where has a good selection of mid range ($1000-2500) basses in NYC? im not restricted to a specific borough but id like to keep it manhattan/brooklyn/queens.
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bass shops in NYC
- Thread starter adube810
- Start date
Might wanna visit Mandolin Brothers in SI. Its a ferry ride (with has a great view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island) but they've got some nice basses and guitars. Its also not very far from the ferry (I think the s48 goes in front of it, not sure if that goes to the ferry) or one 8 minute cab ride.
Definitely go to Rudy's in Manhattan. It's on 48th Street, close to Sam Ash. I went there earlier this year, and they had some beautiful basses... MTD, Pensa (which they make), Pedulla, vintage Fender, even Ritter.
+1The City 48th Street btwn 6th & 7th Ave. Everything
Is Manny's Music still there?
The only store on 48th street worth going to is Rudy's. Sam Ash is well Sam Ash and Manny's is owned by Sam Ash. You could go to Matt Umanov on Bleeker street in the village. Sadowsky is in Brooklyn, First Flight music on 3rd ave and something like East 10th street on the LES. Wow, I don't even know, I usually go to Rudy's for strings and what not.
Not to beat a dead horse, but some folks may not know that Sam Ash bought out Manny's a few years back. (EDIT: okay, Michael Case beat me to it.) They're still called Manny's, still have the big green awning, but it's just another Sam Ash store, with exactly the same product lines as the Sam Ash store across the street. Your money goes into the same hole regardless of whether you spend it at Sam Ash or Manny's.
Still worth visiting though, since a trip to Rudy's is imho mandatory, and once you're on 48th Street you might as well check out Manny's and Sam Ash. Rudy's is the real schiznit though.
Also, 30th Street Guitars (on 30th Street between 7th & 8th Avenue, south side of the street, middle of the block) is a goldmine if you're into vintage and semi-vintage used stuff. Their bass collection can be hit-or-miss, but still worth a look, and only two or three subway stops south of 48th Street on the A or C line.
And +1 for the Mandolin Bros suggestion. The ferry ride is free & fun, and Mandolin Bros has to be the most encouraging "yeah, go ahead, pick it up, play it!" music retail store I've ever been in. Plan on spending a few hours there.
This store is the ONLY place where there is a recorded live sighting of the rare and elusive Ampeg BA600 115. I came into contact with the beast myself a few months ago.
Perhaps it still nests in the high jungle canopy that is the store's bass loft.
I ran into Guy from ALL MUSIC in Bethpage, out on the island. He just bought out a bass collection that might be worth looking into. When I saw him he was packing an Acme 6 string fretless single cut that needed setup but was killer nonetheless, and he claimed to sitting on a whole store full more. Search allmusicinc.com.
