Snukst Music - Chicago

[Mark Lenart]

Anybody have any new stories about Snukst Music (6100 S. Pulaski) in
Chicago? A friend of mine and I went in there this weekend to browse
and were treated to a very strange experience. My friend, who was
looking for a bass, was being talked out of every model he wanted to
look at by the little bearded owner. The guy kept pushing Ibanez and
G&L and seemed to have a pretty intense hatred for anything Fender.

Very odd store with some very odd owners. Although the place has got
to be a goldmine. I would estimate that there are at least 2,000
guitars from all eras packed into a 1,000 square foot shop.
Unbelievable. I'm sure you could find some real gems in there if you
could stand the smell long enough.

Always looking to hear about more strange Snukst experiences.

[JASBMW]

They are some strange people indeed... I was intrigued by the "Leo
Strat Sale" written on their marquee (which now that I think about it
probably hasn't changed in 15 years). I went in and started to
browse... I should back up, I went in and was hit by the odor of dog
urine and old style beer, then startled by the large dog behind the
counter as he growled and stepped on the beer cans spread across the
floor, then i began to browse... within 2 minutes I was approached by
the man (in a very friendly manner).

I inquired about the strats and was shown G&L's, when I asked for
American made fenders I was barked at (something like "I don't need
Fender, I have G&L")... nothing against G&L (i probably should've
tried one if I wasn't so nervous) but I wanted an american fender".
After a few more minutes of agreeing with whatever he said, I said
"thanks" and got out of there.

Does anyone know why they spy on you in there... the woman hides
behind guitars and watches you, as if I'm going to steal a guitar?
I've heard a lot of funny stories about the place, supposedly the nice
stuff is stockpiled in the "back" somewhere. And BTW, what the hell
is a Series 10???

jas

mark....@us.andersen.com (Mark Lenart) wrote in message news:<361c012a.02022...@posting.google.com>...

[Ednovak]

>They are some strange people indeed...

Hey, my old stomping grounds! Actually, I used to buy everything at the
defunct Carnevale Music on 63rd St., but I still sneak into Snukst every once
in while if I'm in the area and desperate for strings. The last time I was
there, I smelled a horrible natural gas scent right outside the store. I told
the guy about it and he acted suspicious, like I did something to cause it. I
left as fast as I could because I thought the place was going to blow up.
Ed.

[donb...@gmail.com]

The owners of Snukst were wonderful, very colorful people, and the old man new everything there is to know about guitars and music. I absolutely loved that store. They had so many great and rare guitars, in new or like new condition. I still have a George Washburne 36 fret guitar that I bought from them.

But unfortunately...

The old man was hit by Alzheimer's disease, and it really hit him hard. His wife took care of him until she died of a heart attack and the old man finished his last years in a nursing home. So, I hope that explains the strange behavior. If you had caught them in the 90's or earlier, you would have seen them as 2 very sharp and engaging seniors. It's all a memory now. The guitar "candy stores" of the 70's and 80's, places like Roselle Music, Perry's, Park Place and Snukst are just a memory now.

[dariusg...@gmail.com]

I remember back then in the 90s I would go in there and look at the drum sets they had. I remembered seeing the bearded old man and woman and they seemed pretty knowledgeable about the equipment. They told me they were in show business for years. That place was crowded with guitars all over the place and it smelled all the time,but now it's just a memory. Those were the good old days when everything was normal compared to what's going on now. I missed that place. 😣

[john twardy]

On Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 4:17:38 AM UTC-5, dariusg...@gmail.com wrote:
> I remember back then in the 90s I would go in there and look at the drum sets they had. I remembered seeing the bearded old man and woman and they seemed pretty knowledgeable about the equipment. They told me they were in show business for years. That place was crowded with guitars all over the place and it smelled all the time,but now it's just a memory. Those were the good old days when everything was normal compared to what's going on now. I missed that place. 😣

I bought a Gibson firebird v reverse there for 375 w/case around 1970 and a sunn concert lead amp. He told me it would be a collectors item. They were eccentric people but cool, old music stores were so cool no more!