Music Go Round

kjpollo · #1 12-04-2008, 06:57 PM

I was reading a thread about additional places to buy good used gear and someone mentioned Music Go Round.

I'm currently talking to someone at one of their stores about a bass but before I complete the deal and send him a money order, I'm just looking for some feedback on them.

Their chain doesnt exist in CT where I live so I have NO experience with them at all.
I do have to say that the guy I'm talking to seems pretty knowledgeable and he's sent me about a dozen pix of the bass to illustrate its imperfections (which are all pretty minor)and he's been addressing all of my questions/concerns.

Can anyone give me any info on their customer service, reputation, are their prices good?
IMHO I think I would be getting a pretty fair price if I end up buying the bass.

Thanks in advance,

EagleMoon · #2 12-04-2008, 07:03 PM

I've been in their stores a few times. Never actually bought anything from them, but I do know people who have. No problems. I assume you're going to have the bass shipped to you? As long as you get some good pics of it to make sure the neck is okay and everything looks good, I wouldn't have a problem with getting something from them.

lonote · #3 12-04-2008, 07:04 PM

I've done a lot of business with them over the years. Know what you're buying and know what it is worth; if you don't you can take a beating. If you've done your homework you'll have no problem but if you haven't, you can learn an expensive lesson. I've never had a problem.

synterx · #4 12-04-2008, 07:04 PM

It's an established retail chain. There are many of them spread around the country. I just bought a bass from one in the next state over, and it was no big deal, just like buying from someone locally. Paid the price, paid the shipping, and it was UPS'd. I had 48 hours to return it for any reason at all. Of course, ask about any additional time for warranty issues, I don't know what that is. I say you are just as well buying from them, at least they are a real retail chain and not just one store in some state far away.

I feel it's pretty safe.

MrPrashant · #5 12-04-2008, 07:05 PM

Cosign. I've bought stuff online from MGR and had it shipped and it worked just fine.

**barebones** · #6 12-04-2008, 07:05 PM

I've done a fair amount of business with them locally, and I've purchased, I think, two or three amp heads from them through out-of-state transactions. Nothing but good experiences to report. I would just say be sure you actually want to keep what you're buying from them. Even though I believe they have a return policy of some sort, a couple of the guys I've bought from seemed to strongly imply that they didn't want to ship something to me and have me return it if it was flat out broken or somehow not as described. I'm sure they just want to avoid the hassle of someone who's just sort of kicking tires long distance. I had no problem with this. Overall, they're a solid company (franchised business, I believe) with good people working in their stores. Best of luck to you!

**barebones** · #7 12-04-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonote

Know what you're buying and know what it is worth; if you don't you can take a beating. If you've done your homework you'll have no problem but if you haven't, you can learn an expensive lesson. I've never had a problem.

Good point. The one thing I think they tend to do fairly consistently is price certain items on the high side. Not rip-off price ranges or anything, just on the high end of the acceptable price range. And they tend not to negotiate, which makes sense business-wise--used gear is what we in the retail business call "unshoppable." That means it's difficult to find the exact same item in the exact same condition at a competitor's store. So, you can ask them if they can come down on the price, but it's pretty easy for them to say no. Where else are you going to go for that exact piece of gear?

On the flipside, however, they tend not to check up on current selling ranges for gear they've had in stock for a while. For example, I've seen Fender Bassman heads in my local MGR sitting for several months at a couple hundred dollars less than what they might be selling for on Ebay at a given moment. I assume MGR figures it'd be too much to keep up with quarter-to-quarter selling trends on each piece of gear they sell, so they choose a price and "set it and forget it." You can use this to your advantage sometimes, and, now that I think about it, it may explain why some of their stuff sits around at prices higher than current trends as well.

kjpollo · #8 12-04-2008, 07:39 PM

Thanks for the quick replies. You guys are confirming my feelings in working with the guy I've been talking to.

I have a pretty good idea of the normal value of the bass I have a very close eye on and it seems I'm getting a pretty good deal. My contact said the electronics were just cleaned by their tech and he also did a setup. I asked about the neck and the guy said the tech did not report any problems with the trussrod.
I just sent a final follow-up asking about what strings were put on (brand and type).

I just have to talk to my bandmates and see if I can have the bass shipped to someone's house-my wife would KILL me if I had it shipped here!!

Getting back into music and into my first real band has set off quite a bit of GAS in the past 12 months!!!!

Blues Bass 2 · #9 12-04-2008, 08:54 PM

My local Music Go Round is my favorite music store. I've bought a ton of gear there and always have been treated right. My local one has always had a bassplayer working there unlike any of the other stores in the area and it's always good to be able to talk to someone who really knows what you need and like. They don't negotiate on prices unless you are trading something in but sometimes they put a price on things that is really good. The real good stuff goes pretty quick so you have to be there when it come in or soon after to score those. I've gotten a Yamaha BB2000 and a Guild Pilot 5 string by being at the store at the right time each for under $300 and that's a steal. I don't know about all the stores but the one here is great.

CoffeeBass · #10 12-04-2008, 10:16 PM

I have been buying stuff from them for the past year or so and have had good eperience all around. Most recently, I got a small combo (crate bt1000 I believe) for about $130. When it got here the speaker was creased. I called the guy and he agreed that shipping it back was not a good idea because they would have a busted speaker and I would be out $70 total shipping. Instead they paid for half the replacement speaker. I have also bought a rogue 5 sting bass and a bbe bmax preamp (SS) a double bass drum pedal etc etc. Over all I am very happy with them. If you watch the website you can find some good deals.

My .02

CB

kjpollo · #11 12-05-2008, 08:15 AM

TO THE MOD's-sorry about putting this in the wrong place! I forgot about the "miscellaneous" Forum. My bad!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blues Bass 2

My local Music Go Round is my favorite music store. I've bought a ton of gear there and always have been treated right. My local one has always had a bassplayer working there unlike any of the other stores in the area and it's always good to be able to talk to someone who really knows what you need and like. They don't negotiate on prices unless you are trading something in but sometimes they put a price on things that is really good. The real good stuff goes pretty quick so you have to be there when it come in or soon after to score those. I've gotten a Yamaha BB2000 and a Guild Pilot 5 string by being at the store at the right time each for under $300 and that's a steal. I don't know about all the stores but the one here is great.

Which store do you go to? I'm dealing with the Cedar Rapids location. I dont know Iowa at all so I have no clue if thats close to you or not but thanks for the info.

I'm getting what I feel is a good deal even when you factor in the shipping from Iowa to CT. I'm having a really tough time finding a decent Peavey T-40 around here for a good price.

Grueber · #12 12-05-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonote

I've done a lot of business with them over the years. Know what you're buying and know what it is worth; if you don't you can take a beating. If you've done your homework you'll have no problem but if you haven't, you can learn an expensive lesson. I've never had a problem.

+1

I took bass lessons there when I was first starting out, and made many of my early bass/gear purchases there. I knew very little about brands and models at the time. Now when I think back, I realize that many items were tagged innaccurately(as better models of the same brand).