The Guitar Center Challenge

SpeedMetal · Post by **SpeedMetal** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:24 pm

Hmmm...guest.....I never mentioned anything about this being the manager from there. Hmm....Is this Peck cyber-stalking me?????

OnTheFritz · Post by **OnTheFritz** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:30 pm

A bit off topic from the off topic-topic, but where does one go to buy a new guitar these days if G.C. sucks so bad?
Anyone ever order one sight-unseen from Musician's Friend?

Fritz

SpeedMetal · Post by **SpeedMetal** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:36 pm

Well, I personally have bought one blind from a place in New York (mail order). Nothing like spending $1600 on something you've never played! Turned out to be the best guitar I ever bought (Jackson USA Made Kelly).

I also bought an original Jackson Custom Shop Rhoads Polka Dot Flying V (Like Gibson's) from Ebay (another $2000) I have been very lucky on my purchases so far with nothing wrong with them.

I would go to GC if they have the guitar you want, play it, drop it, kick it, then throw it back at the salesperson. Go home and order it for cheaper online. Depending upon where you order it you probably won't have to pay shipping or salestax.

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:35 pm

I still go to GC to get my custom sets of GHS strings because i got one of the salesmen locked in on a super deal. Other than that, i always tell off all the other approaching salesmen.

Necrovore · Post by **Necrovore** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:53 pm

OnTheFritz wrote:A bit off topic from the off topic-topic, but where does one go to buy a new guitar these days if G.C. sucks so bad?
Anyone ever order one sight-unseen from Musician's Friend?

Fritz

http://www.mosercustomshop.com/main.html Right here.
You can even send him your guitars for him to set up and from what people have told me the guitars return playing like they have never played before. I am still saving for an Arachnid Ultra.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:09 pm

OnTheFritz wrote:A bit off topic from the off topic-topic, but where does one go to buy a new guitar these days if G.C. sucks so bad?
Anyone ever order one sight-unseen from Musician's Friend?

Fritz

Your telling me you know of no other place to go then a chain store in your town? I dont even need you to answer. If your area is populated enough to have a GC or SA there should without doubt be at least a few good places to shop. You have to check around. I do have to go into a GC/SA occasionally. Its been at least 8 months now but even the people who hate GC seem to go there for strings and picks and such. I pay the extra dollar for strings to not have to set foot in one of those stores and deal with the people there. Its a nightmare everytime I go in and the salesmen are like used car salesmen. No they dont get commision from sales anymore but they do get bonuses for their sales total every month. Ive had friends that worked at these places and they are definitley motivated to make you buy something because they can get some decent bonuses.

I only have one guitar thats newer and thats my 01 Les Paul Custom. Believe me I wanted nothing more then to give a local shop my business but the chains simply dominate the availability of popular high end guitars like the more expensive Gibsons and other popular high end guitars like PRS. The real reason I bought it from SA is because there is a SA and GC within 20 yrds from each other in Cherry Hill NJ outside of Philly that are literally dug in the trenches trying to beat each other and if I walk into one of those places and say "hey those guys told me theyd gimme this guitar for $150 less then you guys and I like those guys so youll have do a little better" they will act insulted all day and put up a good show but in reality they do not want to send me down the way to part with my money. They will do what they have to.

dirtydeeds22 · Post by **dirtydeeds22** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:53 pm

OnTheFritz wrote:A bit off topic from the off topic-topic, but where does one go to buy a new guitar these days if G.C. sucks so bad?
Anyone ever order one sight-unseen from Musician's Friend?

Fritz

I guess it depends on where you live and what you are looking for. Gibson has really put the hammer on dealers regarding their new guitars. They can't put any pics of new gibsons on thier websites. Gibson has only 3 large chain dealers that they allow to do this. So for Gibsons I have no idea where you would look for new stuff. For me there is nothing within a 3 hour drive that has anything but low quality cheap shit. I use www.gbase.com. It's a network of dealers vintage and new that's affiliated with vintage guitar magazine. I have to search and search to find dealers or stores that have good reputations of treating people nice. It sucks that we have to use chains to get good guitars and gear, that's what has prompted me look into starting something in my little town. I definitely could do better than what's here.
Getting back to GC, they suck. Have you seen the ads in VG (the Burst Brothers). Nice hair dudes. Fucking GAG ME. Take the BET!!!

Jeff

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:21 pm

Gibson is a good example of the bad trend in music retail. I don't know what the fuck they are trying to do.....?????????

And the "burst brothers"! C'mon. That's all marketing crap. Remember, it's not cool to give yourself a nick name.

I'm fortunate to live an hour from Elderly Instruments. So I can play some Gibsons. Though I've never bought one new.

George

OnTheFritz · Post by **OnTheFritz** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:16 pm

There's a couple places not far from G.C. , you know Ma and Pa stores, but I don't think there are any "deals" to be had. (Gibson's)
CBS probably knows the places I'm talking about.

I kinda like the idea of trying them out, and buying it online (Speedmetal)

And B.B. said

Your telling me you know of no other place to go then a chain store in your town? I dont even need you to answer.

Then why did you answer?

Fritz

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:31 pm

I dont know. I guess I must be kinda stupid.

Country Boy Shane · Post by **Country Boy Shane** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:10 am

Try Massamino's which isn't to far from GC. It's family owned, but i'm exactly sure what they sell now since i haven't been in there a while. Huber & Breese is the other natural alternative. If they give you a price that's above the usual Guitar Center GLP, just tell them that you're going to Guitar Center and it will sucker them into giving you a better deal.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:20 am

As bad as GC is, if you can go in there and try to ignore everyone (like I do) including the sixteen year old kid playing guitar who mistakenly believes he is Stevie-Vai-Vaughn, and buy whatever it is that you need; I believe you are ahead of the game. It is the lesser of all evils in Flint town. Consider the competition. 1. Herter Music- who will rape you or your parents by selling you 40% above list price. 2. Bogner Music- A store that will give you a good deal IF you know the salesman, who is always a dick and the kind of guy whos dream job would be at GC. or 3. The Ma and Pa stores like Flint Guitar or Jeffs Music, (who have great service) but unfortunately don't have the higher quality guitars that the larger stores occupy.

I wish George would start building guitars already.
My ultimate dream in life is to one day own a Metropoulos Acoustic guitar.

George, whip your elves into shape!!!!!!!!!!!!

SpeedMetal · Post by **SpeedMetal** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:39 am

I have always toyed around with the idea of building my own guitars. I think George and I should make some sort of business deal......what say ya George?

I would offer 20% off if also purchased with a much sought after Metro Amp!!! (10% for just being a member of the forum)

Hmmm........I can smell the sawdust already.

OnTheFritz · Post by **OnTheFritz** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:00 pm

C.B.S, yeah those are the two places. I havn't been to Massaminos in a long time, but was in H&B a couple weeks ago.

Speaking of building, I was kicking around the Warmoth idea as an option.
Their LP's are bolt on, and I think it's a Strat scale, but some in the Gallery look pretty damn good. And of course they say it's the best guitar they've ever played.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:41 pm

Warmoths can be made with a few different scale lengths. One of there more interesting ideas is to use a gibson scale on a strat. Thats kind of what makes a strat feel like a strat though but it does sound interesting. You can also tell them not to drill the bolt holes and glue in the neck yourself.