Members theGOOCH Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 I went to Guitar Center today and man, they don't have much of a selection when it comes to acoustics. What gives, they're a huge company right?? I don't live in the sticks. I went to the only GC in the greater Cincinnati area. You'd think they'd have a lot of guitars to choose from. It seems all they had were ultra high end models or crap. I was looking for the $300-600 range They had a few Yamahas, a couple Ibanez, a couple Takamines, a couple ( low end) Epiphones, and a bunch of Fenders. Other than that all they had were $2000+ range Martins, Taylors and Gibsons or cheap laminates. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but not much Where the hell can I play a Seagull, Blueridge, Taylor 100 series, maybe some Alvarez's?
Members E-brake Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 Sort of the same thing here at the GC's in Austin. I was hoping to try out Yamahas vs. Blue Ridge but they had no Blue Ridge. They did have exactly what you listed though. I ended up with a Yamaha FG730S for $270 flat. I'm happy with it.
Members kwakatak Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 The only thing you can do is to go to the guitar manufacturers' websites and hit their respective dealer listings. FWIW, the term "high end" acoustic guitar at a GC is a misnomer. The guitars are technically not high-end as much as they are just highly-recognizable as a brand name. Add to that that usually there's not a single instrument in there that isn't mass-produced with some degree of automation as opposed to a completely hand-crafted, hand-fitted instrument. Rounding out the trifecta of GC lies is that fact that the "high end" guitars there are not treated with any more repect much less TLC than the "low end" guitars in the outer room. OK, rant over. I'm not flaming you, man. I just can't stand the very thought of GC. It makes me see red and makes my fingers bleed in memory of some pretty barbed frets.
Members theGOOCH Posted June 19, 2006 Author Members Posted June 19, 2006 You're still mad about my Roethlisberger comment aren't you? LOL I'm not thin skinned, its OK I don't love GC either, but sometimes I go in when I take my kids to the mall playground. I buy my strings at Sam Ash because they have my Martin SP's (everyone feel free to tell me how much they suck) for $4 there. Other than that I just window shop. The coolest shop I've been to was a Mom and Pop place In Bloomington IN (near the IU campus) They had more acoustic selection than most chains and their prices were as good as Musician's Friend
Members thatsbunk Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 GC is kind of like the Home Depot of the musical world... pretty much the same stuff "from tuscon to tucucari". Luckly where I live, there's also Sam Ash, and a bunch of other smaller independent retailers (one of which is where I bought my Alvarez).
Members DonK Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 I hate GC, and yes, they're especially weak on acoustics. They typically have a few Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, and a Guild or two. The rest are Epi's, Fenders, Ovation, lower-end Tak's, and some store brand they sell (I think it's Norwood or something like that). Even the limited # they have tend to have been played to death.
Members theGOOCH Posted June 19, 2006 Author Members Posted June 19, 2006 I picked up a Yamaha and the strings actually looked corroded and I could hear dessicant packs inside the body
Members Queequeg Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 I think some of these boys are going to be adding a I.H.G.C.C. to their signature soon.
Members leftync Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 There's a GC in Rockville, Md. that had lots of acoustics, ranging from good to WOW and twp pretty nice rooms dedicated to playing. I suspect they have to be good as there's plenty of local competition, including Chuck Levin's a couple of miles away in Wheaton.
Members babablowfish Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 I know that this isn't going to win me any friends, but I have had good experience with Guitar Center. The sales people have been friendly and helpful and I have enjoyed the fact that I could go and noodle around for a while and not get bothered or pressured. I wound up buying 3 guitars from GC - a Yamaha FG140 (I later sold) my Yamaha beater and my Parkwood PW340FM Jumbo. I have no complaints on any of them. I also have established relationships with 2 smaller guitar stores and have made purchases at each. All in all, I like having all the options.
