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Location: Flahdaw | With the news about the change with Guitar Center, a big question is...will this promote a resurgence of the "indie store"? A bigger question is, will the public be better served? I know that GC and Sam Ash can be pretty annoying, BUT...they have a big selection of goods, always let you play anything you want, and have pretty good pricing. My recollection of small indie stores is that you had to ask to play something, they had very little stock, and that they hovered over you when you did play a guitar. True, GC and SA don't stock much Ovation, but will the indie stores?
Opinions.....????? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | What news and what change with Guitar Center? If they lost boatloads of money this quarter, that's nothing new, or is there other news?
I think it's too late here, a small market with one GC in the whole state and very few indies left. We lost a good one a couple years ago. An even more specialized one started across the street and lasted about a year. I haven't seen an Ovation, new or used, at GC for about a year and I probably stock more than the total Ovation stock at all the music stores in town, if not the whole state. Big state, small population and the GC is very small, probably a quarter the size of the one in Orlando. But at least the GC kids ask if I need help. They paged a guy for 30 minutes when I was in the Orlando store and no one ever asked if I needed anything. |
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Location: Jet City | Mark, Al posted something about GC's creditors looking to take them over.
Doesn't matter if it's Guitar Center or K-mart. One-stop superstores kill the small brick and mortars. It only serves 'em right that the internet is serving them a plate of their own crap.
I also don't think they have as much of a selection as they're being given credit for. Thye're huge, and they try to cater to everyone, every musician, every genre. Really for guitars it's the same vanilla Fender/Jackson/Gibson/Epiphone/Taylor BS they've always had.
Locally if I want to see a good selection of high-end quality instruments, Guitar Center is the last place i'd go. I think the mom and pops are still out there, but you might have to hit a few different ones to find the stuff you're wanting. American Music in bellevue has historically had a decent selection of Ovations (until now). I bought 2 brand new ones from them... and zero from Guitar Center. Why? They didn't carry them. As a matter of fact, the last new guitar I bought from Guitar Center was in oh.... 1984 in Oakland CA... back when they were still a good MUSIC store with only a couple locations in CA.
Aside from a good occasional loss-leader deal, Guitar Center's just a place to buy strings on Sunday... so I guess that hurts a bit.
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Location: Jet City | Oh ****... forgot about that VXT. Technically Mark bought that from Guitar Center for me 
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Location: NW Washington State | Yesteday I went to Trading Musician in Seattle and then to Guitar Center in Lynnwood. Trading Musician was more fun- lots of oddball used gear you'd never see at GC. There was a guy at GC looking for an Elite T. Instead they showed him a Rainsong. They did have a used Elite with epaulets and a black textured finish.
You can find some good deals on GC's national used gear listing, but I haven't tried buying anything.
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Location: Flahdaw | Yeah, GC is in some serious financial trouble, and will be forced to close some stores, reduce inventory, and lay off people. Sam Ash CAN"T be far behind.
I'm pretty sure that I don't live in a big enough metro area to support a "good" indie store, much less a couple of 'em. Prior to GC and SA, we had teeny little stores that carried Yamaha, Washburn, and a few other oddball acoustics. You could never just grab a Martin, Gibson, or other higher end guitar and play for a 1/2 hour.
Sam Ash USED to carry a bunch of Ovations, and they still stock more than the GC here. But if they close up, I guarantee any little indie store HERE ain't gonna pick up the Ovation line. They'll have low end guitars and then HOPE they can get their hands on some Martins and Taylors, because they can sell those. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Unfortunately, they will probably keep the little GC open here, because there's not much competition anymore. We have a couple of old local music stores that mostly deal in pianos and school band instruments. One of those was supposedly the Ovation dealer, but the guitar guy didn't know the difference between a Celebrity and an Elite back when all the Elites were USA made and they had never had an Adamas in the store. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I just checked the Ovation website and they don't list any Ovation dealers in this area, other than Guitar Center (which had none the last couple times I was in there) and a pawn shop. Maybe I'll stop in there sometime and see if they really have any. |
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Location: Colorado | Remember - Sam Ash was a local store at one time...with Manny's right across the street...and I would guess they might have sold more Ovations than most...when Ovations were the A/E powerhouse...I still enjoy going to the store in Manhattan...long ago you had to go to stores like it to see all the real gear...Rhythm City in Atlanta comes to mind....there was also a pretty good one in the DC area...don't remember the name. I think on the Maryland side was its location...times change.....long ago you had to go to see the gear...now the gear can come to you....All are probably just trying to make a living in the music equipment sales business...which is tough...but quoting Al...what do I know. |
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Location: NJ | I go to home depot and stare at the plumbing supplies trying to decide what I need. maybe someone will look at me and ask to help but rarely does it happen.
