saw a new SUB1 today

[SteveB]

Today I went to the GC store that just opened here in Pittsburgh 4 days ago. I asked the salesman if they had Music Man guitars, and he said they only had basses. Then I pointed to a red HH Sub 1 on the wall and said "That's a Music Man right there". Sheesh.

Anyway, it must have been one of the newer ones, 'cause it had a plastic, plain pickguard on it. The rest looks the same.. painted neck, textured finish.

There were 2 bongo's on the wall, and a handful of Stingrays. They had an OLP Axis and and OLP Petrucci. First time I've seen the OLP guitars in the flesh. Man, you could never mistake one for the real thing, if you have seen both. They are so obviously different.

 

[Raz]

Today I went to the GC store that just opened here in Pittsburgh 4 days ago. I asked the salesman if they had Music Man guitars, and he said they only had basses. Then I pointed to a red HH Sub 1 on the wall and said "That's a Music Man right there". Sheesh.

Anyway, it must have been one of the newer ones, 'cause it had a plastic, plain pickguard on it. The rest looks the same.. painted neck, textured finish.

There were 2 bongo's on the wall, and a handful of Stingrays. They had an OLP Axis and and OLP Petrucci. First time I've seen the OLP guitars in the flesh. Man, you could never mistake one for the real thing, if you have seen both. They are so obviously different.

Did you try the Sub?

 

[SteveB]

Raz,

No, I didn't try the SUB, and the reason is funny. My wife & kids (ages 3 & 1) were with me. Believe it or not, my wife (who was trying to keep the kids occupied so that I could run around and drool) had more time to spend trying things than I did.

Every time I took 10 steps, a new sales associate would chat me up. I ended up not buying several things that I had intended to buy, simply because I couldn't get around to them... the sales associates burned up all of my time!

Well, if that new GC isn't going to keep any EBMM guitars around, I have no reason to go back there. I can walk into any other music store in town and *not* try an EBMM....

 

[hambucker]

Is that all they are selling any more (SUB1s and basses)? When I worked there a couple of years ago we were blowing all the Axis' out. I figured at the time they were cutting ties or something. I've only really been there to buy strings and stuff, not play.

 

[hambucker]

Off topic I know, but did you guys hear about GC and rickenbacker(?)? Just heard last night they cut ties. Too bad for GC.

 

[sgmarshall3]

Ooh, where's it at? I'm going to be in Pittsburgh next month for a wedding! I understand your frustration. The GC here in Columbus has annoying salespeople, too(and horribly loud stereo cranking so you can't hear anything!). But at the Sam Ash just down the street, it's impossible to GET help. In fact, when I was looking to try out a V amp2, the guy working at Sam Ash told me not to buy one when I asked to try it!!!!!! I think he just didn't want to walk 30 feet to the counter! I drove 2 minutes down the road and eventually bought one at GC. Guitar stores could really do a lot better! I tend to spend more time on ebay looking than the stores because of things like this.

 

[Raz]

Ooh, where's it at? I'm going to be in Pittsburgh next month for a wedding! I understand your frustration. The GC here in Columbus has annoying salespeople, too(and horribly loud stereo cranking so you can't hear anything!). But at the Sam Ash just down the street, it's impossible to GET help. In fact, when I was looking to try out a V amp2, the guy working at Sam Ash told me not to buy one when I asked to try it!!!!!! I think he just didn't want to walk 30 feet to the counter! I drove 2 minutes down the road and eventually bought one at GC. Guitar stores could really do a lot better! I tend to spend more time on ebay looking than the stores because of things like this.

V Amp 2.0 ++

 

[SteveB]

sgmarshall,

In all fairness, I expect that the annoyance factor of the sales staff has everything to do with the fact that the store is brand-new. In a few weeks it would probably be a different story. The store is in Robinson Town Center in the general vicinity of Pgh International Airport.


Hambucker,

Yeah, I only noticed a single SUB1 and the basses that I mentioned. Too bad, for a brand new store. It's especially frustrating when they have the OLP copies of EBMM's, but not the real deal.

 

[edensdad]

I really find the small music stores run by small business people to be much nicer to do business with. I think the Home Depot approach might work for soccer mom's getting their 13 year olds a strat pak, but I like the mellow atmosphere and approach of the small guys - ask if you need anything, hook you up and leave you alone until you bug them.

My local EBMM dealer has 7-10 premium MM guitars at any given time, plus he calls me and tells me when a new one's in to come try out. (Plus he sells Mesa)

 

[kbaim]

I think the average employee stays at guitar store like 3-4 months. Hence the lack of knowledge and questionable sales skills. (big poppa mentioned this in a thread)

Better to go in knowing thse facts, cut the guys a bit of slack, tell them what you own and what you wanna try out and ask to be left alone for a while. This way, even if you don't find a guitar, you might be able to swing a better deal with them on strings, etc.

I think most sales people assume you have like one guitar and are looking to trade up. Which for us here is redirkulous, but probably more the rule than the exception.

I got most of my gear (3 Lukes, a PRS, 2 flextone amps including a 1/2 stack, a pod, emg's for my strat, etc) through this one guy at GC. When he left after 3 years there, he called me personally and said to see MIKE. He'll take care of me. (I was waiting on the piezo luke).

About 8 months later MIKE called me to say he was leaving GC (had been with the company like over 10 years!). And I can honestly say I enjoy going in there less since those guys left.

The first guy, KIRK, won me over when after we started talking about Randy Rhoads who he said was one of his favorites, and I told him about taking lessons from, took me straight to the acoustic room and played "DEE", Randy's classical sounding tribute to his mother who owned the school Randy taught at. I was wowed and unbelievably happy.

