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Going Local?

gkbass13

gkbass13

Supporting Member
Mar 29, 2006
7,643
1,900
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Southern Vermont
#1
So, over the last year or so I've decided to shift my gear purchases to local companies that I feel proud and happy to support. At first it was an American made thing, but then I decided-why not go local enough so that I could make a day trip to any of the shops where my cabs, amps or basses were made?


Is anyone else going local with gear purchases?
 
#3
To each their own. I work way too hard for my money to limit myself like that. If you think Fodera basses are the best value for your dollar, then it's a happy coincidence you are near them. If you'd rather have a Lakland played through a GK, but don't because they are out of your 3 hour radius, that seems limiting to me. It's your money though, so you definitely should do with it as you please.
 
#4
3 Hours? I live in West Texas. I'm 5 hours from Dallas/Ft. Worth. Same for OKC and Albuquerque. 6 to Austin. 8.5 to Houston. 15 hours to Nashville.

See my point?

People in the north east that have never been to the center of the country really don't understand how far things are away from each other.
 
#5
Not looking for flames. Just thought it was a cool concept. I never said anything about value for the dollar or pricing.

I just wanted to be able to hop in the car and make a day trip to the various shops of companies I support if I were to have a problem, questions, etc... 3 hours just happens to be the amount of time that my personal trip would be for said gear choices. Maybe it is all a coincidence, as I live in the Northeast and happen to be around some great companies and luthiers, but either way.....if anyone else has local stories, I'd love to hear them.
 
#6
Got2SadowskyNYC said:
3 Hours? I live in West Texas. I'm 5 hours from Dallas/Ft. Worth. Same for OKC and Albuquerque. 6 to Austin. 8.5 to Houston. 15 hours to Nashville.

See my point?

People in the north east that have never been to the center of the country really don't understand how far things are away from each other.
Click to expand...

I have a full understanding of distance, and how relative all of this is. Was just throwing it out there.
 
#9
gkbass13 said:
So, over the last year or so I've decided to shift my gear purchases to local companies that I feel proud and happy to support. At first it was an American made thing, but then I decided-why not go local enough so that I could drive 3 hours or less to any of the shops where my cabs, amps or basses were made?

I've settled(for now anyway....I mean, I am a GAS crazy TB'er after all) on Fodera basses, Aguilar Amps and Bergantino Cabs. I currently live in Southern Vermont and can drive to NYC or Boston in less than 3 hours.

Is anyone else going local with gear purchases?
Click to expand...

I live 22 miles south of Boston and have been playing for over 30 years. I have never found a decent local store anywhere in New England. They all seem to carry the same lower end basses and amps with very little inventory.
 
#10
gkbass13 said:
Not looking for flames. Just thought it was a cool concept. I never said anything about value for the dollar or pricing.

I just wanted to be able to hop in the car and make a day trip to the various shops of companies I support if I were to have a problem, questions, etc... 3 hours just happens to be the amount of time that my personal trip would be for said gear choices. Maybe it is all a coincidence, as I live in the Northeast and happen to be around some great companies and luthiers, but either way.....if anyone else has local stories, I'd love to hear them.
Click to expand...

I understand where you are coming from, I like knowing that I can drive to my particular bass maker rather than shipping my bass there
 
#12
Interesting. My version of "local" is to try to do my used gear purchases along the west coast as much as possible. I just passed on a couple of compelling things because it would require transcontinental shipping. I'm not a hybrid-driver but I am sensitive to the carbon footprint and shipping cost that our collective GAS entails! I think it would be cool if TBers would offer their stuff regionally when feasible. My 2 pennies...
 
#13
gkbass13 said:
So, over the last year or so I've decided to shift my gear purchases to local companies that I feel proud and happy to support. At first it was an American made thing, but then I decided-why not go local enough so that I could make a day trip to any of the shops where my cabs, amps or basses were made?


Is anyone else going local with gear purchases?
Click to expand...

Just a quick note to let you Know that I Enjoyed this Thread. I Live just down the Road from You and Do Most of my "Shopping" at a Couple of Different Places; Parkway Music in Clifton Park, NY and Downtown Sounds and Birdhouse Music in Northampton, Ma. Also quite Worthy of a Visit is Replay Music in Greenfield Mass. He often has some VERY Cool pieces that show up. :)
 

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