Crossing the USA

[7string]

One April 3rd, my fiancee and I are off to the USA for a month, during which time we're getting married in Las Vegas

Being the understanding soul that she is, we'll be hitting a few music stores when we're there (I'll be going to perfume counters and handbag shops no doubt). Be really interesting to see what the shops are like across the pond and to play some makes I've never tried before.

So I'd like to throw this question open. I've got a few ideas, but can anyone recommend any stores in these cities or can anyone think of a bass which they would like to play but are only available in the USA??

We're going to:

Fly to Los Angeles

Drive to Las Vegas, drive out to the Grand Canyon, drive back to Las Vegas

then fly to Chicago

then pick up a car and drive to NYC via:

St Louis
Memphis
Nashville
Knoxville
Wytheville
Charlottesville
Washington DC

staying 1-3 nights at each city. On the last night in NYC we've bought tickets to sample true American culture, watching the Mets at Shea Stadium


As I say, I'm really looking forward to seeing the stores and what they have to offer. In LA, I'm going to be going to the Carvin store as it's brand I've read lots about but never played. Really looking forward to trying a Mike Lull as well. It's tempting to bring something back, but to tell the truth I've no set idea what. If an excellent bargain raises it's head then I'll see

Anything you can bring to this thread is greatly appreciated.

It's going to be a heck of a trip !!



PS. I will try and make some notes as we go and post some thoughts when I get back.

Edited May 13, 2008 by 7string

[vegas_hooker]

Sounds a treat. Congratulations in advance too.

A friend recently visited NYC and went to a nicks game. He mentioned how much more civil it was compared to his native Swansea FC haha.

Tipping is around 15% (though the service in most places warrants it - unlike the sullen afterbirths that work in most places here). The staff in shops will go out f their way to get a sale from you so enjoy it before you get back to blighty. Id probably be looking to play G&L's since I dont come across them here all that much.

[The Funk]

Congratulations!

In NYC, try out some Aguilar and Sadowsky stuff - it might even be possible to go into the workshop if you ask nicely.

[David Nimrod]

[quote name='7string' post='162022' date='Mar 23 2008, 12:19 AM']It's going to be a heck of a trip !![/quote]



I am just *so* envious

Have a wonderful time!

[BigRedX]

If this was me I'd have a look for [url="http://www.spaltbasses.com/lagg.html"]LA Guitar Garage[/url] the home of [url="http://www.spaltbasses.com/"]Spalt Basses[/url].

In Vegas I'd check out [url="http://www.edroman.com/"]Ed Roman[/url] - he doesn't have the greatest reputation or attitude but I think the shop is worth a look even if you don't want to buy from him.

Just outside Nashville is [url="http://www.thelowend.net/thelowend/index.htm"]The LowEnd Shop[/url] although apparently you need to check that they're not away at a show with most of the the stock first!

Don't know about any of the other places except New York. The main area for musical instruments is 48th Street near Times Square. It's all a bit Denmark Street really (but with better service). however there was one shop with a great selection of less usual basses. I can't remember what it was called, but it was nearer the 7th Ave end and was pretty small. Basses were upstairs and you had to go right through the shop to get to them. I tried my first Pedulla Buzz there - very nice. There's a pretty good Guitar Centre on 14th Street they had some Alembics in when I was last there. For strange vintage Guitars and the occasional bass there's Chelsea Guitars right next to the entrance to the Chelsea Hotel on 23rd Street. In Broklyn there's [url="http://www.sadowsky.com/"]Sadowsky[/url] - shop address and directions under"support" and [url="http://www.fodera.com"]Fodera[/url].

Hope all of that is of some use to you. Please let me know how you get on in NYC especially if you go and see Sadowsky or Fodera as I'm planning to go again in October of this year.

[wateroftyne]

Cool trip!

[url="http://www.truetonemusic.com/"]TrueTone[/url] in Santa Monica is a fab shop. I bought my Walnut Elite II from there after being a) treat like crap on a shoe or being totally underwhelmed by other shops in the area.

