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Guitar center is going under!

#181
They just opened a new GC in Laurel MD which is the town just south of mine. I plan to check it out for the first time today. I want to get the guys in the band gift cards to buy strings, picks, and sticks.
I am curious to see the selection they have and the condition of their basses.
The one just north of me always had a small selection of basses with old strings, bad action, and just grungy condition.
 
#182
Tbsx said:
All of this gossip means absolutely nothing.
I'll believe it when they shut the doors.
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Defaulting is serious, which they haven't done yet. That and even bankruptcy doesn't mean the doors close. Our stupid Indiana electric car company went bankrupt twice before they finally folded. Stupid car they made. When there were more on the road, I saw more of them being towed on flatbeds than running. I see one two a year now.
 
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#183
If there was one thing I could change about music stores, I would make sure every guitar was set up correctly. It angers me that they want me to spend $1500.00 on a P bass I cant even play! Seriously, what are people thinking? Dislpay your wares in the best way possible if you want to sell them. You can argue about who's to blame,the manufacturer or the store. Either way,if it were my store or company it would be paramount that they are displayed in working order or leave the factory in playable condition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#188
It is what it is.
A setup is NOT included with the price of the instrument. Just add the setup cost to the display price to get your total price. I usu. take my pocket tuner with me so I can at least play it in tune.
I agree that there should be some of the displays setup properly to help sell them.
If it were me running the stores I'd take some used basses and set them up with different strings. One with flats, one with swing bass, even one with nylons. They'd improve their string sales and their luthier service. If someone wanted to buy the display model, just add the setup cost to the tagged price. Being able to play the instrument is one advantage they have over internet and they're not even reaching their full potential of that feature.
 
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#189
I've countered the GC bashers as much as anyone, but there is no excuse for the instruments not being in playable condition if they are on the wall. I was at one recently in Yonkers, and tried out a Mustang. You literally could not play a note above the sixth fret. I pointed it out to the closest employee, who just shook his head, and said there was no one available to do it. So much for any chance at a sale. That has nothing to do with Bain corporate structure - just lousy store management.
 
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#190
Bad azz tone said:
Point taken! Have you ever seen any kind of workshop or room,where a luthier could do anykind of work? I to date have not.
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I can say that they do indeed exist. My luthier in Lawrence, Kansas shop's second floor is a dedicated workshop. Big enough for three workers with lots of workspace. It is a joy to talk with him. All of the tools are where he expects to find them. He always has a fairly long backlog and when he diagnosis a problem you can take it to the bank.
 
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#193
Bad azz tone said:
It should be that way everywhere. We have privately owned stores in the area with luthiers on site but none of the GC's. Your fortunate they have a good one. Having a good relationship with the person who works on your instrument is necessary,more today than ever.
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I think this is why almost everyone should learn to work on their own gear, to an extent at least.
 
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#196
buldog5151bass said:
I've countered the GC bashers as much as anyone, but there is no excuse for the instruments not being in playable condition if they are on the wall. I was at one recently in Yonkers, and tried out a Mustang. You literally could not play a note above the sixth fret. I pointed it out to the closest employee, who just shook his head, and said there was no one available to do it. So much for any chance at a sale. That has nothing to do with Bain corporate structure - just lousy store management.
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Agreed. After my last GC visit, which really stunk, I'm not going to be giving those clowns a dime. I just can't perpetuate that.
 
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#197
I suppose it's the times we live in. I don't know exactly when guitar manufacturers stopped sending out instruments that were not properly set up to perorm, but if you look at a wide selection of guitars from the50's,60's,70's,even the less expensive makes and models,the set up is perfect. That is minus the ones that were mistreated. And most of them came from the factory ready to play. So it would seem the problem began with the manufacturer. More than likely on orders from the front office. Be that as it may, there is no acceptable excuse for an instrument to hang on the wall that isn't ready to play!
EVER!!!!
 
#199
There are other factors to consider as well.
Instruments are much cheaper than what they used to be. So you can afford to pay for a setup and a case with the difference in price.
They've had to sell cheaper instruments b/c peoples' disposable income is divided nowadays with home internet, tv, and cell phones.
 
#200
The GC near me (that opened recently - 3-4 years ago??) has a small bench where a guy works on guitars; behind it are all the 'Allparts' items like pup covers, jacks, etc. I've not used him as I do almost all of my work myself.

One of the last remaining mom & pop shops is owned/run by a very good guitar tech who is continuously busy. Until he cleaned up his shop at some point this past year, I thought he was in danger of sever injury or potential death due to avalanche from the mountain of old string packs, wrappers & old strings piled up in the corner behind his work bench. Nevertheless, he's worked on my instruments before, and is one of the main guys in town for performing tech work.

There is another chain in town besides GC (George's Music) and the independently owned shops left are small but solid. One has a section devoted to dj/turntables/recording stuff, another shop is larger but does some PA work for churches, so he stays busy. The main independent place closed down about 5-6 years ago - always liked going there for their variety; they were about the size of a GC.

Pawn shops do a lot of business now - gems can be found in them on occasion. Same with flea markets.

Raz
 
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