Do I trust Guitar Center?

[singlemalt]

I’d look in the Talkbass classifieds and buy used. Like I have for the last dozen or so basses. And if I’m not into it, I sell it in the classifieds.

Or I’d look at my local Craigslist.

You can trust GC to maybe, maybe, get you what you ordered. Sometimes. You can 100% trust the return policy.

Buy used. Buy local if you can. The TB community is a gold mine. I have never had a deal go sideways. Send a PayPal, get a bass. No driving.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Guitar Center has an easy, no hassle return policy. Ideally you want to buy used from Guitar Center when you can try it in person, but as long as you don't hack up the bass or something. Clearance items cannot be returned and vintage items have a 3 day return period. I'll mention vintage items for everyone else's benefit, I doubt you're buying a vintage bass for your first instrument. But other than that you have 45 days to return if it doesn't work out. There are some exceptions in the policy, like recording gear is 14 days. So, don't buy stuff to record your demo and think you can just return it in 45 days. It happens. The only way Guitar Center is going to try to rip you off is with their extended warranty plans. They're almost always like betting against yourself. If there is a 1 in 4 chance this is going to blow up in a year, why would I want it?

 

[bobdabilder]

I highly recommend a 5 string. It lays out the notes a little better and is easier for the Eb. Also play as many as you can just to see how they feel.

I am wanting to learn to play bass so that I can jam with friends and play at church. My wife plays violin and our Pastor plays everything and he has challnged me to learn bass so that I can travel with them and play confrences. So I am looking for a bass that I can learn on but also transition to playing live with. That being said after researching I really really like two basses. The Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet II and the Ibanez Talman TMB100. The closest reputible store near me is Guitar Center which is a little over an hour and a half away. I work full time and I am a youth pastor so since my time is limited I really dont want to drive for nothing. I would like to get one used if possible so that way if I decide that playing bass just isn't for me then I can sell it and I wont be out a lot of money. I have noticed mixed reviews when it come to Guitar Centers used inventory. Should I trust guitar center? If not what do you sugest? Also willing to take first bass recs!

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Not even I trust Guitar Center. I buy from them but...I've been at this a long time.
Bring a knowledgeable friend. Guitar Center employees are failed musicians who will say anything to make a sale.

 

[salmon256]

Errr this is a case by case thing. For one I wouldn't even bother getting that bass used unless you knew someone selling it, they are pretty affordable already, and if you like those two you may like the Ibanez Mikro. Sweetwater is really good and sells both of those models new and for a good price, I mean yeah you will pay a bit more but they take care of you at least for me.

Also if you wanna stay in those budgets well I personally can't give much more but if you want to raise your budget, look in Marcus Miller by Sire, those Jazz basses are amazing so are their P-basses! I think your choice will be very personal, I hate to say and I know you are low on time but a trip to GC may be worth it to just get some feels for the basses and guided help. Also there really are no close mom and pop shops? If that is the case GC has a good return policy to for return for used stuff but again IMO those basses you might as well get new, or buy it in person and get it setup by a GC guy or your Pastor if he is a jack of all trades on instruments.

Also for short vs long scale is up to you. Most people play both, it is really not much different than just getting use to and at most takes five minutes to adjust at least for me. Tone wise, with today's amps, pre-amps, pedals etc etc you really imo can't hear a tone difference, some older models maybe, certain models like the Rascal or Mustang are known for being for thumpy but at the same time most modern versions of those guys can sound super complex and different, I use short scales because it is easier on my fingers and I play Shoegaze and Blues which has decent jumps and patterns, perfect for my small fingers!

Good luck man, keep us posted!

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I haven't actually bought a bass or even a guitar from Guitar Center since 1977.
That was a Gibson Grabber and I got a great deal on it because it was a butt ugly color.
But since then, I've bought amps, strings, etc, and even had some work done.
Still waiting to have my "bad experience " with GC.
But I go in there, knowing, that their a big box version of a music store.
By the way, either the Gretch or the Ibanez would make a great first bass.
Ya gotta buy somewhere.

 

[DrBnz]

I buy from them often. You really do need to know what you're looking at. I've seen some bad.... some good. And their prices are set a bit high to cover their overhead. But no, there's nothing to "trust" with G.C. Now if you buy from them and you purchase the insurance ($140 1st year) then they'll fix many things (see their fine print). But no, you can't walk into a G.C. and expect to pickup a perfectly functional, set up or even tuned instruments. You really need to talk to them and do your own research.

 

[Ostie]

Their return policy is great, but their condition ratings (exc, good, fair, etc) are notoriously inaccurate. You never know what you’re gonna get til it shows up at the store or your door.

 

[mrperkolator]

I am wanting to learn to play bass so that I can jam with friends and play at church. My wife plays violin and our Pastor plays everything and he has challnged me to learn bass so that I can travel with them and play confrences. So I am looking for a bass that I can learn on but also transition to playing live with. That being said after researching I really really like two basses. The Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet II and the Ibanez Talman TMB100. The closest reputible store near me is Guitar Center which is a little over an hour and a half away. I work full time and I am a youth pastor so since my time is limited I really dont want to drive for nothing. I would like to get one used if possible so that way if I decide that playing bass just isn't for me then I can sell it and I wont be out a lot of money. I have noticed mixed reviews when it come to Guitar Centers used inventory. Should I trust guitar center? If not what do you sugest? Also willing to take first bass recs!

Based on perceived budget…. Check out Ibanez, Sire, or Yamaha. They tend to have better QC at lower prices comparatively. Ibanez Mezzo may be a good start, and could double as a loaner bass for youths that are smaller and learning once you get where you want something more.

that Gretsch jr jett will have hum, and bad. It’s comfortable but those pickups aren’t great and cannot be replaced (not reasonably anyway). I’d recommend getting something with parts that are common so you can swap later if you want. Can’t really do that with the Gretsch.