I go to the local plumbing supply store tell the counterman what I need he has it for me in 10 seconds and answers any questions I may have.
oh and by the way the plumbing supply was cheaper than home depot. but even if they weren't it is worth it to support some in the trade that knows what they are doing.
How many times I get phone calls and even from prominent members of this board that ask my opinion, my expertise etc and we talk for hours and then they order from a place that is gives them the guitar for $5 cheaper? well it happens all the time. One said person even had the gall to call me from a gig on a saturday night when he had problems with a preamp from a guitar he purchased from another vendor!!!!!!!!!!!
so, you decide what you want. professional service and a price that may be a little higher or even on par? or a store with a whole lot of choices with no help and damaged merchandise.
why are the guitars pristine in small shops? because the owner owns them and they are his dollars hanging out there. In GC no one gives a rat's *** because they are just making minimum wage. working at GC is the modern day equivalent to working at a record store back when I was a kid. both record stores and macdonald's paid the same but the record store was the cool gig now it is GC |
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Location: Flahdaw | Well, I certainly hope any pain felt by GC is actually to your benefit Al.
My point is that in MY small market (and probably many others on this board), the small indie stores didn't carry much of anything that I wanted to buy. Yeah they were VERY attentive store owners, but I didn't WANT a Yamaha or an Alvarez. If my GC closes, I won't be particularly happy to have to drive to Tampa for any decent selection of gits.... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | My favorite guitar store was just a block from the office--Old Boise Guitar. I never bought a guitar there, because he didn't have Ovations, but I bought a couple of amps, most all my strings, straps, parts and even shirts and posters. I tried to keep him afloat, but wasn't successful. Many of us still mourn its passing. It was started about 30 years ago by a guy who moved out here from New York. He won a Guy Clark songwriting award and plays around town. I try to see him whenever I can. It's just a tough business, not just because of Guitar Center, but other economy issues. His clientele, unfortunately, was a bunch of aging boomers. I'd always see guys my age who probably aren't the right age group for a guitar store. |
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Location: south east Michigan | We're lucky to have to good independent in the area.
They've been around for 44 years and stock lots expensive of eye candy.
They used to stock some high end Ovations... but that ship has sailed.
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Location: Michigan | i know the store that you are talking about and that is where i bought my first ovation at. i have bought a couple of guitars and amps, stings , pedals from him also and he always kept the price very close to guitar centers , he is a bit higher but like al says i walk away realizing that i paid a bit more for a service that was much more professional than what you receive at the big stores or on the internet sites that just advertise price. the guitars that i have bought from him never were touched by a bunch of people just wanting to waste a half an hour somewhere so they go to the g.c. near them and pick up a guitar and plug into an amp and tear away it. every time that i go into the g.c. by me there are always people playing guitars that who knows where those hands have been and cranking up the amps until someone comes over and makes them turn it down,then into the acoustic room and the first thing they go for are the $4000.00 guitars to play.
you wont see that happen at the store slippy and i shop at.
cheap ain't good and good ain't cheap. GWB |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm going to buy a keyboard from GWB. The Shift key will be like brand new. |
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Location: Flahdaw | guitarwannabee - 2014-03-10 7:01 PM
there are always people playing guitars that who knows where those hands have been GWB
For your information, Brad ALWAYS takes a shower before leaving for Guitar Center (...but he IS alone in the car for quite awhile before arriving...) |
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Location: Chicago | I had no idea that Guitar Center was pretty much doomed. This blog clarified alot for me. The guy says, "I will not miss Guitar Center like I do not miss Circuit City." You guys are way ahead of me, but for those that have not heard:
http://www.ericgarland.co/2013/11/26/guitar-center-big-box-retail/
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Location: Columbus OH and Cape Coral FL | I went to a metro Atlanta GC about six weeks ago looking for a new or used Balladeer. They had zip. The sales guy told me that he could not remember the last time Ovation shipped to them, but he did not know any reasons behind it. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Gee... And they just opened a Guitar Center that I can get to by MAX and bicycle. 
I even went there once.
That is where I discovered that the ONE Celebrity that they had in the acoustic room sounded better than a couple of Martin HPL guitars that they had. Plywood sounds better than sawdust.
So that was an educational experience. 
Edited by Old Man Arthur 2014-03-10 9:28 PM
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Location: NJ | Of course you are not going to see Ovations/Adamas at GC It is a niche market and they cater to the majority not the minority.
what will you see there?
strat and strat like start up kit guitars.
dean ibanez and other imports with low dollar costs and high dollar profits.
