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Bass Northwest Closed. Now What?

Wolfhound32

Wolfhound32

Sep 10, 2013
1,072
3,106
WA State
#1
One of the coolest shops for all things bass closed their doors recently; Seattle's, Bass Northwest.

I'd like to know where are Western Washington's bassists going for gear now...

Yes, there is the internet of course, but I enjoy going to local shops. I know that Guitar Center remains in business, but I simply can't stand having to hear some kid blasting out of tune power chords through cranked amps... not to mention all the other foolishness inherent with that chain.

So, where are y'all going now?
 
#3
There was another thread about BassNW recently. Seems the owner has some health problems and decided to shut it down. Not sure why he didn't sell or have someone manage it for him unless, because of the economy, it wasn't doing well anyway. I am not even close to it. I'm in Fort Worth, Texas. I did buy a case from them once. Really nice people. They had left a truss rod tool in the case and gave me a hat for sending it back.
I know GC can be a pain sometimes. I think parents drop their teenagers off there after the leave the little kids at daycare, but in my area, most of the locals are douc bags. There is one I wont even go into anymore.
Don't know where you will go unless you drive all the way to Portland. Apple Music is pretty cool.
 
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#6
Wolfhound32 said:
Thanks guys!


They also recently closed shop. I've been checking in on their Facebook page and it appears they closed in the spring/summer... A road-trip to Portland isn't too far-- basically a relaxed day trip there & back ;)
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Really? Wow, it had been there forever. I haven't been there since about 2000. Wonder what happened to that fantastic collection of guitars and basses that hung all the way around the shop near the ceiling. It was a big place and lots of drool beautiful instruments to see.
 
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#8
I 2nd the new Bass Shop on California Ave in West Seattle. Chad (the owner) used to be partners in Bass NW w/Evan. I believe that Evan sold almost everything left to Chad. Though the Bass Shop is located inside an existing guitar store, and doesn't yet have much in the way of accessories like strings, they have a LOT of basses, and the cabs and amps are top shelf. Here's a few pics I snapped when I visited there last month. I'm heartbroken about BASS NW closing their doors :( What a candy store that was, manned by a great bunch of fellows. It's where I bought my Spector, and took lessons for a time from Eddy after hours
 

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#9
catcauphonic said:
I 2nd the new Bass Shop on California Ave in West Seattle. Chad (the owner) used to be partners in Bass NW w/Evan. I believe that Evan sold almost everything left to Chad. Though the Bass Shop is located inside an existing guitar store, and doesn't yet have much in the way of accessories like strings, they have a LOT of basses, and the cabs and amps are top shelf. Here's a few pics I snapped when I visited there last month. I'm heartbroken about BASS NW closing their doors :( What a candy store that was, manned by a great bunch of fellows. It's where I bought my Spector, and took lessons for a time from Eddy after hours
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Ooooh-- Thats why their address looked so familiar-- It's the same as Thunder Road Guitars. I visited there shortly after they opened a few years back. I'm going to have to make a run up there soon to check out their Bass Shop :D

BNW was great. I got my favorite G&L from them last summer as an anniversary gift from my wife. Evan noticed I fell in love with the bass (L2000) and gave me a fabulous deal on it. They sure will be missed.
 
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#10
Gravedigger Dav said:
Really? Wow, it had been there forever. I haven't been there since about 2000. Wonder what happened to that fantastic collection of guitars and basses that hung all the way around the shop near the ceiling. It was a big place and lots of drool beautiful instruments to see.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a place called Hames Music here in the Upstate of SC. I used to love going there in the mid to late 90's to play the newest Alembic, Zon, Warwick, Trace Elliott, and other high end basses. It was such a wonderful place. I bought a lot of stuff from them. Then a few years passed before I visited them and they now had LTD and Ibanez basses in those spots. Then a few more years and they are out of business. So sad.
 
#11
mmbongo said:
Sounds like a place called Hames Music here in the Upstate of SC. I used to love going there in the mid to late 90's to play the newest Alembic, Zon, Warwick, Trace Elliott, and other high end basses. It was such a wonderful place. I bought a lot of stuff from them. Then a few years passed before I visited them and they now had LTD and Ibanez basses in those spots. Then a few more years and they are out of business. So sad.
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Yes, I think the big boxes and online outlets, not to mention a weak economy, have laid to rest a whole lot of independents.
But, on the other hand, there are some independents that have survived because they have the business savvy to change their model and do what is necessary to compete with the big guys.
Others, not so much. One local said he would meet the big box stores. I asked for a price and it was higher. He said it incudes the shipping I would have to pay if I ordered through GC. I told him I could pick it up in the store and pay no shipping. He got snarly and I haven't been back.
 
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#13
bobba66 said:
I have a strap here from Ape Music in Fort Worth Texas. I wonder if those guys are still around?
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I have been here since February, 2002, and have never heard of them. I just did a search and they don't come up.
What part of town were they in?
FYI, I'm a music store junkie and always looking for another one to prowl around in, so if it was still in business, I'd probably know.
 
#15
Gravedigger Dav said:
I have been here since February, 2002, and have never heard of them. I just did a search and they don't come up.
What part of town were they in?
FYI, I'm a music store junkie and always looking for another one to prowl around in, so if it was still in business, I'd probably know.
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Looks like Ape Music was at 3318 E. Lancaster but I don't remember it.

It's mentioned about halfway down the page:
Fort Worth's Rocking Past
 
#16
Gravedigger Dav said:
Really? Wow, it had been there forever. I haven't been there since about 2000. Wonder what happened to that fantastic collection of guitars and basses that hung all the way around the shop near the ceiling. It was a big place and lots of drool beautiful instruments to see.
Click to expand...

They're selling off a bunch of their vintage stuff, I can't remember if it's on ebay or reverb or probably both.
It was kind of a cool store, but never had much for Bass...I had more basses in my closet than they had for retail!

The Bass Shop is in West Seattle, still about the same driving distance if you're coming up.
But there's still A# Music in Renton, and a couple Ted Browns around Tacoma/Puyallup. Last time I stopped by Guitar Maniacs they had a cool '59 P, but not much of anything else.
Of course American Music has good stuff too, and has all the strings and accessory things you'd want.
 
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#17
Wolfhound32 said:
Ooooh-- Thats why their address looked so familiar-- It's the same as Thunder Road Guitars. I visited there shortly after they opened a few years back. I'm going to have to make a run up there soon to check out their Bass Shop
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A couple of clarifications:

1. This is not the same location that they were in a couple years ago. This is a new spot a little further south along California in the area called The Junction.

2. It's not "their" bass shop. The Bass Shop is an independent store run by Chad Beeler that just happens to operate inside the same retail space as Thunder Road. They're two completely separate businesses.
 
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#20
jubl said:
Looks like Ape Music was at 3318 E. Lancaster but I don't remember it.

It's mentioned about halfway down the page:
Fort Worth's Rocking Past
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Yeah, I know where that is, but it is an empty lot now. I go in to Competition Music once in a while. He doesn't have anything new. He is more of a second hand store. He does have some vintage stuff and a bunch of junk. He is a nice guy and I have bought a few things from him, but none bass related. I think a snake, a couple of monitors, some strings, and stuff.
 

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