• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Austin is terrible for Fender basses- I am complaining!

MrRobert

MrRobert

Supporting Member
Jul 7, 2011
748
838
50
Costa Mesa, CA
#1
Or at least used basses. Nah, new basses too. Specifically Fenders. Bass Emporium is an excellent store, by far one of the best independents I've been to. But a small shop can only have so much stock. I love that store and they have a lot of Fenders. I guess I'm a victim of specific tastes, but it's impossible to find almost anything beyond Standard mim or USA jazzes and P's. Bass emporium does have some roadworns and that place is great!
But I find myself wanting a classic 50's P or possibly an AVRI 57 or 62 P. Not happening in Austin! New or used!

Want a used USA P? Not happening in Austin!

Want any AVRI? not happening in Austin!

Sorry, just wanted to vent a bit :hiding:

Where do you live and what can't you get your hands on?
 
#13
Actium said:
Why limit yourself to fender?
Click to expand...

I don't see it as a limitation. I like fenders the most and they are the only basses I've ever played that felt 'right' to me. I really have no interest in any other brand... I've been playing a p or a jazz since I started in '95, and honestly don't see a reason to change.

Off topic, and totally NOT starting a flame war, but I personally don't get the appeal of laklands and other high end fender clones. I guess I can understand if you want to have a (somewhat) unique and different instrument, but they don't appeal to me at all. I would feel like I was playing a fake Fender every time I looked at that headstock. Please don't kill me! :hiding:
 
#15
MrRobert said:
Or at least used basses. Nah, new basses too. Specifically Fenders. Bass Emporium is an excellent store, by far one of the best independents I've been to. But a small shop can only have so much stock. I love that store and they have a lot of Fenders. I guess I'm a victim of specific tastes, but it's impossible to find almost anything beyond Standard mim or USA jazzes and P's. Bass emporium does have some roadworns and that place is great!
But I find myself wanting a classic 50's P or possibly an AVRI 57 or 62 P. Not happening in Austin! New or used!

Want a used USA P? Not happening in Austin!

Want any AVRI? not happening in Austin!

Sorry, just wanted to vent a bit :hiding:

Where do you live and what can't you get your hands on?
Click to expand...

I bought my 50's P from Bass Emporium. Got a great price and a free set up. Cool guys down there.
I have never had a problem finding what I need from m&p shops in Austin. Sorry to hear about your bad luck.
 
#18
Back in my day (early '70s) there were little music stores all over town in Austin, and you could find almost anything used, either in a shop or in the free ads. Now it seems to be GC, Music Makers, Guitar Resurrection and Heart of Texas. GC specializes in what will sell at a good margin, GR in higher end stuff (I saw a beautiful '55 P there a while back -- only $18.5K!) and HoT likes bling. Craigslist doesn't seem to have anything unusual, either. And forget about oddball instruments like Dobros. These days, I just visit my kids in Austin, and I've got the gear I'll be buried with, so I don't go into the music stores. There's nothing there I haven't had or have (with the exception of the really expensive gear), so I stop by only if I need strings.

I'm lucky that there's a music dealer here in my small town in E TX that's more like the old days in Austin -- and there's not a GC within 100 miles!:D
 
#20
MrRobert said:
Or at least used basses. Nah, new basses too. Specifically Fenders. Bass Emporium is an excellent store, by far one of the best independents I've been to. But a small shop can only have so much stock. I love that store and they have a lot of Fenders. I guess I'm a victim of specific tastes, but it's impossible to find almost anything beyond Standard mim or USA jazzes and P's. Bass emporium does have some roadworns and that place is great!
But I find myself wanting a classic 50's P or possibly an AVRI 57 or 62 P. Not happening in Austin! New or used!

Want a used USA P? Not happening in Austin!

Want any AVRI? not happening in Austin!

Sorry, just wanted to vent a bit :hiding:

Where do you live and what can't you get your hands on?
Click to expand...

Deployed on a naval station that's practically closed to the outside world, I have one of my basses with me and can only get my hands on the 2-3 other basses people have here and the ones the chapels have. I would love to be in Austin right now.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back