 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2007-12-15 03:23
I'm going to be in NYC over the holidays and a friend recommended I visit the Vandoren Artists Studio on West 54th Street. Is this a "must see"?
Joe
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Author: DougR
Date: 2007-12-15 05:35
well, first you need to make sure they're going to be open when you're there. I'm not sure if they have regular set hours, or if so, what they are. (I assume the website can help you there.) Last time I visited, 10-plus years ago, the showroom was a small suite in a residential hotel with a couple of tryout rooms and as I remember, the selection was good. (I'm talking mouthpieces here.) I'm going to go out on a limb and say the selection was better than at the music retailers on 48th st. (meaning Manny's, Sam Ash, and Roberto's down on 46th st.), but I'm not absolutely sure about that. "Must see?" Your call.
But, if you go, take a look across the street at 237 W. 54th St., 2nd floor. Just another old commercial building, but it once housed Bell Sound, where Dionne Warwick recorded all her Bert Bachrach hits from the 60s. Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Chantels, The Platters, The Flamingos, etc., also recorded there. Up the street and around the corner, at 234 W. 56th St., on the top two floors of an old brownstone, is where Atlantic Records began. Again, nothing much to look at, but Coltrane recorded "My favorite things" there. Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, and Bobby Darin also recorded there.
(I'm sorry, I got off on a tangent. THOSE are MY idea of "must-sees" in NYC.)
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-12-15 10:02
If you want to try out a bunch of Vandoren products then that is the place. Sometimes they even have a new design that they are testing out that they might ask you to try and hear your opinion about. But there isn't much to "see" there.
But you should call them and be sure they are open. As I recall, they were only open Monday and Friday, but that may have changed.
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Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2007-12-15 20:16
Thank you all who replied. The Artist's Studio doesn't seem to have much of a web presence...I suppose I'll just swing by when I'm in the area, but it certainly doesn't seem to be a "destination" clarinet place to visit.
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