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Good Guitar Center
- Thread starter EBMan
- Start date
Unrepresented
Something Borderline Offensive
When I first discovered a Guitar Center as a young musician I was blown away. I can see why many would be. It has tons of selection (or at least stronger than any mom and pop I've been to), multiple tiers of quality and price (again -- mom and pop's tend to not contain much higher end stuff), and it was all hanging there just waiting to be played with!
IMO that's exactly what you'd want in a music store. Unfortunately this setup has side effects, but I'll tolerate bad setups on floor models, and some jerkoff in the guitar amp section blasting an awkward version of "Crazy Train" at top volume for the tradeoff. No one wants to go to a music store that doesn't allow its customers to play with its toys.
The prices are reasonable and if you haggle they're even better. I've gotten items at and below cost on several occasions because of their willingness to bargain. It doesn't work every time and you have to do your homework but you can usually get some sort of incentive, and if not with one salesclerk there's always another.
Could they have better trained, less aggressive, and more ethical employees? Of course, but they're not all bad apples, and once you've found your salesperson of choice -- the one who knows gear, doesn't hard sell, and hooks you up with a good price -- stick with him (I've never seen a woman work the GC salesfloor).
I don't shop at GC exclusively, and I don't shop there as much as I used to. I've found other stores and shops that offer niche items and service I can't get at GC. I'm not dissatisfied with GC, I just realize that it has a specific function just like its competitors. I use each according to their strengths.
When I want to look at a good variety of used instruments, I won't even consider GC. When I want high end boutique items it's not the place to go. When I need an absolute expert on lesser known equipment they're not the best choice. But for a good amount of my shopping needs it's still a good choice.
IMO that's exactly what you'd want in a music store. Unfortunately this setup has side effects, but I'll tolerate bad setups on floor models, and some jerkoff in the guitar amp section blasting an awkward version of "Crazy Train" at top volume for the tradeoff. No one wants to go to a music store that doesn't allow its customers to play with its toys.
The prices are reasonable and if you haggle they're even better. I've gotten items at and below cost on several occasions because of their willingness to bargain. It doesn't work every time and you have to do your homework but you can usually get some sort of incentive, and if not with one salesclerk there's always another.
Could they have better trained, less aggressive, and more ethical employees? Of course, but they're not all bad apples, and once you've found your salesperson of choice -- the one who knows gear, doesn't hard sell, and hooks you up with a good price -- stick with him (I've never seen a woman work the GC salesfloor).
I don't shop at GC exclusively, and I don't shop there as much as I used to. I've found other stores and shops that offer niche items and service I can't get at GC. I'm not dissatisfied with GC, I just realize that it has a specific function just like its competitors. I use each according to their strengths.
When I want to look at a good variety of used instruments, I won't even consider GC. When I want high end boutique items it's not the place to go. When I need an absolute expert on lesser known equipment they're not the best choice. But for a good amount of my shopping needs it's still a good choice.
Well, they couldn't put them in a music store, could they?
hahahahah!
ain't that the truth.
Exactly. I was really sad to see the Mars on Walnut Hill fold. At least it was an OPTION. I used to frequent the GC store on 635 til my main dude there left. Now I pretty much just do Lewisville. Not a whole lot to write home about in the bass department there, but I'm pretty much a Fender guy these days, so they generally have something I can use.
Curious, who are the Indies you frequent? Larry Morgan and/or Murphy's, perhaps?
I definitely agree. Of course, I recently started working at GC Edina. But I got another opportunity and have to move on. I definitely agree with what's been said about Mike. He's an awesome guy to deal with and will most likely end up running a store in the next few years.
In defense of Roseville and Edina GCs, they've both undergone some serious changes in management in the last few months. Both are still adjusting. There are quirks about either store... I've personally done almost all of my gear-shopping in Roseville as opposed to Edina. It was closer.
Larry Graham, however, prefers Edina.
P.S. My nickname at work was Mike Pressley. I think it's because I'm bald and actually knew stuff about basses.
I have just two issues with GC.
First of all, they pay their employees nothing (commission based) so they employees always seem desperate when they help you. I have to tell them to go away and then I feel bad.
Second, the Fender guitars seem not as well made as those I order and bring in at my buddies local guitar store. That is to say, its almost as though Fender knows they will take whatever they give them. My buddies store will send them back if not spot on.
But, they sure do got the goods. You can A/B just about anything because they got it in stock. Prices are not bad although I do get better Fender prices from my friends store (but its an inside job so I should not complain about that).
Paul
First of all, they pay their employees nothing (commission based) so they employees always seem desperate when they help you. I have to tell them to go away and then I feel bad.
Second, the Fender guitars seem not as well made as those I order and bring in at my buddies local guitar store. That is to say, its almost as though Fender knows they will take whatever they give them. My buddies store will send them back if not spot on.
But, they sure do got the goods. You can A/B just about anything because they got it in stock. Prices are not bad although I do get better Fender prices from my friends store (but its an inside job so I should not complain about that).
Paul
Larry Morgan Music and Charlie's Guitar Shop. They don't cater to bassist at Charlie's and if you can't trace your lineage back to Stevie Ray Vaughn they kind of ignore you. They're a strange lot there.
