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Brooklyn bass shops

#6
It looks like the Williamsburg area is all that remains for shops, unless we're talking about GC, which is in Atlantic Center across from Barclays. Even Norm's left south Brooklyn a while back (where I grew up).

Fun fact - Fodera is in my company's office building in Industry City. I brought gear over for our holiday party of amateur music. Some dude stopped me to ask if I was a bass player, and it was co-owner Joey.
 
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#8
ggvicviper said:
Even Norm's left south Brooklyn a while back (where I grew up).
Click to expand...

Norm’s has been gone for a LONG while, no?

When I was ordering my first Modulus Graphite bass back in 1987 or ‘88 Geoff Gould told me I couldn’t order it directly from Modulus, I had to place the order through an authorized dealer. I asked “So who’s the authorized Modulus dealer in NYC?” and after poking about in his files Geoff tells me it’s Norm’s in Brooklyn (!)

So I go to Norm’s to place my order…and they have no idea that they’re a Modulus dealer (!!!)

Fortunately they took down all the info about the bass I wanted, told me “We’ll figure this out” and ~3 months later they had my Modulus in hand. First one that *they* had ever sold…or even seen.
 
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#9
You would think that NYC could support a bass shop, right? Nope.
Other than Rudy’s bass department years ago, there’s never really been one and out-of-control rents don’t lend themselves to there being one any time soon, I’m afraid.

Fodera is definitely still in Brooklyn although I don’t know if you can just walk in and visit.

Sadowsky is just over the border in Queens (Long Island City) and you can definitely walk in and visit.

+1 for Southside and Retrofret. Retrofret has some amazing vintage inventory (at eye-watering prices).

Main Drag is a good shop run by nice guys.

LaBella has a showroom in Sunset Park Brooklyn that showcases their bespoke Olinto basses. I’ve never been there. I think luthier Mas Hino may have been affiliated with that shop at some point as well but I wouldn’t swear to it. They go by the super-creative name The Guitar Shop NYC

Carl Thompson’s shop is still in a tiny basement space in Prospect Heights Brooklyn and he’s a really friendly, really interesting (and slightly crazy) guy to talk to. I don’t think he has regular hours. You’d just need to reach out and see if you can visit.

That’s about it in Brooklyn, I’m afraid. If you want to take the subway across the river to Manhattan you have:

Rudy’s - very boutique-y but nice guys with great inventory

30th St. Guitars - actually on 27th St, small but good bass inventory, nice guys

Rogue Music - used only so inventory varies, kind of a dive, nice guys.

T.R. Crandall - no storefront; they’re on an upper floor, mostly acoustic-oriented but they have electric guitars and basses, too. Mostly classy, vintage stuff.

Rivington guitars - mostly guitars but some basses. Nice vintage stuff. IME they have a bit of a snooty attitude.

Chelsea Guitars - often good vintage stuff in this shop but I haven’t found the proprietors to be especially friendly or honest. That may have changed as I haven’t been there in a long time.

There might be some others but that’s all I can think of at the moment.

Have a good visit!
 
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#10
I
Bob_Ross said:
Norm’s has been gone for a LONG while, no?

When I was ordering my first Modulus Graphite bass back in 1987 or ‘88 Geoff Gould told me I couldn’t order it directly from Modulus, I had to place the order through an authorized dealer. I asked “So who’s the authorized Modulus dealer in NYC?” and after poking about in his files Geoff tells me it’s Norm’s in Brooklyn (!)

So I go to Norm’s to place my order…and they have no idea that they’re a Modulus dealer (!!!)

Fortunately they took down all the info about the bass I wanted, told me “We’ll figure this out” and ~3 months later they had my Modulus in hand. First one that *they* had ever sold…or even seen.
Click to expand...
I miss Norm’s. Norm could be a little prickly at times but he was mostly a good guy. He moved the shop to Staten Island. I stopped in recently but it’s a shadow of the old shop.
 
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#12
- Olinto/La Bella is in Sunset Park/Industry City BK.
- Sadowsky is in LIC Queens.
- Main Drag is a music instrument store & live venue in BK.
- Fodera is in BK.
- Carmine St Guitars & Cindy Guitars in the Village in Manhattan.
- New York Bass Works is in BK (i think).
- Retro Fret is in BK. Not a ton of bass stuff, but a ton of classic instruments.
- Carl Thompson is in BK but i don't think open to the public. I've heard a few of his former assistants have been starting their own shops, but i don't know where
- Mas Hino is in Harlem but it's just his home workshop and not a showroom. Also he was recently injured in an accident and taking time off.

