March 6, 2017

Meet Shai Ashkenazi and Tommy Kay of Imperial Vintage Guitars in San Fernando Valley

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shai Ashkenazi and Tommy Kay.

Shai Ashkenazi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After many years of touring professionally and collecting vintage instruments along the way, our owners decided to join forces and create a retail vintage guitar shop that truly catered to playing working musicians and players as well as collectors.

In 2010, our vision was realized with our Burbank location. By 2013 our business had grown to the point where another location was necessary and Imperial Vintage Guitars in Sherman Oaks came into being.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We are very fortunate that the growth of our business was a pretty smooth process and continues to be. We believe that business is relationships and we work very hard to establish long term ones with our customers by providing excellent personable service and fair pricing for our inventory.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Imperial Vintage Guitars – what should we know?
Here at Imperial Vintage Guitars we specialize in buying, trading, and selling vintage and used instruments. In addition, we carry just a few new high quality lines like Fender, Manson, and LSL We also specialize in vintage restorations and overall repairs. Our narrow focus and dedication to what we love and not trying to be all things sets us apart- this has helped us create an identity in the marketplace. We are also all fairly good looking…

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Above all else, honesty. Trust is developed with customers only by being fair and straightforward, and we pride ourselves on doing business in an ethical manner.

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