Subway Guitars has an extensive inventory of more than 3000
new, used, vintage, retro and custom-designed acoustic and electric guitars,
basses, amplifiers, and parts awaiting you. For more than 30 years, Subway
Guitars has been the choice of professional musicians and beginning
guitar pickers.
Bargains for musicians.
Custom built, factory-direct, weird and crazy string instruments.
FatDog Portrait by Johnny Otis, 1995
"Pha T. Duag"
Our Founder
Subway Guitars
1800 Cedar Street
Berkeley,
California 94703
(510) 841-4106
noon til six, Monday thru
Saturday
Pacific Time
More than 3000
old guitars, basses and amps in stock.
Bargains for musicians
Custom built, factory-direct, weird and crazy stuff
The Guitar World's Bargain Basement
Howlin' 4 over a quarter century
Fender Bassman, circa 1950
$3400
3 Buttons -- 47 Tones from your Strat! It's G-Wir!
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THE HOLY GRAIL ... AND MORE SURPRISES
Patience is rewarded.... Fatdog has unearthed an eclectic group of real
beauties you've just got to see, and touch, and play. You'll find a
little bit for every taste, right here: even a genuine FENDER BASSMAN
amp from the late 50s. And now he's added even more....
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NOTES AND THOUGHTS ON CUSTOM GUITARS
Fatdog writes: "I'd like to present my perspective and address my
philosophy on our custom instruments, hopefully to prevent any
disappointments and misunderstandings...."
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FAMILY ESTATE GUITAR SALE
This is a special consignment sale of a truly remarkable collection of
both rare and quirky instruments and sound equipment. You've got to
take a look at this stuff.
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WILD CARD ELECTRIC GUITARS
Here's the first of Steve Card's beautifully hand-crafted electric
guitars, presented to whet your appetite for more! Fatdog took one look
at these and knew you'd just have to see them to believe it! Check out
the inlays on the back! Card's wild, I tell you! Wild!
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LET SUBWAY BUILD YOUR DREAM AXE!
Got some good ideas for an axe? Put your head together with Fatdog and
his creative technicians for the axe you've dreamed of! All it takes is
time....
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HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM BASS GUITARS
Here's a new series of top quality custom basses that my buddy, Romain,
is building and assembling out of alot of old stock and parts -- like
Alembic, Warmoth and Bartolini. I call it a new world/old world fusion,
combining to make these fabulous new basses.
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KOOKIE DOOKIE!
Fatdog is unleashing upon the world weird, wild, bizarre and demented
Eurodrek instruments -- including 60s guitars made in Sweden, England,
Italy, Holland, Germany. See rollerwheel pots, switches and weird
tremelo systems, push buttons and (of course) glitter! Bizarre 60s and
70s Japanese guitars (MIJ) -- psycho-stuff with raised chrome
pickguards, pegheads as long as the fretboard with elements of design
and style coming from some foreign minds. NOW HE'S ADDED EVEN MORE --
AND THERE'LL BE STILL MORE TO COME! Give Fatdog a call about pricing;
these babies are tagged to move!
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NEW PICS!
You've been looking for some new pictures -- Dave Kinnecut thought he'd
interject some different style -- something other than what Fatdog sees
as the bomb. Here they are!
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NEW PIXS!
Fatdog's busy alright -- too busy. But somehow he managed to pick out a
few new guitars and basses for you to check out. More to come!
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RECESSION BUSTING AT SUBWAY GUITARS
Since we're moving into what's anticipated as "tough economic times"
(so when wasn't it just so?), FatDog thought he'd remind you that
SUBWAY GUITARS is now -- and has ever been -- the place to go for great
deals on guitars, basses, amps and accessories. Check out this reprint
of the July/August 1993 story, written by Thomas Wictor and published
in BASS PLAYER MAGAZINE, chronicling the history of FatDog's incredibly inexpensive instruments.
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RECESSION BUSTING SPECIALS -- Unheard of bargains -- while they last! Looking
for a high quality electric or professional bass at a great price? How
about a high quality replica of a D-18 acoustic? Straps? Picks?
Distortion boxes? Top-quality strings at unheard of prices?
Here's the beginning of LOTS of holiday specials to set you on your
way. More instruments and guitar parts will be added to this list, so
keep looking -- much more to come!
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NEW AND REFRESHED STOCK.
