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Post subject: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:03 am
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Morning all, this could be a long one, but I've had a fabulous morning.

So my dad has just turned 50 and he's always moaned saying "I wish I had learned to play guitar but I'm too old now". I've always said he's talking rubbish and this Christmas I'm going to get him an acoustic and some lessons to see how he gets on.

So I went to my local store to try some guitars, obviously although I'm not spending loads, it needs to feel playable and if worst comes to worst and he doesn't stick it through, I can play it ;) So I'm sat on a stool strumming some chords to see how it sounds and a visiting Irish guy, probably the same age as my dad, comes over and says he isn't great at playing and whether I would play a few different guitars so he could hear the difference, obviously I jumped at the chance to try a load of different guitars! Anyway had a great chat about music and after me playing a few and him holding them and strumming a little to see how he liked the feel he settled on a nice new acoustic for him.

Then a local musician was in to try a few pedals out to add to his board, a Boss chorus, looper and an overdrive. I own the same boss chorus as he was trying so I was chatting away to him, and he asked if I wanted to try them so he had his hands free to mess with the settings. Not having played many Les Paul's and having a nice Epi one to try I couldn't resist! Unfortunately the SD-1 overdrive and me got on so well I had to buy it! Oops.

Anyway the couple that run the store cut me a bit of a deal as they were really busy for once and I had sat with the guy who wanted me to play those acoustics for him. Of course I told them it was no chore at all but thanked them for doing me a nice price. So I am now the proud owner of.....

Image

Now what's the point of this ramble you ask, well where online would you get to spend the morning trying loads of guitars and getting to talk to all these people about a subject you are all passionate about? You might get a great deal but you also might miss out on something you can't put a price on, sharing knowledge with others, receiving knowledge back, and building relationships with people in the area. Getting to try all the products in a real life environment and ensuring its right for you.

I've yet to find a store online which does all that, if anyone does let me know ;)

Hope everyone's weekend goes as great as mine started!


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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:29 am
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I have the same SD-1, it is an awesome OD pedal, I use it to boost the dirty channels of my marshall, and sometimes I go clean and use it as a OD :D

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:33 am
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awesome, Joe. My dad turns 50 next year and has been trying for a few years to learn to play. He kind of gave up after learning a few chords. It's funny how he knows chords and can't play anything that sounds like a song, and I never bothered to learn chords (or much of anything) and I can at least make it sound like I know what I'm doing....
anyway, your post reminded me of when I had friends working at the local best buy musical instruments department (before they closed up shop) - I was always in there hanging out...I made several sales for them, answering questions about different pedals, recording programs, etc.... Was even offered a part time job at one point but turned it down. Figured it wouldn't be fun anymore if I HAD to be there.

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:57 am
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I think you're right on the work thing, I'm a believer in keeping your hobbies seperate, well at least separate from the retail side of things!


Nathan Brown wrote:
I have the same SD-1, it is an awesome OD pedal, I use it to boost the dirty channels of my marshall, and sometimes I go clean and use it as a OD :D


Yeah I use it for my clean channel mostly, also means I can get some nice drive at a neighbour friendly level without ramping up my amp! I'm also a huge fan of a nice clean chord strumming opening to a song, then stomping a box and blasting a huge driven chorus, sure makes you feel like a rockstar!


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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:03 am
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Congrats Snowjoe! Cool story and new pedal!

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:44 am
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Great story !

I see that loads of times when in my local Ma & Pa store.

Unfortunately for me, right now I'm the older guy asking the young guy to play for me while I fiddle-fuddle my way through my meager skillset.

But, not for long ! :D

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:58 am
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Lightnin MN wrote:
Great story !

I see that loads of times when in my local Ma & Pa store.

Unfortunately for me, right now I'm the older guy asking the young guy to play for me while I fiddle-fuddle my way through my meager skillset.

But, not for long ! :D

cheers!


You'll be shredding away in no time! To be honest I was a bit taken aback at first because I wouldn't consider myself a good guitarist, I mean I can play my normal chords nice and cleanly but nothing flashy, and that was the closest I've ever come to playing in public, so it was certainly a bit of a confidence boost which I needed at the moment :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:12 am
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What a good son you are!! Kudos!!

