positive GC stories, please

[P. Aaron]

A large percentage of my currently used gear came from the Southfield, MI Guitar Center. My Precision V was purchased there.

The sales staff there do the best they can. It’s their job.

I don’t expect anything from them other that they try.

 

[rtslinger]

No issues with the many times I have purchased gear from GC online or in person. Always treated well with many follow up emails for the stores offering me discounts from today ha ha ha

 

[FugaziBomb]

You won't hear a lot of positive stories from discerning musician customers about GC. It's not that GC is bad, but it's because it caters to hobbyists, not discerning musicians. The staff is either made up of other hobbyists (who liked that the store sold hobbyist gear so much, they decided to make a summer job out of it) or knowledgeable musicians (who are bitter and tired of selling overpriced Mogami cables to hobbyists). For people that like off brands, "boutique" basses, amps, and pedals, or vintage gear, GC is always going to come up short. That doesn't mean GC is bad, it just isn't for you (or me).

Granted this is all based on my local GC. YMMV.

 

[JSandbloom]

I got a Lakland 55-94 for 799. End of good stories.

 

[Magthegrate]

My first bass was a used Ibanez SR500 purchased from GC based on a salesman's recommendation. It treated me great! And I only sold it (for the same that I paid for it, incidentally) when I found my next favorite bass, again on the used rack at GC.

I make it a a habit of going to GC every payday that I'm not at work and playing all of their used basses. One day, I happened across a headstock that looked very strange to me at the time. They had both a USA made G&L SB-2 and a Tribute SB-2. I had never heard of G&L. I was able to play them both side by side and came to the conclusion that I actually liked the tribute better. I liked it a LOT! But since, I hadn't actually been planning on buying anything, and I'd never heard of the company, I left it in the store. I literally stressed about that decision all that night and headed back to GC bright and early the next day. Luckily it was still there, but the USA version was not. Score!

My SB-2 opened my eyes to G&L, and I bought a Tribute L2000 shortly after. The L2000 with tapes is my main player, the SB-2 currently with D'addario NYXL rounds is my secondary, but is actually going to be first up for my gig this weekend.

Without GC, I never would have been able to try that first G&L.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

I don't live near enough to a GC to go there often enough to have an opinion. I have bought quite a few pedals from them online though, at really great prices. You can find some real steals there if you look the site over every now and again.

 

[B Dax]

I have two stores within 55 miles. A few years ago I had a new studio monitor go out and they were a little slow to replace because they didn’t have another in stock at one store, but it was eventually replaced.

Last year I bought a used bass at the other store. It was previously owned by the employee who helped me. I told him I would buy it if they could get me out the door for a lower price. He talked to manager and made it happen. I love playing that bass.

 

[bassmanrocke]

I went into the local GC and found a used upper end GK 410 that was listed as a Backline for $149. For some reason I can get overly honest at times, so I called over the sales guy and told him it was mismarked. He thanked me and went to talk to his manager.

I came back about 4 days later and it's still got the same tag. I asked another guy about it and he asked the manager again. It turns out some sales assistant took it in on trade as a Backline. As such, they could not sell it for more than a new Backline and the price stuck. So a high end GK 410 became mine for less then the cost of their entry level 410.

 

[tr4252]

I've never shopped at a Guitar Center. so I have no horror stories.

Tom

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I have never had a bad experience with GC. I have bought new and used gear and if there was a problem they took care of it. When I lived in West LA I would go to the GC on Pico and Westwood. Nice two story building with a small parking garage. They always treated me well there. I now live in Central FL and go to either Daytona Beach or Winter Park. Again, no complaints. I have scored a few great deals on used amps and basses. On the rare occasion when one bass had a crack in the finish, I simply did not accept it and they were very gracious about it. I still prowl the GC used gear site for deals.

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

I have a GC about 2.5 miles from my house. The staff is very friendly and not too pushy. When you need help, like finding someone to check you out, it can take a little while because they are usually busy "helping" people answer their questions. I have overheard several while waiting patiently. It goes similar to:
Customer: "I would like to see this in InsertColor, can you show me that one?"
GC: "Sorry, we only have black in stock."
Customer: "Oh good! Then could you go check if you have InsertColor in the back?"
Me: *sighs heavily*

They genuinely get excited when I bring in my gear for sale:
GC: "We usually don't get much used bass equipment here, thanks! Hey otherGC, come check this pedal out, it's really cool!"

