Guitar Center Salesman...I have heard it all now!!

[spychocyco]

I've had that salesman before, but not at GC. I'll admit that I've only shopped at one GC, and aside from the case issue, I don't have any problems with them. The salesmen that I've talked to have been helpful and courteous, much more so than my local mom and pop stores. At those, you either can't get help if you go in waving money in the air, or you get a hard-sell on something that you don't want. There are bad salesmen everywhere.

As an example, I went into the local stores a few months ago looking for a new acoustic. I went in looking for a very specific guitar, which they didn't have. I explained that to the salesman, who pointed me to some others. Not being one to see a guitar and not play it, I tried a couple of them. At no point did I give the salesman any indication that I would settle for something other than the guitar I want (I've got a half-dozen I don't really like from doing that, and I'm done with it.) The salesman disappeared and in a few minutes came back, financing agreement in hand, asking me which one of the guitars I was going to buy today, as if it were a foregone conclusion that I was going to buy one of the models he showed me. He lost a sale that day because I was prepared to order the guitar that I wanted it. I ordered it elsewhere.

That hasn't happened to me at GC. I've always been able to tell them politely that I'll let them know if I need some help, and they usually back off. It's why I encouraged my wife to buy from them, and why she ordered my Axis through them.

[charlie7]

Went to a chain-store in the UK - you know the ones where all they stock is Gibson, Fender, and Marshall amps........anyway - I asked the sales-guy ''How come you've got no MusicMan anymore?'' and the answer that will live with me forever was ''We don't stock them 'caust the necks get dirty when people try them.'

At this point I nearly blew a kidney out of my ass through laughing.

hahahaahaahhahaah

[unclerico]

I really want to scream. I just want to bring a ball over to that store, and smash it on his face.

WHAT A GUITAR NOOB!!!

He also tells me that Petrucci only plays his Ernie Ball guitars live. He asks me, "Would Petrucci play a guitar that only sounds good live in a studio, or the guitars he has been playing for the last 20 years?"

Lol?

Has the noob never seen videos of Petrucci in the studio for 'Systematic Chaos'?

[DaPatrooch]

On the subject of EBMMs at Guitar Center, I have a request. BP, is it possible, and I know this is a lot to ask, but is there a chance of more EBMMs at Guitar Centers on the East Coast? Every single Guitar Center I've been to doesn't carry the guitars. To try a Petrucci, my dad took me to New Jersey Guitar and Bass Center, which is supposedly one of the biggest Music Man dealers on the East Coast, but it was an hour away. Boy, did they have great stuff! They had some EVHs, Silo 20ths, Axis hardtails, and other rare things. The JP6 I played was a 2004 LE. The only problem was that it was such a small place, and everyone was on my back when I was testing out guitars. The thing I like about Guitar Center is that you can grab a guitar, go to an amp, and just play in your own little area.

[Pittman75]

I agree Petrooch.

I actually bought my JP6 at GC- it was the only one in stock. A week later I went to bring it back because it had a high fret and asked them to ship it for me and they wouldn't. I guess in a week you can make a fret high on guitars now? Anyway- they claimed it was "used". They sold it to me at the new price, however. The moral of the story? Play the guitar before you buy if your at GC. And make friends with the manager. Had I done that- I probably would be playing my Petrucci instead of my ASS right now. Anybody in MA have a EBMM box?

[whitestrat]

Went to a chain-store in the UK - you know the ones where all they stock is Gibson, Fender, and Marshall amps........anyway - I asked the sales-guy ''How come you've got no MusicMan anymore?'' and the answer that will live with me forever was ''We don't stock them 'caust the necks get dirty when people try them.'

At this point I nearly blew a kidney out of my ass through laughing.

Actually, this isn't entirely wrong. People try them, they get dirty, no one buys them after, and the store gets stuck with dead stock. I hear them on this... But there's no way round it actually... Not the way EBMM makes their necks...

[whitestrat]

Actually Scenes was all the Ibanez. The last time he used the Ibanez was for the first part of the tour, because at the time he was still using his black and white 7, the camo picasso, and a few other JPM's. After that he got his EB's Proto's.

-Phil

It was? But on the Scenes From New York DVD it was balls right?

[kneeoh]

It was? But on the Scenes From New York DVD it was balls right?

Yes, JP was using the prototypes for the DVD. If you look carefully, you'll note that the "Home" guitar has the piezo toggle next to the magnetic toggle, and all of them have a more rounded body ala the SS. They likewise have no arm scoop. The recording of "Scenes" was Ibanez. Every album since has been EBMM.

[Slingy]

The thing I like about Guitar Center is that you can grab a guitar, go to an amp, and just play in your own little area.

It's also the place where you can find a brand new Luke only two weeks from birth, hanging on the wall strung up with D'Addarios and a string hanging off with a chip in the rosewood glued back in because some nuthead decided to unlock the tuner with full tension and dropped it on something. I really love the deals I can get in these situations though.

[Rossie]

Ok... When was the last album we heard JP use the Ibanez JPM? Liquid Tension Experiment 2? or Falling Into Infinity? I can't remember... I think Scenes From A Memory was already the JP6 right? And that's in 1999? And I sort of remember hanging around the JP forum in those years seeing JP himself selling off his few Ibanez guitars to benefit charity...

JP still used his Ibanez during the recording of SFAM...

[beej]

I think when you're an expert on a product, like most of us are with the EBMM line, you're going to know more than most sales guys.

I also think a lot of sales staff don't know what they're talking about. I don't blame them, especially at jobs where there's a high employee turn over (like GC). Often people just wing it, hoping to get a sale.

Unfortunately, just the way it goes.

[ShaneV]

The thing I like about Guitar Center is that you can grab a guitar, go to an amp, and just play in your own little area.

You can manage to hear something over the 10-20 talentless beginners playing smoke on the water and sunshine of your love through cranked solid state Crates?

[PugNinjas]

I must be one of the few lucky ones with regards to finding knowledgable GC staff, especially with regards to EBMM. The guys over at the GC in Summerlin are very aware of the EBMM line and always looking to talk about what new items EBMM has to offer. It could be because both of the cats I talk to are, in fact, Morse and Petrucci fans but if that's the case, it works.

[GoKart_MoZart]

You can manage to hear something over the 10-20 talentless beginners playing smoke on the water and sunshine of your love through cranked solid state Crates?

I had the same thought! Best to go first thing on weekdays (when school is in session, that is) if you want to hear yourself.

Your GC must have better players than mine. No "Smoke", but lots of "Iron Man"...

[Jack FFR1846]

My GC guitar manager is awesome and at this point, the other sales guys know that if he's not in, I'm not buying that day. Some of the sales guys are ok otherwise, but some are obviously looking to sell the high margin guitars (cough...prs...cough).

He's enthusiastic, lets me and the kids play there endlessly and offers answers and advise about not only guitars but "what is this song" or how to play certain things.

I have not heard anyone ever downplay EB's.....but the entire staff is used to me going directly to either the 1 axis or JP that they have hanging on the right wall, 3rd from the back...middle and top hooks.

Any GC and any music place will have both good and bad. You could very well go back and find someone whose far more knowledgable and/or helpful.

I expect that 90% of the people coming into their doors only know Fender/Gibson and maybe leave knowing Epiphone. Whose ever heard of Schecter, PRS, Ernie Ball, Dean, Ibanez....or Godin?

jack