I saw a comment about GC not having any 6ers. This is true. I've been thinking about getting a 6er, and i go to GC, (there really isn't many other stores around my area...) and there are no 6ers! all mine have is a crapload of warwicks ( like 15 or so), A bunch of spectors, Musicmans, Fender/Squiers, 2 Pedulla's, some Schecters, 1 Ken Smith (tightest B i've ever seen!) and some assorted other basses. To my suprise, there really aren't that many Ibanez basses. Maybe 5 or 6, but that's all. There's about the same amount of Vintage Fenders, so thats pretty cool. But i'm pissed, i really want to try out a Mesa 400+, but none of them are plugged in at all. I usually end up buying strings or something.
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I hate Guitar Center
- Thread starter MyNameIsMUD
- Start date
The problem I've had with the GC here in Indy isn't the bad service -- it's the lack of any service whatsoever. Once I went in to try out some amps and none of them were even plugged in, and there were no guitar cables anywhere! I went to get some help and literally every store employee was talking on the phone, and continued to do so for several minutes. I finally just left.
However -- this 14-month same-as-cash deal they have going on right now is too good to pass up. I'm off tomorrow to pick up a Mesa 4x10 and a head along with an octave pedal. I would MUCH rather buy through my friendly neighborhood guitar shop but they just can't offer a similar-quality system with that kind of financing. So dprives post applies here, as much as I hate to admit it. (No offense dprives.)
However -- this 14-month same-as-cash deal they have going on right now is too good to pass up. I'm off tomorrow to pick up a Mesa 4x10 and a head along with an octave pedal. I would MUCH rather buy through my friendly neighborhood guitar shop but they just can't offer a similar-quality system with that kind of financing. So dprives post applies here, as much as I hate to admit it. (No offense dprives.)
i have had many a problem with rude guitar center employees in there bakersfield branch. i am a regular there, once a week! every other time i go in i lay out at least 20 bucks on something or some one im with does, but no matter how much money i have put in they are rude to me every
time i go in on friday. allthough the people i meet there are real friendly, i get cards and numberes from all sorts of people, yay networking.
the employees used to give me deals and let me
bargain with them at least a little but now... ehhh! so i will continue to use there store as a
stomping grounds for networking. they used to have a seven string in our guitar center in bakersfield too, but now not even a sixer... ive
about decided on never making a purchase there ever again, well the one in my hometown at least, there are better weapon shops in the towns across the valley of monsters.... going to the guitar center in hollywood was the greatest expeirence i have ever had at a music store. when i walked into the bass section some kid was playing straightforward jaco runs on some kinda GK or some other sharp sounding amp, some fat mexican guy was double thumpin and tapping with his thumb, some old black guy was puttin about as much funk as anyone from the 70s could have been on i think a pedulla, and some familiar looking black guy was playing great lines on a six string somethin. ahhhhhhhhhh!!! it was so great they were all just playing and taking turns and wowzas!! every one was tradeing tech. comically enough the kid playin jaco stuff was about perfectly nailing the bop speed but no one even cared because fellas this was slap country and we were goin to town for provisions. it was such a spectacle the five of us playing, that the guitar center staff was taking turns standing and listening to all of us play they would change about every 15 or 20 minutes... it was great. as the second gc'er came in to take the place of the first stupidly grinning employee the guy says i know a couple of walking lines, every one dies of laughter. then as the first guy was leaving he says if anyone needs any help buying anything ill be at the counter, then every one roars with laughter as he returns to his post, including the staff!!
it was so great. such a good expeirence.
hey dprives my local mom and pops music stores will undercut most guitar center prices for me, but then again they like me:=)
down with bakersfield GC!!!!
time i go in on friday. allthough the people i meet there are real friendly, i get cards and numberes from all sorts of people, yay networking.
