Marty Albertson
Active member
- Joined
- May 9, 2007
- Messages
- 38
and thanks everyone for the input ....both good and bad....
- Thread starter newtley
- Start date
Big Poppa
Well-known member
Marty and I are going on a secret journey tommorow.....I will post pics from the road.
phatduckk
Well-known member
ive actually had guys at the SF GC let me adjust a bass i was considering buying. after a 5 minute conversation they got the jist that i was a knowledgable customer and knew what i was doing so when i asked if i could adjust the action they had no problem w/ it.
sergio at the SF GC is awesome BTW
sergio at the SF GC is awesome BTW
syciprider
Well-known member
What a coincidence. I was at GC Murrieta today to pick up a guitar that I bought as a present for a nephew.
The display model of the guitar I chose was the last one in the store. Since this is a present I prefer a NIB guitar so the clerk is having one sent in from another branch. He will be on vacation when the guitar is expected to arrive so he informed his manager about our arrangement while he also promised to come in periodically to check on it. Excellent service. This was GC in Murrieta CA, the clerk's name is Francisco.
Back on topic: I am completely onboard with this. I love GC's petting zoo environment and will do my share to help keep it like that while making sure that my beloved MM brand gets represented well with properly set up instruments.
The display model of the guitar I chose was the last one in the store. Since this is a present I prefer a NIB guitar so the clerk is having one sent in from another branch. He will be on vacation when the guitar is expected to arrive so he informed his manager about our arrangement while he also promised to come in periodically to check on it. Excellent service. This was GC in Murrieta CA, the clerk's name is Francisco.
Back on topic: I am completely onboard with this. I love GC's petting zoo environment and will do my share to help keep it like that while making sure that my beloved MM brand gets represented well with properly set up instruments.
maddog
Well-known member
Awesome to see you here Marty! Was way cool to hang with you a bit at Jack's party. The posse from GC was way cool and discussing the music scene with them over lunch was a definite for the highlight reel.
For those who didn't get to hang with the GC folks in Dallas, you missed some cool cats. They laid out what GC is about. The GC stores are meant as a playground for musicians. You can go in and try anything. As such, nothing is going to stay new and perfect, especially with the inventory they have, but you can get your maulers on things and see if you like.
When I've been in a GC and found things amiss, I've brought them to the attention of a sales associate. In all cases, the situation was rectified on the spot. One example was a Sterling missing a knob ( I didn't say "the Sterling" ) Sales associate took it off the rack and went looking for a replacement knob. Way cool.
I kind of like Marty's idea but I cringe at working on a bass that is not my own. Shoot, I cringe picking them off the rack to try. BP seems to have nailed it with simply alerting the manager. If this don't cut it, what is the best way to proceed?
the should be slaving away at my math studies,
For those who didn't get to hang with the GC folks in Dallas, you missed some cool cats. They laid out what GC is about. The GC stores are meant as a playground for musicians. You can go in and try anything. As such, nothing is going to stay new and perfect, especially with the inventory they have, but you can get your maulers on things and see if you like.
When I've been in a GC and found things amiss, I've brought them to the attention of a sales associate. In all cases, the situation was rectified on the spot. One example was a Sterling missing a knob ( I didn't say "the Sterling"
) Sales associate took it off the rack and went looking for a replacement knob. Way cool. I kind of like Marty's idea but I cringe at working on a bass that is not my own. Shoot, I cringe picking them off the rack to try. BP seems to have nailed it with simply alerting the manager. If this don't cut it, what is the best way to proceed?
the should be slaving away at my math studies,
Disquieter
Well-known member
I would say email ebmm customer service, and then it rains down from the top.
When i was a manager at GC, it was company policy (and I enforced hardcore) to set up 5 instruments and day. I always mad my guys carry a polish cloth. In downtime (what's that?), if you walk past a guitar, strum the strings, if it's out of tune, tune it.
We always had a really good crew and a very clean and well merchandised floor, thats why we sold so much.
Do yourselves and the GC guys a favor, if you want to setup an instrument yourself, be cool about it, don't insinuate that the people there can't do it. Make it a positive thing. Strike up a conversation with them while doing it. Chances are, being a EBMM nut, you have some knowledge about how they are built or some cool fact about the guitars/basses that they might not know. Share the wealth of information.
btw, welcome marty albertson, but really man, you need an avatar....
lorino
Well-known member
Guitar Set-Up
I think its a fantastic idea. I've often thought of offering this - Hey, I'll come in on Saturday mornings and set-up the basses. Do 5 or so a week and just keep rotating through. Its part of the hobby for me - I love tinkering. Also, I think readily available tuners in the area would be good. I know they tend to walk away. Perhaps they have those wall mounted acoustic ones.
