This month, we’d like to focus our spotlight on a Santa Cruz, CA- based dealer, More Music. Although, they’re relatively new to the world of Gbase, they’ve been steeped in the California Music scene for 15+ years. You’ll find trained professionals at this store with years of road experience as well as a highly skilled repair staff.

You’ll also find an exceptional line-up of gear at More Music, including loads of Gibson Guitars that cover the proverbial spectrum; new and old, vintage to quirky, classic to custom. Plus they have numerous other brands that are quickly becoming household names to players, such as; Eastwood Guitars, Boulder Creek, Fulltone, SPF and a host of others. You can visit his Gbase store by clicking on the logo above or you can also check out their website at More Music.

So without further delay, let’s delve into the world of More Music and chat with store owner, Dave Handloff. For starters, how cool is it that Dave has this pic on his website. He’s hanging out with Jack Casady. From Jefferson Airplane to Hot Tuna, Jack has played more gigs than one could ever dream of plus he’s been through tractor trailor load of basses – including a plethora of P-Basses, his signature JC Epiphone Bass, Guild Basses and the list would surely  go on and on, if we had the space. Feel free to check in on Jack at his website; news, tour dates, info about his signature series bass guitar and much, much more – Click Here.

Now onto the good stuff -

Gbase: Dave, can you give a brief history of More Music and how it all got started?

More Music: I had been working in the sound business for many years and had also amassed a decent collection of instruments. I was always inviting players and collectors over to play and look at guitars, and people started telling me I should open a retail shop.  One of the local music store owners also issued me a challenge to start a shop….. expecting me to fail.  Fifteen years later we are still here, loving it.

Gbase: You’re located in Santa Cruz, CA, a classic California beach town known for its surf, boardwalk, and unique downtown. Tell us a little about the music scene there and what kinds of musicians you have coming into your store.

More Music: The music scene in Santa Cruz is thriving because the community is very supportive of live music of all styles.  Santa Cruz is a unique city known for its oddballs, street performers, and artists. It also has more than its fair share of rich computer geeks, university professors, and professionals who can afford to work from home.  We certainly get musicians from all walks of life, and we are known as a store that will bend over backwards for gigging musicians.  Touring musicians love to come into the shop and hang out.  Alongside surf and the beach aspect of our environment, music is a huge part of the roots of our town that makes Santa Cruz so unique. The musicians, like the plentiful number of diverse venues and artists in town, are from all walks of life. It certainly makes for an interesting work environment!

(To Learn More about the Santa Cruz Music Scene – check out the Metro Santa Cruz Website)

Gbase: You have some deep music industry experience as a soundman, musician and technician whose credits include working with Journey, Van Morrison, Bob Weir to name a few.  How did you make the transition to opening a store, and do you still do any sound work?

More Music: I quit (doing sound) in 1996 after twenty years.  Every once in awhile I’ll do sound to help out a school, non-profit event, or a friend.  It is not something that I can enjoy just for money anymore. Many years of live music  gave me a lot of problem-solving and troubleshooting know-how.  No problem with sound cannot be solved, and More Music is known as “THE” place to go if your instrument or amp is on the fritz and you need a last minute fix or a loaner instrument.  We have a competent, dependable repair staff, and our knowledge and work-ethic set us apart from other stores.

Gbase: More Music is a full service music store.  Clearly, you’ve made a concerted effort to separate yourselves from your competitors. What do feel has become your area of specialty?

More Music: Aside from the sales of new instruments, amplifiers, and everything in between, our real specialty lies in superior restoration and repair, including neck resets, refrets, full restoration, and all forms of setup. We also have vintage instruments at fair prices.  I identify issues on what we sell so that our customer know what they are paying for. We even build instruments.  Among our current projects are a mandocello, 12 string Spanish folk mando/oud-like instrument, and several electric and acoustic guitars.

Gbase: Got something that falls into that “Killer” category at the moment?

More Music: We have a 1939 Martin D-18 in the store that will be on Gbase in a few days after we finish some restoration work.  Strung up, it is one of the finest sounding acoustic guitars I’ve ever heard.

Gbase: In your opinion, what is the coolest or finest guitar that you have for sale on Gbase currently?

More Music: The finest guitar we have on Gbase is likely the 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop with plenty of neck angle to support an ABR-1 bridge and Bigsby tailpiece.  It is so rare to see an instrument of that age and significance in such excellent condition, and it plays beautifully!

A great acoustic flattop is the 1934 Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe that we have on Gbase.  It is an over the top fingerstyle or bluegrass guitar with warmth and clarity. I never would have thought that I could be so comfortable on a neck that is 2 1/4″ wide at the saddle and the nut.  Those guys at Gibson sure made great guitars in the 1930′s!

Gbase:  Is there anything that you’re currently on the hunt for?

More Music: I am always looking for clean, unaltered vintage instruments, accessories, and amplifiers.   I also like to buy broken instruments to restore that haven’t been messed with by Neanderthals.

Gbase: Would you like to share with us any memorable experience you’ve had at More Music?

More Music: The first memory of More Music is when Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna walked in weeks before I opened and became my first customer!

Gbase: That would fall into somewhere between “amazing” and “an honor,” I would suppose. Is there anything else you would like to add?

More Music: Vintage guitars are a wonderful, collectible, PLAYABLE investment to leave your kids or help fund your retirement. Heirlooms too often have nothing to do with the interests and passions that we express in life.  Guitars passed from one generation to the next give kids a sense of who they came from. I hope this downturn in the economy will help to wake people up to the insanity of trusting in what you cannot see, touch, or control as a strategy for managing their entire wealth.  Diversity is the key in successful investing and by that I mean solid body, hollow body, dreadnaught, and other sizes and shapes.  Not every guitar is going to appreciate at a ridiculous rate, but neither do most stocks.

Gbase: Thanks for taking a few minutes from your busy schedule to chat with us. Much luck to you in the future. For those of you who are interested in any of the instruments that Dave pointed out in this interview, you can check them out by clicking on the picture of the guitar. Or you can visit Dave thru his website – More Music or stop by and visit with us at Gbase.com. Thanks…….and until next time!