Elderly Instruments
| File:Elderly logo.gif | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industrie | Musical instruments |
| Gegründet | East Lansing, Michigan |
| Gründer | Stan Werbin Sharon Burton |
| Hauptsitz | Lansing, Michigan |
| Services | Musical instrument repair |
| Website | Elderly.com |
Elderly Instruments is a musical instrument retailer in Lansing, Michigan, founded in 1972. They specialize in fretted instruments such as acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitars, banjos, mandolins, and ukuleles. Elderly is best known as a premium repair shop for fretted instruments, as one of the larger vintage instrument dealers in the United States[1], and as a large dealer of Martin guitars in particular.[2] Industry publications frequently feature articles about the Elderly repair staff. They also provide consignment services for rare and vintage instruments. Due in part to expanding into mail order in 1974 and then into the Internet in the 1990's, Elderly is recognized internationally for its repair services and collection of vintage instruments.[3]
History
When owner Stan Werbin finished graduate school, he was looking for business opportunities and decided to utilize his knowledge of used guitars. He searched for vintage instruments to buy at low prices, fixed them up, and sold them. Eventually, Werbin and his partner Sharon Burton leased retail space in East Lansing, Michigan for $60 per month and started advertising locally. In 1974, they expanded into the mail order business to reach more customers.[3]
By 1982, Elderly Instruments had about 25 employees and so had to move to a larger location. They bought an Independent Order of Odd Fellows building in Lansing, Michigan and renovated it for retail use. In 1986, Werbin bought out partner Burton. In 1994, Elderly expanded again by buying an adjacent building. Around that same time, they began taking merchandise orders over their new Web site, the brainchild of an existing employee. Werbin notes that entering the Internet business was not much of a challenge for Elderly since they were already experienced at taking and shipping orders for customers all over the world.[3]
Repair and appraisals
Elderly is well-known for the quality and expertise of their repair technicians. Guitarists routinely send invaluable instruments to Elderly for restoration and other important projects.[3] Players of other fretted instruments such as banjos, ukuleles, and even more exotic instruments like balalaikas bring their instruments to Elderly as well due to Elderly's reputation.[4]
Elderly provides a well-known appraisal service for vintage instruments. They employ five full-time appraisers who use a detailed scale to rate the quality of instruments. Elderly's appraisal services have been noted in the media as being among the best in the industry. Customers bring instruments directly in to the store or send them by mail. Elderly owner Werbin attributes some of Elderly's success and reputation to the quality of their appraisals.[2]
Twang music
Noise, a periodical published by the newspaper Lansing State Journal, has written that Elderly Instruments is the "epicenter" of an emerging form of American folk music named "twang". Twang music is sometimes referred to as "alternative country" and is gaining popularly in Lansing and other cities. Several twang bands perform and record in Lansing, many of them composed of at least one Elderly employee.[1]
References
- ^ a b Miller, Matthew (2004). "Twang Town". Noise.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b Remson, Adam (2002). "Elderly Instruments — The fountain of youth in a vintage guitar store". The Music and Sound Retailer.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b c d Caswell, Cristine (2004). "King of String". Lansing Business Monthly.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Wieland, Barbara (2004-05-10). "Store owner strums his way to success in music business". Lansing State Journal.