Disgusted With Massachusetts Music Stores

[low2groove]

All the guitar centers I go into are pretty bad. Their instruments, especially basses are never setup. I had a clerk pull down a $3000 bass only to hand it back to her because the strings were 3/4 of an inch off the fingerboard. This was a used bass that one of the staff there owned. Pretty sorry!

 

[stratovani]

As far as high-end bass gear goes there isn't a helluva lot here in the Worcester area. Just the usual, Squiers and Ibanez. Union Music in downtown Worcester is a decent store, but they cater more to guitarists and drummers. Kurlan Music in West Boylston is the same, Fenders and Squiers. I won't even bother mentioning GC or Daddy's.

 

[logicman69]

I though I would chime in here about the lack of high end basses in most shops. This time of year (ie: the holiday season), most stores will tend to stock alot of low end gear as that is what the majority of the customer base is looking for. Trust me when I say I would love to have a wall stocked with Sadowski, MTD, Lakland, Ritter, and {inster your favorite bass here}. But we also have to look at what would give us out biggest return on investment. And unfortunatly right now that is the lower end brands (which most people will admit the Squier CV's and Ibanez SR series are great basses for the money).

as far as Daddy's is concerned. A couple of us at the store level have been pushing the buying department to get into more of the upper-end equipment. We have taken on Orange and Genz-Benz (we got in small quantities right now as most inventory is tied up in beginner pack for the holidays), and have some more manufacturers in the works for after NAMM (I won't spoil the suprise... but I an PSYCHED ).

So I'll ask you guys (because I get asked by the buying department in January), what manufactures should we be stocking? What brands would you like to see in stores?

 

[dalkowski]

I though I would chime in here about the lack of high end basses in most shops. This time of year (ie: the holiday season), most stores will tend to stock alot of low end gear as that is what the majority of the customer base is looking for. Trust me when I say I would love to have a wall stocked with Sadowski, MTD, Lakland, Ritter, and {inster your favorite bass here}. But we also have to look at what would give us out biggest return on investment. And unfortunatly right now that is the lower end brands (which most people will admit the Squier CV's and Ibanez SR series are great basses for the money).

as far as Daddy's is concerned. A couple of lowly store employees have been pushing the buying department to get into more of the upper-end equipment. We have taken on Orange and Genz-Benz (we got in small quantities right now as most inventory is tied up in beginner pack for the holidays), and have some more manufacturers in the works for after NAMM (I won't spoil the suprise... but I an PSYCHED ).

So I'll ask you guys (because I get asked by the buying department in January), what manufactures should we be stocking? What brands would you like to see in stores?

First, your Nashua staff are really nice guys. The ones I've talked with don't come across as badass know-it-alls like some of the GC guys across the road. Wish I could remember the name of the manager, but he's way cool.

Absolutely please stock some Genz Benz -- no store within 75+ miles outside of Boston does that I know of. Lakland would be nice, too.

 

[ZoomBoy]

IME the 2 chain stores that are local to me: Daddy's and GC are not worth the effort to even walk in the store. The staff and poor selection of gear keep me away. I might buy a cable or some strings from them if I am in a pinch but other than that forget it. The collective knowledge of the sales staff in relation to bass and bass gear is pretty comical in both chains. Unfortunately the smaller stores with the cool staff and selection seem to get run out of business by GCs WalMart sales mentality.

Hit some GTGs to try other peoples gear or if you can swing the $$$ Roger Sadowsky has a return policy, 7 days I think. I'm pretty much a the point after playing for 20+ years where I know what I like and if it doesn't work out I flip the item or return it if that is an option.

Jeff

 

[Hoover]

It's the same almost everywhere.

This.

I lived in Boston for 15 years. But I'm now in New York City, where I've been for 10 years, and y'know what? It's really not that much better than Boston in terms of musical instrument retail stores with a wide selection of gear in stock.

I mean, yeah, it's better because we have one or two or maybe three stores in NYC that fit that description...but we have >10x the population of Boston, but only 3x the # of decent music stores.