In all seriousness, I would come in weekly and set-up basses. Maybe a standard discount or chocki in payment - don't really care.
Trust me, you're getting off cheap - I'm a highly sought after Beer professional.
JIM
Marty,
I think its a fantastic idea. I've often thought of offering this - Hey, I'll come in on Saturday mornings and set-up the basses. Do 5 or so a week and just keep rotating through. Its part of the hobby for me - I love tinkering. Also, I think readily available tuners in the area would be good. I know they tend to walk away. Perhaps they have those wall mounted acoustic ones.
In all seriousness, I would come in weekly and set-up basses. Maybe a standard discount or chocki in payment - don't really care.
Trust me, you're getting off cheap - I'm a highly sought after Beer professional.
JIM
SteveB
Well-known member
Marty,
I think that's a great idea, so long as the person doing the tweaking has the skill to make the adjustment(s). Let's qualify the directive by adding "Do not perform any adjustments if you are not 100% confident that you can improve the instruments' playability for most players."
Now, any chance you can put some masking tape, 0000 steel wool, gunstock oil and gunstock wax in the stores?
Thanks for keeping your ear to the ground over here.
edit: Joel (Disquieter),
Great suggestions to keep things positive.
I think that's a great idea, so long as the person doing the tweaking has the skill to make the adjustment(s). Let's qualify the directive by adding "Do not perform any adjustments if you are not 100% confident that you can improve the instruments' playability for most players."
Now, any chance you can put some masking tape, 0000 steel wool, gunstock oil and gunstock wax in the stores?
Thanks for keeping your ear to the ground over here.
edit: Joel (Disquieter),
Great suggestions to keep things positive.
adouglas
Well-known member
I like the idea of letting us improve the playing condition of the guitars. I always like to leave things better than I find them.
Seems hard to implement, though, chain-wide.
I have and still do tweak EBMM trussrods routinely since they do not require a special tool and more often than not I've got something in my pocket that will suffice, but I just go ahead and do it rather than hunting down the manager. I'm able to do this easily and with confidence...only takes a couple of seconds.
In my experience GC staff is good at asking if I need anything and then leaving me alone if that's what I communicate, so I don't have a guy hovering over me all the time (which makes me nuts).
Minor derail... My only beef with retail salespeople in general (not just GC by any means) is lack of product knowledge and even the passing of downright misinformation on occasion. Some employees know their stuff, others just plain don't, which is not at all surprising given the number of SKUs in the store. Since I'm a person who walks into the store having done my homework, it's easy to ignore this when it happens.
I will say that when it comes to being treated well and fairly, my recent contacts with GC have been outstanding. A year or so ago I traded in a bass on another Bose L1 system and the guy set value for the bass exactly as I did...we went onto ebay while in the store and looked up what it would sell for. That was GREAT, since I'd half expected a hard bargain, lowball offer.
Seems hard to implement, though, chain-wide.
I have and still do tweak EBMM trussrods routinely since they do not require a special tool and more often than not I've got something in my pocket that will suffice, but I just go ahead and do it rather than hunting down the manager. I'm able to do this easily and with confidence...only takes a couple of seconds.
In my experience GC staff is good at asking if I need anything and then leaving me alone if that's what I communicate, so I don't have a guy hovering over me all the time (which makes me nuts).
Minor derail... My only beef with retail salespeople in general (not just GC by any means) is lack of product knowledge and even the passing of downright misinformation on occasion. Some employees know their stuff, others just plain don't, which is not at all surprising given the number of SKUs in the store. Since I'm a person who walks into the store having done my homework, it's easy to ignore this when it happens.
I will say that when it comes to being treated well and fairly, my recent contacts with GC have been outstanding. A year or so ago I traded in a bass on another Bose L1 system and the guy set value for the bass exactly as I did...we went onto ebay while in the store and looked up what it would sell for. That was GREAT, since I'd half expected a hard bargain, lowball offer.
timmy5strings
Well-known member
I usually end up tuning all the EBMM's at GC 21061, because I play them all They are in pretty good playing condition. Great people and Sean is very helpful and totally smokes with his knowledge of and talent on the bass. Never had a bad experience there, even when the power went out a couple months ago They calmly took care of the people who needed taken care of and asked the browsers to come back later.
They are in pretty good playing condition. Great people and Sean is very helpful and totally smokes with his knowledge of and talent on the bass. Never had a bad experience there, even when the power went out a couple months ago They calmly took care of the people who needed taken care of and asked the browsers to come back later.
newtley
Well-known member
a tip-o-the-chapeau
I'm really happy to see all the very positive and constructive responses to my original post.
