I'm Sorry, Sir...I Don't Play Bass..

[KohanMike]

That wasn't my experience at the Hollywood Guitar Center not long ago. I young woman was in the bass department and she knew her stuff. We talked about a number of choices and she was right up on everything. I was very obvious to me that she played bass. I'm also happy to live close enough to use Pat Wilkins for my painting, he's a bass player and makes customs too.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

But this is why I play bass! I like that it's less common. Guitars and guitarists are a dime a dozen.

 

[scourgeofgod]

In my experience a lot of salesmen at chain stores don't even play guitar either.

 

[Korladis]

Well, around here most stores have a decent bass player. GC has decent bass staff and sometimes Sam Ash (When GC opened up down the street from Sam Ash they hired all the most knowledgeable staff away from Sam Ash). This is both good and bad. Yeah it's great you can go in there and talk bass with someone who does not have to use both hands to find his own butt. On the other hand when I bought my used USA G&L L2500 fretless at GC ($600!), I whined about the broken switches and loose pots trying for an even further discount. No dice. He just looks me in the eye and says the bass is worth it and if I don't buy it someone else will quickly snap it up, which of course was exactly correct and we both knew it. Obviously I never had any intention of NOT buying it! And we both knew that too! Games like that are so much more fun when the sales associate is clueless!

Now the mom and pop guitar store where I bought my Alembic is owned by an ex-hippy guitarist who tries mightily to be knowledgeable about bass, but like you say, he'll talk half a day about guitar stuff but start talking bass and he runs down pretty fast. If you start talking about "6 strings" even though he knows I play bass he always thinks you are talking about guitars and perks up and comes to life again. But this is just the world. Guitars are far more popular than basses (which why guitarists are a dime a dozen and bassists are in demand). Kids in school all want to be guitar heroes. Didn't we all try guitar first and then fail and switch to bass because it was easier? I know I did. (didn't turn out to be easier, though)

Nah, I started on bass.

I recently had a refreshingly ridiculous conversation about a bass with a guitar guy at a major big box musical instrument retail store chain. Rhymes with "Sitar Renter".

Me (pointing at Epiphone Newport on vintage wall): may I play that?

Guitdude: It's a lefty but it's strung backwards, you a lefty?

Me: I'm pretty sure it's a righty

Guitdude: No man, look where the thing for your thumb is

Me: That's a tug bar, your fingers go under it when you pluck with your thumb.

Guitdude: Dude. What?

Me (pointing at Epiphone Newport on vintage wall): may I play that?

View attachment 924657

What an idiot.

 

[pedroims]

I wish the employees would disappear when I go to the bass section. I know more than them and don't want to be pitched to.

This, I dont need somebody around trying me to sell a bass. When I want to talk about poopie I invite my friend to our neighborhood bar.

 

[OldPlucker]

I have been able to find one at the local GC; but the best help is at Coffey Music in Westminster, MD. All the sales people are musicians, a few are bass players; but, Bill (who now part times) is an awesome professional bass player and very knowledgeable. He is the one who can best appreciate bass player wants and needs. He also plays guitar so he can help the guys out as well. Coffey's employees are versatile musicians, pleasant and willing to talk to those looking for info. The kind of stuff you expect from someone who knows their livelihood depends on satisfied customers.

 

[Famuus]

The owner of a guitar store near me (where i go the most) is a bass player himself. And even then he has a different opinion on olmost anything.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

General manager at our local is a monster bassist, but I don't think anyone else working there actually plays.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yep. The bass section at my local GC is a ghost town, and I like it. Nobody yapping at me with misinformation. Since they don't make commission, the average GC employee could care less if I buy a bass or not (unless the boss is watching). The basses are never set up, so it can be hard to evaluate action on something new, but at least you can check the tone and balance.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Get your answers from Talkbass.com, not from people in stores. Some store employees are quite knowledgeable and others don't know sh#$ but their knowledge will most likely never equal the collective knowledge of the Talkbass forum.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

I just returned from a vacation in Arizona. I had a great time but I have one regret. My last couple of days there I discovered a dedicated Bass Guitar store not too far from where I was staying. It's called the "The Bass Place" The Bass Place - Homepage - The Bass Place . They specialize in everything electric bass and nothing else. The sales persons there would have to be knowledgeable on bass. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go there and check it out but if I could've paid a visit, I'm sure I would have ended up with an additional bag to check on my flight home. This place will definitely be on my agenda next trip. Have any of you TB members been to this store?

 

[RickyWoo]

Guitar sales eclipse bass sales worldwide... Which is why you would have more guitar playing salesmen and salesmen with limited bass guitar knowledge.

 

[bassbully]

Never effected me if a salesperson plays a bass guitar or what.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

I've never received much info about basses from any of the sales people I've dealt with nor did I expect much anyway. However, I have managed to negotiate some good deals with them. I simply ask if there is currently a sale going on or if they can offer a discount. Sometimes they tell me about a sale coming up or they'll ask the manager if he can discount the item. I recently got 15% off of a brand new Fender Jazz Elite 4 along with the nice case and accessories. And that wasn't the first time they earned my business at the local GC and SA store.

I'd rather the salesperson work with me on price than try to impress me with his bass knowledge. I can get knowledge elsewhere.

 

[GeneralElectric]

I've actually been wondering when I'm going to run into a local bassist who mentions TalkBass and says "that place is run by a bunch of jerks"

I've had it happen, believe it or not.

 

[BrentD]

The manager at one of my local places is a bassist. It's very cool because they'll order stuff that other places won't. If it doesn't sell well they won't restock it, but they give things a try.

 

[spanndrew]

Find a good specialty shop, like the Atlanta bass gallery.

 

[MrRobert]

If I'm going into a store to buy a bass, I already know way more about that bass than anybody in the store. Same with guitar. Then again, I only know a lot about a small amount of instruments... I think it's unfair for anybody to expect a salesman to know everything about every brand and specific model of instrument they have on the wall. Just trying to keep up with Fenders is like a full time job, let alone Gibson, Ibanez, G&L and so on. I can't imagine wanting to talk gear with a salesman... That's what the forums are for. Those guys are there to sell me something, not wax poetic for an hour about whatever gear nerd stuff I'm into!
But that's just me...

 

[azfatboy]

I just returned from a vacation in Arizona. I had a great time but I have one regret. My last couple of days there I discovered a dedicated Bass Guitar store not too far from where I was staying. It's called the "The Bass Place" The Bass Place - Homepage - The Bass Place . They specialize in everything electric bass and nothing else. The sales persons there would have to be knowledgeable on bass. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go there and check it out but if I could've paid a visit, I'm sure I would have ended up with an additional bag to check on my flight home. This place will definitely be on my agenda next trip. Have any of you TB members been to this store?

Frankly, I have never even heard of this place, and I live in the Phoenix area. Heck I even live on the west side! My only excuse is that I am new. I am definitely gonna check this place out! They look a little "high-end" for my pocketbook. But what a treat to find a bass place so close! Thanks!

 

[DavC]

be glad you're not a keyboard player looking for that newest board .. !! sadly most salesfolks are just clerks and we must do our own homework .. !