What looked to be a rainy day at the lake turned out to be a beautiful one when we did a road trip to Traverse City and later to the Leelanau peninsula. This post is about our first stop to Strings by Mail, an international mail order business in Traverse City for what has to be the largest collection of strings for all kinds of instruments including (not surprisingly) the classical guitar! Naturally, Rick had to stop!
Rick has known owner John Wunsch for quite some time, though they've only met physically several times. Wunsch had been a performer as well as a teacher for his earlier career, including at Interlochen Arts Academy. He purchased the company in 2009, expanding it. They recently moved to the new building for which he designed the renovations, bringing in loads of light.
Rick had ordered some strings and a CD, so we stopped in for coffee with John and to take a look. I know some of my blog buddies either play a stringed instrument or have family/friends who do, and if so, you should take a look at their link. While they aren't open for retail business (you can find their catalog online if you are into music for strings or accessories and strings for stringed instruments HERE.)
This place was the most organized of any spot I've ever been -- a good thing, too, as organization is key to fulfilling mail order requests.
Everything was numbered and that included sheet music, CDs and string accessories, too.
There was row after row, box after box of picks! He said sometimes people buy many different kinds to try them out -- the thick or thinness makes a difference in tone. (Who knew?)
In the basement is a recording studio and for some lovely music, go to the "more" section on their page and listen to any number of artists who have recorded there.
They also have video performances of some of their sheet music artists. A number of years ago, Rick brought Italian guitarist Giorgio Mirto to Strings by Mail to record some of the sheet music John has in his inventory. You can see his video performance HERE (and click through to youtube if you want to see it full screen.)
It was a great first stop to our day! I learned a lot and truly enjoyed getting to know John.
But now it was time to go off and do something else -- Hint. Wine is involved, and so are dear friends!
50 comments:
You and Rick have such interesting friends!
It was a delightful beginning to your day, offering the opportunity to reconnect with a longtime acquaintance and explore a distinguished establishment dedicated to stringed instruments.
Well this is a niche post! I didn't know there was this much to know about strings. So long since I stringed or strung my violin.
Hi Jeanie, I don't play any instruments but I enjoyed this post.
What a great store for those who need it!! Glad Rick enjoyed stopping there. Looks like you two had fun.
...a niche business.
What a fun thing for Rick to do. A day spent in the company of his passion, music. My son-in-laws both play the guitar, and it is such a delight to listen to them. It must have been such a treat for Rick to be there, learning and enjoying.
~Sheri
Such a unique place!!!
You are really stringing us along here. I was in Traverse City maybe around 1995, but I didn’t see much of the place. The people we stayed with said they called the tourists Fudgies.
awesome shop
I am sure that Rick was like the proverbial kid in the candy store. As for the link to the You Tube performance, thanks for including this. A lovely piece, delicately played. I really enjoyed it. If Rick has attained that level of proficiency he is doing well. I gathered from an earlier post that it irritates you a little when he practices for hours on end, but that’s the road to perfection. There’s no other way!
Fascinating! That looks like a stringed instrument player's paradise.
What a cool place to check out! I love that the business is thriving to the extent that he could move to a bigger space! I do wish I had learned a string instrument but it wasn’t an option when I was a child in my small town. I guess a piano technically counts, though! It’s just not what one thinks of when they think of a stringed instrument. I am hoping one of the boys tried violin.
Lovely piece of music, enjoyed the video. Looks like a fun spot for Rick to visit.
Love shops like these:)
Strings by mail as a title definitely caught my eye, and what a cool shop. It's always interesting to come across shops that aren't for the average or maybe usual is a better word, shopper. I bet Rick had a great day, and it was fascinating to see. Thanks for the article too. My daughter and son-in-law were by all day yesterday so I've saved it and will go off and read it once I finish commenting. Have a supper rest of your weekend. hugs-Erika
I love that they (quite naturally) have capos and picks, as well. One of my favorite memories is visiting Leadbelly's grave in Louisiana and seeing it covered in guitar picks.
What a find - it's always lovely to meet people who are passionate about the businesses they run too!
