Trying basses at guitar center sucks

[WI Short Scaler]

I don't have any stores real close to me. So when I'm away somewhere and there's a GC I'll stop there if possible.

My first complaint is not even related to the basses, or the acoustic room which I also try to hit. It just seems no matter where or when you're there you get blasted by some youngster trying to test the volume limits of every amp and guitar within sight.

 

[Wfrance3]

gave it a good bath and a nice setup (everything was way out of whack)

This is probably the downfall of many a good bass... I played for a few years before I knew what setup was... I had a friend ask If he could borrow my 6 string acoustic guitar for a Shakespear in the park thing they did a while back. It was musicians in costume. My guitar is a cut-away. He thought it looked more like something that would be played back in the days of Romeo & Juliette, so I let him borrow it. He asked if he could "set it up"... I looked at him like an Amish Farmer in a Radio Shack...

 

[nonohmic]

Only Mike Lull I've ever had the pleasure to play was at GC. Neck was like a ski ramp and the action was mile high. Pity.

 

[bassballs27]

Went to guitar center yesterday and tried multiple basses. I was comparing p basses but I couldn't even tell which one I liked the feel of better because the strings were *no kidding* half an inch off the fretboard. It was like this for all the basses except for the vinterta series p basses because of their extra thick necks. How do they let this happen? It's really frustrating when you want to see how a bass feels and it is set up like that. Why can't guitar center maintain their demo basses? I feel like they would sell so much more if their instruments were set up halfway decent.

Music stores everywhere on the planet take heed! Decent setups truly do matter!!! Not everyone likes high action!

 

[xnewyorka]

Went to guitar center yesterday and tried multiple basses. I was comparing p basses but I couldn't even tell which one I liked the feel of better because the strings were *no kidding* half an inch off the fretboard.

Where are you located?

 

[LaklandLaksNADA]

You should edit to just say "guitar center sucks"

 

[tekhedd]

Bring your own allen wrenches, it's not like an employee will stray from the guitars/drums to check on you.

...or ask to borrow some. : D I'm not above that.

 

[GIBrat51]

I disagree. If a bass is poorly setup, it can be hard to tell if it can be setup to play well.

Yeah, I certainly see your point. But, I've been playing and working on stringed instruments long enough that I can - usually - tell the difference between just a bad set up, and a neck that's pretending to be a banana - or a pretzel... And, like I said; if I'm in a GC, anything I look at is almost certainly wrong handed for me; so, it ain't coming home with me, anyway. But, if I like how it feels, and I can get a left handed one? I'd be willing to take a chance on one. Ain't happened yet, though; not in a GC, anyway. My Alembic is awfully picky about who it wants for room mates...

 

[Mugre]

Right?!?! And they NEVER have any left handed drums either!!! LMAO (I do play drums right handed)

No i totally get it from a business side of things. And some companies offer more left handed models than others for sure. I could't do the right handed thing. I tried at first and it was just not comfortable in the slightest. Sure I have far less options instrument-wise but, for myself anyway, I think trying to force myself to play right handed would have been more of a hindrance than a lack of lefty instruments.

For sure. Some people are more handed than others and we all got to find out own path through and life.

regards,

Mugre

 

[bearfoot]

Even for GC, that would be a very odd, fluke situation where every P-bass in the GC has 1/2" or higher action.
Most likely, there were P-basses sitting right there with normal action the OP didn't try out.

 

[AudioTaper]

Man, there sure are a lot of armchair critics around here. I happen to work at my local Guitar Center, and I do a lot of maintenance & setting up on the stringed instruments while things are slow. It’s pretty chill.

And like someone said above- probably 7 out of 10 of everything with strings on it that gets shipped to us brand new needs some sort of tweaking done to it.

I think most of you with complaints are confusing a fast paced high instrument turnover warehouse showroom with places like CME or even smaller privately owned “Mom & Pop” stores.

I’m not defending GC. It is what it is. My store’s pretty tight though.

There may be a few like you, but not many at all. Every time I go the GC in my city, the employees are hanging out at the front counter goofing off and on their phones.

I 'get' to go there Monday to pick up a used bass I ordered and I'm really not looking forward to it. The store is just a mess and the 'setups' are a joke.

 

[deff]

Even for GC, that would be a very odd, fluke situation where every P-bass in the GC has 1/2" or higher action.
Most likely, there were P-basses sitting right there with normal action the OP didn't try out.

There are currently two p's at my GC. 1 is used. There are at least 30 combined Sterling, Mitchell and Ibanez. It's kind of depressing. The most common bass type is my least favorite, (stingray)

I think that generally non elite P's just come from the factory with the action a little high.

 

[bearfoot]

There are currently two p's at my GC. 1 is used. There are at least 30 combined Sterling, Mitchell and Ibanez. It's kind of depressing. The most common bass type is my least favorite, (stingray)

I think that generally non elite P's just come from the factory with the action a little high.

That's a bit thin of a herd, I feel you. My local GC is a small city's store. I don't consider P-bass to mean Fender exclusively, so there are Deans and others that fit the definition as far as I'm concerned.
But they actually have quite an array of basses - they have around 6 Fender, 2 or 3 MM, and an eclectic assortment of others.

The Peavey Millennium I tried out there was amazing.

Somewhat oddly, what I don't see in GC these days at all - zero - Squier instruments. (and I think they lost being an Ovation dealer long ago as well)

The local guy's shop is also brimming with gorgeous instruments, I think I am in a guitar-rich area. What's sad to me is all the old cats dropping off. Like the local shop has a 60s and a 70s Fender bass. Then you get the story, the guy checked out, his wife is selling them on consignment. That shop also has a fretless Tacoma Thunderchief. Drool.