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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:49 pm
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Guitar Center may be okay, though I cannot say for sure as I have never been to one...When I went to Maryland to visit family a few weeks ago, I stopped in at BEST BUY and was impressed with all the Fenders and Gibsons they had available in the store...If you can't make it to a GC, but have a Best Buy nearby, check them out...

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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:20 pm
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Guitar Center is kinda hit and miss. The on-line experience would not give you the opportunity to have it set up prior to taking it home with you. Some stores are great and others aren't. I would definately play before paying. I am sure that there is a Best Buy in Vermont, maybe. At least you can play a Strat there.

I alway recommend to people about to buy a new guitar, do to a music store, play as many as you can within your price range and pick the one that sounds and plays the best. RK

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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:30 pm
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asg wrote:
Me personally, id rather take an $@! kicking than go into a Guitar Center - last one I was in, Knoxville TN, and only because I was on a business trip, and I was bored one evening at my hotel - Used to go into the one in Charlotte, NC when I lived down there - I just cant take all the friggin noise! Several different idiots beatin on drums, the loud guitars, its crazy!! The people that work there would have to be on a huge dose of prozac to even work a shift in that place! JMO!!


I try not to buy anything there either. And not just because of all the kids trying to outjam each other with the amps on full blast. I'd rather give my money to the local shop guy instead of the corporate franshise. I did go there once this winter - but only because I needed strings and the local shop had too much snow to park. GC was part of the mall so had a cleared parking lot. I definately wouldn't let their techs touch my guitar.


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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:55 pm
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I think I'll go for the in-store visit. It does seem like it would be more fun that way. 8)

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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:05 am
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I would also buy it online and if I dont like it I return it...


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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:15 am
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Yup, "Do it on the store floor."

Test instruments and amps, that is.

That said, 'have NEVER in 10+ years shopping metro Chicago GC, never had a negative experience of any kind. Always good stuff. Always.

Treat people well and you attract the good in them. 'Sure worked here, many times.


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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:01 am
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Well about the best I can do here is really to just reiterate what some other folks have said.

Personally I would suggest going to a store and playing as many instruments as you can get your hands on before you buy anything be it your first or your 21 guitar. For most folks, guitars are a rather personal thing...something that tends to "speak to you" and only by playing one will you really know exactly which instrument is right for you. That said, a person buying their first likely won't appreciate the difference between a $100 instrument and a $1000, but still you can't really tell too much just looking at some pictures online in either case.

As far as Guitar Center goes, I do personally recommend them. As ASG said, yes, your average GC can be quiet "loud". Sometimes it seems as though 75% of the people who walk into a GC are only there to be loud and obnoxious with no clear intent to buy -anything- and I've often wondered how it is the sales people can tune out the noise without tuning out the customers. That said, over-all my experiences with GC over the many years that I've been playing have been fairly positive. More over, the noise certainly doesn't indicate any level as far as quality, service or selection goes. Dealing with Guitar Centers has a few distinct advantages over dealing with "mom and pop" stores. The first is obvious...selection. Your average mom and pop music store may have between 20 and 40 guitars hanging on the wall (sometimes more, sometimes less) with a couple of amps (which are often fruity off brands) where your average Guitar Center is going to have hundreds of instruments with a much broader range of brands and models to choose from. Second to that is price. Not to offend anyone here but many of the smaller locally owned music stores make their money...well...to be perfectly blunt, by ripping people off. "Little Johnny" decides he wants to play guitar so his parents who know NOTHING about guitars go to a local store and end up paying $250 or more for a no-name instrument that's really only worth $80. I would honestly compare the sales people at your average mom and pop shop with a used car salesman...they can smell a sucker coming from a mile down the road. With Guitar Center, you can usually expect to get a -fair- price on whatever it is that you're looking for and sometimes you can even find a real bargain or two. As far as "knowledgeable sales people" go, that's a highly subjective issue. A small shop owner may indeed be more knowledgeable than the kid working at GC for minimum wage but it's often hard to tell with those people where that knowledge stops and where the bullshit in order to get you to buy an over-priced piece of crap begins. More over, even if the zit faced kit at GC doesn't know what he's talking about, chances are someone around the store does...their managers are usually pretty well trained and experienced. Another plus I feel the need to mention about Guitar Center is they are typically very good about returns. Many mom and pop stores will sell you something but if you have a problem...well...you're on your own. GC typically has a 14 day "no questions asked" return policy...if you decide you don't like it, you can return it without too much of a hassle. More importantly, if you should have a problem with GC, they will typically bend over backwards to make things right for you where as many smaller shops tend to have a "devil may care" attitude.

