In the past month, I've been to GC in Akron Oh, Indianapolis and some city north of Chicago (Arlington?) and had a pleasant visit in each one. Great place to browse, make your GAS worst, and just look at what the market has to offer. I left Indianapolis with an Ampeg 4 10 cab. It's rare that I buy stuff at GC because I'll make a sacrifice and spend a little more money to support a local mom n pop store than to support some unseen corporation behind the stores. In two weeks the job is sending me to Santa Monica so I'll be checking out the Hollywood GC.
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Ugh, Guitar Center...
- Thread starter Barnabas
- Start date
+1, why anyone in NOVA would go to a GC is kind of beyond me, theres plenty of good mom and pop places to shop
Guitar Center has to be the worst music store I've ever been to. When you walk in they hound you to see who's going to get to you first. They try to sell you stuff you don't need or want. "Do you need an amp to go with that bass?" I realize that's their sale tactic, but it's very annoying. And if you tell them your just looking, they really hate that. Please don't give Guitar Center, a muti-million dollar corporation your hard earned money. Support your local mom and pop guitar store.
Most of my experiances with my local GC (South Bay) have been very good, have built a report with some of the employees and assistant managers and usually don't even have to ask for the online price check etc.
On the other hand the worst trip I made was to the one in Hollywood, there was one sales guy there who didn't understand the concept of "just looking" But the vintage room there will give you very painful drooling type GAS.
On the other hand the worst trip I made was to the one in Hollywood, there was one sales guy there who didn't understand the concept of "just looking" But the vintage room there will give you very painful drooling type GAS.
My local GC here (VA Beach) seems to be one of the better ones.
- The staff cleans and tunes the instruments at least daily, and they have at least a basic clue about what they're doing. I was there near closing time one night and saw how they work on their gear. They took the guitars and basses to the bench a few at a time, wiped them down and tuned them with an Intellitouch tuner. I also saw them tweak a few setups, and they fixed a bass on the spot when I pointed out some loose pots.
- Their tech is an all right guy. He fixed an electronic problem with my Aerodyne, shielded it up, and threw in a full setup all for only like $65.
- They don't bug me trying to sell me stuff. They just ask me if I need help, and then leave me alone. If I'm there for a while, they might come back and check on me every now and then, but they don't harass or pressure me. They also actually leave cables with the amps so I don't have to go ask around for a cable to try something out.
- Their bass and amp selection is decent, if a bit dated and expensive; some of their high end stuff (Markbass in particular) hasn't moved in years that I've noticed. I personally think that they need to stock fewer four-digit "brand name" basses and amps that sit for months or years, in favor of more mid-level bang-for-buck gear that would sell more volume, but I'm not the one running their business.
- Their pedal selection is good if you're a guitarist, less so for bass. One thing I will credit them for is their dirt addiction; they keep a nice variety of dirt pedals (Big Muff, OCD, Mastotron, Swollen Pickle, Fuzz Face, etc.) all in their own little section.
- One specific complaint about their bass section: would it be too much to ask for more maple fretboards on affordable instruments? Seems like they have nothing but rosewood on anything that costs less than a mortgage payment.
- Great place to buy the little stuff, like cables, Fast Fret and so on.
- Also a good place to go just trying stuff out before buying elsewhere. That free hands on policy does have its advantages.
I guess I'm lucky that my local GC is relatively good, because they don't have much competition. Alpha Music is the only other comparable music store (in size or inventory) in the area, and Alpha isn't as easygoing as GC. There are also three small stores on the south side that I have visited (Moe's, D&D Music, Music & Arts) but they are "student" stores and don't have much beyond basics and starting gear.
Just observations from my own area, anyway.
- The staff cleans and tunes the instruments at least daily, and they have at least a basic clue about what they're doing. I was there near closing time one night and saw how they work on their gear. They took the guitars and basses to the bench a few at a time, wiped them down and tuned them with an Intellitouch tuner. I also saw them tweak a few setups, and they fixed a bass on the spot when I pointed out some loose pots.
- Their tech is an all right guy. He fixed an electronic problem with my Aerodyne, shielded it up, and threw in a full setup all for only like $65.
- They don't bug me trying to sell me stuff. They just ask me if I need help, and then leave me alone. If I'm there for a while, they might come back and check on me every now and then, but they don't harass or pressure me. They also actually leave cables with the amps so I don't have to go ask around for a cable to try something out.
