Guitar Center Strikes Again

[ggvicviper]

The bass was actually listed as new, selling at the normal $200 for an Epi EB-O. It wasn't IN the bass room, it was outside the bass room, along with some of the guitars.

Did I say something? No, but looking back now I wish I had. I think I was a bit in shock that GC would sell something like this as "new", and I got annoyed more than anything.

With regards to the GC Used deals, I'm going to say they are very hit and miss - I had a 40% satisfaction rate. The first bass I bought from GC Used online was a 1987 Yamaha RBX-5. That was an awesome instrument, and I sold it not too long ago to a fellow TBer. Second instrument was also nice, an older Spector Performer 5-string. However, I bought three more instruments after that, and they had serious issues (Fender MB-5 - severe electronics problems, 80's AND 90's Peavey Dyna Bass 5 - both had different types of neck warpage). However, GC has always given a refund when they gave me a lemon, so I'll always say their refund policy is good.

Still, this was the most ridiculous thing I'd seen yet at GC. I can't believe that employees let this slide.

EDIT: I remember going to GC in 2009 to try and sell an amp to them. They said the amp worked fine, but one of the pots "crackled a little", so they said they weren't interested. Yet I've seen them selling worse junk on the floor. I don't get it.

 

[lokikallas]

I recently saw one of the modern players that was running for 500$. It was tagged as new, but it must have been getting kicked around for years as the pick guard looked as if it had been on tour. The rest of the finish was perfect, but the guard had insane abuse. If they would have knocked off a couple bucks to account for the cost of a new PG I might have considered it. I asked about the gold saddles in a chrome bridge, and all I got was blank stares. I thought that was goofy, but apparently they come like that. None of the associates had a clue.

 

[vstring3]

I asked about the gold saddles in a chrome bridge, and all I got was blank stares. I thought that was goofy, but apparently they come like that. None of the associates had a clue.

The saddles are brass. I'm not sure if Fender designed that bridge to look vintage or if there's reason to believe brass saddles increase sustain.

 

[Krügmeister]

In GC's defense, They aren't going to be able to afford many experienced musicians to patrol and fix general sight issues. It takes instrument knowledge and many of their employees don't have that yet (some never will) There is a general "Mall employee" approach to most of the workers there. If you buy from them just make sure you are through in your inspections. Sadly, many young players have no idea what are general issues to look for and they get caught with their pants down since most of their choices are visually based. There is a market for GC and it would definitely help their reputation if they had one or two actual musicians doing product patrol at the very least.

 

[ggvicviper]

In GC's defense, They aren't going to be able to afford many experienced musicians to patrol and fix general sight issues. It takes instrument knowledge and many of their employees don't have that yet (some never will) There is a general "Mall employee" approach to most of the workers there. If you buy from them just make sure you are through in your inspections. Sadly, many young players have no idea what are general issues to look for and they get caught with their pants down since most of their choices are visually based. There is a market for GC and it would definitely help their reputation if they had one or two actual musicians doing product patrol at the very least.

Some Sam Ash stores have experienced musicians working there, so I'm not sure about the being able to afford them argument. Plus, I think several of the Manhattan employees are musicians, considering it's one of their flagship stores.

However, I agree with the rest of what you said. There always has been a market for GC. I remember a time when they were a lot more competent - when I was a teenager and in my early 20's mainly.

 

[Munjibunga]

I do fine with GC.

 

[fourstringdrums]

In GC's defense, They aren't going to be able to afford many experienced musicians to patrol and fix general sight issues. It takes instrument knowledge and many of their employees don't have that yet (some never will) There is a general "Mall employee" approach to most of the workers there. If you buy from them just make sure you are through in your inspections. Sadly, many young players have no idea what are general issues to look for and they get caught with their pants down since most of their choices are visually based. There is a market for GC and it would definitely help their reputation if they had one or two actual musicians doing product patrol at the very least.

True but in this case, any employee should have been able to catch this one and if they couldn't, they shouldn't be working there.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Talk about a bass not being "set up", it's hard to believe that Guitar Center puts the bass out on display in FRONT of the bass room.

Hard to believe? Really? It's not hard for me to believe. It's Guitar Center.

Honestly, Guitar Center doesn't even sell anything I want. I've visited the GC on West 14th Street maybe twice since it opened years ago.

I see no reason to ever go back. It just encourages them...

MM

 

[jamminology101]

Nothing like a little "macro-tilt" ...

 

[Dave W]

The guy who runs the bass department at GC Manhattan is a bassist and a TBer. He's a nice dude...

As mentioned before it's entirely possible that it just happened or wasn't noticed by the stocking person because they don't know any better. I dunno. I guess it's also entirely possible that they REALLY don't care. That's the vibe I've been getting lately.

