Just secured my dream guitar at a 43% discount from Sam Ash. I got the 912ce Builders Edition (retails at $6k). This is an unbelievable deal for me, I’ve wanted that guitar so badly since I tried it at NAMM, but could never justify $6k.
Wow, that’s a great deal. Seems like a lot of places are making deals as the industry turns back to normal or even pre-normal. I heard they are offering some great prices as they close
All I know is that if we all let the brick and mortar stores go away and I'm including the local, private businesses especially, then we are all idiots because there is nothing like going down and playing a bunch of guitars to find just that one you think sounds the best and fits you. You can't do that buying online. I'm all for buying mundane items online but we really need to support these businesses (whichever ones you so choose to support) because buying online, unless it's a pack of strings or something, sucks.
There’s nothing like finding the right guitar in person. Sometimes you get lucky buying online, but it’s some level of risk for sure. It’s always nice to find a store than let’s you try something for a while as well without telling you to leave. As much as we like deals, when he local places go away we’re losing more than we think.
In my personal opinion buying guitars and gear over the past 50 years, I think that the Internet with online shopping is going to be the dominant shopping experience. I just made a guitar purchase last night from Musicians Friend. Since they merged with Guitar Center I shopped the used guitars nationwide and found an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro in a special edition color Gold Mist. It is shipping two days express from VA to FL and using their store credit card I have six months to pay for it with zero interest. I also use Sweetwater for other gear as well. Their sales advisors are good at reaching out to see if you need anything. I do miss the small independent shops that I frequented in the 80s and 90s when I was touring in the DC/MD/VA area but there is nothing near me now.
I opened a music store 2 and a half years ago. I have a very deep background in sales and marketing, I have worked for small businesses and at the corporate level as well. Online will definitely be here but so will locally owned music stores. I think it will go back to your hometown music stores, a few big box stores, and online sales. The one thing that's consistent with the big corporate stores, is once they go public the service starts to slide. They start messing with everyone's pay and that translates to turnover. I have also seen a ton of guitars coming in for setup that were ordered online. And don't be fooled by the 55-point inspection, that's not a setup or even close. Support your locally owned businesses, they provide jobs and great experience. Not some corporate CEO who doesn't even play anything.
Everything, more or less, has a life and retail music stores are no different. Sam Ash had a long one. I used to totally support my local music store but for at least a year after the mandatory mask ordinance ended, they wouldn't let me through the door without a mask, even though I went there at least 20 times to spend money. I now buy the things I used to get from them, online.
You think they should have made an exception to their mask policy for you because you were a good customer??? Not sure that one has anything to do with the other.
@@PorterPickups cheap new online then if the guitar is built well, i.e.. straight neck, even frets and no sprouting frets, i usually do upgrade mods; Kluson tuners, better pups, CTS pots, better bridge, bone nut.
Brick and mortar shopping will go away. Moving to online sales is the way of the future (at least for the middle class and below). Maybe boutique stores will be around for the wealthy.
Just secured my dream guitar at a 43% discount from Sam Ash. I got the 912ce Builders Edition (retails at $6k).
This is an unbelievable deal for me, I’ve wanted that guitar so badly since I tried it at NAMM, but could never justify $6k.
Wow, that’s a great deal. Seems like a lot of places are making deals as the industry turns back to normal or even pre-normal. I heard they are offering some great prices as they close
All I know is that if we all let the brick and mortar stores go away and I'm including the local, private businesses especially, then we are all idiots because there is nothing like going down and playing a bunch of guitars to find just that one you think sounds the best and fits you. You can't do that buying online. I'm all for buying mundane items online but we really need to support these businesses (whichever ones you so choose to support) because buying online, unless it's a pack of strings or something, sucks.
There’s nothing like finding the right guitar in person. Sometimes you get lucky buying online, but it’s some level of risk for sure. It’s always nice to find a store than let’s you try something for a while as well without telling you to leave. As much as we like deals, when he local places go away we’re losing more than we think.
In my personal opinion buying guitars and gear over the past 50 years, I think that the Internet with online shopping is going to be the dominant shopping experience. I just made a guitar purchase last night from Musicians Friend. Since they merged with Guitar Center I shopped the used guitars nationwide and found an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro in a special edition color Gold Mist. It is shipping two days express from VA to FL and using their store credit card I have six months to pay for it with zero interest. I also use Sweetwater for other gear as well. Their sales advisors are good at reaching out to see if you need anything. I do miss the small independent shops that I frequented in the 80s and 90s when I was touring in the DC/MD/VA area but there is nothing near me now.
I opened a music store 2 and a half years ago. I have a very deep background in sales and marketing, I have worked for small businesses and at the corporate level as well. Online will definitely be here but so will locally owned music stores. I think it will go back to your hometown music stores, a few big box stores, and online sales. The one thing that's consistent with the big corporate stores, is once they go public the service starts to slide. They start messing with everyone's pay and that translates to turnover. I have also seen a ton of guitars coming in for setup that were ordered online. And don't be fooled by the 55-point inspection, that's not a setup or even close. Support your locally owned businesses, they provide jobs and great experience. Not some corporate CEO who doesn't even play anything.
it does seem like a shift is in progress. at the end of the day I hope it's good for the industry and guitar players as a whole
Everything, more or less, has a life and retail music stores are no different. Sam Ash had a long one. I used to totally support my local music store but for at least a year after the mandatory mask ordinance ended, they wouldn't let me through the door without a mask, even though I went there at least 20 times to spend money. I now buy the things I used to get from them, online.
You think they should have made an exception to their mask policy for you because you were a good customer??? Not sure that one has anything to do with the other.
I always buy my guitars on the cheap so…..really no loss for me
Do you usually buy used? What’s the music store scene like where you live?
@@PorterPickups cheap new online then if the guitar is built well, i.e.. straight neck, even frets and no sprouting frets, i usually do upgrade mods; Kluson tuners, better pups, CTS pots, better bridge, bone nut.
Always nice to find those and make them into killer guitars for way less! Some can be money pits though!
Brick and mortar shopping will go away. Moving to online sales is the way of the future (at least for the middle class and below). Maybe boutique stores will be around for the wealthy.