Midwest bass shops

chicagodoubler · #1 05-20-2008, 05:59 PM

Howdy y'all

Who do you go to in the midwest for your bass needs? Of course, set up and repair, but also for instrument shopping, student recommendations for instruments, etc. I've personally had a highly varied set of experiences in the last decade here, but will chime in after you guys have had a chance to celebrate, or vent...

mjt0229 · #2 05-20-2008, 06:28 PM

I bought my first bow from the Bass Cellar in Cinci. They tend to keep a good inventory and I remember the staff being friendly and helpful.

fabledsoe · #3 05-20-2008, 06:38 PM

I personally enjoy Nick Lloyd. I did a trial period on one of the Shen basses he set up with the set of strings I had been using, and the bass was amazing. He is in the Cincy area as well with the Bass Cellar.

Depending where in the Midwest you are looking, I know there is not a lot in Indiana.

If you go here: http://www.gollihurmusic.com/luthiers.cfm this will help you find luthiers in the midwest area.

CamMcIntyre · #4 05-20-2008, 06:40 PM

Check out Mark Sonksen. He's off the Green Line in Chicago. I think it's off of the Ashland stop-2nd stop outside of the loop.

Edit: Thanks Bass Barrister-i couldn't remember if it was Clinton or Ashland.

ReBass · #5 05-20-2008, 06:46 PM

I've had very good experiences with 3rd Coast for set up, repair, etc. Bass Club is a little odd..., Chicago Music Exchange is incredibly overpriced and arrogant. My best buying experiences lately have been at Guzzardo's in Rockford.

Mark Carlsen · #6 05-20-2008, 06:53 PM

Mark Sonksen in Chi-Town, Nick Lloyd or the boys at the Bass Cellar in Cin-Cin. All great guys , all talented Luthiers...these are the specialists... Bla, Bla ,Bla.....

Bass Barrister · #7 05-20-2008, 09:57 PM

Mark Sonksen does the work on my basses and I have great respect for the work he does. He also sells basses. A440 violin shop currently (5/20/08) has 29 basses for sale. While I've only spoken briefly with her, Michelle Fiore at Classic Contrabass is highly thought of here. The first two are in Chicago, Michelle is in Wheeling (NW suburb). Chicago has many string dealers but most do not handle basses.

BTW, Mark's place is a couple of blocks from the Ashland St. stop on the Green Line, not Clinton St. As you walk north on Ashland, the building on the NW corner of Walnut and Ashland once housed the Kay factory. If you want to see Mark, call first.

Mike Goodbar · #8 05-20-2008, 10:38 PM

I'll cast another vote for Michelle Fiore at Classic Contrabass. She's done great work on my bass at a reasonable price, and she's supplied a couple of my students with superbly set up Shen hybrids.

I haven't been to her shop for a while, but she had 7 or 8 interesting basses for sale, ranging from a German plywood to Chinese carved basses to some nice old professional grade European basses.

fingers · #9 05-21-2008, 06:32 AM

I bought my Shen from Michelle. Great to deal with. www.allthingsbass.com

Mark has been my doctor of choice for years. He's also a heck of a bass player. His shop is Hubbard about 1500ish west. It is in an unmarked warehouse building so you definitely have to set up an appointment. www.sonksenstrings.com. He has a bunch of basses for sale.

I've had a several students buy from A440 and all have been pleased.

As we all know it is about the basses though. All three of these places have interesting stuff to try out. Shop, shop, shop.

fingers · #10 05-21-2008, 07:28 AM

I deleted this post 'cause I twern't tinking straight, Sorry.

chicagodoubler · #11 05-21-2008, 10:26 AM

After 2 years in Chicago and trying most of the places mentioned here, I still miss Andy Stetson so much... It seems that if you get his level of quality in Chicago you either pay an arm and a f*cking leg, or you wait 6 months for your work. No negative name posting on public forum here, but things have been hit or miss for me in the Windy city.

Plus. Andy is the funniest and nicest guy even if he always gives me loaner basses that look like they were made in Chernobyl!

Does Chicago Music Exchange really have uprights? Their wall of Jazz Basses makes me physically drool. Then their prices make my pearls shrivel.

bassman515 · #12 05-21-2008, 10:33 AM

I do not know if this is appropriate or not, but I actually work for a music store in Indianapolis and i have an individual that works for me that runs our string division full time. We are a full line B&O store, so we do not sell guitars. We have a nice selection of basses in stock, including ones with C-extensions. Like I said earlier, if this is not the right place to mention this, i appoligize, i just thought i would throw that out there. I have been to the bass cellar, nice guys, and the do nice work on instruments there...
Jeremy

Mark Carlsen · #13 05-21-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagodoubler

After 2 years in Chicago and trying most of the places mentioned here, I still miss Andy Stetson so much... It seems that if you get his level of quality in Chicago you either pay an arm and a f*cking leg, or you wait 6 months for your work. No negative name posting on public forum here, but things have been hit or miss for me in the Windy city.

Plus. Andy is the funniest and nicest guy even if he always gives me loaner basses that look like they were made in Chernobyl!

Does Chicago Music Exchange really have uprights? Their wall of Jazz Basses makes me physically drool. Then their prices make my pearls shrivel.

Make the drive to Cin-Cin... it's only 4 hours....Andy is a cool cat, They have Bill Lakeberg on staff now too. Nice Shop.

Phalex · #14 05-21-2008, 01:00 PM

I like Ray's Music Exchange in Calumet City. They got a used PA system upholstered in plush red shag that I've had my eye on.

jacochops · #15 05-21-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

I like Ray's Music Exchange in Calumet City. They got a used PA system upholstered in plush red shag that I've had my eye on.

LMAO!!!!! Truly sig-worthy!!

simandlesque · #16 05-21-2008, 03:06 PM

I know this isn't in Chicago, but you did say Midwest...

Guarneri House in Grand Rapids, Mich. does great work. Steve Reiley knows his basses and the shop is known more for basses than anything else. They do wonderful work. Seems to me that the drive to GR is shorter than to Cincy...about 3 hours or so, depending on traffic.

chicagodoubler · #17 05-22-2008, 10:57 AM

I just wish there was consistent work here. Like I said, I have received inconsistent work from everyone I've gone to in Chicago. One shop is reasonably priced but I barely trust them to glue seams... another is decent work but the prices are gouged depending on who you are. There's a fantastic independent guy in the burbs but he's had a backup instrument of mine for 6 months with nothing to show for it!

Why can't Andy just move up here?

69nites · #18 05-22-2008, 10:57 AM

bass club chicago

fingers · #19 05-23-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69nites

bass club chicago

Great shop but we're talking double bass here.

Scott Henrie does great work.

69nites · #20 05-23-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingers

Great shop but we're talking double bass here.

Scott Henrie does great work.

jesus sorry I should have noticed.

I watch both forums. carry on

.