I walked into my local Best Buy yeterday to find they have a musical instrument section now. It's a large part of the store in back were the speaker room used to be.
Out of curiosity I thought I would go back there to check it expecting to see a bunch of entry level junk guitars and keyboards. I was shocked to see dozens of MIA Fenders, Gibsons and, Parker guitars on the wall. They also had higher Fender giutar amps like a '59 Bassman and a '65, Twin. There were Peavey XXX and 5105 tube heads and well as Line-6 Flextone III combos. None of this stuff qualifies as entry-level.
Best Buy had a better guitar effects section than GC .
The bass gear was a little weak. No higher end bass amps but there was a one of the Bassman 210 Combos, a few of the Rumble series combos and a Bassman 250 head. A lot of the cheapo Peavey Max combos as well.
As far as basses go they had MIA Fenders and Gibson Thunderbirds 2 of them and a few US built EB-1 or EBO whatever they are. Thats two more Gibson Thunderbirds than GC has on their wall. Hanging on the wall with the Gibsons were the Epihone versions as well. They had a lot of MIM P-Bass & Jazz bases but no Squires? CIJ Fenders on hand were Geddy Lee jazz basses and, Mustangs. There were a couple of each. They also had some Yamaha basses.
Also carry DW and Pacific drums, Tama & Yamaha drums as well as some high end Roland keyboards.
The sales associate also told me that they are starting a lessons program . The program is going to start with guitar, bass & piano lessons and then they plan on adding drums.
She also mentioned that they are on a no-commision plan so they don't hard sell or push anything that may pay a better commision....Hmmmm nobody trying to sell you a Schecter when you are playing a Fender...Interesting.
I'm not sure what their marketing stategy is. Seems crazy to me fill your consumer electronic stores full of mid-level to professional lever gear. Just seems like the type of people that would buy a guitar at Best Buy would not be in the market for a $1,700 Thunderbird bass or a 100 watt tube guitar half-stack.
I can say that clearly this is a nother nail in the coffin for the mom & pop music store.
This will not be good for them. As far as how this will effect GC & Sam Ash I'm not so sure.
