HEy way cool,

That's actually something a few of us have been looking at. Between us guys who are doing this work, we have trade accounts with guys all over the globe from Bareknuckle to USA Custom Guitars and various distributers and companies in between.

To be honest we are pretty well known in the area and the music shops are going downhill so work is pretty constant which shows the need for it up here.

SPoke recently about setting up a legit 'Chain with no Name' sort of thing........

So many ideas........just need the time!!!

T2 you're right!! Guitarists should learn to do setup stuff.
a, It just teaches you more about your instrument and
b, It means techs won't charge as much as more folks would have an idea of what was being done....

THat's where forums like this are invaluable!

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

hey find a guy that can do the things you cant and do them well. there is your business partner. do good quality work at a fair price that your local economy can support you should be in good shape.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

We only have 2 music stores here that stock pro level gear-Long and McQuade,a national chain and Reid Music.They both stock Fender and its products and bylines such as Gretsch,Guild etc.and Martin,Gibson and other better brands but L&M also stocks Rickenbacker.I deal with Reid Music almost exclusively as they are a locally owned business so the money stays here rather than in the pockets of a board of directors in Toronto.I also find that Reid's gives quicker turn around times for repairs.There are 5 or 6 other music stores in town but they deal mostly in Jay Turser,ESP,MIC B C Rich,Vantage etc. to cater to the student market in their respective music schools.
I have always gotten better deals at Reid music as I've known them since the mid 70s and beside buying a lot of gear from them myself have sent a lot of business their way and they are very good to me then for giving me better than sale prices.I doubt very much a large chain store would reward such customer loyality.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Metro Chicago has way over a hundred guitar stores, so "local" is a matter of how far to drive in a 30 mile radius. And in that circle, is everything from brand new all lines, to $$$$$ vintage.

Fortunately, NO GAS at this time.

+1

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Mine is about 25 minutes away called edwards music..... what they sell is a bunch of guitar like squire and ltd esp nothing. just about two months ago i saw one epiphone les paul ONE! during last christmas they had nothing but esp. The only good thing in that store is the amps and the pedals.

Here we have Long and McQuade (Canada's Guitar Center I suppose). They usually have alot to choose from. We have a St. Johns Music which has a few Fenders but a whole lot of nothing else. I never really go there. We also have Mothers Music which carries stuff like LTD and some Ibanez, but nothing I am too interested in. They've got some good pedals and recording gear. I think they are good for drums too. I heard a rumor that L&M have purchased them, so they may have an inventory blow out! I guess I'll have to wait to see if thats true. We also have a local guy, Ed's Musical repair, but most of his stuff is overpriced, used junk. Our other Mom and Pop store Underdog music has unfortunatley went out of business. Its hard to keep an indie store with L&M in town.

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I have a friend who owns a mid-sized independent guitar shop (before guitar center came along, I would have said large shop), and he says he has problems getting used instruments because everybody sells theirs on Ebay. he said he'll get the occasional druggie looking to unload a guitar or pedal, but he worries that it's stolen or something and usually doesn't give much money for it.

In Texas, pawn shops or any place that sells used musical equipment has to hold it for 30 days and send the serial numbers into a police database to make sure that nobody has reported them stolen. If is has been reported stolen, the victim gets the guitar/amp/pedal/horn/whatever back, but the store is out whatever money they gave for it (unless they can track down the person who sold it yeah, right!). They're required to write down the person's driver's license number & address, but that isn't always kosher either.

Consequently, he generally takes consignments only on high-end instruments...that way, he weeds out the thieves and crackheads who are out to make a quick score...they generally need the money "NOW!"

He also can't become an authorized dealer for anybody good (Fender, Gibson, etc.) due to volume requirements, so 99% of his business is used stuff or the occasional new one that "fell into his lap".

As far as bigger stores (chains, even) stocking only low-end instruments, that's all over the place down here as well...I guess it's hard to justify keeping the more expensive instruments on the inventory and raising the overhead costs, especially if people can't buy them in the "current economic situation" (I'm so tired of that phrase).

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Being in the LA area (but not LA), you see a really interesting progression with regards to Guitar Center.

Basically, the further "out" you go, the worse the selection is. While the folks at the Oxnard store are nice, the selection can't compare with Sherman Oaks. From what I've seen online, it looks like Hollywood beats out Sherman Oaks as well.

It's kind of annoying, because the closest guitar center to me is their HQ. They'd probably get more business from me if I didn't have to drive out of my way to get there... especially because once I hit the valley, I can cut over to Sam Ash.

In town, we have a smaller local chain called Instrumental Music. Friendly staff, but obviously not the same level of inventory as GC. That being said, they will transfer product from other stores without any obligation on your part. It's great if you know exactly what you want OR if you're patient. Not having the same depth of inventory does cut down on the impulse buy factor. Regardless, I usually give them a chance first and foremost.

For instrument repairs and service, Wally's World gets my business. Tiny place, but good rates. They basically stock use equipment, but also have a very impressive library of sheet music and books. They also are an excellent resource for lesson.

This is just a reflection of your economy. Very few people are buying higher end guitars. If I'm a business owner I'm putting out whats selling. I'm not going to tie up my cash in a high dollar instrument that most people just want to play and can't afford. It sucks but thats business.

You're actually quite wrong. In this area, it seems that all people buy are high-end EVERYTHING. I only get tailgated by the finest luxury sedans, for example.

I should have said my local economy... If dealers aren't stocking nicer instruments it could be the lack of availability as well. I'm glad things are better in your neck of the woods Nevin.

My local shop has an alright selection. They have a few standard strats including the limited edition fiesta red painted headstock. They also have one deluxe, a few MIM, a couple of 60's and fifties roadworns, a couple of highway ones and a squire hello kitty guitar

They don't have any of the new stuff, or any custom shops. In fact in the last two years I think I'be only seen one custom shop - a 56 NOS. They don't have a high turnover of guitars.

my small local store has more the mid price range of Fender, Ibanez, Marshall & co. and some expensive Sandberg basses. the sortiment is not very big on lable diversity.

cheers

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It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting - paulo coelho

It's a joke. There's another quite nice guitar store, but they have like two strats max at a time. I have to go to Glasgow, like a two and a half hour train journey away its not very feasible to go down for browse when I feel like it. As a result I only get to go once or twice a year.

Sigh. Even then its nowhere near the size if the guitar centres in America. Dear lord I wish there wqs a decent sized shop with a decent selection.