The Colosseum of Music Stores

[theorage]

I was wondering if any of you Nuts had experienced the glory days of Thoroughbred Music in Clearwater Florida? You would know it if you had because it's nothing like any retail outlet you've ever seen! Words cannot describe, so I'll give you a link about the property before Thoroughbred was established there in the early '90s.

benzplace.com/kapok/index.html#others

It was an over-the-top-and-then-far-beyond restaurant of the last century, built in a neo-Roman on steroids décor (check out the "Explore the Restaurant" link).

Imagine now 60,000+ sq. ft. of marble, fountains, ballrooms outfitted with all the gear you could possibly imagine in one location. Guitar Center... Sam Ash... Mars... they all drooled. Turns out in 1999, Sam Ash won the prize and purchased the handful of TM stores.

Okay, that's all just a curiosity -- the very best part of TM was the annual Guitar Shows. Legendary. The event was part concert, part clinics, part trade show, part manufacturer's exhibition with thousands attending on the weekend. Free. I never had it so good. Anyone been to one of these?


*** Musician's Concerts/Clinics *** (that I can remember)

Bass: Victor Wooten. Victor Bailey. John Patitucci. Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm. Jeff Berlin. Tony Franklin. Dave LaRue.

Guitar: Al DiMeola. Paul Reed Smith. John Petrucci. Steve Morse. Hellecasters (Jerry Donahue/Will Ray/John Jorgenson). Paul Gilbert. Robin Zander. Larry Coryell. Slash. Warren Haynes. Andy Timmons. Lita Ford.

Notes: Al DiMeola declared amid his performance that Rap isn't music (crowd went wild)... Victor Wooten is inhuman, but nothing like his Futureman... Paul Reed Smith had a drummer in his band that was insanely wild -- wish I knew his name... Jeff Berlin runs his school in the same building...

[ashcatlt]

It might have been before my time. I don't recall being aware there was a Thoroughbred in Clearwater. The folks at the one in Tampa always gave me such great service and incredible deals it never would have occured to me to cross the bridge.

[theorage]

Yeah, the Tampa Thoroughbred on E. Hillsborough Ave. I believe was the anchor store, and they had some Guitar Shows there before acquiring the palace in Countryside/Clearwater.

They had a $400 used Rivera Knucklehead 100 in mint condition that I kick myself for not buying... yes, they had good deals and knowledgeable, helpful staff (by & large). Easy to lose control of G.A.S. there!