the employees used to give me deals and let me
bargain with them at least a little but now... ehhh! so i will continue to use there store as a
stomping grounds for networking. they used to have a seven string in our guitar center in bakersfield too, but now not even a sixer... ive
about decided on never making a purchase there ever again, well the one in my hometown at least, there are better weapon shops in the towns across the valley of monsters.... going to the guitar center in hollywood was the greatest expeirence i have ever had at a music store. when i walked into the bass section some kid was playing straightforward jaco runs on some kinda GK or some other sharp sounding amp, some fat mexican guy was double thumpin and tapping with his thumb, some old black guy was puttin about as much funk as anyone from the 70s could have been on i think a pedulla, and some familiar looking black guy was playing great lines on a six string somethin. ahhhhhhhhhh!!! it was so great they were all just playing and taking turns and wowzas!! every one was tradeing tech. comically enough the kid playin jaco stuff was about perfectly nailing the bop speed but no one even cared because fellas this was slap country and we were goin to town for provisions. it was such a spectacle the five of us playing, that the guitar center staff was taking turns standing and listening to all of us play they would change about every 15 or 20 minutes... it was great. as the second gc'er came in to take the place of the first stupidly grinning employee the guy says i know a couple of walking lines, every one dies of laughter. then as the first guy was leaving he says if anyone needs any help buying anything ill be at the counter, then every one roars with laughter as he returns to his post, including the staff!!
it was so great. such a good expeirence.
hey dprives my local mom and pops music stores will undercut most guitar center prices for me, but then again they like me:=)
down with bakersfield GC!!!!
Sorry but I regret to inform you that the 14 month deal is not valid on Mesa Boogie gear. I wanted to pick up the 400+ but I found out its no good for Mesa. In my opinion there are beter cabs than that Mesa that do apply though.
Peace
Nick
What you can do is buy one item made by any of the "qualifying manufacturers" and get the 14-month financing, and then ANYTHING else you add onto that purchase will also get the financing. For example, Boss is one of the qualifying manufacturers-- so if you get a Boss pedal AND the amps then the entire purchase qualifies. This is in the fine print of the ad (along with the fact that the financing doesn't apply to everything) and the dude at the store mentioned it to me too. (So I guess I DID get good service after all.)
Over the years, I've never had anyone be rude to me at GC, generally everyone there was either somewhat apathetic (nothing more than a "hey what's up" but that's fine with me, generally I don't like people bothering me while I shop unless I seek them out.) or pretty cool to chat with (there was one bass salesman I talked to a bit each time I stopped by years ago, but he's long gone now.)
The selection there seems to have gotten worse over the years. Years ago they had a huge variety of Zons, Rickenbackers, Pedullas, Alembics, etc in addition to the ubiquitous cheapie Fenders and Ibanezes, but now it's mostly those cheapie Fenders and Ibanezes with a small handful of MM's, a couple Spectors, and a bunch of badly set up Warwicks hanging up high (including a five stringer that was missing its D string.) I wonder if anyone there truly takes care of those Warwicks; you know, actually waxing them like you're supposed to so they don't dry out and crack. And yes, only saw one sixer there the last time I was there: a used Pedulla. Can't blame them too much though, I guess they just stock what sells.
I've never bought a bass there, though. I've bought all my past and present basses from local shops, except for my Carvin which I bought from, well, Carvin. (I actually saw a used Carvin six string at GC once, by the way. That made me do a doubletake.)
The selection there seems to have gotten worse over the years. Years ago they had a huge variety of Zons, Rickenbackers, Pedullas, Alembics, etc in addition to the ubiquitous cheapie Fenders and Ibanezes, but now it's mostly those cheapie Fenders and Ibanezes with a small handful of MM's, a couple Spectors, and a bunch of badly set up Warwicks hanging up high (including a five stringer that was missing its D string.) I wonder if anyone there truly takes care of those Warwicks; you know, actually waxing them like you're supposed to so they don't dry out and crack. And yes, only saw one sixer there the last time I was there: a used Pedulla. Can't blame them too much though, I guess they just stock what sells.
I've never bought a bass there, though. I've bought all my past and present basses from local shops, except for my Carvin which I bought from, well, Carvin. (I actually saw a used Carvin six string at GC once, by the way. That made me do a doubletake.)
Ah, Guitar Center.
It tends to be a sort of heaven and hell. (Hell because I'm left-handed, you can figure it out from there...)
I have almost never dealt with a rude or stupid employee at GC (this is in Canton, MI). This is mainly because I have only dealt with one person (the bass guy, Sean [or Shawn]...hes nice).
