WACO VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS
ABOUT US

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John Brinkmann is the epitome of taking a hobby and turing it into a career. But not just any career; a passion.

Brinkmann learned to play guitar at the young age of 11 in Estherville, Iowa. Back then, he played a Hawaiian guitar.

Years later (with guitar in tow), Brinkmann married and relocated to St. Clouds, Minnesota, where he attended St. Johns University.

A college degree led to a career with 3M in Minnesota where he worked side by side with inventor Dick Drew—who invented Scotch tape.

Brinkmann moved the family to Waco, Texas, and spent 22 years working for Success Motivation Institute, eventually rising to National Sales Manager. Brinkmann was instrumental in developing the first spoken word cassette tape, now a multi-billion dollar industry (books on tape).

While living in Waco, Brinkmann became a collect of Gretsch guitars. His collection led to buying, selling and trading a variety guitars and other stringed instruments, which led to opening the original Waco Vintage Guitars in College Station, Texas, in 1987 and managed by his daughter.

In 1978, Brinkmann formed the Greater Southwest Guitar Show with Charley Wirz and Danny Thorpe. Together they launched America's first national guitar show.

In 1981, Brinkmann formed Texas Guitar Shows, Inc., produced two shows and added current partners and veteran guitar dealers Larry Briggs (Strings West, Tulsa, OK), and Dave Crocker (Fly-By-Night Music, Neosho, MO). Eugene Robertson (Eugene's Guitars Plus, Dallas, TX) was added as a partner a few years later and the 4 Amigos were born.

Some 150 shows later, the 4 Amigos guitar shows are still known for their smooth-running organization, tight security and the abundance of foreign and domestic buyers. The Arlington, Texas show remains the world's largest consumer guitar event and is considered by many exhibitors to be the show to attend.

In 1993, Brinkmann moved his College Station store to Mansfield, Texas, where it has remained to date. The inventory is staggering, ranging from stringed instruments from the 1800s to brand new, including North Texas' largest collection of mandolins.

It's not uncommon to enter the store and hear an impromptu jam session going on in a corner. The store has a laid back atmosphere as buyers are welcome to browse through (and audition) a wide variety of stringed instruments.