Best place to buy a strat in CA?

[Seraphial]

A friend was over in the States and has the opportunity to pick me up a strat cheaper than NZ prices. I don't want to put him outta his way tho by making him drive halfway up the coast. Is there anyone you guys recommend to get the best price for a Fender 57 reissue in the Santa Monica area?

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Best place to buy a strat in CA?

Well, right in Santa Monica is a nice little store called Truetone Music, as well as McCabe's guitar shop. Santa Monica is also a short drive from Hollywood, where you'll find "Guitar Row" on Sunset Boulevard: Guitar Center, Manny's, Sam Ash. Many people aren't keen on those chains, but the selection is usually decent and the prices are pretty good (plus they match internet prices).
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[Curly]

Re: Best place to buy a strat in CA?

here's my favorite store:
Buffalo Bros

they consistently beat the big stores' prices

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Best place to buy a strat in CA?

That website looks good, but at 90 miles from LA I'd say that's halfway down the coast. Guitar Center & Sam Ash, albeit the KMart of music stores, are within 10 miles of Santa Monica, and the prices are bound to be better than those in New Zealand.

 

[B2D]

Re: Best place to buy a strat in CA?

That website looks good, but at 90 miles from LA I'd say that's halfway down the coast. Guitar Center & Sam Ash, albeit the KMart of music stores, are within 10 miles of Santa Monica, and the prices are bound to be better than those in New Zealand.

Plus at Sam Ash and GC you can haggle. Even though some smaller shops will beat the prices of the big stores (like Jim's Music in Irvine) some smaller shops won't haggle at all cuz they can't afford to.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Best place to buy a strat in CA?

West LA Music is on Santa Monica Blvd, 1 block west of the 405 Freeway.
It's considered the 'superstore for the pros'. Just like GC or Sam Ash, you'll have to grind them on the price a bit, but they have a big selection of Fenders to choose from and tend to bargain like GC.