I called GC recenlty to ask him a question, but got the guitar guy. To my suprise, the bass guy called back. That suprised the crap outa me. I understand that my sale means more $$ for him and the business, but this was out of concern for the customer as well.
The only thing I hate about guitar center is my being left-handed and the ANNOYING ****ING STUPID KIDS WHO COME IN AND PLAY BLINK-182 FULL BLAST THROUGH MARSHALL STACKS!
Whats sad is that there ignorant rich parents are probably going to buy it for them too...
Love you all like a brother should,
Dee
-----------------------------------------------
BTW Nick man, this 15mth. deal does apply to Ampeg, correct? I'm planning on gettin' me a B4R in a few days... (A birthday gift for myself)
It tends to be a sort of heaven and hell. (Hell because I'm left-handed, you can figure it out from there...)
I have almost never dealt with a rude or stupid employee at GC (this is in Canton, MI). This is mainly because I have only dealt with one person (the bass guy, Sean [or Shawn]...hes nice).
I called GC recenlty to ask him a question, but got the guitar guy. To my suprise, the bass guy called back. That suprised the crap outa me. I understand that my sale means more $$ for him and the business, but this was out of concern for the customer as well.
The only thing I hate about guitar center is my being left-handed and the ANNOYING ****ING STUPID KIDS WHO COME IN AND PLAY BLINK-182 FULL BLAST THROUGH MARSHALL STACKS!
Whats sad is that there ignorant rich parents are probably going to buy it for them too...
Love you all like a brother should,
Dee
-----------------------------------------------
BTW Nick man, this 15mth. deal does apply to Ampeg, correct? I'm planning on gettin' me a B4R in a few days... (A birthday gift for myself)
I like Guitar Center...well, the one here in Memphis at least. It opened up six months ago and I've been there at least once a week ever since. The selection is not great. Fender, Squier, Warwick, Ibanez, Spector, Schecter, MusicMan, and Yamaha. They have a decent used bass selection. Their amp choices suck as best. Ampeg (what else!?), SWR, GK, and Crate. I discovered my love of GK there. I played through a 1001RB into an RBH stack, and fell in love. I've played every bass I get through a GK amp each time I'm there.
I've gotten some sweet deals there. $449 for a used G&L L2000E and $459 for a GK 410RBH and I plan on getting a deal on a GK 2001RB there. The assistant manager, Billy, is an awesome guy. He is super cool to me each time, lets me know what new stuff they get in, gives me great deals, etc. Just an all around great guy. The other two workers that I see around the bass room are not too great. Brian is a prick. He gives you that fake, warm "Make yourself at home greeting." but when I try to set the amp to my personal EQ settings, he criticizes me for using too much treble and sets them to his own, or he tells me to turn the amp down. Buddy is a nice guy, but not the brightest tool in the shed. I took in my MIM Jazz to see about a trade towards that L2000. He didn't know if it was a Jazz or P-bass. They only wanted to give me $150, so like all attmped trade ins, I said hell no.
So in conclusion. Its a great place to go if you know what you're looking for and want to get a great deal, but don't go there for advice or information.
~Patrick
ps- I hate the Blink 182 kids, too. KILL ALL TEENIE BOPPERS!
I've gotten some sweet deals there. $449 for a used G&L L2000E and $459 for a GK 410RBH and I plan on getting a deal on a GK 2001RB there. The assistant manager, Billy, is an awesome guy. He is super cool to me each time, lets me know what new stuff they get in, gives me great deals, etc. Just an all around great guy. The other two workers that I see around the bass room are not too great. Brian is a prick. He gives you that fake, warm "Make yourself at home greeting." but when I try to set the amp to my personal EQ settings, he criticizes me for using too much treble and sets them to his own, or he tells me to turn the amp down. Buddy is a nice guy, but not the brightest tool in the shed. I took in my MIM Jazz to see about a trade towards that L2000. He didn't know if it was a Jazz or P-bass. They only wanted to give me $150, so like all attmped trade ins, I said hell no.
So in conclusion. Its a great place to go if you know what you're looking for and want to get a great deal, but don't go there for advice or information.
~Patrick
ps- I hate the Blink 182 kids, too. KILL ALL TEENIE BOPPERS!
I saw a bongo at my GC yesterday.
