Buch Spieler Music History Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Buch Spieler became more than just a record shop by the late seventies.

Dennis set up an electronic audio repair service shop in a small room on the third floor of an adjoining building with its entrance around the block at 5 State Street. Not the most convenient location but it was available and all that we could afford at the time.

Our 27 Langdon Street storefront was the drop-off point for equipment to be repaired. Dennis could repair just about anything but he tried to limit the work to audio-visual equipment. He quickly developed a reputation for the reliability and affordability of his work.

In addition to electronic repair and phonograph records, the store was now stocking a limited selection of acoustic guitars and related accessories. This was the beginning of my personal desire to make available the instruments for creating music that might someday be a recording for sale at Buch Spieler. This was a way for me to get musical instruments for myself at wholesale cost. These were the ingredients for having a lot of fun and a recipe for disaster.

A musician in a music store with musical instruments…all day, everyday of the week. Needless to say, the business work of making a business work was being avoided. It was more fun making music than making money.

There was a period of time when Buch Spieler had a Mellotron in the store along with Sound City and Ampeg amps, Gibson and Yamaha guitars. There was even an upright piano that wasn't for sale but was there simply to be played! And that I did every chance I got. Good for the soul but a bit incompatible with the demands of capitalism.

If there is anyone out there reading this who remembers more about that time in Buch Spieler's history when the store was full of musical equipment, I would love to hear from you. We were all having so much fun, I forgot to write it down. E-mail me at history@bsmusic.com.

(Fred Wilber, Oct. 2000)

History
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8