#61
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It is a fact that you never know who you may run into while in a guitar store. One time I sat and jammed on acoustics with Derrick St Holmes (Ted Nugent band) and didn't even realize who he was until after he left. A mutual friend who worked in the store told me who he was afterwards. LOL..I thought he looked familiar. Nice guy, good player. He lives around here somewhere, I am told. |
#62
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From a slightly different perspective.
I once lived in an area with a heavy agricultural economy. I knew an old rancher (passed away many years ago). He once went to a Cadillac dealership after working a day on the farm. Overalls, drove up in a beat to hell 15-20 year old F150 pickup, etc. Was completely ignored. He went a few miles down the road to the Lincoln dealership and paid cash for TWO new Town Cars. One for him, one for his wife. Being the ornery old jerk that he was, he went back down to the Cadillac dealer the next day driving the Lincoln just to rub it in. Quote:
Last edited by Kerbie; 01-10-2018 at 06:31 PM. Reason: Removed masked profanity |
#63
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GREAT place. |
#64
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Well Grace Slick 50 years ago is one thing, but this is San Francisco today. Millionaires and Billionaires walk around in jeans and a tee-shirt. I have a very, very hard time believing anyone was ignored in a guitar shop in Tiburon because the shop thought the client wasn't made of money. Doesn't compute on any level.
That said, I wasn't there. But it would be wildly out of character and just plain dumb given the economics and demographics around here. I did once see a bunch of car salesmen in a Lynnwood Washington (north of Seattle) Acura dealership paying a crazy amount of attention to a scroungy looking dude and his very...interesting looking girlfriend, and I thought "how cool is that that they give this guy such attention!". Then I realized it was Dave Grohl. |
#65
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__________________
(insert famous quote here) |
#66
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When I shopped for a guitar at one of our forum sponsors, they had me put on an apron and they made sure each guitar I tried had plastic over the pickguard. I got the message to be respectful of the goods, and I wasn't offended; they were all high end Martins. But I could never have chosen the guitar that I bought without have played it first. With a pick. I think it's fine to ask customers to treat the guitars carefully, and to take precautions. If a pick scratch or other damage happens, that's probably the cost of doing business.
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Denise Martin HD-28V VTS, MFG Custom Taylor 358e 12 string Martin 00L-17 Voyage Air OM04 Breedlove Oregon Concert 1975 Aria 9422 |
#67
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I like this thread because it hasn’t turned into a bash-thread. People are just sharing their guitar store experiences, some good, some bad.
Overall, I’ve had very positive experiences. Of the places I’ve visited, standouts include Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, which has a great selection and whose employees are nice as pie, and Dusty Strings in Seattle which strikes a great balance of helpfulness and letting you play. But the best experience I had was at Gryphon Stringed Instruments. I was in Palo Alto for work and stopped in. I was drawn to the incredible array of rare, vintage guitars in glass cases. An employee came over and asked if I had any questions. I replied that I’d love to consider a vintage guitar but wouldn’t know where to begin. He said “then let’s start with the best so you can hear with those sound like,” opened a case, and pulled out a 40’s Martin. He made sure it was in tune before handing it to me and talking me through that model. We moved enough a number of beautiful, incredible-sounding vintage guitars that way. What a fantastic experience.
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Martin OM28 (European Spruce/EIR) Collings OM3A (Adirondack/EIR) Greven OOO (Lutz/Brazilian) Greven OO (Lutz/Maple) ARK Senorita S6-12 (Adirondack/Mahogany) Circa OOO-12 (European Spruce/Mun Ebony) |
#68
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Driving a used vehicle is more important to me. With a used musical instrument I need to thoroughly inspect to see if it's been properly maintained more than I need to strum it a few times. In the case of a guitar, I know what a guitar is. I also know that I'll have to get it sit up by a competent luthier to suit me. I don't need play because I have experiences with guitars. Quote:
If we damage a guitar we should hold ourselves responsible financially for the repair. It should not be the cost of doing business.
