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yoseph900
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[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1353794546' post='1878616']
So £9.50 for a plectrum eh? Glad I use me fingers :-)
[/quote]

Well, inflation is totally out of control, £9.50 for a basic plectrum may become the norm in couple of years. :o
I may have also to downsize my rig to a 5W amp coz I can't afford electricity bills already. :o :o

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[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1353799502' post='1878652']
Hey, props to GAK for coming here and asking our opinions. I've always had a good experience in there, so no complaints here. I'd like to see Laklands and Sandbergs, but how about a few crazy outsiders too? BRX will be great for suggestions on that score.
[/quote]

Most really interesting instruments are made to order rather than production models. In this scenario the only thing that a retailer can add is the ability to buy one there and then rather than having to wait 6-18 months for one to be built for you. However when you figure in the retailer mark up, most people would rather wait and get something more personalised for less money direct from the luthier.

To GAK, I would suggest that you do look at some manufacturers who aren't simply producing Fender-a-likes (no matter how better built they are). There's nothing more depressing to me than walking into a music store a seeing that the basses are essentially all the same design with only the (supposed) build quality, colour and manufacturer's name being the distinguishing features. Not everyone wants a bass that looks like a P or a J.

So how about looking at:

[url="http://www.atlansia.jp"]Atlansia[/url]
[url="http://www.bogart-bass.de"]Bogart[/url]
[url="http://www.dingwallguitars.com"]Dingwall[/url]
[url="http://www.dipintoguitars.com"]DiPinto[/url]
[url="http://www.duesenberg.de"]Deusenberg[/url]
[url="http://www.eastwoodguitars.com"]Eastwood[/url]
[url="http://www.enfieldguitars.com"]Enfield[/url]
[url="http://www.espguitars.co.jp/index2.html"]ESP Japan[/url]
[url="http://www.fernandes.co.jp"]Fernandes[/url]
[url="http://www.mosrite.co.jp/products/srg/1964-bass-model.html"]Fillmore[/url]
[url=http://www.fret-king.com]FretKing[/url]
[url="http://www.hallmarkguitars.com"]Hallmark[/url]
[url="http://www.henmanguitars.com"]Henman[/url]
[url="http://www.highlandguitarcompany.com/HEB-920.html"]Highland[/url]
[url="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/430854338/retronix-guitar-project-by-j-backlund-design-guita"]J Backlund Retronix[/url]
[url="http://www.killer.jp/killer/bass/index.html"]Killer[/url]
[url="http://lightwave-systems.com"]Lightwave[/url]
[url="http://www.marleaux-bass.com"]Marleaux[/url]
[url="http://musicvox.com"]Musicvox[/url]
[url="http://www.normandyguitars.com/index.php"]Normandy[/url]
[url="http://www.pedulla.com"]Pedulla[/url]
[url="http://www.reverendguitars.com"]Reverend[/url]
[url="http://www.roballenguitars.com"]Rob Allen[/url]
[url="http://www.tokaijapan.com/index.html"]Tokai Japan[/url]
[url="http://www.jamestrussart.com"]Trussart[/url]
[url="http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~tune/tune/framepage,tune.html"]Tune Japan[/url]
[url="http://www.vigierguitars.com"]Vigier[/url]
[url="http://www.waterstoneguitars.com"]Waterstone[/url]

One more thing. As a bass player there is nothing more frustrating to find that a foreign manufacturer has a UK stockist for their instruments only to discover on closer inspection that means they have a handful of 6-string guitars and nothing from their range of basses. If you are going to get instruments from a brand that also makes basses make sure you have some in stock!

Edited by BigRedX
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...and even though I'm a Musicman nut, I'm expecting that your range in stock is 4 string H or HH Stingrays in Black.

I'd suggest getting some of the rarer modern models as well, and some 5 strings models. Heck, even a 6 string Bongo HS as the guy from Dream Theatre seems to be adverstising them well.