- Their bass and amp selection is decent, if a bit dated and expensive; some of their high end stuff (Markbass in particular) hasn't moved in years that I've noticed. I personally think that they need to stock fewer four-digit "brand name" basses and amps that sit for months or years, in favor of more mid-level bang-for-buck gear that would sell more volume, but I'm not the one running their business.
- Their pedal selection is good if you're a guitarist, less so for bass. One thing I will credit them for is their dirt addiction; they keep a nice variety of dirt pedals (Big Muff, OCD, Mastotron, Swollen Pickle, Fuzz Face, etc.) all in their own little section.
- One specific complaint about their bass section: would it be too much to ask for more maple fretboards on affordable instruments? Seems like they have nothing but rosewood on anything that costs less than a mortgage payment.
- Great place to buy the little stuff, like cables, Fast Fret and so on.
- Also a good place to go just trying stuff out before buying elsewhere. That free hands on policy does have its advantages.
I guess I'm lucky that my local GC is relatively good, because they don't have much competition. Alpha Music is the only other comparable music store (in size or inventory) in the area, and Alpha isn't as easygoing as GC. There are also three small stores on the south side that I have visited (Moe's, D&D Music, Music & Arts) but they are "student" stores and don't have much beyond basics and starting gear.
Just observations from my own area, anyway.
I sold a Gibson guitar to a guy for $1300. Calls me the two days later demanding his money back. Apparently (for some unknown reason) he took it to the good old GC to get it set up. Well apparently when they checked it in they claimed it to be theirs and it was stolen from them. With out any papers they took it from him. So i got the number for the manager of the GC and called and eventually went up there wanting proof that the guitar was theirs. Long story short, it went to court and with out them showing any proof that they bought it originally or a police report that it was stolen. According to them and from the information they got It was stolen by an employee of theirs in North Carolina, guy who stole it sold it to a guitar store. Guy bought from the guitar store, eventually that guy came to Texas (where I live) sold it to the guy I bought it from and then I bought it from that guy. I ended up loosing the guitar and was ordered to give the guy his money back. I will never deal with them ever again. (not that I did much anyways)
That's right, another GC complaint story.
I got my bass back from the shop (fret dress)
My repair shop is right next to a GC, so I went in to see how she sounded.
I had to check my bass in, so the guy takes it out of the case, stares at the headstock (for about a minute) to get the serial, and puts it back in the case. Then he asks me...
"So is that a jazz or a precision?"
It says "Jazz Bass" in huge letters right next to the serial number.
I can't tell whats worse: the management or the employees.
Be glad you have a GC near by. Locally I can play a handfull of basses. I love living in the armpit of the universe.
ditto, although 90% of the time my local GC has nothing of interest and i buy online anyway.
oh. my. god. how hard is it to whip your license out of your wallet for 3 seconds? really?
i must live in the most backword region in this country,cause my GC is acually BETTER than most of the small stores. the employees are pretty friendly and helpful.i had a friend that applied there and he said he didn't get hired cause they said he didn't know enough about the instruments/equipment!!
then i go to most of the small stores,they don't have that great of a selection,and some of the employees are stuck up pricks that take stuff way too seriously.
then i go to most of the small stores,they don't have that great of a selection,and some of the employees are stuck up pricks that take stuff way too seriously.
+1
the staff at the natick GC are pretty good: they're all pleasant, and while some of them are oblivous some also are quite knowledgeble. on the other hand there's a mom and pop store around the corner from my house and i tried to give them my buisness... but they suck to much. i left my SX there to be sent out to their luthier for a set up and stuff. they said that it'd take 10 days or so... they never called me back so i went by 2 and half weeks later to pick it up and the guy says "ok you're all set.". took it home and they had obviously not touched it at all.
I can't leave this post alone, but I am from your area. Moved from there around a year ago, lived there my whole life. There are only a handful of stores in Monroe, but I would still buy from them over GC. The music store in Ruston uses the same prices as GC and the basses have been set-up and the selection is just crazy good.
I have travelled quite a bit and trust me, you have it good, you just need to look around. One of the very top GC anywhere is managed by a guy who had one of the top music stores in the south, located about 30 miles from Monroe. Rural...yes. Boutique....no. Armpit of the universe.....whatever.
