Jeebus Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 I just realized that these two companies are actually one company. Its kind of sleazy that they pretend to be two seperate bussinesses. Different prices on some of the same equipment too. I guess they're just two different marketing tactics. What other music websites are actually the same? For some reason this rubs me the wrong way, it's like the companies are pretending to compete against each other, or they're trying to disguise themselves as smaller companies. It seems like wwbw and music123 are different outlets of the same master company, i'm curious. Who's figured this stuff out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markyboard Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 West LA Music and Goodman Music(Ventura) used to be the same and I believe they finally dropped the Goodman name. I cant remember the details, but when I ordered my AKAI S1000 from some place in the midwest(I think), I sent them the money and they wouldnt deliver. Some how I was able to pick up my unit from Goodman music so they must also have been affiliated. I assumed at the time they were dealing gray market items(remember that whole thing)? Goodman music moved and went out of business so many times it was hard to figure out what was going on. Now they just use the West LA Name. I always enjoyed being called into the manager's office (ooh) for offering up a price that the normal sales guy couldn't deal with. This was right after getting turned down for the same price at the the West LA music in West LA. Same thing happens between different Guitar Centers. It was just like buying a car. Fun stuff and good memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Musicians Friend is the mail order arm of Guitar Center, but they don't exactly hide that fact. "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infusion Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Wait a minute. I thought Musicians Friend was bought out by Sam Ash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Originally posted by Infusion: Wait a minute. I thought Musicians Friend was bought out by Sam Ash.Nope. Musicians Friend is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guitar Center. "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Same thing on NYC's 48th St. The legendary Manny's was bought by by Sam Ash, which keeps the Manny's name. There are 4 separate Sam Ash store fronts also on the same block (guitars, keyboards/pro audio, drums, brass/strings/sheet music). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ender Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Zzound's prices aren't always the best but I like ordering from them because regardless of what shipping option I pick it arrives in the next business day. I'm close enough to their NJ distribution office for that one. "The heart of the machine is evolving, the soul has emerged, and all who embrace it will reach Teknotic Nirvana." ~ Nos Tehbi "Book of the Teknos" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felix. Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Music123 is the online presence of Zapf's Music. I don't think they're affiliated with Woodwind Brasswind in any way. What makes you think SameDayMusic is the same company as zZounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Fortunately, Ash has been smart enough to let Manny's keep some semblance of its original character. But I do miss the old days, with WeBuyGuitars and all those other dealers on the street. It had a certain charm that the block just doesn't hold anymore. Or maybe I'm just gettin' old. Originally posted by Mark Zeger: Same thing on NYC's 48th St. The legendary Manny's was bought by by Sam Ash, which keeps the Manny's name. There are 4 separate Sam Ash store fronts also on the same block (guitars, keyboards/pro audio, drums, brass/strings/sheet music). I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Loving Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 So what? What difference does it make? They all have price matching policies. I have had good results from both zzounds and gc. "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roto Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Yeah I wouldn't call it sleazy considering Zzounds good service. I'm not sure of their reasons, but the Guitar Center/Musician's Friend deal is pretty clear cut. Musician's Friend is the biggest mail order music store, so when Guitar Center bought them it made sense to leave things alone and actually use the name recognition on both ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Rhythm Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 For what it's worth, I've ordered from both Musician's Friend and Zzounds and always been satisfied. I even challenged zzounds to price match a price I had found on the internet and they did so without a problem. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted November 19, 2003 Share Posted November 19, 2003 Originally posted by coyote: Fortunately, Ash has been smart enough to let Manny's keep some semblance of its original character. But I do miss the old days, with WeBuyGuitars and all those other dealers on the street. It had a certain charm that the block just doesn't hold anymore. Or maybe I'm just gettin' old. Right there with you. IIRC, WeBuyGuitars had amazing things for sale. On any given day, you could find a Coral Sitar, a vintage paisley Tele, a Super 400, an acrylic Dan Armstrong, '60s Mostrites. The prices, however, were never that great. Alex Music is gone from street level, too. I think they still exist somewhere on the block, selling accordions or something. That store was great because they had a well represented keyboard section, a nice inventory of brass instuments, and a strong guitar department (I still remember seeing a white Rickenbacker 12 string guitar/4 string bass doubleneck a la Mike Rutherford, and that was 25 years ago). At least Rudy's Guitar Shop is still intact. I always browse in Rod Baltimore's for brass instruments. In fact, I'll be there tomorrow or Friday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementia13 Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 I wish I could remember the name, but there's another one I get catalogs from which turns out to be Musician's Friend when I go to their website. (American Musical?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roto Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 AMS? They are www.americanmusical.com. I don't think they have anything to do with Musician's Friend, other than being one of their larger competitors. They've got a big mail order catalog too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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