I really hate guitar center

[Tony Burns]

the guitar center in the buffalo area , really has a messed up acoustic section- the decent ones they keep in the back have dead and sticky strings on them, and there scratched to hell. Its almost an insult to a lover of fine acoustic guitars --They have hundreds of Electrics ( no offense But Im not an electric person ) and only a few Classicals - Not sure why anyone could make a half way decent decision to buy an abused instrument. Sorry i made the hour trip to check out their crummy store !

[Kap'n]

There weren't many (any?) music stores in Fredonia/Dunkirk when I was there twenty years ago. Top Shelf Music(?) in the Buffalo area- Depew, maybe, has some decent stuff.

 

There's also a pretty groovy store right in Buffalo, that specializes in oddball stuff. Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

[Treborklow]

It's no different here in Chicago. We have several GCs and they all have many high end guitars that need new strings and a neck adjustment. They have some nice expensive used guitars that could use $3 worth of new strings and then maybe they would sell. They remind me of a used car dealer we used to have around here that would take in used cars and not even empty the ash trays before putting them on the lot for sale.

[dboy420]

it does suck but i imagine if they had to replace strings on the showroom guitars every few months it could get expensive.

[rhythmdoctor]

Originally posted by dboy420 it does suck but i imagine if they had to replace strings on the showroom guitars every few months it could get expensive.

Nah, I'm guessing a nationally known company like GC gets free strings. I'm sure Martin/Gibson and all the other big names would send them because it's their guitars being sacrificed by the sound.

[Treborklow]

 

Originally posted by dboy420 it does suck but i imagine if they had to replace strings on the showroom guitars every few months it could get expensive.

 

 

Not too expensive really. They can afford to spend a dollar (or put the free strings they get) on them and the used guitar might sell and not sit there forever. I've passed on a few guitars at GC because the strings were so dead I had no idea what the guitar really sounded like. And buying just to possibly return it after I put new strings on it is a hassle I don't want.

 

I've seen $3000 Martins hanging on the wall week after week with one string missing. Do they really think someone will buy it with a string missing? How do you audition a guitar properly if all the strings aren't there?

[Tony Burns]

Im not sure if not just wiping the neck down or polishing them every once in a while wouldnt help, but they really dont care if they sell them or not ( well it seems that way ) they should look at them every once in a while, even if they just put a set or two of strings on every day- this problem wouldnt be a big one-- and possibly putting a note on each guitar, that if you want to play a 4 thousand dollar Martin, maybe you should ask someone to take it down for you- rather than just letting some 15 year old just beat the hell out of it -- yes there was a 15 year old in their beating the hell out of a Martin -- they had one sales rep, who was busy showing someone a 99 dollar fender acoustic-- Hey its their business, but it just seems lately that these mom and pop music stores are being put out of business by these Super stores who dont put their heart into it..- Its like their the Walmart of guitars !

[knockwood]

Was at one yesterday and had a pretty good time - mostly 'cause no one - including salespeople - was anywhere near the acoustic room. But in terms of caring for/knowing about their acoustic instruments... Man, that place is scary.

[Cldplytkmn]

my buddy found this really nice old gibson C&W hanging in a GC a few months ago, but the strings were shot to hell... the guy came up to ask him if he was interested in anything, and my buddy tells him that he'd like to buy 'that old gibson' but the strings are too shot to know if he'd buy it or not... so when the dude got done changing the strings and handed it to my buddy, he took it, strummed a couple times and said "thanks, that was really bothering me" and hung it back up and left.

 

think they'd catch on if i did that once or twice a day?

[Hudman]

It must be a company policy. You described the 3 Guitar Centers near me perfectly. I feel the same way. It's sad to see expensive guitars banged up and missing strings.

[bransonb]

The bad thing about Guitar Center is they have all these great guitars on display that anybody can just pick up and play. The best thing about Guitar Center is they have all these great guitars on display that anybody can just pick up and play. Hey, I know of no other store that makes it so easy to check out better guitars and doesn't hang over your shoulder while you do it. (Although the now defunct MARS stores were very good too.) I visit the Massachusetts stores which I find are well managed. I've always enjoyed spending as much time as I wanted playing whatever I wanted from basic Martins to custom shop Fenders. Plus, when I have requested help I've always found them very accomodating. As a matter of fact, I wanted to compare one of my guitars to a couple of things they had. They set me up in their small sound room with my guitar and an amp along with everything I wanted to try. Aside from checking occasionally to make sure I was still alive they just let me do my thing. I was in there for about two hours, ultimately concluding that I was happy with what I had. So I didn't buy anything, but I appreciated that opportunity so much I actually tipped the guy for being so helpful and cool. I've got to think that if one were at least moderately serious about a guitar and the strings were dead they'd get them changed for you. Heck, I'd offer to buy the strings just for letting me camp out there. It's cheaper and more fun than a movie! There are many excellent guitar dealers with very knowledgeable staff and maybe those are better places to buy. But who will put a guitar in your hands, no matter what level you're at, like a Guitar Center?

[Tony Burns]

true about no hassles , but would you buy a guitar thats loaded scratches and dead strings ? and their prices were ok, think i can do beter with my local Martin dealer ( and he cares about what he sells and represents )- and i did like the fact that the guitar center left you alone - but- Elderly has more acoustics, with good strings, and they leave you alone too- but they check in on you every now and then , because they care -- If i was buying a 100 guitar for a kid the GC would be a great place to, but then again i dont buy cheap guitars any more ! They do have a god zillion electrics thou , and they look like they have been given better care ! Ive also been told by another dealer that the money is in the electric guitars , not the acoustic .