Ah, yes...the Famous store in Wheaton...
Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center!!!
I bought my '90 J+ at Chuck's new (gave me a good deal), at least one amp, and a boatload of strings and stuff. They have salesmen that have been working there since I was a teenager...and I am now 44.
I now live in Raleigh, NC, but when I am visiting family I try to make a pilgrimage to Chuck's to see the cool gear and chat with some of the old hands. If you haven't heard Bill Brooks play some guitar, go there and treat yourself...
BTW, Bill Brooks showed me some electric guitars when I was fifteen when he worked at another of the great DC music stores -- the late, great Veneman Music.
On a even more amusing note, some ex-Chuck's employees run a music store here in Raleigh called Indoor Storm -- great guys, great service. I got my Genz Benz gear from Eddie, who I bought lots of gear and accessories from back in DC.
...Back to our regularly scheduled programming...
The GC here in Raleigh is okay. The bass gear is stuffed off into a corner, but it is isolated enough that you can evaluate basses pretty well. Setups are at least okay and the basses are largely in tune. The salesfolk working the basses are young and have a minimal to almost satisfactory base of knowledge to sell you the stuff -- their willingness to help is commendable, though.
I tend to go in there after doing my research and having a list of basses that I want to evaluate while leaving myself open to some used or other other targets of opportunity.
I haven't bought any instruments there yet (I'll go to eBay or TB for deals as they won't deal too hard), but the service there is enough for what I need them to do.
Just my two pennies worth...
I tend to go in there after doing my research and having a list of basses that I want to evaluate while leaving myself open to some used or other other targets of opportunity.
I haven't bought any instruments there yet (I'll go to eBay or TB for deals as they won't deal too hard), but the service there is enough for what I need them to do.
Just my two pennies worth...
i went to the Indy (north side) GC a couple weeks ago to check out a used Ampeg 4x10. They had 2 of them for sale, 1 was pretty beat up on the outside but had a good grill and handles, they wanted $299. The other had a little bit better looking cab but the grill frame was broken on both sides and the handles were wrapped in duck tape. They wanted $229 for that 1. I plugged in the cheaper 1 and it sounded fine...i checked out the speaker grill and it looked like an easy fix. I bougt it for $199.
$3.50 @ the hardware store and 20 minutes of work and now it is nicer than the other one they have for $299.
I'm thankful they don't care to do this stuff themselves. No real problems with the help though and they have a nice selection but they could do some minor stuff in house and increase the value on a lot of things. I wanted to plug into a new Acoustic 4x10 and i couldn't because the jack had fallen into the cabinet.
$3.50 @ the hardware store and 20 minutes of work and now it is nicer than the other one they have for $299.
I'm thankful they don't care to do this stuff themselves. No real problems with the help though and they have a nice selection but they could do some minor stuff in house and increase the value on a lot of things. I wanted to plug into a new Acoustic 4x10 and i couldn't because the jack had fallen into the cabinet.
I also like the Natick GC. I live in Back Bay but actually prefer it over the Boston store.
It's just a business yall. They have kids who watch a 1hr training video and are qualified to work there.
They're exactly like gamestop. My gamers know what's up.
They're exactly like gamestop. My gamers know what's up.
GC is a mixed bag. For selection, they really have more than most other guitar stores, and they usually are more competitive (pricewise) with the mom&pop specialty music stores.
But what bothers me is the relatively unsupervised use of the the guitars & basses by the customers. I was in a GC the other day and here's this 12 yr old kid slapping the sh*t out of $1400 Music Man. He actually could play a little, but he was just banging on it way too hard. Feel bad for the guy who actually comes in and buys it, but doesn't realize what it's been through.
But what bothers me is the relatively unsupervised use of the the guitars & basses by the customers. I was in a GC the other day and here's this 12 yr old kid slapping the sh*t out of $1400 Music Man. He actually could play a little, but he was just banging on it way too hard. Feel bad for the guy who actually comes in and buys it, but doesn't realize what it's been through.
thats why i go to GC... and i like it when the rich kid with the gf is a tall white kid in a polo and khaki shorts who plays bass.. he usually gives me a disrespectful glance smiles at his gf picks up a bass and its obvious he has no musical ability.. then i start back up after watching him.. and he leaves
always puts a smile on my face haha
