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Thunderbird Club

#230,022
JJR58 said:
They used to have some pretty good people at said location.
Now along with the store looking stripped of gear compared to what it used to be.
The staff doesn't really care much, what little staff there is.
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Not that I have any inside info, but maybe they are all in bad moods because these retail stores are barely hanging on? I am amazed that the GC’s in my area are still open and can pay what must be massive rent on their stores. After the local small music store closed, (B street music), I haven’t purchased a thing except used or through online stores. Always seem to get better prices over GC…
 
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#230,023
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#230,024
Ringhammer said:
Not that I have any inside info, but maybe they are all in bad moods because these retail stores are barely hanging on? I am amazed that the GC’s in my area are still open and can pay what must be massive rent on their stores. After the local small music store closed, (B street music), I haven’t purchased a thing except used or through online stores. Always seem to get better prices over GC…
Click to expand...

Oh, i'm sure that's the very reason.
The big chains are struggling.
Rudy's is still a great place, but they're mainly focused on guitars these days.

It's nothing like back in the day, what 48Th Street used to be like.
 
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#230,025
Ringhammer said:
Not that I have any inside info, but maybe they are all in bad moods because these retail stores are barely hanging on? I am amazed that the GC’s in my area are still open and can pay what must be massive rent on their stores. After the local small music store closed, (B street music), I haven’t purchased a thing except used or through online stores. Always seem to get better prices over GC…
Click to expand...
Agree. Yet commercial leases have often been locked in for years for most locations. But then there's the growing labor cost as well. Fast food now pays a crazy amount for zero skill other than be able to get in the door. I imagine GC is in a worse situation as you have to be able to do more than breath to get a job there. You have to know something. Not to mention the very limited potential pool to draw from. I suspect their online often carries the water for some locations. They are in a tough situation. Their advantage is you can go in a real store if one is nearby. But at a cost!
 
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#230,026
GonePlaid said:
There are 8 in there we didn't do(restaurant/lounge-75-80).
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If what you mean by “didn’t” do is your band avoided playing 8 of the songs if requested then I’d guess the eight songs were…
Delta Dawn - Reddy
I Write the Songs - Mannilow
Stayin Alive - BeeGees
Copacabana - Mannilow
I Am Woman - Reddy
Master Jack - Four Jacks and a Jill
Kung Fu Fighting - Douglas
Muskrat Love - Captain & Tinnille

Ironic - Morisette (This one wasn’t around in the 75-80 time frame so it’s disqualified).

Am I close?
 
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#230,027
dagrev said:
Agree. Yet commercial leases have often been locked in for years for most locations. But then there's the growing labor cost as well. Fast food now pays a crazy amount for zero skill other than be able to get in the door. I imagine GC is in a worse situation as you have to be able to do more than breath to get a job there. Not to mention the very limited potential pool to draw from. I suspect their online often carries the water for some locations. They are in a tough situation. Their advantage is you can go in a real store if one is nearby. But at a cost!
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There are 3 within a reasonable distance* from me. None have a 2021 NR I could try to see if I like the feel of it. No matter. The way things are going here, I'll need less basses instead of more.:(

*within 50 miles. Reasonable to me since I used to drive 350+ miles a night in my 19 wheeler days[18 on the ground; 1 between my ribs and my belt]
 
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#230,028
GBassNorth said:
If what you mean by “didn’t” do is your band avoided playing 8 of the songs if requested then I’d guess the eight songs were…
Delta Dawn - Reddy
I Write the Songs - Mannilow
Stayin Alive - BeeGees
Copacabana - Mannilow
I Am Woman - Reddy
Master Jack - Four Jacks and a Jill
Kung Fu Fighting - Douglas
Muskrat Love - Captain & Tinnille

Ironic - Morisette (This one wasn’t around in the 75-80 time frame so it’s disqualified).

Am I close?
Click to expand...
We did both of the Manilow's. Didn't do many "girl" songs. Did do "When Will I See You Again"-Three Degrees-but I sang it in a Barry White voice(sorta).
 