So, it'd be good to see:

A proper USA made Musicman Sterling (maybe a 5 string in HH or HS)
5 strings Stingray
4 and 5 string Bongo's
An SSS Big Al
Reflex/Gamechanger (HH probably the most popular)

...and PLEASE....less black. Every bass dept I've seen has the normal EBMM colours. I avoid black basses like the plague. Maybe a white or sunburst (for the traditionalists) and some of the more funky colours like Sky Blue and Tangerine Pearl.

Edited by Musicman20
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[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1353767830' post='1878284']
There is an industrial unit in Warwick that stocks almost everything mentioned in this thread ;)
[/quote]
Which would be fine were it not a 5-600 mile round-trip.
That's 60 litres of fuel. Or £84 to £90. Not to mention the time it'd take!
And, to be honest, I'm not interested in buying an instrument online. I want to play it first... And then decide.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks for all the replies guys, it's really helpful to see your views on what you would like to see in a shop dedicated to bass players in the UK. Obviously there some requests that are doable and some that aren't, but there certainly are a few brands that we have already been pushing for new stock at GAK that have stood out in your suggestions.
On my part I have been using basschat as a reliable source for bass and amp knowledge (and for ogling great gear porn) for years now, so please keep up the posts. We are considering a lot of options for the future so it's all useful stuff!

Cheers all!

Kris
GAK Bass Dept.

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Get hold of some more Ricks, Nevada in Portsmouth HAVE no and their bass department is the single biggest joke! It's tiny compared to what it used to be, I hate going down there and looking around and being able to be done in less than 5 minutes because all they seem to stock are a few Fenders and millions of Ibanez and ESP basses! Certainly look to have more Ricks in stock in a few different finishes other than Jetglo, Mapleglo and Fireglo.

Aguilar amps would be fantastic to see, also a few Mesa Boogies, and what about Vox, are they still making bass amps? There are a lot of nice amps out there that I keep coming across lately and they never seem to be near me, so I'm travelling just to try out some gear which isn't economical, Brighton I can do cause that's 40 minutes down the road anything further than London is a bit of a trek!

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[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1353858290' post='1879027']...and even though I'm a Musicman nut, I'm expecting that your range in stock is 4 string H or HH Stingrays in Black.

I'd suggest getting some of the rarer modern models as well, and some 5 strings models. Heck, even a 6 string Bongo HS as the guy from Dream Theatre seems to be adverstising them well.

So, it'd be good to see:

A proper USA made Musicman Sterling (maybe a 5 string in HH or HS)
5 strings Stingray
4 and 5 string Bongo's
An SSS Big Al
Reflex/Gamechanger (HH probably the most popular)
[/quote]

Yup.

And if you're going to get Sandbergs, it would be great to have a shop stocking Basics as well as California models.

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[quote name='yoseph900' timestamp='1353160989' post='1872238']
Hi everyone,

In the new year [b][color=#ff0000]GAK[/color][/b] are expanding their bass department. We're looking to get on board with a handful more high-end brands.

I would be very grateful for your opinions on what high-end brands you would like to see hanging on our walls.

Thanks very much team.

Joe.
[/quote]

Joe, if you need anything, email me at [email protected]. I'd love to talk to you.

And, if you are gonna be here in the US for NAMM in January, I'd love to have you come by the booth and say hello!

tom

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  • 3 weeks later...

I visited GAK last year, having persuaded the wife it would be a good idea to look round Brighton. ;) Paid a fortune to park up the road. Only to find the Bass department locked and told I would have to wait until a member of staff became free. A very long wait, whilst the local students tried every axe they couldn't afford in the guitar dept. So I'm pleased that you should ask customers for their opinions but please man the bass department big or small, preferably with a bass player. :angry:

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Just do commission sales of used gear - you get a much wider range of instruments, no overhead purchasing stock and an ever-changing shop window (as long as its a sellable instrument!) No-one sane is going to buy a German neck-through Warwick new, are they?
Everyone is skint so stocking a bunch of £2K+ high end basses doesn't sound like a business plan. take Dingwall. Lovely basses. I looked at an ABZ5 about 4 years ago. It was £1275. They're now about £1900!

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