Guitar Center in trouble?

[Maxdusty]

A lot of people misunderstand the nature of bankruptcy. Frequently, it means (under Chapter 11) that a heavily indebted organization can continue to operate instead of closing its doors. Chapter 7 would involve GC closing and liquidating its assets, but I think the latter is less likely.

Very true, having a past life as an accountant, I'm aware of this but it also means operating at an almost shoestring budget as in keeping inventory at hand to a minimum, as a corporation in bankruptcy, their ability to purchase on credit terms from guitar and bass manufacturers will be affected. It's already heading that way in the GC store closest to me. A number of TB'ers have a bigger selection of basses than what's on my local GC's Bass wall! A few of those basses are also duplicates but in different colors or the 5 or 6 string variants, but of the same model. In the bass room, one wall is Ibanez, one is Fender, the other, the miscellaneous and used. In terms of variety, it's pretty sad.

 

[selowitch]

VA number of TB'ers have a bigger selection of basses than what's on my local GC's Bass wall! A few of those basses are also duplicates but in different colors or the 5 or 6 string variants, but of the same model. In the bass room, one wall is Ibanez, one is Fender, the other, the miscellaneous and used. In terms of variety, it's pretty sad.

I usually buy used and GC's used site is one of the best. Many solid deals to be had and sometimes a great bargain!

 

[Robroy]

For the record, I wouldn't buy a car horn or anything else based on a Youtube Video.

I've been using it a LOT for YEARS with outstanding results. You do have to "trust the spirits" though.

An example:
I had an epson printer with expensive cartridges that would not work if you refilled them (a memory thing). So A youtube video about ten years ago showed that you could push the end of a paperclip into a small hole in the plastic side that would "reset" the cartridge to "new" again. I tried it. It didn't. I cut open the cartridge and the "hole" was really just an indentation in the plastic shell. It was cosmetic. The video was a hoax.

Those are pretty easy to spot nowadays. I've repaired a tractor, spark plugs in a very difficult car to work on, electronic repairs, you name it. I even built a spectacularly beautiful and solid railing on my deck thanks to a very clear and informative youtube video. Their instructions showed a very easy way to do the job with absolute professional results and my neighbors and friends marvel at what I produced - thanks to that video.

Youtube is a godsend. It completely changes the formula.

 

[McBubbler]

If they had a reasonably smart employee just doing basic set ups for their inventory (nothing drastic: truss rod, action, radius, intonation, maybe a little fret end filing...) there would be more sales

I'm just going to bring my tools from home next time I shop there.

 

[Robroy]

I also think that there is less musicians nowaday. The only one left are the one that like it, they don't do it just because everyone do it or the get chicks or whatever. So you have less demand for everything.

I think there may be something to that. I used to hang out at hobby shops with their plastic models, impressively large and fast slot car tracks, etc. I think there are a few left in the country, but nothing like before.

The whole thing also is very much like what I experienced in a photography class back around 1980. It was done by a professional photographer that needed to teach to bring in extra money. One student was a doctor with unlimited resources. He had a far nicer equipment setup than anyone in the class, including the teacher.

He was also the worst photographer in the class. He had NO eye for photography. Sure had nice equipment, though...

 

[Coolhandjjl]

It’s not like all the stores will shut down tomorrow. Some company will buy it, some stores may close. Consumers will barely notice a change at all. The name may or may not be changed to Private Equity Fund Music Center or something like that.

 

[Basstigator]

I've been using it a LOT for YEARS with outstanding results. You do have to "trust the spirits" though.

An example:
I had an epson printer with expensive cartridges that would not work if you refilled them (a memory thing). So A youtube video about ten years ago showed that you could push the end of a paperclip into a small hole in the plastic side that would "reset" the cartridge to "new" again. I tried it. It didn't. I cut open the cartridge and the "hole" was really just an indentation in the plastic shell. It was cosmetic. The video was a hoax.

Those are pretty easy to spot nowadays. I've repaired a tractor, spark plugs in a very difficult car to work on, electronic repairs, you name it. I even built a spectacularly beautiful and solid railing on my deck thanks to a very clear and informative youtube video. Their instructions showed a very easy way to do the job with absolute professional results and my neighbors and friends marvel at what I produced - thanks to that video.