Management doesn't know my name, but I've been there long and often enough for them to recognize me and ask if I liked WhateverIboughtFromThemLastTime

 

[singlemalt]

GC throws out 15% discounts, or they used to.

I live in the sticks of a state that has sales tax. I don’t just go shopping at GC stores. But I do hunt gear online.

The discount, and free shipping to a tax free Oregon store can be enough for me to pull the trigger on new gear. Gear that’s so new I can’t find it used.

The store contacts me and holds it until I pick it up next time I’m going in to town. And I have the return period, though I’ve never used it.

The manager of that store helped with further discounts on gear I bought for my kid’s school music program.

I’ve got no complaints.

I wouldn’t trade or sell there, I can do better, and I wouldn’t expect anything else.

It’s a music store. Bricks and mortar is tough these days.
I’m not going to drop by for strings when I’ve got Fret Nation.

I’m not much of a shopper, so I never think to extend a trip into Portland’s traffic by dropping by GC.

How’s that for happy?

 

[EatS1stBassist]

someone in another thread said he thought positive stories about guitar center are few and far between. my personal experiences are otherwise, and we regularly go to five GC stores. my husband and i have probably made 250ish purchases from GC over the years from something as minor as picks to guitars and basses and electronic cymbals. i don't think i've ever had a bad experience from GC, but part of that may be that i have realistic expectations. but we've had a few reps who got to know us - one who really got to know us, and he's the one who made my ric and taylor GC8 possible by letting us make long term layaways (7 months each).

when we were hanging out at various GCs a lot, they were mostly really nice. i got to know a couple guys in west l.a. in acoustics well, and we'd trade playing, customers and gigging stories when it wasn't busy. i admit that the guys from the electric guitars sections are never as friendly, but luckily we don't care

i have heard sales guys at a couple stores mislead customers. one guy told a buyer that he could keep up with a band with a drummer with a 40 watt combo, the other told a buyer that this all-laminate yamaha acoustic was an all solid guitar. sadly in both cases the customers bought the items, and in the case of the amp, i actually told him it wouldn't work, but he believed the sales guy.

but i've heard lots of sales guys/gals not lie, as well. and they can't really lie to me because i never rely on them for any information i mean, even the most honest person isn't going to memorize facts about hundreds or thousands of items in the store that they've never tried, right?

my used experiences - well, i got an SR500 for $199 and a rockbass streamer 5 for $249. my husband got a used gibson victory bass for a good price in mint condition in 1999 and they threw in a case. my husband got a line 6 amp there for a good price, although we had to wait a few days to pick it up because of the sheriff's department hold. i've never gotten a bad piece of used gear, but the thing is that if i did, i'd call and let them fix it.

as far as selling to GC, i've only done so a few times. a couple, including my luthite cort curbow, i got what i would have sold them for on CL. a couple things i sold because i didn't need them and i wanted the 15% off of a new item that you get when selling them gear. that worked out pretty well.

the worst thing about some stores are the customers. and it's true that over the years, GC stores have failed to stock things i wanted to try and buy including parlor and smaller guitars and lately bass cabs.

i've never had a problem making an exchange or return at GC. they always seem very willing to do either, but i've been lucky and never needed to exchange anything.

without guitar centers, there are so many pieces of gear i'd have never gotten to try and enjoy. they've helped me rule out many pieces of gear. they helped sell me some, too, like my ibanez SRH500, which i'd never have considered without "meeting" one at guitar center.

your turn!

someone in another thread said he thought positive stories about guitar center are few and far between. my personal experiences are otherwise, and we regularly go to five GC stores. my husband and i have probably made 250ish purchases from GC over the years from something as minor as picks to guitars and basses and electronic cymbals. i don't think i've ever had a bad experience from GC, but part of that may be that i have realistic expectations. but we've had a few reps who got to know us - one who really got to know us, and he's the one who made my ric and taylor GC8 possible by letting us make long term layaways (7 months each).

when we were hanging out at various GCs a lot, they were mostly really nice. i got to know a couple guys in west l.a. in acoustics well, and we'd trade playing, customers and gigging stories when it wasn't busy. i admit that the guys from the electric guitars sections are never as friendly, but luckily we don't care

i have heard sales guys at a couple stores mislead customers. one guy told a buyer that he could keep up with a band with a drummer with a 40 watt combo, the other told a buyer that this all-laminate yamaha acoustic was an all solid guitar. sadly in both cases the customers bought the items, and in the case of the amp, i actually told him it wouldn't work, but he believed the sales guy.

