Gotta love GC

[marvcus]

I go in to check out a MIM Strat today and the guy asks what amp I play through so we can check one out.

I told him Egnater MOD stuff. He says "Huh? What's that?" I told him Egnater Modular stuff--M4 preamp.
He goes "Oh" and walks me straight to a Mesa Express. There was a Rebel set up about 20 feet away. Strike 1.

I told him I just wanted to check out the setup/frets to make sure it was playable up and down the neck. He takes
the guitar, plays some blues licks, and tells me he rarely plays anything "up" on the neck (high frets). Ugh. Strike 2.

The guitar was a 2007 MIM strat w/ Sperzels. They were selling it for $449.99. I told him I thought it was a tad over priced and
$300.00 was more like it. He said they do not negotiate on used stuff and that it was a good deal because the new
ones sell for $599.00. I said, uh, wasn't the price increase just last February? I don't think that applied to the 2007's. Strike 3.

Well, my wallet's still fat, but I'll send GC off with some keyboard cat!

 

[kingsryche]

I'll bet we all have a GC story. Three years ago after playing solid state amps for years I decided I just had to try a Mesa. I settled on a Rectoverb (single rectifier, 50 watt combo). Had to order the Mesa from a Dallas GC and received the Mesa (crammed into a Marshall 4x12 box with a ton of bubble wrap) and quickly realized I made a big mistake (I had never owned a tube amp and was a total noob in that regard). Head over to my local GC and explained this was way too much amp for my needs. The rocker guy helping me advised maybe I should go with a Mesa Dual Rectifier. I didn't try to point out to him that going from a 50 watt Mesa to a 100 watt Mesa would not solve my problem...I just asked for the store manager. Finally got it returned and picked up something else. Thankfully the Mesa didn't work out as I learned of Egnater during my ensuing amp research. Fast forward to 2008...picked up a Rebel after they were released and been loving my Rebel ever since. Now I just can't wait until I can get an E2 and start collecting modules.

 

[jlbaxe]

I get sum great deals there. they sort of know me there and when they put my info in the computer and see the pages of stuff I have gotten the past year then i usally get there attention.

 

[Kiteboarder]

Hehe! There are actually a handful of guys per shop that actually know what they are doing. I find it amusing that I spend 8 hours a day working on something that has nothing to do with music, and yet I oftentimes know much more than they do. I often find myself "training" some of their employees mid way through a conversation about a piece of gear. GC should be paying me for that!

But to be fair, I've actually run into a few guys here in San Diego that really know what they are doing.

 

[Len Rabinowitz]

I'll bet we all have a GC story. Three years ago after playing solid state amps for years I decided I just had to try a Mesa. I settled on a Rectoverb (single rectifier, 50 watt combo). Had to order the Mesa from a Dallas GC and received the Mesa (crammed into a Marshall 4x12 box with a ton of bubble wrap) and quickly realized I made a big mistake (I had never owned a tube amp and was a total noob in that regard). Head over to my local GC and explained this was way too much amp for my needs. The rocker guy helping me advised maybe I should go with a Mesa Dual Rectifier. I didn't try to point out to him that going from a 50 watt Mesa to a 100 watt Mesa would not solve my problem...I just asked for the store manager. Finally got it returned and picked up something else. Thankfully the Mesa didn't work out as I learned of Egnater during my ensuing amp research. Fast forward to 2008...picked up a Rebel after they were released and been loving my Rebel ever since. Now I just can't wait until I can get an E2 and start collecting modules.

You have to find the ones who know what they are talking about. I have a few people at various GC's that I have done well with over the years.

I sometimes will ask questions that I know the answers to just to see if they get it right. Nasty of me.

GC as a corporation bothers me sometimes- I hate Walmart, and GC is sort of the Walmart of music stores- but that is not the fault of most of the employees. I think they are being smarter now that they are doing more "pay for it and we will reduce the price a bit" rather than "Throw wverything on a credit card and forget about it!"

I had a Rectoverb for years- Loved it! Hard to imagine that as too much amp. The Tourmaster was a good step up, though.

 

[RockStarNick]

You have to find the ones who know what they are talking about.

I think I'd have a greater chance bumping into Sasquatch on a hike in the woods, than bumping into someone at GC that knows what they're talking about.

 

[rockridge98]

Hehe! There are actually a handful of guys per shop that actually know what they are doing. I find it amusing that I spend 8 hours a day working on something that has nothing to do with music, and yet I oftentimes know much more than they do. I often find myself "training" some of their employees mid way through a conversation about a piece of gear. GC should be paying me for that!

But to be fair, I've actually run into a few guys here in San Diego that really know what they are doing.

The GC'ers who do know their gear usually leave by a year or so.
In a good music store I can establish a rapport with one of the guys, buy some stuff so he knows
I'm a serious customer for the next time. Do that in a GC and 9 times out of 10 he'll be gone by the time
I need a favor or a deal.

