The Vintage Fret Shop Ashland NH, end of an era!

[silverfox103]

Out for a drive this morning, about an hour from where I live. Couple of wrong lefts and rights and low and behold stumbled on my favorite guitar shop in Ashland NH, going a different way. Great, I thought, I'll swing in and see what's new. I always manage to find something. Actually that's where I found Han's book many years ago.

There was a notice on the door. The Vintage Fret will no longer be down for breakfast. The note on the door said The Vintage Fret Shop is permanently closed for all sales and repairs. Thank you for 50 great years. That was a shocker. I know Covid probably hurt and the owner must be somewhere in the 80's. He definitely will be missed, no junk in that shop.

I know GAD has been there and maybe Westerly Wood, probably more members.

Tom

 

[chazmo]

Oh, bummer. I used to shop there when I had a place in Ashland, Tom. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Out for a drive this morning, about an hour from where I live. Couple of wrong lefts and rights and low and behold stumbled on my favorite guitar shop in Ashland NH, going a different way. Great, I thought, I'll swing in and see what's new. I always manage to find something. Actually that's where I found Han's book many years ago.

There was a notice on the door. The Vintage Fret will no longer be down for breakfast. The note on the door said The Vintage Fret Shop is permanently closed for all sales and repairs. Thank you for 50 great years. That was a shocker. I know Covid probably hurt and the owner must be somewhere in the 80's. He definitely will be missed, no junk in that shop.

I know GAD has been there and maybe Westerly Wood, probably more members.

Tom

Ah Silver, that is sad news. I remember a great trip to that shop in like 1995. I was visiting my folks over a weekend who were hanging out on one of the lakes up there, big or little squam, something like that...I drove into Ashland and saw this shop. Went in and took an OM-21 off the wall and played it for a while, I was quite taken by Martins back then. They let me hang out for a while, no fuss, just so peaceful.

 

[GAD]

I think it's been closed for years. I think Covid killed it. My mom used to live in Ashland and I've been there many times. Back in the '80s it was actually filled with very rare and expensive guitars but the last few times I was there it was all Squires and the like, though they had a nice repair shop and a fascinating room in the back overlooking the river that was filled with dulcimers. I bet I have pics somewhere...

 

[GAD]

I think it's been closed for years. I think Covid killed it. My mom used to live in Ashland and I've been there many times. Back in the '80s it was actually filled with very rare and expensive guitars but the last few times I was there it was all Squires and the like, though they had a nice repair shop and a fascinating room in the back overlooking the river that was filled with dulcimers. I bet I have pics somewhere...

Can't find pics. Bummer

 

[Brad Little]

For some reason, I heard this a while ago. I visited a number of times when my parents had a cottage in Whitefield, still have one of their T-shirts (although my daughter may have absconded with it), IIRC, there was a restaurant or diner not too far from it that my parents liked. First time I went in, I sat down with a run of the mill classical and played a Scarlatti sonata. When the clerk (owner) heard me, he went into the back and came out with a nice luthier made instrument (don't remember the name).

 

[Brad Little]

I think it's been closed for years. I think Covid killed it. My mom used to live in Ashland and I've been there many times. Back in the '80s it was actually filled with very rare and expensive guitars but the last few times I was there it was all Squires and the like, though they had a nice repair shop and a fascinating room in the back overlooking the river that was filled with dulcimers. I bet I have pics somewhere...

I think they did keep an online presence for a while. In fact, their website (admittedly from 2022) says they are operating an online shop through Reverb.
Vintage Fret Shop

Oh, just clicked the Reverb link on their page and it says "Account Disabled."

 

[GAD]

That's sad. I remember when they opened. I was floored to find a nice guitar shop in little out of the way Ashland.

First time I was in there I was probably in my late 20s (so late '80s - maybe early '90s?) and they had all these acoustics on the wall. I asked to try one and the guy grabbed it and handed it to me. I thought it sounded nice (I knew nothing about acoustics) and asked how much it was.

$15,000

Gulp. Apparently he had handed me one of the pre-war Martins and I was probably playing Cocaine or Smoke on the Water on it. I was kind of sad the last time I was in there seeing all the cheap beginner guitars on the wall, but I remember the guy in the shop handling a Gibson Historic Les Paul (I hope it wasn't vintage) because the owner was paying them to change the strings.

