Oakland Music Complex

Awesome place
Awesome people
Awesome Café
Awesome recording studio downstairs
Awesome Management
Clean Bathrooms, halls, and rooms
Functional Roll-​up door and freight elevator
Only 4 stars because it is owned by West Oakland Associates, meaning they want want want money. The prices are crazy.
Yes I would recommend
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The OMC is great. I’ve been coming here for about the last three years. Basically, I can come and do what I want (i.e. play music) and not have to worry about anything else. Security is good, I’ve never had a problem with any of my gear getting stolen or with questionable people coming in and out. The freight elevator is an amazing convenience. Also, I really enjoy the great variety of musicians and bands that rehearse here, from metal bands to flamenco dancers. Finally, George (not sure if he is the owner, the operations manager, or both) is a very nice guy. He cut me some slack when I paid rent late one or two times, and I’ve never gotten any bad vibes from him.
Definitely the best rehearsal space I’ve ever rented. I mean, it’s not the Hilton, but it’s a friggin’ music studio. What do you expect?

I’ve been rehearsing here since it was soundwave. Definitely glad I stayed here through the management change over. It’s better than ever! Good prices on rooms, well sound proofed. Walls are nicely painted, bathrooms are clean. Even though it’s in downtown oakland, it’s secure with key-​card entry. George and staff are friendly and helpful. Security is awesome. I’ve never felt safer rehearsing in this area.

What did I do at 11:30pm last Friday night? Help my buddy move his drums and rearrange his studio. I was feeling drowsy after a glass of wine, but the studio next door kept me pumped while they were drumming Bell Biv Devoe’s: Poison, poison.
Cool.
It’s open 24 hrs so I guess they could be drumming all night. I enjoy visiting the complex because I can always listen to live music. I wonder how many rock stars are born here…

Good place to rehearse. George and the staff are cool.

OMC, and George, the onsite manager, are absolutely wonderful.
The place has great security, clean bathrooms, trash is removed regularly, etc.
The room electricity is great, as are the cycled air vents, and Internet access is now fast and free.
Great access via the freight elevator, a well stocked store, George and Jim Juhn provide great support.
I’ve been renting here since it opened and I believe it’s the best practice space in the East Bay.

I have been in and out of this studio since it was opened as Sound Wave 8 or 9 years ago. It has always been a great studio. Now it is the OMC. George and the rest of the crew have really stepped up the customer service, the prices are fair, and there are plenty of commodities. Of all the studios I have been in this is by far the best.

I can’t believe no one has reviewed this place! It is a great rehearsal studio, and great place to meet fellow musicians.
It’s huge, taking up a whole city block, and affordable, offering daily and monthly rates on a great variety of different types of studios, a loading dock and many many other conveniences. The loading dock is set up like a garage and you can lock yourself in which is a great security feature. It’s also kept spotlessly clean, and I do mean the restrooms, which are large and accommodating.
BF says that basically, this place saved the bay area music industry when all of the other studios went belly up. And he wants me to say that 24 hour access and security are provided, that it’s an extremely safe place and that Al Lucchesi the guy who owns it is an amazing, selfless and beautiful person.
I found this article to be very interesting as well:
From their page:
«Our monthly studio building has 165 studios and is three stories high. The heart of the creature is our so powerful freight elevator which has dutifully hauled the instruments of many a band and has shown up in lots of photo shoots and videos».
Conveniently located just off the Grand St turnoff and close to public transportation.