Sunset Strip is worth a look around, but you won't find many bargains. Voltage was a great shop, but it looks like it's gone now.

Norm's Vintage and Rare in Venture *could* be a great shop, but Norm & the staff were - at the time - a bunch of rude imbeciles. So there.

Do yourself a favour - if your itineary allows, when you do the Vegas / Grand Canyon trip, get off the tourist trail and head into the reservations. Places like Tuba City and that. Incredible.

And, it goes without saying (for a Fenderholic like me, anyway)... [url="http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/"]Chicago Music Exchange[/url]!

Here's some photos from my trips out there, if you're interested.

[url="http://www.jollybeggars.co.uk/mlfusa2001/"]2001 Band Tour[/url] (Southwest etc. toward the bottom)

[url="http://www.jollybeggars.co.uk/honeymoon/"]Honeymoon[/url] (similar to your trip, but in reverse)

Edited March 23, 2008 by wateroftyne

[stingrayfan]

In LA - nr Sunset/La Brea there's the Hollywood branch of Guitar Center. Most guitarists in LA bands will have shopped there at some point, so defo worth a visit. It's all run of the mill stuff, but seek out their vintage section in the basement and laugh at the ridiculous prices. There's a Sam Ash over the road too which does more quirky stuff.

Trying/buying guitars is a much more pleasureable thing in the States - they actually want to help you!

Enjoy...

[stingrayfan]

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='162095' date='Mar 23 2008, 10:40 AM']And, it goes without saying (for a Fenderholic like me, anyway)... [url="http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/"]Chicago Music Exchange[/url]![/quote]
That place looks amazing. Never thought of going to Chicago before - need to find an excuse now!

[chris_b]

This might be out of your way but, you should try to get to Detroit and check out the Motown Historical Museum at "Hitsville", where the Funk Brothers recorded for Motown. You can also look around the Sun Studios in Memphis and I believe you can go to the original Stax studios, also in Memphis.

[Kiwi]

[quote name='7string' post='162022' date='Mar 23 2008, 12:19 AM']It's going to be a heck of a trip !![/quote]

Sure is, I did a similar thing about 10 years ago, only starting from New York and working my way back to LA.

NY Port Authority to Alberqueque on the Greyhound bus because I wanted to get an impression of scale the US as a country. Turned out to be a real road trip with runaway lesbian teens, fights, near road accidents and some interesting characters. After getting screwed over by an unscrupulous car hire company in Santa Fe and being near dead with exhaustion after being woken up every 4 hours by a driver change, I stayed with friends in Santa Fe (again more stories).

Then another friend came out from LA in his campervan and we took a tiki tour of Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Four Corners, Hoover Dam and Las Vegas. Then I went to stay with a distant cousin who was then a TV presenter on a nationally syndicated entertainment show. Wouldn't have done it any other way apart from trying to get New Orleans in as well, but I wouldn't like to repeat parts of it either.

Re: basses, Consider
a limited edition Stingray 4 or 5 from Bass Central is good value if you want to buy and have someone you can ship it to
a used Sadowsky is good value if you want to buy
a lightweight amp head

Try: Smith BSR bass (like mine), Alembics, Sadowskys, Avella Coppolo, Roscoe, Nordstrand, etc. etc., just have a look at some of the GAS lists on Talkbass

[gypsymoth]

the Bass (shop/palace/?) on Ventura Blvd in Encino (still L.A.) used to have some special stuff.

[thebassmandave]

Congrats.

If you get the chance once in LA, a really cool place with some nice basses and amps is the Amp Shop/Bass Exchange.

[url="http://www.bassexchange.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=94&osCsid=cf3cc689017889dda722d45aff284913"]http://www.bassexchange.com/catalog/index....722d45aff284913[/url]

Some of their basses are expensive but (I still think in terms of pounds) compared to the prices in Blighty, are still a lot cheaper.

