Mandolin Brothers has been described as a New York City institution; it is a famous shop where vintage and high quality musical instruments are sold. Claire Wilson writing in The New York Times in 2001 described it as "a bustling little shop-cum-museum."
Mandolin Brothers is located in Staten Island New York. They are known for the unique blend of vintage and one of a kind instruments along with a vast selection of mandolins, banjo, guitars, dobro, ukuleles to mandola and tenor guitars. Many professional musicians frequent the shop and many musicians consider it "Mecca" or a "shrine." They are well known for selling Bela Fleck his banjo and George Harrison a couple of his ukuleles. Other clients have included Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney's bass guitar which was repaired by their repair staff.
The internationally known company is referred to by owners seeking advice, appraisal, repair or marketing by virtually all the major manufacturers, by libraries, museums, and music stores across America. Mandolin Brothers is listed on The New York Music Trail — a map of the famous "Sites of Sound" established by the City of New York and The Host Committee for the Grammy Awards, as a destination for visitors. Included on the list with Mandolin Brothers are such institutions as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theatre and the John Lennon Memorial in Central Park. Mandolin Brothers and Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, TN have been compared to one another as institutions that are unique locations for information on vintage instruments; both establishments are like museums. Both Stan Jay and George Gruhn have appeared on WNYC Soundcheck in discussions on instruments.
Mandolin Brothers was established in 1971 by Stan Jay and Harold "Hap" Kuffner. Harold left Mandolin Brothers in 1982. The name was chosen by Stan Jay and Harold Kuffner when they decided that the mandolin wasn't getting its recognition in the fretted community and because they were brothers in spirit, the name seemed perfect. (From Musical Merchandise Review April 1996 article Blending Old & New - Mandolin Brothers at 25).
They publish a monthly publication titled Vintage News.
Read more about Mandolin Brothers: Media References
Famous quotes containing the word brothers:
“In certain respects, particularly economically, National- Socialism is nothing but bolshevism. These two are hostile brothers of whom the younger has learned everything from the older, the Russian excepting only morality.”
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955)