For me its when the $4,500 guitar has never been setup at all, intonation is horrible, action is way high, pickups heights haven't been set, and the sales guy say's "if you buy it, we'll set it up for you" how about you set it up, I'll play it and then decide if I want to buy it.
Let me guess, GC. I looked at two GLP Standards. One with HB's and the other with White Soap Bars. The '57 reissue gold tops.. 4500.00. Nah. I am looking at FGN now gold tops and soap bars. I have a '99 GLP Std . It's a nice guitar. My FGN is a nice guitar as well. OPTIONS is my point. His attitude was above my paygrade.
Try being a female guitar player! I have been playing for 10 years and I'm pretty good. However, every time I walk into a guitar store where I haven't shopped before they either want to take me to the beginner guitars or assume I am there to buy something for my boyfriend. The younger the sales people are. the more they talk down to me.
Sharon, if you run into that again, let them put a low end in your hands, hit them with some riffs, and critique the instrument. After that, tell them you're looking for something with (insert adjective here). Show them you know more than they thought and they won't forget you anytime soon.
There’s so many female guitar players today too and it still hasn’t changed their attitude. It depends on the store. There are so many that just treat everyone poorly.
When I was young, my town had two shops. One was the big multi-dealer with everything. New, all the latest greatest. And, owned and staffed by a rude, condescending jerk and his minions. Never welcoming. The other store was run down and had little and mostly off brands, but that man was a joy to be around and was super helpful and encouraging. When I bought my first "real" guitar, a Crestline strat copy, he spent all day setting it up and showing me all around it...and making sure it was the right guitar for me, and threw in 6 lessons. I wanted a real strat, before that, but he got me rolling on my musical journey and turned out to have sold me a very nice instrument at a great price, and the lessons are things I still use to this day. Sadly, he passed not long afterwards...but he set the bar in my mind for what a music store could be, and how retail can operate with some heart and passion. Flynn's Guitar in Mt. Vernon Ohio....a sweet man who deserved more success than he had.
Last time I was in a guitar store I even said “I want to buy something but what I want I can’t afford” And the salesman nodded in agreement and pointed out an expensive bass
I’m like you Baxter I get unnerved having to play in a store. I like that you have separate places in your store. My idea of a great shop be: separate practice rooms, a decent selection of guitars and amps, sales people who introduced themselves, gave you the lay of the land and told you how things worked in the store and then said “have fun ,let me know if you have any questions or need any help” I hope to visit your shop one day🤞
Blues lawyer here. Massive fan of your channel. I’m lucky to have 2 great guitar shops near me. The folks there are fantastic. But I would love to visit your shop!
Had my first visit to Casino Guitars this past week...loved it, what a great place! Baxter was extremely welcoming and cool. Wish I would have met JR, but he was obviously out shopping for Kias😆. I can't wait to visit again. Thanks Guys!
I got a Guitar Center story. There’s one main Guitar Center in Chicago. It used to be near Wrigley Field, it moved about a mile south. There was this one manager that worked there for over a decade. He had this slick guy ponytail, and was a total used car salesman type. Slimy and pressure people to get the sale. I was in there and saw a sweet Red Gibson ES-335. I was playing it and the slick manager guy while in the middle of a conversation, walks up to me, doesn’t say a word or pause the conversation, takes the guitar out of my hands, put it back on the rack, and walked away. Never even looked me in the eye. I was way to blown away to be angry about it just yet. Just shocked. Now, I admit, I look young for my age, but at the time this happened I had been playing guitar for over ten years. I didn’t even get the chance to plug the guitar in. The message was clear, you are not worthy of this guitar. He treated me like a little kid about to get melted chocolate all over the guitar with my filthy hands. Whenever I tell this story, once I start describing this prick, everyone knows who I’m talking about right away. Everyone agrees, that guy sucked.
I'll never forget seeing an interaction at my least favorite shop in Toronto. a 14 year old kid pulled and American tele off the wall. that sales guy came over to lecture the kid about the cost of it. The sales guy let the kid play it...but he wouldn't let him plug it in. anyway, the kid was an incredible player. obviously jazz trained Hopefully that place has gotten better, but I haven't been there in 15 years
Thanks for this video. I've been struggling with terrible service at my local shop. To the point I'm basically committed to Guitar Center permanently. In short my issue is when good stores hire excrementary people. "Recently", a great and legendary local store hired a terrible person who sold me a defective $400 delay pedal. This "person" knows I'm disabled AND indigent yet still decides to rip me off. The experience was altogether bad enough that I won't trust the shop or the manufacture now. Seriously though, I chose that pedal over food.
My fav local shop is like “ Cheers” everybody knows my name, well not the new guys. The thing I can’t stand is people talking down on another shop, brand, player etc. I don’t drink, play golf, work on my car; music is my oasis and the last thing I mean the very last thing I want is some negative vibe about other music people
Same here. Negative vibes are not cool. Every player has their own style, sound, etc. Every season veteran started not knowing a single riff. No point in comparing your story to someone elses. I love going to shops that are totally different. At the end of the day every shop sells gear and that's what matters. They just carry what the local community wants. Love trying out new gear I would have never ordered online. Sometimes I find unique stuff that I add to my setup and becomes such a key part of my tone.
@@Armedjoy91 so Im like boomer old and played top 40 '80s music in the mid 80s and Ive been going to this same music store that long so almost 40 years. In that first 'band' out of like 35 songs we did I liked maybe 3 and hated probably 20-25, not my kind of music at all. i loved being in a band that much and playing although I did have one big thing I cant stand...people who dont practice. I've worked really hard over the years to not be negative but musical tastes are so fickle. Its ironic because that same set list now 35 years later would KILL at most bars in this area, boomers love their top 40. Most musicians are usually my kind of people and I was mentored at a young age 13 to be around a bar band and help them set up and tear down and even jam sometimes during sound check and they were all very positive and encouraging and I still try to live up to my bass playing brother in spirit Danny who invested so much time in an angry young kid
RIP mandolin bros. on Staten Island- an unreal collection of beautiful instruments, staffed by totally cool people that would let you play anything. It was also in a converted house with lots of rooms, so you didn’t feel like everyone in the place heard you if you shit the bed on whatever you’re playing ;)
Now you’re talking. First time I went there I arrived, they gave me coffee, showed me around the (well you know what it was like) astonishing Aladdin’s cave of high end stringed, fretted instruments, and just left me to it, pulling tens of thousands worth of guitars off the wall, playing them and putting them back all by myself. They must have been discreetly keeping and eyes but they never bothered me. Apart from two hours when later they asked if I’d like another coffee. Two hours after that founder Stan Jay appeared at my side, said he’d been listening to me play and wanted to show me a few guitars he thought might suit my style, and an hour after that I’d bought my Martin, feeling like I’d just trodden in Joni Mitchell’s hallowed footsteps (she wrote Song For Sharon on the Staten Island ferry coming back from Mandolin Brothers with her new mandolin that Stan had just sold her). Lovely man. RIP Stan Jay
Gotta say, almost every shop visit I the staff handled things better than any other store type. One exception: I was trying a $600 acoustic (not worth that) in a general purpose music shop. Some guy walked up behind me and said the thing had no scratchplate (assuming I couldn't tell?), and I should respect the instrument. I turned around to see this old guy in a turtleneck and jacket, and told him I only hybrid pick and he should respect the instrumentalist. He left. I have never seen that guy there afterwards.
I think CME is an absolutely amazing shop. I have purchased from them both in person and online. Their customer service is excellent as is their selection. I think the two things that really set them apart is the fact they have mastered the integration of brick and mortar with online shopping, and the fact that they literally span the whole spectrum from entry level guitars to high end Custom Shop/boutique along with recent used guitars all the way up to the most desirable vintage guitars. Most stores just aren’t capable of covering so much ground much less doing it well.
I've been on both sides of the counter and I've experienced way more arrogant customers than I ever had arrogant salespeople. Easily 90% of the general public can't take a guitar out of a wall hanger without smashing it multiple times into the guitar either side of it. Nor can they unplug a guitar from an amp silently, despite having been strenuously told multiple times to flick the standby switch or unplug the cable from the amp end first. Then there's the customer, who is almost always an 18-25 year old male, who seems oblivious to the clearly obvious fact that you are mid conversation with another customer, who waltzes right up and interrupts to ask if he can have a hand over on the other side of the shop, and then appears astonished and offended when you insist that you first finish dealing with your current customer who was here long before them. A more specific example might be the 15 year old school kid who, for at least a year, would drop in two or three times a week on his way home from school, buy a small mini mud cake from the bakery next door first, scoff it down with his bare hands, and then come in and ask to play the most expensive guitars in the shop. Every time. And every time, he'd be marched to the rest rooms and made to wash his hands before touching the instruments. I think eventually he bought a small entry level Ibanez a couple of years later, so I guess it was worth it. I could go on, but I think I've made my point. Before you get too worked up about whatever draconian policy your local store has, maybe stop and consider exactly what type of imbecile customer has led them to instigate that policy in the first place.
