Fun bass shop experience

[SeeBread]

Went into a bass shop on Denmark street in London today to try out some different iterations of the stingray model. Guy in there was actually very frothcoming and helpful which I find is pretty rare these days, especially when I made it pretty clear that I was just there to try out and not buy.

Anyway, he sits me down and we go through some different sterlings, S.U.B's, EBMM, etc. and discuss the pros cons and so on. I'm really getting into playing these and am actually considering eventually buying from this shop because they're being so helpful when this guy walks in with his girlfriend, grabs a $4000 custom of some kind, and starts plonking out a tonally and rhythmically unique version of the intro to Seven Nation Army ad nauseum, with liberal lashings of gain. I should say I'm all for beginner players trying out new guitars and really immersing themselves in the fantastic world of bass, but as I was at the time trying to take advantage of a really good opportunity to size up a load of different quality instruments, I was slightly put-out.

The guitar shop guy looked quite embarrassed for a bit - I just kept noodling and quietly tried to listen to the different qualities of the basses over the background rumble of mediocrity. Eventually he came over to me, and, red-faced, yelled "WE'RE OPEN TILL SEVEN...MAYBE COME BACK WHEN IT'S A BIT...QUIETER?!"

Clearly he wasn't going to ask the guy to turn it down, and I sure wasn't either, so I just nodded and wrapped up shortly after. Thought it was a little strange, but there we go. Anything like this happened to you guys in guitar shops?

Seb

 

[tangentmusic]

Well, it seems like your experience is not uncommon.
Awhile back, I was doing what you were doing, quietly trying a few basses mostly for feel and playability, when this kid who couldn't have been more than 12 starts playing really loud" Smoke on the Water". I mean his Dad probably wasn't even born when this song came out. So I said to the sales person "what is this, the '70's?" and walked out.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

It's like that in all the big chain music stores; Guitar Center, Sam Ash, etc. You can certainly tell the posers and wanna-bees from the seasoned musicians. One group will play as fast and as loud on as many instruments as they can get away with. The other group pretty much knows what they want and will usually walk in, buy it, and walk out. Sure, they might plug it in and play a few notes to be sure it's not a DOA and the neck/bridge/nut setup is somewhere close. But you don't see "real" musicians hanging around in music stores all day banging on instruments.

Before I get into trouble, let me qualify that last statement.

I have a friend who works at Invalid Link Removed in Carlsbad (San Diego area) and when I visit the store I may spend a couple of hours in there plinking on a few of the exquisite acoustic instruments they have there and visiting with my friend. But where else are you going to get to try out $6000 - $12,000 and up guitars? I'll strum a couple chords, gingerly put it down, and say, "Wow! That's nice!", not wanting to scratch it.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[grey area]

i just look at basses in the shops( when i am back in civilization) because too often the yoof who works there picks up any bass i show interest in and proceeds to slap out a riff i would have no chance of following. if i do try one out i just want a nice feel, good setup. and as little a dead spot as possible. i think i have enough basses now thank god.

 

[newmusicmichael]

Huh, that's interesting, because as a newbie, I was EXTREMELY intimidated when I went in a few weeks ago to test out a few combo amps (needed to upgrade so I could be heard over drummers, ended up with a Hartke 115C).

I've been in a number of times, so the guy I deal with knows me to see me, and just left me alone with the amp and a slightly upgraded Ibanez I have my eye on. I came out about fifteen minutes later after kanoodling and thanked him, and he and the other guy both thought I was doing really good considering I just started about nine months ago. They could even recognize the songs I was doing. So the intimidation turned into a pretty good experience overall .... but then again they may have just wanted me to come back and buy it.

Which I did of course.