Store Concept
Family Vibe
The Owner Dude
Meet the Staff
References

What's Different?

Honesty, Integrity, Honor, and more good stuff. All in a store full of musicians!

Who Are We?

We're hardworking folks who love to see you smile. We're real, sincere, and all of us like our jobs! We're also the area's authority on drums and percussion and have a great selection of guitars, amps and PA gear. Need a handdrum? We've got more and better ones than anyone around. Let us know how we can serve you!

About Us

Store Concept

Supersonic Music is a unique place to go for drum and guitar stuff. The owner, Derek Sharp, has been a drummer since 1981, and has hired expert guitarists as managers. The scene is a little mellower than most stores-no eagle eyed clerks over your shoulder or "You-Touch-It-You-Buy-It" signs on the wall. The give and take is that you can try it before you buy it, but it might have fingerprints or stickmarks on it. This seems to work pretty well for most folks and we like it.

Supersonic Music started in September 1998. Derek had been the manager of a now-extinct store and returned to buy its Topeka location. A couple of years later, the store moved downtown where it is headquartered and TreeHouse Custom Drums was born. The next year, Derek bought out the Lawrence location of that other store; Supersonic Music of Lawrence opened September 2001. That same weekend, their other venture started-Derek and his buddy Darrell opened a booth at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival located in Bonner Springs, KS. No new ventures planned-two stores, a custom drum company, a traveling show to sell handdrums to folks at fairs and festivals, and an ever-expanding website.

For all its quirkiness, Supersonic Music is steeped in honesty and integrity. All the staff are mighty decent folks who are real. No slick salesmanship or annoying elitism. Whether you buy a $2 part or a $5000 rig, we'll respect &/or tease you just the same.

[Back to Top]

Family Vibe

Turns out that most everybody who works and teaches here is either a college kid, married, or still eats at mom's every week. We're pretty stable and can relate to lots of different people-rich, poor, loners, family folks, proper, slobby, mature, annoying-it's all good. The music we pipe over the house systems have no parental advisories and we welcome kids (I didn't say we're free babysitters!). If you've been to the other stores, but haven't been to Supersonic Music, we think you'll be surprised!

[Back to Top]

The Owner Dude

Howdy. So here's where the web guy (he's great, by the way-lemme know if you want to hook up with him!) said tell 'em about yourself. First and foremost, I'm a Christian. Not just a church attendant, I'm a sinner who has been saved by God's Grace, through the Holy Spirit, by the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Next in line, I'm a husband of 13+ years, a father of 3 supergreat kids, and a musician of 20+ years. I've been drumming for over 24 years, but it took a while to get a clue. I've been teaching for over 17 years in lots of settings, but now mainly lecture/demonstrations and my private studio (currently 10 hours straight each Tuesday if everybody shows). I also venture forth to various music festivals where I represent the stores, demonstrate several drumming techniques, and sell drums to folks.

I grew up with music. Dad was a high school band director, and I just loved whacking on stuff. I'd always visit garage sales, flea markets, and music stores wherever I went. I was always looking for that cool cymbal or nifty snare. I was just bothered by the haughty attitude of the stores I visited. Over and over, I didn't seem good enough-sales dudes creepin' around like I was going to sneak that new drumrack up my sleeve (or more often just never bothering to talk at all); cool stuff in out of reach places WAY too often; strange pricing schemes where new but unsold stuff from 5 years ago was relabeled to today's pricing; and most frustrating of all, staff who didn't know what they were talking about but acting like they did. I thought that if I ever had a store, folks could relax and we'd never be afraid to say, "I don't know."

I love to chat and make you think. If I can make you laugh, all the better. Trouble is, with 4 businesses (2 stores, a drum company and the portable show where we sell drums to the hippies at music festivals), family and church obligations, and an occasional nap, I don't have as much time to chat as I'd like to. Feel free to catch up with me and wax philosophic all you like-just don't be too bummed if I gotta cut short for an appointment or tend to the Spanish speaking customers (I'm the only one 'round here who goes there).

I am of the opinion that the buck stops here. I feel ultimately responsible for the actions of those in my employ and urge you to bark at me if they screw up. This is how I can know if you are being disserved. Otherwise, if someone 'round here ruffles your feathers too much but no one knows, how can anyone fix it? Please offer me the honor of an opportunity to repair any wrongs. Know, though, I don't subscribe to the adage that the customer is always right. If you're lying, you're wrong.

What else to say? I could go on for hours, but you have the rest of a website to surf, so just ask if you wanna know more. D#

[Back to Top]

References

COMING SOON...

[Back to Top]