I recently went to try out a guitar they had (mid 80's Fender Strat). The guy handed it to me and said "You'll probably have to tune it..." so I start going at it and it's not even tunable. Whoever put the strings on it kept the wraps too short, so as soon as I went to tune it up it would slip right back down. I went to mentioned it to the sales guy (guitar department manager) and he basically could not care any less. I would have probably left with it if I was able to actually try it out, but it wasn't possible,

 

[peledog]

Commission?

 

[Major Softie]

Not surprising at all, nor do I condemn them for it.

As others have said, it appears to be the result of damage, so who knows how long it's been like that. They move a TON of product, have a ton of product on display, and it all gets handled by customers far more ignorant than the GC staff. So, there's going to be problems out there every once in a while - it would be amazing if there weren't.

Now, if you'd pointed it out to them and they'd blown you off, then you'd have a fine complaint about GC.

 

[SlingBass4]

Nothing like a little "macro-tilt" ...

THAT is funny

 

[Bassnoise]

I don't think we should blame gc employees for the places crumminess it's the whole guitargin barn corporate attitude that makes it suck I've known alot of people to work there and they get mentally beat up all day and eventually hate the place but none of them woulda let that slide if they noticed...

That is about the worst thing I've seen in a sales floor tho and who ever walked right past it needs there eyes checked anyway deals are great and they typically have the best but I only recommend them for strings and try to support local places if possible any day to avoid losing them

It would be a sad world if the only guitar store was gc

 

[ggvicviper]

Not surprising at all, nor do I condemn them for it.

As others have said, it appears to be the result of damage, so who knows how long it's been like that. They move a TON of product, have a ton of product on display, and it all gets handled by customers far more ignorant than the GC staff. So, there's going to be problems out there every once in a while - it would be amazing if there weren't.

Now, if you'd pointed it out to them and they'd blown you off, then you'd have a fine complaint about GC.

Nobody really knows for sure why this was in the condition it was in - I don't think the neck was cracked, I believe that's a light reflection if I am seeing what you are seeing in the 1st picture.

GC probably doesn't move a ton of basses a day per store - most of the GCs I've been to have had maybe one out of ten players really interested in buying a bass, even fewer who do. Most seem to be more interested in amps, IME.

It would be a sad world if the only guitar store was gc

On the flipside, it would be an awesome world if the only bass store was the TB classifieds (and they sold new instruments).

 

[tbz]

Shhh! I don't need more people browsing there and taking the sweet deals!

Seriously, I sniped a 2006 30th Anniversary Stingray for like $1350, including tax and shipping a few months ago.

Oh wait, maybe I shouldn't have shared that.

 

[tbz]

Some Sam Ash stores have experienced musicians working there, so I'm not sure about the being able to afford them argument. Plus, I think several of the Manhattan employees are musicians, considering it's one of their flagship stores.

We have the opposite thing here with Sam Ash on the West Coast. Our local one (in the San Fernando Valley) is the worst stocked/staffed music store by far in the area.

Their bass section literally made me sad when I was there browsing the other day. There were like 3 basses (of 40) over $1,000, brand selection was below terrible, it was like Ibanez, Fender and Gibson/Epiphone only.

Half of the used amps looked like they had been pulled out of a landfill. It was weird.

Sorry about the rant, but it was kind of insulting how little they cared about Bass there. Their guitar section is a complete 180, fully stocked, multiple major brands, high and low end instruments 200ish guitars minimum.

 

[msact]

My GC has a Stingray 5HH in stealth black. I remember when they just got it new a couple of months back. It looked and sounded great. I went back last week to look at amps and saw it again and it looked like it had been dragged behind a truck. It was really a bit sad to see how beat up it got in such a short time. Nonetheless they still have the same $1899 price tag on it.

 

[PluckyThump]

There is seldom anyone patrolling the bass room

That's the problem. The bass section is the neglected problem child in most every music store.

 

[ggvicviper]

We have the opposite thing here with Sam Ash on the West Coast. Our local one (in the San Fernando Valley) is the worst stocked/staffed music store by far in the area.

Their bass section literally made me sad when I was there browsing the other day. There were like 3 basses (of 40) over $1,000, brand selection was below terrible, it was like Ibanez, Fender and Gibson/Epiphone only.

Half of the used amps looked like they had been pulled out of a landfill. It was weird.

Sorry about the rant, but it was kind of insulting how little they cared about Bass there. Their guitar section is a complete 180, fully stocked, multiple major brands, high and low end instruments 200ish guitars minimum.

I think it just depends on the store, from what I've seen - and I have seen what you have seen on the east coast too. Sam Ash branches were NOT my favorite stores until a few years back when they started to improve by me.

However, contrary to what others have said here, I like finding used basses at Sam Ash rather than GC. I've gotten good deals on some instruments in really nice condition. One was a rare '91 G&L L5000 that I scooped up quickly (and they basically sold it without the tax), the other was an Ibanez Destroyer bass from '83 being sold dirt cheap.