Youtube is a godsend. It completely changes the formula.

I was referring to music related stuff. I should have been more on point. Sound can be whatever you want it to be online. Granted a lot of good info in a lot of things. I can binge on guitar building flix, for instance.

 

[Robroy]

I was referring to music related stuff. I should have been more on point. Sound can be whatever you want it to be online. Granted a lot of good info in a lot of things. I can binge on guitar building flix, for instance.

Gotcha. Sorry.

 

[flojob]

Some folks act like the problem is that selling high priced inventory hasn't occurred to them. If GC closes, it's because yall aren't buying anything.
Why some of yall expect that place to carry such varied and expensive inventory, completely accessible, set up with perfect action and intonation, having never been touched by any other player, just waiting for you to come in and BROWSE on your lunch break, or with a passing interest as you pick up your 20 to 40 bass strings?
They're just like the mom and pop shops, in that you buy it if you want them to keep stocking it.
GC is mostly for tire kickers, impulse buyers, light hobbiests, or accessories because that's what people buy from them.

 

[Brent Davenport]

Brent, looks you're from Houston, so I'll mention that the San Antonio MARS Music mentioned by another TBer turned into Sam Ash years back in San Antonio. Don't know if that's what happened in Houston.

No. That spot is a totally different type of business now. For such a big city, Houston is really limited when it comes to guitar stores (especially ones with a decent selection of basses). We have places like Rockin Robin, but they're a small specialty guitar store with very few basses. Danny D's is a great place if you want Fender or a good selection of acoustic guitars. The 2 closest GC to me don't have squat for bass selection. I drive all the way to the Westheimer location yesterday to be able to play a Stingray (30 miles in Houston traffic).

 

[rtslinger]

Yeah you have to buy online if you want used my nearest GC's current used inventory = 5 basses 4 Electric and 1 acoustic not even worth the trip total electric in store is 55

 

[foolforthecity]

No. That spot is a totally different type of business now. For such a big city, Houston is really limited when it comes to guitar stores (especially ones with a decent selection of basses). We have places like Rockin Robin, but they're a small specialty guitar store with very few basses. Danny D's is a great place if you want Fender or a good selection of acoustic guitars. The 2 closest GC to me don't have squat for bass selection. I drive all the way to the Westheimer location yesterday to be able to play a Stingray (30 miles in Houston traffic).

I know your pain. If you add the couple of hours one-way from Victoria just to get to Houston, you'll feel mine.

 

[Brent Davenport]

I know your pain. If you add the couple of hours one-way from Victoria just to get to Houston, you'll feel mine.

Ouch! That's quite a haul! You could get there faster than I did yesterday though. With the never ending road work in Houston, it took me from 11:40 to 1:15 yesterday to go 25 miles! I intended on taking a long lunch break (maybe 2 hours) to go out there and play some basses, but I ended up not getting back until 3:30! I'm still leaning heavily toward the J, but that Stingray is SEKSY and has a ton of punch!

 

[ThudThudThud]

Some folks act like the problem is that selling high priced inventory hasn't occurred to them. If GC closes, it's because yall aren't buying anything.
Why some of yall expect that place to carry such varied and expensive inventory, completely accessible, set up with perfect action and intonation, having never been touched by any other player, just waiting for you to come in and BROWSE on your lunch break, or with a passing interest as you pick up your 20 to 40 bass strings?
They're just like the mom and pop shops, in that you buy it if you want them to keep stocking it.
GC is mostly for tire kickers, impulse buyers, light hobbiests, or accessories because that's what people buy from them.

I think the point I was making was that if the basses hanging on the wall had a basic set up, and played nicely, there would be more people buying the higher end instruments. In my experience, about a quarter of the basses hanging on the wall are in a playable condition - and that includes the EBMM/Fender USA stuff.
If you're out kicking tires, and you fall in love with something, you probably aren't going to think, "If only this beautiful bass played better than my cheap starter bass did. I'll buy it anyway and futz with it until it works."

If I go to the locally owned store, that's simply not the case. Every bass I pull off the wall plays nicely.
Why is that? Because they aren't just emptying boxes onto wall hangers. They are selling guitars. There's a difference.

