Cool Music Stores in San Francisco

Not in San Francisco but nearby in Berkeley is a used shop called Subway Guitars that is definitely worth a visit.This shop is a throwback to a kinder hippier time. Tons of used stuff, you are sure to leave with GAS or a new axe, your choice. Don't forget to visit Pie In The Sky on center Street near the BART.

 

Rocker Guitars has some neat old overpriced basses.

 

SF really has a lacking of bass and guitar shops worthwhile. Some of them are just lousy in general, the guitar center there is even better then some of these places, not to be mean. One shop you might find interesting is Guitar Showcase in San Jose. They have a fairly decent collection of Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Ibanez, Music Man, and a fair amount of more high end stuff like Alembic plus a consignment shop with many deals to be had. My favorite part of this place though is that it's like a vintage museum. They have showcases filled to the brim with vintage stuff, mostly for looking though.

 

I would not make the trip to Berkeley for Subway Guitars. The entire shop is only about 300 square feet and most of the basses are Tiesco, Dano copies or "custom" instruments made by some really questionable "craftsman". No high end and the good vintage stuff is kept in cases on the wall -- unlabelled cases -- so even they can't find the instrument they think they have in stock.

In the city of San Francisco, I would agree that both Rocker Guitars and Real Guitars are worth a visit. The two shops are walking distance apart (about 4 blocks). Both have laid back folks and a good mix of vintage and modern basses/gear.
Also, Haight Ashbury music has some cool stuff. The bassist for the Mermen works there as well.

If you have transportation, Gelb Music on the Peninsula is the best bass shop in the entire Bay Area for modern basses (Sadowsky, Lakland, Lull) as well as the latest premium amps. Nice folks there too.

If you just want to window shop, Guitar Showcase is Campbell is another 20 minutes drive from Gelb, and they have a KILLER vintage room (all instruments behind glass) and a few unique ones on consignment. Right now, they have an Alembic bass that was Tiran Porter (Doobie Bros) main bass in the 1970's and a nice 1976 P Bass that belongs to Steve Miller (Steve Miller Band).

Those are the ones I would feel comfortable about recommending to a fellow bass player. Hope you have a great trip.

 

Gelb. End of subject. There are some wonderful instruments in stock right now, too.

 

Gelb.

Also, be sure to go to Amoeba Records in Upper Haight (Haight and Stanyan). Great music selection, new and used.

 

Subway can be fun to visit but many/most of the instruments there are in wretched condition. I bought one of their "Subray" basses...electronics conked out the day I got it. I took it apart to fix and was appalled at their idea of "craftsmanship"...returned it soon after.

In Berkeley The Starving Musician is worth checking out...a good selection of used stuff that turns over frequently at reasonable prices...a true rarity these days. They also have shops in Santa Clara & Santa Cruz.

As others have said Gelb is really a couple notches above everyone else in the Bay for selection & service...plus they have a cool consignment shop around the corner. Guitar Showcase is also good if you're in that neck of the woods.

The only bass specialty shop I know of is Bass & Beyond in Sacramento, which is about 80 miles away.

Have fun!

 

Not much in the way of basses, but Lark In The Morning has some interesting stuff for acoustic driven folk music in it. You will see instruments in there you have never heard of. A sort of museum where the stuff is for sale.

 

Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz has Warwicks and G&L's and some cool old stuff, too. Haight Ashbury music has some cool stuff sometimes.

 

San Mateo?
My' hood.

Try B St Music on Railroad st- across from the Movie Theaters in San Mateo.
Gary sometimes has odd & ends basses. But be warned:
they are really disorganized...

Gelb has most high end stuff- talk to Ed.

Starving Musican- in Berkeley & Santa Clara has some
interesting basses off & on.
Saw a couple of 60's overpriced Jazz's in Berkeley a couple
of months ago.

Steve Swans' bass shop in Burlingame has the most string
basses- over 50??

If you 're into blues jammin:
ask your keyboard buddy:
Wed nites:
Little Fox Theater in Redwood City- has the biggest jam-\
7:00- 11:00 pm
http://us.mc810.mail.yahoo.com/mc/s...ex=4&mid=1_399185_AFHHjkQAAAMtSm4pLAPLynxc9Sk

and Gelb band is hosting this week.

over 200 folks come to listen. and big sign up sheet.
Good luck on getting up tho'
too many bass players sign up for roughly 5 jams spots. and I rarely get called up anymore.

So I attend the Hedley jazz jam at DeAnza Hotel in San Jose
7:30 -10:30pm for the jazzers..
and somes time there's upright bass too.
http://www.myspace.com/templejazzjam

There's different blues jams everynite:
Check this listing for the day:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Jacksblues/cal

 

I've spent endless hours there mountain biking. Great area.

 

Exactly. Killer mountain biking, but the exposed fire roads bake you in the sun.