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

[morgansterne]

I worked at guitar center for about six months. I interviewed to work in guitar dept. and they put me in the accessories department (normal procedure for newbies). Then they needed someone in pro audio so I worked there, learning as fast as I possibly could. I knew a little about recording equipment and live sound. Then they said "we're transferring you to keyboards starting tomorrow." I knew nothing about synths at all (though I could play piano). I found a new job within a couple days. Good riddance.

The point being, they probably have someone who knows a ton about basses and probably they're working in some other department. They don't train their employees.

P.S. my wife actually married me while I was employed at Guitar Center making $6.50 an hour. That's love.

 

[klokker]

I agree with those who say it's up to us to do out homework. It's nice to run into a knowledgable salesperson, but as consumers we're pretty much responsible for ourselves. Plus, I'm sure there are many knowledgable sales people who think customers are pretty lame as well.

 

[brendanbassix]

I'd love to work in guitar store but my kids need to eat every day. I'm also fairly confident that I know more about guitars (specs etc not how to play them) then most guitar store workers even though I play bass and I know that I have more knowledge of basses so I'm happy for them to leave me alone in the store.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

I agree.

Would you sell basses for a, and I quote, "living?" Thise would have to be some mighty expensive basses to pay the manufacturer and the sales person a living wage.

I think most bassists good enough to be bass authorities are either too busy making a living playing or building.... or they are too smart to be a bass sales person.

That's pretty insulting. I make good money and enjoy selling basses.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

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.

GC pays commission

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Really? I stand corrected. Must be some other reason for the monumental indifference displayed by the crack sales force today. I went to GC today to look for a bass case. They had (1) one in the store. It had a crack in the side. Go GC!

 

[Aidenn7]

C string? are you sure you're not secretly wishing you were a guitar player?

i'm a four stringer EADG.. Victor Wooten uses ADGC OR EADC I Forget.. my friend play 5 and wanted a six.. but didn't know.. a six string tuned BEADGC.. so I told him stick to the mud of a 5string..lol

 

[Les Ismoor]

Last week I stopped in the local Sam Ash just to see what was new, and walked out with a used Epiphone EB35 for a great price. I lucked out in this case because no one at SA knew what it was, but neither did I at the time. Checking with our friend Google, I found all kinds of info on it (and with a little help from here). I'm pretty sure that if they had done the same, it would have cost at least double what I paid. But yeah, neither the sales guy (guitarist) nor the manager had ever seen or heard of it. My win.

I will add that both SA and the GC that is almost right next to it (back to back actually) have greatly improved their bass stock. However, if you are looking for anything other than Ibanez, Squier, or Fender, you're likely out of luck except for the 3 nice Ricks at SA.

 

[40Hz]

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"

Never heard that said about the people running the place. Did however hear a very successful bass player (who does not suffer fools gladly and for whom I have a huge amount of respect for) once say he thought the place did get more than its share of "opinionated twits" posting there.

 

[Korladis]

Never heard that said about the people running the place. Did however hear a very successful bass player (who does not suffer fools gladly and for whom I have a huge amount of respect for) once say he thought the place did get more than its share of "opinionated twits" posting there.

I actually have no idea who owns/runs Talkbass.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

Really? I stand corrected. Must be some other reason for the monumental indifference displayed by the crack sales force today. I went to GC today to look for a bass case. They had (1) one in the store. It had a crack in the side. Go GC!

I don't know where you're located but come to my store and we have a wide selection of bass cases in stock and a guy who knows about bass gear in general

 

[40Hz]

I actually have no idea who owns/runs Talkbass.

Makes two of us. I have no idea either.

But I do have my suspicions. Iä! Iä! Cthulhu ftaghn!

@Sartori - my comment wasn't directed at you personally in case that wasn't clear. Hope it didn't come across that way.

 

[Korladis]

Makes two of us. I have no idea either.

But I do have my suspicions. Iä! Iä! Cthulhu ftaghn!

View attachment 925556

Cthulhu would obviously be a bassist.

 

[40Hz]

Cthulhu would obviously be a bassist.

Definitely. Either upright or something with at least 6 strings.

 

[Korladis]

Definitely. Either upright or something with at least 6 strings.

I think he probably plays some sort of terrifying 12-string bass.

 

[zontar]

I've encountered several bass players in music stores--and they might rattle off something and then I don't feel like playing anything in font of them...

 

[Josh Thatguy]

Even the gyuitards have to deal with some of the same BS we higher-evolved species of player do.

 

[Watchootognbout]

One point.
Most store salesmen are just that.
Salesmen.
Not experts.

They should know a lot about a little.
And a little about a lot.

 

[jamro217]

I don't even bother going into local music stores any more. Pawn shops have a better selection, better prices and the same amount of knowledge about basses ("Duh, dey only got four strings, right?") as the average GC clown. They don't mind you trying out the gear and you can sometimes swing a deal. If you don't mind being stared at by sweaty, cigar smoking, gold chain clad greasers who hawk baseball cards, firearms and jewelry.

 

[buldog5151bass]

There are more guitarists than bassists. That means more gutarists shopping, and more guitarists selling. We are just a disenfranchised minority.