but i've heard lots of sales guys/gals not lie, as well. and they can't really lie to me because i never rely on them for any information i mean, even the most honest person isn't going to memorize facts about hundreds or thousands of items in the store that they've never tried, right?

my used experiences - well, i got an SR500 for $199 and a rockbass streamer 5 for $249. my husband got a used gibson victory bass for a good price in mint condition in 1999 and they threw in a case. my husband got a line 6 amp there for a good price, although we had to wait a few days to pick it up because of the sheriff's department hold. i've never gotten a bad piece of used gear, but the thing is that if i did, i'd call and let them fix it.

as far as selling to GC, i've only done so a few times. a couple, including my luthite cort curbow, i got what i would have sold them for on CL. a couple things i sold because i didn't need them and i wanted the 15% off of a new item that you get when selling them gear. that worked out pretty well.

the worst thing about some stores are the customers. and it's true that over the years, GC stores have failed to stock things i wanted to try and buy including parlor and smaller guitars and lately bass cabs.

i've never had a problem making an exchange or return at GC. they always seem very willing to do either, but i've been lucky and never needed to exchange anything.

without guitar centers, there are so many pieces of gear i'd have never gotten to try and enjoy. they've helped me rule out many pieces of gear. they helped sell me some, too, like my ibanez SRH500, which i'd never have considered without "meeting" one at guitar center.

your turn!

I have been a GC Customer since 1970ish. They have always been good to me. Met some famous people from time to time! Bought a bass for my son in law from the Texas GC and had it shipped to California. I called the store and the rep who answered went and pulled the bass from his stock. I asked him if he could tell me about the bass and he started with “Well, it’s an inexpensive bass but it plays.” I asked him if he could site down the neck and tell me what he sees. He did that for me. I asked him to fiddle with the knobs check the input everything he did that! I asked him if it was staying in tune he said it was and I asked him about the finish and was very pleased with the great service for a very inexpensive $85 bass shipped all over the phone! When the bass finally arrived it was exactly as he described it. Great cheap bass and my son-in-law loves it! I had a very good experience there and I always will shop at guitar center!

 

[Doc Blue]

I bought a capo from the nearest GC to help me check neck relief. The young sales lady was very polite, and as I was looking at the selection for what I thought would best fit the neck contour, she suggested I buy the most expensive one, and buy 2 or 3 because they always break. I appreciated her concern and solution to always have a capo available. I mentioned it’s for a bass and I won’t use it that often. She sort of looked at me funny, but still smiled and said to have a nice day .

 

[Thundar]

Dude....I've stolen everything Ive gotten from their used site. Always been very happy with my purchases. Sam Ash has great deals on their used site as well.

 

[Potomuss]

Have purchased 5 cabinets and 4 basses sight unseen other than the crappy pictures. In every circumstance I called the store and an employee put eyes on the product and I asked questions. No bad experiences to speak of with those transactions. The one exception was a cab that was mislabeled. Looked right from the front, but became apparent when I received it and saw the back. Took it into my local GC (10 minute drive) and returned it for full refund (cost plus shipping). I still check their used gear regularly.

 

[gitfiddl]

I've never had a bad gear experience with GC, and once you get past the aforementioned snobbish,aloof attitudes and lack of knowledge of some of the staff, their customer service has actually been pretty good for me. I've had a couple of $250+ pieces of gear that I purchased new fail a month or two after the warranty officially expiredand they were exchanged at the store with no issues.

And once, I'd put close-out priced "last year's model" digital piano on layaway. I went to pick it up and it wasn't there. The manager got involved and explained to me that, since it was a close-out item, I should have never been allowed to put it on layaway and gave me the "new employee didn't know" story, yada yada. He said he could try and locate one at another store and have it shipped within a couple weeks. He must have sensed my building anger, and asked "Will you excuse me for five minutes?" What was I supposed to say? He came back and said "There's not another one anywhere in the Southeast, but here's what I can do. I'll sell you the new current model for $200 more." I made a few car salesman jokes. We dickered a little and I left with the new model and a somewhat dusty but otherwise new semi-soft case for just $150 above what I'd already paid for the discontinued piano, saving about $300 off their asking price for the new model.