Agree completely, I first met Dom back in the Music Station days, and bought a few guitars at that spot. I am glad to see that they are doing well and you always get a good vibe going in. I too, obviously, live in Anderson and it's kinda cool that there are other guys in town giving the representation
Misogyny and ageism. Too many times I've walked into a new to me shop, gone over to look at the guitars and got, "Excuse me, are you looking to get something for your son or your husband? Because it would be best if he came in here and picked it out himself." Or- I go to pick up and electric guitar and get told, "They're not like the acoustics you're probably used to." Dude, I'm not Joan Baez. I'm Joan Jett.
Have you guys heard of Mandolin Brothers in NYC - staten island? Joan Baez, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Chris Christopherson,... and more shopped there. I remember being asked to leave so George Harrison could shop privately. He bought a vintage mandolin. He was in town for experimental cancer treatment and passed in a staten island hospital. R.I.P.
retail is brutal. if you like a shop,if you like the people, if you enjoy going there...........F'N BUY SOMETHING!!!!!! dont be a cheap SOB . even if you can get it a little cheaper on line. this world would be a better place if people honored : DO UNTO OTHERS.......
Most annoying thing about guitar shops must be all we guitar players coming in to sit down and play random riffs and solo licks for half an hour at a time pretending ot be "trying out" different guitars without any intention of ever buying anything hoping to impress all the other guitar players or maybe even the people working at the shop instead of finding an actual band and striving for actually accomplishing something with our musical lives. :)
Managed a guitar store for 10 years, worst parts of the job: customers name dropping, customers’ lame claims to fame, hearing your life story, customers forcing me to listen to them play, when customers try to play sales people against each other. That is the worst, when customers try to work the sales people against each other to haggle for a deal.
I generally dress in a wrinkled t-shirt and comfortable (read: worn) yoga pants. You'd think that would put me in the middle of guitar shop demographics, but some places have wanted to steer me to a less expensive guitar than the one I wanted to buy. The other thing is if I only own prissy guitars, play surf-themed worship gigs, and happen to want an ESP FRX in Andromeda, it shouldn't matter that I don't play metal. Maybe I just want to practice scales on it, but if it makes me happy (and I have the $), then don't dissuade me from what I want. The other thing is: I want what *I* want, not necessarily what the shop has. It's absolutely okay to find out why I want it and if there's an in-stock alternative that might make me happier. Recently, I was looking at Fenders and wanted a combo I couldn't find, then realized G&L already had what I wanted. But that's one of the things I hate about car salespeople; they only want to sell you what they have, not what you want. I still remember my dad ordering a 1968 Nova and GM calling him every week to update him on the build status. Ouch on the sinker redwood guitar injury; redwood is a very soft wood and dents easily.
LOL Just for the record, librarians these days do want you to bother them. We love library users, and nationwide we've never been busier! Love you guys!! 😉
I come in the shop, I look around for awhile, I’m not pawing at the guitars or handling stuff, finally I grab a few picks and a pack of strings and head over to the counter. Salesperson (who wasn’t assisting anyone) finally makes their way over to the counter and gives a look like, I dragged my ass over to the counter for this? Yeah, ya did. Don’t worry though, I won’t be back. Eventually, I’ll end up spending more on strings than my guitar is worth, but not at that shop. 🎸
That's crazy, cause checking out a pack of picks is just an opportunity for the sales human to make a connection, a future customer, and wait for it...maybe even a friend. Thanks a ton for sharing!
@@mattjackson7859 I have a friend who works at a small shop. Actually, I guess I’m friends with most of the employees there now. Anyway, they hired a new employee last year. His first week was going great until the owner (who actually works in the shop and interacts with customers himself) asked the guy to clean the restrooms. The new guy told him, “I dont do that at home, and I’m definitely not doing it here.” Needless to say that was the end of his employment at the shop.
@@mattjackson7859 I don’t know his living situation but the three choices are pretty much Mom, girlfriend/wife, or nobody. My guess is probably Mom or nobody.
Reminds me of the shop in Anchorage Alaska. Every guitar had a “do not touch“ sign on it, and the dude eyeballed me the entire time, while answering my questions with single syllables.
Speaking of snobby salesman, I once went into our local jewelry store to buy an engagement ring, but I was wearing an old army coat, and he wouldn't even hardly talk to me, couple days later I went back dressed nicely and he was so nice..I didn't buy anything from him...pex
I always thought that working in a music store would be a cool gig. I’m a hack of a musician at best, but I worked in customer service for 30 years. My favorite compliment I ever received from my manager was “I’ve never seen someone sell so little, but get so many compliments from customers”. He didn’t mean it in a positive way, but I took it that way because I was true to myself. GC has driven all the other stores in my area out of business. I don’t know what to think of Guitar Center. I’ve never had a bad experience, but I’ve never had an outstanding experience either.
I moved to Florida and went to the only guitar shop in town. After visiting 3 times I told the owner he was my friend. I give all of my business that I can.
As a kid went into a tiny store every so often. Guy treated me like a friend and encouraged me to try out whatever was on the wall or whatever amp just arrived. I bought my first guitars there, but at 150 each plus strings, cords, picks, and a repair, I doubt I spent a total of 500 bucks. I felt guilty that when I started finally making some money, he was gone and the store had gone a different direction. He was an enthusiast and liked sharing his knowledge and time.
We have a really nice guitar shop in our town and the sales people used to act like they are doing you a big favour whenever you walked in. I hated going there so started shopping at GC and Sam Ash
Yes! Great shop - and a great name. As a rank amateur I was totally (almost) comfortable. Bought my second G&L that day. I'll be back someday and they aren't close.
I hope you guys to a segment about how FedEx is hurting guitar shop lately! I’ve lost 5 expensive packages the last 6 months coming from east coast since I live west. So I recovered 3 of them, but this has become a norm with FedEx and I totally dislike them a lot! Love the guitar shop but I’m not shopping from them again.
The owner..Nate at Willies Guitar exceeded my expectations!! I sold a 70's Martin there. Fair price. Plus great stories. He got back Joe Walsh his '59 burst Les Paul
I got my college graduation gift from Manny's!!!----made a deal with my parents that if I graduated with Honors I picked the gift if not, they did----they never dreamed I would make it lol so they agreed and I won!! I ordered a guitar from Manny's and the day it came in was by FAR the most exciting day of my life at the time---got the call from them that after 6 months, it was in, drove down there on a saturday morning from Westchester County can remember crossing the over the bridge and down the west side highway eight o'clock in the morning BLASTING live Zeppelin, carrying the most cash I ever had on me at the time, lol, but I walked out of Manny's with a breathtakingly GORGEOUS Gibson EDS-1275 Red Doubleneck a la Jimmy Page---still have it, could never part with it---it is a truly spectacular musical instrument imho.
I had a annoying sale’s associate who followed me all around the store watching me like I was going to steal something. I was the only person in the shop. Creepy thing is he didn’t say a thing just followed me.
You guys nailed it on the first example. The pretentiousness of the salespeople at most of the shops around me is a complete turn off. I’ll stick with Sweetwater online.
My favorite GC loud amp story. I went into GC Nashville on a Saturday afternoon and there were several doing the loud chugga chugga thing. I play relatively clean so I picked up a Tele I was interested in and plugged it into a Twin. Played some Don Rich and Roy Nichols licks. Then some Cropper and old Soul stuff. After a couple of minutes, I noticed all the chugga chuggers had quit. Then one of the salesman came up to me and said “Man.. Thanks for playing that stuff and giving us a break.”
From Leo: For a while we had rockers wearing leather vests with multiple metal studs buttons and medals. Most would be willing to remove the studded vest. Some got offended.
Guitars not tuned. I agree that is a turn off. The other thing I don’t like is the associates negative opinion about a guitar or guitar maker.the sales person needs to be as neutral as possible. Helpful but neutral.
