Best tricked out stereo installer in CA
 

Who does the best work installing multiple (6+) subs, LEDs, interior speakers... basically pimping out boats in northern cal?

Any suggestions?

In Sacramento it's Acme Tops & Tunes. Ask for Ben..
http://www.acmetopsandtunes.com/

Then there is also Lightning Accessories

http://www.lightningaccessories.com/

both shops are good and I can't decide which one is better than the other. My stereo in my boat was put in by Lightning but Acme did my alarm system. Both stand up companies IMO.

^^ at lightning, ask for Tom or Carlos

http://www.chucktronics.com/

they do

I gotta say Ryan at Chucktronics. If you've heard our boat, then you know what I mean. His attention to detail is amazing. Not only do they systems work right out of the shop, but they continue to work and come back to you tuned and ready to rip.

Chucktronics for sure.

One of his projects.

I can't necesarilly speak for an "all-out" system, 'cause that's not what I have in my boat. (thought it's plenty damn loud for my needs)..BUT...having been a member of this site for about 10 years now, I have always been impressed with the stuff I've seen done by Clay at Sound Illusions. So, when I finally decided to upgrade my boat with wetsounds, upgraded amps, battery set-up and alternator, etc...he was the first guy I called.

He came all the way out to my house (50+ miles) on a few occassions, towed my boat to his shop, and did stellar work at a reasonable rate. When I had some frustrating trailer issues, he even came out again and towed my boat to a recommended shop. when there was a slight misunderstanding on the work done and price at the trailer shop, he was willing to pay the difference out of his own pocket if I was at all dissatisfied, even though it was no fault of his.

I'm sure there are more than a few folks here who will vouch for his work, but at least want to put in my $.02 for an honest guy doing some real nice work. If and when I really go all-out on the next boat, he's the first guy I'll call. I'm almost hoping I don't find a SAN 230 or X-25 I fall in love with at the Sac boat show, because I know I'll be in for some $$$ on the boat and the system!

Kustom Kar Audio. Santa Rosa Ca.

+1 for Chucktronics also!

Clay are you kidding me???? I took my NEW boat to that guy for a system and he had it for more than year. He dropped it off and my NEW boat and it had like 400 hrs on it. He said they were all hrs he had put on it "Testing the system" at the local lakes. Ok fine. Then I start going threw the boat I find like 20 pairs of Thong under wear's. Im like what the hell. He said they were from the diffrent girls that hepled him test the boat while out on the water. I started to doubt him but then I thought I guess that makes sence its much easyer to boat with a helper. So I start digging deeper threw the boat and I find a 1 gallon jug of ASTRO GLIDE. I was like WTF is this stuff. Clay said it was boot lube. He said he needed to wake board behind the boat to hear what the system sounded like and that's what he used for boot lube?? I was like NO way ASTRO GLIDE. He was like check it out its good for the boots water soluable ect. I was starting to have serious doubts. He was like Hey don't knock it till you try it. I thought yea hes right I shouldn't be talking down on somthing before I try it first hand. So I fire up the system, I wanna see the LCD tv's and DVD player he installed and some Porno pops up on all 3 of my newly installed TV screens. PETER NORTH in some movie called Big Booty MILF Mammas #5. I was shocked. I was like What is this????? He said it was a DVD he used to test the color and sharpness of the Tv's. I was like You played this on my boat??
He was like "Hell Yea, Now give me back my Special Test DVD" My jaw was on the floor. I was dumbfounded. I payed him and got the hell out of there. So I take the boat to some of the same local lakes Clay did all the testing on and I start getting these funny looks from people I don't even know. People are pointing and looking at me real funny. Mom's on the shore line are gathering up their kids and covering their eye's and ear's as if they some how know they are going to see and hear some XXX rated stuff. I don't understand the lake cops are all over me. I cant even turn my stereo on Not for even a second b4 they roll up saying. U turn that thing on again and we will ticket you. My boat is Black Balled from all Nor Cal lakes thanks to CLAY.

Bahhhhaaaaaa: Grant is definitly giving mad props to Clay & he does do awesome work. I have to throw my vote to Acme though only because they also have incredible upholsters on site to bring the finish together in a timely manner and they have done my cover and a few installes for me.
Rick

Dude thats a crazy story! I personally wouldn't have paid the dude! DEEZAAAAAM

Joe,
Grant and CLAY are boys!!! He's is just giving some props to Clay for his work!!!!

HAHA right on I thought that story was a lil out there.