I've found basses in the States to be around about half the price they are in England.

With the pound being so strong at the moment, I'm sure you'll find a great deal somewhere.

I bought a new lefty USA P bass for $800 - the one in my avatar.

I have also bought a G&L L2000 Tribute which go for about $500.

I love that bass and for that kind of price, you can't go wrong.

If you get a chance, check out the G&L basses as I think for the money, they offer great value.


Don't forget to add in about 8% to the tag price for sales tax.

Carvin Store is on Sunset Blvd, really close to Sam Ash and Guitar Centre.

They've also got a Mesa Boogie store close by which has some nice basses and there are one or two vintage stores also in the area.

The vintage basement in the Guitar Centre is something else - expensive, but really cool vintage Fenders on the wall.

Good Luck!

Dave

Edited March 23, 2008 by thebassmandave

[chris_b]

When in Chicago you could drop in see Dan Lakin in the Lakland factory. Don't forget Graceland in Memphis. In NYC you could check out the makers of Paul Turners Alleva Coppollo basses in their 9th Ave shop. The Groove Shoppe in Farmingdale, Long Island.

[7string]

Thanks for all your good wishes and suggestions!!

Chicago Music Exchange looks pretty cool. Jen's looking forward to that one as well as there's big sofas where she can just read a book!! We're in North Hollywood so the shops are about 10 mins down the road. We're making time for music shops on every stop (as well as perfume and handbag outlets!).

[b]Wateroftyne[/b] - Some great photos there. Looks like you had a great time. Tuba City has been duly noted!!

[b]Crazykiwi[/b] - Sound like you had a great time as well. Probably wasn't so great at the time though.


I've done a fair bit of planning already, but I'm also trying to get my Open University work done as well before we go so I don't get behind. Doing two courses, one on the technology of music and the other on lyrics/words in musical context. Pretty interesting stuff...

We think it's going to be a bit of a gastronomic tour as well. The important question has to be asked..."Is KFC better than over here ?". I've got a copy of the Rough Guide to the USA which seems to have plenty of places to eat as well as giving a bit of history as well.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply to this thread. Very much appreciated.

[The Funk]

[quote name='7string' post='162469' date='Mar 24 2008, 12:51 AM']The important question has to be asked..."Is KFC better than over here ?"[/quote]

$1 all you can eat buffets, free refills and Rotisserie Gold chicken. If I was American I'd set a new standard for obesity - they'd need to invent a new word for it.

[Russ]

[quote name='7string' post='162469' date='Mar 24 2008, 12:51 AM']We think it's going to be a bit of a gastronomic tour as well. The important question has to be asked..."Is KFC better than over here ?". I've got a copy of the Rough Guide to the USA which seems to have plenty of places to eat as well as giving a bit of history as well.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply to this thread. Very much appreciated.[/quote]

I hope you're not a vegetarian, as there's some awesome steaks to be had over here! Even the chain restaurants (Chili's, Longhorn, Outback, etc) do great steak. As for KFC, the chicken tastes the same, but you won't get chips... all their meals come with "biscuits" (kinda a savoury version of a scone) but you develop a taste for them! Wendy's is also great for fast food... you can amuse yourself greatly by asking for a "biggie number two" and the Baconator burger will fill you up for an entire day! Since you're going to be going through the south, make sure to check out some Southern cuisine - more biscuits, plus the wonders of stuff like chicken fried steak (basically steak done in KFC-style batter). And if seafood's your thing, there's some great shrimp to be had.

I have issues with being in the US, but the food and the music shops aren't among them (other than the lack of availability of good chips and the scarcity of decent Indian restaurants)... have fun! You'll love Vegas - it's like Disneyland for adults. Must get back there one day.

[ednaplate]

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='162095' date='Mar 23 2008, 10:40 AM']Cool trip!

