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Your Favorite Bass Store & Why..?

thomasjbass

thomasjbass

Dec 20, 2010
1,974
808
Highland Heights, OH
www.ohiocreative.com
#1
So I have been doing a ton of research on potentially starting an online commerce site specifically for bassists and I think this is an ideal community to get feedback from on what a store needs, where they do great and where they absolutely stink. I would ask everyone to post their favorite store, online or a store front, why they love it (what they do absolutely right), and general idea's of where stores could do things better for bassists. This is completely an opinion based post, so feel free to share exactly what you think. I am really curious as I don't want to start something that is aweful and way off the mark. I live near LA, and there are no shortages of music stores and even of great bass stores. So please share your thoughts here with me, I would greatly appreciate it!
 
#2
bestbassgear.com - great gear, comparable prices, and great service and although I'm not in Peoria (Phoenix, AZ region) The Bass Place is awesome too, have bought both accessories and basses from them - very reputable.
 
#6
thomasjbass said:
So I have been doing a ton of research on potentially starting an online commerce site specifically for bassists and I think this is an ideal community to get feedback from on what a store needs, where they do great and where they absolutely stink. I would ask everyone to post their favorite store, online or a store front, why they love it (what they do absolutely right), and general idea's of where stores could do things better for bassists. This is completely an opinion based post, so feel free to share exactly what you think. I am really curious as I don't want to start something that is aweful and way off the mark. I live near LA, and there are no shortages of music stores and even of great bass stores. So please share your thoughts here with me, I would greatly appreciate it!
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If you know good bass stores in LA I'd love to know about them. The only one I know about is The Amp Shop/Bass Exchange in Sherman Oaks, which at one time was The LA Bass Exchange in Tarzana. If you know some good ones, PLEASE tell me.
What do I like about them? The sales people aren't pretentious butt holes that don't want you touching anything or asking them questions if you aren't buying. They are so helpful that I almost feel bad not buying something. Also, their basses are tuned and have good strings on them unlike the bug box stores that try to sell instruments that sound terrible because they are beat and have dead strings on them. Finally its a place I can dream about Foderas and F-Basses I will never be able to afford. If I wanted to play one, they would let me, but there really isn't any point to that.
What don't I like? Its REALLY small. Like a lot of personally owned shops they have to cram a lot of stuff into a small space. I would like a bass nirvana where they have one of everything. They also don't have much on hand as far as amps because of their size. They only have Aguilar in their test room, which is sort of fine, but a 2x12 Aguilar cab isn't going to sound anything like my Ampeg 1x15.

Out of all of this, attitude is I'd say number 1. Sometimes bass players can be real snobs, there's a peacock attitude where they are trying to show each other up. A friendly environment where the employees don't judge the people that come in is critical. Unless, they are guitarists, in which case they should be asked to leave :)
 
#8
Local: Middletown Music in Middletown DE ( I know the owner). Online:bass strings online. Custom Luthier: Kevin Brubaker.
 
#10
thomasjbass said:
So I have been doing a ton of research on potentially starting an online commerce site specifically for bassists and I think this is an ideal community to get feedback from on what a store needs, where they do great and where they absolutely stink. I would ask everyone to post their favorite store, online or a store front, why they love it (what they do absolutely right), and general idea's of where stores could do things better for bassists. This is completely an opinion based post, so feel free to share exactly what you think. I am really curious as I don't want to start something that is aweful and way off the mark. I live near LA, and there are no shortages of music stores and even of great bass stores. So please share your thoughts here with me, I would greatly appreciate it!
Click to expand...


Just a few suggestions: (1) Make sure the picture of the product actualy matches the description. (2) If you could, it would be nice to be able to search for used bass heads by wattage in addition to name brand

Good luck with your idea
 
#11
American Music, Fremont, Seattle. They don't have the greatest selection, just meat and potato Fenders, Gibsons, and the occasional Eastwood, but they have the best people in town and a great repair shop. They will happily order anything you need if they don't have it. If you're looking for boutique basses and boutique gear, it's not the place for you, but if you want excellent service and workhorse gear, it can't be beat.

I really want to add Bass Northwest, but as amazing as their selection is, and it truly is amazing, the vibe in that store just has not been the same since Chad Beeler left. I value the staff of a shop highly, and how I'm made to feel when I'm in the shop, and Bass NW just doesn't score very highly in this regard. That said, this is THE boutique shop in town.

I also dig Emerald City Guitars. They have some great vintage basses now and again, so if you're looking for vintage this is my first recommendation.

I will grudgingly add The Trading Musician as well, but I will never set foot in that shop again after they tried to low-ball me on a vintage P-Bass by claiming it was a refin when it wasn't. It is, however, a great place to find oddball instruments.
 
#13
If you want a great business model, look at a paintball retailer called ANS Gear. Paintball is a niche market, much like basses, but they have been very successful because they have adopted a solid hybrid model of brick-and-mortar and online sales. They have a showroom in Simi Valley that is huge, where they stock everything from $90 paintball markers to $1300 markers. This brings in the kid or hobbyist, but lets them see what is possible. On the back of that store front is a massive warehouse where they stock everything that is on their website. So if you live locally you can go buy it, or order it. If you want to try it out, just make the trip. It requires A LOT of organization so you know where everything is, and a very thorough computerized inventory/POS system, but it is totally doable.
If I had any capital to sink into a start up I'd totally be there with you man.
 
#14
Cookye said:
If I am doing it online Bass Central would be a good choice. Beaver Felton is a fair and honest businessman. Now my pet peeve is buying an instrument that I haven't played so I am more inclined to visit a facility to actually play the instrument beforehand.
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I think I had an instructional tape from that guy. You don't forget an name like Beaver Felton.
 
#15
I had an excellent experience with Bass Central when I was having a LOT of issues with a custom order (not going to get into details here).

But you have NO IDEA how good or bad a company really is until something goes really wrong. How a company handles a bad situation defines what type of company they are and how important you as a customer are to them. Beaver and co, really came through for me and was great

I will say that Bass Central really shines and is excellent. I would highly reccomend them.
 
#17
Killer feedback, and something I should point out. If you have a benchmark of an online experience and not just bass equipment, please share it. I wanna enhance peoples buying experience and make it better for them to find what they want when they want. Thanks again Socialleper!

socialleper said:
If you want a great business model, look at a paintball retailer called ANS Gear. Paintball is a niche market, much like basses, but they have been very successful because they have adopted a solid hybrid model of brick-and-mortar and online sales. They have a showroom in Simi Valley that is huge, where they stock everything from $90 paintball markers to $1300 markers. This brings in the kid or hobbyist, but lets them see what is possible. On the back of that store front is a massive warehouse where they stock everything that is on their website. So if you live locally you can go buy it, or order it. If you want to try it out, just make the trip. It requires A LOT of organization so you know where everything is, and a very thorough computerized inventory/POS system, but it is totally doable.
If I had any capital to sink into a start up I'd totally be there with you man.
Click to expand...
 

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