About Sam Ash
Music is our passion, not just our business
At Sam Ash Direct, we don't just serve musicians — we are musicians. The people working our call center, packing your orders, and even roaming our offices are just as music-obsessed as you are, and that's why you can count on us when it comes to knowing what today's musicians need. Our jaw-dropping inventory of the latest instruments, gear, and accessories will have you hooked, and yet that's only part of what we have to offer. We've got a state-of-the-art sales and support center packed with musicians standing by seven days a week, ready to help you find the gear you need. No matter what your question or issue, we're here to help you find anything needed to bring your music to its fullest potential.
In The Beginning
Visit any Sam Ash Music Store at any time and you're guaranteed to see somebody making music. After all, making music is what Sam Ash is all about and they mean business. Playing the incredible selection of instruments is not only allowed, it's encouraged. You'll find people of all ages, from novice to pros playing guitars, keyboards, drums or brass and woodwind instruments. The huge inventory of musical instruments and accessories, sound and recording equipment, sheet music and videos, computers and music software covers every musician's needs no matter what his or her playing style or ability may be.
Sam Ash is known as "The World's Favorite Music Store," but they didn't arrive at that title overnight. The Sam Ash saga is a classic business story. It encompasses the American dream, retaining the basic concepts of a family-run business even today. From very simple beginnings the company has grown to forty-five music superstores. But the story begins in Brooklyn.
In 1924 Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States, George Gerswin premiered his "Rhapsody In Blue," Johnny Weissmuller brought home Olympic gold and in a small neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, Sam Ash opened his first music store.
Sam Ash (Ashkynase) was born in Austria and traveled to the United States in 1907 at the age of 10, the same year that his future bride, Rose Dinin, left her native Russia at the age of 3 to settle in Brooklyn. Sam, a violinist, set out to make a career in music. After playing with various groups Sam decided to strike out with a band of his own. The Sam Ash Orchestra would entertain at weddings and dances playing the popular music of the time. After Sam and Rose were married, the new Mrs. Ash decided that a musician's life was too precarious so the young couple decided to open their own business based upon what Sam knew best - music. Having very little savings the couple was forced to pawn Rose's engagement ring for $400 in order to make the down payment on what was to become the first Sam Ash Music store.
The Early Years
With no previous business experience, Rose and Sam utilized their family traits of perseverance and hard work. Totally dedicating themselves to the new enterprise, the couple worked around the clock, learning the trade as they went along. That first Sam Ash store featured mainly sheet music and violin repairs, as the fledgling concern could not yet afford to stock musical instruments. These first years were very hard on the young couple. The store was in a poor neighborhood and not easily accessible by public transportation. Sales were few and far between. In 1925, their first son Jerry was born. Another son, Paul, followed a few years later and then a daughter, Marcia. The family lived in a crowded three-room apartment behind the store. In order to make ends meet Sam continued performing weekends with the band while Rose minded the store Facing almost immeasurable odds, Sam and Rose managed to survive the Great Depression, keeping both their family and business intact.
The Second Generation
In the early 1950's Jerry noticed the increasing popularity of the accordion and began to stock different models. Soon Sam Ash became known as the leading accordion dealer in the area. Another trend the Ashes noticed was the new found prominence of the electric guitar, first through jazz artists such as Les Paul and then with the newest sound in music - rock and roll. Sam Ash began to add guitars to the store, becoming the second dealer in New York to carry the Gibson line and also carrying guitars from a new company, Fender.
Sadly, as the family began to enjoy it's first real success, founder and patriarch Sam Ash passed away in 1956. Leaving the company in the hands of his wife and two sons, Sam Ash had established a way of doing business that would become company policy. "Our father prided himself on treating everyone fairly and offering the best selection of musical instruments at low prices," says Paul Ash.
Sadly, as the family began to enjoy it's first real success, founder and patriarch Sam Ash passed away in 1956. Leaving the company in the hands of his wife and two sons, Sam Ash had established a way of doing business that would become company policy. "Our father prided himself on treating everyone fairly and offering the best selection of musical instruments at low prices," says Paul Ash.