Luthier in the Sacramento/Central Valley/Bay area?

**Basschair** · #1 08-13-2006, 11:44 AM

I've got the need for a new bridge...my current one just has too much of a tilt, and I've been too modest with my efforts to knock it back into position. So, I've got to get a new one and have it fitted. I saw a mention of Jeff Sahs in Sac...any others?

Your suggestions on a good luthier in my area are greatly appreciated!

Paul

nicklloyd · #2 08-13-2006, 12:46 PM

Steve Swan posts here off and on... I believe he is in your neck of the woods. Search for him under "Members List".

Steve Swan · #3 08-14-2006, 11:06 AM

Jeff Sahs is the only bass luthier that I would trust my instrument to in that area. His phone number is (916) 739-1962. He probably a little deep in prepping rental instruments for the school season, but get an appointment and he'll fit you in.

Steve Swan

**Basschair** · #4 08-14-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Swan

Jeff Sahs is the only bass luthier that I would trust my instrument to in that area. His phone number is (916) 739-1962. He probably a little deep in prepping rental instruments for the school season, but get an appointment and he'll fit you in.

Steve Swan

Thanks Steve: I'll give him a call.

flatback · #5 08-22-2006, 09:11 AM

hi guys,
I used to use bass house in oakland but Michael and Hanna moved to New Mexico...Now I need someone new. I am in the North Bay (Marin) but I will go anywhere in the Bay Area for a good Luthier...Any suggestions? I need to have a Laborie endpin installed.
Thanks
Piro

JeffKissell · #6 08-22-2006, 11:36 PM

I haven't used him, but a friend had a new neck set and a new bridge fitted by Alex Friedman in S.F. The work was top notch and my friend says Alex was a pleasure to work with. He is listed in (ALL HAIL) Bob G.'s luthier links. I would take my bass to him based on these two recommendations.
-J

BassZen · #7 08-26-2006, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatback

hi guys,
I used to use bass house in oakland but Michael and Hanna moved to New Mexico...Now I need someone new. I am in the North Bay (Marin) but I will go anywhere in the Bay Area for a good Luthier...Any suggestions? I need to have a Laborie endpin installed.
Thanks
Piro

There's this guy named Pierre Joseph who lives/works in Larkspur (right behind the Lark Theater on Locust Avenue). His number is (415)924-2731. He's kind of a crazy guy and very opinionated -he will tell you all sorts of things you need to do with your bass-, but he's done real good work on my bass (and my teacher's bass as well). One thing to note; it says Pierre Joseph's Violin Shop, but he's actually a specialist on basses, and he's a damn good bass player as well.

greitzer · #8 08-27-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatback

...I am in the North Bay (Marin) but I will go anywhere in the Bay Area for a good Luthier...Any suggestions? . . .

The aforementioned Pierre Josephs is closer to you, but you might also consider Greg Smithson at Best Instrument Repair in Oakland. They're on 14th Street in Oakland, near City Hall. Best Instrument Repair is a bass house and instrument repair place affiliated with A & G Music, which is just a few doors down the street. I bought my bass from them and Greg does good work. A couple of downsides -- nearby parking is tough to find (it's in downtown Oakland), and the place is down a flight of stairs in the basement, so they're not easy to reach.

JeffKissell · #9 08-28-2006, 01:18 AM

Quote:

A couple of downsides -- nearby parking is tough to find (it's in downtown Oakland), and the place is down a flight of stairs in the basement, so they're not easy to reach.-greitzer

That is one of the coolest repair shops I've ever been in!
-J

greitzer · #10 08-28-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffKissell

That is one of the coolest repair shops I've ever been in!
-J

Agreed, it's a blast to look at all the people fixing trumpets, violins, trombones, every instrument there is . . . after I pick up my bass from Greg, I try to just hang out there for awhile to watch it all.

flatback · #11 09-08-2006, 01:50 PM

Thanks guys.

**Basschair** · #12 10-13-2006, 10:32 AM

Huh, I thought my thread died out after 8/22, but I see that it got a few more responses: thanks for that guys!

As an update, I recently purchased a student bass from A&G Music in Oakland for my students at school to use, and was so impressed by the setup job that Greg Smithson did on it, I'm going to drop off my bass this weekend so that he can replace the current bridge and give it an inspection in order to recommend further modifications.

Thanks for the recommendations!

accutone · #13 10-16-2006, 11:52 PM

I can also recommend Alex Friedman. His site is acosuticbassshop.com / phone is 650-872-7020.
He did great work on my old German bass - new bridge, adjusted the action, moved the sound post. It was like a new instrument when he was done.

**Basschair** · #14 10-17-2006, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by accutone

I can also recommend Alex Friedman. His site is acosuticbassshop.com / phone is 650-872-7020.
He did great work on my old German bass - new bridge, adjusted the action, moved the sound post. It was like a new instrument when he was done.

Any idea what Alex's rates are?

accutone · #15 10-18-2006, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basschair

Any idea what Alex's rates are?

You know, not really sure. He charged me $200 bucks to cut and adjust the bridge, cut down the nut to lower the action, and reset the soundpost. I had no idea about the place in Oakland though, and I am in San Francisco, so I am glad to hear there is at least one other luthier in the area.

I had been away from playing for a long while due to tendonitis and mid-life distractions, so my old German bass had been sitting for almost 10 years, and I therefore payed $200 gladly.

I have since bought a new bass, one of the Wan Bernadels form Steve Koscica in Phoenix. What an instrument!