Guitar center is going under!

[Mugre]

As somebody that knows a handful of guys and gals that worked at Sam Ash..... its no better. They treat their employees pretty poorly from most accounts.

We've know people who've worked (long term) at both--that is, we've known people who have worked at one or the other AND a few that have worked for both. We've also had professional dealings with both as business entities. If I thought they'd survive, I'd take a job at GC. If there was nothing else but SA, I'd collect recyclables and live in a broken down RV under a freeway overpass.

mugre

 

[Bad azz tone]

I think going in to kick the tires, so to speak,is expected in the store I frequent. Of course I know them and they know me,they know I'm allways looking at what's new in the store. They also know I'm not coming in just to kill time and I make purchases on occaion. I go in and chat for a while then ASK if it's okay to check out whatever I'm interested in,they always say sure, if you need help just ask. I feel it's important to build a relationship with the store or stores you visit. While I may buy an amp or processing gear without trying them first,I will never buy a bass or guitar that I can't hold in my hands and play. Just my thing I guess. To me it's worth a two hour drive to Detroit or Chicago if I can't find what I need locally. I consider Lansing local and love to stop in at Elderlys when shopping for a new bass or guitar,some wonderful people on staff as well as great instruments.

 

[Ben B]

Based on my own experiences with Mom and Pop music stores back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, I don’t have any romantic notions about them. Most weren’t all that great. There were the occasional stellar exceptions like EU Wurlitzer in Boston or G Guitars in N.H. CT. But most weren’t that customer oriented or easy to deal with IMO.

So true. I remember those days. Many of these stores specialized in selling overpriced, mediocre gear to unsuspecting parents of teen or pre-teen boys who wanted to learn guitar. And trying to return gear if you discovered they sold you something that was broken? Forget it! This was in the days before Yelp and other online review sites, so, these stores could have a 2 or 3 decade career of ripping people off.

I know of a few mom and pop stores that have survived because they give great service and have competitive prices. The rest? Well, no loss. And If it was GC that helped drive them out, I have no problem with it.

 

[MordBass]

I think going in to kick the tires, so to speak,is expected in the store I frequent. Of course I know them and they know me,they know I'm allways looking at what's new in the store. They also know I'm not coming in just to kill time and I make purchases on occaion. I go in and chat for a while then ASK if it's okay to check out whatever I'm interested in,they always say sure, if you need help just ask. I feel it's important to build a relationship with the store or stores you visit. While I may buy an amp or processing gear without trying them first,I will never buy a bass or guitar that I can't hold in my hands and play. Just my thing I guess. To me it's worth a two hour drive to Detroit or Chicago if I can't find what I need locally. I consider Lansing local and love to stop in at Elderlys when shopping for a new bass or guitar,some wonderful people on staff as well as great instruments.

I agree. Every time I consider buying a new bass online, I think about the hundreds that I've happily selected off the wall of a store, and the immediately put back because they turned out to be junk. I dont need the 8 foot walk back to the wall to turn into a 20 minute drive to UPS.
I really wonder what would happen to the companies with known QC issues if the big boxes went under. Who in their right mind would be ordering the questionable brands sight unseen?

 

[madbass6]

I guess they are in major debt and likely won't survive the next year, though apparently they plan to leave a Hollywood and 1 other of their best stores open. All the other stores will be selling off their stock.

Can't say I am too sad to see them go, maybe now we will see more local music stores again. It also should be a good chance to snag some great sales depending on how they try and liquidate.[/QUO

I guess they are in major debt and likely won't survive the next year, though apparently they plan to leave a Hollywood and 1 other of their best stores open. All the other stores will be selling off their stock.

Can't say I am too sad to see them go, maybe now we will see more local music stores again. It also should be a good chance to snag some great sales depending on how they try and liquidate.

Welcome to online shopping!!

 

[Bad azz tone]

So true. I remember those days. Many of these stores specialized in selling overpriced, mediocre gear to unsuspecting parents of teen or pre-teen boys who wanted to learn guitar. And trying to return gear if you discovered they sold you something that was broken? Forget it! This was in the days before Yelp and other online review sites, so, these stores could have a 2 or 3 decade career of ripping people off.

I know of a few mom and pop stores that have survived because they give great service and have competitive prices. The rest? Well, no loss. And If it was GC that helped drive them out, I have no problem with it.

