# Why hasn’t the War on Drugs shut down musical instrument stores? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366 "2010-03-30T19:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366/1 "2010-03-30T19:14:30Z")
Seriously, they’re like crack dealers. Mrs. Devil and I were on our way food shopping last night, when the brightly lit storefront somehow caught our attention. Maybe it was the ‘brightly’ bit. Maybe it wasn’t so bright; maybe it didn’t need to be, relying on the addiction to draw in the crowds. I don’t know. But an hour or so later (like similar dens of ill repute, exact times are hard to come by), we’re shamefully heading back to the van … having given up food for a new [cajon](http://www.pearldrum.com/Products/Percussion/Cajons/Jingle-Cajons.aspx). It’s a beautiful work of art with a rich and delicate sound. Most of my rhythms are pickup or traditional African (djembe), so exploring this will be quite a journey — even getting a feel for the technique promises to be quite a joy. Of course, there are _two_ of us, so it looks like there’s another trip in our future… Anyone else feed their addiction lately? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366/2 "2010-03-30T20:02:51Z")
I’m both broke and instrumentally untalented, but I get a contact high just walking in one of those places. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366/3 "2010-03-30T20:09:22Z")
Yup. I could adequately play the sax and guitar in high school. Today, probably not. But I still go into a near-autistic fugue when I walk into a good music store…all I can see or think is “Buttons!” “Strings!” “Valves!” “Keys!” “Shiny!” I’m much more fascinated by the orchestral instruments than the guitars. I can’t play probably 95% of anything, but I still just “Ooooh!” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366/4 "2010-03-30T20:10:44Z")
Bought a new guitar amp (a [Peavey Vypyr](http://www.peavey.com/products/Vypyr/index.cfm)) last month. My old practice amp had croaked, and my local music store (which is also my music school) had it on a pretty good sale price. ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366/5 "2010-03-30T20:50:58Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I still go into a near-autistic fugue when I walk into a good music store. Pun intended? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366/6 "2010-03-30T21:16:04Z")
[E visits a musical instrument store](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi31mP0nVgE) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasn-t-the-war-on-drugs-shut-down-musical-instrument-stores/534366/7 "2010-03-30T21:28:40Z")
> [@LunarPlexus](#): > > Pun intended? Uh…yeah! Totally intended! Sure!