Content area
Full Text
John Ramsey describes himself as a "low-tech" kind of person; one who is laid back and easy going. His style has proved to be very successful for his business, Folklore Center, which he has owned and operated for 20 years.
"Folklore Center started as a small shop on West Colorado Avenue by Bob Coward in 1973," Ramsey explained. "I started working there the following year and, in 1975, a partner and I bought the company. The following year, I bought out my partner and moved the store to its present location on North Tejon Street."
Folklore Center specializes in handling stringed and fretted instruments--primarily acoustic guitars, banjos, and mandolins, as well as a few violins. It carries all accessories, including strings, picks, music, and instruction books as well as a few CDs and tapes. Prices for a good beginner's guitar or banjo start at about $150.
With two humidifiers working around the clock in his store, Ramsey also handles repairing and restoration of stringed instruments.
"The most common problem I see is cracks in instruments, especially in the winter months when it's so dry here. But, with care and proper handling, almost any cracked instrument can be repaired."
Ramsey says that interest in acoustic music is on the rise once again. He feels it goes in cycles and adds that there was a huge resurgence of interest in the '70s.
"Most of my customers are people in their 40s who used to play, then stopped, and now want to take it up again for their own enjoyment. At Christmastime, I sold more guitars r people in the...