 

[quilanthegreat]

I've always had positive experiences as well. When I bought my Am. Std Jazz Bass the employee extended his 20% employee discount to me as well as offered me top dollar for a trade in. I've purchased strings, an amp, a couple of instruments, pedals, in ears, etc. and I've overwhelmingly left satisfied. I can sympathize with the folks who've had staff members be overbearing and offer unsolicited advice, that's happened to me and it drove me nuts but that's the only critique I got.

 

[pcake]

IMO, as with any of a number of box type stores, it can be hit or miss.
Positive story about GC?
A few months ago, I had wanted to expand my bass corral to include a single Humbucker EBMM Stingray. The hunt began, and I wasn't necessarily looking for a new instrument and focused on the used market. Search here, search there online etc... FOUND IT!
Right in the price range, well at the high end of it anyway. It was apparently at one of their stores in Las Vegas, so I rang them up.
Asked a few questions like, "Does it come with a hard case as advertised?" "What's your policy for returns for online purchases?" yada yada,and I clicked the mouse. Since it was used, and I realize high volume companies cannot keep up with all their inventory, I was ready to return it immediately if it didn't pass muster so to speak.
After arriving a few days later, I plugged it in, cycled the controls, inspected for cracks and or other mechanical imperfections, and played it/checked for neck/fret issues etc. I decided she was a keeper. The original EBMM case was a little disconcerting; chewed up on one end and the separating of the external shell from the internal molding, but otherwise fully functional and sans smelly rot of potential humidity/water infiltration.
After some TLC, cleaning, string replacement, set-up, lubricating of tuning machines and bridge, some spray on the pots, and replacing the pick-up adjustment screws ($0.90), fresh battery...
15 year old, EBMM Sr 4H already broken-in, without scratches/rash etc...like butter...for a little over $900 (USD)… oh yeah, and some spray adhesive in the case...
BANG!


Yes, I do not listen to sales personnel either for the most part at box stores. Local "mom-n-pop" shops excluded; why should they BS when the boxstore battleships are looking to dominate and scorch the earth? It's nice when one can go into a local shop, scant as they are becoming, once every 3-5 months and each of the personnel remember the last thing you bought, remember your name, and basically bring the items to you versus you to the items? Sweet.

my experiences with mom and pop shops haven't been great, honestly. but maybe it's the stores in my area.

I just ordered a used SWR Henry 8x8 from the Rochester, NY location. I'm in NNY and its actually cheaper for me to just order it and have it shipped than to drive down and get it.

Earlier this morning, I called to make sure it was still there and available. The gentleman I spoke with (Elijah?) was pleasant and accommodating. I told him I had to wait till the afternoon to submit the purchase, and he offered to pull it off the floor and hold it for me!

In summation, they took care of me without any hesitation. Now my cab is ready to ship and I'm one satisfied shopper. Thumbs up!

if by any chance the cab doesn't work out, they had i think three of them in store at torrance sam ash.

I used to practically LIVE at a small Guitar Center in Sherman Oaks from 1986-89. Every evening and most weekends, trying all sorts of gear and occasionally buying some.
Everyone very nice, considering I was the only guy with short hair in there... (Remember, it was L.A. and the 80s, even the keyboard players had long hair!).
Another thing, the store was so small, that it actually felt a bit mom-and-pop! Every 'department' was really separated by very thin walls.. If anyone fired up the JCM800, the keys had to stop playing...

Eventually, they moved to a larger location, with a better parking lot (The old one was stacked parking! Oh, the joy!!!) But the magic was gone!

ah, the '80s

i never hit the sherman oaks store until after they moved. my husband bought a jackson V there and i bought a used rockbass 5er. the manager there now is odd, but we try not to deal with him, and that works out just fine

I lived around the way from Mesa Boogie and GC Sunset as a kid... As an 8 year old, I was completely obsessed with Rock n Roll. I had just been given a copy of Appetite for Destruction by the same friend I tried to give Bon Jovi's 'New Jersey' tape to.

