London Bass Cellar

good stuff in there,but didnt buy anything because the staff really sucks

Terrible. The staff were impatient and made me feel silly for asking questions, altogether refusing to help. I left the shop feeling embarrassed. Possibly the most unpleasant encounter I have had with staff in a music shop, or perhaps any shop for that matter.

I have used this shop twice with massive contrasting responses.

The first time was over 5/6 years ago when I had about 300/400 pounds to spend and was looking to get an improvement on my Squire Precision Bass. The guy at the shop was extremley knowledgeable, friendly not too salesy and went through a number of different options for me. I ended up taking a 1988 Japanese Fender Jazz Special second hand and it has been brilliant, I had been recomended this shop buy a school teacher at the time and was very happy with service.

However just over a year ago I went in there looking for a Bass switch for my Ashdown 180 Electric Blue Amp. The service was dreadful, like the other reviews the guy sitting behind the counter making me feel awkward and I seemed to be a bother to him. I had got one for free from a shop in plymouth previously and asked if they had any spare. He said that there was no way I would ever get one and it was a waste of time and made out I was a Liar for explaining I had done in the past. He then offered me a fender strat white volume switch as a replacement... I was shocked that he thought this would do and thought he was just trying to seem if I was gullable to take that as a good enough option. I went to a shop next door (Older Building at the furtherest away from the mainr oad with a number of floors)and for £1.50 the guy kindley gave me what I was after. Dreadful service and would strongly recommend use other shops for basses before you try there!

There is a guitar shop just before this Bass stop on the same side of the road and want to say they are excellent. My Girlfriend wanted to get her first electric guitar and the guy there was friendly knowledgeable and didnt make her feel stupid because she was a newbie. He offered a great deal and service and spent time with myself talking about a good story to do with an Epiphone tunderbird Bass. I cant remember the shops name but it was busy, good deals and great staff!!

The staff were not interested in helping and I felt that my presence was unwelcome. When I asked a question, the answer was dismissive and rudely brief. I shall not go there again.

I can only agree with the experience of being rediculed and not shown any interest from the personel in the shop. The to men behind the counter was clearly more interested in having a private conversation than taking interest in customers. When i asked about a Mark bass head and the difference in sound between the transistor edition versus the tube version it felt like i asked silly questions. I got a short and not very attentive answer. To make things even worse i mentioned that i was not completely happy with the sound in my modulus bass since i changed to mark bass, the one i spoke to stated that it had to be the bass Which was the problem since the mark bass amps was the most neutral sounding amp he had heard. After that my interest in the shop was reduced to zero.

By the way i also visited The gallery in camden and they seem to have a relaxed but more friendly attitude against customers. In fact i was so close to make a purchase of a Sai bass there (£1900). Only thing that made me reconsider was the fact that i probably would not be allowed to take it with me in the cabin on my flight back to Norway. So next time in London my only bass oriented shop i will take interest in would be located in camden.

Agree with previous review. I found the staff unhelpful and unwilling to get off their seat behind the counter to offer service. When asked about a Boss Bass pedal, the person I spoke to was not helpful and made me feel stupid! Slightly reminded me of Not the Nine O'Clock News sketch when man goes into a HiFi store to buy a "Gramophone" and is ridiculed. No need for that attitude.

Finding it very difficult to believe the other reviews here - were they written by people who work in Denmark Street?

BC prices are expensive, way higher than internet searches for pretty much any of their stock, their staff are generally lacking in broader bass knowledge and not even experts on the stuff they have in stock.

At times the staff show virtually zero interest in customers and can get quite unfriendly if you point out that something is incorrectly labelled or priced - this happened to me just this week!

Great shame given they are the only bass specialist in the centre of town.

The Gallery in Camden is a whole different world. Staffed by people who love bass & super knowledgable. List prices sometimes high but they will haggle quite happily :)

took a young musician to buy his first real bass traveled 200 miles to visit the shop and found the staff helpfull without being overpowering, knowledgable, and very attuned to encouraging a young new bassist into the world of pro gear. my young friend (just 14yrs) had saved long and hard and needed the best deal possible well he got it coming away with not only the bass he had earmarked before we set off to london but also a great effects pedal a padded gig bag straplocks and a new guitar lead. the guys in the shop were very patient and had time to chat to me filling me in regarding the history etc surrounding the shops on denmark street i took in all 4 other young musicians on the day and the whole experience was amazing.
thanks so much to the guys in THE BASS CELLAR you rock, a must visit shop for any serious bass player. we will be back.

This shop is a very good shop with cheaper prices than I found on the Internet and they have good quality basses with nice people showing you the basses with a pretty good knoledge of guitars there styles and there shapes etc
overall this is a very good shop (I think)