Meet Lisa Gass of Los Angeles Bass Works in Westlake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Gass.

Lisa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started playing the bass in 7th grade. Even earlier I discovered a love for wood working so when I started thinking about doing something a little more steady than freelancing as a musician my bass teacher suggested perhaps instrument or horse drawn carriage repair (he had need for both). Visiting a premier violin shop in New York, I was told I should go to a violin making school for at least a year to learn some skills, so I applied & was accepted to the Professional Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City. It’s structured as a four year course so I figured I might as well do the whole thing. While there I made 11 violins, one viola, one cello and one bass, which was extra as the school didn’t deal with basses. After I graduated in 1984 I was hired by the Thomas Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale as the bass repair person. I was there until 1997, when I opened my own shop in its first location in Silver Lake. In 2005 I moved it to The Granada Buildings on La Fayette Park Place. I still am a freelancing bass player as well, it’s a good combo.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s actually been incredibly smooth. The hardest thing, besides having to move a bass shop, is just the actual running of a business. I’m a reluctant capitalist, and musicians often aren’t the most financially solvent people. I even lucked out with finding someone to help with the work-my wonderful assistant Gabriel Golden bugged me until I gave in and let him come learn summers when he was in high school. Now 15 years later he can run the place as well as I can, if not better.

Please tell us about Los Angeles Bass Works.
Los Angeles Bass Works only deals with the upright bass, or the double bass, as it’s known. I sort of forgot about electric bass when I named the shop, unfortunately I know nothing about electric basses. We do sell basses, but I think we’re mostly known for repair and for “set-up”. What sets us apart is that we do only deal with basses, no other instruments. I guess that’s what I’m proud of, that we take care of these instruments that had been neglected by repair shops for a long time (though that’s changing a bit) and that people seem to think we’re good at it. One of the most rewarding things is watching the young players on their journey from beginning student to professional musician out in the world. It’s pretty cool.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My family, laughter, my dad, sister, brothers & me playing music together with my mom as the audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: losangelesbassworks.com
• Phone: 213-380-3480
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credit:
Bryan Chan