Stores in NYC that carry american vintage Fender basses

cigi · #1 03-02-2013, 08:05 AM

I'm going to NYC in april and I want to check out the Fender American vintage precision basses. I'm looking for a vintage precision type bass. Even with the import tax it will be far more interesting to buy an american vintage in the US than here in Belgium. It would make my trip the best ever.

Do you guys know stores that have the American Vintage basses in stock? Or probably will have in april?

Thanks!

Timothy

elwuss · #2 03-02-2013, 09:17 AM

try Ludlow Guitars.
Ludlow st., Lower east side

spigmu · #3 03-02-2013, 09:28 AM

Rudy's carries American Vintage Fenders. Dean will be there and hook you up! : )

They're on 48th St (which used to be the mecca of NYC music stores. Now it's just still Rudy's and Sam Ash has taken over where the other stores used to be)

http://times-square.rudysmusic.com/index.php

There had been Larry Hartke's Bass Lounge located inside the Sam Ash on 48th St, but with the announcements that there has been a *soft* opening of a Hartke Bass Lounge on 34th St. I'm leaning to assume that he is not involved on 48th St anymore, the 34th St. store looks extensive enough to think he's putting all of himself there, but I don't know really. I haven't gone into that Sam Ash in decades, never saw the Bass Lounge there. Back to only sales weasels for them, I guess.

His facebook page says it will have the official opening on March 7. It seems to be the only place with any info so far.

https://www.facebook.com/larry.hartke?fref=ts

cigi · #4 03-02-2013, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the info!

On their site Rudy's online have the 64 jazz.

I'll mail them to ask if they have the precision basses in stock.

tkozal · #5 03-02-2013, 09:45 AM

Guitar center on 14th has them usually. Sam ash has them. But I don't buy there after my recent episode of horrible service.

cigi · #6 03-02-2013, 10:12 AM

I live in Belgium, so I would'nt have to deal with their service, so that's no issue to me.

cigi · #7 03-02-2013, 10:25 AM

Ludlow allready answered. They haven't reveived any american vintage basses, I'm afraid that's the case with most of the stores. I've seen them online, but not in the inventory of stores.

Hope they'll have them when I go.

spigmu · #8 03-02-2013, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigi

Thanks for the info!

On their site Rudy's online have the 64 jazz.

I'll mail them to ask if they have the precision basses in stock.

Yes, you should do that : ) Dean is a super guy. But I have a feeling the basses on the site don't get updated as often as they should. 30th St Guitars is a fantastic place for used and vintage guitars (and basses, though a bit less so) and their site had practically no relation to their stock last I went : )

I think many legit places just update their sites every few weeks and then only with new products. They may be sending stuff to a webmaster who does it when they get around to it : )

BassAgent · #9 03-02-2013, 11:16 AM

Check out Manny's at 48th street. I went there when I was in NYC a few years ago and almost thought it was a museum.

TimboZ · #10 03-02-2013, 11:28 AM

Sam Ash / Mannys on 48 th closed up and moved to a new location on 333 w 34 th. just went there last weekend. Rudys is the only shop left on music row. Rudys is a greatshop, they also have a guitar only shop in Soho.

ShoeManiac · #11 03-02-2013, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spigmu

Rudy's carries American Vintage Fenders. Dean will be there and hook you up! : )

They're on 48th St (which used to be the mecca of NYC music stores. Now it's just still Rudy's and Sam Ash has taken over where the other stores used to be)

http://times-square.rudysmusic.com/index.php

There had been Larry Hartke's Bass Lounge located inside the Sam Ash on 48th St, but with the announcements that there has been a *soft* opening of a Hartke Bass Lounge on 34th St. I'm leaning to assume that he is not involved on 48th St anymore, the 34th St. store looks extensive enough to think he's putting all of himself there, but I don't know really. I haven't gone into that Sam Ash in decades, never saw the Bass Lounge there. Back to only sales weasels for them, I guess.

His facebook page says it will have the official opening on March 7. It seems to be the only place with any info so far.

https://www.facebook.com/larry.hartke?fref=ts

Your info is a little bit dated.

Rudy's is really the ONLY spot left on West 48th Street. They've got some decent stock. But when I was there a few weeks back they did not have any of the new American Vintage Series instruments.

Sam Ash moved their bass department down to the new West 34th street (near 9th avenue) a few weeks ago. And as a side note, they had some okay deals just before the move because they didn't want to have to move some of that old stock downtown.

As for other NYC Fender dealers? I know that someone mentioned Ludlow Street Guitars, and they're cool. But their focus really seems to be more on boutique pedals and guitar combo amps. Matt Umanov Guitars on Bleecker Street also has some good Fender stock, too.

Of course, there is the Guitar Center store on 14th Street. It's not your average GC store, and you may very well find a Sadowsky at this particular store, along with some vintage instruments. But when it comes to a higher end Fender series like the American Vintage Series? I'm not so sure there.

spigmu · #12 03-03-2013, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShoeManiac

Your info is a little bit dated.

Rudy's is really the ONLY spot left on West 48th Street. They've got some decent stock. But when I was there a few weeks back they did not have any of the new American Vintage Series instruments.

Sam Ash moved their bass department down to the new West 34th street (near 9th avenue) a few weeks ago. And as a side note, they had some okay deals just before the move because they didn't want to have to move some of that old stock downtown.

Interesting, didn't know that. So is the new Hartke Bass Lounge still the same as the Sam Ash bass dept? Hartke doesn't state that it their press, so it seemed like a breaking away, but I can see how that would be the case. I only hit 48th St twice a year anymore, and never make it past Rudy's anyway. B & H on 34th for anything non-instrument related. They've elevated their audio dept beyond the rest.

chee666 · #13 03-03-2013, 12:16 PM

Rudy's x2

tkozal · #14 03-03-2013, 12:17 PM

My 62 am vintage P was bought from GC a few year back. My 62 j from Sam ash about 10 years ago. The guy who runs the bass room at the GC on 14 is cool Sorry about forgetting his name

ShoeManiac · #15 03-03-2013, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spigmu

Interesting, didn't know that. So is the new Hartke Bass Lounge still the same as the Sam Ash bass dept? Hartke doesn't state that it their press, so it seemed like a breaking away, but I can see how that would be the case. I only hit 48th St twice a year anymore, and never make it past Rudy's anyway. B & H on 34th for anything non-instrument related. They've elevated their audio dept beyond the rest.

The Hartke Bass Lounge is part of Sam Ash. And by that I mean that Hartke is OWNED by Sam Ash / Samson. I imagine that the bass lounge has most likely moved down to the new location as well.