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My shop specializes in both high quality
new and used doublebasses and in high quality new and used acoustic
guitars and related instruments. Since starting out my career
as a guitar repairman in Sacramento in 1975, I have managed acoustic
instrument stores, worked for an import musical intrument wholesaler,
built Santa Cruz Guitar Company instruments 1988-90 as their
4th employee, worked as a dealer service agent for a couple of
instrument manufacturers, played both doublebass and guitar semi-professionally,
and have owned and operated my own retail store since 1990. My
guiding philosophy is to stock instruments that I would have
at home to play and to treat each customer with gentle respect.
Doublebasses
I stock a wide variety of doublebasses that will address the needs of players
just starting to play all the way to professional level handmade instruments.
All new bases are set up by one of my team of doublebasses luthiers, including
Sacramento's Jeff Sahs and Matt Bohn of Felton. All used doublebasses get
a thorough going over by my luthiers to address any setup or repair issues
before they hit
the showroom floor. I also stock a good selection of bows and doublebass
covers. I have the largest stock of doublebasses for sale on the west coast
between Seattle and Long Beach. Please stop by for an audition in my large
and comfortable retail
room.
- New Chinese Basses: I have weeded through the many brands coming from China
and have settled on only three lines that meet my strict requirements, Shen,
Xuechang Sun, and Eastman. Each of these brands has its own web page.
- Vintage American Plywood Basses: I usually have some examples
of the much loved American plywood basses from Kay, Epiphone, American Standard,
and King Moretone. These
popular instruments have served musicians well as performance and festival
instruments.
- New Eastern European Basses: Mostly coming from Romania, these robust intermediate
level instruments from Calin Wultur and Mathias Thoma work very well for the
student or semi-professional player.
- New German Basses: These fine instruments from the Hofner factory in Hagenau
are distributed under the brand names of Hofner and Paesold. These are the instruments
that I play myself. The 7/8 size doublebasses have been especially popular.
- Vintage European Basses: These instruments are usually Czech or German made
and offer a fine value for the semi-professional player or as a second instrument
for the professional.
- Handmade Basses: These instruments come from master luthiers working alone
or with only one or two assistants. These instruments represent a truly professional
performance doublebass.
Guitars
My unique experiences as a guitar repariman, manager of the San Francisco Fifth
String music shop, dealer sales for Saga and Santa Cruz Guitar Company, retail
sales for Gryphon, and building experience with Santa Cruz Guitar Company give
me a unique perspective in owning a retail acoustic guitar shop. Repair and
restoration work are professionally done by Alan Perlman, Chris Berkov, Darren
Webb, and Addam Stark.
- New Guitar lines that I sell are by Roy McAlister, Rockbridge and Shiozaki.
- Vintage Guitars by Martin, Gibson, Larson Brothers, etc. are sometimes augmented
with vintage banjos, mandolins, archtop guitars, and solidbody electrics.
- Used Guitars from the modern era are usually represented by Merrill, McAlister,
Collings, Bourgeois, Schoenberg, Martin, etc.
- I welcome consignments, particularly healthy vintage Martin, Larson Brothers,
and Gibson instruments as well as clean examples of modern era instruments.
Check my stocklist by clicking on the links ton the left
to view currently available instruments. Please
get on my want list if you have specific requirements for a new
or used instrument
that you don't see here: I get a lot of instruments
in that are sold before they hit the printed stocklist
or
the web site.
I also actively search out sources for fine used
instruments of note.
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Oregon and Washington Trip June 22-29
I'll be visiting Eugene and Portland, Oregon and continuing on up to Seattle
during the week of June 22-29. I'll be delivering some instruments as well
as picking up a few along the way. If you would like to have a doublebass
or guitar brought up for delivery or audition, please let me know by June
20th
BASS NEWS
Clearance Sale on new Paesold and Hofner Doublebasses
It is time to clear out the current inventory of the remaining new Paesold and
Hofner doublebasses. I'm selling all of these at my wholesale cost plus the
cost of setup, cover, and strings. These great instruments are what I have
played exclusively for the last six years. I find them to be very responsive
and cleanly made, using nicely aged high quality materials. For specific photo
sets and descriptions as well as their new final discount price, please see
the "Paesold-Hofner" page.
