I just found this thread, and as they say better late than never! This is an easy question for me to answer: Walter Davies, before he started the Last Company with his record preservation products, had a retail Hi-Fi shop in Livermore, CA, named Audio Arts. I happened to pay my first visit to his place on the day Bill Johnson was there, bringing a full system with him to start Walt off as an Audio Research dealer. Thorens 125 with a prototype ARC arm that never went into production, with a Decca Blue mounted on it. An SP-3 pre-amp, and D-51 and D-75 power amps bi-amping Magneplanar Tympani I-U's. Let me tell you, in 1972 that was something to hear! Walt is the nicest, most kind and gentle soul you could ever know.
Next up, a guy who has already been mentioned---Brooks Berdan. He started out as my S. California dealer, and became a friend. Quite a guy, who did not suffer fools gladly. Honest to a fault, he could come off as brusque, and often did! A really trained set of ears, he could suss out a product faster than anyone else I've known. He is greatly missed by all of us here, but his son has a new shop in Pasadena to carry on what his Pa taught him---Audio Elements.
Lastly, Randy at Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica. A loooong-time ARC/Vandersteen/Audioquest dealer, and as sweet and honest as they come.