 

[silverfox103]

It could have been closed for a while, but don't think it's been too long. I can remember going there somewhere in the Covid years. Actually, there were a couple of people in there working in the repair department. I thought about sticking my head in the door, but then I didn't want them to say, can't you read the sign on the door stupid.

So, one Sunday we were out for a ride and decided to go to Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant for a couple of Turkey Sandwiches to go. Hart's Restaurant is as I like to call it "a New England Institution", best turkey anywhere.

Decided on the way back home to swing by The Vintage Fret Shop. That was the day I found Han's book. For some reason, I didn't have my wallet, cash or cards with me. So I had to go to the car to get the Mrs.

Also that day we had big Jake, the Boxer / English Mastiff with us.




My wife asked what about the food, I said stick it under the seat, he'll never get it. Of course he did. Took it out of the bag, out of the styrofoam container, and had himself a nice lunch. He gently opened
everything without taring anything, hard to believe. Needless to say I wasn't very happy.

Tom

 

[Steelman]

I noticed it was closed last summer. I usually would stop in and chat with owner David Colburn on my way to or from Squam Lake. He always remembered my late brother, a keyboard player, who used to play at the Ashland pizza place.

The shop is / was at a lovely site, next to the river; however it was flooded out one year, I believe.

I am headed up to Squam next year and will heave a sigh of nostalgia as I pass the shop.

 

[GAD]

I noticed it was closed last summer. I usually would stop in and chat with owner David Colburn on my way to or from Squam Lake. He always remembered my late brother, a keyboard player, who used to play at the Ashland pizza place.

I love their pizza!

I used to play video games in there in the ‘80s.

 

[chazmo]

Common Man Restaurant. That is all.

 

[GAD]

Common Man Restaurant. That is all.

White chocolate!

 

[Steelman]

Yes, Common Man. I jammed there a couple of times with local keyboardist David Lockwood. Don't overlook Bob's Sur-Fine Market.

 

[GAD]

Yes, Common Man. I jammed there a couple of times with local keyboardist David Lockwood. Don't overlook Bob's Sur-Fine Market.

My mother worked at Bob’s Sur Fine for a time. This is all very surreal. I’m not used to people knowing about Ashland.

I helped save a church in Ashland. Apparently the church was going to close it so I took pics of the inside which had very old hand-painted art on the ceiling. As the small town story goes, concerned members took the pics and sent them to the Pope who saved the church. Hooray!

I have no idea what percentage of the story is true, but I certainly took the photos and my mother was very happy that they didn’t close “her little church”.

I can post a couple if anyone is interested but it will have to be later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[chazmo]

My mother worked at Bob’s Sur Fine for a time. This is all very surreal. I’m not used to people knowing about Ashland.

I helped save a church in Ashland. Apparently the church was going to close it so I took pics of the inside which had very old hand-painted art on the ceiling. As the small town story goes, concerned members took the pics and sent them to the Pope who saved the church. Hooray!

I have no idea what percentage of the story is true, but I certainly took the photos and my mother was very happy that they didn’t close “her little church”.

I can post a couple if anyone is interested but it will have to be later tonight or tomorrow.

Wow, what a story, GAD.

As for Ashland, I spent several summers in a park-model home up above the shore of Squam. Lovely, lovely place!

 

[Bill Ashton]

The Reverb account is disabled. Was this in a long single story building next to the lake?

 

[GAD]

Just saw this on Facebook:

(1512) Vintage Fret Shop Retirement - Thomas Hirchak Company

Preview: Tuesday, August 29 from 11AM-1PM - After over 50 years of sales, service, and sharing knowledge with customers, David has decided to retire and close the Vintage Fret Shop. We're honored to auction off the remainder of instruments and gear in an online auction.

www.thcauction.com

 

[chazmo]

Any mando hunters or Taylor lovers might make out well. That place had a really awesome collection. In fairly recent years, they had one of those Liberty Tree Taylors that was spectacular -- doubt it ever sold. Anyway, great lead, GAD!

 

[GAD]

When my kids were much younger we went to Ashland to visit my mom and stopped at the Vintage fret shop. One of them wanted a harmonica neckless which I bought her, and within the hour she had lost it. We believe she dropped it when we got out of the car in Plymouth and it fell in a storm drain, but we never knew for sure. We still laugh about it but she was VERY upset at the time.

This pic from the auction really made me sad because that's right where we bought it:




I loved that little store. I'm sad that it's gone.