Tom Lee vs. Long & McQuade ( Canadian content)..

ZenG

ZenG

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Dec 13, 2013
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#1
There are both these stores near where I live in B.C.

Tom Lee is a big chain. So is L&M.

L & M has a selection of basses and amps etc. on hand all the time. Not the greatest selection instore...but not the worst I've ever seen either.

Tom Lee, however has downsized their bass and amp stock to virtually nothing over the last while. L&M carries way more bass gear.
And for some reason they've always hung their basses from the ceiling (Nanaimo store)....which is really difficult to take one down and try it out when you wanted to.

Wonder what gives with them. You'd think a chain that size would have no problem selling basses and amps.
They carry lots of keyboards and guitars and electronics.
 
#2
Tom Lee is only in BC, L&M is all over Canada, so not really a fair comparison. Bass guitar is a shrinking market. The stores only have so much space so they have to devote it to gear they can turn over. It may be a case of most bass players already have the gear they need and there aren't enough new players taking it up. If you look at current music, who is flying the banner for bass guitar? I honestly don't know. The last guy I can think of who brought the instrument to the attention of the masses was Flea and RHCP and their heyday was 10-20 years ago. Maybe I'm being too cynical but that's what I'm seeing.
 
#4
I have only been to one or two Tom Lee's and they were both in Vancouver. I remember them being well stocked but this was years ago. I remember they did have a Dan Armstrong plexi bass. I went to the downtown Vancouver L&M and it blew Tom Lee out of the water.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't consider Tom Lee a big chain, they're only regional.
 
#5
With the two Long & McQuade's in town, I'd say they are stocking 4 or 5 guitars to every bass. I don't find amplification space is the same however, I'd say only 2 or 3 to one.
In Ottawa, the place to go would be Steve's Music for a great selection of basses.
 
#6
Both are great! L&M especially is very helpful to touring musicians in Canada. Who else would finance all us reprobates? Haha.
Special props to Jean, who runs the bass dept for the L&M store in Van(Term ave), and Tom Lees Granville has the great Dave Reimer as house gtr/bass tech! Both dudes are insane knowledgeable, and Dave even builds unreal basses!
I like both stores, but differently, and as far as stock, I think someone earlier is bang on about the bass just not having the popularity/profile it did a few years back via some of the flashier performers. It likely doesn't make sense to stock lots of higher end stuff that may sit for years potentially, although Jean especially seems to always have a few boutique or vintage gems in his L&M.....
 
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