Nashville visit. Must do's?

[Bass Viking]

i loved 3rd man records and the music stores. everyone had some interesting stuff not just fenders to bore you to death with. .

I hear ya! I can stay home and look at Fenders.

 

[pepj]

I was in Memphis in Feb this year. I'm not a country guy so I avoided the "Grand Ole Opry and similar sights, but there were a couple of other venues that held my interest:
1. For sure Broadway if you're in for constant live music. They call it "Honky Tonk Row". I was there at lunch time and at dinner time on a Thursday in February and the whole area was just hoppin' both times. Multiple joints had live music blaring even at lunch time. And it's central to a lot of things to check out.
2. National Museum of African American Music. Even though this somewhat duplicated some of the stuff I saw at Stax records in Memphis a few days prior, I found this to be an interesting place. In the heart of Honky Tonk Row
3. Musicians Hall of Fame. It's a little bit off the main strip but walkable from Broadway. I really enjoyed this facility - even more than I expected. I rated it right up with my visit to Stax in Memphis.
4. I've heard that the Ryman Theater (just off of Broadway) tour is good. I saw a show there but didn't do the tour.
5. The visitor's center (mentioned below) is a good source for your "what to do" question. They will rattle off a half dozen c/w features if you don't wave them off. Very helpful and right across the street from the African American Music Museum and near the Ryman Auditorium.

I didn't make it into any music stores (don't need any GAS temptations while on vacation!) so can't speak to that.

For sure, Uber/cab to and from Broadway. I accidently wound up there (Google maps felt that the visitor's center in the heart of ugly was where she needed to direct me). When we arrived in town and it was a nightmare just to get out. Most drivers are horrendous there (as they were in Memphis). Uber will drop you off about anywhere, but want you to get a couple blocks off the strip for easier pickups. Even the freeway system through Memphis is brutal, so Uber is your best friend unless you like tailgating and generally rude drivers.

"Convenient" accommodations will be very expensive (Upwards of $200/night). We stayed about 10 miles away from the central area and prices were still over $100/night at a modest hotel. Uber rides were about $13 each way - well worth it.

If you're there 4 days, Memphis is just a couple hours away and has a bunch of interesting features: Stax Records, Sun Records (don't just show up expecting to get in - get there early and reserve a later time if the first couple tours are full), Blues Hall of Fame and of course Beale Street.

Have now added Memphis too.
Re running history of Stax documentary.

 

[mrcbass]

Have now added Memphis too.
Re running history of Stax documentary.

There's also another cool Memphis documentary called "Take Me To The River". I found it on Peacock streaming.

 

[pepj]

Flying in tomorrow.
Got loads to pick off, so thanks all.
Staying in Cleveland Park which looks local enough.

 

[pepj]

Musician's Hall of Fame was right up my street.
Saw a few gtrs and instruments that were wrecked during the flood of 2010.
Hooked up with a local player who explained the warehouse where many many people stored their gtrs was right next to the Cumberland river and it was under 10ft of water in the flood. And unless the people paying for storage also added insurance, they lost a fortune. Flood damage was not part of the insurance which was typically theft only.
I think Gruhens was quite a beneficiary.
But yes, MHOF well worth and if you have a modicum of knowledge, you can self tour.
Subjects covered included Sun, Stax, Motown, Fame and Muscle shoals to name a few.
Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash represented County Music.
Saw basses from Jameson, Babbit and Joe Osbourne's Stack knob, but the thing that struck me were that these iconic and probably priceless basses were not maintained because the action's were ridiculous. At least Will Lee's P Bass looked playable.
So yep, really enjoyed that and worth the money.
Even Merch was fairly priced although Nashville has a habit of advertising things but not including prices. Like car parking..$45 just off Broadway.

 

[Bass Viking]

Musician's Hall of Fame was right up my street.
Saw a few gtrs and instruments that were wrecked during the flood of 2010.
Hooked up with a local player who explained the warehouse where many many people stored their gtrs was right next to the Cumberland river and it was under 10ft of water in the flood. And unless the people paying for storage also added insurance, they lost a fortune. Flood damage was not part of the insurance which was typically theft only.
I think Gruhens was quite a beneficiary.
But yes, MHOF well worth and if you have a modicum of knowledge, you can self tour.
Subjects covered included Sun, Stax, Motown, Fame and Muscle shoals to name a few.
Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash represented County Music.
Saw basses from Jameson, Babbit and Joe Osbourne's Stack knob, but the thing that struck me were that these iconic and probably priceless basses were not maintained because the action's were ridiculous. At least Will Lee's P Bass looked playable.
So yep, really enjoyed that and worth the money.
Even Merch was fairly priced although Nashville has a habit of advertising things but not including prices. Like car parking..$45 just off Broadway.

Awesome! Swing by Corner Music and pick up a Sadowsky.

 

[pepj]

Corner music closed on sundays and Carter vintage is by appointment only.
Tootsies was banging by just after midday so went to the overspill pub next door. Johnny Cash bar is more sedate.
.
Sam Ash...the less said about that the better.

The Grand ole Opry was ok

5 points is a cool little area and spent the afternoon and evening with a cool Nashville local who had quite a few industry stories..

If I'd have known before, I would have avoided weekends on Broadway.
Standard of daytime band probably condusive to young players looking for exposure and tips although players saying tips nowhere near what they used to be.

 

[Bass Viking]

Corner music closed on sundays and Carter vintage is by appointment only.
Tootsies was banging by just after midday so went to the overspill pub next door. Johnny Cash bar is more sedate.
.
Sam Ash...the less said about that the better.

The Grand ole Opry was ok

5 points is a cool little area and spent the afternoon and evening with a cool Nashville local who had quite a few industry stories..

If I'd have known before, I would have avoided weekends on Broadway.
Standard of daytime band probably condusive to young players looking for exposure and tips although players saying tips nowhere near what they used to be.

I get the impression from this thread that I've missed a sort of golden era of Nashville. I still want to go though!

 

[pepj]

I have no reference, just what I've seen so far.
If you are under 30, you might really enjoy the batchorlette parties and the mayhem that surrounds them, and you don't have to be a great band to score there.
So I guess that the bars see that as their market
and you can understand that.

 

[pepj]

Beale st Memphis was good. Had sone great ribs.
Visited Martin's Music which had some interesting stock off the wall.