Around here that kind of mom and pop store disappeared in the mid 60's. They either went under or sold to a musician buyer who changed the way they do business. There were still stores with a bad rep,but they went away as time went on. Most areas here have a store owned by a working player,or one who used to play and that seems to make a difference in how the store is run, a little more serious player oriented. Some of these stores have been around for fifty years or more. Must be doing something right.

 

[Paulabass]

Ten years or more ago, reps were coming into the store with rumours about GC closing.

 

[Bad azz tone]

For example, Google Al Nalli'sMusic Ann Arbor Mi. Check it out! Great comment by Bob Seger about a great store!

 

[Strung_Low]

IDK as others have said, Ill believe it when I see it. Ive bought a number of things from my local GC. Sometimes they don't have stuff in stock, then I go to Haight St Music (or vice versa). Our GC in the city is pretty well stocked for the most part, and the last few times I went, they had a huge selection of new and used basses and amps. I prefer mom and pops honestly, but I hold no grudges against GC

 

[cavemanbass]

Guitar Center owns Music & Arts, LMI, Giardinelli, Musician.com, Private Reserve Guitars, Woodwind and Brasswind, Music 123, LiveWire cables... I am sure there is a default strategy as opposed to "closing their doors." They should consider "demo centers" and sell mostly online as their stores are typically a substantial Sq. Ft. space.

This ^^ is exactly what GC has become for me, and why I would miss them if they go under. Especially their used stuff. Nobody else has this; I can see their entire inventory of used basses online, and for a reasonable (~$25) charge get one shipped to my local store where I can go try it out and decide if I want to keep it. Much prefer that model to eBay, where I've had to carefully document how a seller mis-represented an item just to be able to return it to them. GC's 45 day return policy is pretty amazing as well.
I don't think that GC going under would usher in a new world of small music stores with great service. Best I would hope for is that Amazon gets into the 'demo store' and 'ship to store' business over time, now that they are buying brick and mortar businesses. But they would apply that model across a huge range of merch, which means that intake of used music gear and an online catalog / ship to store model would be very unlikely.

 

[Berniez40]

I remember the mom and pops, GC for the past few decades, and Mars (anyone else remember them.), as well as prized Pawn Shops before the Super Chains bought up all the little guys and screwed the pooch. Back in the Good old bad days of the 70's, we had some pretty darned good Mom and Pop Shops right here in The DFW Area. At Arnold and Morgan (Who actually sponsored a local rock and roll TV Show which served as a stepping stone for many Regional Rock Bands) you could go and take an Alembic right off the wall. They were the only place where I ever saw an Oasis Bass (an old Alembic Spin Off), and they had walls of Guitars. Ever here of Stevie Ray Vaughn?... He used to go to Charlie's all the time. The new Charlie's is no longer at Harry Hines and Walnut Hill, but I digress. You could go in there to try out an axe, and you knew that it was well set up, and that Charlie and Rene would take good care of you. On top of all that, if you were on your game, you could go to Pete's Pawn Shop in Garland, where every band in the area that fell on hard times hocked their gear. I bought my first Hayman 40/40, and two Hagstrom 8 Strings there.
Charlie's is still around due to the stellar reputation of the late great Charlie Wirz, and all the international stars that used to shop there. I met Stevie Ray, and Thin Lizzy there, and countless regional bands such as Anson and The Rockets. Pete's got bought out by one of the new Super Chain Pawn Shops, and has never been the same. Around 1978 Dave Anderson moved into the DFW and bought up a few of the well established mom and pop shops with good reputations, filled them full of his enormous Guitar, Bass, and Amplifier collection. To this day, despite the onslaught of GC and the rise and fall of Mars Music, this is where you go if you need a good piece of Peavey equipment, or something as esoteric as a Kustom Guitar or Bass, or maybe an old Traynor or Kasino amp.
GC has always been there as a place to go and try out things that were getting all the reviews in Guitar Player and Bass Player Magazine. They would have all the latest, though not necessarily greatest equipment. They also had a great string selection, and straps and stands galore if you were on the way to a gig, and forgot something. GC has always been good to me for what they are, and Ive never tried to make them anymore or less than that. Lately I've scoured their used dept. for obscure equipment on the cheap. It has served an important niche for me, but has never been the dominant vendor.

If they go the way of The Dodo, I will definitely miss them, but I would not be surprised. Ive seen so many come and go over the years. This would be one of the few that I have had a several decades relationship, such as it is, that I would be very sad to see go.