Honestly, I'm about as "anti corporation" as they come. I tend to totally despise "big business" with a tremendous loathing but I am also a musician and more over, a working musician who's usually on a budget. I really can't afford to waste money on things like "pride". Very simply when you weight the pros and cons of Guitar Center vs. your average, locally owned small music stores...give me GC any day.

My advice to you is to first and foremost, decide exactly what it is you want. Do this by going to as many music stores (both big and small) as you can and playing as many guitars as you can get your hands on. Don't worry about whether you can really play or not...you're not there for an audition or anything, you are there to make a decision about a purchase. Make a day trip out of it...get out your local phone book and find every store near you and take the whole day to drive around just playing different guitars...and DO NOT be pressured into buying anything!!! Ask questions, compare products and prices but don't whip out the old wallet or checkbook (or Mastercard/Visa) for anything (that is unless you find a really sweet deal of course! LOL!). Once you've decided on what it is that you want exactly, then hop online and order from Guitar Center. In addition, if you find the right guitar elsewhere and it happens to be cheaper than GC's listed price, call GC and tell them...chances are they will match, if not beat the other price on the exact same new item.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
Jim


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:47 am
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i don't know if i would trust them by buying online, plus if you go in store, you can play the guitar first and maybe try to negotiate the price down or to have them throw something else in. :D


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:34 pm
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Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:33 pm
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lomitus wrote:
Well about the best I can do here is really to just reiterate what some other folks have said.

Personally I would suggest going to a store and playing as many instruments as you can get your hands on before you buy anything be it your first or your 21 guitar. For most folks, guitars are a rather personal thing...something that tends to "speak to you" and only by playing one will you really know exactly which instrument is right for you. That said, a person buying their first likely won't appreciate the difference between a $100 instrument and a $1000, but still you can't really tell too much just looking at some pictures online in either case.

As far as Guitar Center goes, I do personally recommend them. As ASG said, yes, your average GC can be quiet "loud". Sometimes it seems as though 75% of the people who walk into a GC are only there to be loud and obnoxious with no clear intent to buy -anything- and I've often wondered how it is the sales people can tune out the noise without tuning out the customers. That said, over-all my experiences with GC over the many years that I've been playing have been fairly positive. More over, the noise certainly doesn't indicate any level as far as quality, service or selection goes. Dealing with Guitar Centers has a few distinct advantages over dealing with "mom and pop" stores. The first is obvious...selection. Your average mom and pop music store may have between 20 and 40 guitars hanging on the wall (sometimes more, sometimes less) with a couple of amps (which are often fruity off brands) where your average Guitar Center is going to have hundreds of instruments with a much broader range of brands and models to choose from. Second to that is price. Not to offend anyone here but many of the smaller locally owned music stores make their money...well...to be perfectly blunt, by ripping people off. "Little Johnny" decides he wants to play guitar so his parents who know NOTHING about guitars go to a local store and end up paying $250 or more for a no-name instrument that's really only worth $80. I would honestly compare the sales people at your average mom and pop shop with a used car salesman...they can smell a sucker coming from a mile down the road. With Guitar Center, you can usually expect to get a -fair- price on whatever it is that you're looking for and sometimes you can even find a real bargain or two. As far as "knowledgeable sales people" go, that's a highly subjective issue. A small shop owner may indeed be more knowledgeable than the kid working at GC for minimum wage but it's often hard to tell with those people where that knowledge stops and where the bullshit in order to get you to buy an over-priced piece of crap begins. More over, even if the zit faced kit at GC doesn't know what he's talking about, chances are someone around the store does...their managers are usually pretty well trained and experienced. Another plus I feel the need to mention about Guitar Center is they are typically very good about returns. Many mom and pop stores will sell you something but if you have a problem...well...you're on your own. GC typically has a 14 day "no questions asked" return policy...if you decide you don't like it, you can return it without too much of a hassle. More importantly, if you should have a problem with GC, they will typically bend over backwards to make things right for you where as many smaller shops tend to have a "devil may care" attitude.