Ever since GC came to Louisville a decade ago, quite a few music shops closed especially ones on the east side of the county. My favorite one to visit was Wilson Music, they mainly carried Fender, Ibanez and Dean, but could order anything. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful. I was sad to see them go. Now about the only shops are all closer to downtown like Guitar Emporium, the Doo Wop Shop and Mom's Music, and in areas I don't like driving to, because the traffic is horrible and parking is almost non-existent. The other choice is Music-Go-Round, but it is a good 40 minute drive just to check out used instruments. It would be nice to have a good guitar shop in the eastern parts of Louisville/Jefferson County where parking is decent and traffic isn't crazy. I'll go to GC every now and then to check out their inventory, to try out a bass (I'm a bass player primarily) or a guitar I saw on their website, or check out the used guitars and basses. The guys at GC aren't bad, and I like the selection, but the personal touch is missing.
I was in a Sam Ash music store a few years ago looking for an ES-335. I saw one on display for about $2500. I stood around for a little while, noticing that all the sales guys were about 20 feet away not paying attention. I then walked around the store hoping they would notice me and ask if I wanted to see something. I made my way back to the ES-335 and stood there again for about 5 minutes. Still no one came. I just left the store. I guess the sales guys didn't want to make sales.
Casino is the BEST Guitar Shop and also the BEST business of any kind that I have ever been too. You guys have never made me feel awkward even when I was being weird or shy! Thanks guys. You are awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really only have two pet peeves in guitar shops. The first is the radio shack greeting where you walk in and the immediately someone asks if they can help you find something. Guarantee you more than half the customers say “I’m just lookin” and to those customers it’s setting the stage for them to expect a sales-y experience. The second is a more me thing and that’s that I love guitar pedals. I know more about effects than I do about guitar which is to say I’m barely passable at guitar. So if I pick up a stomp box and someone’s immediately like “you wanna plug that in and give it a try?” it’s weird because no I don’t and I feel like I should but I’d rather just suck in the privacy of my own home.
Demonstration booths. If you get past the initial interest points and want to try something out at volume, a private space where you are not self-conscious of everyone except you and the attending shop assistant is essential. So many shops think its okay to just have this in the main body of the shop, usually with piles of gear everywhere and people wandering past. Your focus goes onto what they’re hearing you play, rather than concentrating on checking out the guitar. Making it clear to customers what can really help them is also really appreciated by those of us who are likely to spend significant money and come back again and again: encourage them to bring their own amp or guitar in to try and partner with what you’re looking at. Have a loading bay! Customers also need to take a lead here and form relationships with their local store. Don’t treat the staff with indifference or condescension. I sometimes ask an assistant what piece of gear in the shop is most exciting them at the moment so I (and they) can get a bead on whether we have common ground. Now they know which assistant best relates to what I am after, and I’m comfortable going back and asking questions.
I went to a guitar shop and had a great experience followed by a crap experience. The great experience was they let me try a guitar that I still really want and as I was sitting there playing a small crowd gathered around me. Then when I was done I started to get all kinds of compliments. At that time I was still pretty new at guitar so it made me feel pretty good. The crap experience happened when I went to the acoustic room looking for a specific brand of guitar and the sales rep kept trying to push me into getting a cheap off brand like Santa Maria or something that was just hideous and not at all close to what I was looking for.
I have a great guitar shop story. It's late 1982, and I am at Brian's Guitars New Haven CT finishing the paperwork on a new Gibson Explorer. The owner Brian Cohen says, "Why don't you check this out" handing me an original San Dimas Strat with one pickup. Damn. Tear up the paperwork, I'm buying this one. But I can't buy this one? I have to order? How long for delivery? Three months? (or so, best as I can recollect). So we pick through all the specs and complete an order sheet for a 1982 Star Body with whammy bar and no annoying lightening stripe, just black and with the explorere headstock, not the sharper hockey stick one. Yes, I deeply regret not ordering the Strat shape, but I had my head up my ass back then (and still do if you listen to my detractors.) When it arrived at the store on a snowy afternoon in December, I drove through the stor to get it, and it was a player right out of the box, number 27 hundred and something, and much better than the Explorer. If you happen to have this guitar or know who does, it was stolen out of my Boston apartment (Haviland St.) on a snowy night sometime around 1986. I saw the three gentlemen who did it (long story, they were loitering in the lobby, a common practice and I wasn't nearly suspicious enough), and I am pretty sure they sold it for crack that same night probably netting a quick fifty or a hundred for the axe and a bass they also took (at the time, crack was a big problem in that neighborhood and around Boston in general). I have owned several other original San dimas Charvels, but none came close to that one playability wise. Sound wise, I agree with critics. The star shape lacks "oomph" in the lower registers, and an Explorer or an SG shape is much better in that regard. Listen to the opening chords of Badfinger's "No Matter What" for proof.
There is or was a large music store in North Miami Florida, about 1/2 mile from Criteria recording studio, that regularly dealt with big name recording artists. If you weren't one of them when you walked in, then, "Super Snob Service". Great store if there was decent staff...
When I was a teen in the eighties, the big-shot local guitar store was staffed by arrogant jerks. They didn’t want to have anything to do with you unless you were in the local hair-metal music scene, which I guess to these guys represented the pinnacle of awesomeness. Everybody in there had an attitude. Fortunately, I soon found out about a great place nearby, with a mom-type proprietor who ran a music store out of her garage (definitely in violation of zoning). She loved having people around and NEVER made you feel like you were wasting her time, whether you were buying something big that day or not. I never went back to the big-shot store. Seems like not too many other people did either, because by the nineties, they were out of business.
Hounded by a salesman who turns out doesn’t even know any information about the gear then still follows you around asking if you “need any strings today”
Dude I walked into a Guitar Center once and asked them if they had any 335's and the pink haired girl I asked said "I'm not sure what that is but I can ask someone..." and so then she asked this other dude behind the counter and he said "I'm not sure what a 335 is but I'm gonna look it up on the computer". I literally just stood there dumbfounded and explained to them what a 335 was and thanked them for their time and left. That was the exact moment that I realized Guitar Center is ultimately doomed.
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 so … I think it’s a guitar … or maybe like a car or something? Anyway, we have two guitars available on our expansive walls and the ownership group who owns our store…like… burned every bridge with guitar manufacturers… soooo … anyway.
I bring my Mustang Micro to the store with me along with my headphones, that way I don't have to listen to others play, and no one really has to listen to me play lol. In a perfect world, shop owners could have spare Mustang Micros and headphones for there customers to use, but sadly I think that would end up being a much larger cost in the real world as people would be likely to steal the mustang micro. Before I got the mustang Micro, I would bring in my headphones and pick a amp that had a regular headphone jack and set up shop there. I would grab a guitar, then go to my spot and test the guitar, I try to mostly ignore the staff.. I am not a fan of someone trying to push me into buying things, so ignoring the staff makes the experience much better for me personally lol.
The most annoying thing about some guitar shops is the arrogance of some of the employees and the owners…. You don’t feel comfortable asking questions about any gear. They sometimes act like they know the only answer to your questions. Everyone in this world can’t know the answer to everything gear wise but some are pretending to know everything. I was told once that zero acoustic guitars hold their value and I said; what about a Martin? I got the answer; None do except the prewar Martins. If I had of bought a Martin then, I could have made some cash because the guitar boom happened. I was also told that I could always sell an Alvarez for what I paid for it, untrue… the answers at some shops are inconsistent. I was looking at one acoustic guitar and it had a hairline crack on the top. I didn’t see it at first because of the lighting. They were asking around 400 for this Washburn but wouldn’t budge on the price for that crack. I mean, they were acting like it was a D-45
There are a couple of local shops near me. One of them I go to whenever I can because the staff is great and it's a good vibe. Not the greatest selection, but that's the life of a small shop. The other one I'll never visit again. The guy who owns it came off as an unethical snob. The store front used to be another guitar shop that's since moved to another location. There are still a lot of authorized dealer signs on the door, none of which actually apply anymore. The guy laughingly said he loves it because it brings people in and then he just tells them they're vintage stickers. His attitude as he was saying it made it clear he had zero issues with misleading people, which bothered me. I'll drive across town in Atlanta traffic to go to a different store before I'll drive the 15 minutes up the road to his place.
I was playing a show at House of Blues in New Orleans. I had some free time and strolled into the music store across the street. The manager goes "You're not going to spend ANY money here are you?" I said "not new" and left. I ended up replacing him a few months later.
