LeftyBassist.com

I don't know if you guys are familiar with Jay (the owner) at the NJ Guitar and Bass Center he seems like a straight shooter. I purchased a 1998 MM Sting Ray from him, I'm very happy with it, so is my son. He is also a Lakland dealer.


http://www.newjerseyguitarandbasscenter ... anded.html

New Jersey Guitar& Bass Center Store hours:
995 Amboy Ave,
Edison, NJ 08837
Wed, Thu, Fri: 11:00-6:00 Eastern
Saturday: 10:00-5:00 Eastern
Sun, Mon Tue and evenings:
Open by appointment

Phone: 732-225-4444
Fax: 732-225-4404
Njgtrbass@aol.com

I know a couple guys around here have been happy with the basses they got from NJG+B, but my experience with them was negative. I wouldn't deal with them again.

Always been intrigued by the US Masters basses. Don't mind the body shape at all, and I'm liking the Walnut top on the second one shown.

Sorry for digging up a zombie thread, but can anyone comment on how competive their prices are? I just called them about a few basses on their website that are used, specifically, the G&L SB-2, the JB-2, the Martin, and Schecter. What are fair prices for these things? I felt their prices were a bit on the high side, but that could just be my inner wallet talking.

G&Ls don't have good resale value, so if the sb2 or jb2 are used I would guess $500-700 would be fair. I sold my mint JB2 a few months ago for like $550 and there's a nice sb2 right now on ebay for a min bid of $700 that has no bids. New those basses go for like $1150 to 1250 or so unless they have fancy wood tops or painted headstocks, which G&L charges alot for.

Thank you for the info on the GL's. I appreciate it that. NJ is quoting me about 10% above the higher end of those ranges, plus shipping. I think I will pass. Wished I had jumped on the white one when it was up for sale.

Are Lakland P's a good alternative to the Am Std P's ?

A few years back Lakland had this advertising in Bass Player Mag:

"They don't make them like they used to, we do"

Even though Fender has much improved their American made instruments since 2008, In my opinion, Laklands sound close to the best vintage Fenders

I have had a USA Lakland Glaub, and quite a few Fender Ps. I love both. The Lakland is a boutique bass, and as such, it gets extra attention to details: nicer woods, superb fret jobs, and superb components. That said, 2008 and later Fender are excellent for the money, with good, resonant woods, great components and really good fret jobs. You are comparing a $3200 bass to a $1250 bass.

The main difference to me in sound is attributed to the pickup: the Fralin in the Lakland has more clarity, but the Fender stock pickup is almost as good, if not as refined. The main differences otherwise is that the Lakland looks more expensive in your hands, and FEELS much more expensive. I would venture and say that Lakland necks are the best I've ever played (second to Lull), and what Lakland does to frets is simply magical. Lakland do not feel like Fenders and viceversa (for example, the necks on Laklands are usually skinnier, and the body's arm and belly cuts are not as deep as in Fenders). Also, I don't think that Lakland feel like vintage Fenders at all: they are much more like modern basses, and the neck profiles are not similar to Fenders. Just like a Sadowsky, Lakland are improved and modern boutique Fenders. Alleva-Coppollo aims to be more like NOS vintage Fender.

So, it's really comparing a Ford to a BMW. Ford is a classic American brand that makes great cars (as of late) that would take you where you need to go with a fair degree of fun; BMW will take you there in luxury and that extra element of precision and finesse.

About NJ Guitar and Bass Center, I do have a great experience with them. I've bought some incredible basses from Jay (my '82 Jazz, and a used Fodera Monarch, a few years ago). He is a straight shooter, but their prices tend to be a little higher than what the market dictates, and they do business the old-fashion way: no credit cards, and usually no shipping outside the USA. I mean, what retail company in this country does not accept credit cards? Also, they are not very aggressive in their sales tactics, like they don't care if a bass sits there unsold for years. I'm guessing they make their money on something else, and selling lefty basses it's just a hobby. . . LOL. Although kudos to them for even bothering having so many lefties in stock.

That said, I wouldn't be afraid to bargain with Jay. Name your price and do some pawn-shop style back and forth bargaining to see how low he'll go.

About the Lakland he has in stock, it's been there for about three years. I great deal if you ask me (I think he wants $1600-$1700) The only reason I never bothered with that bass is that it has a 1-3/4" nut, and I don't like anything other than a 1-1/2" nut on 4-strings.

NJ Guitar… He had or has a 5 string MusicMan SR5 pretty nice bass and I called him about it and we settled on a price that was in fact about $150 more than the going rate for a new lefty but hey he had it right there in stock and that’s cool so I was willing to drive from PA to NJ to go get it. Then he asks if I intended to pay with a credit card and well I said yes or a debt card as I just don’t carry around lumps of cash like that on a whim. He jacked the price up another $150 he said if I wanted to use a credit card.

Now I could have got cash out of the old Mac machine but I thought it was such an unprofessional and illegal mind you thing to do I softly asked him to ($@&%) my genitals and hung up. That’s not cool for me. If you don’t take credit cards then don’t. Don’t jack people up because there are fees to store owners for accepting them that’s against the law and well just downright lame. He has a right to ask for whatever he wants for a bass and I have every right to buy em where I want to. I think you’re better off dealing with Denis at Adirondack or ordering a new one from Rocket Music or the best option is to purchase one from a highly reputable person right here.

All that being said that was just my experience there and well you may have a good one and I hope you do. I tend to be a highly opinionated and get my head twisted up with stuff like that but I’m a sales rep for a huge company and it’s all about customer service. We can buy stuff anywhere you know. I’m also loyal as the day is long and if you take care of me I will come back over and over.

I've been there a few times over the last few months, (nothing purchased in that time) but Jay & one of the assistants, Glenn I believe, were fairly friendly with my friend and I looking through the shop. Jay does know his stuff and Glenn was more than helpful to see if he could gather some information for me on a few basses and whether or not he could order them. Either way, I've had a pleasant experience with them so far.

Still eyeing that EEB-1 there, so we'll see what happens if/when I do come in and pick it up.
He posted that one for roughly $850, literally just tacking on a hundred to the righty price.

I don't know if he's playing hardball, but maybe I'll try to haggle down to $800.
Maybe.

"Still eyeing that EEB-1 there, so we'll see what happens if/when I do come in and pick it up.
He posted that one for roughly $850, literally just tacking on a hundred to the righty price.

I don't know if he's playing hardball, but maybe I'll try to haggle down to $800."

Now try and buy it with a credit card....

Lol. I know what you mean.

But I don't have one, actually.

Planned on paying with cash, had it all set aside but I've caught glimpses of other basses that have also struck my fancy,
so I'm torn between that one and a few others that are far beyond the $800 mark.

Still, I got to test it out. Definitely out of tune, dusty as hell. So not many are eyeing the piece.

Here's mine: