Sam Ash Music News

Imagine summer coming to an end, autumn sneaking in and not looking forward to winter.  Then something wonderful happens.  A friend and business colleague lifts your spirits high.  He offers to do a meet and greet clinic in three of your stores.  My friend, Paul Reed Smith, did just that.  He appeared in three Sam Ash locations, LA, Chicago and NYC. Each day he would start the event with a two-hour education session for Sam Ash Associates from all over the region. He spoke about the nearly 30-year business relationship and friendship he has had with myself and my brother Richie and how we all first met.  Paul also talked about how Sam Ash Music is one of the reasons he was able to start up his company way back when. I attended the LA and NYC events and the banter got pretty lively at times with jokes and anecdotes regarding our history and the industry in general.

During some breaks in the session, dozens of guitar associates had a real treat having lunch with. The food was decent but the conversation was priceless. He proved he is a regular guy and once again showed that it being a great guitarist doesn’t hurt when it comes to making and designing guitars. Tasty licks abounded from Paul’s fingers during each meet and greet.  His passion for the guitar and guitar players alike was wonderful and genuine and won over a whole new group of PRS fans in our stores.

Each night Paul stayed for a meet and greet with customers and fans alike signing autographs and even helping sell quite a few guitars including a few Private Stock instruments. To all that came to meet him it was like meeting a rock star. They couldn’t believe he was actually there, hanging out and talking to anyone who wanted to talk to him. He stayed until the last fan was greeted and then took a group of the Sam Ash managers out to dinner. It’s experiences like this that remind many of us why we are in this business.

On a personal note, I am proud to be able to call Paul my friend. I have watched him grow a company and reputation for excellence rarely seen in this industry. As he likes to remind me, “Remember Sam, my first born’s name is Sam, do you think that was a coincidence?” I am also an early collector of PRS guitars. I have the #4 and #6 guitars to come off the line, the original blue metallic prototype, the second signature guitar ever made and about 8 others that are the pride of my collection. Sam Ash was the first PRS dealer and we shall remain his best, Thanks for everything Paul!

Sam Ash