I'm a beginner guitar player and I went into guitar center asking them what guitar they recommend for a beginner, the guy said to me" see those guitars over there any of them "and then he walked away. I know I don't need a whammy bar to begin lol I went into another place that was a smaller places and the guy said to me when I asked the same thing what kind of music do you want find out what your favorite guitarist of that and buy it. I'm not spending $2,000 on a guitar for my beginner. Lol
My guitar center in Vegas, it’s nice.The people are low key and they have a cool guitar luthier/tech .fun fact, they have a golf store next door.You can by the cars tell who went into what store .Lambos to the left,kias to the right
1)When ALL they have are low-end and not-so-nice used. I'm no snob, but I would have to go 2+ hours with my dad to be able to play/buy mid-higher end gear. 2)When the stock never rotates. grew up in a small town in the 80's and you would go to the same shop every other week and it was the same peaveys and crates that had been there for 2 years....I think they are still there.
Went to Guitar Center on Monday, looking to spend some money. Immediately, a sales associate asked if he could help. I checked out a mim tele that was on sale, and liked it. The guy hooked me up with some strings and had my ass out the door. I spent 15 minutes shopping. No price break but I sure appreciate the attention by the sales associate and that alone pushed me to just buy there and not even check out what the local mom n pop shop was selling.
I asked for a 42 thousandth string and the guy behind the counter did NOT have a clue as to what I was talking about. He had NO idea that strings were not actually sold as a gauge size, but instead are sold by the actual diameter of the string in thousandths of an inch. SMH! "But this one goes to eleven."
So much of a guitar shop experience can depend on the customers age, and what time and what day you visit the shop. It shouldn’t have to be that way, but we all know that it is.
Went to a place once in Anaheim CA, thought it would be cool, but they had big signs everywhere that said “We want to preserve our guitars for their future owners, so please do not touch anything. Ask a sales representative if you’re interested in purchasing.” Nah bro, I’m leaving. Some were high priced or vintage, but most were just regular guitars in the 500-1500 range.
In my experience GC was great...fifteen years ago. The atmosphere was so much better and the employees were helpful. Now? Not so much. If I venture into a GC now it's to pick up small dollar items and showroom, i.e. test a guitar neck for feel before buying it online.
Yeah I remember back in the day 15-20 yrs ago the salespeople were musicians and knowledge of everything. Nowadays you get a kid that needs the managers help to ring up a set of strings 😬
Love that GC exists -but- it’s the Applebee’s of guitar stores - same generic stuff. IF they have good stuff.. it’s all locked down and you gotta go ask to get unlocked (I just don’t want to do that).
I got told by the co-owner at a big local store in my area that “I kept leaving marks” on some of the guitars and wipe them down when I got done playing them. I totally get that common decency is one thing, but it’s a guitar store…..marks are gonna show up on instruments if people play them. What do you pay your employees to do besides push sales? Just sit on their phones all day?? Not to mention any time I ever went there, he would come out of the woodworks once in a blue moon, and if he was there he had nothing to do with customers. Go figure.
Here in Ye Olde Britain, I have always hated it when a salesman plays that stupid little riff all salesmen seem to play when the hand a guitar to you. I've been playing for a long time and don't need some kid showing me how he impresses the girls.
When I walk into a guitar shop I want to hear guitars playing. Playing at different volumes. I dont want to walk into a library. I want stuff setup ready to be tried out, picks laying around, cables plugged in.
when ya go into a shop and there's the person that is basically just hangin out there all the time and playing the guitars. not really going to buy anything and is a great player. It will really discourage people who are not great or are beginners and they aren't going to want to try any of the guitars out.
I’ve had my run in with shitty guitar store people, I don’t believe I’ve been told no when I’ve asked to play a guitar (that or I’ve just never accepted it).
Here’s my list: (1) Not only the snobby and disinterested, but the clueless and disinterested, or the disinterested because the sales dudes are too busy talking with each other like they’re at a bar (i.e. Carter Vintage). And let’s not forget the disinterested because you’re not famous or just don’t have the “artist” look. Been burned by all of this at CV-as recently as two weeks ago, which was me giving them a 2nd chance. (2) Guitar shops with no iso rooms for customers to go try out gear-especially amps. So it’s basically the DMV with all kids of sonic insanity happening, and zero (customer) consideration of anyone else trying to check out a piece of gear. (3) Appointment only “showroom” shops, where I’ve felt like I can’t touch ANYTHING. Comes across as snobby at times. (4) Overly aggressive salesman-SUPER annoying. Being totally ignored-SUPER annoying. Jonathan was right on about this. (5) Ancient strings on guitars. Disgusting. (6) “Tourist” Guitar shops. We have several here in Nashville. Window shopping mayhem-like having a Ferrari dealership inside Dollywood. 8 out of 10 “customers” in there are just “visiting” and taking up space the real customers need. Store staff are not effectively controlling the insanity, and certainly not making any effort to even say hello and greet others, who are there to make a purchase on something other than a shop t-shirt. This is also part of point (1) above. Every time.
I’m 57 and have been playing for 45 years I hate being ignored when I go into a guitar shop because I’m not young and cool. I was in a shop recently and had to wait for every teenager with no intention of buying the £4K they were trying out to get served first. It really annoys me.
Norms can be snobby too. Nick and Mark were pretty bad. The guys he had before them were even worse. Norm is OK these days but his old employees call him a bully. This is probably true but at least he seems nice these days. Maybe good old Lemmo showed them all how to be a good guy. Love that guy.
I always feel uncomfortable in a guitar shop. I have never been in a guitar shop that I was made to feel comfortable by the employees working there! And I am a very confident person. They all act like you’re going to break something, and unless you show them your credit card they don’t want to give you an expensive guitar to try out!
Imagine you worked in a jewellery store where many of the pieces are worth over $1,000. Not only are they not behind glass, but they are constantly handled and passed around by people with no genuine interest in buying, slowly accumulating wear. They’re afraid you’ll break something because people often do. There’s really no retail business quite like guitar shops. Car dealerships expect you to put down some details and express serious interest before a test drive. Watch dealers won’t let you try on a Rolex out of the blue. Yet guitarists feel entitled to “testing” a custom shop 62 tele.
Most annoying part of guitar shops is sitting down and suddenly forgetting months of practice instantly
And the more people there are in the room, the truer that is!
Not that you forgot but at that moment you have NO idea WHAT to play.... we have all been there
I swear you need a plan when going in there.
😂
I started taking a beta blocker before going to a shop! ;^) Ahhhh, better.
For me its when the $4,500 guitar has never been setup at all, intonation is horrible, action is way high, pickups heights haven't been set, and the sales guy say's "if you buy it, we'll set it up for you" how about you set it up, I'll play it and then decide if I want to buy it.
Let me guess, GC. I looked at two GLP Standards. One with HB's and the other with White Soap Bars. The '57 reissue gold tops.. 4500.00. Nah. I am looking at FGN now gold tops and soap bars. I have a '99 GLP Std . It's a nice guitar. My FGN is a nice guitar as well. OPTIONS is my point. His attitude was above my paygrade.
Try being a female guitar player! I have been playing for 10 years and I'm pretty good. However, every time I walk into a guitar store where I haven't shopped before they either want to take me to the beginner guitars or assume I am there to buy something for my boyfriend. The younger the sales people are. the more they talk down to me.
this is sad but I can definitely see it happening.
I tried to be a female guitar player once. I was the ugliest chick you ever saw. Maybe it was the beard....
Sharon, if you run into that again, let them put a low end in your hands, hit them with some riffs, and critique the instrument. After that, tell them you're looking for something with (insert adjective here). Show them you know more than they thought and they won't forget you anytime soon.
There’s so many female guitar players today too and it still hasn’t changed their attitude. It depends on the store. There are so many that just treat everyone poorly.
That last part is really surprising to me. :(
When I was young, my town had two shops. One was the big multi-dealer with everything. New, all the latest greatest. And, owned and staffed by a rude, condescending jerk and his minions. Never welcoming. The other store was run down and had little and mostly off brands, but that man was a joy to be around and was super helpful and encouraging. When I bought my first "real" guitar, a Crestline strat copy, he spent all day setting it up and showing me all around it...and making sure it was the right guitar for me, and threw in 6 lessons. I wanted a real strat, before that, but he got me rolling on my musical journey and turned out to have sold me a very nice instrument at a great price, and the lessons are things I still use to this day. Sadly, he passed not long afterwards...but he set the bar in my mind for what a music store could be, and how retail can operate with some heart and passion. Flynn's Guitar in Mt. Vernon Ohio....a sweet man who deserved more success than he had.
Wow this story got me in the feels!