Definitely worth looking up to what extent the builders have showroom open to the public. Main Drag & Retro Fret are regular stores you can just go to.

Also, no idea how long you're in town or your car situation... MTD is a couple hours upstate in Kingston. MBJ is up in the hudson valley (i think he was part of CT's team at some point).

How long you in town for?
 
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#13
Lo-E said:
You would think that NYC could support a bass shop, right? Nope.
Other than Rudy’s bass department years ago, there’s never really been one and out-of-control rents don’t lend themselves to there being one any time soon, I’m afraid.

Fodera is definitely still in Brooklyn although I don’t know if you can just walk in and visit.

Sadowsky is just over the border in Queens (Long Island City) and you can definitely walk in and visit.

+1 for Southside and Retrofret. Retrofret has some amazing vintage inventory (at eye-watering prices).

Main Drag is a good shop run by nice guys.

LaBella has a showroom in Sunset Park Brooklyn that showcases their bespoke Olinto basses. I’ve never been there. I think luthier Mas Hino may have been affiliated with that shop at some point as well but I wouldn’t swear to it. They go by the super-creative name The Guitar Shop NYC

Carl Thompson’s shop is still in a tiny basement space in Prospect Heights Brooklyn and he’s a really friendly, really interesting (and slightly crazy) guy to talk to. I don’t think he has regular hours. You’d just need to reach out and see if you can visit.

That’s about it in Brooklyn, I’m afraid. If you want to take the subway across the river to Manhattan you have:

Rudy’s - very boutique-y but nice guys with great inventory

30th St. Guitars - actually on 27th St, small but good bass inventory, nice guys

Rogue Music - used only so inventory varies, kind of a dive, nice guys.

T.R. Crandall - no storefront; they’re on an upper floor, mostly acoustic-oriented but they have electric guitars and basses, too. Mostly classy, vintage stuff.

Rivington guitars - mostly guitars but some basses. Nice vintage stuff. IME they have a bit of a snooty attitude.

Chelsea Guitars - often good vintage stuff in this shop but I haven’t found the proprietors to be especially friendly or honest. That may have changed as I haven’t been there in a long time.

There might be some others but that’s all I can think of at the moment.

Have a good visit!
Click to expand...
Fantastic post.
 
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#14
Lo-E said:
LaBella has a showroom in Sunset Park Brooklyn that showcases their bespoke Olinto basses. I’ve never been there. I think luthier Mas Hino may have been affiliated with that shop at some point as well but I wouldn’t swear to it. They go by the super-creative name The Guitar Shop NYC
Click to expand...
Mas used to be the head builder for Olinto until Late '23 or '24 when he resigned to focus on building his own instruments and doing tech/setup/repair work from his own home-shop.
 
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#15
Bob_Ross said:
Norm’s has been gone for a LONG while, no?

When I was ordering my first Modulus Graphite bass back in 1987 or ‘88 Geoff Gould told me I couldn’t order it directly from Modulus, I had to place the order through an authorized dealer. I asked “So who’s the authorized Modulus dealer in NYC?” and after poking about in his files Geoff tells me it’s Norm’s in Brooklyn (!)

So I go to Norm’s to place my order…and they have no idea that they’re a Modulus dealer (!!!)

Fortunately they took down all the info about the bass I wanted, told me “We’ll figure this out” and ~3 months later they had my Modulus in hand. First one that *they* had ever sold…or even seen.
Click to expand...
It's been a while since I've been shopping for instruments in Brooklyn, but I actually just found this out today. I was a little bummed. But that's a crazy story, and I'm glad they ultimately took care of you.
 
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#17
ggvicviper said:
It looks like the Williamsburg area is all that remains for shops, unless we're talking about GC, which is in Atlantic Center across from Barclays. Even Norm's left south Brooklyn a while back (where I grew up).

Fun fact - Fodera is in my company's office building in Industry City. I brought gear over for our holiday party of amateur music. Some dude stopped me to ask if I was a bass player, and it was co-owner Joey.
Click to expand...
Williamsburg's last shop standing is pretty much Southside Guitars on Grand St., which rocks if you've got a very large amount of cash burning a hole in your pocket. Great stuff but much of it is vintage and priced high, I never go in anymore after seeing a $5K Rick 4001. Maindrag was another good one but they've pared back a lot and seem to being doing better as a music venue. They do have Fender Bass V if you want something really weird.
 
#18
as others have noted, there are many less shops and many of them are smaller now. guitar center recently moved locations by atlantic terminal and have a good selection of basses too.

Last time I went to Main drag in their new location, they only had one bass, so I haven't felt compelled to go back.
 

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