waldemar Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Recently found an old t-shirt I was given when I bought a bass from this shop back in the late eighties. It was a pretty decent little shop where even as a spoddy teen you weren't made to feel like, err - a spoddy teen. I think it eventually folded (it was a bit out of the way) and I understand the guy who ran it - I forget the dudes name - took over the bass department at Musical Exchanges - it was years ago so I could be talking rubbish. Anyway, here's the illustration on the front of the tee - across the back was emblazoned "Don't ask me - I'm only the bass player." Might be a trip down memory lane for someone. [attachment=236354:bass_place.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 I think it became the bass centre. It's before my time, but I did used to know one of the guys who owned this, he was a friend of a friend, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldemar Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 >I think it became the bass centre. Ah yes... That rings a distant, bell... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) Where in town was it located? EDIT: Ah ok, I just expanded the image and saw the address 😊 Edited January 21, 2017 by PaulGibsonBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) I think I remember the Bass Place , just up the road from Musical Exchanges, maybe in the railway arches? I tried out a split headstock Kramer there once, through a Trace Elliot rig (sign of the times). Great as the the shop was they just couldn't compete with the Aladdin's Cave that was Musical Exchanges. The Bass Centre would have been a brilliant shop if it hadn't had to compete with Musical Exchanges, which at that time used to advertise itself as the biggest guitar shop in Europe and stocked just about everything. Once you factor in the enormous selection of second hand stuff, then they actually had everything a spotty teenager ever read about in guitar mags. Edited January 21, 2017 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldemar Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 >I think I remember the Bass Place , just up the road from Musical Exchanges, maybe in the railway arches? Nah, it was in a different part of town - here's a [url="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/10+Suffolk+Street+Queensway,+Birmingham+B1+1LT/@52.4759031,-1.9012388,3a,66.8y,62.45h,97.03t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s4l6Ttim5rdwaclwP1N04_Q!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x4870bc8a48ca03bf:0x795201437574cc95"]streetview[/url] (the 'Fair Well' shop IIRC) Heh, far enough away from Snow Hill station to rag having to carry my new Aria Pro SLB2A along with a little 30W Laney a mate helped me with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 I'm pretty sure that Dave from Musical Exchanges, who sold me the Warwick JD Thumb that I have to this day, went there. No, I just took another look. Dave went to the Carlsbro shop just round the corner near Richer Sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 [quote name='waldemar' timestamp='1484960207' post='3220097'] >I think I remember the Bass Place , just up the road from Musical Exchanges, maybe in the railway arches? Nah, it was in a different part of town - here's a [url="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/10+Suffolk+Street+Queensway,+Birmingham+B1+1LT/@52.4759031,-1.9012388,3a,66.8y,62.45h,97.03t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s4l6Ttim5rdwaclwP1N04_Q!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x4870bc8a48ca03bf:0x795201437574cc95"]streetview[/url] (the 'Fair Well' shop IIRC) Heh, far enough away from Snow Hill station to rag having to carry my new Aria Pro SLB2A along with a little 30W Laney a mate helped me with... [/quote] Fair enough my memory must be playing tricks on me. I was sure there was a specialist bass shop less than 5 minutes walk from Musical Exchanges in the early 90s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathy Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 I remember this place, and also had the t-shirt! I recall also having another one that said 'Bass Players Do It Deeper'. There were quite a few good music shops in that area at the time. Those were the days etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 [quote name='Cato' timestamp='1484970379' post='3220120'] Fair enough my memory must be playing tricks on me. I was sure there was a specialist bass shop less than 5 minutes walk from Musical Exchanges in the early 90s. [/quote] You are right. There was 100% a dedicated bass shop round the corner from musical exchanges. I thought it was the bass place but maybe there were two. I used to catch the bus to musical exchanges and always go in there first. They could never compete with exchanges so it wasnt there long. Id say it was around late 80s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 The Bass Place started off in Brum at the address on the t-shirt design, then moved nearer Musical Exchanges in the railway arches. Dave AKA Kink, ran it for a while then moved jobs to Exchanges where I worked with him. Haven't seen Dave in years. The Bass Place became The Bass Centre not long after, think it was acquired by them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 With my aging memory failing me, which establishment was in the railway