Visiting London - Need Bass Related Guidance

LuvMusic · #1 03-02-2009, 08:42 AM

Fellow TB'ers:

My day job has provided me with an opportunity to spend a couple of days in London and a couple of days in Essex.

I won't have much free time, so, can you help me with advice on where to go to check out the eledctric bass equipment scene?

I'd like to find something electric bass related to bring home as a momento of my trip.

I can spend up to 300.00 USD and I'd like to pack whatever I end up with in my luggage. Where do you recommend I go and suggest I look at?

Thanks for the help!

P.S. An after thought. If you know of any place in London or Essex that carries BJF pedals, especially a Blueberry, I'd be very interested. Thanks again!

Mark Latimour · #2 03-02-2009, 08:47 AM

$300USD is about £200GBP, so you arn't going to get much in the way of bass related gear for that. What you would be looking at is really a nice pedal or something. With that in mind, the best bass shop to visit is the Bass Gallery in Camden (Camden Town Tube) on Royal COllege Street (www.thebassgallery.com). There are no other bass shops worth visiting in London. For guitar related stuff (including pedals) you will want to check out Denmark Street in Tottenham Court Road (Tottenham Court Road Tube) which has a shop with lots of nice boutique pedals.

To be honest, with the kind of money you are looking to spend I don't think you will get anything that you coudln't get for less in the US. The sort of things that are cheaper are EU made basses, but they are well out of yoru price range. Instead, I would take your money and go to a nice restaurant or even book a day trip to Paris on the Eurostar. FWIW.

LuvMusic · #3 03-02-2009, 09:02 AM

Mark:

Thanks for the help and referrals!

I know I won't be getting much and I won't have the ability to bring a bass guitar back with me.

I nice pedal would be perfect.

Thanks again!

Baryonyx · #4 03-02-2009, 09:51 AM

The Bass Gallery is really the place to go, Denmark Street has relatively died a death. Of course, in the Gallery you have pro players rubbing shoulders with gear snobs (like Latimour

).

Also, if you're in Essex check out the Status Graphite shop. If you ring and let them no you're popping down I'm sure they could prep a couple of basses for you to take for a spin!

LuvMusic · #5 03-02-2009, 10:22 AM

Baryonyx:

Thanks for the tips. I'd love to visit Status, not sure I'll have time. Never know though.

Cheers!

**cheezewiz** · #6 03-03-2009, 11:37 AM

You are going to one of the great Cities in the world. Don't worry about bass gear. Spend your limited free time seeing the sights, or take Mark's advice and take a Eurostar trip to Paris.

StyleOverShow · #7 03-03-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheezewiz

You are going to one of the great Cities in the world. Don't worry about bass gear. Spend your limited free time seeing the sights, or take Mark's advice and take a Eurostar trip to Paris.

I have to agree and just a little envious. London is a great city, history everywhere and this time of year fewer tourists.

I suggest you spend the money on going to see/hear live music!

-richard

LuvMusic · #8 03-03-2009, 01:31 PM

Thanks for the suggestions and advice! I know London is a living history lesson and I'll be staying in downtown London on Tower Hill, so for sure, I'll be visiting the Tower of London.

I also plan on seeing as much I can. Right now it looks like I'll have a full day on Sunday (when I arrive) and a 1/2 day on Wednesday. I'll be leaving Thursday morning. I'd still like to visit a bass / instrument store, time permitting.

I appreciate the help!

Baryonyx · #9 03-03-2009, 01:42 PM

Also, make sure you go to the London Dungeon, it rocks.

**bassybill** · #10 03-03-2009, 01:48 PM

My own visit to the bass gallery in Camden was a real downer, to be honest. The manager in there seemed to regard potential customers as a pain. A **** of the first order.

Enjoy the city, but buy your gear from people who you can relate to, is my recommendation.

MakiSupaStar · #11 03-03-2009, 02:03 PM

F the bass gear, spend that money drinking in a local pub. That will last you a good couple of hours with London prices.

TheDarkReaver · #12 03-04-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baryonyx

Also, make sure you go to the London Dungeon, it rocks.

It does indeed. I almost got my eyebrows burnt off there once, when they first opened that Jack the Ripper exhibit. The second time I went there they'd removed the giant flame.