ceeb Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 I went to the Guitar Center grand opening last night, 'cause they were giving away a bunch of free stuff. I don't think I'll ever be the same. I woke up this morning and my 1st thought was "I should sue Guitar Center". There was a line to get in, about a 20 minute wait. Then when you get in, there was a really bad Elvis impersonater (to be fair, are any of them good?) He had a PA setup blaring both barrels at you as you come through the door. After you escape that there was pretty much every amp in the store turned up to eleven, and kids just beating the hell out of guitars, some were just sitting there talking as the amps were shreiking feeding back. It reminded me of a million monkeys with a million typewriters ( It was the best of times it was the blurst of times?!?!?....) My fist instinct was to run to the back of the store, away from the guitar section. Doh!!! Drums!!! Run away!!! Run away!!! As I left and was on the wrong side of some very important divider/demarcation line, so I got acosted by some 16 year old kid, who told me I had to go back in and exit on the otherside of the railing. Apparently my exiting through the very same door was only acceptable if I did so half a meter to the east. I couldn't do it. I tried to go back in, but I couldn't. Mustering my remaining strength and courage, in despeartion I punched the squeaky voiced kid in the orange safety vest, I got him right in the throat and ran for the door. Sanctuary was close at hand, when Elvis jumped on my back. How did that fat assed bastard catch me? I was stunned, but only momentarily, I started singing random Don Henley lyrics at the top of my lungs. (Don Henley being the evil opposite of Elvis) He shreiked like a little girl, he covered his ears, I was free to get up and run away. Just for good measure I cracked him one square in the nuts, to make sure he wouldn't pursue me again. After that I went to the tent out back where they were having a raffle, where I didn't win shit, and went home dejected.
silentman Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 LOL. Sounds like the same circus that came thru when they opened one around here a few years ago. Best time to shop there is in the middle of the week during the day. No one around.
seeker Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 WOW, I had the EXACT same experience recently, except it was a David Hasselhoff impersonator. And he shrieked like a little girl the whole time. Wait till things calm down before you go back. Then you'll be treated to the "Heh Dude" experience which is GC-speak for "I need you do buy something from me or I can't meet my quota". Real cool.
Steve Haynie Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 I have never been to the local GC that opened a year ago. Everyone who has visited a GC says the guitars are all scratched. While I think it is important to let someone try out a guitar, it works two ways-- the customer should try to take care of the guitar if they have not bought it yet. How many GC hang-outs go to other stores and scar the merchandise? Does the problem get worse in a market once GC moves in?
Brooks Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 just got one here in g'boro nc. i haven't been, no need really.
mattb Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 I was bummed to see that they were opening here. I just hope Ron's Guitars and Alpha Audio will keep afloat. GC is about 5 minutes from my house so I went last night to see what it was all about. I drove into the parking lot to see 1000 kids lined up and a shitty cover band playing, so I drove right on out and headed to the bar.
Stokesdead Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 they don't sell hamer's so really no use in me going in one.
kurtsstuff Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 (long heavy sigh) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MOM AND POP STORE!@!!!!!..HELL...EVEN THE NOT SO LOCAL ONES.....Don't get me started...hehe
sw686blue Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 (long heavy sigh) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MOM AND POP STORE!@!!!!!..HELL...EVEN THE NOT SO LOCAL ONES.....Don't get me started...hehe LOCAL MOM AND POP STORES SUCK!!! LONG LIVE GC!!!
kurtsstuff Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 (long heavy sigh) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MOM AND POP STORE!@!!!!!..HELL...EVEN THE NOT SO LOCAL ONES.....Don't get me started...hehe LOCAL MOM AND POP STORES SUCK!!! LONG LIVE GC!!! I know where you live...
pesocaster Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 LOL. Sounds like the same circus that came thru when they opened one around here a few years ago. Best time to shop there is in the middle of the week during the day. No one around.Best time to shop there is NEVER!!! F-GC!
silentman Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 I agree. but if he wants to make a flyby... that's the time to do it.
