Get to know your Independent Music Stores – we take a look at what makes certain Independent Music Stores unique and what they can do for you as a player. Whether it be the best deals in town, a collection of rare and vintage gear, or a specialty in a certain area of music – we’ll sort it all out for you.
First Quality Musical Supplies is a family-owned, second-generation music store in Louisville, Kentucky. While selling instruments, strings, accessories and many other music supplies, they also manufacture and sell their own line of instruments. Many players and collectors stop by their shop to visit what they call “The Vault”, a show room dedicated to a large collection of rare and vintage guitars.
We sat down with them and asked a few questions…
Can you tell us about First Quality Music?
First Quality Music is a family owned and operated Music Store that is celebrating its 40th year in business. Our business was founded on Bluegrass music and has grown in size and product offering to stay current in the ever changing music marketplace. What really sets First Quality Music apart from our competition is what we can offer the consumer. No other store in our area has retail sales, wholesale sales, internet sales, catalog sales, lesson programs, full repair facilities, contract work for music industry manufacturers, and full production of our own line of instruments…all under one roof. Another aspect that sets First Quality apart is the expertise of the employees to help the customer get exactly what they need.
How is First Quality Music different today than when you first started?
First Quality Music actually began life as First Quality Banjo, which was founded by our late father Bill Sullivan. First Quality banjo catered to the bluegrass community by offering hard to find custom made components for the banjo. This first chapter in the company was very focused on and everything about the banjo and employed only family. Everything we had was run from Dads house with the boxed goods, shipping, and the offices in the basement while the shop was run from the garage. We grew slowly adding strings and accessories and other banjo related offerings for the next 28 years. We moved to our current location back in 1999 and our new location (20,000 sq. ft). allowed us to offer many other items, we now offer thousands of musical related items along with stringed instruments from the top musical manufacturers such as Gibson, Martin and Taylor.
How long have you carried Dunlop products?
In 2009 we’ve really expanded our Dunlop selection. Dunlop supplied us with showroom displays, banners and other marketing materials for our website. We have seen an immediate impact in sell through and really believe in the Dunlop Brand.
IN STORE SHOTS
FIRST QUALITY MUSIC’S BLOG
For more info on First Quality Music, visit their site at www.firstqualitymusic.com
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