June 12, 2023 - OUR GREATEST SALE STARTS TODAY!
Here are three banjos that just came in. They are early 1890s instruments that are normally we would not buy because they always need more work than they are worth. However, these three instruments came from the workshop of Doug Dexter, who meticulously restored them without regard to time, cost or value. They are absolutely fine players and good for at least another 120 years and come in hard cases at a reasonable price.
Once again, Saturday has become a day to attend "Church at Bernunzio’s". Here are a few of our first parishioners doing what they do best.
And every church must have an altar boy!!
Sam Snyder has emerged as the leader of the pack. He has taken the reins since Ryan left and I am confident that he will keep us focused on what we do best….buying old guitars.
On Wednesday I had to drive to Rochester for another doctor’s appointment. I drove by myself and got myself the appointment and got a pretty good report from the doctor. I felt so good that on the way home, I did something that I had not done in many, many years. I stopped by Crown Jewelers in Canandaigua and visited this old friend. Of course the visit did involve me buying a nice little piece of antique jewelry for Julie.
Thursday night Julie and I had dinner at my old high school buddy, Richard Lenhard’s house. The world seems to be opening up for me.
Julie continues her eBay campaign and if anyone wants to check them out all the auctions can be found here: https://www.ebay.com/usr/elleneast
OUR GREATEST SALE STARTS TODAY!
June 12th, 2023
Hello friends,
As we lift through the great fog created by the recent Canadian fires and look towards the bright light of summer, we know it’s time for Bernunzio’s to really start to make things happen. To say that business has been slow over the past two months would be an understatement. We are really determined to continue to be "Rochester’s Guitar Store". we want to remain the place where musicians can gather and trust that they we always get a great deal whether they are buying, selling or just looking. To that point, we have purchased so many instruments over the past six months and now we really need to turn some loose. So, TODAY we have started the biggest sale that we have ever had with over 250 instruments with prices reduced to the bare bones. We are planning several special events over the next three weeks, including a sidewalk sale on Saturday and daily in store specials on new instruments and accessories at prices too low to publish. So check our website often and stop by the store. We welcome your business.
Over the course of the past 50 years, I have watched the vintage instrument market, wax and wane. Tastes change, people buy different things, and what was once most sought after, today, sometimes gets passed by. When I was a young man I looked for older instruments because they were actually cheaper than the new stuff being produced by major companies, and they sounded much better. Over the course of that time, the prices of vintage instruments rose dramatically. Since I am most familiar with the vintage banjo market, I have a few thoughts to pass on. Vintage banjos have been in the "sights" of collectors over the past 50 years. Ornate banjos from the turn of the century, pursued by many collectors, drove the prices completely out of the realm of the average buyer. Magical words like "Whyte Laydie" and "Tubaphone" would perk the ears of players and collectors alike. Today, those collectors are aging or have just disappeared. There is a glut of very fancy banjos on the market and it has caused a correction in the price. But the interest in the music played on open back banjo has never been higher. People are taking it up every day, but they tend towards more modern, dependable instruments, like Pisgah, Rickard and Dogwood and Vance. However, as these young companies have ramped up production to meet the demand, they have also realized that it costs a lot of money to make a new banjo. Consequently, the prices of these instruments have risen dramatically due to inflation and cost of production. Today, a new OME banjo, for example might cost up to $4000 where as a beautiful 120 year old Fairbanks banjo, in fine playing condition might cost half of that. It’s an interesting trend in the market, and there are some unbelievably great buys in the vintage category. Here is a link to ALL THE BANJOS ON SALE.
So, I have put 250 instruments on sale starting today. Order online or give us a call or stop in the store Wednesday through Saturday. We will have special deals in the store every day on new instruments at prices too low to publish. Stop by, you will be happy.
Sincerely,
John Bernunzio
I’ll be there to greet you whenever the store is open. Stop by, we’ll have a cup of coffee and a sandwich and talk.
John‘s corner is really filled up come on down… I’ll make you a deal you can’t refuse.
Flower time is at its peak in Penn Yan
… and Julie, the gardener, has been hard at work.