arches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 [quote name='3below' timestamp='1484991620' post='3220180'] With my aging memory failing me, which establishment was in the railway arches? [/quote] The bass centre. The signage was still there only about 10 years ago. Apparently the bass place was by the Alex theatre. It was then taken over by the bass centre,and at some time moved to the arches by Sound control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1485007955' post='3220354'] The bass centre. The signage was still there only about 10 years ago. Apparently the bass place was by the Alex theatre. It was then taken over by the bass centre,and at some time moved to the arches by Sound control. [/quote]I remember the arches. Weren't there two or three music shops there? And Sound Control was just around the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1485009946' post='3220379'] I remember the arches. Weren't there two or three music shops there? And Sound Control was just around the corner. [/quote] I remember a shop called City music, which I think is still there, or was last time I walked past that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Yes that was it; City Music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammers Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1485010435' post='3220384'] I remember a shop called City music, which I think is still there, or was last time I walked past that way. [/quote] There's no music shops in that area anymore, haven't been for a few years.. it's a sort of pub now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2004gdavi Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Heres a link that helps fill in a bit of the background to the Bass Place in Birmingham. http://www.birminghamroundabout.co.uk/2009/the-redbeards-from-texas/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilkyBarKid Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 [quote name='yorick' timestamp='1484989367' post='3220163'] The Bass Place started off in Brum at the address on the t-shirt design, then moved nearer Musical Exchanges in the railway arches. Dave AKA Kink, ran it for a while then moved jobs to Exchanges where I worked with him. Haven't seen Dave in years. The Bass Place became The Bass Centre not long after, think it was acquired by them. [/quote] Was Dave quite a short guy? If so I remember he was a very nice chap he really looked after a customer - letting me take basses home, and try them for a few days - I was having problems choosing a bass, and he was fantastic, I think I took about three basses home before buying the two which I wanted. Very trusting which is quite rare in a music shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2004gdavi Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Here's Dave on bass in this photo. The shorter of the group on the left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I used to spend all day in musical exchanges in the early 90's, had my SGC Nanyo bass collection from there, the shop in the arches was out of the front door turn right and up to the arch over the road, turn left and it was on the left a few arches up. That was the Bass Centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilkyBarKid Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 (edited) [quote name='2004gdavi' timestamp='1485287129' post='3222835'] Here's Dave on bass in this photo. The shorter of the group on the left. [/quote] That's him - I don't think I've ever been more comfortable going into a bass shop as the bass centre with him managing it. It wasn't like like the other bass specialists not a million miles away where it's all (in my best Harry Enfield voice) "You don't wanna do it like that!!". Edited January 25, 2017 by MilkyBarKid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1485287861' post='3222846'] I used to spend all day in musical exchanges in the early 90's, had my SGC Nanyo bass collection from there, the shop in the arches was out of the front door turn right and up to the arch over the road, turn left and it was on the left a few arches up. That was the Bass Centre. [/quote] Yes you are exactly right. Think i only went in once as it was only small and i felt you couldnt mooch round like you could in exchanges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 At the risk of being deprecated for necro-thread resurrection, the Bass Centre was my mecca until it eventually closed. Got the hard case for my B2 there and my 'Put the Bass In' long-sleeve t-shirt, spent many a happy hour on excursions to Brum with John the guitarist doing the rounds of all the shops 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJWW Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Many happy memories of the Bass Centre and Musical Exchanges. I did my work experience at MX in the '90s under the supervision of Woz who ran the bass dept. Needless to say very little if any proper experience of work was gained but it was good experience. Woz was a superb 'noodler' i.e. could pick up a bass and slap/tickle etc it and make you feel totally inadequate then hand it over for you to try it out 😄 The Brum Bass Centre is where the infamous violated Duck Dunn P Bass that sometimes pops up for sale online originated from. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.jpg.7e18f76540598a8efc0e6ca9be453059.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.