GRYPHON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS HOW TO
GRYPHON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS PLUS

“Keeping track of it all drives us nuts,” he admitted with a laugh. As Ford worked in the bustling repair area on restoring a mandolin that he himself had built in 1970, Johnston led a tour of the catacomb-like upper floor of the shop, filled with a wide variety of instruments in various states of repair, including a banjo from the 1890s. Gryphon, along with Gelb Music in Redwood City, seems to defy the odds.Įmployees are provided lunch each day, Ford explained, a perk to make up for the frequent interruptions and busy schedules that make longer breaks impractical. Paul Jacobs, working at the checkout counter near a display of handmade “Frank’s Cranks” string winders, noted he’d seen many local music stores shutter since he was a music-loving teen in the 1960s.

On a recent Wednesday afternoon visit, Ford and Johnston did indeed imbue a paternal air of pride as they introduced their staff members (many of whom are also musicians and instrument builders in their own right). Richard Johnston, center, co-owner of Gryphon Stringed Instruments, takes a look at a banjo he and fellow co-owner Frank Ford made together in their Lambert Avenue shop. But more than that, they have let me be a part of their clan,” she said.

“They have helped me immeasurably with everything from referring students, fixing instruments and guiding me with my silly projects. She described Gryphon as a “pop-and-pop” shop with a close-knit, family feeling. Roz Lorenzato, who’s been teaching guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass for 14 years, told the Weekly she still considers herself a “newbie” compared to how long some have been there. “I credit them with the store’s great success.” Mandolins for sale at Gryphon Stringed Instruments.

GRYPHON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS HOW TO

Frank and Richard set the tone at the store and they know how to make things work,” she said. “The students, many of whom are from the local community, are an interesting, motivated group of people,” she said, describing Gryphon as a welcoming, non-threatening environment for musicians of all levels. Lisa Sanchez has been coming down from San Francisco twice a week since 1992 to teach guitar at Gryphon. The Gryphon Carolers, which grew out of McComb and Ed Johnson’s classes, have been entertaining the community annually during the holidays since 1975.

GRYPHON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS PLUS

Rare in a society where independent, brick-and-mortar shops seem increasingly endangered, Gryphon is going strong, employing around 15 staffers plus hosting a similar number of music instructors, including Carol McComb, who’s been teaching group vocal and guitar lessons at Gryphon for decades, and Jack Tuttle, a noted teacher whose children practically grew up at Gryphon (including Molly Tuttle, whose photo on the cover of Acoustic Guitar Magazine is framed and displayed at the shop). Gryphon Stringed Instruments moved from El Camino Real to its current location at Park Boulevard and Lambert Avenue in 1975. They occupied only the front half until 1994, when they expanded to fill the entire cavernous space. A few years later, they moved from El Camino Real to their current location at the corner of Park Boulevard and Lambert Avenue. They also met many friends who were music teachers seeking room to give lessons, so they decided to search for a bigger space that could serve that need. In 1973 they rented a tiny Palo Alto storefront and also began selling used and new instruments (today they still sell mostly acoustic fretted instruments, including guitars, mandolins, basses, banjos and ukuleles, but also a few select electrics) and accessories. ‘Our primary goal and mission is the service we do on the instruments it’s what makes us different in an industry dominated by the likes of Amazon.’ - Frank Ford, co-owner, Gryphon Stringed InstrumentsĪfter a few years, it became apparent that their homespun model wasn’t sustainable and that there was a market for skilled repair work. “We settled on that because it was the coolest-looking one that had a name that wasn’t so unwieldy,” Ford said. Searching for a name, they picked Gryphon, inspired by the mythological beast. In 1969, they decided to become a “not exactly very formal business,” based on a handshake partnership. He and Johnston began getting together at Ford’s Margarita Avenue home and building instruments from scratch. Gryphon, Frank said with a grin, is just another Palo Alto garage startup. Having issues watching the video? View it on our YouTube channel. Gryphon Stringed Instruments has turned into a music hub in Palo Alto since opening in 1969.

Gryphon stringed instruments