I only have one thing that annoys me about guitar shops: Not being able to afford the one I really want.
Last time I was in a guitar store I even said
“I want to buy something but what I want I can’t afford”
And the salesman nodded in agreement and pointed out an expensive bass
I’m like you Baxter I get unnerved having to play in a store. I like that you have separate places in your store. My idea of a great shop be: separate practice rooms, a decent selection of guitars and amps, sales people who introduced themselves, gave you the lay of the land and told you how things worked in the store and then said “have fun ,let me know if you have any questions or need any help” I hope to visit your shop one day🤞
Blues lawyer here. Massive fan of your channel. I’m lucky to have 2 great guitar shops near me. The folks there are fantastic. But I would love to visit your shop!
Had my first visit to Casino Guitars this past week...loved it, what a great place! Baxter was extremely welcoming and cool. Wish I would have met JR, but he was obviously out shopping for Kias😆. I can't wait to visit again. Thanks Guys!
JD Great meeting you and thanks a ton for coming down and hanging out! Thrilled I didn't scare you off too much:)
I got a Guitar Center story. There’s one main Guitar Center in Chicago. It used to be near Wrigley Field, it moved about a mile south. There was this one manager that worked there for over a decade. He had this slick guy ponytail, and was a total used car salesman type. Slimy and pressure people to get the sale. I was in there and saw a sweet Red Gibson ES-335. I was playing it and the slick manager guy while in the middle of a conversation, walks up to me, doesn’t say a word or pause the conversation, takes the guitar out of my hands, put it back on the rack, and walked away. Never even looked me in the eye. I was way to blown away to be angry about it just yet. Just shocked. Now, I admit, I look young for my age, but at the time this happened I had been playing guitar for over ten years. I didn’t even get the chance to plug the guitar in. The message was clear, you are not worthy of this guitar. He treated me like a little kid about to get melted chocolate all over the guitar with my filthy hands. Whenever I tell this story, once I start describing this prick, everyone knows who I’m talking about right away. Everyone agrees, that guy sucked.
I do like your setup with the separate rooms. I think I was the only customer in there when I visited, but could see where it would be nice to utilize
I'll never forget seeing an interaction at my least favorite shop in Toronto.
a 14 year old kid pulled and American tele off the wall. that sales guy came over to lecture the kid about the cost of it. The sales guy let the kid play it...but he wouldn't let him plug it in.
anyway, the kid was an incredible player. obviously jazz trained
Hopefully that place has gotten better, but I haven't been there in 15 years
It’s a double edge sword. Some people don’t know how to treat/handle a guitar.
Was it Steve's music?
@@seantracy5624 of course it was
Thanks for this video. I've been struggling with terrible service at my local shop. To the point I'm basically committed to Guitar Center permanently. In short my issue is when good stores hire excrementary people.
"Recently", a great and legendary local store hired a terrible person who sold me a defective $400 delay pedal. This "person" knows I'm disabled AND indigent yet still decides to rip me off. The experience was altogether bad enough that I won't trust the shop or the manufacture now.
Seriously though, I chose that pedal over food.
“This is a PRS. Don’t play any shreddy stuff or it will break.” 😂 😂 😂
If you really want to pound on a PRS buy one.
Nobody said that, even remotely. You're being silly and laughing way too hard at your own jokes.
You ever heard of John McLaughlin?
My fav local shop is like “ Cheers” everybody knows my name, well not the new guys. The thing I can’t stand is people talking down on another shop, brand, player etc. I don’t drink, play golf, work on my car; music is my oasis and the last thing I mean the very last thing I want is some negative vibe about other music people
Same here. Negative vibes are not cool. Every player has their own style, sound, etc. Every season veteran started not knowing a single riff. No point in comparing your story to someone elses.
I love going to shops that are totally different. At the end of the day every shop sells gear and that's what matters. They just carry what the local community wants. Love trying out new gear I would have never ordered online. Sometimes I find unique stuff that I add to my setup and becomes such a key part of my tone.
@@ChristopherCassisi train sucks though you can’t deny that
@@Armedjoy91 so Im like boomer old and played top 40 '80s music in the mid 80s and Ive been going to this same music store that long so almost 40 years. In that first 'band' out of like 35 songs we did I liked maybe 3 and hated probably 20-25, not my kind of music at all. i loved being in a band that much and playing although I did have one big thing I cant stand...people who dont practice. I've worked really hard over the years to not be negative but musical tastes are so fickle. Its ironic because that same set list now 35 years later would KILL at most bars in this area, boomers love their top 40. Most musicians are usually my kind of people and I was mentored at a young age 13 to be around a bar band and help them set up and tear down and even jam sometimes during sound check and they were all very positive and encouraging and I still try to live up to my bass playing brother in spirit Danny
who invested so much time in an angry young kid
@@ChristopherCassisi Never ordering online is a lot easier if you are not a lefty.
RIP mandolin bros. on Staten Island- an unreal collection of beautiful instruments, staffed by totally cool people that would let you play anything. It was also in a converted house with lots of rooms, so you didn’t feel like everyone in the place heard you if you shit the bed on whatever you’re playing ;)
Now you’re talking. First time I went there I arrived, they gave me coffee, showed me around the (well you know what it was like) astonishing Aladdin’s cave of high end stringed, fretted instruments, and just left me to it, pulling tens of thousands worth of guitars off the wall, playing them and putting them back all by myself. They must have been discreetly keeping and eyes but they never bothered me. Apart from two hours when later they asked if I’d like another coffee. Two hours after that founder Stan Jay appeared at my side, said he’d been listening to me play and wanted to show me a few guitars he thought might suit my style, and an hour after that I’d bought my Martin, feeling like I’d just trodden in Joni Mitchell’s hallowed footsteps (she wrote Song For Sharon on the Staten Island ferry coming back from Mandolin Brothers with her new mandolin that Stan had just sold her). Lovely man. RIP Stan Jay
Gotta say, almost every shop visit I the staff handled things better than any other store type.
One exception: I was trying a $600 acoustic (not worth that) in a general purpose music shop. Some guy walked up behind me and said the thing had no scratchplate (assuming I couldn't tell?), and I should respect the instrument. I turned around to see this old guy in a turtleneck and jacket, and told him I only hybrid pick and he should respect the instrumentalist. He left. I have never seen that guy there afterwards.
CME is am awesome shop. They will ket you play anything as long as you want. Selection is crazy and staff expertise is astounding.
Def a destination place to go visit for sure!
I think CME is an absolutely amazing shop. I have purchased from them both in person and online.
Their customer service is excellent as is their selection. I think the two things that really set them apart is the fact they have mastered the integration of brick and mortar with online shopping, and the fact that they literally span the whole spectrum from entry level guitars to high end Custom Shop/boutique along with recent used guitars all the way up to the most desirable vintage guitars. Most stores just aren’t capable of covering so much ground much less doing it well.
I've been on both sides of the counter and I've experienced way more arrogant customers than I ever had arrogant salespeople. Easily 90% of the general public can't take a guitar out of a wall hanger without smashing it multiple times into the guitar either side of it. Nor can they unplug a guitar from an amp silently, despite having been strenuously told multiple times to flick the standby switch or unplug the cable from the amp end first.
Then there's the customer, who is almost always an 18-25 year old male, who seems oblivious to the clearly obvious fact that you are mid conversation with another customer, who waltzes right up and interrupts to ask if he can have a hand over on the other side of the shop, and then appears astonished and offended when you insist that you first finish dealing with your current customer who was here long before them.
A more specific example might be the 15 year old school kid who, for at least a year, would drop in two or three times a week on his way home from school, buy a small mini mud cake from the bakery next door first, scoff it down with his bare hands, and then come in and ask to play the most expensive guitars in the shop. Every time. And every time, he'd be marched to the rest rooms and made to wash his hands before touching the instruments. I think eventually he bought a small entry level Ibanez a couple of years later, so I guess it was worth it.
I could go on, but I think I've made my point. Before you get too worked up about whatever draconian policy your local store has, maybe stop and consider exactly what type of imbecile customer has led them to instigate that policy in the first place.
Being buying guitars from the guitar shop in Anderson, SC for years. Chris, his dad and Dom are the perfect professionals. And they work with you!
That is great to hear!
That’s awesome! I’m from Pickens, SC. I love The Guitar Shop.
