Good Times Music has been around since 2004 and has grown into one of the most popular businesses in downtown Houghton.
Bruce Rundman had worked in education for 20 years in the area before purchasing Good Times Music in July of 2014 while on vacation. “I felt like I wanted to do something different. I’ve been in education for a long time and this place was sagging a bit, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” said Bruce.
Bruce is also the first musician to own Good Times Music. “I sing; that’s my primary instrument,” said Bruce. “I’ve become a pretty good guitar player over time, and I can also play the bass.” He also has recorded a couple of his own records and plays live music downtown at the Magnuson Hotel.
The best-selling items from Good Times Music are the necessities that any musician would need such as picks, adapters, strings and cables. There is also a wide variety of instruments for sale in the shop as well. “It varies by the time of year,” said Bruce. “For some reason, this time of year people seem to buy electric guitars and basses more. Once we get closer to summer it will be more acoustic guitars and ukuleles.” One reason for the shift might be because small ukuleles and acoustic guitars are easier to take camping and to the beach; however, Good Times Music also sells small portable amps for electric guitars, making it easy to take them traveling as well.
It’s no secret that instruments can be expensive, making it daunting for someone who wants to get into the music scene. “Sometimes if something has been sitting around for a little too long for my taste, I’ll knock the price down. Sometimes I’ll even take a loss on something just to get it out of here,” said Bruce. “If you take a look around at our prices, it will be the exact same as it is online. We can also get you whatever you want, so if you have a special item in mind we can get it for you.”
For those who want to learn a new instrument, Good Times Music offers lessons as well. The classes include lessons for instruments like the piano, guitar, drums, electronic music, ukulele, bass, accordion, fiddle, mandolin, clarinet, saxophone and banjo.
Good Times Music can also offer instrument repairs for many of the well-known instruments and equipment. If they offer lessons for it, chances are they can repair it.
“If someone walked into the store wanting to start playing an instrument, I wouldn’t point them in the direction of our most expensive instrument. We would listen to you and work with what you would like to play. No one is going to continue playing an instrument they didn’t have an interest in. Usually, when choosing an entry-level instrument, we try to point them in the direction of something that’s going to last them a long time if they take care of it,” said Bruce. “If you’re buying an instrument for a little kid, you don’t want to buy them something cheap from Walmart, because that’s just going to be too hard to play and discouraging, and they’re not going to stick with it. You want to get them something that they will enjoy and continue with.”
For anyone who is in the music scene or anyone who would like to try something new, Good Times Music is the best place to go. They are dedicated to making sure you get the right instrument and equipment because, to them, it’s all about the music.