At this time, BC Rich's and pointy guitars ruled the strip... and the place looked nothing like it does now... every 4th shop was a guitar shop, or pawn shop that had guitars in the window.... Freedom Guitars, Waldo's, Mesa, Carvin, Peavey, etc... but once Appetite hit, it was all Les Paul's and ES style guitars (because, Izzy lol)... I remember being overwhelmed by the sounds on every corner, the crazy rock n rollers and punks, and while my parents were at work, I'd ride my beach cruiser (a Sears Kent cruiser) up and down the strip and Santa Monica Blvd... it was probably not as safe as I thought, but I didn't care at the time. I'd play sick and get to stay home, and then hit the strip with my bike and stare into the windows of all the stores, looking at the fretboards like a big piece of graph paper with the strings on top of the frets, thinking... "man, I'll never figure out how to play one of these!"

One day I inched up the courage to ride as far down as GC Sunset. I walked in an began looking at all the Les Pauls and guitars they had on the floor and walls. Every color (not blueberry burst though)... I was sitting there in a daze when a rep walked up to me. Teased hair, tattoos, he may as well had been in my favorite band, because I was scared to death. He asked if I wanted to check one out. I told him no, and that I didn't have any money (but of course he already knew that)... He grabbed a sunburst Lester off the wall and let me hold it. I gave it a few strums and laughed like crazy -- half embarrassed that I didn't know any songs, half excited as hell, and 100% grateful. He left me alone with it while he went to go talk to someone. I swear I felt like Slash for a few moments... and from then on it was on -- I had to get an electric guitar.

After he came back, I thanked him, and went back outside and grabbed my beach cruiser (still unlocked and sitting there in those days) and rode home listening to my Walkman and orange sponge headphones. Sorry for the long rant, but I think it was necessary as ever since then, I had a bond with GC and I never forgot that dude. Over the years, I probably purchased close to 30-40 instruments from them, some cheap and used, some expensive and rare. I realize not everyone has a great experience with GC, and mine haven't always been 100% clean -- there have been issues, but none they weren't willing to resolve, even to this day. For anyone buying used from them, sometimes it's a gamble on the turnout -- but 9 times out of 10, I have had great experiences and the instruments were in better shape than listed.

I do call the store; I do speak with a manager, and I always ask for more pics. I also love that they offer a 45 day return policy and that I have 3 GC's close to me here in Orange County. If I hate it or if there's something wrong, I email their CS team -- they're awesome. If it's unfixable or I feel like something went terribly wrong during shipping (each store is different -- different mgr, different operations team etc)... then I will simply take it in and get a refund, and if it was misrepresented or shipped incorrectly, I've never been liable for the shipping fees (which are really reasonable to boot --- $25 or so on a guitar, and not too much even when buying an 8x10 cab -- they really eat it sometimes for the sake of moving gear).

Are there online retailers I love? Yeah. Chicago Music Exchange all day. I love my team there -- Marc, David A, etc... but sometimes things will pop up at GC and I have no reservations when buying from them. I want to support brick and mortar. I have had crappy experiences elsewhere about big online retailers that others can't stop raving about. I've been assigned reps at other companies that you can tell, only care about the dollar at the end of the day. For me, it's like this no matter where you buy -- people are people -- and how you work with them both upfront and in resolving any issues, is 90% of the deal.

I'm not affiliated with GC, and have had some not so great experiences, but nothing they haven't fixed and the team at GC Brea is my favorite -- a great Manager at that store who has bent over backwards to make a long time customer happy (thanks Shane). Good luck gear heads!

we'll have to make the trek out to brea sometime. so far, we haven't gone further south than lawndale GC and torrance sam ash...

You won't hear a lot of positive stories from discerning musician customers about GC. It's not that GC is bad, but it's because it caters to hobbyists, not discerning musicians.

so you're saying that not one of us in this thread is a discerning musician?

I have never had a bad experience with GC. I have bought new and used gear and if there was a problem they took care of it. When I lived in West LA I would go to the GC on Pico and Westwood. Nice two story building with a small parking garage. They always treated me well there. I now live in Central FL and go to either Daytona Beach or Winter Park. Again, no complaints. I have scored a few great deals on used amps and basses. On the rare occasion when one bass had a crack in the finish, I simply did not accept it and they were very gracious about it. I still prowl the GC used gear site for deals.

west l.a. is my closest store, but we also tend to hit the hollywood store and lawndale store, and when we're feeling motivated or are in the area, pasadena and sherman oaks.

 

[PaulCISSA]

Nope. Not one from me. All crappy experiences and after a couple of years I moved on. I don’t need them and apparently they don’t need me. We’re good.