@@jhendricks02 we like hearing that as well:)
Agree completely, I first met Dom back in the Music Station days, and bought a few guitars at that spot. I am glad to see that they are doing well and you always get a good vibe going in. I too, obviously, live in Anderson and it's kinda cool that there are other guys in town giving the representation
@@WalkenDead Definitely cool to hear that. Maybe I’ll catch you guys around town. I go to college in Anderson (more or less)
Misogyny and ageism. Too many times I've walked into a new to me shop, gone over to look at the guitars and got, "Excuse me, are you looking to get something for your son or your husband? Because it would be best if he came in here and picked it out himself." Or- I go to pick up and electric guitar and get told, "They're not like the acoustics you're probably used to." Dude, I'm not Joan Baez. I'm Joan Jett.
As a bassist, number one is the best. When you get a guitarist trying to talk down to you about basses they know nothing about.
That is a nutty thing and great point there:) The bassist often get the cold shoulder in this strange world of ours. Thanks a ton for reaching out!
Have you guys heard of Mandolin Brothers in NYC - staten island? Joan Baez, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Chris Christopherson,... and more shopped there. I remember being asked to leave so George Harrison could shop privately. He bought a vintage mandolin. He was in town for experimental cancer treatment and passed in a staten island hospital. R.I.P.
You guys make random conversations entertaining. Good chemistry.
retail is brutal. if you like a shop,if you like the people, if you enjoy going there...........F'N BUY SOMETHING!!!!!! dont be a cheap SOB . even if you can get it a little cheaper on line. this world would be a better place if people honored : DO UNTO OTHERS.......
Most annoying thing about guitar shops must be all we guitar players coming in to sit down and play random riffs and solo licks for half an hour at a time pretending ot be "trying out" different guitars without any intention of ever buying anything hoping to impress all the other guitar players or maybe even the people working at the shop instead of finding an actual band and striving for actually accomplishing something with our musical lives. :)
Managed a guitar store for 10 years, worst parts of the job: customers name dropping, customers’ lame claims to fame, hearing your life story, customers forcing me to listen to them play, when customers try to play sales people against each other. That is the worst, when customers try to work the sales people against each other to haggle for a deal.
I generally dress in a wrinkled t-shirt and comfortable (read: worn) yoga pants. You'd think that would put me in the middle of guitar shop demographics, but some places have wanted to steer me to a less expensive guitar than the one I wanted to buy. The other thing is if I only own prissy guitars, play surf-themed worship gigs, and happen to want an ESP FRX in Andromeda, it shouldn't matter that I don't play metal. Maybe I just want to practice scales on it, but if it makes me happy (and I have the $), then don't dissuade me from what I want.
The other thing is: I want what *I* want, not necessarily what the shop has. It's absolutely okay to find out why I want it and if there's an in-stock alternative that might make me happier. Recently, I was looking at Fenders and wanted a combo I couldn't find, then realized G&L already had what I wanted. But that's one of the things I hate about car salespeople; they only want to sell you what they have, not what you want. I still remember my dad ordering a 1968 Nova and GM calling him every week to update him on the build status.
Ouch on the sinker redwood guitar injury; redwood is a very soft wood and dents easily.
LOL Just for the record, librarians these days do want you to bother them. We love library users, and nationwide we've never been busier! Love you guys!! 😉
I come in the shop, I look around for awhile, I’m not pawing at the guitars or handling stuff, finally I grab a few picks and a pack of strings and head over to the counter. Salesperson (who wasn’t assisting anyone) finally makes their way over to the counter and gives a look like, I dragged my ass over to the counter for this? Yeah, ya did. Don’t worry though, I won’t be back. Eventually, I’ll end up spending more on strings than my guitar is worth, but not at that shop. 🎸
That's crazy, cause checking out a pack of picks is just an opportunity for the sales human to make a connection, a future customer, and wait for it...maybe even a friend.
Thanks a ton for sharing!
@@CasinoGuitars I guess some people just feel that they’re too good for their job. I’m fine with a hi and a smile.
@@mattjackson7859
I have a friend who works at a small shop. Actually, I guess I’m friends with most of the employees there now. Anyway, they hired a new employee last year. His first week was going great until the owner (who actually works in the shop and interacts with customers himself) asked the guy to clean the restrooms. The new guy told him, “I dont do that at home, and I’m definitely not doing it here.” Needless to say that was the end of his employment at the shop.
@@charlesbolton8471 Crazy. Who cleans the toilet at, “his”, home? I’m guessing, mom.
@@mattjackson7859
I don’t know his living situation but the three choices are pretty much Mom, girlfriend/wife, or nobody. My guess is probably Mom or nobody.
Reminds me of the shop in Anchorage Alaska. Every guitar had a “do not touch“ sign on it, and the dude eyeballed me the entire time, while answering my questions with single syllables.
Speaking of snobby salesman, I once went into our local jewelry store to buy an engagement ring, but I was wearing an old army coat, and he wouldn't even hardly talk to me, couple days later I went back dressed nicely and he was so nice..I didn't buy anything from him...pex
I always thought that working in a music store would be a cool gig. I’m a hack of a musician at best, but I worked in customer service for 30 years. My favorite compliment I ever received from my manager was “I’ve never seen someone sell so little, but get so many compliments from customers”. He didn’t mean it in a positive way, but I took it that way because I was true to myself. GC has driven all the other stores in my area out of business. I don’t know what to think of Guitar Center. I’ve never had a bad experience, but I’ve never had an outstanding experience either.
I moved to Florida and went to the only guitar shop in town. After visiting 3 times I told the owner he was my friend. I give all of my business that I can.
As a kid went into a tiny store every so often. Guy treated me like a friend and encouraged me to try out whatever was on the wall or whatever amp just arrived. I bought my first guitars there, but at 150 each plus strings, cords, picks, and a repair, I doubt I spent a total of 500 bucks. I felt guilty that when I started finally making some money, he was gone and the store had gone a different direction. He was an enthusiast and liked sharing his knowledge and time.
Great story.
We have a really nice guitar shop in our town and the sales people used to act like they are doing you a big favour whenever you walked in. I hated going there so started shopping at
GC and Sam Ash
My guys are the Upper Bout in Champaign,IL
They are a great place ! And you guys aren’t so bad yourself Baxter and Jonathan !
Yes! Great shop - and a great name. As a rank amateur I was totally (almost) comfortable. Bought my second G&L that day. I'll be back someday and they aren't close.
I hate when it feels like you walked in a clubhouse and you’re not in the club. 😕
I hope you guys to a segment about how FedEx is hurting guitar shop lately! I’ve lost 5 expensive packages the last 6 months coming from east coast since I live west. So I recovered 3 of them, but this has become a norm with FedEx and I totally dislike them a lot! Love the guitar shop but I’m not shopping from them again.
The owner..Nate at Willies Guitar exceeded my expectations!! I sold a 70's Martin there. Fair price. Plus great stories. He got back Joe Walsh his '59 burst Les Paul
I got my college graduation gift from Manny's!!!----made a deal with my parents that if I graduated with Honors I picked the gift if not, they did----they never dreamed I would make it lol so they agreed and I won!! I ordered a guitar from Manny's and the day it came in was by FAR the most exciting day of my life at the time---got the call from them that after 6 months, it was in, drove down there on a saturday morning from Westchester County can remember crossing the over the bridge and down the west side highway eight o'clock in the morning BLASTING live Zeppelin, carrying the most cash I ever had on me at the time, lol, but I walked out of Manny's with a breathtakingly GORGEOUS Gibson EDS-1275 Red Doubleneck a la Jimmy Page---still have it, could never part with it---it is a truly spectacular musical instrument imho.
I had a annoying sale’s associate who followed me all around the store watching me like I was going to steal something. I was the only person in the shop. Creepy thing is he didn’t say a thing just followed me.
You guys nailed it on the first example. The pretentiousness of the salespeople at most of the shops around me is a complete turn off. I’ll stick with Sweetwater online.
My visit to Casino Guitars was thoroughly enjoyable.
My favorite GC loud amp story. I went into GC Nashville on a Saturday afternoon and there were several doing the loud chugga chugga thing. I play relatively clean so I picked up a Tele I was interested in and plugged it into a Twin. Played some Don Rich and Roy Nichols licks. Then some Cropper and old Soul stuff. After a couple of minutes, I noticed all the chugga chuggers had quit. Then one of the salesman came up to me and said “Man.. Thanks for playing that stuff and giving us a break.”
LOL at the dude on the left talking about a customer with "hair all crazy"
What is the TH-cam channel you mentioned? ? Ross Creations?
yes:) He is a fella in Florida that does Jackass style stuff without being mean or hurting anyone. Tons of fun:)
Wade's Guitars here in Milwaukee is THAT shop. Best staff, VERY cool selection, just awesome.
