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Post by Mfitz804 on Nov 2, 2020 10:25:01 GMT -5
To clarify, by “figure it out” I only mean that you don’t have the requisite number of posts to use that section. I’m not talking about “figure it out” as in I am looking to sell ad space, I’m not. That’s free here.
If you want to do it, I’ll make it happen, just let me know.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 2, 2020 10:45:01 GMT -5
I’d love to hear about the used inventory!
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Post by Seldom Seen on Nov 2, 2020 11:15:17 GMT -5
I might like to add to the "used inventory".
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Post by hushnel on Nov 2, 2020 12:49:25 GMT -5
I purchased my 1999 Tele from the South Miami GC, searching the internet to learn more about the instrument led me to the FDP. It’s a great telecaster. About 6 years or so ago a violin maker/music instructor at the GC Gainesville, told me to checkout this amazing Squire Bronco they had in the store. He was right too this $149.00 bass was unreal. He considered it the best bass they had at the time, out of the 80 or so basses in stock. I bought it and installed a Bi-Sonic pick up. Swapped out the junk electronics and this bass is extra dimensional.
I got a used GK MB150E from them years ago. Some items on sale like bongos, field recorder, gigbags.
More recently I was ambushed by a Yamaha CSF3M Compact Folk guitar at the same GC I got the Bronco from. I traded in my Little Martin, which I didn’t need any longer, replacing it with an all weather carbon fiber travel guitar from Klos.
That’s about it. Strings, power cords etc. Mostly I like to go in and just check stuff out. I’ve had fun playing with strangers. The last time this guy was playing a semi hollow jazz guitar. Really playing it, I picked up a bass plugged in and we must have played 15-20 minutes, It was cool, this guy was great, showed me a jazz riff and and we jammed on it. Swapped numbers but he never got back to me. He was a preacher, probably just too busy, or maybe I look too much the heathen.
I don’t know about some of their guitar techs though, I’ve stopped a couple from potentially screwing up somebody’s guitar by pointing out their technique could possibly damage the instrument. I’ve meet some some good techs too.
I’ve been in stores that a quick look around was enough, you can almost smell the egos. Again it could be the heathen thing “o). A couple years back, when I was down in Miami, I went to the South Miami GC to pick up a couple sets of strings and the guy behind the cash register was playing Black Bird, I was staring at him, he saw me and came over and asked if I needed help, I said I thought Black Bird was on the banned list. He started laughing and started “Stairway to Heaven” He must of been an FDPer. The owner maybe manager is of this GC was a guy I’d run into around town. He used to have a small guitar shop closer to the city back in the day.
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swampyankee
Wholenote
Fakin' it 'til I'm makin' it since 1956
Posts: 713
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Post by swampyankee on Nov 2, 2020 13:16:28 GMT -5
If and when GC goes I won't lose any tears over them. They put the nail in the coffin of alot of mom and pop shops, which I miss dearly. I've bought a few things from them over the years, most notably my Martin 000-16. I've gotten a couple used items from them, but I've been disappointed many times, and hated their efforts to upsell. I even saw a clerk trying to sell a grandmother buying her 12 year old grandson the highest priced strings on the rack by telling her they'd stay in tune better. I called him out on it and nearly got kicked out of the store.
Hopefully the local shops will come back once again.
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Post by thefarmcaster on Nov 2, 2020 13:31:10 GMT -5
To clarify, by “figure it out” I only mean that you don’t have the requisite number of posts to use that section. I’m not talking about “figure it out” as in I am looking to sell ad space, I’m not. That’s free here. If you want to do it, I’ll make it happen, just let me know. Perfect! I appreciate it.
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Nov 2, 2020 15:26:06 GMT -5
The problem with GC is that you don't want every wanker in town coming in, pulling $3000 instruments off the wall to play smoke on the water, so you put 'em up high.
Then you get people like me: I have the financial wherewithal to buy that guitar and, if I found one that spoke to me, I probably would. But I don't "need" a new guitar and I don't actively go searching for something specific. If I buy these days, it's because I stumbled across something special.
We got a GC about 15 years ago and I checked it out a few times. All the good stuff was out of reach and I just didn't feel like saying having them pull 6 guitars down to see if any of them spoke to me. Odds are they won't and I'd feel bad for taking their time.
So I never go in....haven't set foot in that place in 10 years.
