Guitar Center may file for bankruptcy

I bought several Custom Shop Strats,
my mint Blonde Vibro-King, NOS Tweed BJs....
etc. Great deals and service back in the day.

I’ll be sorry to see them go, if that is what happens.

I've been following this a bit on utube and part of the consensus is too many brands. It's not just Guitar Center, it's Musicians Friend and would appear Music 123 as well. They are all the same entity. I have to agree that it makes no sense to have a company with different names for the same thing. Schizophrenic! They were propped up by their current controller from there last go around back is '13 I think when Guitar Center sold controlling interest to an entity called 'KKR' which is speculated to have taken control to 'get the debt paid down' and then sell. Anyway, Guitar Center 'skipped out' on paying a bond of 45 millions and in so doing, are mulling over this bankruptcy.

It would appear Gibson is in deep do do as well as they have extended credit to GC and will likely get returns of gear to their company from GC. Their business model seems to be done by a lunatic anyway as they require their dealers to comply with absurd amounts of product they have to buy in order to be a 'Gibson' dealer.

Also, GC is apparently cutting prices on Gibson's to below 'map pricing' which appears to be in violation of Gibson's agreement with them so, if you're looking for a Gibson, you might want to shop now at GC as they are trying to blow out their inventory for some 'quick cash'.  I've seen some thousand dollar drops on some of their gear. 

On a personal note, I've bought many things from them but, it's been a few years since I went their for anything. If they go under, they will probably emerge under a different brand maybe.

So, what would be  your best new name for GC? Mine would be along the lines of their current and on going situation. 'Swindlers List' comes to mind for some reason. 

I will be sad to see them go. It was a Sunday ritual for me to have a late breakfast and then browse GC and try out the equipment. Over a 15 year span I'm sure I bought a ton of stuff. I don't know the number but north of $20k seems about right.

In recent years I tend to go to Sweetwater for my regular needs for strings and things.

I guess the mom and pop music stores will be glad to hear that. Hate to hear it. They were convenient

I also read on a forum where Remington Arms is out the door

I’ve never bought a guitar from them but I got my JBL monitors there. I do use Musicians Friend quite a bit. I have EM Shorts 🩳 two miles from my house so it is pretty hard for GC to compete.

I've purchased a bunch of stuff from GC over the years. The local store has been going downhill for several years. The last time I stopped in about a year ago I stepped right back out. Lots of empty hangers and I couldn't find anyone interested in fetching a top line guitar for me to test drive. I don't see myself returning anytime soon.

Are they not gone all ready?

Honestly, You go into one ... what is there? Entry level gear. That is it... (on the guitar side... that is. ) 

My experience: I have had both good and bad with GC. The store south of me... is garbage! Bad service, etc. The store to the north.. Pretty decent, knowledgeable people and good service.. Even COMP'ed me some guitar cable (my pick) just for shopping. Yea I'd hate to see the good GC near go

Guitar playing as we know it is not as popular as it once was. The guitar as a spotlight instrument is just not there. i.e. POP it's totally gone. Country it's still somewhat there, Jazz and Blues the guitar is pretty prominent (those genres are not as popular with younger generations)

I grew up in the early 80s when hard rock and metal dominated the airwaves. (Guitar was king!) Metal will never return to that level of popularity. Not the Metal of today that is, it's to dissident focused, not enough melodic playing. In short There is no sex appeal to attract the babes, without hot babes... nothing but sausage fests.. and no popularity.

A lot of rock n roll (dominated by the guitar) was about having a good time. I'd say a 3rd of the music out there is about that... and a small % of it has a guitar focus.

Seems wild... but women have taken up the guitar and might be its savior. (as far as modern music goes) In the last 5yrs I've seen more great female guitarist than I've ever seen.

Just another with the millennial male with me.

I know this is bad, but I wonder about this too. They have 2 basses (one in-store locally here and one online) that I would be curious to see if they would offer deals on them. If the prices are right (or right on one), I think I will go for it.

To echo pcalu, their equipment is entry level with the basses as well. The basses I would be interested in trying are too high up or they do not have them in stock.

Well sales to the masses of unessential stuff is rapidly heading downward around the world now sad to say. I believe they've been in the crapper for quite a while. There are still a few people in the stores that try but they are few and far between. Product knowledge is scarce and you'd better do your homework online before you buy or you get to return stuff regularly. It's great that returns are handled well but if there is a problem there is little guidance to be found. It's sad . There used to be tons of stores where the merchandise was plentiful and choices were available. Sadlythe guy who made your whatzis is living overseas and doesn't know about you and his upper management just want the dollars to look good. It's not just Guitar Center. Most places now are sparse on inventory and can't advise you on their products etc.

There is a GC a few miles from my home. The last time I went in there was August 2019 when my nephew (who is a hell of a drummer) was in town. He messed around on a drum set with another customer.

I bought a RUSH songbook but didn't really look at any of the guitars. The staff in the place seem OK, but I prefer a Mom and Pop place that I found near me this past summer.

Another subsidiary of the parent corp. is Music And Arts . They have 3 or 4 stores here in Phoenix metro. They exist mostly for instrument rentals for schools. They suck as a guitar store. Cheap pointy guitars and overpriced accessories. They do offer lessons. If they close, the lessons will be the only loss

Do you do any mail order? If so, message me, we’ll figure out a way to promote your shop on the FSOT board. Any bit may help.

Wow, that's really nice! I really appreciate it. Let me think about what might work. I've had my store open for 10 years and I deal in mostly used gear. I have sat down with Fender and few other outfits and the margins just didn't work for me, especially with GC 25 min down I-70.

I played regionally with my band all through my 20s and spent a lot of time on the FDP. I was lucky enough to even host the FDP jams in KC a half dozen times.

My wife and I bought a house and some land 40 miles east of KC and when we decided to have kids I quit traveling and opened up the music store in a neighboring town of about 5000 people. All the "useless" knowledge I got from the FDP came in handy and I have a pretty good customer base of gigging musicians who come to me for guitar and amp repair. The real bulk of my business has been lessons, I do about 40 a week and have really put a lot of energy trying to get the kids in the community playing music. I have kids in a jazz band, two rock/blues groups that are really coming along, and another mixed youth and adult that do contemporary Christian music.

I'm doing pretty well for being shut down for 8 weeks, I have some kids who's parents aren't fully back to work, but some of the other students and parents have kicked in a bit to support keeping everything going so all the students have been able to keep thier lessons going regardless.

Its been terrifying and amazing at the same time!