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Fender & Guitar Center - You Could Do So Much Better

#41
I have bought a cheap epi off the floor, a used Fender Am Sp J used and a new floor model Gibson Flying V from my local GC. All were set up fine but I have played a few that were not set up to my preference but were never unplayable. My GC offered to get me a new epi SG when I bought it but it was in good shape, cheap and it is just a six string for others to play when they come to my house. The staff in the guitar/bass section has been stellar but the drum guy is a douche so when it was time to get a new kit for my wife I ordered from MF. It is what it is. You have the option to have them set it up before you take it and you have a very liberal return policy without all of the hassle of shipping it back. I prefer to buy from my local mom and pop but they only carry low end stuff that I do not care for (Dean, Washburn,) I did buy my Godin locally. All the whining about GC seems silly. If you do not like the big boxes then pay a little more from mom and pop if you can get what you want, If you want price and selection as well as an easy way to return if you are not satisfied go to a Big box, You cant have selection and price from the mom and pop because they do not have the buying power. This of course sucks but it is what it is. I have yet to buy on line because every bass has a different feel and sound even if they are the same model. YMMV
 
#42
I've had one bass in 14 yrs that stayed the same from the day I got it, and that was a fluke. If you live in California and a brand new Fodera you ordered just happens to ship from NYC in the middle of January, guess what? It's gonna need a setup. I've come to terms with the fact that unless I leave the factory floor with it, a setup is in the cards.

A good, personal setup (ie; one you perform yourself) is a drawn out process that can take a week or two of supreme patience to achieve optimal results and unless your bass is Ina relatively stable climate, or just happens to be one of the lucky "flukes", such as I had, plan on this:

Back bow,
Front bow,
Fret buzz,
.....and just about every other thing that can happen to what amounts to a piece of wood with a bunch of metal jammed into it.

All that said, there is no excuse for any retailer, large or small, to display new instruments that have not been setup.
 
#43
When given lemons, make lemonade. If an instrument is not properly set up, I expect a deep discount, or I walk away, as it becomes as much of a wager as a purchase. Besides, I'm going to go over it and tweak everything anyway. I have yet to see a brandy new bass that couldn't stand to have the nut slots cut deeper
 
#46
sigmafloyd said:
What does the horrible setups at GC have to do with Fender?
Click to expand...

I was wondering that same thing as I read through this thread.

We just got a GC in a reasonable driving distance to me, so I paid my first visit to one a couple days ago. It was also my last visit to one. Everything there was priced higher than average from other retailers in town, the store was filthy (and it had only been open for two weeks) and the staff was apathetic and uninformed. Perhaps I'm spoiled, though, as Elderly Instruments is closer to me than GC, so that is the bar against which I measure all guitar stores.
 
#47
As some have already pointed out, sometimes you can use it to your advantage. I was in need of replacements after mine were ripped off and I found one at GC. I was looking for some sort of fretless Precision with preferably a Jazz neck type bass and came across a fretless Jazz Bass Special (this was 20 years ago). It had been sitting there for a long time and no one had bought it because it was somehow wired up wrong. I knew it was a simple $20 fix. It was in otherwise, perfect shape, played perfectly. So deep discounts and got them to toss in a couple of sets of strings. Replacing my '67 Jazz was a little more challenging, though.
 
#48
Not all basses I've tried at GC have been set up bad. But when I have found a bad one it's REAL bad. About a year ago I spotted a top of the line EB Music Man bass....we're talking $2,000.00 here and the strings were making contact with all the frets. It was unplayable because all you heard was "buzz." Yes, it was tuned to pitch because I checked. I found it hard to believe that a bass with that high of a price tag was shipped in that condition. If it was.....shame, shame.

On the other hand I did buy an SR505 at GC that was beautifully setup. Fact is, I've owned that bass for about three years now and it's never needed a setup. That's the only bass I've bought at GC. All other's (Fenders) have come from my favorite local music store. No setup problems there!
 