I like the SD-1 as well. I mentioned elsewhere on the forum that I regretted selling a Keeley modded one. The Germanium does make a difference. Even stock, I like that fact that it lets the sound of the guitar come through relatively uncoloured while adding some "hair" around it.

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:22 am
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Congrats on the new pedal, and that was a great story! Nice of you to help those people.

I have had similar experiences at both of the GCs in my area, except that usually the employees play while I fiddle with the knobs. I get a much better sense of what an amp sounds like when I can concentrate on listening, and not worry about playing. Besides, many of the GC employees are terrific players, some are pros, so I get to hear some great guitar playing. For me, the GCs here are a lot like a M&P shop. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:54 am
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The experience is far more rewarding at the big box stores during the week...avoidng the headbanger's ball at the weekend. Of course, during holiday, when the schools are closed, fuggeddabouddit!!

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:16 pm
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I think for the record that I'm not knocking the big chains, anywhere people can go check out the gear in the flesh and interact with cool people is a win in my eyes.


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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:08 pm
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Snowjoe wrote:

So I went to my local store to try some guitars, obviously although I'm not spending loads, it needs to feel playable and if worst comes to worst and he doesn't stick it through, I can play it ;) So I'm sat on a stool strumming some chords to see how it sounds and a visiting Irish guy, probably the same age as my dad, comes over and says he isn't great at playing and whether I would play a few different guitars so he could hear the difference, obviously I jumped at the chance to try a load of different guitars! Anyway had a great chat about music and after me playing a few and him holding them and strumming a little to see how he liked the feel he settled on a nice new acoustic for him.

Then a local musician was in to try a few pedals out to add to his board, a Boss chorus, looper and an overdrive. I own the same boss chorus as he was trying so I was chatting away to him, and he asked if I wanted to try them so he had his hands free to mess with the settings. Not having played many Les Paul's and having a nice Epi one to try I couldn't resist! Unfortunately the SD-1 overdrive and me got on so well I had to buy it! Oops.




Now what's the point of this ramble you ask, well where online would you get to spend the morning trying loads of guitars and getting to talk to all these people about a subject you are all passionate about? You might get a great deal but you also might miss out on something you can't put a price on, sharing knowledge with others, receiving knowledge back, and building relationships with people in the area. Getting to try all the products in a real life environment and ensuring its right for you.

I've yet to find a store online which does all that, if anyone does let me know ;)

Hope everyone's weekend goes as great as mine started!


I've been through the same thing myself.
I've helped out and I've come across some great deals, and recently bought some pedals real cheap.

Cool story.

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:54 pm
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Snowjoe wrote:
I think for the record that I'm not knocking the big chains, anywhere people can go check out the gear in the flesh and interact with cool people is a win in my eyes.

I agree with that and have had some input with shoppers unfamiliar with gear, uniformed parents with starry-eyed young gear freaks in tow in particular. You have to be able to duck the percentage oriented sales staff who, most of the time, know squat about Fender gear, and are looking to make the best sale they can, whilst you are trying to do the best for the parent and the offspring both in matching them to the right instrument for the need and preventing them from being screwed at the same time.

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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 6:24 am
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Snowjoe wrote:
I think for the record that I'm not knocking the big chains, anywhere people can go check out the gear in the flesh and interact with cool people is a win in my eyes.

Interact with cool people? *blink*
Did you mean the pimply faced sales associate trying to jack his bonus?
Or the one who met his quota and will spend the next six hours on his cell phone?
Or the bored guy at the door going through your bags?
Or the Token Girl or Token Handicapped who hands out flyers?
Or the floor manager running ragged between registers because he has to punch in a code whenever someone uses a rebate?
Or the 17/71 year old who's learned how to almost play Smoke On The Water/Sweet Home Alabama, and needs to demonstrate that on every guitar in the store, in the delusional hope that an eighteen year old girl will walk in, be awed, and jump his bones?
Near the end of the day, they get so desperate that they try to play for Token Girl.

I enjoy music stores far more when there's a lack of interaction with cool people. Cause, quite frankly, that overpriced Tube Screamer has a more interesting personality than the average human specimen found at GC.


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Post subject: Re: Accidental NPD and why we need to support local shops.
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 6:29 am
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No I didn't mean any of those and I feel you've either missed the point of what I said or are just trying to be a little awkward.


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