Midlands : shop / retailer with lots of jazz basses to try

[Jolltax]

Hi!

 

I am now 2 years into my bass, er, thing.  I mostly play my SIre M2, which I love.  I also have a vintage Precision style Ibanez bass which I occasionally play (got it cheap) and a Harley Benton Jazz Bass I used to take with me while working away from home to practice on.

 

I like the Jazz Bass but feel like I want to upgrade it to something that will last me for life (the rest of it) , but have not really tried another Jazz Bass. I live in the boonies (Tenbury Wells) so am going to have to drive somewhere.

 

Two questions :

 

• Does anyone have any recommendations of a retailer in the Midlands who has a good selection of basses I can try ?  Google suggests Guitar Guitar and PMT in Birmingham, anyone been to those?
• Is it worth trying to trade in my HB?  It’s worth next to nothing as far as I can tell ….

 

I am not a very confident / good player so would like somewhere ideally where I can disappear into a room or stick on headphones and spend some time.

 

J

[Lw.]

Bass Direct seems like the obvious choice! 

[StingRayBoy42]

Guitar Guitar is pretty decent - they have a good selection of Basses and the staff are sound.
Not sure about a private room but I'm sure there would be a headphones option.

No experience of PMT in brum but I'm sure they're nice too!

As for trading in the HB- they're cheap as chips brand new, so you'll probably get nothing for it in a trade.
They're pretty highly regarded - you might get a few quid for it on here.
I'd keep it as a backup/beater/lend it to a mate/travel Bass.

Edited June 20, 2023 by StingRayBoy42

[mr4stringz]

Birmingham is probably a sound bet. A little bit of distance (not a problem really as you’re in the car)between them in and around central Brum, but you’ve got PMT, GuitarGuitar and Fair Deal Music all reasonably close. Staff in all three perfectly welcoming and accommodating in my experience.

 

And on the HB, if you don’t ‘need’ the few quid it’ll bag you to sell and you like it, why not keep it…your collection starts here.

[Joebethell]

Bass Bros could be an option and it's close to Bass Direct also

[tauzero]

19 hours ago, mr4stringz said:

Birmingham is probably a sound bet. A little bit of distance (not a problem really as you’re in the car)between them in and around central Brum, but you’ve got PMT, GuitarGuitar and Fair Deal Music all reasonably close. Staff in all three perfectly welcoming and accommodating in my experience.

 

There is a clean air zone in Birmingham - GuitarGuitar is outside it, PMT is just inside it, Fair Deal is squarely inside it. If you're in a non-compliant car, that's £8.

[Supernaut]

Bass Bros and Bass Direct are within 30 minutes of each other. 

[LewisK1975]

1 hour ago, Supernaut said:

Bass Bros and Bass Direct are within 30 minutes of each other. 

It's more like 5-10 minutes, by car anyway.  I was genuinely surprised how close they are to each other.

[Supernaut]

Warwick and Stratford aren't 5-10 minutes apart though? 

[Eldon Tyrell]

7-8 min by car

 

[Cato]

38 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Warwick and Stratford aren't 5-10 minutes apart though? 

 I've never been to Bass Bros but I live locally.

 

Their contact address is Harbury lane in Leamington, which is not far at all from BD in Warwick, although there can be heavy traffic in the area at peak times.

 

 

[Gardenerben]

Bass bros is by appointment so my advice is book yourself a timeslot there first. Let Will know what you're after and he'll sort you out, you'll likely have the place to yourself. (He's never laughed at my playing so you'll be fine!). https://bassbros.co.uk/category/bass-guitars/

 

Then you can go to Bass direct as they are more an open door shop, being on an industrial estate they are still not a passing foot traffic sort of place though. 75% of the time I've been on headphones in the corner at Bass Direct. It is worth looking through there website but I would recommend giving them a call to double check stock if there is something you have your heart set on. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Home.html

 

Bass Direct has more new basses and all the bits and pieces you could ever want. Bass bros is mostly second hand basses, amps and cabs. Personally I find the Bass bros experience more relaxed but I have also had good chats/experience with Marcus and Ash at Bass direct.

 

 

 

 

[Supernaut]

1 hour ago, Cato said:

 I've never been to Bass Bros but I live locally.

 

Their contact address is Harbury lane in Leamington, which is not far at all from BD in Warwick, although there can be heavy traffic in the area at peak times.

 

 

Ah - they've moved. 

[Machines]

6 hours ago, LewisK1975 said:

It's more like 5-10 minutes, by car anyway.  I was genuinely surprised how close they are to each other.

 

That coincidence is not that surprising if you know some local history 😂.

[Eldon Tyrell]

20 hours ago, Machines said:

 

That coincidence is not that surprising if you know some local history 😂.

I am listening 😉 

[Machines]

2 hours ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

I am listening 😉 

 🤐

[Eldon Tyrell]

26 minutes ago, Machines said:

 🤐

😞