Things suck all over.

 

[stratovani]

I though I would chime in here about the lack of high end basses in most shops. This time of year (ie: the holiday season), most stores will tend to stock alot of low end gear as that is what the majority of the customer base is looking for. Trust me when I say I would love to have a wall stocked with Sadowski, MTD, Lakland, Ritter, and {inster your favorite bass here}. But we also have to look at what would give us out biggest return on investment. And unfortunatly right now that is the lower end brands (which most people will admit the Squier CV's and Ibanez SR series are great basses for the money).

as far as Daddy's is concerned. A couple of us at the store level have been pushing the buying department to get into more of the upper-end equipment. We have taken on Orange and Genz-Benz (we got in small quantities right now as most inventory is tied up in beginner pack for the holidays), and have some more manufacturers in the works for after NAMM (I won't spoil the suprise... but I an PSYCHED ).

So I'll ask you guys (because I get asked by the buying department in January), what manufactures should we be stocking? What brands would you like to see in stores?

G&L comes to mind, as well as GK and MarkBass.

 

[dalkowski]

G&L comes to mind, as well as GK and MarkBass.

+1 to G&L. NO ONE stocks them.

 

[ZoomBoy]

G&L comes to mind, as well as GK and MarkBass.

Good luck with getting those brands at Daddy's...GC has or at least had a pretty exclusive arrangement with both....

The thing is that the margin on the cheap gear is way better than the quality stuff that the OP is wanting to try out. The chain stores would rather stock and sell 10 $300 Ibanez basses instead of having one $3000 Sadowsky or Lakland on the wall that sits there for months.

I'd rather do business with Bass Central or Kebo for the good ****.....

 

[logicman69]

Good luck with getting those brands at Daddy's...GC has or at least had a pretty exclusive arrangement with both....

The thing is that the margin on the cheap gear is way better than the quality stuff that the OP is wanting to try out. The chain stores would rather stock and sell 10 $300 Ibanez basses instead of having one $3000 Sadowsky or Lakland on the wall that sits there for months.

I'd rather do business with Bass Central or Kebo for the good ****.....

Actually, Zoom.. we are GK dealers. We picked up the line Mid summer. Mostly MB combos (got a 210 in stock and getting a 115 in this week. Still trying to convice them to stock some 212). Markbass is the brand that has an exclusive deal with GC.

And you hit the nail on the head about the margin. It's a tough balancing act. On one hand, you want to stock the stuff that sells regularly, but on the other hand you want those "showcase" pieces that draw the buyer in. The trick is to find the right mix with a limited ammount of inventory $$$

G&L is interesting. We did deal them along time ago. I'll bring that one up to the powers-that-be.

 

[dalkowski]

Good luck with getting those brands at Daddy's...GC has or at least had a pretty exclusive arrangement with both....

I've never seen a G&L at a GC.

I demo GK @ Daddy's.

 

[BuffaloBass]

Buffalo is as bad; although I'd expect it from a small town, Boston is a almost a city. ( putting it in Chinese perspective!)

I've fished a few axes here off TB at decent prices; and I try to buy at a price point that I wont get "gassed" if I have to resell.

for a patient investor, this is a good strategy! The first Valenti I bought is now being sold for $350 more than I bought/sold it fo here. When I moved to a 35" compound neck, I had no issue wheeling the Valenti back to the community at cost. And then I bought another, slightly banged up one for cheap. Its now my main gig bass.

The only "bummers" have been the typical MIM stuff. Its either great or neeeds reconstruction.

Get yourself to a TB GTG where you can sample a number of instruments. Watch the For Sale pages for axes that trade for a price you'll not get hurt at if you resell. Sure you'll eat shipping or Paypal fees once in a bit, but what can we do?

 

[KPJ]

Which Daddy's stores has Genz Benz? I thought it was interesting Daddy's brought in GK but neglected the MB heads.