Members kwakatak Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 Originally posted by theGOOCH You're still mad about my Roethlisberger comment aren't you? LOL I'm not thin skinned, its OKI don't love GC either, but sometimes I go in when I take my kids to the mall playground. I buy my strings at Sam Ash because they have my Martin SP's (everyone feel free to tell me how much they suck) for $4 there. Other than that I just window shop. The coolest shop I've been to was a Mom and Pop place In Bloomington IN (near the IU campus) They had more acoustic selection than most chains and their prices were as good as Musician's Friend LOL! Yeah, but I started to feel silly so I got over it. Feel free to give me flack for that Santonio Holmes jackass we signed. I'm likely to agree with you. There must be a bonehead gene associated with the name Santonio BTW, I also can't fault you for using Martin SPs. That's what I use whenever I'm feeling the economic bite of using Elixirs. I'm mostly an online shopper (Elderly, juststrings.com, guitarsaddles.com and a couple of MF transgressions) but I also have a pretty good local store nearby who offers up some good guitar conversation and carries Martin strings too. I've tried to talk him into carrying Larriv
Members DonK Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 Originally posted by leftync There's a GC in Rockville, Md. that had lots of acoustics, ranging from good to WOW and twp pretty nice rooms dedicated to playing. I suspect they have to be good as there's plenty of local competition, including Chuck Levin's a couple of miles away in Wheaton. Oh my gosh Lefty, the Rockville GC is the one I specifically had in mind in my post. It's about 10 miles from me, and I was just there a month or so ago because I wanted to check out an Epi Masterbilt. Comparing that place to Chuck's is HERESY! I generally find two different audiences at Chuck's and GC, although I'm sure there's overlap. GC is a more electric-oriented teen-friendly place. Chuck's caters more to the working musician and serious amateur crowd. You can't just walk into Chuck's, pick up a $2,500 LP or Relic Strat and start wailing away at concert venue volume on Korn and Slayer material. GC is practically like a public library in comparison.
Members ESL94 Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 FWIW, the term "high end" acoustic guitar at a GC is a misnomer. The guitars are technically not high-end as much as they are just highly-recognizable as a brand name. Add to that that usually there's not a single instrument in there that isn't mass-produced with some degree of automation as opposed to a completely hand-crafted, hand-fitted instrument. Rounding out the trifecta of GC lies is that fact that the "high end" guitars there are not treated with any more repect much less TLC than the "low end" guitars in the outer room. +1 I stay way from GC, I have not had good experience in there stores (& there are 3 in my area) trying out & buying gear. I didn't know better - I thought, since it was a big company they would know how to treat a customer... I was so worng!!! Live & learn E-brake: if you want to find great store in Austin check out Guitar Rez. They are very helpful & knowledgeable, have great gear. http://www.guitarrez.com/
Members allthumz Posted June 19, 2006 Members Posted June 19, 2006 Originally posted by theGOOCH I picked up a Yamaha and the strings actually looked corroded and I could hear dessicant packs inside the body Here in Richmond too. - allthumz
Members Etienne Rambert Posted June 20, 2006 Members Posted June 20, 2006 I'd rather shop at Wal-Mart than Guitar Center. I'd rather have a root canal than shop at either one of them.
Members Whalebot Posted June 20, 2006 Members Posted June 20, 2006 Ehhh, I bought my Masterbilt there, but I can't justify buying a $1000+ guitar there with the way they are banged around and underhumidified. I go to Elderly for all of my Martins, etc.
Members Michael Martin Posted June 20, 2006 Members Posted June 20, 2006 Having a GC nearby (30 miles away) is a godsend for a small-towner like me--but I don't go there to buy stuff, I go there to take advantage of their willingness to let me play without being hassled. The trouble with playing in a "library" type setting is that it's TOO quiet for me. I don't want to play for the whole room. At GC, the Korn players are out in the big room and the nicer acoustics are in their own room. I just like it that nobody bugs me. Compared to the selection at other places nearby, it's a guitar cornucopia! PS I like Wal*Mart too...and I actually spend money there!
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