I wanted to play it bad,however it was hung up,and me being a minor and all,I was afraid they're gonna be all over my when I play it and stuff..
I wanted to play it bad,however it was hung up,and me being a minor and all,I was afraid they're gonna be all over my when I play it and stuff..
Yeah actually I forgot to mention that.
Other brands qualify as well. Maybe you could just pick up a Boss 9 volt adapter and drop that cab in on the deal.
Peace
Nick
I like GC. Sure, they have pinhead salespeople, and their inventory is selected mostly for 14-year-olds with their moms, but you can get better than internet prices for your sundry needs like mics, stands, power amps, whatever. For instance, I got my PLX 3402 for $956. Beat that on line. Check the price on the Fender Jazz FMT V on line. Mine was $1392, with case, strap, cord and all that swag. How about a Shure Beta 58A for $130?
Yes all these prices are before tax, but still very low, and I didn't have to pay shipping.
GC is what it is. Just don't set your expectations too high. Know what you want, know how much you will pay and, most of all, don't let the pinheads get you down.
Yes all these prices are before tax, but still very low, and I didn't have to pay shipping.
GC is what it is. Just don't set your expectations too high. Know what you want, know how much you will pay and, most of all, don't let the pinheads get you down.
My experience with the Spokane, WA GC is that don't trust anyone there without facial hair. Don't trust the manager, or the chick or the guy that works in the audio section.
The guys with the fatty beards always know what's up.
Interesting GC fact #1: You must be clean shaven unless you had facial hair when you were hired.
The guys with the fatty beards always know what's up.
Interesting GC fact #1: You must be clean shaven unless you had facial hair when you were hired.
Ive got quite a beard goin!
Interesting you mentoined that fact. Ive never heard that rule and it wasnt in the employee handbook.
I was hired with a beard, then shaved it for my first day on the job, then grew it back within two weeks. I also know a few other guys who have grown beards while workin at GC.
Peace
Nick
I love going to guitar center to play around with all the "toys" but I'm not a big fan of the salespeople either because they always try to make hard sells on me and they also think they can get me to buy stuff spontaneously.
For example I went in a couple days ago just to see what basses they had (not that I am looking for one, nor will I be for a long time). He asked if he could help with anything so I asked if I could see how the pedals worked (they had a set of BOSS pedals lined up). I told him I had only been playing bass for 6 months so he took me to one of the digitech effects things. Well I messed with it for awhile but it got so annoying because he assumed I was there to buy effects (which I wasn't). I'm not good enough with my bass yet to warrant effects. But he kept taking money off and bothering me... so I was just like "I gotta do my research". Anyway I know this story sucks but many GC employees suck also.
For example I went in a couple days ago just to see what basses they had (not that I am looking for one, nor will I be for a long time). He asked if he could help with anything so I asked if I could see how the pedals worked (they had a set of BOSS pedals lined up). I told him I had only been playing bass for 6 months so he took me to one of the digitech effects things. Well I messed with it for awhile but it got so annoying because he assumed I was there to buy effects (which I wasn't). I'm not good enough with my bass yet to warrant effects. But he kept taking money off and bothering me... so I was just like "I gotta do my research". Anyway I know this story sucks but many GC employees suck also.
No music store is perfect. But what GC does give you is another choice. Sometimes you'll do business there. Other times, the shop down the street.
At least some of us have the variety of a few shops. And the more choices we have, the better prices can/may be.
At least some of us have the variety of a few shops. And the more choices we have, the better prices can/may be.
My only real complaint about GC is that it's impossible to get out of there in under an hour. Even if I now eactly what I want (and it's a common item). By the time I manage to extract a salesperson from the hordes of wannabe teenagers, I'm usually tired and I have a headache.
I kinda know what to expect at GC by now. I'd never even set foot into the place if I didn't know exactly what I wanted, unless it was specifically for the purpose of driving the clueless salespeople nuts by trying every single Octava MC-012 they happen to have in stock so I can find "just the right one".
Oh, that reminds me of a funny one. One time I had to go to the local GC to get a cable, and I happened to browse by their microphone display case. That's the one where they keep the supposedly "high end" mics (like the AT's and the Rode's). So I happen to spot a very nice vintage East German Neumann CMV-563, and I ask the salesman to turn it around for me so I could see the price sticker. Eight thousand bucks! No power supply, no case, and no accessories. No cable either.
