- May 12, 2007
- 481
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for Low End bass guitars, DNA Amplification
A lot of players here don't live near an actual boutique bass shop, so I thought Id post my experience with my Friday 07/06/07 trip to The Low End (http://www.TheLowEnd.net).
The Low End Bass Shop is located in Murfreesboro, TN, about 25 minutes from downtown Nashville on 24 east. Their stock is so high end that it seems theyre always gone to some guitar show or other whenever Id stop, the place was always closed, so I called Brian (Number prominently listed on the website and the storefront) and asked when hed be around and the store be open; he told me he was coming in this past weekend for Friday and Saturday, basically to stop off between shows. I knew hed be busy packing, unpacking, etc, and the website says Closed July 1 July 17 for vacation and shows, so it was very cool of Brian to mention I could come by Friday. Now, heres where it gets weird (at least to me).
As soon as I walk in, the atmosphere is somewhat incongruous very laid back, low stress, people laying around on a couch, talking, laughing, etc, and lots of *very* high end weaponry hanging on the walls, where anyone could just walk up and grab them; surely, you can't just walk up and fondle $7,000 of wood, blood, sweat and tears, could you? Then I was approached by Beav, whos immediate words were Hi man, Im Beav, if you see something you like, just pull it down and check it out, or words to that effect. Here I am, some clown off the street, and I can fire up a Benavente or Ritter Roy unsupervised? Very cool. I goofed for a moment with an Alembic Series I (For old times sake; I had a Distillate when I was in music school. Sure miss that one ), and then Beav and Brian reeled me in, asking me what sort of tone I was looking for, what sort of stuff I play, etc. I noted that they never asked what price range I was interested in, so big props for that. They suggested I check out LowEnd J Bass 5 for the sake of the sound, despite the fact that I dont dig Jazz bodies (Uncomfy to play for me), and sure enough, the sound was perfect (as was the neck) just the right amount of beef and clarity, with just a hint of nasty, like a volkswagon starting up in the winter. To be honest, it was exactly the tone Im looking for, and they found it after only one or two tries. Brian came out and demonstrated how he can execute funkness with the ashtrays still in place on another J (I cant live with those things in any case). After a bit more talk, Brian suggested a Benavente SCA 5 Buckeye, which had the same pickups as the J but was a tad darker and tighter, IMO. This bass absolutely blew me away, and Ill likely have to go back down and take it home Beautiful, magical, warm, approachable, the neck was wafer thin and buzz free, and the action compares favorably with a Les Paul tuned down to D in other words, a bass that sounds like a million bucks and plays like butter - thunder in your fist for only a bit over 4 grand! And thats not to say that there werent a lot of other nice axes around there was an entire room of basses off to the left that I completely missed when I walked in. There were stellar basses all over the place in the room I was in, and the stock these guys have is really fabulous Lakelands, Benaventes, Roscoes, W&Ts, R.Roys, Ken Smiths, not to mention a 65 Jazz, and a few guitars as well. All in all, its a stroke of good (or bad; now Ive got some basses I have to liquidate and some money to spend) fortune to have the actual shop in my neighborhood the vibe is great, the stock is really great, the guys in the shop knowledgeable and cool, and I have to drive by them several times a week, so I can just stop in, at least when theyre in town from guitar shows.
...and I can hear that Bene 5 calling me every time I go by...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
This was the first thing I picked up after the Alembic, on Beav's recommendation. Tone, foundation, thunder - it's like a stick of dynamite with strings. Unbelievable.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Sigh . Looks like Ill have a couple of Warwicks and Yamys to sell .
These guys are great -- if you're in the area, you need to go check them out. If you're not, it's worth the road trip, and I'll even get some of my bassist pals and we'll take you out and show you a good time.
The Low End Bass Shop is located in Murfreesboro, TN, about 25 minutes from downtown Nashville on 24 east. Their stock is so high end that it seems theyre always gone to some guitar show or other whenever Id stop, the place was always closed, so I called Brian (Number prominently listed on the website and the storefront) and asked when hed be around and the store be open; he told me he was coming in this past weekend for Friday and Saturday, basically to stop off between shows. I knew hed be busy packing, unpacking, etc, and the website says Closed July 1 July 17 for vacation and shows, so it was very cool of Brian to mention I could come by Friday. Now, heres where it gets weird (at least to me).
As soon as I walk in, the atmosphere is somewhat incongruous very laid back, low stress, people laying around on a couch, talking, laughing, etc, and lots of *very* high end weaponry hanging on the walls, where anyone could just walk up and grab them; surely, you can't just walk up and fondle $7,000 of wood, blood, sweat and tears, could you? Then I was approached by Beav, whos immediate words were Hi man, Im Beav, if you see something you like, just pull it down and check it out, or words to that effect. Here I am, some clown off the street, and I can fire up a Benavente or Ritter Roy unsupervised? Very cool. I goofed for a moment with an Alembic Series I (For old times sake; I had a Distillate when I was in music school. Sure miss that one ), and then Beav and Brian reeled me in, asking me what sort of tone I was looking for, what sort of stuff I play, etc. I noted that they never asked what price range I was interested in, so big props for that. They suggested I check out LowEnd J Bass 5 for the sake of the sound, despite the fact that I dont dig Jazz bodies (Uncomfy to play for me), and sure enough, the sound was perfect (as was the neck) just the right amount of beef and clarity, with just a hint of nasty, like a volkswagon starting up in the winter. To be honest, it was exactly the tone Im looking for, and they found it after only one or two tries. Brian came out and demonstrated how he can execute funkness with the ashtrays still in place on another J (I cant live with those things in any case). After a bit more talk, Brian suggested a Benavente SCA 5 Buckeye, which had the same pickups as the J but was a tad darker and tighter, IMO. This bass absolutely blew me away, and Ill likely have to go back down and take it home Beautiful, magical, warm, approachable, the neck was wafer thin and buzz free, and the action compares favorably with a Les Paul tuned down to D in other words, a bass that sounds like a million bucks and plays like butter - thunder in your fist for only a bit over 4 grand! And thats not to say that there werent a lot of other nice axes around there was an entire room of basses off to the left that I completely missed when I walked in. There were stellar basses all over the place in the room I was in, and the stock these guys have is really fabulous Lakelands, Benaventes, Roscoes, W&Ts, R.Roys, Ken Smiths, not to mention a 65 Jazz, and a few guitars as well. All in all, its a stroke of good (or bad; now Ive got some basses I have to liquidate and some money to spend) fortune to have the actual shop in my neighborhood the vibe is great, the stock is really great, the guys in the shop knowledgeable and cool, and I have to drive by them several times a week, so I can just stop in, at least when theyre in town from guitar shows.
...and I can hear that Bene 5 calling me every time I go by...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
This was the first thing I picked up after the Alembic, on Beav's recommendation. Tone, foundation, thunder - it's like a stick of dynamite with strings. Unbelievable.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Sigh . Looks like Ill have a couple of Warwicks and Yamys to sell .
These guys are great -- if you're in the area, you need to go check them out. If you're not, it's worth the road trip, and I'll even get some of my bassist pals and we'll take you out and show you a good time.
