Your local music stores

[RhynoRock]

What do your local places supply? In terms of brands that is. I have 4 local places in my particular area, within 10-30 miles, and ALL of them offer Fender, Peavey and Ibanez, and that's it, with the exception of accessories. I need to drive 50 miles in any direction to get some variety, and then it's Guitar Center, or another locally owned place that adds ESP to their stock, with little else. Does anyone else have a problem like this?

I'm only curious, and this is just a conversation starter lol.

[MarkMgibson]

It's true here too - shops sell the exact same brands, with no variety at all. Until a few months ago (when a very good shop opened up), I had to drive 60 miles just to try out a Vox or Orange amp. They same is true of guitars and basses - the same stuff in every shop. Unless you live in a huge city, I bet this is a very common complaint.

[ACNick]

Local shops around here have a decent list of brand names, but I often find myself wishing they carried a wider selection from those brands. I see walls of Fender/squiers, but I haven't found any Telecaster basses hanging on them to try. Tons of Gibson/Epiphone guitars, but only thunderbirds when it comes to basses.

Most recently, I've been itching to try a GK neo 212, but the local stores only stock RB heads when it comes to GK gear.

[Phalex]

Not too far from home: http://www.rainbowmusic.us/ I really wish I could afford a Heritage six string, but for what I'd do with it, it would not be money well spent.

Maybe 45 miles from home: http://www.elderly.com/

If I'm looking for something on the exotic side I'd talk to this guy: http://www.jivesound.com/home/

[zachoff]

Robb's in Boulder has Spector, Ibanez, Fender, Gibson, Epi, and Squier for the most part. They carry a pretty wide swath from these brands for such a small place.

I just have a real hard time buying anything new these days.

[Marial]

For bass:

http://www.bassnw.com/contents.htm
(good lord I wish they'd update their website)

For general music, outside of Guitar Center:
American Music
A great meat and potatoes shop with an excellent repair shop. Unfortunately, most of my favorite folks there jumped ship after the hiring of a new store manager.

More of a guitar shop, but they have some cool vintage stuff:
Emeral City Guitars

[steelbed45]

To the OP: I grew up in Randolph. It's just the location. I started ordering stuff from Musician's friend with the catalogs in the 80's. You can only go to Chautauqua music so many times before you start to lose your mind.
So yeah, I know exactly where you are coming from.

[ShoeManiac]

I've got a bunch of big box stores near me: Sam Ash as well as Guitar Center. Thankfully, the greater NYC/NJ area also has some great independent shops. It really is all about your geography, sometimes.

When I was in college in northern NY state, musician friends and I would take a road trip down to Albany. And this included one guy who worked in one of the area music shops! We only did that because when you get in the really rural areas, you find that your options for musical instruments are pretty limited. In your case you've got at least a couple of really cool shops about 100 miles from you in the Rochester area. Between House of Guitars and Andy Babiuk's shop, you've got some interesting options. And what about the Buffalo area, too? Have you checked there?

[Astreaux]

We have a GC and at least 3 Music & Arts stores in Virginia Beach with the usual suspects...

Plus two independent stores - Alpha Music and Moe's Music.

Alpha carries Fender, Ibanez, ESP and LTD, Stagg, Squire, Ric, Roscoe, Schecter, Reverend

Moe's carries Jackson, Cort, Jay Turser

[mjac28]

I think it's brands they can move easily most people aren't looking for or can afford Orange amps and Rics and the smaller the store the more common the brands.

[SteveC]

If it weren't for the internet, anyone not living in a major metro area would be playing Squier or LTD through Ampeg combos.

I barely get string locally any more. They stock what I use so I can run down and get them any time which is nice. Other than that...

If you play guitar or keys it's different.

[Roy Vogt]

We are very, very lucky to have Corner Music in Nashville. JD is the Man as far as stocking Pro Gear including Sadowsky, Lull, Rob Allen, Fender, and many, many pro bass and amp brands. It's always a good day when I can give these guys my business! Great people and a great store.
And of course, there's The Low End in Murfreesboro for sheer High End Bass Porn. I know I can't take a credit card in there, too dangerous!

[RhynoRock]

Originally Posted by steelbed45

To the OP: I grew up in Randolph. It's just the location. I started ordering stuff from Musician's friend with the catalogs in the 80's. You can only go to Chautauqua music so many times before you start to lose your mind.
So yeah, I know exactly where you are coming from.

lol No kiddin? My last band, every member but me were from Randolph. You probably know their parents lol. What a small world huh?

And yeah, Chaut. Music is almost worthless nowadays, it's downsized to about the size of a large bathroom now. The only places around here that have nice stuff and a selection OTHER than what I mentioned are Jackson Music WAY the hell up in Grand Island and the good ol' House of Guitars, WAY the hell out in Rochester.

[D.A.R.K.]

Gotta give some love to Chuck Levin's music in Wheaton, Md....
Best prices on just about anything in the country- Independently owned and run for over 30 years. I've bought Alembics, Pedullas, and Ken Smith basses there although they stock fewer of these types of instruments since fixed pricing has been implemented.

[jgroh]

Suck

[Diesel Kilgore]

3 stores in town. One Ibanez. One Dean and Luna (which is cool because its different). The other all used gear for bass. I dont live exactly where my location says. But I can go to GC for everything else.

[peabody]

In my little hometown of La Crosse, WI (pop. around 50,000) we are lucky enough to have Dave's Guitar Shop...

http://davesguitar.com/

It is an awesome shop for a guitar or bass player....new or vintage. On the bass side (new), they carry Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, EBMM, Lakland, G&L, Spector, ESP, etc.

If you happen to be a guitar player, they have an unbelievable selection of Gibson, Fender, PRS..and the list goes on.

The best part is the staff there is the friendliest and most helpful you will find anywhere.

If you happen to be passing through, stop in...and make sure you ask to see Dave's private collection (partial listing on the website)....it is beyond cool.

[Drunk Heffalump]

I hear you, even with the selection available here there seems to be a 'same' factor in the bass supply end of things, meaning he has the same as they have the same etc, so boredom sets in fast.
However should you find yourself just north of the border try

http://www.long-mcquade.com/ Lot's of locations

http://www.stevesmusic.com/ Downtown Toronto

http://www.lamusic.ca/ Just west of the city

http://cosmomusic.ca/ Just north of the city

http://www.clubbass.ca/ West Toronto area

Looks like I'm spoiled for choice, I'll stop windging.....

[funkingroovin]

Most of you are pretty lucky,the local shop here only carries crap. Samick's lowest end and the occasional Squier Affinity. Sadly,that applies to both guitars and basses. Their amp selection consists of the finest Behringer and Peavey starter-pack combos and the only cabinet you'll find is under the sink. Effects are limited to a handful of Boss and Danelectro stomp-boxes,all of which are either Chorus or Distortion. String choices are Boomers or Slinkys,and 5str packs are special order. The only quality,name-brand item they stock are Dunlop Straploks,for $22.99..Oh,and be prepared to learn all about how your [insert ANY make/model of ANY gear] is a P.O.S. and you're an idiot for owning it. I wouldn't set foot in that place to save a burning kitten..

[fdeck]

Here, any store that has survived Guitar Center has done so by steering into markets that GC doesn't own, such as band & orchestra, sheet music, or high end acoustic.