Performance Music in Woburn is a G&L dealer and has a couple basses in stock at most times, but really pushes the custom orders, They can be, um "interesting" to deal with. They are a little over a mile or two from Mouradian's shop, on the same street, Route 38, Plan a trip, stop by Performance first than detox at Jim's.

 

[Bipslapper]

Matt's Music in Weymouth (although more for guitarists) and G Guitars in New Haven, CT are good. I used to go to Daddy's on Mass Ave. and the GC in Brookline (yuk). Regarding GC- If I want to hear lame guitar riffs on out-of tune guitars surrounded by pasty men with pony tails I will rent Wayne's World.

That's why when I travel to Texas and NYC I go to Bass Emporium in Austin and the many bass stores in Manhattan, then order online. Don't even ask me about a cool store on Cape Cod= Fail!

Decent music stores, like many other things I like in this crappy state are gone.

Sorry for the vent

 

[logicman69]

Which Daddy's stores has Genz Benz? I thought it was interesting Daddy's brought in GK but neglected the MB heads.

.

Boston and Albany have some stuff left. Though there is not much left from our initial order. I'm hoping they will restock after the new year. I got a chance to play out of the UBER212 cab and it just blew my mind. It was one of the loudest cabs I had ever heard! Trying to find a way to sneek that one by the wife

I'm not sure what the deal was with the MB heads. I know for a while all of the MB stuff was on backorder. Gonna have to bug purchasing on that one as well.

 

[ZoomBoy]

I've never seen a G&L at a GC.

I demo GK @ Daddy's.

My mistake on the G&L part. I was referring to GK and MB...And for the record I am not knocking every GC and Daddy's only the ones local to me.

logicman69 does Matt Cole still work for Daddy's?

 

[sailri]

Have you been to Empire Guitars in Providence yet?

http://www.facebook.com/empireguitars

(OK, I'm not sure if they have a real website)

It's a cool place, prices are OK, always have a nice mix of vintage stuff. Mike Dirnt bought the Guild B302 I had my eye on (rich jerk!).

They still have two Guild B302's, a Starfire, Jaco Tribute, Dan Armstrong plexi and the largest supply of vintage Kustom tuck and roll cabs anywhere. Pair of late 60's Telecaster Basses too.

 

[knigel]

Yes, they have a couple of Guilds there (really a TON of stuff) but Mike Dirnt bought THE ONE, the one that spoke to me ha ha.

I actually spend too much time there--the guitarist in my band (well, I'm the bass player in his band) is an employee there, so I often go in just to shoot the breeze.

 

[BassBrass]

Thanks for the feedback but unless and they are carrying Ampeg from the 1960's and 1970's they are not carrying "Top of the Line". I had an endorsement deal with Ampeg. I gave it up and ended up buying GK at retail. The Ampeg was under powered and sounded like crap. I was extemely disappointed especially since I had owned several early 1970's SVT heads that I loved.

I'm sorry I made such a horrible mistake, you are right about more recent SVT's. I should have said: I have seen a NUMBER of different top line amps come and go at Mr Music. When they DO have a vintage SVT the price is much higher (as it should be) and they have had Orange, GK, SWR, Trace Elliot, Eden, Hartke, Ashdown and MANY OTHER used heads over 200w. Did I mention it's chancy what will be there for heads but It's good to check? (I hope you aren't offended by my including any perceived lesser brands in the partial list).

oh, here's their website [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] or http://coolguitars.com/
under new arrivals looks like they're listing a Lakeland, a Warwick and a few Fenders. (There's much more there) And a Glen Benz under new amps...

 

[brianrost]

It's just the economy and the current tastes in basses.

GC used to stock plenty of high end stuff, even in the suburban stores. I remember going in one day to check out some five strings from Alembic, Zon, Tobias and Warwick. There were other local dealers selling Spector, Steinberger, Pedulla, BC Rich USA, Modulus, high-end Yamahas, etc.

Face it, how many $2000+ basses can any dealer sell? The idea of retail is to turn over your inventory. The longer a bass hangs on the wall, the longer your money is tied up.