 

[luxxtone]

Bottom line is, most people who are on this forum know about gear and probably don't need to have a GC employee tell them what's good or not. Me personally, I know what I need, GC usually has the best price, then I go buy it and leave. I mean, do I really need to ask how the pickups sound in a Squier or what kind of bridge is on a Les Paul? The employees are fine for a younger kid or beginners that have little or no clue about what they need.

 

[blumuz123]

You have to find the ones who know what they are talking about.

I think I'd have a greater chance bumping into Sasquatch on a hike in the woods, than bumping into someone at GC that knows what they're talking about.

Actually.... I bumped into Sasquatch playing a Tele through a Rebel at GC in Nashville.... bout a month ago.
He said he prefers the El34 side of the mix knob the most.

Oh .. and he also said the Vox module is his favorite in the mod50. HE seems to be a Mid and Low gain kind of Guy ( I think he was a male.........)

 

[Len Rabinowitz]

Funny- I would think they would be more heavy metal sorts- Playing a Dean or a B. C. Rich or something...

 

[blumuz123]

Funny- I would think they would be more heavy metal sorts- Playing a Dean or a B. C. Rich or something...

They are reported to have different species

 

[Axewizard]

Sounds like they got that guitar tagged WAY too high. Really bad street buy!

I work for GC and I can tell you that that is way too high for a used MIM. Normally, they'll go for $299-$349 depending on condition and whether or not it's been modded.

Just my two cents...I would have walked too.

 

[Len Rabinowitz]

I go in to check out a MIM Strat today and the guy asks what amp I play through so we can check one out.

I told him Egnater MOD stuff. He says "Huh? What's that?" I told him Egnater Modular stuff--M4 preamp.
He goes "Oh" and walks me straight to a Mesa Express. There was a Rebel set up about 20 feet away. Strike 1.

I told him I just wanted to check out the setup/frets to make sure it was playable up and down the neck. He takes
the guitar, plays some blues licks, and tells me he rarely plays anything "up" on the neck (high frets). Ugh. Strike 2.

The guitar was a 2007 MIM strat w/ Sperzels. They were selling it for $449.99. I told him I thought it was a tad over priced and
$300.00 was more like it. He said they do not negotiate on used stuff and that it was a good deal because the new
ones sell for $599.00. I said, uh, wasn't the price increase just last February? I don't think that applied to the 2007's. Strike 3.

Well, my wallet's still fat, but I'll send GC off with some keyboard cat!

You know, I noticed something about that February price increase at GC that bothered me. Went in to look at some Tele's before the price increase- about 1200 bucks. Went in a day or two after the price increase- Eaxct same instruments literally- but about 600 bucks more! They must have paid the old dealers price for them. Shouldn't they get rid of those at the old price and put in the new price on new stock that they presumably paid a higher price for? It seemed like a rip off to me.

 

[marvcus]

Len,

I used to work as a guitar manager for a large music retail chain (shuddering at the thought of it). Whenever a manufacturer
came out with an across the board price increase, they would just up the "cost factor" (the cost of the guitar + the chain's
percentage fee) to be on par with the new increase, no matter how old the guitar was. They did not go guitar-by-guitar (of the same model)
and calculate it. We actually argued with the corporate office to change it because experienced buyers knew better.

It's a good bet GC is doing the same thing. That also makes me think they are hurting right now.

If you are serious about getting one of those Teles, I'd go talk to the salesman or the manager, explain the situation and ask
for a fair deal at the pre-hike price. They should be all over it by wanting to get rid of older "new" product. If not, turn around and leave.

You can always tell how well a store is doing by looking at the new merchandise everytime you go in. If you see the same guitars and amps,
they are likely not turning much inventory and their dealer reps aren't very happy.

Just my 0.02.

 

[Len Rabinowitz]

I'm fairly certain GC is hurting a bit, although nothing like the car companies.

I notice some changes around there:

A LOT less willing to negotiate price.

Less interested in used gear- Much more selective about what they will take in.

A LOT less of "Get a credit card and don't pay for a year!" and more of "Pay for it now and we will take off a few bucks!" This I find to be a good thing.

I think they got over-extended on credit just like the banks. What did they expect when telling 20 year olds to buy a $2000.00 Les Paul on credit and not pay for year? Some are gonna default.

I think there have been layoffs at GC, although I have not heard about any store closings.

 

[3 Mile Stone]

You have to find the ones who know what they are talking about.

I think I'd have a greater chance bumping into Sasquatch on a hike in the woods, than bumping into someone at GC that knows what they're talking about.

Naw it actually does happen in some stores. I know ... hard to believe. I have a guy at the San Antonio store, his name is Glenn. Great player, Egnater nut. I came in the other day and he told right off "hey man the RENEGADE is coming soon, don't forget to come down and check it out!!!". Gives me discounts and shit. Cool dude.