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Being a female bassist..

Radical Edward

Radical Edward

Feb 22, 2010
263
0
38
Grand Rapids, MI
#1
Okay. Every time I go into GC, I play with a few basses and try to think of a few good questions to bother the staff about.. The thing is, other than the one guy there who knows me becauseI come in so much, the other staff talk to me like I'm a little kid or dumb or something. I'm thinking it's because I'm a girl. When I go in there, the only girls I see are the ones following their boyfriends around looking bored and uninterested. I can understand that they're not used to the idea, but my boyfriend and I have bought over $4,000 worth of equipment there within the past year. Perhaps they think it's all him, but when I'm asking the questions, you'd think they'd catch on that I'm serious about this and am actually looking to buy, and not just browse. I just want a straight forward answer... For instance, I asked one staff person if they could tune this 5 string I was playing with because it was very, very out of tune. He told me, "Oh. It's probably just in a different tuning. A lot of the regulars like to do that."
I know what different tunings sound like, and that crappy wavy sound coming from that guitar was not it. It infuriates me that they would just assume that I'm just some dolt, because I'm a girl. Anyone else have this problem? Anything like it? Someone judging you and your knowledge because of who you are or what you look like?
:scowl:
 
#2
It happens to me and I'm a guy. I guess its difficult for a sales person to accurately guage a person's knowledge of basses.

I mean, if you were a beginner bassist and went in, played an untuned bass and the salesperson just watched you, you would be a little annoyed right? Know all sales people are annoying but they have a job to do akin to selling cars.
 
#3
Don't be offended, Mikaela. While it might be sexism, I find a lot of the GC'ers have a "too cool for school" attitude. That's coming from a guy who's been playing for nearly twenty years. I NEVER ask for help there because I find many (but certainly not all) of the people at GC will have that attitude AND don't know what the hell they are talking about.
 
#4
It's not like their job is hard. Hell, I'd kill for it. To stand around all day and answer simple questions about various gear and accessories, and to be able to play anything you want there at almost any time.. ? I mean, jeeze. It seems pretty ridiculous that they can't just answer peoples' questions straight-forward. I dunno. He probably just didn't want to mess with it. Their "guitar tech' wasn't there, that day.
 
#7
What Pica said. They are better than another store that CREATED an E-string rattle! I have been back muiltiple times. It still slaps the frets. I ordered a maintenance book and may try to fix it myself. *sigh* Wish me luck. I thought about going to GC and letting them fix it, but I scared. Have you tried going into alocally owned store? The tend to appreciate their customers and potential customers more and you may get better service.
 
#8
GC is basically worthless to me unless I need something really quick that local smaller stores don't have. I get everything online when I can, including strings, picks and the other assorted stuff. Sam Ash isn't much better but I at least got my Eden head there a couple years ago so I could try it first and made sure it worked.
 
#9
Mikaela Ellinge said:
Okay. Every time I go into GC, I play with a few basses and try to think of a few good questions to bother the staff about.. The thing is, other than the one guy there who knows me becauseI come in so much, the other staff talk to me like I'm a little kid or dumb or something. I'm thinking it's because I'm a girl. When I go in there, the only girls I see are the ones following their boyfriends around looking bored and uninterested. I can understand that they're not used to the idea, but my boyfriend and I have bought over $4,000 worth of equipment there within the past year. Perhaps they think it's all him, but when I'm asking the questions, you'd think they'd catch on that I'm serious about this and am actually looking to buy, and not just browse. I just want a straight forward answer... For instance, I asked one staff person if they could tune this 5 string I was playing with because it was very, very out of tune. He told me, "Oh. It's probably just in a different tuning. A lot of the regulars like to do that."
I know what different tunings sound like, and that crappy wavy sound coming from that guitar was not it. It infuriates me that they would just assume that I'm just some dolt, because I'm a girl. Anyone else have this problem? Anything like it? Someone judging you and your knowledge because of who you are or what you look like?
:scowl:
Click to expand...

Places like GC and Sam Ash are huge national chains and most of the people that work there are, in fact, not musicians.
 
#13
I don't think it's because of gender, although that may or may not help matters. My suspicion is that it's being a salesguy and being paid minimum wage.

Having worked in far too many retail jobs, I can tell you from experience that a persons age/gender/race/creed only affects how much rudeness and BS they get, and does not determine whether they do or do not get any. Answering the same elementary questions 500+ times per day, day in and day out, gets real old, real fast.

Also, you raised an excellent point about the one guy who isn't a tool - when I started out in this town, all the saleguys at all the stores treated me like dirt. Now that I've proven that I know what I'm talking about, that I can play, and that I have money, they treat me like a long-lost brother.

Although, there is the one salesgirl who still ignores me and gripes if she's forced by management to help me with something... maybe it's cause I'm a dude?
 
#16
If you have to ask someone to tune a bass for you,that sends a message. Any musician should be able to tune their instrument. Sounds like you need some ear training. Not a put down, just a suggestion.
 
#17
aprod said:
If you have to ask someone to tune a bass for you,that sends a message. Any musician should be able to tune their instrument. Sounds like you need some ear training. Not a put down, just a suggestion.
Click to expand...

I wasn't going to mention that.

Also not trying to be rude here (nor was I a moment ago), but here's a helpful hint - for the purposes of noodling around to get a general feel for an instrument/amp, or to hack off a couple of rough riffs for friends during Burban & Scotch night - the instrument reallly only needs to be in tune with itself.

So just pick a string that seems to be at generally the right sort of tension - or if none, turn pegs at random until one seems about right - and then tune all the other strings to that one. No matter how out-of-tune the axe is - even if you've just replaced all the strings - you can get it to play some general tunes in such fashion.

P.S. - asking to borrow a tuner may have impressed the fellow slightly more than asking him to tune it.
 
#19
#1...I know the feeling.

#2...I've learned to not put a lot of stock in what everyone else thinks about my playing...especially in a store like GC.

When I go into a music store to check out equipment, I find a salesperson and politely ask them for a tuner (and occasionally a cable if I need it). Once I have said tuner, I go find whatever instrument I'm interested in and take it from there. If a salesperson follows me, I simply (and politely) tell them that if I have any more questions, I will be sure to ask. Usually, that does the trick. Also, I bring my boyfriend with me (who is not a musician) and sometimes the salesperson will talk to him (assuming HE'S the musician) while I make my way towards the instruments.
 
#20
Research desired product on forums like this and product reviews and go to g.c knowledgeable about what you are seeking, then there is no need to ask sales person alot of questions, just to try it out.Carry a cheap little korg pocket tuner when bass or guitar shopping,you can pick up decent little tuner for $10 or $20. If a salesperson is disrespectful,tell them so and ask to talk with someone who wants to be helpful.
 

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