From Leo: For a while we had rockers wearing leather vests with multiple metal studs buttons and medals. Most would be willing to remove the studded vest. Some got offended.
Guitars not tuned. I agree that is a turn off. The other thing I don’t like is the associates negative opinion about a guitar or guitar maker.the sales person needs to be as neutral as possible. Helpful but neutral.
Yep give facts and let the player decide and use their own ears!
Ever since GC came to Louisville a decade ago, quite a few music shops closed especially ones on the east side of the county. My favorite one to visit was Wilson Music, they mainly carried Fender, Ibanez and Dean, but could order anything. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful. I was sad to see them go. Now about the only shops are all closer to downtown like Guitar Emporium, the Doo Wop Shop and Mom's Music, and in areas I don't like driving to, because the traffic is horrible and parking is almost non-existent. The other choice is Music-Go-Round, but it is a good 40 minute drive just to check out used instruments. It would be nice to have a good guitar shop in the eastern parts of Louisville/Jefferson County where parking is decent and traffic isn't crazy. I'll go to GC every now and then to check out their inventory, to try out a bass (I'm a bass player primarily) or a guitar I saw on their website, or check out the used guitars and basses. The guys at GC aren't bad, and I like the selection, but the personal touch is missing.
I was in a Sam Ash music store a few years ago looking for an ES-335. I saw one on display for about $2500. I stood around for a little while, noticing that all the sales guys were about 20 feet away not paying attention. I then walked around the store hoping they would notice me and ask if I wanted to see something. I made my way back to the ES-335 and stood there again for about 5 minutes. Still no one came. I just left the store. I guess the sales guys didn't want to make sales.
Casino is the BEST Guitar Shop and also the BEST business of any kind that I have ever been too. You guys have never made me feel awkward even when I was being weird or shy! Thanks guys. You are awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really only have two pet peeves in guitar shops. The first is the radio shack greeting where you walk in and the immediately someone asks if they can help you find something. Guarantee you more than half the customers say “I’m just lookin” and to those customers it’s setting the stage for them to expect a sales-y experience.
The second is a more me thing and that’s that I love guitar pedals. I know more about effects than I do about guitar which is to say I’m barely passable at guitar. So if I pick up a stomp box and someone’s immediately like “you wanna plug that in and give it a try?” it’s weird because no I don’t and I feel like I should but I’d rather just suck in the privacy of my own home.
Demonstration booths. If you get past the initial interest points and want to try something out at volume, a private space where you are not self-conscious of everyone except you and the attending shop assistant is essential. So many shops think its okay to just have this in the main body of the shop, usually with piles of gear everywhere and people wandering past. Your focus goes onto what they’re hearing you play, rather than concentrating on checking out the guitar. Making it clear to customers what can really help them is also really appreciated by those of us who are likely to spend significant money and come back again and again: encourage them to bring their own amp or guitar in to try and partner with what you’re looking at. Have a loading bay! Customers also need to take a lead here and form relationships with their local store. Don’t treat the staff with indifference or condescension. I sometimes ask an assistant what piece of gear in the shop is most exciting them at the moment so I (and they) can get a bead on whether we have common ground. Now they know which assistant best relates to what I am after, and I’m comfortable going back and asking questions.
We are SOOOOOO lucky to have Tone Shop Guitars here in Dallas. LOVE LOVE LOVE those guys!!!!
I am incredibly lucky that Casino Guitars is my local guitar shop. It's freaking awesome!
I went to a guitar shop and had a great experience followed by a crap experience. The great experience was they let me try a guitar that I still really want and as I was sitting there playing a small crowd gathered around me. Then when I was done I started to get all kinds of compliments. At that time I was still pretty new at guitar so it made me feel pretty good. The crap experience happened when I went to the acoustic room looking for a specific brand of guitar and the sales rep kept trying to push me into getting a cheap off brand like Santa Maria or something that was just hideous and not at all close to what I was looking for.
I have a great guitar shop story. It's late 1982, and I am at Brian's Guitars New Haven CT finishing the paperwork on a new Gibson Explorer. The owner Brian Cohen says, "Why don't you check this out" handing me an original San Dimas Strat with one pickup. Damn. Tear up the paperwork, I'm buying this one. But I can't buy this one? I have to order? How long for delivery? Three months? (or so, best as I can recollect). So we pick through all the specs and complete an order sheet for a 1982 Star Body with whammy bar and no annoying lightening stripe, just black and with the explorere headstock, not the sharper hockey stick one. Yes, I deeply regret not ordering the Strat shape, but I had my head up my ass back then (and still do if you listen to my detractors.)
When it arrived at the store on a snowy afternoon in December, I drove through the stor to get it, and it was a player right out of the box, number 27 hundred and something, and much better than the Explorer. If you happen to have this guitar or know who does, it was stolen out of my Boston apartment (Haviland St.) on a snowy night sometime around 1986. I saw the three gentlemen who did it (long story, they were loitering in the lobby, a common practice and I wasn't nearly suspicious enough), and I am pretty sure they sold it for crack that same night probably netting a quick fifty or a hundred for the axe and a bass they also took (at the time, crack was a big problem in that neighborhood and around Boston in general). I have owned several other original San dimas Charvels, but none came close to that one playability wise. Sound wise, I agree with critics. The star shape lacks "oomph" in the lower registers, and an Explorer or an SG shape is much better in that regard. Listen to the opening chords of Badfinger's "No Matter What" for proof.
There is or was a large music store in North Miami Florida, about 1/2 mile from Criteria recording studio, that regularly dealt with big name recording artists. If you weren't one of them when you walked in, then, "Super Snob Service". Great store if there was decent staff...
When I was a teen in the eighties, the big-shot local guitar store was staffed by arrogant jerks. They didn’t want to have anything to do with you unless you were in the local hair-metal music scene, which I guess to these guys represented the pinnacle of awesomeness. Everybody in there had an attitude.
Fortunately, I soon found out about a great place nearby, with a mom-type proprietor who ran a music store out of her garage (definitely in violation of zoning). She loved having people around and NEVER made you feel like you were wasting her time, whether you were buying something big that day or not.
I never went back to the big-shot store. Seems like not too many other people did either, because by the nineties, they were out of business.
Hounded by a salesman who turns out doesn’t even know any information about the gear then still follows you around asking if you “need any strings today”
Dude I walked into a Guitar Center once and asked them if they had any 335's and the pink haired girl I asked said "I'm not sure what that is but I can ask someone..." and so then she asked this other dude behind the counter and he said "I'm not sure what a 335 is but I'm gonna look it up on the computer". I literally just stood there dumbfounded and explained to them what a 335 was and thanked them for their time and left. That was the exact moment that I realized Guitar Center is ultimately doomed.
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 so … I think it’s a guitar … or maybe like a car or something? Anyway, we have two guitars available on our expansive walls and the ownership group who owns our store…like… burned every bridge with guitar manufacturers… soooo … anyway.
That is pretty funny:)!
That just horrified me:)
I bring my Mustang Micro to the store with me along with my headphones, that way I don't have to listen to others play, and no one really has to listen to me play lol.
In a perfect world, shop owners could have spare Mustang Micros and headphones for there customers to use, but sadly I think that would end up being a much larger cost in the real world as people would be likely to steal the mustang micro. Before I got the mustang Micro, I would bring in my headphones and pick a amp that had a regular headphone jack and set up shop there. I would grab a guitar, then go to my spot and test the guitar, I try to mostly ignore the staff.. I am not a fan of someone trying to push me into buying things, so ignoring the staff makes the experience much better for me personally lol.
Most annoying part is no shop within two hours and then they have no weekend hours so I can never get to one while they are open.
Do you guys have a shop on the Reverb site?
They are on Reverb.
Unfortunately, you can’t search for shops from the app, but there is a shop search function on the Reverb website.
The most annoying thing about some guitar shops is the arrogance of some of the employees and the owners…. You don’t feel comfortable asking questions about any gear. They sometimes act like they know the only answer to your questions. Everyone in this world can’t know the answer to everything gear wise but some are pretending to know everything. I was told once that zero acoustic guitars hold their value and I said; what about a Martin? I got the answer; None do except the prewar Martins. If I had of bought a Martin then, I could have made some cash because the guitar boom happened.
I was also told that I could always sell an Alvarez for what I paid for it, untrue… the answers at some shops are inconsistent.
