MASS STREET MUSIC, INC.

What MASS STREET MUSIC, INC. does

Mass Street Music, Inc. is an independent, privately held music retail store founded in 1983 in Lawrence, Kansas. The company sells new, used, and vintage acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, keyboards, pro audio equipment, amplifiers, effects pedals, and accessories through a single brick-and-mortar storefront at 1347 Massachusetts Street and an e-commerce website. Its catalog spans mainstream brands (Fender, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha) alongside boutique builders (Collings, Tom Anderson, Don Grosh, JC Baxendale, Two-Rock, Dr. Z, JHS), as well as vintage and consignment instruments verified by staff.

The company operates a differentiated service model anchored by four on-staff luthiers who provide free professional setup on every new instrument, accept repairs, modifications, and full restorations, and staff both sales and service interactions. Revenue is generated through (1) hardware sales of new and used instruments and accessories, (2) professional repair services, (3) consignment and trade-in transactions on a case-by-case basis, and (4) ancillary revenue streams including gift cards ($10–$100 denominations), PayPal Credit financing on purchases over $99, layaway (20% down, 60-day payoff), and a $150 formal appraisal service. Customer segments span beginning musicians seeking quality starter instruments and professional or enthusiast players seeking boutique, vintage, or custom gear.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer both in-store and online, supported by multi-channel marketing (Mass Resonator blog, YouTube, monthly newsletter, social media, in-store events, workshops, and a partnership with local music school Americana Music Academy). The store offers free shipping to the lower 48 states and accepts international orders case-by-case. Ownership and management are concentrated with founder/owner and luthier Jim Baggett and a long-tenured staff; the company has been bootstrapped through 40+ years of operation with no institutional funding, acquisitions, or parent-company relationships.

Name

MASS STREET MUSIC, INC.

Legal name

Mass Street Music, Inc.

Website

https://massstreetmusic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mass Street Music is an independent music retailer founded in 1983 in Lawrence, Kansas, selling new, used, and vintage guitars, banjos, mandolins, and pro audio gear through a single storefront and e-commerce site, serving both beginner and professional musicians with four on-staff luthiers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instrument Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRALAEAA

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra)

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Music Instruments & Sheet Music Retail

SECONDARYCRALAEAH

Used & Vintage Musical Instruments Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Music Instruments & Sheet Music Retail

SECONDARYCRALAEAF

Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Music Instruments & Sheet Music Retail

SECONDARYCRALAEAC

Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent)

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Music Instruments & Sheet Music Retail

Keywords

• Musical instrument retail
• Guitar store
• Instrument repair
• Pro audio equipment
• Vintage instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Musical Instrument Sales: Retail sales of new and used acoustic guitars, electric guitars, basses, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, amplifiers, effects pedals, and pro audio equipment. Carries premium boutique brands as well as vintage and consignment instruments.
2. Repair Services: Full-service repair shop with multiple luthiers offering setups, modifications, and full restorations. Repair shop described as 'second to none.'
3. Consignment and Trade-ins: Accepts consignment and trade-in instruments, evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
4. Accessories: Strings, cables, cases, straps, humidifiers, headphones, and other accessories.
5. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in denominations from $10-$100.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mass Street Music is an independent music retailer that sells new, used, and vintage acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, keyboards, amplifiers, effects pedals, and pro audio gear from major and boutique builders. It complements retail with an in-house luthier repair shop providing setups, modifications, custom builds, and full restorations, plus consignment, trade-in, layaway, and financing services for individual musicians.

Product overview

Mass Street Music is an independent music retail store offering a comprehensive catalog of musical instruments and equipment. Their product portfolio centers on acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitars, banjos, mandolins, and ukuleles, complemented by professional audio equipment, amplifiers, effects pedals, and accessories. The company differentiates itself by carrying high-end boutique instruments from luthiers like Collings, JC Baxendale, Tom Anderson, Don Grosh, Bourgeois, and others, alongside traditional brands such as Martin, Fender, Gibson, and Taylor. They also offer vintage and used instruments that have been verified by their staff luthiers. Services include professional repair work (mods, custom builds, full restorations), custom special orders, and free instrument setups on all new purchases. The store operates from Lawrence, Kansas and has been serving musicians for over 30 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acoustic and Electric Guitars Retail sale of new, used, and vintage acoustic and electric guitars from brands including Martin, Taylor, Collings, Gibson, Fender, Tom Anderson, Don Grosh, Gretsch, JC Baxendale, Bourgeois, and Eastman, for individual musicians across skill levels.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Americana Music AcademyminorOthersLawrence non-profit music school located just down the street from Mass Street Music. Listed as a favorite link on the store's resources page.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rudy's Music: NYC-based independent guitar shop with a curated selection of vintage, boutique, and high-end instruments. Comparable boutique brand assortment and appeal to professional musicians and collectors.
• Chicago Music Exchange: Independent guitar retailer in Chicago specializing in new, used, and vintage guitars from premium brands. Closely comparable customer base (enthusiast/professional players), curated boutique brand assortment, and strong e-commerce presence.
• Carter Vintage Guitars: Nashville-based independent dealer specializing in vintage and collectible guitars. Comparable in vintage/used instrument focus, premium positioning, and reputation among professional and collector customers.
• Elderly Instruments: Long-established independent music store in Lansing, MI, founded 1972. Offers new, used, and vintage instruments across guitars, banjos, mandolins, and pro audio, with a repair shop. Essentially the same operating model as Mass Street: independent, family-run, full-service with luthier services.
• Wildwood Guitars: Boutique guitar dealer based in Colorado specializing in premium Fender, Gibson, and select boutique builders. Comparable in focus on enthusiast players, high-end brand curation, and direct-to-consumer model.

Emerging players

• Reverb.com: Online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments, owned by Etsy. Competes with Mass Street's used/vintage business and serves many of the same enthusiast customers, though as a marketplace rather than a retailer.

Broad incumbents

• Guitar Center: The largest brick-and-mortar musical instrument chain in the US, with hundreds of locations and a broad online catalog. Competes on price and breadth rather than curation or service depth.
• Sweetwater Sound: The largest direct-to-consumer musical instrument retailer in the US, offering new instruments, pro audio, and accessories with free shipping and extensive customer service. Directly comparable category and customer base, but at vastly larger scale and with a broader catalog.
• Sam Ash Music Stores: Long-running national music retail chain offering instruments, pro audio, and lessons across multiple US locations. Comparable product categories and customer base at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Andertons Music Co. Independent UK-based musical instrument retailer known for its YouTube content and curated guitar/amp selection. Comparable independent, content-driven, enthusiast-focused model, though operating primarily in the UK rather than the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MassStreetMusic
• Facebookfacebook.com/massstreetmusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/massstreetmusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mass-street-music-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MASS STREET MUSIC, INC.