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You lucky Silver Spring / Wheaton shoppers ......

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by Sanctum, Jul 3, 2003.

  1. Jul 3, 2003 #1
    Sanctum

    Sanctum

    Jan 25, 2002
    Conjunction Junction
    Last week I was in Maryland visiting my family and in-laws and stopped by Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center. Let me tell you, all you MD people are lucky! What a selection of basses and amps! Its the only store I've ever been in that had American Spectors in stock (although not on the floor). Nice selection of everything else too - I better not hear anyone complain from out there! In Missouri we have Guitar Center crap and but a few small independent boutique shops - nothing with that varied selection.

    Go buy me something.
     
  2. Jul 3, 2003 #2
    Sanctum

    Sanctum

    Jan 25, 2002
    Conjunction Junction
    Oh yea, and I forgot to add that while there I saw they sold Randall guitar gear, which one of my guitar players uses, and he's been looking for a specific cab. One of the sales people helped me out immediately and even called Randall on the phone to find what I was asking about. Very friendly place.

    Go buy me something now.
     
  3. Jul 3, 2003 #3
    Fuzzbass

    Fuzzbass P5 with overdrive Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 13, 2001
    Maryland, between DC and Bawlmer
    Oh, I'm the first to admit we're very lucky to have WMC ("Chuck's", as it's often called around here). There's also a Guitar Center a few miles away in Rockville... I only mention this because the competition keeps street prices very low at both places, but I always go to Chuck's first. Well, I once went to GC first, and that turned out to be a *huge* mistake.

    Chuck's does have an excellent selection of new gear. Fewer boutique brands than Rudy's in NYC, though: I've never seen Lakland, MTD, Ritter. I've only seen low-end Pedullas there. Chuck's has Aguilar, but no Epifani or Bergantino. Not a big complaint because there are very few dealers nationwide who carry Epi or Bergie, but it is too bad that there are no Epi or Bergie dealers in the huge Baltimore/Washington/Annapolis/Northern Virginia metro area... Chuck's should be the place to carry them.

    Chuck's used to have a fairly large selection of used gear, but no more... I guess Atomic Music in College Park took that business.

    But anyway, it's very nice to have a couple of regular salesmen there... I know I'm getting the absolute lowest prices on gear.
     
  4. Jul 3, 2003 #4
    Sanctum

    Sanctum

    Jan 25, 2002
    Conjunction Junction
    Yea I asked when I was there if they had any used gear, as I'm looking for a Steve Harris Fender, but was told that eBay has just killed the used market for them so they don't really bother anymore. He did suggest Atomic but I didn't have time to make it over there.
     
  5. Jul 3, 2003 #5
    Philbiker

    Philbiker Pat's the best!

    Dec 28, 2000
    Northern Virginia, USA
    Great store. Unfortunately Chuck Levin passed away a few months ago. He was a fantastic proprieter and very passionate about music. He used to rent instruments to local schools and students for incredibly low prices (like he didn't raise prices for decades).

    Great store.
     
  6. Jul 3, 2003 #6
    babecker

    babecker

    Mar 7, 2002
    Sykesville, MD
    Bought my Ric there. Cool place.
     
  7. Jul 3, 2003 #7
    Schwinn

    Schwinn

    Dec 4, 2002
    Sarasota, FL
    Chuck Levin's...Great store indeed. Best in the area. I grew up in Metro Detroit which isn't a bad area for gear shopping these days either.

    Atomic is Ok for used gear but their prices aren't that low. You can usually do much better on ebay. BUT, it is a really good place to SELL stuff...like cabs when you don't want to go through the trouble of shipping.
     
  8. Jul 3, 2003 #8
    godoze

    godoze

    Oct 21, 2002
    Even tho i no longer live in MD I stil buy all of my gear from Chuck's. They still give me the best prices.
     
  9. Jul 3, 2003 #9
    Phat Ham

    Phat Ham

    Feb 13, 2000
    DC
    My first bass ('94 Squier Jazz) and amp (Peavey Minx110) were bought at Chuck Levin's by my dad for Christmas when I was in 8th grade. I've had limited interaction with Chuck's since then, but they've always been helpful.
     
  10. Jul 3, 2003 #10
    godoze

    godoze

    Oct 21, 2002
    i bought my first real bass there in 1982 - a ,um, washburn I think.

    bought all my amps there.

    bought a PRS bass there in 1988 -what a mistake !

    bought my first Smith there in 1999.

    just bought some pickups from them.
     
  11. Jul 3, 2003 #11
    FunkySpoo

    FunkySpoo Supporting Member

    Feb 6, 2002
    I got my Stingray5 there. I drive right past GC and go another 7 miles to go to Chucks
     
  12. Jul 3, 2003 #12
    BassAxe

    BassAxe

    Jul 22, 2002
    Culpeper, VA
    Did they still have that Taylor acoustic bass with the massive crack up the side? I couldn't believe it when they said they'd let it go for $500.

    Aside from that, I agree: Great store, great selection, great employees.

    Lousy didjeridoo department.

    If you are into odd acoustic cultural instruments from all parts of the world, you should stop by House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park, MD. They are the epicenter of alternative music (not necessarily "rock") in the D.C. area.

    Side note: A group from Belgium lost their gear at Dulles International Airport. The theives tried to sell the instruments (worth about $40,000) to House of Musical Traditions for about $400. The guys at HofMT knew they must've been stolen and worked with local and federal authorities to get the thieves arrested and the instruments back to their rightful owners. Good people at that store.