Playing at a guitar shop

WilliamSandoval · #1 07-09-2011, 12:45 AM

I always walk into guitar shops like GC and see people playing. I want to play with things I can't afford too!

But in all seriousness, how do you get to play things. Do you just walk up to a guitar and take it off the stand and plug it in and start playing like you own the place; or do you have to ask? Are there things that you can't touch? Do people bring their own instruments in? I was at a shop once where they got mad at people who leave finger prints on things. You really can't avoid that can you? I can't play with gloves on, I've tried. What are the norms?

WilliamSandoval · #2 07-09-2011, 12:46 AM

I want to try out amplifiers sometime in the future, by the way.

MikeBC · #3 07-09-2011, 12:49 AM

I always ask.

Munjibunga · #4 07-09-2011, 12:57 AM

At GC, I just take 'em down and play 'em. Sometimes you have to ask for a cable, but I haven't seen that lately. There's usually one or two lying around.

At BSD, I mention that I'd like to play it and get a nod.

Stilettoprefer · #5 07-09-2011, 12:57 AM

If it's GC, go for it unless you risk damaging the instrument trying to get it off of the hanger (my local one has them right up to the extremely tall ceiling). If it's a smaller shop, I ask. Some places have signs up telling you to ask before playing.

AboveOne · #6 07-10-2011, 09:15 PM

Yeah like the others said at a place like GC i just take them down and play. At smaller places i ask to make sure.

PimasterPearson · #7 07-10-2011, 09:24 PM

I work at a small music store in Virginia. I don't really mind if someone walks in and starts playing instruments without saying a word... but I certainly prefer it if people ask.

At a big store like GC, I always chat with a sales person first. I usually get better service when I do. No joke, I usually get great service at GC before.

Elrend · #8 07-10-2011, 09:27 PM

Screw the proles, just grab it and play!

cmlax21 · #9 07-10-2011, 09:30 PM

GC I just go for the gold unless like someone said before it's all the way to the ceiling then I ask so it's they're fault if it falls and breaks not mine.

At my local shop I always ask out of respect even if it's just some cheap used Epiphone.

Eric Scholz · #10 07-10-2011, 09:37 PM

GC keeps the "do not touch" guitars out of reach, either high up or behind a counter. If you can reach it, it's fair game.

The1bassist06 · #11 07-10-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Scholz

GC keeps the "do not touch" guitars out of reach, either high up or behind a counter. If you can reach it, it's fair game.

My local GC used to have some nice stingrays and a warwick selection, and they were always in reach. Now they have all of them out of reach and only the squiers are in reach

Unrepresented · #12 07-10-2011, 10:24 PM

Everything is in reach if you're tall or determined enough. GC is a playground. If you can safely access it, it's yours.

BKBassDude · #13 07-10-2011, 10:29 PM

As an employee of a big box MI retailer (that is not GC or Sam Ash), I don't mind when players grab gear off the wall and play. I keep cables behind my counter so as to be able to weed out some of the homeless/drunk/non musician crowd, but if you know what you are doing and are respectful of the instrument, no need to ask.

If you are a kid and just pick up something and hold it incorrectly/start twisting tuning keys/try to swing it at your brother, you will feel my wrath.

Or if when you put it back on the wall you hit every single possible other instrument in it's vicinity. I'd love to be able to charge people for the damage they do to gear.

Or you decide to shoot heroin in my acoustic room, or fall asleep and drool on my MO8. but those are other issues entirely

WilliamSandoval · #14 07-10-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKBassDude

Or you decide to shoot heroin in my acoustic room)

Oh... I didn't know. Sorry.

6bassist9 · #15 07-10-2011, 10:37 PM

Roflmao!!!!!! People actually do that stuff? Holy crap I would love to b the employee to throw someones butt out for that and I'd be dying laughing the whole time! Like the dude would have a hard time takin me seriously someone post a video of that on YouTube ^_^

Strat Hater · #16 07-10-2011, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6bassist9

Roflmao!!!!!! People actually do that stuff? Holy crap I would love to b the employee to throw someones butt out for that and I'd be dying laughing the whole time! Like the dude would have a hard time takin me seriously someone post a video of that on YouTube ^_^

Hey I drive taxi and you would be amazed what people do and try to get away with. One of the best ones was, I brought a bunch of teenagers to the court house, he reached in his pocket and found a bag of coke. He joked about it with his friends. I used to see him around all the time, but haven't seen him since that day...hmmm!!

6bassist9 · #17 07-10-2011, 11:07 PM

Ahhhh the people of wal mart lol

BKBassDude · #18 07-10-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6bassist9

Roflmao!!!!!! People actually do that stuff? Holy crap I would love to b the employee to throw someones butt out for that and I'd be dying laughing the whole time! Like the dude would have a hard time takin me seriously someone post a video of that on YouTube ^_^

Try working in the 3rd or 4th most foot trafficked area in NYC, at a 24 hour location, directly across from the largest methadone clinic in the city.

We have lots of interesting characters come through. Occasionally one of them is a musician

PBnJBassist · #19 07-10-2011, 11:38 PM

I just pickup and play. Though, I've been mindful of others lately. I bring in my own headphones and 1/4" adapter so I can plug and play basses through amps that have a headphone option, that way I can keep the noise to myself without disturbing anyone else. The guys at my GC are really cool with it as long as you check your headphones in so they don't accuse you of stealing. Nothing more annoying than a loud guitarist than a loud bassist that plucks nothing but an open "E" string. Yeah, thanks for reminding me that sound travels... Ugh.

6bassist9 · #20 07-10-2011, 11:48 PM

Hmmm I've never considered the head phones thing. I usually keep the volume down. but it rarely succeeds, for some reason there is nearly always some heavy metal playin punk that thinks hes all that and wants to drown everything out. These people tick me off to no end. I think it's funny wen I start playin exactly wat they're playin and go into a part they don't kno of the song so they get mad and pretend to b done and leave. But I hate wen they actually are pretty good and u can't show em up lol