Larry Morgan has good customer service but their bass amps are kind of battered.
Larry Morgan has good customer service but their bass amps are kind of battered.
Hey All,
I'm new to TalkBass, but my Man Phil ( 55-02 ) turned me on to the site.
And he is my hook-up at GC on OKC. This store had some stiff comp in the early days, Mars came in at about the same time and there were (and still are) several local stores.
Mars is gone and the local stores are still pluggin away, but we have 1 Mil in the metro, so the $$ base is pretty big.
They have local gig players working that know the other local gig players, so it makes it pretty easy.
Nice Store and always clean and friendly. And ALWAYS beating the MF or SamA prices when they have it on the floor.
Just got my MM V, and I got a great deal,
Thanks all, and keep Layin it DOWN LOW!
I'm new to TalkBass, but my Man Phil ( 55-02 ) turned me on to the site.
And he is my hook-up at GC on OKC. This store had some stiff comp in the early days, Mars came in at about the same time and there were (and still are) several local stores.
Mars is gone and the local stores are still pluggin away, but we have 1 Mil in the metro, so the $$ base is pretty big.
They have local gig players working that know the other local gig players, so it makes it pretty easy.
Nice Store and always clean and friendly. And ALWAYS beating the MF or SamA prices when they have it on the floor.
Just got my MM V, and I got a great deal,
Thanks all, and keep Layin it DOWN LOW!
Check out Murphy's in Irving sometime. On the same order as Larry Morgan, perhaps a little bigger/more inventory. Not as much boutique stuff. If you're not familiar, they are on the South side of 183 between MacArthur and O'Connor. Been to Charlie's a few times, not impressed. Like you said, it's pretty much a GC town these days...
+1 on the 14th Street Guitar Center in NY. Cool people and a nice selection... I visited there when I went to NY last year. The one I live by used to be pretty nice, but now they got a whole bunch of useless teenage employees that don't know anything. I'm probably younger than them and know more than they do. A couple guys there have terrible attitudes, but there is one cool guy that I talked gear with a little.
The GC employee's in the Portland area have always been cool to me. The bass selection is pretty poor so like many others I purchase very little from them.
I had the bass guy the Memphis store bust his balls to get me gear one time. I never forgot it and only dealt with him from that point on. It was a great relationship -- I gave him $$$ and he gave me the gear that I wanted, no hassles. I moved further south and he got transferred to the New Orleans store. There was no GC within a three hour drive from me at the time so he helped me with my string needs by special-ordering and mailing my strings to me. Great person and an asset to GC.
I guess that since I have NO interest in owning a bass with a four digit price tag, GC suits me just fine.
I guess that since I have NO interest in owning a bass with a four digit price tag, GC suits me just fine.
The GC in Lawrenceville GA is great its about 5 miles away from my house and is never that crowded. The people that work there are more then happy to help you out if you need something and give there opinion on an instrument you are buying or an amp. The only problem I have is that they have like 5 billion guitars and like maybe 75-100 basses
plastik-bass[?];4292038 said:
That's probably just a function of the proportionate markets for guitars vs basses. The Tucson GC, just guessin' here, probably is somewhere between 5:1 and 7:1 as far as the ration of guitars to basses goes.
At least they have some noce basses. Usually there are some Warwicks starting with Rockbasses and going up through Std 'Vettes to a Thumb or two.
long time GC customer...
i've spent over $20,000 in drum equipment, in the last 10 years.. and just recently purchased a bass guitar..
while the employees are not the old school knowledge encyclopedias i would prefer, they have always been polite, helpful, and excellent when i've had an issue...
i'm left alone when i want to be left alone, and helped when i need help.. sometimes i have to wait 5 minutes..
i do tend to avoid GC on Saturday or Sunday afternoons, as it seems a lot of parents drop their kids off at GC while they shop at the mall across the street..
anyway, props to the GC in Concord, CA.. i have been happy shopping there..
i've spent over $20,000 in drum equipment, in the last 10 years.. and just recently purchased a bass guitar..
while the employees are not the old school knowledge encyclopedias i would prefer, they have always been polite, helpful, and excellent when i've had an issue...
i'm left alone when i want to be left alone, and helped when i need help.. sometimes i have to wait 5 minutes..
i do tend to avoid GC on Saturday or Sunday afternoons, as it seems a lot of parents drop their kids off at GC while they shop at the mall across the street..
anyway, props to the GC in Concord, CA.. i have been happy shopping there..
I have to second the Minneapolis comments. I live and work very close to the Edina GC, and have had excellent service there (Adam Grath - Asst. Manager - is the MAN!). Being in there about twice a week doesn't hurt either.
The Roseville store does have the best bass selection by far, though. As a leftie it is hard to find what I am looking for, and the Roseville GC managed to have the Jazz I was yearning to own. Of course, the Edina GC then turned me on to Brown's Guitar Factory for setup, new nut, BAII, etc. (Minneapolis folks know of where I speak!). I'm gonna die still owning that bass, and I should have many, many decades (God willing) before that happens. Course, by then I'm sure I'll have added some (MM SR is on the short list).
