Going Local?

gkbass13 · #1 01-04-2013, 03:29 PM

So, over the last year or so I've decided to shift my gear purchases to local companies that I feel proud and happy to support. At first it was an American made thing, but then I decided-why not go local enough so that I could make a day trip to any of the shops where my cabs, amps or basses were made?

Is anyone else going local with gear purchases?

jasper383 · #2 01-04-2013, 03:39 PM

Why three hours?

inthevelvet · #3 01-04-2013, 03:52 PM

To each their own. I work way too hard for my money to limit myself like that. If you think Fodera basses are the best value for your dollar, then it's a happy coincidence you are near them. If you'd rather have a Lakland played through a GK, but don't because they are out of your 3 hour radius, that seems limiting to me. It's your money though, so you definitely should do with it as you please.

Got2SadowskyNYC · #4 01-04-2013, 04:01 PM

3 Hours? I live in West Texas. I'm 5 hours from Dallas/Ft. Worth. Same for OKC and Albuquerque. 6 to Austin. 8.5 to Houston. 15 hours to Nashville.

See my point?

People in the north east that have never been to the center of the country really don't understand how far things are away from each other.

gkbass13 · #5 01-04-2013, 04:05 PM

Not looking for flames. Just thought it was a cool concept. I never said anything about value for the dollar or pricing.

I just wanted to be able to hop in the car and make a day trip to the various shops of companies I support if I were to have a problem, questions, etc... 3 hours just happens to be the amount of time that my personal trip would be for said gear choices. Maybe it is all a coincidence, as I live in the Northeast and happen to be around some great companies and luthiers, but either way.....if anyone else has local stories, I'd love to hear them.

gkbass13 · #6 01-04-2013, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got2SadowskyNYC

3 Hours? I live in West Texas. I'm 5 hours from Dallas/Ft. Worth. Same for OKC and Albuquerque. 6 to Austin. 8.5 to Houston. 15 hours to Nashville.

See my point?

People in the north east that have never been to the center of the country really don't understand how far things are away from each other.

I have a full understanding of distance, and how relative all of this is. Was just throwing it out there.

SnowCal · #7 01-04-2013, 04:43 PM

Does MIM Fender stuff count as 'local' if you live in San Diego?

Casting Thunder · #8 01-04-2013, 04:47 PM

I'd like to do that, I just have to find a shop that didn't have a negative attitude.

Kmonk · #9 01-04-2013, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkbass13

So, over the last year or so I've decided to shift my gear purchases to local companies that I feel proud and happy to support. At first it was an American made thing, but then I decided-why not go local enough so that I could drive 3 hours or less to any of the shops where my cabs, amps or basses were made?

I've settled(for now anyway....I mean, I am a GAS crazy TB'er after all) on Fodera basses, Aguilar Amps and Bergantino Cabs. I currently live in Southern Vermont and can drive to NYC or Boston in less than 3 hours.

Is anyone else going local with gear purchases?

I live 22 miles south of Boston and have been playing for over 30 years. I have never found a decent local store anywhere in New England. They all seem to carry the same lower end basses and amps with very little inventory.

Green1 · #10 01-04-2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkbass13

Not looking for flames. Just thought it was a cool concept. I never said anything about value for the dollar or pricing.

I just wanted to be able to hop in the car and make a day trip to the various shops of companies I support if I were to have a problem, questions, etc... 3 hours just happens to be the amount of time that my personal trip would be for said gear choices. Maybe it is all a coincidence, as I live in the Northeast and happen to be around some great companies and luthiers, but either way.....if anyone else has local stories, I'd love to hear them.

I understand where you are coming from, I like knowing that I can drive to my particular bass maker rather than shipping my bass there

roadkill2309 · #11 01-04-2013, 06:58 PM

Well, I can't do that because the stuff that excites me isn't made close enough, but I agree with the concept of buying as local as possible. If the OP is within 3 hours of Kingston, NY, then there's Mike Tobias, which really *does* excite me, and is inside the 3-hour window *I think.* I'm not exactly swimming in money, though.

ShowLow · #12 01-04-2013, 07:33 PM

Interesting. My version of "local" is to try to do my used gear purchases along the west coast as much as possible. I just passed on a couple of compelling things because it would require transcontinental shipping. I'm not a hybrid-driver but I am sensitive to the carbon footprint and shipping cost that our collective GAS entails! I think it would be cool if TBers would offer their stuff regionally when feasible. My 2 pennies...