+1 for chucktronics
Just had mine installed, cant wait for it to warm up

Chucktronics FOR SURE!!! Ryan does great work, his stuff always works right out of the shop and when you get your stuff back its clean. It looks like somebody that actually cares about what they are doing was working on your stuff.
Plus our boat is loud and super clean and clear, nothing like i have ever heard.
so + 1 for Chucktronis and Zapco

you deff cant go wrong with clay or chucktronics "ryan", but if your really looking for the best. then kustom kar audio in santa rosa has the resumé.

Thanks for the tips guys. It was for a customer who claimed he wanted an insane system. But I did end up calling Ben and speaking to him about some lighting in my boat for this year so it helped out!

Acme has been doing some killer stuff.

Is Clay still around?

A little off topic, but do any of you have a good referral for an audio installer in Orange County (specifically Huntington Beach). I'm looking to upgrade the system in my Sanger.

im also looking for someone in socal to upgrade my int. speakers

Liquid Trends does the best work ive seen/heard. The LED stuff they do is amazing. Someone needs to post pictures of the green and white 247 they did. waaaay too much money in a boat, but damn its bad ass.

Ian, I talked to Mike today and was in the Tomcat 23 and TWB. The ideas are flowing. I'll be in touch.

Ben at ACME has done some work for me, currently is installing a WS-420/HSE/Ipod docking station in my Supra. He also tinted my windows, I really like there shop and Ben is a great guy to deal with. They had six other boats in there shop right now, with some crazy installs. His prices seem very reasonable as well.

I've only delt with Ben/Acme on purchases but he's been great during and after the purchase. Excellent pricing and service gets me every time. I've been around these boards a while and all the guys listed to a good job with installs.

If it wasn't for Ben at Acme and his customer service, I am not entirely sure Acme would be doing anyting with boats. He is great and always remembers you and checks in once in awhile to see how things are going.

Another vote for Clay (Sound Illusions)

There are different ways to judge installers. I have seen great systems from everybody listed here but I factor cost and reasonable turnaround time into the judgement. The worst practice I see frequently in this business is taking a guys boat hostage for months to get a system done. My advice to all installers would be: don't take on what you cannot finish in less than 30 days. If you need longer than 30 days break the project into different phases. Way back in the day when I was in the car stereo business I did several big projects. It is human nature to get burned out in the middle of a project and lose motivation to do a good job or get it finished. In that moment time gets away and project costs go through the roof sometimes shoddy workmanship enters the mix as well. Pace yourself and get out of a project before that happens. Let's assume you were going to do an elaborate tower speaker system and elaborate subwoofer box, maybe lights, maybe batteries, charging upgrade, maybe even ballast work. Do the work in manageable pieces. Get some of it done then return the boat to the customer while you are working on the pieces outside of the boat or while you are waiting on backordered gear. Letting a boat sit in the back of the shop for months should NEVER happen. You know what they say about excuses...

Recently I have sent a couple buddies over to Acme Tops and Tunes. I have visited the shop myself to see how things are handled. They get to business and get it done, I can't say that about some of the other shops mentioned here. Pull it together guys, get those projects done and return the boats to the owners without raiding their children's college fund.

I got the man for the job. Dennis meyers from liquid trends north bay. Hes done all of my trucks, cars and boats. He does excellent work, he doesnt cut corners and hes done everything from just deck and speakers to twelve speakers and more on my x-80. Hes taken care of me with great prices and accomdates all of my friends with what they have to spend and basically gives the best equipment for what you have to spend. Ive sent him countless work from boats to trucks and all have come out just the way my friends wanted. Hes a just good guy that wants to make customers happy. Without a doubt I highly recommend dennis for any job that you need.

For you Socal guys, travel over to Corona, to visit Bill & Mikes Boat & Bike Shop. 230 N. SHERMAN. Corona, CA 92882. phone: (951) 288-7445

Bill and Mike serviced my boats and did installs that were excellent. I highly recommend them if you can make the trip over to the inland empire.

Bill Wilson is a legend IMHO and Mike is up there at the top as well. pm me if you need any more info about what they do

x2 for Ben at Acme. Has great ideas and first rate craftsmanship - as can be seen from his recent posts on the work their doing

What's Clay's number so we can go hangout with him during his next project grant?

Just hope they do it to USCG standards and have a marine electrical certification

I bet most stereo's on boats are not USCG certified

Stop by Boat Country Inc. in Escalon, CA and they will hook you up with a local guy. He does incredible work and the prices are right! Tell them Cody sent you from wakeworld.