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http://chucksmusicpage.blogspot.com/ |
#69
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#70
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My Guitar shop experiences have been in and around Nashville TN.
Carter Vintage, Gruhn, Artisan, Sam Ash, and Guitar Center in Nashville. I have been to all on occasion. Gruhn, by far, has been the friendliest and most helpful. And i have dealt with a couple of different salesmen. They have some very expensive Vintage and New Guitars, and have allowed me to play whatever I have wanted. They traded me at a good price. I purchased here. Guitar Center has been helpful as well. I am sure most, on here, are familiar with their inventory. Their service has begun to wane. They have "locked up' most of their better guitars and require a salesman to unlock. This policy has just started recently. Before you could play anything you could reach. I have traded here, but when I was "uneducated" about trading guitars. I will not trade with them again. I have purchased here as well. Carter Vintage was friendly and allowed me to play whatever guitar I wanted even in their "High End" room. I was interesting in trading guitars with them and they seriously lowballed my guitar in trade, similar to Guitar Center. I have not purchased here. Artisian Guitars carries Bedell, Santa Cruz, Collings, Huss and Dalton, etc. They are like the "Flagship" dealer for Collings Guitars. This store is hit or miss on service. I was in there a few years ago and it was friendly and helpful. But this last time, a couple of months ago, was a different story. The salesman was arrogant, and not helpful in any manner. After a few minutes I left. The help was definitely the worst of all the stores. Even better than Guitar Center, and they get all the crazies. |
#71
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In the old days, when I was stationed at Fort Monmouth, I used to visit Mandolin Brothers in New York. That was a great experience! I used to enjoy visiting Harry and Jeanie West Fine Musical Instruments in Statesville, North Carolina. Harry was a little eccentric but he was a nice guy. He had some cool instruments. He only brought the "good stuff" out by special request. Harry's store was a gathering place for Bluegrass banjo players. I want to visit Dream Guitars in Weaverville, North Carolina (near Asheville) but I think you have to make an appointment. Since I would only be tire kicking I hate to take up their time. And if I am ever in Florida I want to visit My Favorite Guitars . . . just to meet Jon and Sharon. I have done a lot of business with them on-line but I have never visited the store. |
#72
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Thanks for that, Jeff; but you may have missed the point of the story apropos to the OP....
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm |
#73
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We have a music shop where the owners are affectionately called Two Grumpy Old Men.
They primarily sell high end guitars. I have been asked by one of them if I was there to buy something or just waste their time. They are both luthiers and don't like being pulled away from a build or repair if you are just looking. They recently closed their doors to the public and now only see a customer by appointment. It works for them.
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Happiness Is A New Set Of Strings L-20A |
#74
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And that string most likely snapped because the nut slot was too tight. Before I touch any guitar in any shop I'll strike up a conversation with the owner (or whoever is minding the shop). I introduce myself, talk a bit about what I play, maybe talk about what guitars I already own. And then go to audition the guitars. Personally, I prefer the shop to pull one down off the rack for me. I don't wear a belt, and I make a show of removing my jacket, rings, or anything else that might scratch. And I NEVER use a pick, unless I'm pretty sure I've found "the one". If one wants to anonymously audition one's guitar of choice ... perhaps GC is the place? I'm not trying to put anyone down, I get it that some players (especially newbies like the OP) get nervous with salespeople hovering about. |
#75
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As others have attested, it’s very hard to imagine that happening. I’ve been in that shop numerous times, often with my teenage son, and it’s a very relaxed, respectful, and encouraging place for customers.
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1950 Martin 00-18 RainSong Concert Hybrid Orchestra Model 12 Fret Eastman E20OOSS. Strandberg Boden Original 6 Eastman T185MX G&L ASAT Classic USA Butterscotch Blonde Rickenbacher Lap Steel Voyage-Air VAD-2 Martin SW00-DB Machiche 1968 Guild F-112 Taylor 322e 12 Fret V Class |