Lark-in-the-Morning, San Francisco (with pictures)

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 21 Apr 2007 1:37 pm

Visitors to San Francisco should be sure to check out the Lark in the Morning music store on Leavenworth Street, a couple of blocks from the waterfront. It's the most diverse instrument store you will ever see, with instruments from all over the world. They specialize in acoustic instruments, so don't expect to see lap steels in there, but you will find resonators and Weissenborns. I've bought Dobro bars from there.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 21 Apr 2007 6:39 pm

Hello Alan,

Thanks for posting all these great pictures. What an interesting collection of diverse musical instruments. Lots if items here you don't find in the average music store.
I have a copy of their catolog at my music store, but I didn't know they had a retail storefront as well. If I ever make it out to San Francisco, I'll for sure check them out.
Larry Jamieson
Walton Music
Walton, New York

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 22 Apr 2007 2:54 pm

I've been to this store... they have a branch in Mendocino, California, and it's an amazing place. They definitely have some hard-to-find instruments from all over the world.

Who knew there were so many variations on the basic fretted-stringed-instrument?

If you're looking for something rare or exotic, they have an on-line store.

http://larkinthemorning.com

*

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 22 Apr 2007 3:56 pm

Sadly, I had a bad experiece with them. I bought a stringmaster D-8 but the salesman neglected to tell me about some major defects. The good news is they gave me a full refund including shipping both ways. They do have some collection of instruments.

Ron

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 22 Apr 2007 8:16 pm

Small world.

I almost bought that D8. It definitly needs some work. I doubt they meant to misinform you. They probably just didn't know anything about it.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 22 Apr 2007 9:23 pm

It's funny, I've seen that store once from the outside, and have since forgotten all about it. It's located in the Cannery, near Fisherman's Wharf, and I haven't been down there in years. Locals don't touch the wharf unless they're escorting their tourist friends. Your pictures are great, and that store invokes other exotic musical worlds.

joe

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Apr 2007 9:48 pm

Clearly a strong leaning to Celtic music,
The name is a classic tune from that genre,
that I used to play with a band.
But also a great number instruments from everywhere also.
Nice pics and some fine looking instruments.

Eric Jaeger · Post by **Eric Jaeger** » 23 Apr 2007 10:00 am

I have to give them a thumbs up. Some time ago I was looking for an oud. They not only had them (multiples) but the sales person knew enough about them to give me a run down on the pluses and minuses of Egyptian vs Turkish models.

But I ended up tuning it EADGBE to be able to play it.

-eric

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 23 Apr 2007 3:11 pm

Henry, Is that the one with 1/2 the bridge plate missing and holes drilled thru the body? I think they made a mistake when they issued a refund because I doubt they would have paid the shipping charges twice.
Ron

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 23 Apr 2007 4:35 pm

Thanks for the pictures Alan. After looking at them I said to myself "Self, you've been there before". The last time I was in San Francisco I did the usual touristy thing, went over to Alcatraz, came back and had a bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl at Fisherman's Wharf and then, I believe, walked around and ended up in that store. If it is nowhere near the ferry to Alcatraz then there is another store that looks just like Lark in the Morning. The possibilities that store raises can boggle the mind of a slow southern boy like me.
Duncan

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 23 Apr 2007 5:46 pm

Hello Ron...

The one I saw was painted a kind of metallic blue. It was missing a couple of tuning buttons and one of the legs was a pipe, I believe.

Is that the one you got? It was in the San Francisco store.

Joe... It is funny that it's located there. The rent must be crazy. I actually feel a little silly walking around there, but it is a neat little store.

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 24 Apr 2007 2:51 am

Yes, Henry, that's the one I bought and returned.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 24 Apr 2007 2:56 am

I'll take one of each!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 Apr 2007 9:23 am

Wish I had gotten there the one time I was in the asrea, cool place.
Not every music store has a viola de gamba
just hanging around

At one time or another I have gotten to
make some music on most everything I saw
hanging there. Sometimes great sometimes
not so good, but always fun.

There is even one Swedish Nickleharp
between a lute and a cello.
A really cool instrument.
Like a violin for people that can't intonate,
but it also has 10 or more sympathetic resonant strings. Very etherial sounding.

But no vielle / hurdy gurdy.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 24 Apr 2007 4:23 pm

David L. Donald wrote:...but no vielle / hurdy gurdy.

They did have several hurdy-gurdies/vielles, but I didn't photograph everything.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 24 Apr 2007 4:26 pm

Ron Victoria wrote:Sadly, I had a bad experiece with them. I bought a Stringmaster D-8...

I've never seen an electric instrument there, they specialise in acoustics. I can only summize that they were selling it for a customer or had taken it in part exchange. I'm sure they knew nothing about Stringmasters and didn't realise it was faulty. At least they took it back.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 27 Dec 2007 10:36 pm

Henry Nagle wrote:Hello Ron...

The one I saw was painted a kind of metallic blue. It was missing a couple of tuning buttons and one of the legs was a pipe, I believe.

Is that the one you got? It was in the San Francisco store.

I just happened to be looking at this again and realized that you are talking about the very same instrument that I restored in "The Restoration of a Fender Stringmaster D8"

THIS IS WHAT YOU BOUGHT AND RETURNED

THIS IS WHAT THAT SAME INSTRUMENT LOOKS LIKE NOW...

...that's the same case, by the way. I refinished that too.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 27 Dec 2007 11:36 pm

I want a Zheng...

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 27 Dec 2007 11:58 pm

Sadly, I had a bad experiece with them. I bought a stringmaster D-8 but the salesman neglected to tell me about some major defects. The good news is they gave me a full refund including shipping both ways. They do have some collection of instruments.

What's the bad part?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 28 Dec 2007 3:29 pm

None at all. The Stringmaster was priced low, reflecting the work needed to bring it up to scratch. Two people bought it amd decided that they didn't want to have to restore it, so they returned it, as they have a right to do, and the shop returned their funds, which was the honest thing to do. Neither the shop, nor the customers, were at fault. When Basil bought the Stringmaster he saw its potential and decided that the purchase price was reasonable. I restored it in my spare time, and now it's a valuable instrument once again. I have yet to send it to Basil, but that's just a matter of figuring out when he's going to be home to receive it, and where I can find a giant box big enough to put it in...

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 19 Mar 2008 3:06 am

It's now with me and as soon as Alan arrives over here (Saturday) we'll christen the resurrected lady and record some audio and video clips to post.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 19 Mar 2008 3:55 am

First class job Alan.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 19 Mar 2008 8:40 am

FYI there is an excellent vocal coach working out of there, too.

Steve Waltz · Post by **Steve Waltz** » 19 Mar 2008 9:07 am

nothing

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 22 Nov 2008 6:12 am

The guitar's début to 3,000 of our fans..
HERE

The Steel Guitar Forum

Lark-in-the-Morning, San Francisco (with pictures)

Lark-in-the-Morning, San Francisco (with pictures)

Henry...

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