Fender & Guitar Center - You Could Do So Much Better

Glenstapo · #1 02-28-2013, 07:25 AM

I know, no s****!

Went to try out the Modern Player Telecaster (see my post on that disappointing experience).

Picked up one of the 8-900 dollar Jazz Basses (there are so many I can't keep the models straight). Action was so bad it was unplayable. Fret buzz, every string from fret 1 on.

Fender ships an $800 product in this shape?
The three GC zombie salespeople who weren't helping anyone don't notice and never take it in the back and get it playable?

Oh, and the Telecaster bass had a loose input jack. Who cares, you're only spending $600 of your hard-earned money on that muddy baby.

For an industry that has a foundation of beauty and craftsmanship, these companies obviously don't value either.

Lichtaffen · #2 02-28-2013, 07:32 AM

Sounds exactly like the GC near me. Appalling. How do they expect to make sales on such poorly set up instruments? A good friend of mine used to work at a GC in the bass department and he said he'd set up all the instruments himself because of this very reason.

Another friend of mine buys up cheap Fenders off craigslist and does master quality fretwork and setups on them and resells them for a profit. They play like a million bucks. If you had your eyes closed while playing one, you'd think it was a Custom Shop instrument. A setup makes such a huge difference.

msact · #3 02-28-2013, 07:36 AM

I know exactly what you are talking about. I don't think anyone at Guitar Center pays any attention to the basses. Last time I went in my local GC I found a bass with the strings so high you couldn't even play it. Just a few feet away was an identical model that was just fine. I pointed it out to one of the guys who works there and they took it to apparently fix it. If it weren't for the fact that they will let you play all day if you want, I would never go there. I have had better playing basses via mail order than I have found at GC.

Mtnman · #4 02-28-2013, 07:43 AM

I've a bunch of negative posts about GC and some of them I agree with. But, GC is what it is. It is a high volume, low price, big box retailer.

I say if you want well set up guitars, go to a mom and pop store and pay full retail (or close to it). Otherwise, you should learn to do your own setup...

I used to work at the GC near me. I can say from personal experience that during his downtime, the tech used to walk the floor and randomly choose guitars and basses and give them a proper setup. But, you have to remember, GC gets shipments of 100+ guitars and basses every week. It is nearly impossible to keep up with all of them.

pacojas · #5 02-28-2013, 07:57 AM

so,... you mean to tell us that instruments in GC other than Fender are properly set-up!

hmmmm,....

fisticuffs · #6 02-28-2013, 07:58 AM

Most fenders we receive in have a passable setup. We set them all up before they ship though just to be safe.

SherwoodGreen · #7 02-28-2013, 08:14 AM

I've purchased a Fender MIJ, a Warwick and (2) EBMM through GC- my "local" is a pretty well-run store.
All basses were set up well; I did the final tweaking at home.
I've played a number of Fenders that I've considered, and none had any issues that either I or a good tech couldn't overcome easily.
I see your point OP, but I think you're generalizing.
I bet that most of the basses arrive with an acceptable factory set-up, altered only by shipping time, handling in receiving, climate, and... (wait for it)..

The shredders that play them on a daily basis until they're sold!

In another lifetime, I worked at GC- You would not believe how instruments are treated with disrespect by customers, bought & returned, etc.
It's a two-way street.

No doubt GC should have a run-through of the basses on the wall, but except for a limited basis, that's probably not gonna happen.
And despite how easy it is to throw barbs, I really think that Fender actually does an acceptable job of building basses and shipping them in playable condition.

They (GC/Fender) are both big targets- If they don't meet a player's expectations, there are other stores and other brands.
My .02

msact · #8 02-28-2013, 08:18 AM

I bought an Ibanez at GC last year with a neck that looked like a ski jump! Once I pointed it out to them, they fixed it and now it's perfect. When I asked them how long it had been on the floor, they indicated that it had been there about six months. Maybe there are some GC's where they pay attention to the basses. Not the one near me. The reason I bought the Ibanez there is that they had a special discount one weekend. I will say that the guys that work there are all very nice and they want to be helpful. I just never see anyone paying any attention to the bass room.

Bass players are at the bottom of the food chain anyway. Maybe that's why the basses in my GC always appear to be neglected.

Thumpinshelton · #9 02-28-2013, 08:28 AM

Everytime I walk into a GC all I hear is kids playing the same tapping style solo's through the latest line 6 modeling amp and when a "bass Player" picks up a bass in their it is like a Flea "wanna be" contest.... I have a good friend who is an Asst. manager at the local GC and he actually told me that he would never buy a floor model. Always order and get one in the box. I will probably never buy a bass from GC. I have always bought from reputable dealers that know how to treat musicians.

