Members go cat go Posted December 25, 2004 Members Share Posted December 25, 2004 I was replying to a thread regarding 80's guitars and I was remembering my favorite guitar shop at the time. Around 1985 or so I worshipped Akira Takasaki from the Japanese band Loudness. My moniker comes from his answer to Eruption. He used to play custom ESPs. I used to go to 48th St. Custom Guitars when they first opened and just drool over their selection. They had a very close relationship with ESP. As well as ESP they carried Schecter (Tom Anderson was still there), Charvel/Jackson and Robin guitars. Some of the guys that worked there at the time didn't even speak English. I think Andy (can't remember his last name.)was the only non-Japanese in the shop. They were extremely cool and would let me play with all the high end equipment. This was after they realized I respected the equipment as much as they did. Yoshi was thier #1 luthier. He worked on all my ESP's. He was only about 20 years old. I was told he had studied and graduated from a luthiery school in Japan. His work was pretty amazing. John Suhr worked across the street at Rudy's. John did the best work on the street with Yoshi not too far behind. On the second floor there was a huge selection of necks and bodies. There were all types of necks hangin on pegs. Charvel/Jackson headstocks with or without binding, strat headstocks, all types of fingerboard combinations, the selection was pretty incredible. There was blank wood ready for cutting as well as custom built bodies. I have two of thier Jackson/Charvel necks and they are impeccable, quartersawn maple, 3 piece neck, with the middle piece in the opposite direction of the other two. I think the shop changed owners sometime in the early 90's. Of course, the vibe changed too. It became more of a vintage type of store with older Fender and Gibsons and less emphasis on shredder guitars. It's not around anymore. Sam Ash ate it up. If you see any any 48 St. Custom guitars up for sale pick them up ASAP. They were made with premium ESP parts and assembled on the 2nd floor by Yoshi. ...I miss the 80's. Merry Christmas everone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flyboy Posted December 25, 2004 Members Share Posted December 25, 2004 I remember that too. 48th street used to be such a mecca for the worlds best guitars and luthiers. I remember going into 48th street custom and seeing all the ESP's, all the custom graphics, all the one of a kind stuff. Pictures of all the famous ESP players on the walls etc. They would have built you anything you could dream up. There was such talent on that block. It's really a shame that much of that type of place has been either bought out by the big names or just forced out of business. I miss the 80's too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NewYorkNewYork Posted December 26, 2004 Members Share Posted December 26, 2004 That store had an awesome selection. Tyler, Anderson, Grosh, Schecter, and other cool stuff. Service was inconsistent though. The Japanese guy there was very rude and seemed dishonest, but all the other guys were very cool. There was one very strange thing going on with that store: Every time I went in, they were all eating Chinese food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hell Bites Posted August 13, 2005 Members Share Posted August 13, 2005 Exploder do you still play Loudness. I'd get a real kick out of hearing someone play some classic Loudness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members go cat go Posted August 13, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 13, 2005 Man, you must have been really bored if you found this thread. I still play some of the riffs, though not as well as I used too. I lost my shredder chops and have become mostly a classic rock, blues rock type of player. PM regarding classic Loudness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beanl123 Posted February 23, 2010 Members Share Posted February 23, 2010 I Bought a 5 string 48th St Bass used in 1986, This axe is in great condition. I havent played it in 6-7 years I'm 70yrs old and got Arthritis in my fingers looking to get rid of it beanl@comcast.net Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dougsthang Posted February 23, 2010 Members Share Posted February 23, 2010 That really was a unique area, nothing else like it in the country. I spent many a visit with Rudy, that's when I was Sales Manager at EMG. Many a great luthiers were spawned from that group of people. You could always also drop in and see Benny at Manny's as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jimwratt Posted February 23, 2010 Members Share Posted February 23, 2010 its saddening to see what its become now. Not only has Sam Ash owned Rudy's for quite some time, but now they've totally taken it over and its the site of the Sam Ash guitar store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted February 23, 2010 Members Share Posted February 23, 2010 I remember back in the early 90's they had this huge window with all these vintage guitars hanging there and the sun was just BAKING THEM. Really horrible. I couldn't believe it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members d_dave_c Posted February 23, 2010 Members Share Posted February 23, 2010 accelerated relicing? ...and DAMN! this thread is OLD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LuckyBlackCat Posted February 23, 2010 Members Share Posted February 23, 2010 its saddening to see what its become now. Not only has Sam Ash owned Rudy's for quite some time, but now they've totally taken it over and its the site of the Sam Ash guitar store Sam Ash owns Rudy's now? I knew they had taken over Manny's, but had no idea they owned Rudy's. I haven't lived in the city for about three years now. I used to love Rudy's pedal room...bought many a good pedals from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Joby1knobi Posted February 23, 2010 Members Share Posted February 23, 2010 Sam Ash owns Rudy's now? I knew they had taken over Manny's, but had no idea they owned Rudy's. I haven't lived in the city for about three years now. I used to love Rudy's pedal room...bought many a good pedals from there. Not true - OP must have meant Mannys. Rudy's is still there and independently run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mesa/Kramer Posted September 24, 2012 Members Share Posted September 24, 2012 Old thread is old, but just ran across this on TGP and http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=13946138&posted=1#post13946138 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sgt mukuzi Posted September 24, 2012 Members Share Posted September 24, 2012 [video=youtube;CydiuiuFFFM] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axegrinder Posted September 24, 2012 Members Share Posted September 24, 2012 go cat go used to be called Exploder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted September 25, 2012 Members Share Posted September 25, 2012 I grew up in NY in the 60's and 70's. What a thrill to go down to 48th Street back in the day, just too cool to describe. every store was cool in one way or another back then. Met a bunch of famous people, played every amazing guitar around and just had one hell of a good time. I still go there once in awhile, but it's just sad walking down that block now after the way it used to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted September 25, 2012 Members Share Posted September 25, 2012 ...I miss the 80's.Same here. People seemed so much more personable then. Good times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Psychotronic Posted September 25, 2012 Members Share Posted September 25, 2012 I actually own a hand-carved Les Paul from the 48th St. Custom Shop. I have Seymour Duncan Phat Cats in it right now, but I got it with original PAF's (which I still have, of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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