with him, as his current bassist was getting very busy (Marcus Miller was playing with him at the time). I will forever thank Manny's for being such a supportive shop for…
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Added by Otto Williams on May 6, 2009 at 7:19am —
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I live in Tucson Arizona, when I heard that Yankee Stadium was in its last year in 2008, I booked a flight to New York to catch a game betweeen the Orioles and the Yankees,t as I was flying to NY in May, I was thinking about Lester Bangs and Creem Magazine, and I always knew all those artists in the 70s that were in Creem Magazine shopped at Mannys. As soon as I got my hotel and checked in, I headed over to Mannys. When I walked into the store, I told the manager I just got in from Arizona and…
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Added by George Landa on May 5, 2009 at 8:53pm —
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Every time I wound up in New York Recording I would go to Mannys first thing. Outside of work it was the main reason to be there.
Added by Gary Vandy on April 30, 2009 at 12:59pm —
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I bought lots of accessories, strings and guitars at Manny's throughout the 1960's and '70s. And although I enjoyed the hustle and the photos and the excitement, I can assure you of one fact: If you weren't a rock star, you were treated like absolute shit. The downright rudeness of surly employees (themselves frustrated musicians) was something you could always count on. Warm greetings were reserved only for members of The Who--but then, only because they were good for a few grand in purchases…
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Added by Josh Alan Friedman on April 30, 2009 at 11:48am —
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It was a great treat growing up in NYC and having Manny's to escape to and pass some time. I loved noodling with the drum equipment upstairs. When I bought my Simmons electric drums (remember those) and later my Yamaha kit there, It felt like I had went through a religious experience. The cymbal selection was quite extensive and I loved the unusual inventory you had from around the world. Part of my childhood is in that store and I will miss you much! Best of luck with your future plans!
Added by Liam McCann on April 30, 2009 at 8:37am —
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A tv show should be made as it would be extremely popular, be something worthwhile to watch, and people could hear about the greats from some of the greats while they are still available......
Added by Dennis Antoine on April 30, 2009 at 7:26am —
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Keeping this short will be hard...
My first trip to Manny's was back in 1976. I waited at the counter forever, but nobody paid me any attention. I was working with Harry Belafonte at the time and told the other guitarist Scott Kuney about what had happened. Back we went to the store. When Irene and Billy saw Scott, who was already a seasoned pro customer, they talked to him immediately. He proceeded to introduce me to everybody behind the counter. I never had to wait again - I was…
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Added by Ted Perlman on April 27, 2009 at 10:30am —
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I worked at Sound City in London in 73, and thought we were cool until a trip to NYC showed me the real deal, I was in awe. Whenever anyone came back from Stateside, the first question was always "d'ya go to Manny's?" I still use a leather strap I bought there on that first visit.
Malcolm Simpson
Added by Sandi on April 27, 2009 at 9:23am —
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I moved to New York from California in 1968, 41 years ago. My "old man", Stuart Scharf was a studio guitar player and produced Spanky and Our Gang, he wrote "I'd Like To Get To Know You" which was a big hit and he always used to talk about Henry and we used to go buy strings and picks and scoring paper at Manny's and joke about how he constantly had to tune his guitar.
All the studio musicians had 4 and 5 dates a day. In those days you'd walk into A&R or any of the recording…
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Added by Sandi on April 26, 2009 at 11:30pm —
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Actually wore a Manny's "Schlepper" T Shirt at my Wedding Reception in 75' after dumping the Tux.....used to get the "Pro" 40% on a guitar back in the Day.
John L. Veneble
Added by Sandi on April 26, 2009 at 10:30pm —
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"In the '70s, Manny's was like the Promised Land. You felt like you were a part of history just walking past the place--nevermind walking in...!"
John Kormos
Added by Sandi on April 26, 2009 at 8:02pm —
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Growing up up the river from NYC, there was a regular route whenever I took the train in. Get to Grand Central, walk up 5th ave to 48th st, go to Manny's, have an Orange Julius on the corner, proceed to whatever else I was in town for. I would take my guitar students down to Manny's to buy their instruments and to ogle all the pictures on the walls. In 1974 I bought a 1969 Martin D-28 from a buddy who had purchased the guitar at Manny's. He picked it from 40(!) D 28's that Manny's had in stock…
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Added by Dore Coller on April 26, 2009 at 6:44pm —
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Dear Henry,
Here is the Martin D-28 you hand-picked for me in 1969. It was a
lucky choice and I keep it in perfect condition. Millions of Bob
Dylan fans hear this guitar on the opening notes of "Tangled Up In
Blue." Thank you for personally helping me pick out this instrument
-- I came all the way from Minnesota to buy it especially from you.
Peace,
Kevin Odegard
Author "A Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan and The
Making of Blood on The…
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Added by Sandi on April 23, 2009 at 11:00am —
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