With the resurgence of a local music scene, people might wonder who, besides the fans, has been supporting the local bands.

The answer is simple and comes in the form of a small collection of music supply stores throughout the city.

Each store has its own uniqueness, but all share the desire to keep music alive in Ames while striving to stay competitive within the ever-changing market.

Rick Nelson, owner of Audiozone Guitar and Drums, runs a one-man business from a basement space at 819 Lincoln Way. His shop is nestled amongst a chiropractor, an insurance office and a drapery shop.

Audiozone specializes in guitars, drums and sound systems such as amps, speakers and P.A. systems.

Nelson started Audiozone in 1982 after spending time in the Marines and working as a printer. He had aspirations of starting a rock band before making the decision to go into business for himself.

“It was an alternative to having a rock band,” Nelson said. “The rock band thing wasn’t working for me. I was meeting a bunch of idiots and thieves.”

Nelson never had any formal business training, but he doesn’t seem to be lacking any of the skills it takes to start a business of his own.

“I learned as I went,” he said. “I learned it by talking to the customers.”

Audiozone isn’t an ordinary music supply store. Most people had no idea it existed until Nelson had a sign installed recently. Though the sign has helped business, Nelson said he still likes with the hidden location of his store.

“People say they can’t find it, but the rent’s cheap and landlord doesn’t complain about the noise,” Nelson said. “Sometimes I think I don’t really have enough room, but if I wanted to have more space in the building, I could work a deal with the landlord.”

Nelson doesn’t use traditional advertising either. Most of his customers learn about the store by word-of-mouth.

“Radio costs too much, T.V. is even more. I have a lot of people tell me they just don’t read the newspaper. I don’t do anything with computers or the Internet and I won’t,” Nelson said. “Musicians do talk to each other. There’s only so many of them and they do get around.”

Despite minimal advertising, Nelson said he is reaching the customers he needs to stay in business.

“I get a lot of college kids, parents buying for their high school kids and younger working people,” he said.

Nelson said he also gets a fair share of “interesting” customers.

“Dealing with people that come in here that are all pierced up and tattooed and stuff is weird,” Nelson mused. “Of course sometimes they’re drunk or stoned or hung over. I hear a lot of gross stories and crazy things that people are up to.”

He said he thinks Audiozone is an asset the music community because he offers “good prices and good advice.” He also thinks selling good brands helps bring in business by giving area musicians what they want.

Justin Means, owner of Dharma Records, is also interested in giving local musicians what they are looking for.

“It gives them somewhere to go with some atmosphere,” Means said. “It’s something different from the norm.”

His store offers a diverse mix of equipment ranging from didgeridoos to percussion instruments to guitar strings.

Steve Radke, manager of Rieman’s Music on Douglas Avenue since 1994, also enjoys the role his business plays in the music community, but says his store provides a different service than the others.

“We definitely help with the schools’ instrument programs,” Radke said. “That’s a big part of what we do.”

Rieman’s Music carries all the professional instruments such as guitars, basses, keyboards and amps, along with a wide variety of orchestral instruments. The store also repairs instruments and carries sheet music.

Rieman’s not only helps the schools, but also reaches local bands throughout the area.

“I see local bands in here on a weekly basis. All the guys from The Nadas come in here. We’ve also had people from 35″ Mudder in here,” Radke said. “We’ve even sold drum heads to Prince.”

Just down the street from Rieman’s is Main Street Music. Upon walking in, customers are greeted by well-lit rows of instruments and a friendly atmosphere spearheaded by owner Howard Nord’s friendly smile.

Nord is probably the most enthusiastic about what his store does for the community and local music.

“Watching a young person be excited in the store, stick with an instrument and then seeing them grow up and having music a part of their life really does it for me,” Nord said.

Nord has been running Main Street Music for 14 years with his wife Nancy and good friend Al Biela. The three opened the store after Eschbach Music House closed its doors.

“We decided to open up our own shop because we knew that the Eschbachs were going to close out their legacy, and we thought the town could still use another one,” he said.

Nord said his store offers a full line of gear ranging from guitars, percussion and orchestral instruments to P.A. gear, accessories and sheet music. Main Street Music also does repairs and offers lessons.

Nord is happy about being able to help the community musically and feels very grateful for the people who shop there.

“Luckily, we have a lot of people in bands that want to come to a local music store where they can get a smiling face and clean gear that they can shop through,” Nord said.

Nord has seen bands such as Broken Bow, Big E and the Killer Bees and the Bone People, among others, browsing through his aisles.

“I like to think that almost every local band shops here when they need something,” Nord said. “With the competition from the Internet and mail order catalogs, it probably gets a little strange for everybody, but we do our best to remain competitive.”

Nord, like the other store owners, has seen a slight problem that has been caused by the Internet.

“It’s a cause for change,” Nord said. “The world’s changing. Industry is changing. The consumer may end up paying more for the product just because of the excitement of the change itself.”

Rick Nelson has a different perspective of the Internet taking local music sales away.

“I feel like it’s just a fad,” Nelson said. “It’ll be gone in five years and there will be a new system that will come out. Ten years ago it was 800 numbers and everybody had to have one.”

The times are changing for area music stores. As more and more bands form throughout the community, the music stores will have to work hard to compete for their business, not only with each other, but now with the increasing threat of the Internet.

One thing is for sure: Each of these stores has a dedication to stay in tune with the music of Ames.