Portlandia

JES · #1 01-28-2011, 11:18 PM

Hi All,

Headed to Portland for a 36hrs and I'd like to check out some weird and boutique fx. I'm thinking Old Town Music because they're listed as a Devi Ever dealer. Anywhere else I should check out? Im also planning to go nuts on books at Powell's.

Thanks.

bongomania · #2 01-29-2011, 12:08 AM

Centaur Guitars on Sandy Blvd has a good selection of boutique and weird pedals.

JES · #3 01-29-2011, 08:23 AM

Thanks!

cheapbasslovin · #4 01-29-2011, 10:27 AM

Trade up music on Division or Alberta usually has some older pedals that are worth having a look as well as a few boutique fuzzes hanging around.

Old Town and Centaur should be your first stops, though.

jbednarski · #5 01-29-2011, 11:22 AM

You must go to VooDoo Donuts and get some coffee at Stumptown.

arbitrary · #6 01-29-2011, 12:12 PM

I'd say between Old Town, Centaur & Trade up you'd be all set. Those were always the ones worth going to for me. ProGuitarshop.com is also in the area, but I don't think they have a demo area. Maybe they changed that.

cheapbasslovin · #7 01-29-2011, 12:22 PM

As of a couple months ago, PGS was appointment only. They had a showroom for a while, but last time I went they had closed it up.

SB Dog · #8 01-29-2011, 12:27 PM

What about Apple Music?
Hours: 10:30 to 6:30 Mon - Sat
1:00 to 5:00 Sunday

225 SW 1st
Portland, OR 97204

503-226-0036

SoonerMatt · #9 01-29-2011, 12:29 PM

While there you must also confirm that all the hot girls wear glasses and that clowning is still in.

cheapbasslovin · #10 01-29-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SB Dog

What about Apple Music?
Hours: 10:30 to 6:30 Mon - Sat
1:00 to 5:00 Sunday

225 SW 1st
Portland, OR 97204

503-226-0036

Apple has some pedals, but they are down the list below Trade Up for effects, IMO. Mostly they have the usual EHX, Boss, MXR, and some multis, IIRC.

Now I'm off to my front yard to hug my tree.

fish slapper · #11 01-29-2011, 12:46 PM

PGS has just opened a retail store in the Pearl however the couple times I've wondered in their Tigard location, they were very thin on bass stuff.

sunbeast · #12 01-29-2011, 12:47 PM

I concur about Old Town, Centaur and the Trade Ups. All three have a wide selection, with Centaur and Old Town having the most to choose from (so for trying stuff out, I would recommend either of these first). I have found the best deals at Old Town and Trade Up, both of which will sometimes sell interesting old oddities for very cheap- Centaur is a less likely place to find cheapies, but probably has the widest selection of new pedals (and their website shows most of their current stock as well). Apple isn't a place I would go unless I was stuck in the downtown area (it is very close to Old Town).

Unfortunately none of the local shops stocks a very extensive collection of Devi Ever pedals that I am aware of, which I've always found surprising... (except maybe PGS- but that is mostly an internet operation now apparently)

SB Dog · #13 01-29-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapbasslovin

Apple has some pedals, but they are down the list below Trade Up for effects, IMO. Mostly they have the usual EHX, Boss, MXR, and some multis, IIRC.

Now I'm off to my front yard to hug my tree.

I was unsure of their stock of pedals, but those high end collector basses they have are cool to look at, plus there are some great people who work there. I also like Apple because they are Ric dealers.

arbitrary · #14 01-29-2011, 07:33 PM

just because:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVmq9dq6Nsg

4Mal · #15 01-30-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SB Dog

I was unsure of their stock of pedals, but those high end collector basses they have are cool to look at, plus there are some great people who work there. I also like Apple because they are Ric dealers.

Those folks must be out to lunch when I go ...

Centaur would be my first stop. Trade Up seems to fall short inventory wise when I visit. Kinda low end...

MJ5150 · #16 01-30-2011, 03:40 PM

Pancake House
Point Blank Distributing
Stumptown Coffee

-Mike

cheapbasslovin · #17 01-30-2011, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Centaur would be my first stop. Trade Up seems to fall short inventory wise when I visit. Kinda low end...

That is probably fair. Most of what they have that isn't at other places is the older discontinued stuff that has started to make a comeback because someone famous made a good recording with one or something like that. They don't have much high end newer gear.

arbitrary · #18 01-30-2011, 07:52 PM

I forgot about the pancake house (SE 10th and Powell); a cool place. For food I also liked DOTS on SE Clinton & 25th.

All I really remember about apple is that I played an Orange amp there, and the people that worked there were d*cks. While trade might not carry high end stuff, you occasionally run into some very cool stuff there.

MakiSupaStar · #19 01-30-2011, 07:54 PM

Portland is a great town. Great beer. Great music scene too.

Muddslide · #20 01-31-2011, 01:01 AM

I've been in Portland a little over a year now.

I've lived in 15 states from one side of the country and up and down and back again.

Portland is the greatest city I've ever spent time in (though I have a lotta love for NYC and Chicago and SF) and I feel very lucky to live here. This is also the best region in the country as well, IMO. (PacNW, that is.)

This is home. I may not always live in PDX proper, but I work for the state now, so I expect and hope to live the rest of my life somewhere within a 90-minute drive from the beach up or down the beautiful Oregon coast.

As to the OP, I love Centaur Guitars just to check out the oddball stuff they have on display on the walls, but I think the selection at Old Town and Trade Up (esp. Trade Up on Division) is better. The peoples at Trade Up are very nice.

You should also check out Movie Madness and MillenniumMusic!