CptRevell · #10 02-28-2013, 08:32 AM

My local GC seems fairly good at setting up instruments. The used selection is fairly well taken care of too. It's a smaller one (still huge) so maybe that's the reason.

3234718 · #11 02-28-2013, 08:41 AM

I don't think GC cares enough to do better. Enough customers buy the Squier beginner set with the bass/guitar and amp for them to pay rent. Between that and people who don't know any better paying $90 for mediochre setups, they're happy.

chadds · #12 02-28-2013, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mtnman

I've a bunch of negative posts about GC and some of them I agree with. But, GC is what it is. It is a high volume, low price, big box retailer.

I say if you want well set up guitars, go to a mom and pop store and pay full retail (or close to it). Otherwise, you should learn to do your own setup...

I used to work at the GC near me. I can say from personal experience that during his downtime, the tech used to walk the floor and randomly choose guitars and basses and give them a proper setup. But, you have to remember, GC gets shipments of 100+ guitars and basses every week. It is nearly impossible to keep up with all of them.

You could take it to a tech.

bassbully · #13 02-28-2013, 09:26 AM

I have seen a few basses in need of a setup at GC and when I pointed it out it was pulled and adjusted. I have had them adjust them for me if I was interested in it ..in front of me. They have allot of guitars and basses to deal with as well as wankers and allot of bright hot lighting in those stores.

On the other hand I have gone in mom and pop shops and questioned the setups only to be told they do them to all their guitars themslves. They have a speck of GC's inventory and some are bad. I look at them like....really?

EnviroMetal · #14 02-28-2013, 09:43 AM

At the GC near my place of residence had a Jackson bass with a broken E string and a broken nut sitting there for two weeks.
I only go to GC to get strings and play different instruments to get a feel for something that I will buy online

soitainly · #15 02-28-2013, 09:46 AM

I would think that it would be a no brainer for a music store to keep their instruments setup and tuned, but I guess if GC can get away with not caring, then what can you say. I think they get plenty of customers that basically are buying on a brand name and don't think much past what color Fender they want.

In can be frustrating as an experienced musician to see how how many broken or poorly setup guitars they have in stock, but at least with experience you have the knowledge to pick and chose. In reality, I don't see how any working musician could get by without being able to do some basic setup work. Especially on Fender electric instrument, there are just some really simple screws to turn.

In the end, Guitar Center's core customer isn't a working musician, I wonder what percentage of their gear is ever taken out of the bedroom. It is sad that this is what has become of music retailing, but thinking back to life before GC I remember the problems too. Paying high prices and having limited selection was just as bad.

cricman · #16 02-28-2013, 09:55 AM

Unfortunately, we live in a big box world! The mom and pops stores are having a harder and harder time to stay open, trying to compete, and before we know it, we are left with the "megamusic" chain. Heck one day, GC might even merge with WallyWorld, ad we can by our toilet paper, avacados, bass strings, socks, and PA gear in one store!

cricman

mpdd · #17 02-28-2013, 10:06 AM

only ever seen some young lady setting up some expensive looking black les paul with gold everything in the last 3 years of going to gc in pasadena

Doublesixes · #18 02-28-2013, 10:07 AM

IMHO, when buying an instrument from a discount merchant, be prepared to find some lacking in the setup. It's a good idea for a player to learn those basic techniques and in that regard, the internet and Youtube in particular offer a wealth of valuable information. It's not rocket science and could be learned by anybody with a few simple tools.

Tmw2011 · #19 02-28-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenstapo

Fender ships an $800 product in this shape?

Yes, Fender does ship out some dogs. But the new Fenders I've gotten out of the box have all had passable setups, barring any complication from shipping, such as fret spout from temp/weather changes, the bass getting jarred hard enough to knock the bolt-on neck askew in transit, etc. Others on this forum have experienced a number of basses from Fender with questionable quality control out of the box. But blaming the condition on floor models in a GC on Fender is quite an iffy proposition.

**hsech** · #20 02-28-2013, 10:55 AM

The only things I get from GC are strings, straps, cables and stands. And that's only when I'm in a hurry to get them. Usually I go in and look around and try a bass or two and if I get GAS really bad for it I'll look for a used one on EBay. More times than not the seller has already had it set up and bought a case for it if it didn't have one to begin with. If I can't find a used one, then I opt for MF or SW.