I was looking at one acoustic guitar and it had a hairline crack on the top. I didn’t see it at first because of the lighting. They were asking around 400 for this Washburn but wouldn’t budge on the price for that crack. I mean, they were acting like it was a D-45
80's Super Starts !!!; NOW !!!!
The time has come ....
There are a couple of local shops near me. One of them I go to whenever I can because the staff is great and it's a good vibe. Not the greatest selection, but that's the life of a small shop. The other one I'll never visit again. The guy who owns it came off as an unethical snob. The store front used to be another guitar shop that's since moved to another location. There are still a lot of authorized dealer signs on the door, none of which actually apply anymore. The guy laughingly said he loves it because it brings people in and then he just tells them they're vintage stickers. His attitude as he was saying it made it clear he had zero issues with misleading people, which bothered me. I'll drive across town in Atlanta traffic to go to a different store before I'll drive the 15 minutes up the road to his place.
Feeling intimidated is the worst
I agree and still get that from some joints...:
I was playing a show at House of Blues in New Orleans. I had some free time and strolled into the music store across the street. The manager goes "You're not going to spend ANY money here are you?" I said "not new" and left. I ended up replacing him a few months later.
I'm a beginner guitar player and I went into guitar center asking them what guitar they recommend for a beginner, the guy said to me" see those guitars over there any of them "and then he walked away. I know I don't need a whammy bar to begin lol I went into another place that was a smaller places and the guy said to me when I asked the same thing what kind of music do you want find out what your favorite guitarist of that and buy it. I'm not spending $2,000 on a guitar for my beginner. Lol
My guitar center in Vegas, it’s nice.The people are low key and they have a cool guitar luthier/tech .fun fact, they have a golf store next door.You can by the cars tell who went into what store .Lambos to the left,kias to the right
1)When ALL they have are low-end and not-so-nice used. I'm no snob, but I would have to go 2+ hours with my dad to be able to play/buy mid-higher end gear.
2)When the stock never rotates. grew up in a small town in the 80's and you would go to the same shop every other week and it was the same peaveys and crates that had been there for 2 years....I think they are still there.
Went to Guitar Center on Monday, looking to spend some money. Immediately, a sales associate asked if he could help. I checked out a mim tele that was on sale, and liked it. The guy hooked me up with some strings and had my ass out the door. I spent 15 minutes shopping.
No price break but I sure appreciate the attention by the sales associate and that alone pushed me to just buy there and not even check out what the local mom n pop shop was selling.
We have a great one here, Salt Lake City, House of Guitars!
I asked for a 42 thousandth string and the guy behind the counter did NOT have a clue as to what I was talking about. He had NO idea that strings were not actually sold as a gauge size, but instead are sold by the actual diameter of the string in thousandths of an inch. SMH! "But this one goes to eleven."
#1 for me... they never have left handed guitars and if they do its usually a cheap acoustic smh.
So much of a guitar shop experience can depend on the customers age, and what time and what day you visit the shop.
It shouldn’t have to be that way, but we all know that it is.
Great point! Timing for sure matters a bunch of the time:)
Went to a place once in Anaheim CA, thought it would be cool, but they had big signs everywhere that said “We want to preserve our guitars for their future owners, so please do not touch anything. Ask a sales representative if you’re interested in purchasing.” Nah bro, I’m leaving. Some were high priced or vintage, but most were just regular guitars in the 500-1500 range.
Metal rules ! Pointy guitars are awesome! Jackson for ever!
In my experience GC was great...fifteen years ago. The atmosphere was so much better and the employees were helpful. Now? Not so much. If I venture into a GC now it's to pick up small dollar items and showroom, i.e. test a guitar neck for feel before buying it online.
Yeah I remember back in the day 15-20 yrs ago the salespeople were musicians and knowledge of everything. Nowadays you get a kid that needs the managers help to ring up a set of strings 😬
@@davidkastin4240 Trying to ring up the set of strings triggers his anxiety, and causes him to look for the cry closet and therapy dog.
This is the closest to a podcast that I've been listening to lately
Love that GC exists -but- it’s the Applebee’s of guitar stores - same generic stuff.
IF they have good stuff.. it’s all locked down and you gotta go ask to get unlocked (I just don’t want to do that).
"Ah... where is the one left handed guitar you got? "
I got told by the co-owner at a big local store in my area that “I kept leaving marks” on some of the guitars and wipe them down when I got done playing them.
I totally get that common decency is one thing, but it’s a guitar store…..marks are gonna show up on instruments if people play them. What do you pay your employees to do besides push sales? Just sit on their phones all day??
Not to mention any time I ever went there, he would come out of the woodworks once in a blue moon, and if he was there he had nothing to do with customers. Go figure.
Here in Ye Olde Britain, I have always hated it when a salesman plays that stupid little riff all salesmen seem to play when the hand a guitar to you. I've been playing for a long time and don't need some kid showing me how he impresses the girls.
When I walk into a guitar shop I want to hear guitars playing. Playing at different volumes. I dont want to walk into a library. I want stuff setup ready to be tried out, picks laying around, cables plugged in.
when ya go into a shop and there's the person that is basically just hangin out there all the time and playing the guitars. not really going to buy anything and is a great player. It will really discourage people who are not great or are beginners and they aren't going to want to try any of the guitars out.
I’ve had my run in with shitty guitar store people, I don’t believe I’ve been told no when I’ve asked to play a guitar (that or I’ve just never accepted it).
Here’s my list:
(1) Not only the snobby and disinterested, but the clueless and disinterested, or the disinterested because the sales dudes are too busy talking with each other like they’re at a bar (i.e. Carter Vintage). And let’s not forget the disinterested because you’re not famous or just don’t have the “artist” look. Been burned by all of this at CV-as recently as two weeks ago, which was me giving them a 2nd chance.
(2) Guitar shops with no iso rooms for customers to go try out gear-especially amps. So it’s basically the DMV with all kids of sonic insanity happening, and zero (customer) consideration of anyone else trying to check out a piece of gear.
(3) Appointment only “showroom” shops, where I’ve felt like I can’t touch ANYTHING. Comes across as snobby at times.
(4) Overly aggressive salesman-SUPER annoying. Being totally ignored-SUPER annoying. Jonathan was right on about this.
(5) Ancient strings on guitars. Disgusting.
(6) “Tourist” Guitar shops. We have several here in Nashville. Window shopping mayhem-like having a Ferrari dealership inside Dollywood. 8 out of 10 “customers” in there are just “visiting” and taking up space the real customers need. Store staff are not effectively controlling the insanity, and certainly not making any effort to even say hello and greet others, who are there to make a purchase on something other than a shop t-shirt. This is also part of point (1) above. Every time.
i went to norms a couple years ago when mark was still there, and they were the nicest people. love that shop.
The uneasiness of trying guitars out is always there. The local shop is great and has rooms to play in but idk its still uncomfortable.
Had one sales guy insisting I try this Bugera amp. Dude I’m not plugging into that. Not interested… 😂
I started 5 months ago and pretty early I’m in a shop theyre like dude play the instruments I’m like bro I literally only know 7 nation army
I’m 57 and have been playing for 45 years I hate being ignored when I go into a guitar shop because I’m not young and cool. I was in a shop recently and had to wait for every teenager with no intention of buying the £4K they were trying out to get served first. It really annoys me.
I hate going to most of the guitar stores because new guitars usually have a HORRIBLE setup.
I think I may buy my next guitar from you guys. You bring good vibes.
If you really wanna talk disappointment when stepping into a guitar store. you should view it through the eyes of a Left handed person.
Baxter, that dead thing on the cover of Maiden albums is Eddie the Mummy.
Norms can be snobby too. Nick and Mark were pretty bad. The guys he had before them were even worse. Norm is OK these days but his old employees call him a bully. This is probably true but at least he seems nice these days. Maybe good old Lemmo showed them all how to be a good guy. Love that guy.
I always feel uncomfortable in a guitar shop. I have never been in a guitar shop that I was made to feel comfortable by the employees working there! And I am a very confident person.
They all act like you’re going to break something, and unless you show them your credit card they don’t want to give you an expensive guitar to try out!
Imagine you worked in a jewellery store where many of the pieces are worth over $1,000. Not only are they not behind glass, but they are constantly handled and passed around by people with no genuine interest in buying, slowly accumulating wear. They’re afraid you’ll break something because people often do.
There’s really no retail business quite like guitar shops. Car dealerships expect you to put down some details and express serious interest before a test drive. Watch dealers won’t let you try on a Rolex out of the blue.
Yet guitarists feel entitled to “testing” a custom shop 62 tele.