Tiny's at the doctor

I've bought a lot of gear, strings, books, harmonicas and guitars from them over the years. There's three guitars in my office right now that I bought from them.  As important to them as the guitars, almost all my accessories and strings and such come from them.  They get a better margin on that stuff.  I think it's a small price to pay to pay a little more to them for low-cost items over time and have someone who's ready and eager to help a regular customer than to get everything from the web and talk to strangers when I'm in need of help.  They've always taken good care of me there (though they gave my sister dirty looks when she bought banjo strings).

Yeah, I like supporting little guys IF they are good.  Too many small shops just aren't any good.  This particular store is part of a two-store chain that is entirely family run.  When they hire in from outside the family, they must treat them well because the folks working there work there a long, long time.  The owner of the store closest to me isn't real personable, but he spends most of his time working eBay.  They do a lot of trade-in business there, so there's a fair bit of taking beat up old stuff, putting some elbow grease into it, and reselling it on eBay for a profit.  They turn a nice dollar there doing that, so good for them.  The rest of the folks are friendly, even to the point of getting silly sometimes, and good with the instruments.  So, when you get a shop that is well stocked with things that musicians need and want, has knowledgeable and friendly staff, AND is a little guy, then you've got a pretty good combination. 

- Zurf

Sorry to hear my favorite nephew's little buddy is under the weather. At least the Dr's fees sound reasonable.  Did the trip down south affect the little guy or has this been a gradual thing?

DE

Tiny's home.  He had to staple the wires for the electronics back into place.  There was a pick (not mine, and I doubt Dirty Ed's) lodged inside.  The frets needed to be dressed.  He did a minor neck adjustment and replaced the strings.  One of the bridge pins was split and could have been vibrating too, so he replaced the bridge pins with some dense wood ones from Martin.  $75 for the labor - good to his word.  He did charge me for the strings (with my advance permission) and the bridge pins (at my request - he really didn't think they were part of the problem). 

Guitar sounds good. 

- Zurf