Hot new and refreshed stock, consolidated in one place! MORE! and MORE!
and MORE! Check out the HUGE herd of Sovereigns from Regal, Silvertone,
Harmony and Harmony Sovereign Deluxe; the quartet of 000s including the
Lead Junior Stella 12, Silvertone and Stella 6-strings; FatDog's
proletarian specials from the 50s and 60s including Kay D-size, the
Harmony Classic and 0-size beauties; Hoyer clones -- 175s and 335s,
J-200 copies -- with and without cutaway -- bass guitars, acoustics,
weird, demented one-of-a-kind instruments. You've GOT to see these
guitars! You won't believe FatDog's prices!
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SUBWAY CUSTOM CREATIONS. FatDog's
43 exclusive, custom-designed and retro guitars and basses, available
to you at factory-direct, wholesale prices. FatDog thought of them and
we make them -- at prices you can afford!
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REPAIRS
Here's the low-down on Subway Guitars' Repair Shop. The repair shop has
been operating as a technicians' cooperative for 32 years. That means, workers receive 100% of the repair fees generated, resulting
in charges that are sometimes 50% less than those charged by most
repair shops. Check out the repairs menu and service charges and GET
THAT SWEET AXE FIXED!
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DAN ELECTRO GUITARS AND BASSES. The ORIGINAL Dan
Electro guitars, manufactured from new/old stock parts FatDog scored in
the 60s. Subway Guitars has been synonymous with Dan Electro for more
than 30 years -- so point your browser here for the 4-1-1 on FatDog's
take on the history of these screamin' guitars, perspective on the
deeper significance of the axe and availability of these true blasts
from the past.
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ACOUSTIC GUITARS.
Hundreds of new and used, vintage, custom and retro acoustic guitars,
ranging from budget models for the beginner to professional quality
instruments suited to the accomplished musician. Now even more for you
to see!
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PARLOR GUITARS. Look what they found in the corner, in the back, in the dark: twenty-six distinctive parlor guitars from WAY back in the day.
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GIBSON-STYLE GUITARS.
Scores of Gibson-style guitars, ranging from FatDog's own custom Les
Paul to those produced by Kay, Supro, Guild, Heritage, Regal, Hohner,
Seville, Harmony, Standard, Framus, Epiphone, Gibson and more. And now
MORE for you!
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JAZZ AND HOLLOW-BODY GUITARS.
Dozens of new and used jazz, hollow body and semi-hollow body guitars
featuring FatDog's new, high-quality custom designs, as well as
instruments from Voss, Harmony, Kay, Airline, Hagstrom, Guild, Eko,
Gretsch, Kawai, Epiphone, Framus, Aria, Kramer, Stewart, Yamaha and
more.
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BASS GUITARS. FatDog's entire inventory of new, used, vintage, custom-designed, and downright freaky basses.
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LEFT-HANDED GUITARS AND BASSES. Fatdog
offers a countless array of necks and bodies made of different woods.
He makes many custom instruments -- just for you, Lefty -- from new,
old stock bodies that are finished and bound -- and at almost no
(that's $ZERO$) extra charge.Fatdog has just today unearthed eight
(8) new lefty bass bodies and eighteen (18) lefty stratocaster bodies.
He thought he'd run out, but (once again) too much was in the pile to
see.
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EUROPEAN GUITARS AND BASSES. An eclectic selection of European guitars from Eko, Goya, Hofner, Hagstrom, Vox, D'Scala and FatDog's own customized reprises.
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KOOKIE JAPANESE GUITARS. A kookie selection of Japanese guitars from Tiesco, St. George, Kent, Yamaha, Univox and Zimgar.
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BANJOS AND MANDOLINS. Banjos,
mandolins, mandocellos, balilaikas and dulcimers. FatDog has collected
an interesting range of some of the coolest, most beautiful new, used,
custom-designed and retro instruments available anywhere -- and at very
affordable prices.
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BARGAIN STRINGS AND CASES.
Buy 10 sets of these USA-manufactured strings and save $$$ like you'd
never imagine on electric, acoustic and bass strings. FatDog offers
excellent cases at remarkable prices. Special orders for strings and
cases are also entertained at 25% above FatDog's wholesale cost.
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AMPLIFIERS. Tons and tons of amplifiers -- new, used and retro. FatDog is continually unearthing loads of NEW
60s and 70s FenderŪ/Fullerton amp parts -- including small and large
transformers, loaded fibreboards, amps, tubes, doo-dads and 100-watt
amp kits (complete with stamped chassis, boogie cabinet and
transformers). FatDog also has a fine selection of amplifiers for the
"plug-and-play" musician who simply wants the SOUND! and right now.
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PARTS. You'll
find necks, bodies, all kinds of parts, pickups and gears, assorted
oddities, Vox replica kits, strings and amps. FatDog will custom design
and/or special order virtually anything you can think to want -- and at
25% above his wholesale cost. And then there's his HUGE accumulation of
vintage, often one-of-a-kind parts he's collected over the part 30
years....
