The GC Experience

**Laklandlover** · #1 02-17-2011, 01:40 PM

Hi Fellow TBer's,

I was in the market for a used SWR Goliath cab. I was looking on the GC website for used gear and found a used SWR Goliath cab $399. I thought a little high but I will check it out. So I make to drive down to the GC in Hollywood,CA where the cab is located. I go in look around found the cab and head I usehook it up put my bass is passive and began to play. It sound like Crap! I tried the head with another cab a different head with the cab it still sound like crap. They made no excuses the cab is still on the floor today and on the website as well. I buy used stuff all the time but never this. GC is slacking . . . .again

James

panama · #2 02-17-2011, 01:42 PM

Some of the things GC sells sound good and some things sound like crap. C'est la vie.

rockstarbassist · #3 02-17-2011, 01:47 PM

So, you're saying GC has used gear on their floor that's thrashed?

Did you know water is also wet?

BigOldHarry · #4 02-17-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laklandlover

Hi Fellow TBer's,

I was in the market for a used SWR Goliath cab. I was looking on the GC website for used gear and found a used SWR Goliath cab $399. I thought a little high but I will check it out. So I make to drive down to the GC in Hollywood,CA where the cab is located. I go in look around found the cab and head I usehook it up put my bass is passive and began to play. It sound like Crap! I tried the head with another cab a different head with the cab it still sound like crap. They made no excuses the cab is still on the floor today and on the website as well. I buy used stuff all the time but never this. GC is slacking . . . .again

James

So let me see if I have this right: You tried some random head with this cab, it sounded bad. Used that SAME head with another cab and it sounded bad again... Did it not dawn on you that the HEAD was the issue, not the cab? Did you try a different HEAD with the cab your were interested in? Perhaps even a different speaker cable?

I have no love for GC either, but the one thing I've gotten there over the last several years is good deals on used gear. Go back, fire that cab up with a GOOD head and see what it does...

rockstarbassist · #5 02-17-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

So let me see if I have this right: You tried some random head with this cab, it sounded bad. Used that SAME head with another cab and it sounded bad again... Did it not dawn on you that the HEAD was the issue, not the cab? Did you try a different HEAD with the cab your were interested in? Perhaps even a different speaker cable?

I have no love for GC either, but the one thing I've gotten there over the last several years is good deals on used gear. Go back, fire that cab up with a GOOD head and see what it does...

:idea:

**TheDude007** · #6 02-17-2011, 01:59 PM

I don't have any love for GC either, however, blaming them for how a product performs is pretty off center. That's like if you went to a store to look at a TV that you wanted that was on sale and you got there and the picture was crap on it, then blamed the store. First, I agree with BigOlHarry, try a different head first, but even if it did sound like crap, I'd be disappointed in SWR, not GC.

MattyH · #7 02-17-2011, 02:01 PM

I just saw a used Crate at my GC today that had been backed into by a car. The side was dented in, but hey, it still played! So why not buy it into the store?..... It wasn't even close to being worth the $50 they were charging. GC can really have some nerve. They piss me off sometimes. It's bad enough there's boogers all over the basses, that are missing knobs, and have bows in the neck so bad you can shoot an arrow with it. Sigh.

MattyH · #8 02-17-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDude007

I don't have any love for GC either, however, blaming them for how a product performs is pretty off center. That's like if you went to a store to look at a TV that you wanted that was on sale and you got there and the picture was crap on it, then blamed the store. First, I agree with BigOlHarry, try a different head first, but even if it did sound like crap, I'd be disappointed in SWR, not GC.

It's absolutely GC's fault. I sold pedals the other day. If they plug it in and it turns on, they'll buy then sell it. They didn't test one pedal. If they buy used gear, make sure it works properly. You should see the amount of total crap sitting in some of the GC's. Even the new models look and play like crap. You have a tech there, have him keep on top of the quality of guitars. They NEVER have more in the back. With a bass, what you see on the hanger is what you buy. Missing knobs, dirty, dented. It's ridiculous. It looks more and more like a thrift store every time I go in. I'll only go now if I need a set of strings. I'm hoping they can't screw that up.

Crazyeelboy · #9 02-17-2011, 02:20 PM

I have to say that I have generally had very good experiences with GC in Tampa. Same goes with the Sam Ash there - no complaints.

SactoBass · #10 02-17-2011, 02:31 PM

Hey, let's not knock GC too hard! After all, GC provides a place for the slap-happy monkey to hang out in the bass section and bang the crap out of some poor bass as they try their hardest to impress other people in the store. So let's hear it for GC!!!

Martin89 · #11 02-17-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyH

It's absolutely GC's fault. I sold pedals the other day. If they plug it in and it turns on, they'll buy then sell it. They didn't test one pedal. If they buy used gear, make sure it works properly. You should see the amount of total crap sitting in some of the GC's. Even the new models look and play like crap. You have a tech there, have him keep on top of the quality of guitars. They NEVER have more in the back. With a bass, what you see on the hanger is what you buy. Missing knobs, dirty, dented. It's ridiculous. It looks more and more like a thrift store every time I go in. I'll only go now if I need a set of strings. I'm hoping they can't screw that up.