[url="http://www.truetonemusic.com/"]TrueTone[/url] in Santa Monica is a fab shop. I bought my Walnut Elite II from there after being a) treat like crap on a shoe or being totally underwhelmed by other shops in the area.

Sunset Strip is worth a look around, but you won't find many bargains. Voltage was a great shop, but it looks like it's gone now.

Norm's Vintage and Rare in Venture *could* be a great shop, but Norm & the staff were - at the time - a bunch of rude imbeciles. So there.

Do yourself a favour - if your itineary allows, when you do the Vegas / Grand Canyon trip, get off the tourist trail and head into the reservations. Places like Tuba City and that. Incredible.

And, it goes without saying (for a Fenderholic like me, anyway)... [url="http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/"]Chicago Music Exchange[/url]!

Here's some photos from my trips out there, if you're interested.

[url="http://www.jollybeggars.co.uk/mlfusa2001/"]2001 Band Tour[/url] (Southwest etc. toward the bottom)

[url="http://www.jollybeggars.co.uk/honeymoon/"]Honeymoon[/url] (similar to your trip, but in reverse)[/quote]
Some great photos there. I've visited Phoenix a number of times to see friends and it seems we've been to all the same places including the church in the desert and Sedona, Flaggstaff etc. I was last there in January and believe it or not it was warmer in the UK than Arizona... although I have been in Phoenix in the summer when it 132 degrees. This was the same trip that the 'current cool spell we are having in Phoenix...' as reported on TV was only 98 degrees!!!

[gypsymoth]

I think the "bass exchange" link is the place I was thinking of - only been there once.
if you go to Trutone in Santa Monica, West LA Music is pretty close.

[thebassmandave]

[quote name='gypsymoth' post='162646' date='Mar 24 2008, 07:25 AM']I think the "bass exchange" link is the place I was thinking of - only been there once.[/quote]

I thought you were referring to the same place - thought I'd add the link just in case.

[7string]

Thanks to all who have posted. Greatly appreciated !!

[b]Russ & Funk_Bass[/b] - Great to hear that we won't be going hungry!! The chicken fried steak sounds particularly interesting. Mind you, I live in a city which batters and deep fries everything including pizza, black pudding, haggis and the legendary Mars bar, which is quite nice actually.

There is one particular bit of frying I won't be trying though. A sausage, wrapped in bacon, donner meat and then battered and deep fried. The shop says they will only serve one per customer per day. The "Stoner" as it is known is about 1000 calories.

...and all of a sudden the USA seems sane...

[RichardH]

[url="http://www.guitarmannyc.com/"]Guitar Man in NYC[/url] could be worth a visit if you're nearby. The manager's a G&L nut, and has been one of the main organisers behind the three limited edition basses G&L have done/are doing for the BABP forum.

[7string]

Thanks for that. Another piece of paper for the notebook !!

[kevbass]

Well, it just so happens Im in the USA right now, been here for 6 weeks, and went to most of the places you mentioned, will be in vegas around the same time as you oddly enough! believe me theres so much bass eye candy over here and with the dollar so weak against the pound you'll be sorely tempted....by a lot.

Im not going to get something until the week I fly home, I cant be bothered with carrying it around, I could always have it shipped though I suppose. Its a shame you are'nt going to visit Austin in texas, theres live music everynight there in abundance and so far its been my faviroute stop.

I am starting to get the urge to head home soon though, probbably go home after Ive done 8 weeks, its a cool country but it doesnt top England as far as Im concerned, Im a born Londoner

Have a good time

[7string]

Well from one Londoner to another I hope you grab a bargain before you return to Blighty !!

Well that's me for a month or so. Off to see relatives and friends down south before we fly off.

Many thanks to all those who have written on this thread and indeed to all those who make this forum possible. There's a great friendly vibe here and I really enjoy reading and typing on here.


Well married life and lots of music shops await!!


Peace,
Mark

[paul, the]

Congratulations on the getting married, Mark. Sounds like it's going to be a helluva trip!