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WAREHOUSE EXCAVATION! Its
a work in progress: Fatdog's FINALLY begun the long-promised excavation
of his warehouse -- home to 1000s of his accumulated equipment (and
untold stories) over the past 30 years. He's just started, so stay
connected to see what comes up next. From amazing treasurers to
remarkable dookie longing for a fresh face, you'll find it here. Look
at this!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Fatdog's noticed that many of you have very similar questions about
Subway and its broad inventory, so he's organized an approach to same
everybody some time. Can't find the answer you need here? Call him at
(510) 841-4106 between noon and six (Pacific Time), Monday thru
Saturday
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FLEA MARKET.
Fatdog's been finding weird inventory leftovers and he's going to be
displaying them at the Flea Market Station. This is your next Subway
stop to get off on.
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POSTCARDS AND POSTERS. 24
full-color postcards of bizarre guitars, presented in three sets or
poster form -- PLUS Dennis Geaney's very hip posters of old guitars and
old shoes. You've GOT to see these!
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CONDUCTING BUSINESS. Here's
everything you need to know about contacting Fatdog (please telephone),
ordering merchandise, payment options, shipping, and FatDog's no-fault
money-back guarantee.
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LINKS TO COOL VENDORS. Here
are some hot links that won't give you gas. FatDog works with the best
musical instrument vendors and wants to hip you to their merchandise.
This "heads-up" translates as phenomenal price breaks -- 25% above
FatDog's wholesale cost of acquisition. So come see what's available in
the world at a price you'll appreciate.
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ARTICLES & REPRINTS. Ignorance
is not bliss. George Orwell once noted that in free societies,
censorship is more sophisticated and thorough than in dictatorships
because "unpopular ideas can be silenced, and inconvenient facts kept
dark,without any need for an official ban." Come see how very right he
was....
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THE DOGHOUSE. Fatdog's journey from the pound with assorted mutts and dogs on the block through the musical universe.
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MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION
is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the true pioneers and
forgotten heroes of Southern musical traditions. Check out their work
with artists from down home, such as Cool John Ferguson, Cora Mae
Bryant, Etta Baker, Preston Fulp, Essie Mae Brooks, Carl Hodges and
many, many more.
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$50 BIKES.We're
back! Authentic Berkeley hoopties -- 1-speed, 3-speed and 10-speed
roadsters -- in good riding condition, from the 60s and 70s.
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$50 BIKES = FATDAWG.COM
Miscellaneous Notes
from FatDog
Our Founder and Conductor
The Subway has been rolling for 30 years and has gathered many interesting connections to many musical items.
We have a store policy: whatever we can order, you can get for 25% above wholesale. We'd like to extend this policy to our Internet and mail order customers.
There's a small amount of freight to
get the merchandise from the manufacturer to us -- and then to you --
but its cheap, regardless. Sometimes we can even arrange a drop
shipment directly from the vendor to you, the customer.
Unfortunately, we don't offer our
full cash-back refund on these special orders, but in the rare instance
that a customer is dissatisfied, we'll sell the item on consignment.
The only thing: You've got to know what you really want.
Ordering Merchandise
I understand your concerns about buying a
guitar over the Internet. You can't put your hands on it. You don't
know what it'll look like, what it'll sound like, how it will feel.
Then there are the issues surrounding shipping anxiety: "Will it arrive
undamaged?" "When will it arrive?" "WILL it arrive?" The concerns go on
and on: "What's the tracking number?" "Will you ship it today?" "When
will you ship it?" "Can I get it tomorrow?"
Here are five key points to put your mind at ease:
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Your purchase will definitely arrive in good, undamaged condition AND in a timely manner.
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Your purchase is insured against damage in transit.
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If you don't like what you've ordered, you can return it within two weeks of purchase.
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You have the option of a
full CASH refund or a trade-in for something else you like. All you pay
is the return shipping, which amounts to about $15-$20 within the
Continental United States.
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You just can't lose.
Policy
"Experience Ecstacy" for a week with your new
guitar. If the instrument is not what you expected, then expect a full
refund on merchandise returned in the condition of purchase. Fatdog
considers this the backbone of good biz (and happy customers).
NOTE: There is no refund for shipping.
Trade-ins are seriously considered at a high value.
Subway Guitars
1800 Cedar Street
Berkeley, California 94703
(510) 841-4106
noon til six, Monday thru Saturday
Pacific Time
Please don't email, we can be reached by phone!
If you emailed us while the email link was active,
please accept our apologies for not responding.
Matt Harra Sonoma County, California
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