Store with best bass selection in the US

[stretch80]

How about on the east coast? What's good?

 

[higain617]

The Seattle one would be perfect. I moved out to California earlier this year and have been looking for an excuse to visit the Pacific NW, which is the only area of the continental US I haven't visited. Maybe I'll even hop over to Vancouver while I'm at it.

The Bass Shop isn't all that big. It shares a space with Thunder Road Guitars.

 

[ptrick63]

I visited The Bass Shop a year ago. It is indeed part of Thunder Road Guitars. It has a good selection of Mike Lull basses, some vintage Fenders and others. A tasty selection of used and new higher end amps. Also full of vintage Fender guitars and amps along with others. Worth a visit. Again, this was a year ago.

 

[Obese Chess]

The Bass Shop has since spun off into their own business again but would agree, great people, great selection, great prices.

 

[detracti]

The Bass Shop has since spun off into their own business again but would agree, great people, great selection, great prices.

They relocated, but they're still in with Thunder Road Guitars. Just further South on California Ave, in a smaller space. Went last weekend.

 

[BostonJazz72]

Not sure if this has been said yet but in Chicago there is Bass Club of Chicago (Invalid Link Removed), Chicago Music Exchange (Chicago Music Exchange) and Luthier Access Group (Invalid Link Removed).

 

[redwingxix]

Yes....and while there, you can make it a Midwest experience and go to Motor City Guitars near Detroit, quite a selection of basses.

I don't do a lot of shopping when I'm travelling but Motor City Guitars has the best bass selection I've ever seen in person.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I visited The Bass Shop a year ago. It is indeed part of Thunder Road Guitars. It has a good selection of Mike Lull basses, some vintage Fenders and others. A tasty selection of used and new higher end amps. Also full of vintage Fender guitars and amps along with others. Worth a visit. Again, this was a year ago.

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That tangerine Mike Lull is very appealing to me.

 

[Danny O Danny]

Here's another vote for The Bass Shop in Seattle. Their selection isn't huge (usually 50 or so basses) but it's always an interesting collection and there's almost always something to catch the eye and pique the interest. Also they're super nice guys. They share space with Thunder Road Guitars, who also often have a few interesting basses in their inventory (often vintage Fenders and the like). Also, if you're in Seattle, it's worth visiting Emerald City Guitars, Mike and Mike's Guitar Bar, and The Trading Musician--all relatively centrally located. That will certainly provide a full day of bass browsing entertainment.

 

[tlite]

Bass Central in Orlando, FL.

+1. Huge selection. I take lessons there every now and then, so I am constantly looking at what they've got. They have Sadowsky, Lakland, G&L, Fender, Alembic, EBMM, Dingwall, etc., etc. right in the store and are happy to let you try anything out. Many instruments are in store, but not on display but they will open up anything you want to try.

 

[byrdzeye]

Not very close to you, but Club Bass in Toronto is pretty cool. Dave's a good player and has some very cool basses in stock, as well as accessories you can't find anywhere else (at least in Canada). Club Bass & Guitar | Toronto, Canada

 

[dalkowski]

I went to Jive Sound once a few years ago and it is a really good shop, some quality basses and amps there. The owner is a web designer by day and he does not like to spend his off hours on web design so beware that his website, while not bad, is not up to date as to what he actually has in stock. If coming from out of town I would recommend emailing or calling first.

Jive used to be a pretty regular presence here with valuable insights. And he sure does NOT like to spend his off hours on web design — looking at that site one could well assume his shop has gone toes-up (hope it hasn't!). DEFINITELY call first!

 

[MaxSpinrun]

+1. Huge selection. I take lessons there every now and then, so I am constantly looking at what they've got. They have Sadowsky, Lakland, G&L, Fender, Alembic, EBMM, Dingwall, etc., etc. right in the store and are happy to let you try anything out. Many instruments are in store, but not on display but they will open up anything you want to try.

+2 on BASS CENTRAL. I used to buy from them when I lived in Florida and would not hesitate to buy from them on line.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Sweet. Redwood City wouldn't be hard to get to at all. I have buddies in Oakland, so I'd just visit them.

Guitar Showcase in San Jose has a lot of basses. In addition, it's owner Steve, is one of the largest vintage guitar collector in the world. The dozen vintage instruments you'll see in the store are just the tip of the iceberg. He keeps most of his collection in storage. Let's say you want a 1960 PBass or a 1962 Jazz Bass a 1968 Ric or whatever you want, he has one for you.

 

[sgtpepper]

How about on the east coast? What's good?

Hartke 34th Street Bass Lounge @ Sam Ash NYC

 

[T Bassman]

Ish Guitars in Sarycuse, NY is really great. Really high end selections.
Ish Guitars - A Curated Collection of Fine Instruments

 

[orange joe]

The Low End Bass Shop out of Murfreesboro TN.

 

[BOOG]

Interested in the best stores to try out a bunch of different instruments. Hopefully this would include some that you can't find in any old Guitar Center.

It would also be nice if they had a great bass amp and cab selection, too.

At some point in the next year, I want to take a trip and wouldn't mind going throwing a visit to a great instrument store in at the same time. Heck, I'd even be open to stores outside the US...

Carter Vintage was worth a walkthrough when I was in Nashville last year. They do mean vintage! Lots of 'mojo' lingering throughout the whole place. The people were friendly and the place is packed with candy.

 

[Octavio]

I visited the Chicago Music Exchange in 2015. Approximately 100 basses in the store, and 3-4 times that many guitars upstairs. Fenders, Rickenbackers, Laklands, etc. New and used. I bought a Dee Dee Ramone signature bass. The employees were very hands-off and let me take my time. I would definitely go there again.

 

[Holdsg]

As a registered Gasoholic, I have the following offering for the non-GC/Sam Ash shopper for basses in the US.

Holdsg's bass gas-o-choice list (in order of importance when I'm looking for a new bass).

1. Bass Club Chicago - selection has really grown over the years. Owner Mark has become a friend, excellent customer service, keeps website up-to-date
2. Bass San Diego - good selection of boutique brands, and often get unique used items in on consignment, strong customer service
3. Bass Central - large selection, sketchy customer service (in my experience, you never know if they still actually had the bass in inventory, at least you used to), caveat emptor
4. Chicago Music Exchange - those vintage prices are not for the faint of heart, but you can find unique stuff here.
5. Bass Shop Seattle - good selection of certain boutique brands, particularly Mike Lull, of which I am big fan
6. Mesa Boogie Hollywood - good selection of Sadowsky and Nash, not much else, excellent customer service
7. Gruhn/Corner/Carter - ah, the Nashville Cabal, pricey vintage gear, but when you want vintage, played on records stuff, you go there
8. tie between: Ish Music (Spector gas), Sho Me Music (Bergantino gas), Bass and Beyond (only high end), Bass Place (Warwick gas), Bass and Amp Exchange, and Gelb.

wishing we still had:
Bass NW
The Perfect Bass
Atlanta Bass Gallery