 

and yes it is fun to hang around a guitar store- i originally went their to check out classicals - but thats another story !

[kwakatak]

 

Originally posted by bransonb The bad thing about Guitar Center is they have all these great guitars on display that anybody can just pick up and play. The best thing about Guitar Center is they have all these great guitars on display that anybody can just pick up and play. Hey, I know of no other store that makes it so easy to check out better guitars and doesn't hang over your shoulder while you do it. (Although the now defunct MARS stores were very good too.) I visit the Massachusetts stores which I find are well managed. I've always enjoyed spending as much time as I wanted playing whatever I wanted from basic Martins to custom shop Fenders. Plus, when I have requested help I've always found them very accomodating. As a matter of fact, I wanted to compare one of my guitars to a couple of things they had. They set me up in their small sound room with my guitar and an amp along with everything I wanted to try. Aside from checking occasionally to make sure I was still alive they just let me do my thing. I was in there for about two hours, ultimately concluding that I was happy with what I had. So I didn't buy anything, but I appreciated that opportunity so much I actually tipped the guy for being so helpful and cool. I've got to think that if one were at least moderately serious about a guitar and the strings were dead they'd get them changed for you. Heck, I'd offer to buy the strings just for letting me camp out there. It's cheaper and more fun than a movie! There are many excellent guitar dealers with very knowledgeable staff and maybe those are better places to buy. But who will put a guitar in your hands, no matter what level you're at, like a Guitar Center?

 

 

There are at least 2 mom and pop stores that I know of. There's a 3rd store in my area that I like to go to that is small enough that the owner is the one pulling the guitars off the wall for you and he doesn't seem to mind. I don't tip them for their help, instead I will spend at least $40 in their store just to show my appreciation. Even doing that at GC is a hassle as I refuse to answer their questions upon checkout so that they will NOT put me on their mailing/SPAM lists.

[studyscoot]

 

Originally posted by kwakatak I refuse to answer their questions upon checkout so that they will NOT put me on their mailing/SPAM lists.

 

 

Thats what ex-girlfriend addresses are for.

[sue]

Tony,

I was searching for my first really good acoustic an got a Martin from that GC.

 

They gave me more for my trade than any other store would, and I got to play all kinds of guitars under one roof (Taylor vs. Martins, Gibsons, they had a used Larivee and used guilds too). The sales guy there is always helpful, even if you're only buying a $99 guitar.

 

HOWEVER....wouldn't go there for my next guitar....LOL

 

Not because I think it's a bad place, it is what it is. But now I know what I like, and know alot more about guitars (thank you HC members). I'd probably take the 1-2hr ride up to Fredonia and see Jim(?) about a Martin or Larivee.

[Tony Burns]

Sue, im glad GC treated you right - and that they had what you wanted --try Trinityguitars.com in Jamestown NY , Jim Holler is a super guy - after you deal with him youll have a new friend- You have to call him or email him about prices, Martin and Larrivee wont let him show his discount prices on the net -The Store is in his basement ,( Its a fun place to go, he has alot of stuff - make sure you call for an appointment before you go ! ) he also does festivals around the area -please tell him Tony Burns sent you -

[Whalebot]

 

Originally posted by bransonb The bad thing about Guitar Center is they have all these great guitars on display that anybody can just pick up and play. The best thing about Guitar Center is they have all these great guitars on display that anybody can just pick up and play. Hey, I know of no other store that makes it so easy to check out better guitars and doesn't hang over your shoulder while you do it. (Although the now defunct MARS stores were very good too.) I visit the Massachusetts stores which I find are well managed. I've always enjoyed spending as much time as I wanted playing whatever I wanted from basic Martins to custom shop Fenders. Plus, when I have requested help I've always found them very accomodating. As a matter of fact, I wanted to compare one of my guitars to a couple of things they had. They set me up in their small sound room with my guitar and an amp along with everything I wanted to try. Aside from checking occasionally to make sure I was still alive they just let me do my thing. I was in there for about two hours, ultimately concluding that I was happy with what I had. So I didn't buy anything, but I appreciated that opportunity so much I actually tipped the guy for being so helpful and cool. I've got to think that if one were at least moderately serious about a guitar and the strings were dead they'd get them changed for you. Heck, I'd offer to buy the strings just for letting me camp out there. It's cheaper and more fun than a movie! There are many excellent guitar dealers with very knowledgeable staff and maybe those are better places to buy. But who will put a guitar in your hands, no matter what level you're at, like a Guitar Center?

 

Do you work for Guitar Center Mr. One Post? And please never tip one of "Those Guys" It just encourages them. I'm just messin' with you. I've bought from GC before and it sounds like a lot of Forumites frequent them. The level of service just kills me sometimes. I bought a Guitar there and I asked for the traditional price break, the guy said he couldn't swing the price I wanted so he threw in a gigbag. I still wasn't sold. I asked him to throw on a new set of strings for me. this is the response I got. "You want ME to put new strings on it? No way." {censored} that guy. What a {censored}ing moron. That is the last time I walked into Guitar Center with the intent of buying a guitar.

[Tony Burns]

i dont really hate the folks that work their , the sales rep that was in the acoustic area was probably only a part times sales person , and in a position like that they have to follow company procedure - grab em and bag em , probably like the sales people they have at walmart - one day their in groceries , the next there in the video department . He may even be a guitar player like myself and not be too happy about the way hes told to conduct business -- maybe even someone from the guitar center will get wind of this thread and work on improvements , which would make it better for themselves as well as their customers !

[postalsock]

tony those "scratches" are called bear claws. Yea there good.