On one of the last unfashionable streets in Tribeca, surrounded by a few old textile shops and with little more than a small sign in the window to identify it, lies one of the nerve centers of the bass and cello worlds. Nothing about the placid, slightly worn-down exterior of this loft building gives any hint of the intense whirl of activity going on inside. Enter and it's as though one suddenly finds oneself in the midst of a village square. Banter is flying every which way - from room to room, from upstairs to downstairs to upstairs - the radio is playing, the phones are ringing, a musician or two is milling about, talking, looking at instruments, and amidst all this, as though in their own silence though not immune to the banter, luthiers are at work on all sorts of instruments in various stages of undress. If a group of sheep were to suddenly transverse this space, it would not seem out of place. It's an ordered chaos, a chaos in which everything somehow is at home.

Welcome to David Gage String Instruments.

Founded in 1978 by bassist David Gage, our shop specializes in the sales, restoration and repair of string basses and cellos. Our client roster ranges from great orchestras to jazz greats, to rock and roll, country and world music. We serve professionals, students and amateurs and pride ourselves on the care and attention we give to every and any player and their instrument.

Our focus is on maximizing the sound potential of the instrument and the playing requirements of the individual musician.

Besides providing the full list of luthier services, David Gage String Instruments also sells antique and modern instruments, rents professional quality instrument for recording sessions and maintains a full stock of bass and cello accessories and of innovative products designed to make the life of musician and instrument easier, happier and more fulfilling. Among these are:

• The Czech- Ease™ is a full sounding bass with an abbreviated body that makes it exponentially more portable than its full-bodied cousins without losing the true-bass sound.
• The Realist™ transducer for bass, cello, violin and viola- designed by David and Ned Steinberger, the Realist™ provides "the best arco and pizz sound of them all."
• The David Gage Travel Case™ for Basses and Cellos - designed by David, manufactured in the United States exclusively for our shop, these cases are "the first class ticket" for your instrument
• The famed Irving Sloane Bass Machines - "exceptional smoothness and accuracy" in tuning.

David Gage String Instruments has expanded by adding a new showroom on the third floor. Please check the Gallery page for more details.

In addition, two years ago we started a popular series of performance workshop in our third floor instrument gallery. Featured musicians in our series have included bassist John Patitucci, bassist Harvie S and violinist Gregor Huebner, bassist Ray Drummond, bassist Christian McBride. Check our What's New page for upcoming workshops.

If you would like to keep up-to-date on this and other happenings and news from our shop, please add your name to our mailing list.