 

[HJFree]

I prefer giving my $$ to the Mom and Pop shops.They seem to have a more focused customer service. I agree with local sales from CL and having your Pastor help with that is a blessing!

 

[NorthTexasBass]

Guitar Centers vary from store to store. 90% of the time I've had a good experience. Try to go at a non peak time and you'll probably find that they can devote a little more attention to you.

A few times I've got them to throw in a free set up when buying a bass and some new strings. They may not do it at the lower price point, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[DuluthDank]

The only think you can trust about Guitar Center is their return policy.

 

[Gabu]

I am wanting to learn to play bass so that I can jam with friends and play at church. My wife plays violin and our Pastor plays everything and he has challnged me to learn bass so that I can travel with them and play confrences. So I am looking for a bass that I can learn on but also transition to playing live with. That being said after researching I really really like two basses. The Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet II and the Ibanez Talman TMB100. The closest reputible store near me is Guitar Center which is a little over an hour and a half away. I work full time and I am a youth pastor so since my time is limited I really dont want to drive for nothing. I would like to get one used if possible so that way if I decide that playing bass just isn't for me then I can sell it and I wont be out a lot of money. I have noticed mixed reviews when it come to Guitar Centers used inventory. Should I trust guitar center? If not what do you sugest? Also willing to take first bass recs!

Find a used one that you like, purchase it online, and have it delivered to the guitar center of your choice. It will be there for you when you get there. Try it before you leave. If you hate it, then you can return it right there and you have a second shot at whatever they have on hand. Even if you take it home and hate it later, they have a pretty generous return policy.

I think all things considered, GC is a good place to shop.

 

[Egg250]

If you purchase an entry level, student model bass and amp, you will likely lose most of your investment. I see student model basses for sale on marketplace and elsewhere, and it seems (to me) that not many people are interested in a second hand student model. This is only my opinion, from what I have seen. There is lots of good advice here, to find a bass that suits your tastes and is well set up or get it set up properly to suit you. Get a bass that feels good and inspires you to play, otherwise you may wind up not playing it much. Ibanez, ESP (LTD), Yamaha, Peavey all make good mid level instruments that don't cost too much new and can be found for a good price on the used market as well.

 

[kleinenenten]

Guitar Center has been overwhelmingly positive in my experience. That being said, I have one only 20 minutes away. I have found plenty of deals, mostly in pedals, over the years. But there have been a few things that I have returned. Not because of damage or anything like that, but because the item ended up not being what I was wanting. The return policy was wonderful in that regard. It's been incredibly simple to return anything not to my liking, thought that's only been around 3 items of the hundred plus I've ordered from their used section.

That being said, if I had to travel as much as you to get to a GC, I wouldn't have bought anything. I don't find GC to be bad by any stretch, but I wouldn't want to travel over an hour to do a return in case.

 

[logdrum]

Even at this life juncture, I could still use an experienced GC shopper when buying from GC. I did buy from Musician's Friend which is really GC and it was a keyboard that was beat up but not disclosed as such. I would only buy when I can touch and play before pay.

 

[mntngrown]

I am wanting to learn to play bass so that I can jam with friends and play at church. My wife plays violin and our Pastor plays everything and he has challnged me to learn bass so that I can travel with them and play confrences. So I am looking for a bass that I can learn on but also transition to playing live with. That being said after researching I really really like two basses. The Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet II and the Ibanez Talman TMB100. The closest reputible store near me is Guitar Center which is a little over an hour and a half away. I work full time and I am a youth pastor so since my time is limited I really dont want to drive for nothing. I would like to get one used if possible so that way if I decide that playing bass just isn't for me then I can sell it and I wont be out a lot of money. I have noticed mixed reviews when it come to Guitar Centers used inventory. Should I trust guitar center? If not what do you sugest? Also willing to take first bass recs!

I don't know what your location encompasses but kind people on Talkbass and Caigslist might let you try a bass for awhile or even give you a sweetheart deal on one. Way too many of us have way too much gear. I donated a bass cab to a school and took a tax write off. Maybe a donation to your church might qualify for the donator getting a tax deduction.

 

[GrooveDaddy]

You definitely can get a 'steal' from the GC Used online site (low shipping costs), and can immediately return it in the store if it doesn't measure up.

Downside is you need to know exactly what you're looking for ... may just be easier via the TB classifieds to find what you're looking for, with some help from your helpful fellow bassists on this site.

 

[tpaul]

First things first - welcome to TalkBass! You'll get lots of good advice here, come back anytime you have a question.

Choosing a bass, especially your first bass, is more a "feel" thing than a "features" thing. Yes, features are important, and after you've been playing awhile you'll know which features you like and which you don't. This includes things like neck size and shape, pickup type and placement, weight, fretboard material, passive vs active, etc. Then there's your choice of strings, which can be a years-long journey in itself.

The thing is, at this point, you don't know what the answers are to all those questions, because you have no experience.

So the thing to do is to try every bass you can get your hands on. You're looking for the one that feels like an old friend, sounds like the bass you hear in your head, and is hard to put down. When you find that bass, take it home. Don't worry about the brand or its resale value or what some famous bassist plays. Just find the bass that speaks to you and makes you want to play it for hours, and buy it.

For this purpose, you want the music store with the biggest number and variety of basses in stock. Some Guitar Centers have lots, and some don't, so call ahead and ask before you drive all the way out there.

And yes, take a more experienced person with you if possible. When you find a bass you like, ask your friend to play it while you listen.

Have fun!

 

[Stranger Danger]

Pretty sure it's a 30-day return policy across the board....even if it's a used bass. Grab one, if it isn't your thing you can take it back to your local GC.

45 days