It is entirely the people that make up the store, and those two stores have done wonderful jobs ensuring that their staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
-Mark
The Roseville store does have the best bass selection by far, though. As a leftie it is hard to find what I am looking for, and the Roseville GC managed to have the Jazz I was yearning to own. Of course, the Edina GC then turned me on to Brown's Guitar Factory for setup, new nut, BAII, etc. (Minneapolis folks know of where I speak!). I'm gonna die still owning that bass, and I should have many, many decades (God willing) before that happens. Course, by then I'm sure I'll have added some (MM SR is on the short list).
It is entirely the people that make up the store, and those two stores have done wonderful jobs ensuring that their staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
-Mark
I've had both good and bad experiences at GC (got my Walkabout Scout there at a good price), but I can't say any of their stores are excellent. Beyond the complaints already mentioned many times, I'm getting fed up with the LOUD background music that's always playing. I swear, I've almost been drowned out in nearly-empty GCs by the music playing on the sound systems, to the point where it's difficult to evaluate the sound of a bass or amp. I like to go in regularly just to try out things I haven't played, but the canned music is starting to keep me away.
I am not a big fan, and I must admit for the most part I try to buy elsewhere. A few reasons why.
1) Selection, The stores in the Detroit area, while they opened with decent selections have pretty much turned into the Fender MIK, Squire, Warwick MIK shops with maybe one or two decent bases in stock. The amp selection is worse, low end Ampeg, GK Backline and Behringer. If they had a decent bass, it would be hard to tell thru their amp selections.
2) Used pricing, they are almost always on the high end of the used market. This would not be as big of an issue if their used instruments were properly set up and maintained. But I have seen more then a few high end used basses with dead strings, dead batteries, poor setups, or non-functioning pre amps.
3) Turnover, A few have written here of dealing with specific salesman. I don't know how you can do that anymore. Again when they first opened I had a few reliable sales people in the three metro Detroit stores (at the time). They have all left. Their system is designed to have high turnover and unsatisfied employees, with the exception of management and they move them around. Also they have some of the most uninformed salespeople in the business.
4) Local Stores, In Detroit we have Low Down Sound, a great store that supports the bass playing community and has clinics for BASS PLAYERS with guys like John Turner, Ralphe Armstrong, Steve Lawson, and Norm Stockton. Their not always the cheapest ( in most cases they are) but I would much rather give my money to a store that supports the community and is willing to take the risk and stock some quality instruments. Their is also no comparison in the level of service. If I want to buy a guitar, one of the best independent guitar shops in the world is about an hour up the road (Elderly Music). But if, god forbid, LDS was to disappear, I still am more then willing to pay for service and deal with stores like Low End, Bass Central. Atlanta Bass Gallery, Austin Bass Traders, and Bass NW who provide better service being thousands of miles away then my local GC's.
That being said GC does serve a purpose in providing some good deals in beginners instruments, and a chance on every holiday to pick up a bass new for a price that you can make a handsome profit on Ebay with, god bless em.
1) Selection, The stores in the Detroit area, while they opened with decent selections have pretty much turned into the Fender MIK, Squire, Warwick MIK shops with maybe one or two decent bases in stock. The amp selection is worse, low end Ampeg, GK Backline and Behringer. If they had a decent bass, it would be hard to tell thru their amp selections.
2) Used pricing, they are almost always on the high end of the used market. This would not be as big of an issue if their used instruments were properly set up and maintained. But I have seen more then a few high end used basses with dead strings, dead batteries, poor setups, or non-functioning pre amps.
3) Turnover, A few have written here of dealing with specific salesman. I don't know how you can do that anymore. Again when they first opened I had a few reliable sales people in the three metro Detroit stores (at the time). They have all left. Their system is designed to have high turnover and unsatisfied employees, with the exception of management and they move them around. Also they have some of the most uninformed salespeople in the business.
4) Local Stores, In Detroit we have Low Down Sound, a great store that supports the bass playing community and has clinics for BASS PLAYERS with guys like John Turner, Ralphe Armstrong, Steve Lawson, and Norm Stockton. Their not always the cheapest ( in most cases they are) but I would much rather give my money to a store that supports the community and is willing to take the risk and stock some quality instruments. Their is also no comparison in the level of service. If I want to buy a guitar, one of the best independent guitar shops in the world is about an hour up the road (Elderly Music). But if, god forbid, LDS was to disappear, I still am more then willing to pay for service and deal with stores like Low End, Bass Central. Atlanta Bass Gallery, Austin Bass Traders, and Bass NW who provide better service being thousands of miles away then my local GC's.
That being said GC does serve a purpose in providing some good deals in beginners instruments, and a chance on every holiday to pick up a bass new for a price that you can make a handsome profit on Ebay with, god bless em.
The GC in Durham, NC is nice. Small selection but the ppl are mad cool. You can be in there for hours and they dont harass you.
Now if I can find some good stores in MD (above Baltimore) Id be in good shape.
Now if I can find some good stores in MD (above Baltimore) Id be in good shape.
