Best Boutique Bass Shopping Experience?

[JiroBass]

I wanted to put the question to Talkbass users: Where have you had the best experience while shopping for high-end basses? Feel free to mention your criteria: e.g. friendliness and welcoming attitude, openness to questions, no pushy hard-sells, selection of brands and models, etc.

I had a great experience at Bass San Diego and have developed a good relationship with them. (Kudos to Bass San Diego for running a great high-end shop with quality instruments and friendly service!) My full review of their shop is posted here: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/bes...rience-southern-california-san-diego.1071193/

Would be great to read about the experiences and opinions of users here who have been on similar quests for the perfect bass or addition to an existing collection!

 

[mark beem]

Bass Central. They were fantastic to deal with when I bought my two Lakland basses.

 

[Carver]

www.luthiersaccessgroup.com

Dan Lenard at Luthiers Access Group has given me the best experiences with boutique orders by far. I've also had good experiences with Bass Central.

 

[Inertialsky]

Great experiences with The Bass Place in AZ. I worked with Dennis there and he is very knowledgeable about Warwick basses. When I needed a brass just-a-nut he had the best deal and kept me updated on the shipment from Germany.

 

[growlypants]

Without a doubt, Atlanta Bass Gallery. Just the all time best experience shopping for a new bass, and getting some excellent advice.

 

[steveb119]

bass central, great staff , great selection, Mike and all the guys are great to deal with. I am really lucky to have one of , if not the best bass store in the country right here in my home town. give them a call you won't regret it.

 

[joelns]

I haven't bought one yet, but the staff at Bass and Beyond here in the Sacramento area are outstanding. When finances shape up later this year, I'm planning my next bass from them. Likely a Sadowsky. But if business is really good, maybe something a little more exotic.

 

[Randyt]

I have dealt with many of the dealers mentioned, but I really have to say that my best experience was with dealing directly with FBASS...Marcel and George are great!!!

 

[Tanner5382]

Yep, as previously stated, Atlanta Bass Gallery.

 

[Pork_Chop]

Premier Bass Guitar located in Superior Colorado. Unfortunately, they have closed after the untimely passing of it's founder and owner, Dan Basica. Great store, great customer service, great community. Man I miss that place.

 

[Alexander]

I was on business in NYC when I made a trip to Brooklyn to place the order for my Sadowsky NYC. Got to play a number of their instruments through several different amps. Then a quick tour of the shop, including meeting some of the staff. Kevin sat me down and walked me through the specs. Got to look at a number of unfinished bodies - he oiled them up so I could see the grain clearly and I picked one out that I liked. Roger came in and introduced himself - answered a couple of questions I had personally. Throughout the process, I got the occasional picture of the work in progress. They delivered a few weeks ahead of what they told me they would. Quality product and truly excellent service!

 

[20db pad]

Sadowsky for me as well.

 

[StuartV]

Bass and Beyond in Sacramento is awesome. Juan is super nice!

Also, Atlanta Bass Gallery has also always been really nice.

 

[Baird6869]

I have had great experiences with Clubbass, Ultimate, Dingwall, Sadowsky, Roscoe and even Long &McQuade (Oshawa and Markham only).

My favourite company to deal with by far is Fodera. The folks there are great people. Knowledgeable, love their work and genuinely want to build customers the best bass possible. I have been at their shop a couple of times and was treated incredibly well.

 

[Igotsoul4u]

not rudy's

 

[Baird6869]

not rudy's

I was there a year ago and the staff were idiots. All of them.

My 2nd trip in Feb was different. I was treated well and the staff were all great.

Either they fired the idiots or suddenly realized that people that walk thru their front door might actually be there to buy something.

 

[JiroBass]

I have dealt with many of the dealers mentioned, but I really have to say that my best experience was with dealing directly with FBASS...Marcel and George are great!!!

Second that. I also found George and Marcel very friendly and great to work with.

 

[nostatic]

When you get to a certain level, it is hard to go wrong. Fodera, Sadowsky, F-bass, Roscoe, Nordstrand - all winning. Another shop that is great that hasn't been mentioned yet is Rocket Music. Greg is great to work with.

 

[Hotblack]

I've had great dealings with Bass Northwest. They were willing to price match, were friendly, courteous, shipped promptly, etc...
I haven't bought from them, but I have visited Bass Central a few times. The staff there is great. Very friendly, very chill. If you are anywhere nearby, I highly recommend stopping in.
Buying direct for Chris Stambaugh has been a great experience. Aside from his actual bass making skills, he's very chill, very knowledgeable, and open to suggestions.
I haven't bought from them, but my inquiries with Tom Clement and Cliff Bordwell were always responded to quickly. They too seemed very friendly and accommodating.

 

[Roscoe East]

not rudy's

LOL! Yeah, while I love the product selection at Rudy's (and the proximity; I live in Manhattan) I've been seriously underwhelmed by the quality of their staff. Some good guys there, but there have been way too many morons manning the counter in the bass department over the years.

Best experience I've had was 20-something years ago at teh LA Bass Exchange. I went in with a specific question, in search of a particular solution, and a friendly & knowledgeable salesperson not only addressed it explicitly but spent a good hour showing me potential solutions. Good product knowledge, as well as good knowledge of how the store's inventory could meet my needs. That's all I ask of any retail store, really.