#49
Mtnman said:
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.
Click to expand...

+1. Fender ships the guitars, and they are at the mercy of the freight company. Temperature and humidity fluctuations, etc. Then, it arrives at GC, along with 100 or so other guitars, and you expect them to set it up perfectly?

I'm not trying to defend GC, necessarily. I just don't understand how everyone can complain about this. There's not a lot they can do that is cost-effective.
 
#50
Every GC I've ever been (not very many) I get the vibe that this where mommies go to buy little Johnny his first guitar. Which is fine, the market needs that. They don't seem to offer much for a seasoned player. I still go in there from time to time hoping to luck up on a deal, and I have seen some good deals on good amps. But their basses on the walls, are a terrible selection. 95% starter basses. The "player" basses were either setup real bad or were broken somehow.

Not that I have anything against GC....I'd buy my kid a guitar there.
 
#51
From my experience walking into GC...most guys that CAN play use GC like the idiots in BARNES AND NOBEL...use that space like a library, coming in to browse with NO intention of buying at all. I think this situation and just the reality of the amount that GC sell perpetuates the problem. GC should do what Best Buy did about "SHOWROOMING" and.price match..on the spot, from everywhere, they'd be a little more motivated to have the stuff 'sell' ready. Look it ain't just Fender...MUSICMAN has incredible setups..Pick on up at GC and some of them are unplayable. Oh well...
 
#52
I think the volume of guitars that Guitar Center has makes bad setups a bit common place. After sitting for a while any guitar can get out of whack. The only way they can avoid this is by having a team of associates going throigh each guitar everyday. None of this stuff bothers me though. I still think GC is great. I still dont like any of the "local" shops in my town. I remember the lousy service, jacked pricing, and just general crap we had before GC was around.
 
#53
Bassmunnky said:
From my experience walking into GC...most guys that CAN play use GC like the idiots in BARNES AND NOBEL...use that space like a library, coming in to browse with NO intention of buying at all. I think this situation and just the reality of the amount that GC sell perpetuates the problem. GC should do what Best Buy did about "SHOWROOMING" and.price match..on the spot, from everywhere, they'd be a little more motivated to have the stuff 'sell' ready. Look it ain't just Fender...MUSICMAN has incredible setups..Pick on up at GC and some of them are unplayable. Oh well...
Click to expand...

They do. In fact, GC puts computers on the showroom floor that have a sign above them that says "price portal" (or something like that). I think its a pretty bold statement that they allow you to come into their store any compare prices to competitors right there.

They have a policy of "lowest price guaranteed". Meaning they will beat ANY price from anyone that is a licensed dealer for any product they carry.
 
#54
I know I come across as some kind of GC fanboy, but I'm not. I just live in the world of reality.

From what I've read here and the other GC bashing threads, I've reached the conclusion that the general expectation is that each GC will do the following: each of the 2000+ guitars/basses on the walls will be in a constant state of proper tuning and setup all the time, there will be an exact duplicate of every piece on the wall in a box in the back (presumably in tune and setup), no one should be able to try any guitar/bass/keyboard/drumkit/etc.. unless they show that they're ready to buy it right now.

Oh yeah, and they should have every model from every manufacturer in every color made in stock at every location all the time.

They should do all of these things plus have a salesperson ready to give you one on one attention without seeming like he actually wants to seel you the piece (because that would make him a pushy salesperson).

All of the above, plus still having the lowest prices, but somehow not putting the local mom and pop stores out of business...

Did I leave anything out?:hiding:
 
#55
Mtnman said:
I know I come across as some kind of GC fanboy, but I'm not. I just live in the world of reality.

From what I've read here and the other GC bashing threads, I've reached the conclusion that the general expectation is that each GC will do the following: each of the 2000+ guitars/basses on the walls will be in a constant state of proper tuning and setup all the time, there will be an exact duplicate of every piece on the wall in a box in the back (presumably in tune and setup), no one should be able to try any guitar/bass/keyboard/drumkit/etc.. unless they show that they're ready to buy it right now.

