Musician's Friend is good at what they do: mass-marketing of music gear. They honor their return policy and I've never had a problem with them that wasn't resolved. They don't set up an instrument for you, they can't help with technical or sonic questions, etc. They sell a product in a box that another company made, shipped from a mass-distribution warehouse, and they know very little about it.
Sweetwater used to be the best of the online mass-marketers, in that they designated you a personal representative and you could always deal with that person, and they'd often follow-up to see how you liked a major purchase. Good online database. Haven't deal with them in three years, though.
Bass Emporium is the *best*, though. They are knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, and their prices are very competitive. They can set up the instrument for you. The place is full of really nice and interesting basses and amps. They don't take schlock in trade and they don't have any schlock on the walls for sale. They've given me good advice even when they weren't going to make any money out it.
Last time I was in Bass Emporium, Ed Friedland was playing around, trying out some new strings. Thought about telling him I had two of his books, then figured it would be slightly less dorky to wait until I'd actually worked through the books first....
