My Music Store in Golden Valley MN closing

[fmm]

My Music Store in Golden Valley, MN, the store where Jimmy Johnson may have invented the 5 string bass, where I bought my first Alembic, and consistantly one of the most interesting stores in the Twin Cities, is closing.


Damn damn damn. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

I hate when that happens.

Peter

[JimmyJ]

I hadn't heard this but I know Jim Harms has been fighting some very serious health issues lately.  I'll try to reach him tomorrow, hope he's hanging in there.


Harms worked at "Park Music" in St. Louis Park way back when, and that was my hang as a kid.  The owner was Leo Fine and Leo's brother Elliot was a percussionist in the Minnesota Orchestra while my dad was in the bass section.  They even roomed together on the road! That was the original connection. 


Not only did I spend a lot of time hanging out at the store, I even tried teaching there for a short time, and repairing amps (no idea what I was doing, amazing I didn't kill myself). 


In 1975 I was playing a Gibson Les Paul Triumph bass and said to Jim Harms "I like the electronics in this bass but I sure wish somebody did it in a long scale".  To which he replied "well, there's a company in California you should check out".  And that was that.  Ordered a Series I in '75 and the custom 5-string the following year. 


Leo retired and Harms took over the place in St. Louis Park, then eventually opened his own place in Golden Valley.  Really a great cat.


It's not easy running any kind of business so he also deserves to retire.  Sad to lose the store though, these small shops are more inspirational places than the big box stores - you know who I'm talking about.


Jimmy J

[edwardofhuncote]

I hate to hear about that too, if only because I know it'll happen right here on my block one day. I've been a customer (and for a short while, an employee) of this place, since the 1980's when I started playing music. http://fretmill.com/ That long-lost Martin guitar I posted about the other day... it was bought right over that counter, from the guy that owns the place and still runs the day-to-day business. Matter of fact, I gotta' run by there this afternoon to pick up an upright bass that needs some set-up work. 

One thing I've always been a little proud of; the owner there has one of me and Dad's banjos... we built a set of three in 1996 for sale. It was the first time we'd built anything that wasn't for someone specifically. Anyway, Ken (owner) liked #96-22 so much that he kept it for himself, and still has it after all these years. Guy's got a store full of anything, but he liked our banjo.   

If there was a point to this ramble, I guess it's that... having a personal relationship with the folks that run these kind of places has value beyond just good deals. 

[fmm]

I picked up a couple of Hercules guitar hangers and some strings.  They may have more fixtures for sale soon.  I may be interested in a work bench.


One thing they do have that I want: A poster for a CD release of Gordon Johnson (Jimmy's brother).  I told them if they were throwing that away I would take it off of their hands.


The closing really bums me out.  I ran into Brian Sezter there once...