Honestly, I'm about as "anti corporation" as they come. I tend to totally despise "big business" with a tremendous loathing but I am also a musician and more over, a working musician who's usually on a budget. I really can't afford to waste money on things like "pride". Very simply when you weight the pros and cons of Guitar Center vs. your average, locally owned small music stores...give me GC any day.

My advice to you is to first and foremost, decide exactly what it is you want. Do this by going to as many music stores (both big and small) as you can and playing as many guitars as you can get your hands on. Don't worry about whether you can really play or not...you're not there for an audition or anything, you are there to make a decision about a purchase. Make a day trip out of it...get out your local phone book and find every store near you and take the whole day to drive around just playing different guitars...and DO NOT be pressured into buying anything!!! Ask questions, compare products and prices but don't whip out the old wallet or checkbook (or Mastercard/Visa) for anything (that is unless you find a really sweet deal of course! LOL!). Once you've decided on what it is that you want exactly, then hop online and order from Guitar Center. In addition, if you find the right guitar elsewhere and it happens to be cheaper than GC's listed price, call GC and tell them...chances are they will match, if not beat the other price on the exact same new item.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
Jim


Thank you for your thoughtful advice. I am a true newcomer to the guitar realm and I am excited in that. I was worried about testing a guitar in-store as I can't play yet (thus the purchase of my first guitar). I might make a trip out of this journey for my first guitar.

Again, thanks for your time.

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Owner of:
-2008 American Standard Strat in Candy Cola Red
-Vibro-Champ XD
-Fender CD-60 Acoustic (Sunburst)


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:31 am
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My .03 (I got bailout money): definitely do a hands-on, whether it's at a GC or somewhere else. Last summer I decided I just had to have a certain non-Fender guitar. I went to GC and started noodling around with my heart's desire, and after a half-hour decided the experience wasn't grabbing me the way I was hoping, and walked away. The only way you'll know if it's a good fit is to handle it.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:48 am
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I never bought anything there (all my guitars have been bought on ebay, where I've had really good luck), but the times I've been ther, the staff has been very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. I've bought stuff from Musicians Friend without any problems.

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Post subject: Re: Guitar Center
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:18 am
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Fenderseeker09 wrote:
I am still in the hunt for my first Fender guitar. I was wondering if Guitar Center was a reputable online dealer. Is it wise to order a guitar over the internet or should it be an in-store experience? Just wanted to see where people stood on this issue...

Thanks for your time :D


It says you're in Vermont. I'd suggest checking out Daddy's before going to any GC.

Daddy's Williston

Store Hours:
MON-FRI 11-9
SAT 10-7
SUN 12-6

Address:
21 Hawthorne St.
Williston, VT 05495
(802) 288-9969
Toll Free:
(866) 537-0215

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:46 pm
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I've purchased a few guitars from there, but a lot of the time it depends which store you visit. Some are better than others.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:23 pm
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jeffo46 wrote:
Seeing that you are a fellow New Englander, if you do have to order your guitar online then might I suggest www.americanmusical.com . I have been dealing with them for the past 7 years and they are IMO, the best mail order dealer in the business. I have never had any problems with any of their merchandise and they are very customer friendly compared to Guitar Center.


I ended up using Musician's Friend to order my first guitar. However I will definitely check www.americanmusical.com out. Thanks for the post :D

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