Does anybody else ever see this at GC?

[Bloodfist]

I went down to GC in Charleston today to get some stuff for an upcoming show. As always, I go over and check out the EBMM's and see if they have anything new. The one thing that I notice about them all is that the protective film over the pickguard has been removed and all of them are scratched to hell!!! It's bad enough that the pickguard is beat up pretty bad, but the rest of the body's have dings and scratches, and they're asking for full price. For the life of me, i cant figure out why they would have a $400 Schector up high and a ball down low. To make things worse they have only one Bongo, a stealth, that is sitting on the floor in a stand, and it got knocked over while I was there. I personally would think that GC would take better care of their EBMM's. Maybe it's just the one here in Charleston.

 

[your idol]

yeah!!! the guitar center in minneapolis by me is terrible with their ebmms . pickguards beat to hell and back loose rattles all over the place. the worst offense is when i asked if a hardcase was included in the price they told me "no it has a gigbag..you can trade up the gigbag and get a hardcase for an additional $75 bucks." It's sad really but i wont shop with them unless i have to... on a positive GC note the one in Boardman,OH had a sweet sterling in cherryburst used for $750..im sure the case is extra though

 

[Aussie Mark]

In all the years I've spent at online music forums, I have NEVER heard of a single instance of this type of thing at any GC store.

 

[TNT]

The GC's stores I've been in (and they are countless) I really can't remember seeing things to that extent.

Yes, it's normal for guitars to get "re-arranged" by customers after they look at them, they don't always get put back where they belong.

Actually, I really prefer that the MM guitars are lower on the wall, and more easily accessible to get at and play. I don't really like them high up out of reach.

However, the down side (& upside) to this is that they will get "played" more, and thus have some normal wear (not abuse though!!).

If guitar enthusiasts would only handle the guitars there (as they do their own guitars at home) we wouldn't even be having this thread.

 

[your idol]

we have 3 GCs in the twin cities. the prior mentioned one is terrible and very shady. alot of the equipment is in less than new condition bad action, tuner and knob rattles scuffed pg's stuff on the floor with little plastic bags on the tuners hardly unpacked. it is a terrible location andvery scammy.

the other 2 on the north side are great. clean organized helpful. pretty decent set ups on everything every amp is plugged in. im not knocking GC thyre typically great but we have one that is particularly bummy and back alley. even if you read the online reviews on that specific location theres nothing good to be said. every bunch has its bad apples.

 

[Russel]

I've seen it a few times.

I've visited it a few times, and San Antonio was great 2 years ago, not so good this summer.

The basses in the room, not just the EBMMs, hadn't been too well cared for. Necks were almost unplayable, and most of them had been scratched up.

I couldn't do anything in the Corpus Christie GC when I visited. Terrible service.



The Beaumont, Texas GC, however, was the best place I have ever played a bass guitar in. Prompt, helpful service, well maintained and clean instruments and presentation, courtesy and friendliness, etc. I spoke with the sales reps there, we talked music and basses, just a great experience. When I left, I accidentally left my watch, and when I came back, they were like, "You forgot this."

 

[Big Poppa]

It is tough with 260+ stores they are really getting better but I will forward this to some GC folks to recitfy this situation

 

[ronnyG]

The GC here in Hollyweird keeps the MM's way up high and the Fenders and Ibanez are on the floor. You can't mess with an MM here unless you ask for help from a salesperson with a ladder.

 

[TNT]

Hey Ronnie,

Yeah, Hollywood is a "great" store!!

The MM guitars are up high as well as the PRS's. This is good for the fact they "should" be up high up IF in fact your are using this factor as a measurment of quality.

However, from the standpoint of moving product, this can actually hurt sales (and not insignificantly).

The GC store with the most guitars on the wall at the end of the month doesn't necessarily get the award.

Easy access to guitars can actually be attributed to, ". . . . hey mom, I want this one!"

Because, truth is, once you have a MM guitar in your hands, there ain't no goin' back!

 

[Kristopher]

Hey there Bloodfist,

There's a sticky thread where we all put in our two cents about what we'd like from Guitar Center, check it out:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/24473-you-get-one-wish-guitar-center.html

It's no longer an open thread, but it's still a good read if you're looking for opinions on the subject.

 

[bdgotoh]

I've had lots of good experiences at my local GCs and their EB's are almost always in new condition. I think GC's atmosphere makes a nice change from some of the more traditional stores. Maddog was in town and at one (non-GC) store I had to mention that you don't touch anything until you ask and they specially hand it to you. Great store and their EBs are in perfect condition but it's nice to have someplace that's more relaxed too.

 

[Slingy]

Very pleased at my local store lately, all the EBMM basses are now high on the wall and all the EBMM guitars are now in the Platinum room.

 

[Bassmanslap]

I dont even have the priveledge of merely entering a GC as i live in the Channel islands

Will hopefully visit my first GC when i visit the states next summer....

 

[LoEnd]

The GC in Fairfax VA needs some BONGOS!! THey haven't had any in a long time, i'm tired of going there wanting to try out some Bongos and they have 0

 

[Big Poppa]

gc has dropped the bongo get them from perfect bass.....pete....any of our great online sources

 

[douglasspears]

GC here in ATL (in town, not up in the burbs) is pretty good. Other than a million people in there playing Smoke on the Water (I usually only get there on the weekend ) the store is pretty good, lots of variety and pretty helpful staff. Vince in Pro Audio has been helpful for me with mics, Sonar software, Audio interface to computer, etc. Seems to rememmer me when I come in.

Guitars seem to be in good shape. They had 6-7 MM guitars last time, I was looking at them, didn't see an Axis or Silo 20th, so I was turning away and a dude walked up and practically forced me to play a JP, haha

For what they are, huge volume shop, they seem to do a good job.

 

[Dargin]

Bass Central also has a large selection of Bongos.

 

[ptg]

gc has dropped the bongo get them from perfect bass.....pete....any of our great online sources

What happened?

 

[ronnyG]

Hey Ronnie,

Yeah, Hollywood is a "great" store!!

The MM guitars are up high as well as the PRS's. This is good for the fact they "should" be up high up IF in fact your are using this factor as a measurment of quality.

However, from the standpoint of moving product, this can actually hurt sales (and not insignificantly).

The GC store with the most guitars on the wall at the end of the month doesn't necessarily get the award.

Easy access to guitars can actually be attributed to, ". . . . hey mom, I want this one!"

Because, truth is, once you have a MM guitar in your hands, there ain't no goin' back!

Yeah I hear ya. However I would hope anyone coming into GC to make a serious $1000+ purchase would at least have knowledge of MM's. Or the salesman would have the sense to take a few down..the "mommy, I want this one" is probably going to end up with a Squire..or worse..and they have plenty of those all over the place..too many..but they are eye candy to a novice.

As far as the replies about the condition and setups..well I find just about any bass I pick up or pull off the wall (especially Fenders) are not set up at all..I don't know how they make a sale. But I would think the MM's come with a decent setup from the factory...am I right? If so then they are simply getting abused..and at the prices they are asking..well it wouldn't be cool. My 90 SR4 was ready to gig out the door..but I did lower the action myself a little since I know how to NOT break a truss rod..lol., well not after the one time I busted one on a very old vintage Gibson SG bass. But it sounded like crap anyhow so it was unplayable regardless.

 

[TNT]

Ronnie, so that was you who busted that vintage SG bass - oh well, it was ready to go anyway!!