 

[whatizitman]

I think going in to kick the tires, so to speak,is expected in the store I frequent. Of course I know them and they know me,they know I'm allways looking at what's new in the store. They also know I'm not coming in just to kill time and I make purchases on occaion. I go in and chat for a while then ASK if it's okay to check out whatever I'm interested in,they always say sure, if you need help just ask. I feel it's important to build a relationship with the store or stores you visit. While I may buy an amp or processing gear without trying them first,I will never buy a bass or guitar that I can't hold in my hands and play. Just my thing I guess. To me it's worth a two hour drive to Detroit or Chicago if I can't find what I need locally. I consider Lansing local and love to stop in at Elderlys when shopping for a new bass or guitar,some wonderful people on staff as well as great instruments.

I wish my experiences were positive, because it's not like I want small local businesses to die. Far from it.

Our local independent shop has a great lessons program - tons of practice rooms and instructors available for anything, including evening hours. I think it's how they survive. Both of my kids have had lessons there, and we have more than satisfied with their instructors - most of which work on cash basis, and are not employees of the store.

As for everything else related to the store itself, let me just say they are just lucky they are the only game in town.

1) Their repair/luthier services have been spotty with me. I had great results my first time w/my p-bass. I raved about it for a long time. Not to so great results since then with guitars. I never spoke face-to-face with their luthier, which IMO is bad practice on their part. These are my babies that needed actual work, not just a setup or repair. It would have been nice to actually talk to someone. No, I had to just "drop them off", and hope for the best. The fact that it worked out the first time I would come to realize was a fluke.

2) Despite the fact that I went in their weekly to pay for lessons for my kids for almost two years, nobody in the store took the opportunity to get to know me or my kids' names. With few exceptions, every time I've gone in they treated me like I've never been there before, and like I was inconveniencing them. These aren't teenagers, either. These are grownups, like the managers and/or owners. They have a table by the cashier desk where a bunch of them sit and jab all day, ignoring customers. I personally don't expect salespeople to wait on me hand and foot. But I really don't like having to interrupt some staff conversation to get some help, either.

My mechanic? Knows me and my wife by name, remembers what cars we drive, and what work he has done on them. Talks to me when I go in. This certainly keeps us coming back. I'm not sure why this isn't the norm.

All they would have had to do is give someone like me, say 3 minutes to ask about me and my music equipment needs and interests, whether for me or for my family. Take the moment to get to know me personally, show some interest in what makes me tick (which curiously enough happens to be music), and you better bet I will support you. Nope. Just another parent coming in to pay for their brat's lessons.

Apart from any ego bruising on my part, that's just bad business that I would rather not support. My guitarist has stopped shopping there. And he is willing to spend far more on equipment purchases than I am. He bought a special edition Fender Deluxe from MF, and not on sale as I recall. He's not an internet buyer, but lo and behold our local shop doesn't stock fender amps. He did go in a couple times to test out the amps they did have. But one too many times being treated like crap for him sealed the deal with MF.

This is why I take with a grain of salt when local businesses blame customers for not supporting local businesses. If you want to compete with the internet, you actually have to compete. Oh yeah, on that note. Their website? Hasn't been updated in several years and is a total unusable mess.

 

[Bad azz tone]

I wish my experiences were positive, because it's not like I want small local businesses to die. Far from it.

Our local independent shop has a great lessons program - tons of practice rooms and instructors available for anything, including evening hours. I think it's how they survive. Both of my kids have had lessons there, and we have more than satisfied with their instructors - most of which work on cash basis, and are not employees of the store.

As for everything else related to the store itself, let me just say they are just lucky they are the only game in town.

1) Their repair/luthier services have been spotty with me. I had great results my first time w/my p-bass. I raved about it for a long time. Not to so great results since then with guitars. I never spoke face-to-face with their luthier, which IMO is bad practice on their part. These are my babies that needed actual work, not just a setup or repair. It would have been nice to actually talk to someone. No, I had to just "drop them off", and hope for the best. The fact that it worked out the first time I would come to realize was a fluke.

2) Despite the fact that I went in their weekly to pay for lessons for my kids for almost two years, nobody in the store took the opportunity to get to know me or my kids' names. With few exceptions, every time I've gone in they treated me like I've never been there before, and like I was inconveniencing them. These aren't teenagers, either. These are grownups, like the managers and/or owners. They have a table by the cashier desk where a bunch of them sit and jab all day, ignoring customers. I personally don't expect salespeople to wait on me hand and foot. But I really don't like having to interrupt some staff conversation to get some help, either.

