OT kinda:Secret Shopper

[NorM]

Always Fantastic to hear from you Marty and thanks for chiming in.

I "get" to travel for work every now and then and I always look forward to checking out the local GC. I treat it like a little treasure hunt.
From time to time I have found an EBMM guitar that (I thought) could use a simple little tweak to improve its' playability. I have always gone to the guitar counter and told the sales rep what I thought and asked for the simple tool (if necessary) to do the tweak.
Several times the GC employee was a little hesitant to let me do the work (necessary) on the guitar and I think that's understandable. I'll explain what I want to do and they are always cool with it. Then the guitars are just a little nicer to play to boot.
Reading your request really made me smile and I am proud to report that I (Knucklehead ranking corporal no class) am already taking care of that where ever I can.
A couple of times I have found an instrument that I think would require factory attention. (along the lines of broken toggle switches and stuff) I explained why to the guitar counter and I have been met with mixed results. I have seen the guitars returned to the showroom and I've seen stamps licked as they go back.
Especially since you requested it I will continue to help make the EBMM instruments look good in your stores whenever I come across them. If you provide the link for reports then I will send praise where praise is due and/or respectfully bring things to your attention that you have asked about.
Thanks again for making this corner of the world just a little cooler.

 

[Kristopher]

Last week I returned a Sterling to GC because of a problem with the pickup, today I stopped in and saw it hanging back on the wall again. Since EB does their own repairs, I doubt it was shipped out, repaired, then shipped back within 7 days....

Just wondering what the GC policy is in the situation where someone returns an instrument because it needs to be fixed.

EDIT: I just sent an email to EBMM CS and GC CS with the details.

 

[Danserrano]

i think this is pretty cool what Bp & Marty have done here. I'm willing to do my part. I'm gonna take a drive to my larchmont GC in ny and see how the conditions r for the Eb's there. I'm sure i won't take them home but i will surely let someone know, weather its here or a local manager.

Quick question though, untill we get a contact or a name what do i tell em when i get there??? That there Ceo gave me permission to say they need to tweak a guitar or bass?

What's the best way to go about this? What methods have u all been using to get this idea across??

danny

 

[timmy5strings]

I really don't think that you should go beyond tuning. I'm sure Marty doesn't want an army of Knuckleheads storming the GC's demanding to adjust the instruments. Personally I would check it out and if it needed more than a tuning, let the manager know. Otherwise this could cause more problems IMHO.

 

[NorM]

What's the best way to go about this? What methods have u all been using to get this idea across??

danny

I would show the Rep what I found and explain how I would want to fix it. Just be nice and respectful. If they would rather you not do it then say OK.

From time to time I have found an EBMM guitar that (I thought) could use a simple little tweak to improve its' playability. I have always gone to the guitar counter and told the sales rep what I thought and asked for the simple tool (if necessary) to do the tweak.
Several times the GC employee was a little hesitant to let me do the work (necessary) on the guitar and I think that's understandable. I'll explain what I want to do and they are always cool with it. Then the guitars are just a little nicer to play to boot.

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.

Sage advice.
I think beyond this I have only replaced a broken string. (I might have been the person who broke it too.)
Bridge adjustments are beyond scope. And please don't let me near a soldiering iron at the GC. Wiping down the guitar after you played it is an unexpected courtesy we (Knuckleheads) should provide. (Ask for an EB Wonder Wipe by name )

If you show a rep just how cool and easy the truss rod adjustment wheel is you know they will use that as a selling point whenever they can.

 

[paranoid70]

I personally couldn't see adjusting anything on a guitar at a store. Anything more than tuning it, forget it. I wouldn't want to be held responsible, just in case.

 

[bovinehost]

Marty,

Good to see you here and I'm sure we're all interested in how this exercise is going to shake out.

Thanks so much for everything and hope to see you again soon.

Jack

 

[midopa]

Welcome again Marty! Thanks for taking your time to post here.

I went to the GC in Sherman Oaks today. All the basses they had on the floor had great setups. I tried a SR4 HP that had a nice medium lowish action going on. It felt and sounded great.

 

[candid_x]

If you show a rep just how cool and easy the truss rod adjustment wheel is you know they will use that as a selling point whenever they can.

So true. The customer (we) can sell the rep on Balls. All reps lean toward presenting what they themselves believe in. Top of mind awareness and all that, too.

Maybe we can start a Music Man Militia! Oh, wait.. we already have.

