July Dealer Spotlight Interview

Retro Fret – Brooklyn, NY

This month, we’re headed for Brooklyn, New York, the former home of the once beloved Dodgers, and a few other noted notables such as Director Woody Allen,  80′s Rocker Pat Benetar, two-thirds of the 3 Stooges (and i’m not counting Shemp cuz he don’t count) but most importantly, it’s home to Steve Uhrik. Steve is the owner of Retro Fret, a unique outlet for all things guitars. Let’s find out a bit more about Retro Fret and that voodoo, that they do, so very well.

Gbase: Steve, tell us a little bit more about what lead you to opening RetroFret?

RetroFret: I had been repairing and restoring instruments since the early 1970’s.  Clients would often say, “Steve, you know lots of musicians – can you help me sell my… old Martin …or Strat. I also started buying guitars to fix-up and sell. Pretty soon my factory-loft repair shop was overcrowded with instruments for sale. In 1986 I took over the entire second floor of my building and created a clear display and sales area and separate workshop. Retrofret Vintage Guitars became our online portal in 1999.

Gbase: We’ve heard much about a renaissance in Brooklyn – lots of new construction, music and the like. What’s the music scene in Brooklyn like these days?

RetroFret: Our South-Brooklyn industrial area is now full of music clubs and recording studios. Lots of musicians have settled here and it’s amazing to see the changes in just the past twenty years. The building that is home to Retrofret was built as the first dedicated ASPCA animal shelter in the world – now its home to guitars waiting for adoption.

Gbase: Do you play guitar?

RetroFret: Up until last year we had a nice little blues and gospel quartet with a few friends from the shop (Peter Kohman, Mike Saccoliti, and the late Bob Guida Jr.) After taking some time off following Bob’s passing I’m just getting back into some music again and actually played at an outdoor festival in June. Peter and Mamie Minch (who runs the service department) actively gig out. I like to get to the shop early (like 6:00am early) so most nights I’m in bed by 9:30!

Gbase: Do you find yourself serving more of the local or regional music market (NY, CT, NJ, New England) or is really more national and global?

RetroFret: Our local cliental has really been increasing in the past few years – but I’d say that sales are about 1/3 regional, 1/3 national, and 1/3 international (depending on how the dollar is standing).  We also provide a fair number of instruments and material to museums, institutions and private collections around the world.

Gbase: That’s great to hear. We’ve been hearing that more and more from both Gbase dealers and others in the industry. Expanding your reach is so very important. Where is RetroFret’s Focus? Amps, EFX Pedals, Guitars?

RetroFret: I’d have to say that the store stock is pretty diverse – almost all of our inventory was made before 1980, no new lines, just vintage gear – acoustics and electrics – lots of tube amps of every variety. We have an example of Gibson’s first electric guitar (a solidbody made of aluminum – one of 97 shipped in 1935) and an original NY made Gittler guitar (#12 of 60 and made of stainless steel in 1976). There’s also a nice wall of Strats including a near mint ’59 out from under the original owner’s bed. We have a real keenness for ‘60s guitars that are often overlooked such as Burns and Micro-frets as well.

Gbase: What’s the coolest thing you have in stock at the current moment?

RetroFret: We have a number of really terrific arch-top guitars in right now – but the ‘too cool for school’ stand-out has to be this 1938 Wilkanowski.

Made in Brooklyn by a violin maker who only built a handful of guitars it’s a 16” high arched, cello shaped  instrument with scroll styled headstock. The real kicker is that the neck is actually made of cast aluminum with faux wood graining on the scroll and wood for the fingerboard and back of the neck. Wilkanowski had an association with the Gretsch Company and some of his design elements such as ‘cats eye’ sound holes can be seen on later Gretsch guitars. We’ve had a number of Wilkanowskis over the years including one that was formerly owned by Johnny Cash and another where the work was completed by John D’Angelico with a D’A made neck, bridge, pickguard and tailpiece.

Gbase: That’s a really cool guitar. I have to admit, I’ve never heard of a Wilkanowski. Anything you wish you didn’t have to part with?

RetroFret: A few years ago we acquired Lefty Frizzell’s original 1949 J-200 with Bigsby neck – yes, that guitar from all the 1950’s album covers.  For a while we would just pass it around at the shop and take photos of each other playing it. We did end up selling it – but ‘sometimes at night when the cold wind moans…’ – I do long to play “Long Black Veil” on it again.

Gbase: I’m jealous. I’m sure there’s more than a few people reading this that have a soft spot in their heart for ole’ Lefty. The market is certainly a bit on the tough side at the moment. Are you doing anything extra special to incentivize potential buyers?

RetroFret: We’re doing a fair amount of local outreach – in-store music parties as well as being a business sponsor of the “Celebrate Brooklyn!” concert series in Prospect Park. Just like any retail business in times when money is tight we’re also broadening our inventory price point spread and including less expensive, but still interesting vintage guitars, basses and mandolins. You can still buy a great Guild Starfire from the early ‘60s for about one tenth the price of an ES-335 from that era.

Gbase: Do you have a personal collection? Care to share some of the highlights?

RetroFret: I’m more of the ‘catch & release’ sort of guy than a collector.  I do have a thing for very early electronic instruments and have managed to hang on to an original RCA Theremin as well as a few electric fiddles and Vivi-Tone guitars from the 1930’s.

Gbase: A theremin – now that’s a conversation piece. I wouldn’t imagine you getting too many calls for gigs to play that anywhere. Are you currently in the hunt for something special?

RetroFret: Strictly speaking, this is not a ‘guitar gear’ thing but the technology for this instrument helped lead the way for later electric guitar development: In 1876, American inventor, Elisha Gray accidentally discovered that a self vibrating electromagnet could produce a musical note. Using this single note oscillator he proceeded to invent a keyboard instrument called the Musical Telegraph. He also invented the first simple loudspeaker to make the oscillator signal audible. Basically it was a two octave instrument that could broadcast music over telegraph lines to another unit… and yes, I would trade my ’37 D-18 for an original set.

Gbase: Duly noted – if I run into one. You’ll be my first call!!  We’ll be taking in the Arlington Show come October as well as the Fall Philly Show. Can we expect to see RetroFret out on the road some time this year?

RetroFret: We just got back from (Summer) Philly – Arlington’s definitely on the calendar for us this fall.

Gbase: Anything else you’d like to promote or push through to the Gbase Gearheads?

RetroFret: Have fun with all this wood and wire – we sure try to!

Gbase: I’m all for that. And it’s not like we can’t find a little extra on Gbase. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. See you come Arlington time!! You can visit with Steve at his Gbase Store or his Retro Fret Website anytime you’d like!