Modern Music

The best way to describe Modern Music is to compare it to one of the "big box" stores. At a large retail store about 20 minutes south of Modern Music, I purchased a USA Stratocaster. I walked back in about four months later, and the salesman asked me "How's your Strat working out?" I was amazed, considering how many people that store sees every day. Excellent service.

When walking into Modern Music, however, "Lenny" didn't even pick his head up to make eye contact with me. I was dropping off a vintage tweed Fender amp for a minor wiring repair. It's rare, extremely valuable, and was in 9.5 condition. This was truly an investment-grade amplifier. I called three weeks later to see if it was done, and the same guy "Lenny" sounded angry that I called. His response was, "My repair guy doesn't have a car. I told you I'd call ya'!"

After two months had passed I called again, and another associate answered the phone. "Yeah, it's been ready for a few weeks." Figures. When I entered the store, I saw the amplifier on the floor in front of the main counter. They were storing drum equipment and mic stands on top of it! Since it was left in a high-traffic area, every pair of shoes or instrument case that went by hit it right on the front. There were shoe marks, scratches, and rips all over the tweed and the grill clothe. At least with the big chain stores, they know how to handle high-end equipment. They certainly don't store customer's valuable property where other patrons can hit it. When I spoke to the associate about it, he replied "Hey, the repair was only $80." I should have known better when I saw that their inventory consisted mostly of cheap Les Paul copies. I guess you get what you pay for.

How this store survives in a shaky economy with so many other stores delivering top-notch service, I'll never know.