MI Spy

JERSEY JAUNT, PART TWO: More Musical Instrument Stores

Welcome back to the Garden State, MI Spy fans! You might remember I visited New Jersey back in December. Well, the Chief took a look at my mission report and decided it was only the tip of the iceberg, and that I should return. Generally speaking, if someone is known as “The Chief,” it’s probably a good idea to listen to their orders. So I agreed.

I was in a good mood as I got ready for another Jersey journey. I had just splurged on a new MI Spy Mobile … although my MI Spy paycheck didn’t contribute much to the purchase. (Even double agents need side gigs these days; some of us have even had to become triple or quadruple agents just to make ends meet.) So as I got behind the wheel and inhaled that new car smell, I got excited for the day. What could be more fun than taking a lengthy drive around New Jersey? Along the way, I got two trays of sushi for lunch, found a decent cup of coffee, and — oh yeah — checked out a few more musical instrument stores.

Some brick-and-mortar shops are still only doing curbside delivery, but I found four New Jersey-based stores that are inviting shoppers to come inside (while wearing a mask and observing proper social distancing) to check out their wares and make purchases. Three of the stores had quite generous parking for the new MI Spy Mobile’s classy chassis, and the other had ample curbside public parking right in front of the entrance. I was able to drive right up and find a spot quickly, as if the stores were waiting for me and me only. (Or so I thought at first. Things are getting somewhat better for music stores, and I was not the only shopper at each location.)

One thing is for sure: The outlook for music retail is looking a lot brighter than it did at the start of the pandemic. It seems like the world has gotten back in touch with its love of making music while we were all in lockdown, and that’s one thing to feel optimistic about. Many more people are entertaining themselves at home with musical instruments. Kids (and adults) have been taking music lessons online, but some are returning to in-person lessons (with protections in place that would have been unthinkable in the past). More than in recent memory, people who have extra time on their hands are learning (or relearning) musical instruments. And good news for MI retailers: All this means that more people are purchasing new and used instruments, as well as accessories and sheet music. Of course, musical instrument stores know that they are competing with online vendors, free sheet music that’s only a Google search away and many other modern issues, but more music-makers means more business for everyone.

I decided that my mission report this month should focus on band-and-orchestra instruments, as they sadly have seen a sales a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. But I will not stop there. As you will see, your MI Spy, like only the most polished jazz musicians, has a knack for improvisation. As always, I reserve the right to steer off course and report on anything that catches my fancy.

Hunterdon Music 11 State Route 12 Flemington, NJ 08822 908.782.0620

This cozy store may not be large, but it carries an impressive inventory, especially with young students in mind. It’s well organized and jampacked with all kinds of musical instruments. And it had a small but lovely selection of windup metronomes! Ahh, the joys of a non-electric metronome, a lowtech beauty and a useful tool for any musician. (Fear not: the store also sells electronic models.)

When I stopped by, there were two women working here, and both were cheerful, down to earth and knew their stuff. The older of the two spoke to me about the allure of the windup metronomes: “People really like the motion of them, and kids do too! They’re so different from all the electronic gadgets kids are used to these days.” I also asked her about the store’s selection of plastic trombones (including a red one that was hung on the wall, high above the cash register), and she explained that “They are actually smaller than regular trombones, and are in E flat, not B flat. We have them in red, black, white and other colors. People get them to match their school colors.” I hadn’t thought about that; a colored instrument is certainly a kidfriendly way to show some school spirit. She also mentioned that a few months into the pandemic, “So many people bought guitars — at our store and others — that

the companies are still trying to catch up to the demand!”

The shop was doing a good job on the health protocol front, with mask wearing in full effect, hand sanitizer bottles in strategic places and some humorous signs that evoked the frustrations of pandemic living. I particularly liked a poster of Beethoven that showed the master composer masked; it read “Beethoven is mad that his concert is canceled.”

Hunterdon also had a rather curious electric travel guitar with a gig bag on display, offered for $299.99. The body of it was covered by the pickguard, and it featured three pickups as well. It resembled the Phantom of the Opera’s signature mask, or maybe something out of a less freaky Salvador Dali painting.

If you stop by Hunterdon, don’t overlook the quaint and inviting display of quirkier instruments, such as washboards, penny whistles, ocarinas and a colorful but somewhat sophisticated xylophone in a carrying case. There is also a very impressive selection of sheet music, felt picks and accessories (who can resist trying out an assortment of conductor’s batons!?). Prices were clearly marked, and there were some fine sale items on display.