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#230,030
Thursday................I think the neighbors will enjoy hearing this bass :laugh:
Possibly not as much as I do.


jhANtav.jpg
 
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#230,031
dagrev said:
Agree. Yet commercial leases have often been locked in for years for most locations. But then there's the growing labor cost as well. Fast food now pays a crazy amount for zero skill other than be able to get in the door. I imagine GC is in a worse situation as you have to be able to do more than breath to get a job there. You have to know something. Not to mention the very limited potential pool to draw from. I suspect their online often carries the water for some locations. They are in a tough situation. Their advantage is you can go in a real store if one is nearby. But at a cost!
Click to expand...
I buy plenty from GC, but dollar wise the VAST majority of it is via their on line purchases of used equipment. All those purchases do support brick and mortar stores, but rarely the local ones. About the only things I buy from the local store are strings, tuners, stands and cables. Yet, every time I go in the local store there’s 5 to 10 shoppers in there and 2 or 3 clerks which are always tied up ringing up sales, frequently instruments and gear. I’d guess they are getting by, but suspect their used gear department, which has a good profit margin (about 50%) supports a fair share of the bottom line.

Conversely, Sam Ash used gear listings are sparse and frequently over priced. I have bought used and new gear there but probably at a rate of $1 spent there for every $100 I spend at GC. If they had a better used gear selection I would buy more there.
 
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#230,033
GBassNorth said:
I buy plenty from GC, but dollar wise the VAST majority of it is via their on line purchases of used equipment. All those purchases do support brick and mortar stores, but rarely the local ones. About the only things I buy from the local store are strings, tuners, stands and cables. Yet, every time I go in the local store there’s 5 to 10 shoppers in there and 2 or 3 clerks which are always tied up ringing up sales, frequently instruments and gear. I’d guess they are getting by, but suspect their used gear department, which has a good profit margin (about 50%) supports a fair share of the bottom line.

Conversely, Sam Ash used gear listings are sparse and frequently over priced. I have bought used and new gear there but probably at a rate of $1 spent there for every $100 I spend at GC. If they had a better used gear selection I would buy more there.
Click to expand...
I bought one of these(used-Kustom 150-100W[?], 1x15"):
ixt6bjw54kko3sd58diw.jpg at a Sam Ash. Sounded great; weighed a tonne(+/-). Replaced it with a Rumble 200cV3(34.5#).
 
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#230,035
GBassNorth said:
I buy plenty from GC, but dollar wise the VAST majority of it is via their on line purchases of used equipment. All those purchases do support brick and mortar stores, but rarely the local ones. About the only things I buy from the local store are strings, tuners, stands and cables. Yet, every time I go in the local store there’s 5 to 10 shoppers in there and 2 or 3 clerks which are always tied up ringing up sales, frequently instruments and gear. I’d guess they are getting by, but suspect their used gear department, which has a good profit margin (about 50%) supports a fair share of the bottom line.

Conversely, Sam Ash used gear listings are sparse and frequently over priced. I have bought used and new gear there but probably at a rate of $1 spent there for every $100 I spend at GC. If they had a better used gear selection I would buy more there.
Click to expand...
I haven't been in GC for months, but every time I've gone here, there has been plenty of staff, and a fair number of people roaming around. That store is not near me and in the East-end (Shelbyville Rd, if that means anything to you), which is the expensive part of town. Much more disposable income. Much higher rent as well!
 
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#230,040
GBassNorth said:
The set list from Hell…
Delta Dawn - Reddy
I Write the Songs - Mannilow
Seasons in the Sun - Jacks
Tie a Yellow Ribbon - Tony Orlando & Dawn
Ironic - Morisette
Stayin Alive - BeeGees
Copacabana - Mannilow
Sweet Caroline - Diamond
Sweet Gypsy Rose - Tony Orlando & Dawn
Close to You - Carpenters
I Am Woman - Reddy
Master Jack - Four Jacks and a Jill
Kung Fu Fighting - Douglas
Muskrat Love - Captain & Tinnille
McArthur Park - Harris
….repeat indefinitely and insert any Rap song for variety.
Click to expand...
I have killed for less. That is a setlist from the deepest pits of hell. Add Wagon Wheel and it will be complete.
 
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