Good places to look for DBs around LA area

[Timbo]

Heya guys,
I'ma bass guitar player and I've always been fascinated by the upright bass. I could never really afford one before as I'm only 15. But recently my grandparents passed, and they'll be missed dearly, but they left me a pretty large sum of money as an inheritance. In upwards of 2500 dollars! My parents are cool with me putting that towards something beneficial, which is going to be an upright bass hopefully.

I live in the Palm Springs area, about 2 hours away from LA and I was wondering if any of you guys could point me in the right direction store wise to check out different brands and such? And also it'd be really helpful if you knew of the people who work in the shops to be really helpful in getting me set up with something of as much quality as I can get with my money. I am trying to research as much as I can but nothing can really beat experience.

Thanks much guys!

[mpm]

Hollywood-Stein on Vine, ask for Gary,
Silverlake-L.A. Bass Works, ask for Lisa
Long Beach-World of Strings, ask for John
Claremont-James Brown Violins, ask for James

and there are a couple out in the San Fernando Valley too that I'm forgetting....

Get a Teacher, and have fun...
Mike

[Timbo]

Yeah, I already have a teacher in mind who comes very highly regarded from my former sax teacher. And thanks for the list!

[Andy Allen]

Just to add a little detail:

Stein on Vine; Caters mostly to the pro and orchestral players from across the street at the Musicians Union. He doesn't have much, if anything, in that lower price range.

Lisa at L.A. Bass Works has moved to a much bigger and nicer premises in Lafayette Park. She is true artist and does the best work you could possibly find. She has a small but nice selection of basses for sale and is a gracious and generous person to do business with. (I recommend that you stay well away from her so that she doesn't get too busy to work on my bass when I need it )

Long Beach-World of Strings - they always have a large selection at many price levels. Nice people with a good reputation.

It would be worth your while taking a trip South to Lemur Music. They have a large selection of basses in your price range and are very helpful and personable people.

Feel free to PM me if you need more info.

Andy

[Timbo]

I appreciate you elaborating on MPM's post. I'm going to try to goto as many of them as I can even ones I know that have basses out of my price range just so I can get a feel for a "good" bass.

Thanks again man!

[Boardndave]

Originally Posted by airbass

It would be worth your while taking a trip South to Lemur Music. They have a large selection of basses in your price range and are very helpful and personable people.

+1 to that. I had the pleasure of stopping in on a trip to the LA area and was amazed enough to buy my bass from there. Jerry, the owner, was extremely helpful to me.

[brutuscheezcake]

dude,

my personal favorite bass place in LA is lemur music. they have the sh#t you need, they have the experience and they share the knowledge. and they have many many basses!

their workshop is tops too!

yes it is in OC, way down in san juan cap, but it is WELL WORTH the trip.

dig out your passport and make the journey!

i know a killer cheesesteak place on the way too, should you need it.

everytime i go to lemur, i basically get a free lesson. they teach me some aspect of bass that i previously did not know. construction, care and feeding, whatever.

did i mention what a nice bunch they are?

heck, even mrs cheeezcake generally comes with me and enjoys it.

so .... in review...

THE LEMUR ROCKS!

(www.lemurmusic.com)


gosh, i think i need a new bow..... i wonder where i will go...?


(only kidding Jerry!)



deeply and truly,



simon

[Roger Mouton]

Don't misss a visit to Jon Peterson at World of Strings in Long Beach!! The tops in tech for UB.

[ctcruiser]

I agree about the Lemur shop.

I was in Orange county on business and snuck out early to go down to see the Lemur shop.

I met the owner, Jerry. After I explained that I was from CT and stopped by to see his shop, he took the time to give me a tour of the entire shop including the workshops and tooling areas.

We spent almost an hour talking shop and he let me try out some of the basses even though I am a lefty.

His energy and passion about the business is very impressive. I can see why he has been successful.

When I go back home, I will be wearing my Lemur tee shirt.

If you are in the area, it is worth the trip to stop by and check out the inventory and talk with the personnel.