I'm a big fan of win-win, and this is an exemplary example (examplery exemple? there goes that engrish again..)..
google "Black Pearl Denver" if anyone visiting the Denver GC would like an outstanding dinner while in town, and tell 'em Chef Amos' dad sent ya. He just graduated from culinary school at JWD; and after doing his externship there got his dream gig.
Hats-off to the forum for seeing this through with dignity..
I'm really happy to see all the very positive and constructive responses to my original post.
I'm a big fan of win-win, and this is an exemplary example (examplery exemple? there goes that engrish again..)..
google "Black Pearl Denver" if anyone visiting the Denver GC would like an outstanding dinner while in town, and tell 'em Chef Amos' dad sent ya. He just graduated from culinary school at JWD; and after doing his externship there got his dream gig.
Hats-off to the forum for seeing this through with dignity..
candid_x
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2006
- Messages
- 3,272
Yes, this is impressive: mass store chain CEO, BP and end users actually communicating openly about this stuff.
I sorta cringe to think of inviting any/all Ball owners to have at in-store setups and/or maintenance, though. Hard to tell where the buck stops then, if there's a problem later on. But bringing it to the attention of the sales clerk or manager sounds good. Of course if a shopper has developed credibility with store personnel, a little truss rod tweak here or there on the guitars he/she is interested in is cool.
jmo
I sorta cringe to think of inviting any/all Ball owners to have at in-store setups and/or maintenance, though. Hard to tell where the buck stops then, if there's a problem later on. But bringing it to the attention of the sales clerk or manager sounds good. Of course if a shopper has developed credibility with store personnel, a little truss rod tweak here or there on the guitars he/she is interested in is cool.
jmo
lorino
Well-known member
GC Tweek Geeks
If Best Buy has the Geek Squad, can we be The Guitar Center Tweek Geeks? An all volunteer force.
I have one of these: http://www.gatorcases.com/productimages/G-GIGBOX-TECHBOX_info.pdf, and I'm ready to go.
JIM
If Best Buy has the Geek Squad, can we be The Guitar Center Tweek Geeks? An all volunteer force.
I have one of these: http://www.gatorcases.com/productimages/G-GIGBOX-TECHBOX_info.pdf, and I'm ready to go.
JIM
Big Poppa
Well-known member
Marty...You know we call them Knuckleheads>>>>>>>>>>>Are you sure you want a bunch of Knucks tweaking the guitars?
Seriously I would ask that you limit you adjustments to simple tweaks of the truss rod wheel and advise the dept manager of anything more severe. THis could be followed up by contacting via email the person in management that Marty is going to assign.
Thanks for your comments and keep them coming. Im not inviting any rudeness or cheap shots, but this is a good time to address in a respectful manner any of your others thoughts or observations. They can be as Marty said both good and bad.
Seriously I would ask that you limit you adjustments to simple tweaks of the truss rod wheel and advise the dept manager of anything more severe. THis could be followed up by contacting via email the person in management that Marty is going to assign.
Thanks for your comments and keep them coming. Im not inviting any rudeness or cheap shots, but this is a good time to address in a respectful manner any of your others thoughts or observations. They can be as Marty said both good and bad.
newtley
Well-known member
adouglas
Well-known member
+1!!!! I absolutely agree. It's hard to do anything really egregious to the guitar just by tweaking the trussrod, and that plus tuning it is usually all that's needed to make it play well.
timmy5strings
Well-known member
Hi , I'm from the Forum and I'm here to check your Balls !
Eggman
Well-known member
kbaim
Well-known member
Between all the merchandise that GC carries, their tremendous growth over the last 20 years, the relatively high employee turnover, and the variance in floor space per store...it's a mighty tough balancing act they do.
But how great is it the CEO drops in! (Full disclosure--I own shares in GC)
I mean, as many multiple guitar and bass owners, we're some of their best customers, I'm sure...but we're still only the smallest fraction of their business.
I also got a voicemail from one of their buyers asking which BFR's I'd like to see them carry. Haven't got back to him on that, but I'm guessing I'll tell him that Bahama Blue seems to have gotten many peeps excited. Basically I don't want to give him wrong information and have the wrong color just sit in the store for a year.
But how great is it the CEO drops in! (Full disclosure--I own shares in GC)
I mean, as many multiple guitar and bass owners, we're some of their best customers, I'm sure...but we're still only the smallest fraction of their business.
I also got a voicemail from one of their buyers asking which BFR's I'd like to see them carry. Haven't got back to him on that, but I'm guessing I'll tell him that Bahama Blue seems to have gotten many peeps excited. Basically I don't want to give him wrong information and have the wrong color just sit in the store for a year.