They were a lot better a few years ago, before they went public. These days it seems the bean counters run the company (inevitable when it goes public, unfortunately usually to the detriment of the public), so all they carry anymore is the cheap commercial junk. Used to be you could walk in there and see several nice Alembic's hanging on the wall, but not anymore.
Oh well, they're good for what they're good for. Frankly I've had better luck on eBay lately, than at GC. That's not a good thing (for GC). They better get on the ball. But, the local Sam Ash is even worse. Nothing like the one I used to go to on 48th street back in the day. That was one nice shop for a while. Haven't been there in a few years though, maybe someone can tell us what it's like today.
I kinda know what to expect at GC by now. I'd never even set foot into the place if I didn't know exactly what I wanted, unless it was specifically for the purpose of driving the clueless salespeople nuts by trying every single Octava MC-012 they happen to have in stock so I can find "just the right one".
Oh, that reminds me of a funny one. One time I had to go to the local GC to get a cable, and I happened to browse by their microphone display case. That's the one where they keep the supposedly "high end" mics (like the AT's and the Rode's). So I happen to spot a very nice vintage East German Neumann CMV-563, and I ask the salesman to turn it around for me so I could see the price sticker. Eight thousand bucks! No power supply, no case, and no accessories. No cable either.
They were a lot better a few years ago, before they went public. These days it seems the bean counters run the company (inevitable when it goes public, unfortunately usually to the detriment of the public), so all they carry anymore is the cheap commercial junk. Used to be you could walk in there and see several nice Alembic's hanging on the wall, but not anymore.
Oh well, they're good for what they're good for. Frankly I've had better luck on eBay lately, than at GC. That's not a good thing (for GC). They better get on the ball. But, the local Sam Ash is even worse. Nothing like the one I used to go to on 48th street back in the day. That was one nice shop for a while. Haven't been there in a few years though, maybe someone can tell us what it's like today.
I'm sure that many of us on this board have been playing long enough to know what we want. So when you are going to places like GC and Sam Ash, you should go in there knowing what you want.
I already know that the smaller stores generally have more knowledgable salespeople. This is true in my other passion, running. I'll go to Super Runner's Shop, where some are professional runners who have been taught shoe technology and foot dynamics, as opposed to Foot Locker, where there are kid sales folks trying to make a school buck.
Anyway, I just went to the newly opened GC in Manhattan. Tons of Fender, Ibanez and MusicMan. Just brousing around, I wanted to try out a MusicMan SUB. The salesperson gave it to me. And just when I was about to plug into an SWR 4x10 (which had the cable attached to it), the guy says "you need to try a somethin' better with that", connecting me to an Ampeg SVT Classic 8x10 (previously didn't see the Ampeg). I will get a MusicMan SUB soon. Good price, too, $649.
Yes, the salesfolk ranted about their grand opening, where they had "the best Elvis I've ever heard". But other than that, the cats who work there were not a problem.
Point is this: if I want prices, to to GC. If I want good maintanance (setups, etc), I go downtown to Matt Umanov.
I already know that the smaller stores generally have more knowledgable salespeople. This is true in my other passion, running. I'll go to Super Runner's Shop, where some are professional runners who have been taught shoe technology and foot dynamics, as opposed to Foot Locker, where there are kid sales folks trying to make a school buck.
Anyway, I just went to the newly opened GC in Manhattan. Tons of Fender, Ibanez and MusicMan. Just brousing around, I wanted to try out a MusicMan SUB. The salesperson gave it to me. And just when I was about to plug into an SWR 4x10 (which had the cable attached to it), the guy says "you need to try a somethin' better with that", connecting me to an Ampeg SVT Classic 8x10 (previously didn't see the Ampeg). I will get a MusicMan SUB soon. Good price, too, $649.
Yes, the salesfolk ranted about their grand opening, where they had "the best Elvis I've ever heard". But other than that, the cats who work there were not a problem.
Point is this: if I want prices, to to GC. If I want good maintanance (setups, etc), I go downtown to Matt Umanov.
I personally like Ampegs as opposed to SWR. He plugged me into the Ampeg. Whatever floats your boat. Peace.
