Rick Turner
Well-known member
I just learned that my old friend, Mandolin Brother Stan Jay, just passed away from a rare form of lymphoma.
Stan was one of the first guys who, along with Hap Kuffner (his former partner in Mando Bros.) George Gruhn, Stan Werbin, Fred Oster, Jim Baggett, and Richard Johnston and Frank Ford, understood what was special about "vintage instruments", especially compared to what the factories were putting out in the 1960s and '70s. He was one of the inventors of the vintage instrument business, and nobody did it with more humor along with deep knowledge. His descriptions of instruments in his newsletter were priceless. Stan also oversaw one of the best repair departments for fretted instruments in the US.
I first met him in our mutually shared Greenwich Village days in the mid 1960s. We always took a bit of time out at NAMM shows whether or not he was carrying my instruments at Mando Bros., and he did ultimately become an anchor dealer of my guitars.
I'll miss his smile, wit, and warm heart.
Stan was one of the first guys who, along with Hap Kuffner (his former partner in Mando Bros.) George Gruhn, Stan Werbin, Fred Oster, Jim Baggett, and Richard Johnston and Frank Ford, understood what was special about "vintage instruments", especially compared to what the factories were putting out in the 1960s and '70s. He was one of the inventors of the vintage instrument business, and nobody did it with more humor along with deep knowledge. His descriptions of instruments in his newsletter were priceless. Stan also oversaw one of the best repair departments for fretted instruments in the US.
I first met him in our mutually shared Greenwich Village days in the mid 1960s. We always took a bit of time out at NAMM shows whether or not he was carrying my instruments at Mando Bros., and he did ultimately become an anchor dealer of my guitars.
I'll miss his smile, wit, and warm heart.