My mechanic? Knows me and my wife by name, remembers what cars we drive, and what work he has done on them. Talks to me when I go in. This certainly keeps us coming back. I'm not sure why this isn't the norm.

All they would have had to do is give someone like me, say 3 minutes to ask about me and my music equipment needs and interests, whether for me or for my family. Take the moment to get to know me personally, show some interest in what makes me tick (which curiously enough happens to be music), and you better bet I will support you. Nope. Just another parent coming in to pay for their brat's lessons.

Apart from any ego bruising on my part, that's just bad business that I would rather not support. My guitarist has stopped shopping there. And he is willing to spend far more on equipment purchases than I am. He bought a special edition Fender Deluxe from MF, and not on sale as I recall. He's not an internet buyer, but lo and behold our local shop doesn't stock fender amps. He did go in a couple times to test out the amps they did have. But one too many times being treated like crap for him sealed the deal with MF.

This is why I take with a grain of salt when local businesses blame customers for not supporting local businesses. If you want to compete with the internet, you actually have to compete. Oh yeah, on that note. Their website? Hasn't been updated in several years and is a total unusable mess.

Wow,! It's like we live on different planets.I guess I should be thankful for living where I do. Maybe because we are between Chicago and Detroit,with all of the musical talent in this area,past and present, maybe that has some influence in the way things are here. We have always had great music stores,not all, but most have been very helpful and honest.I can't believe the STORIES I hear on TB. It's really sad!!!!

 

[Bad azz tone]

3 wonderful stores-
Grand Rapids-- Rainbow Music
Ann Arbor--- Nallys music
Lansing-- Elderly Instruments

Check them on line! Take a road trip this spring .

 

[gjohnson441496]

I'm not sure about that...I think you players are going to want to try stuff still...At least to certain degree some of them.

That is true.

 

[MordBass]

That is true.

exactly. there are plenty of basses I was sure I'd love and then didn't once it was in my hands..... there were also basses that I never had an interest in... that I wound up buying after trying it in a store.

That was the beauty of times when the economy was better and all of these stores were stocked and bustling. About once a month my whole band would pile into the car, light up cigarettes, and make a day of it. We'd head up into the city in the morning and check out the nice shops there... hit some southside stores on the way out by 1pm-ish.... then head west to hit more of the mom and pops... grab a good bite to eat... head up north a bit and hit a few more stores before heading to the rehearsal space for the night. We always had something we needed like strings or cables... or maybe a new mic.... but the rest of us messed around on gear while one or some of us was buying something....we'd find a used bass or guitar that we'd never seen in the flesh.... it would get us thinking. It was like a GAS party and we'd wind up spending all of our money on gear.
Sad that those days are mostly gone. Many of the mom n pops have been reduced to a wall of Samick and Turser to appease the 10 year old students... really doesnt leave any reason for the rest of us to go there though. The big boxes dont carry the brands they used to and most of what they have is in terrible condition, while the specialty shops are way to expensive for impulse buys.

 

[ILIA]

I remember the mom and pops, GC for the past few decades, and Mars (anyone else remember them.), <SNIP>

Oh, man. I have not heard about Mars, the music store, in years. They sucked. I think I still have a broken 4-track recorder that I bought from them.

 

[xnewyorka]

Ten years or more ago, reps were coming into the store with rumours about GC closing.

The difference is that 10 years ago, Moody's wasn't saying this:
Guitar Center downgraded

 

[Tbsx]

All of this gossip means absolutely nothing.
I'll believe it when they shut the doors.

 

[GHOST AT]

I will be sad for the employees if GC closes.My local store in Memphis the people are always friendly and helpful, my biggest purchace from GC was a wireless system,and a Spector, other than that I purchace strings sometimes.

We have a great mom and pop store, they have Fodera, Musicman and one of the biggest PRS dealers.The owner is like a box of choclates.
Years ago when Foderas had a 2 to 3yr wait time the store got two in and I didnt have a pot to piss in. I asked the owner if he would bring one out just to look at it since I had no money.
He said they were at his house and I could see the Fodera cases in a room behind a counter LOL. I kn ow two people who went into the store and he even let them play the Foderas
Fast foward seven years I finally got my Fodera I purchased it from another dealer.