Recommend guitar stores that have a good bass selection

[loudone81]

I live in SE VA (in the Hampton Roads area). In the next few months I'll be buying a nice bass and I'd like to visit some stores that have a good selection of basses in the $800-$2k range. I'm willing to drive 5-6 hours so this puts Charlotte, DC, Baltimore in play as well as some other places I'm not evening thinking about.

We don't have many stores here, and the selection isn't always great. I've been to GC in VA Beach, Richmond and Glen Allen, as well as Sam Ash in Richmond. People were helpful everywhere, but other than Fender the selection wasn't amazing at any of them. I also understand that there's a lot of shortages on stuff right now so this may not be feasible at the moment.

 

[blacktocomm]

I Would check out Atomic Music in Beltsville and Chuck Levin’s in Silver Springs.

 

[Bob_Ross]

If New York City is within 5-6 hour drive of SE VA you'd probably like the selection at Sam Ash on West 34th Street. And if you're going to NYC you might as well also check out the selection at Rudy's in Soho, although tbh I doubt they have much in stock that's below $2k.

 

[Jim C]

I Would check out Atomic Music in Beltsville and Chuck Levin’s in Silver Springs.

I was at Atomic 2 weeks ago and they only had a few in this price range.
I wouldn't drive anywhere without checking stock as there is limited inventory right now.
Check out Chuck's online. As of right now they have 39 basses in stock (4-string) as show here.

Search Results

 

[Lesfunk]

Four hour drive to www.basspluckers.com in Wilmington NC
Greg’s the best and what a selection of basses
He’s always getting new stuff in too

 

[Zooberwerx]

Looking for anything in particular?

Riis

 

[loudone81]

Looking for anything in particular?

Riis

I really want to play a Yamaha BBP34 in Tobacco burst. I have a BB234 and it’s great. But all the attention to detail on the high end ones keep screaming BUY ME!! But I’d like to play one before dropping that kind of $$$ on a bass. I’d also like to play stuff I may have never considered. See if I find something I immediately bond with.

 

[evil dewars]

Four hour drive to www.basspluckers.com in Wilmington NC
Greg’s the best and what a selection of basses
He’s always getting new stuff in tooView attachment 4633676View attachment 4633677View attachment 4633678View attachment 4633679

Wow. I know where to go when visiting Topsail Island this year!

 

[MCF]

Four hour drive to www.basspluckers.com in Wilmington NC
Greg’s the best and what a selection of basses
He’s always getting new stuff in tooView attachment 4633676View attachment 4633677View attachment 4633678View attachment 4633679

He does have a lot of different dashes to try. I could spend several hours in a place like that.

 

[57pbass]

Driving 12 hours will add a few hundred dollars to this cost with the crazy gas prices.
You should add that money to the bass budget, upgrade and shop online.
I love going to the music stores too..
Good luck with your searching

 

[THX1138]

I was at Atomic 2 weeks ago and they only had a few in this price range.
I wouldn't drive anywhere without checking stock as there is limited inventory right now.
Check out Chuck's online. As of right now they have 39 basses in stock (4-string) as show here.

Search Results

I was at both stores on March 14th. At Atomic, I played a G&L, a Carvin bass, a Warmoth Gecko 5 string, and a Fender MIK Deluxe Jazz Bass with Barts. The Warmoth Gecko was unbelievable, but the neck was a little wide for my taste. However, it's all used inventory so these basses could be sold out by now!

Chuck's has a little of everything (Fender/Sire/Ibanez/EBMM), but what always catches my eye are the high-end Warmoth and Spector basses. A third store on my list to check out is Invalid Link Removed in Alexandria, VA.

 

[two fingers]

Wow. I know where to go when visiting Topsail Island this year!

We have a place in Topsail. I swing by that store a few times a year. Greg is great. (Don't go in there if you are an introvert or have limited time. Dude will talk your face off. But he's really nice and knowledgeable.) And you'll get to play some unusual stuff.

The Music Loft in Wilmington also usually has several Dingwall, Spector, and other higher-end basses. They are not as nice as Greg in there but the selection is surprising sometimes.

Music Loft of Wilmington

Drop me a message when you go to Topsail. If I'm in town I'll buy you a beer.

@loudone81 Wilmington NC is a sleeper. Several places down there have nice selections.

 

[MattZilla]

Of all of the Nice Basses I see in shops, I never see the top end japanese basses east of Colorado unless they’re used and at least 15 years old.

For Yamahas, you’d think at least Nashville or Atlanta might have a few shops that might have them in stock…

 

[tb-player]

I Would check out Atomic Music in Beltsville and Chuck Levin’s in Silver Springs.

Chuck Levins about 15 years ago. These days, it's sadly not quite as great. However, if you can find the bass you want there, they'll give the best discount.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

@loudone81 Thats pretty much everywhere lately. I check GC & SA stores whenever Im close to one. Theyve all had really limited selection. I just recently went to Orlando FL & Raleigh NC and checked out the guitar and pawn shops. Not much to choose from anywhere.

Bass Pluckers and Music Loft in Wilmington, NC are worth checking out.
Bass Pluckers sells used gear and Greg rules!
Music Loft has a lot of higher end basses. Sadowsky, Warwick, Spector, Fodera, Dingwall, Mayones, and Darkglass amps.
About 5hrs from where you are. Straight down Hwy 17. Easy drive.

Atomic Music in Beltsville, MD is also a fun store to checkout. Ive bought and sold A LOT of gear from them. You never know what will walk in the door there.

 

[6-3-2]

These options in North Carolina look awesome, but I might also check Metro Sound in Richmond. They've got a Nathan East Yamaha in stock right now. They seem to only have Yamahas for basses, so might be worth a call. I have not been however, so I'd be curious if anyone else has experience with that shop. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[evil dewars]

We have a place in Topsail. I swing by that store a few times a year. Greg is great. (Don't go in there if you are an introvert or have limited time. Dude will talk your face off. But he's really nice and knowledgeable.) And you'll get to play some unusual stuff.

The Music Loft in Wilmington also usually has several Dingwall, Spector, and other higher-end basses. They are not as nice as Greg in there but the selection is surprising sometimes.

Music Loft of Wilmington

Drop me a message when you go to Topsail. If I'm in town I'll buy you a beer.

@loudone81 Wilmington NC is a sleeper. Several places down there have nice selections.

Nice! We go Memorial Day weekend every year, it's an awesome way to kick off summer.

I'll hit you up while we're down there!

 

[Discount Bassy]

billsmusic.com - They have a large retail store in Catonsville, MD. The place has been around since the mid-sixties and has a good selection of about everything.

cornermusic.com - If you are in for more of a drive, this place is one of two in the country that you can grab a G. Gould. They always seem to have some very nice stuff.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Island Music if you go north. They may have a BBP34 in stock.

 

[Benj-jammin]

Four hour drive to www.basspluckers.com in Wilmington NC
Greg’s the best and what a selection of basses
He’s always getting new stuff in tooView attachment 4633676View attachment 4633677View attachment 4633678View attachment 4633679

Whoa Lesfunk - I'm only 3 hours away from that store. I see a summer, beach/Basspluckers diversion trip as well!