Mail Order

Dennis Bamber helped pioneer mail order catalogs for musical products beginning in the 1970s. After opening a small woodwind store in South Bend, Indiana in 1978, Dennis noticed that many of his customers were traveling 5 and 6 hours to his store. While he expanded the size of the store he also thought of ways to bring the store to those located far away. Among his innovations in the area of the mail order business, Dennis would send 3 or 4 products for the customer to try for a few weeks in order to be sure they were satisfied with their final instrument purchase.

Steve Dillon has a great appreciation and knowledge of vintage band and orchestra instruments. The first musician in the Dillon family can be documented back to the 1700s, thus the store’s slogan “Dillon Music: Bringing America Music since 1776". Steve became an expert on vintage instruments and was a pioneer in selling antique instruments through mail orders beginning in the early 1990s. His catalogs that were mailed worldwide made an easy transition to the Internet. During his oral history interview, Steve provided details on the history of the fife, as well as his views on the

Rob Eastman and his wife DeAnna established Musician's Friend in 1983, which became the leading mail order musical instrument business in the country. Rob's father, Bud, opened a music store in San Jose, California in the mid 1960s and began writing a small newsletter for his customers. By 1967 that newsletter became Guitar Player Magazine, which was among the very first music themed specialty publications vying for shelve space next to Look, Life and Time magazines.

Victor Himbaugh was still a teenager when he purchased used instruments and sound systems from newspaper ads just to clean them up and resell them out of his mother’s basement. He took violin lessons in the sixth grade and later switched to bass and played in the local Youth Symphony. By the time he was an early teen he knew musical gear was his passion. With a focus on electronics, Victor latched onto the Shure Voice Master PA System and began renting the units to local clubs and bands. In 1973 he joined the owners of the Doo Wop Shop in Louisville, just a year after the music st

Michael Houser is the Chief Executive Officer for Cascio Interstate Music, which serves both as a brick and mortar store in New Berlin, Wisconsin as well as an internet store.

Lowell Kiesel, as the founder of the southern California guitar company Carvin, joined the ranks with Leo Fender, Paul A. Bigsby, and the Rickenbacker Company, in establishing the new era of electric guitar. In 1946 he formed L. C. Kiesel Company winding pickups on an old sewing machine.  As the company grew and the product line began to connect with musicians around the world, Lowell changed the name of the company to Carvin, after his sons Carson and Gavin.

Bob Rupp was on his way to Hollywood to make his name as a session player when his car broke down in Denver.  The year was 1979 and Bob never left Denver.  Without a job, Bob played around town and made some side money selling Dragon Drum sets.  The demand grew and soon Bob found himself making and selling his own kits, which led to the opening of Rupp's Drums in 1984.  Over the years Bob was able to expand his business, thanks to mail order catalogs and years later the Internet.  Along the way he provided drum lessons and repairs within his shop as well as successful clinics and

Ivor Taylor took part in one of the great developments of the music industry when he established a pro audio retail store in London. Turnkey was just that, an easy solution for its customers who were seeking to take advantage of developing technologies to make, record, and produce music. It was among the first mail order businesses in the United Kingdom to offer pro audio gear. Ivor’s background includes repairing mixers, other backline gear, and working in the live sound industry. He knew firsthand the importance of quality gear and the understanding of how to use it. Ivor is als

Ted Veneman grew up in his father’s music store. As early as 1975, Ted was etching out a mail order catalog under the name “Music Emporium,” which was much earlier than most mail order catalogs in the industry. He also pioneered the idea of a music store selling pro audio gear – so far ahead of the trend that he was met with resistance from those who never believed musicians would ever be able to afford their own sound systems. In later years he and his father designed a new electric guitar and formed Kapa Guitars.  

Harvey Vogel was having a difficult time finding and purchasing quality percussion instruments and accessories for his daughter Lauren while she was in high school. He decided to do something about it and Lone Star Percussion – a name that Lauren came up with instead of the "Harvey Vogel Percussion Supply Company" – was formed in the fall of 1978. Harvey made sure that Lone Star carried a complete line of drumsticks, mallets, beaters, brushes, and small accessories, all sold at discount prices and usually shipped within 24 hours.

Stanley Werbin opened a small guitar shop he named Elderly Instruments on July 5, 1972. The original location was in East Lansing, Michigan and focused on "used instruments".  Within a few years Stan watched the growth and development of the vintage guitar market and provided a repair shop and expert staff to address the needs of this new market.  Stan's store was one of the first retail shops to sell vintage gear through the mail and over the Internet.