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March 2009
Posts: 16
Location: Mass | If you've ever felt intimidated playing at a music store here's a funny story.
I had some free time this week and stopped by a music store in downtown Boston. It was across the street from the Berklee College of Music. If you are familar with Berklee you know they have some of the most incredible young student musicians in the country.
So you can imagine the level of talent "test driving" new guitars in the shop. Wow, I was blown away!! I could have just stayed there all day and just listened to these kids jaming. Very different experienece than the typical visit to your local Guitar Center! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm intimidated by the shredders at Guitar Center. I used to think I'd like to be able to do that, but then I decided I really wouldn't want to. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I used to think I'd like to be able to do that, but then I decided learning how looked too much like work. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I figured it was like being able to belch on demand--an annoying skill that I was really impressed with when I was young, but fortunately grew out of it. Playing like Dimebag Darrel or singing like Ozzie Ozbourne isn't something I want to spend much time on. |
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October 2008
Posts: 489
| Never thought of myself as a flashy player but I seem to attract a small crowd on the rare occasions that I try out a guitar in a music store.
Once, just once, I want to plug a Les Paul into a Marshall and play the riff to "Satisfaction" until they tell me to stop. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I used to think I'd like to be able to do that, but then concluded that 30 pounds of chains and studs hanging down to a pair of red high-top Converse without laces is not my best look. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | It's hard on your back after awhile, too, Brad, and there's nothing worse than getting one of the chains caught on your nose ring. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | no problem, some guitar stores understand that the "shredders" aren't the paying customers. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Jim, is that music store you speak of the GC directly across the street from Boston College and about two miles west of Berklee? If so, that particular GC is a great store for vintage gear. It is the only GC that I've actually purchased a guitar from, a used Gibson archtop that still had three weeks remaining on its "police hold." |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Since I can't play either Smoke on the Water or Stairway to Heaven, I won't even attempt to play at a GC unless no one is there! ;) :p :D |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by BT717:
Since I can't play either Smoke on the Water or Stairway to Heaven  |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
Jim, is that music store you speak of the GC directly across the street from Boston College and about two miles west of Berklee? If so, that particular GC is a great store for vintage gear. It is the only GC that I've actually purchased a guitar from, a used Gibson archtop that still had three weeks remaining on its "police hold." My error. The GC is across the street from Boston University, not Boston College. You'd think I'd know better since my daughter attended BU for three grad school programs and worked there as a research assistant. |
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January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | I think I'd sneak in there early in the morning when all the students are still asleep....it does sound intimidating. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I already know that my guitar playing isn't going to impress anyone, so I just focus on the mandolins and run through "Under the Double Eagle" a couple times. It works because it's the only mando solo I can usually land cleanly all the way through. :D Then, I go play the guitars, and I don't sound so bad because it's just my "second" instrument. ;)
--Karen |
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March 2009
Posts: 16
Location: Mass | The store was "Daddy's Music" directly across the street from Berklee College of Music. I have bought a few accessories in there from time-to-time, but no guitars. They do have some used items but you have to check back on a regular basis or develop a friendhip with a store manager who can give you a call when that perfect pre-owned beauty shows up. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I'm intimidated by the shredders at Guitar Center. I used to think I'd like to be able to do that, but then I decided I really wouldn't want to. I always figured hire someone to do that.
I'll stay with my chord strumming |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | Originally posted by BT717:
Since I can't play either Smoke on the Water or Stairway to Heaven, I won't even attempt to play at a GC unless no one is there! ;) :p :D I'm with you Bob but at any store downunder.... |
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September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | As mentioned before.....when an old stodgy gray-haired guy walks in to try out guitars, (that would be me) I get a lot of attention from the sales people. They seem to know who has the fat wallet, and didn't spend all their hard-earned cash on nose/ear jewelery.
I enjoy listening to the better musicians, but I enjoy trying a guitar or bass with just a few chords to feel and hear the instrument.
I even had a GC manager turn down the youngsters once when I wanted to here a used Ovation. Works for me. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | An Eleanor Rigby moment: poor guys loitering every "jamming" at GC, looking around to see who might be impressed, buying next to nothing.... You gotta conclude that it's the only outlet. A sort of lonely loser situation IMHO (and everybody knows). I was down at a local shop two days ago, full of kids playing quite well, actually. Four shredders making noise. No one was listening to each other, I wanted to shout "Hey, why not play together?" I felt sorry fot the VERY tired shop owner who was wearing earplugs!!! |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | They always have to crank up the volume to make sure you will hear them. I sometimes get the urge to walk over to one of them and say. Pretty impressive use of the volume control, let's see how well you can play the mute button. |
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Music Store Intimidation-Funny Story