I hadn't heard it in like 15 years! So there are cool sales people out there, it's just hard not to feel bothered by most of 'em. Doesn't hurt to ask them how long they've been working there

 

[kbaim]

My local EBMM dealer has 7-10 premium MM guitars at any given time, plus he calls me and tells me when a new one's in to come try out. (Plus he sells Mesa)

Is this the store Dave Larue (bass for dregs and SMB) has an ownership stake in?

I heard he has one in FL.

 

[old_metal_head]

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has it's share of crap music stores. Most of them make their money on newbees so they don't stock any quality instruments.

I went to the NEW GC when it first opened up. Like the other Pittsburgh GC it didn't have anything I wanted to see. Definitely no EB guiatrs. They had a couple of crap PRS guitars and one JEM locked-up in the glass room.

The only worth-while store around is P-N-S music in Blawnox. They have some good people that have been working there a long time.

 

[SteveB]

old_metal_head...

I ordered my Petrucci through Pianos-n-Stuff. I've been buying from them for decades. But even PnS stocks almost nothing in EBMM guitars. Sure, they have basses at any given moment. But the last time I was in there, a single SUB1 guitar was the only Music Man representation in the guitar area.

I have been working on Jason (the guitar dept. manager) to stock more Music Man. He's a great guy and earns your business every time.

I can't understand why they have a boatload of Suhr guitars on the wall at any given moment, but no Music Man guitars! (Although I did see an Axis in there several months ago.) I know they order EBMM's with some regularity. Every time I go down there Jason tells me about any that he has ordered for customers. (Most recently they had a 7-string Petrucci in one of the golds, but it arrived without the matching headstock which the customer wanted. Jason was going to call me to see if I was interested, but they ended up sending it back.)

Anyway, PnS is the best in town, but they have the worst parking scenario!

 

[Raz]

old_metal_head...

I ordered my Petrucci through Pianos-n-Stuff. I've been buying from them for decades. But even PnS stocks almost nothing in EBMM guitars. Sure, they have basses at any given moment. But the last time I was in there, a single SUB1 guitar was the only Music Man representation in the guitar area.

I have been working on Jason (the guitar dept. manager) to stock more Music Man. He's a great guy and earns your business every time.

I can't understand why they have a boatload of Suhr guitars on the wall at any given moment, but no Music Man guitars! (Although I did see an Axis in there several months ago.) I know they order EBMM's with some regularity. Every time I go down there Jason tells me about any that he has ordered for customers. (Most recently they had a 7-string Petrucci in one of the golds, but it arrived without the matching headstock which the customer wanted. Jason was going to call me to see if I was interested, but they ended up sending it back.)

Anyway, PnS is the best in town, but they have the worst parking scenario!

Story of my life, Best Intentions, Worst outcome!

 

[Warg Master]

Since we're talking about stores that carry (or lack of stores that carry) Music Mans in Stock... check out www.drumcityguitarland.com..... They've got more then one in stock at a time. Very decent store...although not anywhere near you guys to go try out...you know, I'm not even sure why I'm mentioning it now.... fine, forget I said anything....

I'll stick with Daddy O's Music Shack.

 

[old_metal_head]

I grew up with Justin and Jason in Chapel Downs. Their dad has owned the place since the 70's when he and his partner started it up.

They tell me that there is no real demend for EB guitars when the fenders are cheaper etc...

They'll order anything you want...

I'm not sure why they stock Suhr guitars, I've always seen the same half-dozen hanging on the wall.

I'll be down there tomorrow so if I remember I'll ask.

 

[Raz]

I know what they're saying...when I was at the music store the other day, this kid walks in and instantly grabs a Fender, not knowing anything about where its made, or anything...I then told him about the SUB1, of course I described in detail that it was better than most guitars priced higher, and it wasn't really that much more than the Fender, but he was, like most people brainwashed...however after a bit of convincing, I do believe he purchased the SUB1!

 

[hawkeye86]

I know what they're saying...when I was at the music store the other day, this kid walks in and instantly grabs a Fender, not knowing anything about where its made, or anything...I then told him about the SUB1, of course I described in detail that it was better than most guitars priced higher, and it wasn't really that much more than the Fender, but he was, like most people brainwashed...however after a bit of convincing, I do believe he purchased the SUB1!

Sounds like my first near-attempt at buying my Sub1. The drone at GC told me it was just like a Fender. That baffled me. I have a Strat. I know what they are. The Sub1 is a different animal. A very nice different animal. Man I'm loving that thing. The neck pickup sounds so good for leads. It's nice and round. Kind of reminds me of some Pertrucci runs on various Dream Theater albums. Thanks again, Raz for steering me toward it.

 

[Raz]

Sounds like my first near-attempt at buying my Sub1. The drone at GC told me it was just like a Fender. That baffled me. I have a Strat. I know what they are. The Sub1 is a different animal. A very nice different animal. Man I'm loving that thing. The neck pickup sounds so good for leads. It's nice and round. Kind of reminds me of some Pertrucci runs on various Dream Theater albums. Thanks again, Raz for steering me toward it.

Hey my pleasure...even though I have two silos and other guitars, I still play my SUB's...yeah I love the meaty neck!

 

[koogie2k]

I must be more the exception than the rule because my local GC always has several models of EB's in stock. Most are decently set up (until the kids down tune 'em and what not) but I would not walk out with one from there. I get my other deals on items like strings, effects, amps, etc because like Warg, I go to Doug at Daddy O's from now on. Since my dealings with him, I can't see going elsewhere for now.

At my local GC, I have one guy I deal with and I always get the big discounts and freebie stuff. I bring a lot of business to him as a result, so he really takes care of me. I'm one of the lucky few though it seems.