The one time I bought a bass from GC, I asked about getting a new battery put in as the pre didn't seem as good as the other one in a different color. And they just brought me out a brand new one in the box(so they do have stuff in the back), and they called me the next week to ask how I was liking it. I told them the neck had a very slight bow but I could adjust it, and he said to bring it in and their tech would do it for free.

Maybe it's just your GC.

wcriley · #12 02-17-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBass

Hey, let's not knock GC too hard! After all, GC provides a place for the slap-happy monkey to hang out in the bass section and bang the crap out of some poor bass as they try their hardest to impress other people in the store. So let's hear it for GC!!!

And for most of us GC is the only store in town that has much of a selection.

Hopkins · #13 02-17-2011, 02:56 PM

So many people seem to bash GC, but I don't know how many times that I have needed something last minute and they were the only music store open past 6:00 and I would have been SOL without them. I would miss them if they were gone.

They have used gear, as with all used gear there will sometimes be problems. Who's to say that that cab wasn't in good working order when they took it in and some idiot blew a driver when they were demoing it.

I think some people go out of their way to hate on GC, and I don't know why.

michaeln · #14 02-17-2011, 02:58 PM

I too have had good results with the San Francisco GC store. People have been courteous, helpful, and treated me well, even when I returned a bass I had bought new a week before. I honestly don't have any complaints about this store.

BIGEJ2 · #15 02-17-2011, 03:12 PM

In past years, I hated GC. Always preferred Sam Ash because I felt they had a better selection and most importantly, their (new) basses weren't beat to hell. Over the past couple of months, the local GC got a new manager and he has really turned the store around. The used gear is priced right and the bass selection has improved. I was also very suprised in what they are giving on used equipment. A friend and I went in with some old gear that we didn't like or didn't use and left with what we wanted at a great price. The GC is in Plymouth Meeting, PA fot those of you from the area.

throughthefire · #16 02-17-2011, 03:21 PM

Our family uses the local GC in Ogden, UT - when we arrive there one son disappears into the drum section to look at stuff, another to the guitar section to spend my money on effects, and I look at basses. I find t'wife shortly after in the pro sound section checking out microphones and mixers. The staff all know us there, and they know that we spend a *lot* of money there over a year, so we get good service and great discounts.
We have a Music Village about 2 miles away from the GC, but they're just not as friendly in there...

Tigger Bangdang · #17 02-17-2011, 03:29 PM

The GC in Memphis is by far the best one I have visited when It comes to staff. Selection,.........not so much.

chadhargis · #18 02-17-2011, 04:11 PM

The GC here in Nashville is actually pretty nice. A good selection of stuff, and when I've needed the staff they have actually been friendly and helpful. The basses aren't beat up, but some could use a setup. Surprisingly, most are in tune. There are plenty of cables laying around and most amps are plugged in and paired with a cab so you can play them.

The high dollar basses are kept out of arms reach, so you have to ask if you wanna try out that MIA Fender P, but you can get your hands on plenty of cheaper stuff.

When I bought my Markbass combo there, they refused to sell me the floor model (I tried to get a deal on it) and they went in the back and got a new one in a box.

I've had bad luck mail ordering from them. Everything ALWAYS seems to be backordered. But my experience in the store has been positive.

**Laklandlover** · #19 02-17-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

So let me see if I have this right: You tried some random head with this cab, it sounded bad. Used that SAME head with another cab and it sounded bad again... Did it not dawn on you that the HEAD was the issue, not the cab? Did you try a different HEAD with the cab your were interested in? Perhaps even a different speaker cable?

I have no love for GC either, but the one thing I've gotten there over the last several years is good deals on used gear. Go back, fire that cab up with a GOOD head and see what it does...

I usually find great deals out here in the SF Valley there are so many musicians out here buying and trading gear. But is you are going to put gear online you should at least make sure it works. Those speaks were friedSeveral of my friends say that is because it is in Hollywood. Perhaps so, I will still go to the one here in Sherman Oaks but LA no way!

coreyfyfe · #20 02-17-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

So let me see if I have this right: You tried some random head with this cab, it sounded bad. Used that SAME head with another cab and it sounded bad again... Did it not dawn on you that the HEAD was the issue, not the cab? Did you try a different HEAD with the cab your were interested in? Perhaps even a different speaker cable?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laklandlover

I go in look around found the cab and head I usehook it up put my bass is passive and began to play. It sound like Crap! I tried the head with another cab a different head with the cab it still sound like crap. They made no excuses the cab is still on the floor today and on the website as well.

Yup. Sounds like he did, though some punctuation from the OP might have helped you when reading the initial post.