 

[Brent Davenport]

I think the point I was making was that if the basses hanging on the wall had a basic set up, and played nicely, there would be more people buying the higher end instruments. In my experience, about a quarter of the basses hanging on the wall are in a playable condition - and that includes the EBMM/Fender USA stuff.
If you're out kicking tires, and you fall in love with something, you probably aren't going to think, "If only this beautiful bass played better than my cheap starter bass did. I'll buy it anyway and futz with it until it works."

If I go to the locally owned store, that's simply not the case. Every bass I pull off the wall plays nicely.
Why is that? Because they aren't just emptying boxes onto wall hangers. They are selling guitars. There's a difference.

I absolutely agree. I'm currently deciding between an Elite 5 Jazz and a Stingray 5HH. The Elite was set up pretty nice, while the Stingray wasn't set up any better than a $150 starter bass. That gave the perception that the J was 10x the bass that the Stingray was, which really isn't the case. To someone that had no idea what a setup is, that would be their perception though.

 

[ThudThudThud]

I absolutely agree. I'm currently deciding between an Elite 5 Jazz and a Stingray 5HH. The Elite was set up pretty nice, while the Stingray wasn't set up any better than a $150 starter bass. That gave the perception that the J was 10x the bass that the Stingray was, which really isn't the case. To someone that had no idea what a setup is, that would be their perception though.

Agreed. I went to buy my son his first bass. I played nearly every bass in their bass room (as I can't pass up an opportunity to at least try something...and I'd been eyeing the Talman with the Nordys). When I narrowed the field to a range that I was willing to pay for my son's bass, I ended up with a Squier VM Jaguar Special. Why? Because it played "like butter."
The others in the room didn't. Regardless of price.

 

[Brent Davenport]

Agreed. I went to buy my son his first bass. I played nearly every bass in their bass room (as I can't pass up an opportunity to at least try something...and I'd been eyeing the Talman with the Nordys). When I narrowed the field to a range that I was willing to pay for my son's bass, I ended up with a Squier VM Jaguar Special. Why? Because it played "like butter."
The others in the room didn't. Regardless of price.

I really hate it though because someone like me who hasn't played in 12+ years needs to compare apples to apples. Trying to decide between a well sweet up instrument and one that isn't is a little tough. I know that the J is probably the smart choice, but that Stingray keeps calling my name! lol

 

[Charlzm]

Hmm... started in ‘07... employee number started with 04?

I don't remember it. Maybe started with 03? It's been a while.

 

[flojob]

I think the point I was making was that if the basses hanging on the wall had a basic set up, and played nicely, there would be more people buying the higher end instruments. In my experience, about a quarter of the basses hanging on the wall are in a playable condition - and that includes the EBMM/Fender USA stuff.
If you're out kicking tires, and you fall in love with something, you probably aren't going to think, "If only this beautiful bass played better than my cheap starter bass did. I'll buy it anyway and futz with it until it works."

If I go to the locally owned store, that's simply not the case. Every bass I pull off the wall plays nicely.
Why is that? Because they aren't just emptying boxes onto wall hangers. They are selling guitars. There's a difference.

That's my point, though. Some person with more money than bass knowledge might very well pass on that expensive bass because they dont know what problems come from bad setups.
That's exactly why GC has all those starter basses and lower mid level instruments...that's largely what their clientele ends up buying.
Anyone who has the money, knows what they want, and is serious about buying is not going to let a bad set up get in the way.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I usually buy used and GC's used site is one of the best. Many solid deals to be had and sometimes a great bargain!

There are definitely some great bargain deals to be had on there, but in my experiences, it's due to them listing products incorrectly. I'm not sure I'd consider that a positive thing.

Sure, it sounds alright if you're on the receiving end of a good deal*, but think of the people on the opposite end. There have been a handful of posts in the last few months about obvious fakes on their used site, even sometimes being bought, returned, and then relisted with the same item name, etc.

Yes, you can return it of course, but what about people who don't realize right away they maybe bought a fake? And I'd still consider it a hassle to buy something only to have to return it.

*I'm still in a bit of an ethical pickle about that situation, knowingly buying something for much less than I should be paying for it. Though...it's really hard to feel bad about GC losing profits, because they totally suck in my opinion.