Hi there in the USA!

[F_cksia]

Hey

This summer I'm going to the USA (Florida; Los Angeles, San Diego, and that gambling-city I forgot the name of).
Here in Holland, equipment is quite expensive, so I'm planning to buy some mic's and stuff there.

For people living there: what stores do you recommend? I heard something about Radio Shack or so, is that a good store for not too expensive, but good quality recording & sound-equipment?
If not, got any other tips etc.?

Oh yeah, Las Vegas, I remember .

Thanks a lot,

Maarten.

[Hard2Hear]

Originally posted by F_cksia
I heard something about Radio Shack or so, is that a good store for not too expensive, but good quality recording & sound-equipment?

no. it should be avoided like the plague.

MARS, Sam Ash, Guitar Center...check those out.

H2H

[Wide Awake]

I live in San Diego, and I recommend Guitar Center in La Mesa(San Diego area). Musical equipment stores are very competitive in the U.S. and the prices don't vary much from store to store.

I also recommend going to one of the Deja Vu clubs, if you like to see strippers. If you want to visit a beautiful area of the city, I recommend going to La Jolla Cove, one of the most beautiful places in California. I know the good restaurants, so if you want to know where to eat while you're here, just ask.

[Krakit]

What H2H is is telling you IS NOT elistist snobbery. RS makes only shoddy merchandise and is a store that sells a great deal of electronic crap. The audio sales are only a tiny aspect of RS invnetory.

If you need batteries, a fuse maybe a power strip. You probably won't regret it, but for anything that you would record with, it's a toy store, nothing even an amature should bother with.

[crosstudio]

first let me say that i was at a huge shopping mall near Corona (and hour east of LA). they had a sam ash there and the prices weren't too bad.

next, let me ask. has anyone bought satisfactory electronic parts from radio shack? i'm going to redo the internal wiring and put new switches on my steinberger guitar. it's got 3 switches (which i love) instead of the 5 way selector my fender strat has.

my wiring is starting to snap-crackle-pop.

[Krakit]

Actually, I've bought solid state components from Radio Shack. I've gotten by with their reostats and potentiameters.

I've bought voltage meters and stuff too, now that I think of it.

I'm guessing that our tourist friend isn't interested in buying a project box, circuit board and some resisters, chips and relay switches.

I think I was being overly harsh towards RS because when it comes to gear, they are not the place to go.

I will acknowledge that parts can be had there, but I haven't found any competition for such things from any other store.

[Blue Bear Sound]

The only thing RS is good for is batteries and oddball connectors....

For electronic components (capacitors, resistors, chips, etc...) I'd recommend a big place like Future Active Electronics and the like. These are "real" elec. comp. retailers.

Radio Shack is really the Qwik-E-Mart of electronic stores. Sometimes you can get things there out of convenience, when a "real" store is closed!

You know, kinda like when you're out of Kraft Dinner and the grocery store is closed, so you go to the corner store and end up with the no-name look alike!!!

Bruce

[tdukex]

F_cksia, I live in San Diego, too. Like Wide Awake said, around here Guitar Satan is the best place to buy most gear. Also, if you are looking to upgrade your computer, the prices in San Diego and LA are most likely the best in the world.

[F_cksia]

Great.
Thanks for all the response.
I will definitely let you hear how it was as soon as I come back.