13 Shen Doublebasses Added to Inventory
I have recently added 11 new Shen Doublebasses to the inventory as well
as 2 trade-in used SB 200 3/4 Willow flatbacks, my best selling all-solid wood
model from any of my suppliers. Hybrid models include the SB 150 3/4, SB
180 3/4, and the new SB 190 Rogeri large 3/4 model. The flatback all-solid
Willow models include the 4 SB 200 3/4 models and the 2 SB 200 7/8 Gemunder
models. The 2 carved back all-solid wood models include the Willow SB 200W
Rogeri and the figured Maple SB 300 with the new deluxe single unit brass
tuners. All of these doublebasses are described and photographed on the "Shen
Doublebass" page.
Calin Wultur Panormo and Carcassi Models
I've just taken delivery on two perennial favorite doublebasses,
the Calin Wultur Panormo and Carcassi models, both in flatback
configuration. Large 3/4 size doublebasses,
these two models share a healthy 42" string length for great power and
definiiton on the bottom end. I successively played 3 different Carcassi flatbacks
4-6 years
ago before switching to 4/4 size Paesold-Hofner basses in 2004. These Calin
Wulturs are good all-around instruments for school orchestras or on the bandstand.
Handmade Doublebasses
I have a few nice professional grade handmade doublebasses in stock. The Kolstein
Lorenzo Carcassi model was exhibited at the 2003 ISB Convention and has been
played enough to develope as a very strong orchestral instrument. It is currently
the strongest arco bass in the shop. The 1999 Dominic Zuchowicz Montagnana
copy was my own bass for a few years before I sold it during the dotcom bust
of 2002. It has developed a very free, rich voice and functions beautifully
as either an orchestral or jazz instrument. The Andrew Pitts solo bass, a large
5/8 pattern desinged from a specific old italian bass, is a very responsive
bass designed for advanced solo arco technique. Noted San Francisco Bay Area
bassist Jim Kerwin used this instrument as a jumping off point to design a
slightly larger 5 string model with a high C string that Andrew Pitts completed
for him recently. Full descriptions and photos are found on the "Handmade
doublebasses" page.
GUITAR NEWS
Rockbridge Guitars
My first new Rockbridge guitar, a 12 fret Smeck style, will be here in 4-6 weeks.
I can hardly wait. 12 fret short scale dreadnought shaped jumbos are my favorite
guitar to play at home.
Cedar Creek Cases
I picked up 11 Cedar Creek Cases, mostly dreadnought size, at the recent NAMM
Show in Anaheim. I supply these with most of the high dollar vintage Martin
guitars and can offer them as an upgrade to a case already included with
another guitar. Call or email for descriptions of outer coverings and interior
colors.
In the Repair Shop
1953 Martin D-28 with Engelmann Spruce top
Vintage Gibson Guitars
This week's additions are a lovely, extra responsive 12 fret
TG-1 from 1932 and an easy playing 1950 ES-125 from 1950.
For a full set of photos and a complete desription, please
see the "Gibson" page.
Vintage Martin Guitars
he most recent addition is the 1946 D-18 sold last fall that
has come back in as a trade. This is an exceptionally clean,
original D-18 with one of the rare four-piece Adirondack Spruce
tops that occasionally appeared in 1946. For a full set of
photos and a complete description, please the this guitar listed
on the "Vintge Martin" page.
Martin after 1970
I have recently taken in trade and
consignment a number of nearly new and two brand new with warranty
Martin models in various sizes. Take a look at the "Martin
After 1970" page for descriptions and photographs of all
of these great guitars.
Handmade guitars
I have recently taken in several guitars by solo builders
or highly respected smaller shops. These include guitars by
Roy
McAlister, Kevin Ryan, Jeff Traugott, Jim Merrill, Rob Girdis,
Froggy Bottom, and Huss & Dalton. Look for full descriptions
and photographs on either the "Roy
McAlister" page
or the "Guitars by Other Builders" page.
APPOINTMENT HOURS
I am in the shop six or seven days per week
when I'm not out on an occasional purchasing
trip or picking up doublebasses set up by
my luthiers in Sacramento or Felton. Please
set an appointment date and time with me
so that I will not be out on an errand when
you come by. It will also help me to restring
a doublebass or guitar in advance with your
preferred set of strings. I can often plan
to be here evenings or even on Sunday with
enough notice.
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