Have a happy Sunday
Wren x
I know Rick was excited to be in that store. Travers City sure has expanded since I have been there in the 80's. Nice area. Janice
Hello Jeanie,
Rick must love that store. I do not play any instruments but I do love most kinds of music. Take care, enjoy your day and have a great week!
Rick must have been in heaven in that store!
Jenna
There are so many interesting businesses that you never knew existed.
An interesting business, Rick must have enjoyed the visit. Karen (Back Road Journal)
I'm listening to the piece as I am typing--beautiful!
I play no instruments, but I lived with a guy in the 80s for seven years in Wisconsin who had his own country band since he was a teenager. Played part-time on weekends (was produce merchandiser for a grocery chain during the week) and built a recording studio in a pole barn on the property when he bought a farm outside of Menomonie with two old houses on it (the pastures and barn were rented to a nearby dairy farmer). What little I know about the variety of strings (guitar, bass, steel, banjo, dobro) I learned from being around the country band members. A few bands (locals and from Minneapolis) stayed at the little house when they came to record or more often just came to jam. I did also learn about picks being different with thickness and flexibility. Many had their favorites--lol! I also was like a part-time motel manager and cook--lol! And on rare occasions sang a couple songs with the band. They mostly had regular gigs at American Legions, outdoor summer parties, and VFWs. Goodness! Another lifetime.
I can imagine Rick had a wonderful time perusing the shop and chatting with that wonderful guy. :)
One of the people in my guitar class popped one of his strings while he was tuning it last week, and nobody had a replacement string. I shall check out his website.
If you're looking for strings this is the place to go.
Imagine that there are so many different strings to these instruments. Just shows how little I know. Fascinating.
It's so interesting to learn about these [small, passionate] businesses and the [small, passionate] communities they support. There used to be a violin artisan in Kalamazoo that always intrigued me, but I was too shy to stop in. Glad to hear about your experience here.
Thank you! Great post, and a link to a fantastic gift resource.
There are at least 4 string people in my family, mostly guitar.
How very interesting.. But I really want to know about the wine and friends! lol
Cathy
That is a most awesome and fitting tribute! We visited Fernando Sor’s grave in Paris (one of the titans of the classical guitar in the 1800s) but his site was completely unadorned. Music can last forever but it never stays where it is played…
I like organized places. Here they like to "re-decorate" often in hopes you get lost and buy things you actually would not.
I´m too stubborn for that.
Such a perfect store for those who appreciate it.
Glad Rick had a good time there.
My son plays the violin, so he’d be in string heaven there!
Very well organized! I always buy my violin strings from Amazon, which tends to be less expensive than other retailers.
Music stores are fascinating. I haven't been in one in years. They're harder to find than when I was young, The gentleman who owns the store is fascinating.
Butch and our son are both guitarists. I will share your post, thank you! I know Rick loved it!
With not a string instrument in my past or present, I still found this very interesting. Thanks Jeanie! I love the title of his company :)
I'm sure that stores like that are few and far between.. Interesting to go to play stringed instruments.
Looks like a cool store. Organized too. And is that a stamp at the end? That's neat.
What a great place.
Rick must have fully enjoyed the visit.
All the best Jan
you two have very fun and unique friends. rick must have felt like a kid in a candy shop!! i would love to collect stamps but i have too many hobbies already!!!
Wow, I love this. It's amazing there's this big store out there selling strings. I would never have thought of that. And love the picture of the two man. They look zo happy and friendly.
I am going to give this website to my son. He plays the guitar, acoustic and electric. How fun for Rick to go into this fabulous place.
What an interesting and fascinating shop. I completely see Rick being in heaven here. And I like the owner's last name "Wunsch" which is German for "wish". Seems to be the fitting name for such a wonderful place where wishes of dedicated musicians will be fulfilled.
Bet some of my friends would love that store!
Looks like it was a great outing with something for everyone, music, friends and wine...perfect.
You sure have interesting times! I enjoyed this!
Jeanie,
Sure looks like a day well spent. That place is really very interesting!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Thank you for this "behind the scenes" look...
I'm glad places like this (that are not some huge soulless corporation) exist in the world!
How fun for Rick to be able to visit the strings shop.
Post a Comment