David B Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 just got one here in g'boro nc. i haven't been, no need really.I got the Crate power block there for a backup - the store sucked though.
ceeb Posted October 27, 2006 Author Posted October 27, 2006 I have 2 other GCs within an hour of my house, I go through just looking for used stuff they may have priced stupid low. like the $800 Virt a certain Coloradoian here got. Or even a real clean $600 Eclipse 12ver I got. I figured they might be blowing a lot of little crap out cheap. I'm all for supporting the little guy, but if I see a pile of guitar stands for $2 ea. I'll prolly grab a couple. Maybe not something I was planning on buying but I figure "what the hell". Really I only buy stuff there when it feels like I'm stealing from them. They have blowout deals on stuff and figure they can sell me a bunch of other stuff while I'm in there. Not! And it is a good place to A-B stuff. My local mom and pop place won't have a Guild, Martin, Taylor, and Breedlove all in the same room. So sometimes I go there to try stuff out, but I generally don't support GC, and hope they don't kill the three or four nice music shops in the area.
Jimbilly Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 What Ceeb said, they occasionally have a used Hamer for cheap, but IMO your time is better spent at pawn shops.
lonote049 Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 I usually go to GC to try stuff out and then buy from the local, family owned store. Sometimes GC has stuff for sale stupid cheap, though, and I've been known to take advantage of situations like that. I probably stop by GC 3 or 4 times a year.
DEMENTED Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 I didn't bother going...I never end up buying anything...I went to one in R.I and was looking at wahs..the sales "dude" asked what kinf of amp I had. I told him "A Soldano SLO 100" he sez " dude, is that a solid state cheapy?...I walked away
tomteriffic Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 One finally opened across town from me. I just had to go and have a look, got the 'Dude' treatment and checked out the current Gib$on version of a Mahogany Standard. Shop wear aside, that Explorer was like a toy compared to a Mahogany Standard, and I was raised on Gibsons and have a built-in bias toward them. Always wanted a plain-jane Explorer. Not any more.I think it's interesting that, since that GC opened, two more mom & pop music stores have opened on the south side of town, in the same general market as the GC. They seem to be doing fine.
Submariner85 Posted October 27, 2006 Posted October 27, 2006 I was bummed to see that they were opening here. I just hope Ron's Guitars and Alpha Audio will keep afloat. GC is about 5 minutes from my house so I went last night to see what it was all about. I drove into the parking lot to see 1000 kids lined up and a shitty cover band playing, so I drove right on out and headed to the bar.I think they have loyal customers. Ron's is great. I think and hope they'll be ok. Hopefully Caruso will go down as a result though.
BCR Greg Posted October 28, 2006 Posted October 28, 2006 (long heavy sigh) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MOM AND POP STORE!@!!!!!..HELL...EVEN THE NOT SO LOCAL ONES.....Don't get me started...hehe LOCAL MOM AND POP STORES SUCK!!! LONG LIVE GC!!! That's not funny, Canadian.
Sitamoia50 Posted October 28, 2006 Posted October 28, 2006 I F'n hate GC. Seems like your IQ level drops a few points when you walk into a GC and you look and listen to whats goin on around you......
bobbymack Posted October 28, 2006 Posted October 28, 2006 Personally I'm glad there's one here.Mars drove the only good Mom & Pop we had out about 6 years ago, the remaining ones are full of band rentals and crappy beginner gear. And then there's Sam Ash in the former Mars bldg, which really blows imho and deserves more of the kind of criticism being leveled at GC. In this town, Sam's is where it's blatantly obvious the guys work on commission.I'm not speaking for all GCs, but the one here is good to have around. If you need something in a hurry, they probably have it. And there is a reasonable percentage of non "dude" sales people, who I've gotten to know. They cut me very good deals. There are some specific windows of time when it is best to avoid the place, like days when schools are closed... And ironically, I got far more in trade credit on a P90 Korina Artist a couple years back than I could have sold it for on this page, so they are ok in my book.
sw686blue Posted October 28, 2006 Posted October 28, 2006 (long heavy sigh) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MOM AND POP STORE!@!!!!!..HELL...EVEN THE NOT SO LOCAL ONES.....Don't get me started...hehe LOCAL MOM AND POP STORES SUCK!!! LONG LIVE GC!!! That's not funny, Canadian. That's Mr. Canadian to you shorty.
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