Oh yeah, and they should have every model from every manufacturer in every color made in stock at every location all the time.

They should do all of these things plus have a salesperson ready to give you one on one attention without seeming like he actually wants to seel you the piece (because that would make him a pushy salesperson).

All of the above, plus still having the lowest prices, but somehow not putting the local mom and pop stores out of business...

Did I leave anything out?:hiding:
Click to expand...

pretty much, add better trade in values too :p
 
#57
My Major complaint with GC is the lack of variety...

Just the other day i found myself in that part of town for a Dr's. appt. so i pooped my head in...

in the bass room they have two walls of Fender...a couple Schecters, a couple of Ibanez, a couple EBMM rays and one Epiphone T-bird...and that's it!

in the Amp Department a whole wall of Acoustic.. one whole wall of Markbass...a couple Ampeg, a couple Mesa's, one GK.. again that's it!

but if you go to the guitard wall WOW! Gibson, Epiphone, Squier, Fender, ESP, Schecter, B.C. Rich, PRS, Jackson, Dean, Kramer, Gretsch, Yamaha, Peavey, Line 6 Variax, EVH, Music Man etc.

Amps lol same thing WOW! Orange, Fender, Line 6, Laney, Marshall, Vox, Blackstar, Krank, Peavey, Yamaha, Roland, EVH, Bogner, etc.

I have also discovered that there is usually only 1 person in each department that has a clue as to what they are actually doing or knows squat about their product lines...and naturally they are always off the day i happen to wander in.

the last time i was there i got asked to leave as I watched the um "tech" do a so called set up...(he swapped strings and tuned it...and handed it back to the lady without checking the neck relief string height or intonation...really that's a set-up?) when i pointed this out in front of the customer the asst. manager asked me to leave...

i hardly ever go into this place anymore unless i need strings right now...almost everything i buy comes from the internet...

even my local Mom and Pop store has crap for bass selection...Mostly Fender
 
#58
I'm not in the US of A, but I've discovered at the big retailers around here that you never buy anything off a hanger.

I saw a wannabe punk rock kid from the suburbs go into a local Queen Street West establishment, grab an expensive Precision off a hangar and immediately scratch the heck out of it with the studs on his leather jacket. When the management came by to ask how he was going to pay for the bass he just ruined, he literally just said "f!ck you" and *dropped* it on the floor and walked out.

I know this is an extreme example but I can't help but to think of this level of mistreatment every time I walk into a music store. If you won't be patient with me and order a new one in a box (with the chance that I might not like it and you have to order another) then you won't get my business. Luckily the place I deal with is happy to oblige.
 
#59
I worked a brief stint at GC a few years back and there was a girl who worked at the store who couldn't play a lick, but could set guitars up as well as she could walk and talk. Her job was to do just that, all day, every day, for the guitars in the store. The trick was that while she was working towards setting up all the guitars in the store, precedence was determined by price point, which is very good business strategy.

A customer might otherwise play a phenomenally set up Squier Jazz Bass for $300 and then put that down to see what the rage is about American Fenders. If the Americans aren't set up as well, that customer is more likely to be walking out with the Squier, even if they've got $1200 in their pocket that's specifically been set aside to buy a bass. I'm not saying the customer is getting more or less guitar one way or the other, but it's good to provide the highest level of care to your premium items and work down from there.
 
#60
msact said:
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.
Click to expand...

The fact that you CAN go into this place and just play all the guitars is the exact reason why a lot of them ARE F'd up beyond belief...on top of simple wear and tear from playing a guitar... it's also the customers that come in and have NO respect for the equipment that they are able to play.. for free.... as long as they want...

I can't tell you how many times ive seen parents let there 4 year olds loose in the store.. next thing ya know.. they are dragging a 2500.00 les paul across the floor shortly before dropping it and standing on it.

It's hard to keep up with all the damaged stuff in GC because of there open policy to let YOU come play no questions asked.
 

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