Anyone know if guitar center does these mods?

[Gilmourisgod]

I remember when the Squier CV and VM series first came out, everybody was raving about them, so I went to GC to try one out. Same experience, Mile high action, no setup. I can't imagine they were shipped that way, maybe it's just warpage from shipping between climates. I get that with no margins, and bad pay for the employees, nobody has any incentive to adjust the guitars, but how is anyone supposed to evaluate a bass that's nearly unplayable? Maybe next time I'll bring a couple truss rod hex keys along and do it myself. Last time I was there in the "bass department" (one section of wall in the back of the store) nobody even bothered to pretend to sell me anything, I doubt they'd notice me tweaking a trussrod!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

 

[JimmyM]

It’s because GC doesn’t care at all which one they have. They don’t screen them, they don’t train them, they don’t care what they know. If someone is a good GC tech, it’s because of their own passion and competence.. so yes, there are good ones, but it certainly makes sense to hold ones nose at the idea of a GC tech, since the companies own contribution and standards for the position are laughable.

in other words, there are probably some people at Taco Bell Burger King who cook great at home, but the name Taco Bell Burger King still brings a certain standard to mind..

I would venture to say that varies by who runs the GC and is not a company-wide policy.

 

[JimmyM]

Some are good, but if you don't know the tech is good I would look at more established luthiers in your area. The tech turnover seems to be pretty high at most GC stores.

Yeah, that's likely true, but I could say that about all the stores who have/had in-house luthiers. Once they can afford to rent their own space rather than pay a percentage, they all bolt.

 

[eddododo]

I would venture to say that varies by who runs the GC and is not a company-wide policy.

See the comment I made right before that one
The ones who manage to hire someone decent and keep them long enough to pay them well are lucky... it is not designed to work that way. It's really only big city GC's, with a large market, that can really intentionally be competitive

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Yeah, that's likely true, but I could say that about all the stores who have/had in-house luthiers. Once they can afford to rent their own space rather than pay a percentage, they all bolt.

Yeah, why get $15 an hour when you can charge $75 for a setup? There was a local guy that everyone raves about and his “super tune” for $75. So, what the hell, let’s try it. Went to his store and he called his kid over to do the setup. Nothing against kids (maybe 16) but when you’re paying for a super tune from the guy with the reputation, you expect the guy with the reputation. That was the last time I paid for a setup and learned to do it myself.

 

[brushfirewolf]

They typically don't do much to the basses and guitars hanging on the wall. In a perfect world, I get that they would keep them in tip top shape but they don't want to put the labor cost into the instruments and especially don't want to spend money on new strings. I have had employees adjust the truss rod on some basses when the action is high. Basically, if they don't sell to you or me, they'll sell to someone else that will be less picky and may pay for a setup.

How about the labor cost of every one of their employees on their phone ignoring all their customers, or taking cigarette breaks every 15 minutes?

There's probably willing and capable people out there that would be willing to grab a bass off the wall and crank the truss rod a turn during their downtime. Would probably help sales a lot. How many sales are they losing because their guitars are in unplayable condition? They lost about $800 from me yesterday.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

How about the labor cost of every one of their employees on their phone ignoring all their customers, or taking cigarette breaks every 15 minutes?

There's probably willing and capable people out there that would be willing to grab a bass off the wall and crank the truss rod a turn during their downtime. Would probably help sales a lot. How many sales are they losing because their guitars are in unplayable condition? They lost about $800 from me yesterday.

They'll sell to someone else. It's fine.

 

[brushfirewolf]

They'll sell to someone else. It's fine.

Will they? Aren't they like 1 billion in debt?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Will they? Aren't they like 1 billion in debt?

Yes, they are and have been for some time. Offsetting constant maintenance on their instruments is the 45 day return policy. Take it home, set it up to your liking, play it through your rig and if you don't like it, return it. You seemed to like that policy a month ago.

 

[brushfirewolf]

Yes, they are and have been for some time. Offsetting constant maintenance on their instruments is the 45 day return policy. Take it home, set it up to your liking, play it through your rig and if you don't like it, return it. You seemed to like that policy a month ago.

I love it. Not everyone is able to set up their own instrument though.

Are you a guitar center manager or something?

 

[SleepyShark]

I used to hang out a lot in Guitar Center when I was younger - my friends worked there, the managers knew me as a friendly face, so I would just sit and jam through headphones.

I remember how eye-opening it was seeing people walk in, noodle on a $2k Les Paul for 1-2 minutes, and walk out with it. A lot of people really don’t care about how things are set up in stores. They’re either going to do it themselves or are just buying their latest toy.

I guess you have to ask yourself if you think Guitar Center should be selling service or selling products only. You could argue that offering more services can help move product, but maybe some locations have crunched the numbers and found it not worth it.

I’d personally find a local luthier to work on my instruments, but I wouldn’t refuse to buy something from Guitar Center if they had what I wanted at the right price. I’m just a bit more picky when it comes to letting people work on things I’ve already got an attachment to.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I love it. Not everyone is able to set up their own instrument though.

Are you a guitar center manager or something?

No. Just a realist.

 

[brushfirewolf]

No. Just a realist.

I want to be clear. I buy from guitar center all the time. I am very grateful for the painless return experience. In fact I just bought a used bass online yesterday— my 6th bass from them this year.

So every time I walk in there and get ignored by a bunch of 16 year olds on their phone kinda sours me. But I’ll keep buying stuff from them, just like how I’ll keep going to Walmart for my toilet paper.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I want to be clear. I buy from guitar center all the time. I am very grateful for the painless return experience. In fact I just bought a used bass online yesterday— my 6th bass from them this year.

So every time I walk in there and get ignored by a bunch of 16 year olds on their phone kinda sours me. But I’ll keep buying stuff from them, just like how I’ll keep going to Walmart for my toilet paper.

I wish Ryan Fowler's carried more bass gear. I like their store a lot, but it's predominantly for guitar. Chuck's is the best for bass gear.

 

[Doug P]

My GC has a mature, experienced, sensible repair technician who's been there for years. The few times I've used his services he's done exactly what I requested. He finished the jobs quickly and charged fairly. I'm confident he would direct me elsewhere if he felt unqualified to perform a particular service, as he did with me on one occasion.

Yea. Like any retail store , some employees know their stuff and want to be there for the client some don’t. GC is what it is , a big box store. It has its use in the market place but yea... look up a qualified place near ya.

 

[drblooze]

Hi! I have a bronco bass that I would like to mod with a bridge pickup. I want it to have the original pickup AND a j pickup on the bottom. This will require a new hole And probably a new preamp. Does anyone know if guitar center will do this and the price? Thanks!

Why would you want to go to Guitar Center? Isn't there a luthier or a repair shop in a city near you?