The Music Den 1030 Route 10 W. Randolph, NJ 07869 973.927.5800

With its two lengthy floors full of musical instruments of all types and an impressive selection of guitars, both electric and acoustic, The Music Den has a lot to see and purchase. But two of the most endearing displays in this store (at least in my opinion) were the flute and clarinet showcases; the instruments were organized in patterns that were so pleasing to the eye, it made you want to “ooh” and “aah” over band instruments the way guitar aficionados drool over a wall of axes.

Social distancing reminders in The Music Den included fliers on the walls requesting that customers “Please Stand Two Guitar Lengths Apart. Thanks!”

Mounted on the wall by the front entrance and cash registers, there was an acoustic guitar with a few dozen signatures scrawled across it. However, I didn’t recognize any of the names. “Who are these musicians?” I asked one of the workers, and he said with a smile, “People who buy a guitar here get to sign the guitar.” This is one of the coolest store traditions that I’ve come across; it elevates any paying customer to “store stardom.”

The first floor features several pianos, both baby grands and uprights, new and used. (I found myself eyeing a pristine white upright as if it were a new car in a showroom.) You can browse through several stands of sheet music and music books (including a book of James Bond movie themes for the clarinet, in case you’re looking for a way to pay tribute to the recently departed Sean Connery). There is also a room devoted strictly to double basses, cellos, violins and related stringed instruments, as well as a rather curious giant accordion sculpture that had shelves with a few accordion accessories arrayed upon them.

The second floor has a large assortment of guitars and basses on the walls, and many drum sets displayed on the sales floor. In addition to the drum sets, The Music Den carries a lot of percussion of all types, including cajon box drums in multiple sizes and colors (I always get a kick out of those). There is a designated acoustic stringed instrument room (now subject to limited entry for social distancing purposes). There are also several smaller rooms on the second floor for lessons and practice sessions, as well as offices, storage and restrooms. (By the way, the bathroom was rather clean, so kudos!)

One of the salesmen was very outgoing. I first saw him in the parking lot, helping to carry a large package to a woman’s car. Later, I spotted him in the electric guitar section, and we talked about the guitars that were on display. I told him that a young lady in my family plays jazz guitar, and he showed me their selection of hollow-body models. “We have a range of prices and styles. Jazz guitarists really enjoy these types,” he said. He then explained the plusses of a few models, and it was an interesting conversation.

One minor complaint for store management: The print size was small on several price tags, and your MI Spy doesn’t have the greatest eyesight. In fact, my eyesight and my aim both felt a little off here. The first floor featured a step-activated handsanitizer dispenser, and when I stepped on the pedal (a drum pedal, naturally), I managed to squirt the sanitizer on my pants. Blah!

Cool Cat Music Co. 314 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042 973.893.5560

Imagine walking into a musical instrument store that is like an unpretentious hipster pad: that’s what Cool Cat Music Company seemed like to me. Heck, it even had comfy chairs and an upholstered lounger in the middle of the store. I wanted to grab a guitar, stretch out and play a few hot licks, but I’ll admit that I was feeling a bit bashful.

Cool Cat was established in 2018, in downtown Montclair, and has a really fine assortment of guitars, as well as other instruments. It featured a very inviting two-part window display, with drums in the left window, guitars in the right window, and a series of drawings made by children that run along the lower sections of both windows.

In addition to selling new instruments, Cool Cat offers lessons, rentals and repairs, and even has a box of freebies that’s filled with used sheet music, music magazines and similar items. The store stocks electric and acoustic guitars and basses, effects pedals and amps, ukuleles and other stringed instruments, and accessories for all of these. It also has a limited supply of drums and percussion, plus a few other instruments. The brands in stock for electric guitars included D’Angelico, Backlund, Eastwood, Rivolta, Airline and Supro, as well as Danelectro, Silvertone, Yamaha and others. I was intrigued by one electric guitar with a floral-design pickguard and sunburst staining that resembled my very first electric guitar (ah, the memories of a young MI Spy). I also checked out the banjos, mandolins and a beautiful bouzouki.

There was more than a bit of decorative kitsch factor at play here, but it didn’t overwhelm the musical instrument displays. I spied a red crushed-velvetlined case that held six guitars (with space for one more), all with clearly printed price tags. Scattered here and there on the red-painted walls were pieces of art with musical themes, a few concert and show posters (including a vintage Peppermint Lounge ad for a Halloween show starring The Cramps), and photos of a few musical celebs who have visited the store, among them Johnny Marr (best known as the guitarist for The Smiths) and Lyle Lovett.

While I was prowling about, I took note of the other customers in the store. There was a woman who brought in a guitar for a repair, a father and his teenage daughter who was trying out guitars, and one guy who was finishing up a purchase of guitar strings.

How is the pandemic affecting this store? In addition to mask wearing, hand-sanitizer bottles (continued on page 44)