From The Aiken Standard, July 5 2005

A new music supply store has opened in a building that's very familiar to the area music scene.

"Twenty-five years ago, all the local bands rented rooms here," said owner Ed Girardeau of the storefront at 318 Park Ave. "When I was young, friends used to practice here."

Now it houses Girardeau's latest business venture, Vintage Music. Girardeau and his staff hope to provide the local community of musicians with one-stop shopping: a stock of new instruments, pre-owned instruments, and Internet sales.

"What I really want to focus on is e-mailed requests for special items," said Internet sales specialist Chris Simmons. "We'll go through our supplier base and find them a deal. We hope to be a source for musicians and use the Internet as our communications tool. We'll process the credit cards and everything, and depending on the terms of the deal, the item will ship either from the supplier directly, or from us. That flexibility is something that's new in the Aiken area."

Andy Woodward is in charge of outside sales for the shop. He said he will go out to clients such as churches, schools and local bands, evaluate their on-site needs in sound equipment, and consult that same supplier base to put together their equipment at the best possible price.

Vintage Music has entered into a relationship with Pecknel Music from Greenville, SC to supply band instruments to local schools. Pecknel has been in the business for over 20 years.

Music lessons will also be available through the shop, and Girardeau and company have created a studio space for recording. Lessons are offered in guitar, bass guitar, drums, and piano.

Vintage Music can be reached at 803-644-8399. For online sales and inquiries, they can be reached through their Web site, www.vintagemusicstore.com, or by e-mail at info@vintagemusicstore.com.