A Tale of 2 Guitar Centers

[joelns]

Actually, that title should continue with "and one other local shop". I'm looking for a new bass right now. I have a few specific must haves with it. 5 string (BEADG), light (8 pounds or less), 24 frets, etc. And of course, I have to like the way it looks. There are some local Ibanez dealers, so I was hoping to check out the EHB1505, or something similar.

We went to the "one other local shop" first, the "we" means my daughter and I. They had very little stock, and only Fender/Squire 4 strings on the wall. In talking to the guy behind the counter, he didn't know when more would be in but mentioned that Steinberger and Hofner basses would be in next week. For aesthetic reasons, neither of those is of interest to me and I said so. He wouldn't stop pushing them, so we turned and left. There's a Guitar Center nearby...

We drove over to Guitar Center. They happened to have a 1505 (not the headless model) on the wall. I would have loved to play it. Not a sales person in sight. The bass was high up on the wall, no ladder. So I didn't try to grab it. After waiting and looking for help, we gave up and left. Total time in store, about 15 minutes. This isn't the first time I've had this experience at this GC. I won't be back there.

My daughter suggested the other Guitar Center, about 40 minutes drive away. Again, no stock. But a very helpful sales person who offered to order a few things that showed up as in stock on his computer for me to try out. Including a Strandberg Bodin that I am very curious about. He was super helpful. I got his name and phone. When I'm ready to buy, I'll start with him.

2 different GC's. 2 dramatically different experiences.

 

[Bass Viking]

I've heard that some Guitar Centers are better than others and it's great that you have a particular person to deal with.

We sometimes drive out of our way to go to a more pleasant store. e.g. we prefer the Costco that's 20 minutes away rather than just up the street.

 

[Winslow]

Came in here expecting Dickens, but never mind. I'll go Billy Shakes instead:

Two Guitar Centers, both alike in dignity
(Online in TalkBass, where we lay our scene),
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
And sales floor bass made COVID-hands unclean.
Before the idle clerks of these two shops
A pair of star-crossed shoppers stake their cash;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
With fair ambition seek to jam and thrash.
The fearful hanging of the too-high bass
And the continuance of their shopping dread,
Which, but an absent ladder, naught could remove,
Is now the five minutes' traffic of this thread.
The which, if you with patient eyes attend,
What OP miss, the good sales guy will strive to mend.


(@Chicory Blue, just because.)

 

[LKTraz]

The particular GC you visit DOES make a difference!

I have heard horrible stories about GC in Wilkes-Barre but personally have had nothing but reasonable treatment at GC Harrisburg. For me it's at least a 45 minute drive to any GC and 90 mins puts 4 of them within reach. (I live in a rural area of PA so everything is an excursion of sorts)

I've heard mixed messages about Lancaster and nothing bad about Allentown so 4 GCs with a 50-50 mix of good/bad reviews. Sooooooo...........it looks like a GC experience really IS dependent on exactly which store you are at.

 

[68Tele-Bass]

Back in northern Vermont, our local GC was in Burlington.
Excellent staff, super helpful, would order in stuff if not right there. Shop/repair guys great. Can’t say enough about them. I even had one of the guys give me his old Jazzmaster hard case as he had just gotten himself a new one, and I had just ordered a Squier JM!! Wow!
Of course, no other options in a small “city” like Burlington- so they could have been total jerks knowing you had no where else to go, but...Vermont isn’t like that, Usually...

 

[joelns]

Back in northern Vermont, our local GC was in Burlington.
Excellent staff, super helpful, would order in stuff if not right there. Shop/repair guys great. Can’t say enough about them. I even had one of the guys give me his old Jazzmaster hard case as he had just gotten himself a new one, and I had just ordered a Squier JM!! Wow!
Of course, no other options in a small “city” like Burlington- so they could have been total jerks knowing you had no where else to go, but...Vermont isn’t like that, Usually...

That sounds like Vermont. My wife grew up in Southern VT, in N Bennington. Of course, we spent a lot of time there when dating and while her folks were still with us. I really miss that area. Such a beautiful state.

 

[68Tele-Bass]

That sounds like Vermont. My wife grew up in Southern VT, in N Bennington. Of course, we spent a lot of time there when dating and while her folks were still with us. I really miss that area. Such a beautiful state.

Yeah.. Beautiful back there! We were spoiled and lived in Hyde Park- a stones throw away from Stowe and Mt Mansfield..

Had a high threshold for natural beauty, so Arizona was able to fit the bill. We are now a stones throw from Canyon de Chelly! Here is a pic of Spider Rock- not to be missed

 

[joelns]

That’s a stunning landscape. We’re a few hours from Tahoe and Yosemite isn’t much farther. Some lovely landscapes here too.