 

[MrMusashi]

i work in a small music store in our town and id not let any stranger touch "my" guitars. id have to have a long term relationship with the customer and know he would be capable to do it right
im not an expert but with all the weird things i see peeps do with their guitars... no way id let em do the same with mine.
and were only 60.000 peeps in our town.. then add to the equation that perhaps 3% ever enter our store. you get the point :lol:

we should actually sell all guitars with a copy of good ole erlewines setup book...

on the other hand.. now that spring has crossed over to summer and we turn off the heat things start to happen to all guitars/basses in the store. so a helping knowledgeable hand would be neat. its a *.*.* to keep em all playable when all necks in the store change at the same time

oh well.. just my lil rant from the other side of the counter

MrM

 

[Warg Master]

Always Fantastic to hear from you Marty and thanks for chiming in.

I "get" to travel for work every now and then and I always look forward to checking out the local GC. I treat it like a little treasure hunt.
From time to time I have found an EBMM guitar that (I thought) could use a simple little tweak to improve its' playability. I have always gone to the guitar counter and told the sales rep what I thought and asked for the simple tool (if necessary) to do the tweak.
Several times the GC employee was a little hesitant to let me do the work (necessary) on the guitar and I think that's understandable. I'll explain what I want to do and they are always cool with it. Then the guitars are just a little nicer to play to boot.
Reading your request really made me smile and I am proud to report that I (Knucklehead ranking corporal no class) am already taking care of that where ever I can.
A couple of times I have found an instrument that I think would require factory attention. (along the lines of broken toggle switches and stuff) I explained why to the guitar counter and I have been met with mixed results. I have seen the guitars returned to the showroom and I've seen stamps licked as they go back.
Especially since you requested it I will continue to help make the EBMM instruments look good in your stores whenever I come across them. If you provide the link for reports then I will send praise where praise is due and/or respectfully bring things to your attention that you have asked about.
Thanks again for making this corner of the world just a little cooler.

This happens to me alot too at my GC.... it's ok though... I'm one of the ones BP mentioned earlier... walking by and seeing one for the first time, playing it and loving it!!!

 

[Big Poppa]

Ok to bring this around. WE have three diehard knuckleheads that discovered our stuff at a GC due to their "hands on" approach. We have the CEO's attention and blessing to perform minor adjuistments or to be the eyes and ears. We will be getting a point person within GC to report both good and bad experiences. I think this beats the hell out of ivory tower/glass case old school "don't touch" philosophy. IT also shows that your voice is heard when respectfully and objectively voiced. As those AUssies say, "good on Ya"

 

[lorino]

So...

Ok to bring this around. WE have three diehard knuckleheads that discovered our stuff at a GC due to their "hands on" approach. We have the CEO's attention and blessing to perform minor adjuistments or to be the eyes and ears. We will be getting a point person within GC to report both good and bad experiences. I think this beats the hell out of ivory tower/glass case old school "don't touch" philosophy. IT also shows that your voice is heard when respectfully and objectively voiced. As those AUssies say, "good on Ya"

So does this all mean I don't have to come to work Saturday morning?

GC in Brookfield, WI Saturday Morning "Dude, there's some big old guy at the door with a tech-bench - says somebody named Marty told him to come in today..."

JIM

 

[Axilla]

Um... y'all could bring in your Wonder Wipes and give them the special WW treatment...

...and a well deserved hug for you on this one, Beth

 

[Axilla]

Hi , I'm from the Forum and I'm here to check your Balls !

Eeeeeewwwww, getcha hands off... !

 

[GWDavis28]

Marty, welcome, always nice to have new member and participants.

I have to admit, I would never have seen an EBMM if it wasn't for GC. I didn't buy it from them, but to this day I remember messing around with it and thinking, this thing is sweet.

As for tweaking, I'm still learning, so I think I'd rather just point that there's a problem and let the employee's handle it. I'd be happy to assist, I think it's a great idea.

Glenn |B)

 

[tommyindelaware]

i would be open to discussing the possibility of traveling some to hit the guitar racks for ebmm/gc.

 

[kbaim]

We have the CEO's attention and blessing to perform minor adjuistments or to be the eyes and ears. We will be getting a point person within GC to report both good and bad experiences.

Hey Marty,
Any chance you can cover us on the company health insurance plan?

 

[Big Poppa]

It would afect the stock price for you shareholders!

 

[Marty Albertson]

Great to see all the input.....BP and I discussed having a Knucklehead Tech ID card made up to identify the qualified forumites that you would show to store staff so you could work on EBMM instruments.....

could the forum identify those that are qualified to work on the instruments ??

and there would be no liability to those doing the work....

Also....for now let's use Michael Doyle as the point person to communicate with but I will stay active on the site as best I can.