Back in the day, I used to road trip to KC to visit family and I'd always go there. I remember the first time, being in awe of the wall of guitars. We'd also go to the MF scratch n dent facility, which was always a blast. I got a couple nice guitars there and still think about one I didn't bring home with me.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Nov 2, 2020 16:24:44 GMT -5
The MF clearance center was epic.
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Post by Blacksunshine on Nov 2, 2020 19:03:55 GMT -5
I've used their online used store a couple times and really liked it.
Usually cheaper than Reverb or Ebay, and fast shipping.
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Post by jefe46 on Nov 25, 2020 10:23:28 GMT -5
Today, from a financial Guru regarding the GC Bankruptcy:
"I would not advise buying Guitar Center Gift Cards for Christmas"
FYI
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Post by markfromhawaii on Nov 25, 2020 16:08:08 GMT -5
Sorry, new to this thread. The only times I've bought from our local GC was when I needed something QUICK like the time I got a Yamaha MG10XU mixer that I needed for a sub-mixer that night. My buddy Ceddie is the guitar repairman there, so I'd hate to see them fold just for that reason. Last i checked them out, I needed strings and a slide and there was a line to get in due to COVID restrictions. I went to another friend's shop and got what I needed. Yeah, support locally owned shops.
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Post by tahitijack on Nov 25, 2020 17:17:10 GMT -5
I've been a long time GC customer. About 20 years ago I started buying all my gear from one of the sales crew at a local store. It didn't matter if it was strings, amps or guitars Allen was my go to guy. Over time Allen eventually got promoted, then relocated to the flagship store in Hollywood. Even so I called him for every purchase to pick up at the Hollywood store or delivery to my local store. I have never had a bad experience or disappointment. I checked in with him this week and so far he is going to be OK. I know there are a lot of folks here that hate GC. I get that, but when these things happen the hardworking employees find themselves crossing their fingers and doing their best. I hope those GC employees across the nation keep their jobs and keep moving right along.
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Post by RufusTeleStrat on Nov 25, 2020 17:49:27 GMT -5
I shopped Music Power / Guitar Trader for years until their demise. I had a personal relationship with many of the employees, and was very sorry to see them go. I have a GC I shop, and have been vulturing on the used market there. Unfortunately the musicians have been suffering with no live work, and the Vegas scene is nothing if not live shows and lounge acts. I have found some great deals at GC that clearly were from collectors or active players who need to get money for living. They know if they sell to GC, at least for today the check will clear.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Nov 25, 2020 18:51:23 GMT -5
Late to this thread...
GC has done it to themselves. This is what happened to Mars Music years ago, and GC should've known better. The business model was, in imitation of the rising box stores of the late 90s, to have a giant, awe inspiring show room with a ridiculous inventory. They do this by buying way too much stuff. They buy on credit, and owe the manufacturers lots and lots of money. Eventually it just doesn't work out. It happened to Mars and they have little excuse, but GC had Mars to look at and learn from, and the sobering reality that it is a shrinking industry.
GCs are a funny thing and they're only ever as good as whoever is working at your local branch. Some get lucky. Most I've encountered will have occasional great employees who rarely stick around more than 6 months or a year. In some cases, the workers I've known that have high tailed it did so because of their co-workers. One in particular was frustrated that he'd spend lots of time on sales and co-workers would stop by and offer to "ring people up" and take the commission. Management never cared, so he bolted. Trying to explain guitar care to people can be hard enough sometimes, but when someone got some awful advice from a GC "expert", it takes even more work to cut through that noise.
One YouTuber I watch speculated that it is mostly just going to be under performing stores that will go bye-bye, and it most often will be when there are several stores in a metro area. They over built. Starbucks had to do this a few years ago, not because Starbucks was suffering, but they discovered that having three on the same block might not work out so well.
I think I feel the worst for the manufacturers. Some are huge entities, but many are not. Many are the same sorts of companies you see all over that are just watching hoping to make payroll every month. Many manufacturers put up with GC for a long time because it meant they didn't need to have sales reps or have to pay an intermediate distribution firm, both of which have gone the way of the do-do. Think how much easier shipping is when you just load up pallets and 60-70% of your stuff goes to the same place. Without GC, they're going to have to reinvent their sales philosophy. Luckily the online world, thanks in large part to Reverb, has become nice and diverse so they will be able to adapt... still, it will hurt a bit.
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