Gibsons because they have the same sort of fiscal policy as GC.
and a whole lot of middle of the road stuff.
when I was a kid the music stores had all the pro stuff and the student stuff or MOR stuff was where there were fewer choices.
now you have more pedal choices than guitar choices |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | It's not Indie stores vs. Guitar Center ... it's the Internet vs. everything else.
The whole thing needs to be flipped 180 degrees. You can't fight it, so make it work for you ... they need to start charging Sales Tax on internet sales and funnel that money BACK to the local retailers in the form of incentives and tax credits to keep the doors open and keep locals employed. Until they do that, there will always be an unfair advantage to the online seller.
As far as GC goes I couldn't give a rats raincoat if they live or die. But it will be a shame to just dump all those zit faced skaters back on the street jobless. |
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | alpep - 2014-03-10 8:01 AM
I go to home depot and stare at the plumbing supplies trying to decide what I need. maybe someone will look at me and ask to help but rarely does it happen.
I go to the local plumbing supply store tell the counterman what I need he has it for me in 10 seconds and answers any questions I may have.
oh and by the way the plumbing supply was cheaper than home depot. but even if they weren't it is worth it to support some in the trade that knows what they are doing.
How many times I get phone calls and even from prominent members of this board that ask my opinion, my expertise etc and we talk for hours and then they order from a place that is gives them the guitar for $5 cheaper? well it happens all the time. One said person even had the gall to call me from a gig on a saturday night when he had problems with a preamp from a guitar he purchased from another vendor!!!!!!!!!!!
so, you decide what you want. professional service and a price that may be a little higher or even on par? or a store with a whole lot of choices with no help and damaged merchandise.
why are the guitars pristine in small shops? because the owner owns them and they are his dollars hanging out there. In GC no one gives a rat's *** because they are just making minimum wage. working at GC is the modern day equivalent to working at a record store back when I was a kid. both record stores and macdonald's paid the same but the record store was the cool gig now it is GC
I think what Al said pretty much sums it up; the Home Depot/neighborhood hardware store analogy is apt.
We have a Guitar Center and a Sam Ash in the same shopping center in Cincinnati. About what you'd expect - although I will say the kids in Sam Ash's pro audio center have forgotten more about recording than I'll ever learn and are very helpful. I need to take them home with me, though - I have a PreSonus Audiobox I bought there 8 mos. ago. My son hooked it up and I'm still trying to figure out how to turn it on. I'll have to look for some youTubes.
But I digress (happens as you get older).
We also have a couple of local independents, although each has multiple locations - Buddy Roger's and Willis Music. I bought my Balladeer at Willis in 1971; my Pacemaker there in 1976; and my CS257 there in 2006. They are the local Ovation dealer (last time I checked) and have a pretty good selection of O's - and other stuff.
Buddy Roger's is the king with four locations. One of their entire stores could fit in GC's guitar department. They also sell band equipment (like Sam Ash) and offer lessons for every type of instrument known to man, from guitar to oboe (like Sam Ash). Staff is more mature and very helpful - and more knowledgable.
They do NOT carry Ovations.
Both of the independents have been in business a long time. There's a Buddy Roger's about two miles from where I live. GC and Sam Ash are about 4.5 miles away, as is Willis. The indies tend to charge more (but not outrageously so).
It's like Al says - take your pick of what you want.
I usually go to the indies; it's a "support your local business" thing... |
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Location: south east Michigan | My indie guys sticker prices are really high. I think he makes out good when someone gets caught up in the moment and emotion of buying something as exciting as a guitar.
He comes down to internet price pretty fast when asked.
All I've ever asked is that he gets close and I never ask him to make up for the sales tax.
Given quality of service and for future goodwill, I'm glad pay the sales tax. |
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Location: Flahdaw | In Sarasota/ Bradenton we have Sam Ash, Guitar Center, and one small indie store selling Korean guitars. If SA and GC close, will someone come in and open a nice indie store? Can anyone AFFORD to open one these days?
I thought it would be cool to open up a higher end pre-owned guitar store. Scour the internet for good deals on cool used guitars, and open up a boutique pre-owned store. Probably wouldn't fly, but it's a romantic idea.... |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Go for it. I will come there. As long as there are Ovations! And hopefully a few Adamae?? |
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Location: moline,illinois | Good idea.if you know how to market it I think it could be a winner(think websites, reviews and lots of cool pics) |
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Location: sitting at my computer | darkbarguitar - ... open up a boutique pre-owned store. Probably wouldn't fly, but it's a romantic idea.... hmmm, Bob G's Guitar Boutique - cool guitars ... and fashionable shirts!
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Location: Texas | Just left GC. Not one round back, expensive or cheap, new or used. |
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Indie stores vs Guitar Center/ Sam Ash