Funny Story about Guitar Center

[gregory311]

Was at the local Guitar Center in the acoustic room messing around with some Taylors recently and there were a number of people checking guitars out and such.

One kid, probably about 17 maybe younger, was wailing on a 12-string. Wailing isn't the proper term because he was very good and was playing a Tea Party song note for note. Very nice. However, he was playing LOUD!!!!
I was on the other side of the room and couldn't even hear myself.

So, I go over to him and say, "Hey, you're a very talented guy and you sound very good. But you also are pretty loud and no one else can even hear the guitars they're checking out. Can you tone it down a bit?"

He says, "I can play any way I want."

"I know that, but just because you can doesn't mean you should, man. I'm not hassling you, but no one can hear anything but you, dude." I replied.

An older guy comes over and says, "He's right. Can you just play a little softer? There's lots of people in here and we all would like to hear what we're playing."

The kid, no shit, looks at this older dude and says, "What do you care, you don't even know what you're doing."

I said, "Oh, shit." And turned around. The old guy set his guitar down and leaves the room. He comes back a few minutes later with a Guitar Center worker.

The GC dude takes one look at the kid and shakes his head. "This is the last time I'm going to talk to you about this. If you can't help annoying everyone else in here who might actually buy a guitar then you're not welcome here anymore."

The kid starts to protest and swear so the GC guy finally stops him, grabs the ax out of his hand and says, "Enough. Get the fuck out of my store and don't come back. You're done."

There was a round of appluase in the room as the kid starts going off on the worker and the store and how we all suck etc. It was great. At first I felt bad for asking the kid to tone it down, but it turns out that he does this shit all the time and the store was always getting complaints about him.

Just thought I'd share. I guess this is why I go to smaller shops more often for stuff.

J.

[scoot_14]

That's an awesome story. I love how guitar center allows you to play the high end guitars and doesn't hassle you unless you're a jackass like him. I for one, can't affoard them but do like the oportunity to check out what I'm gonna be saving up for someday. It sucks that people would take advantage of such a privledge.

I like smaller shops too, but unfortunately they often don't let you play or touch the guitars and that really makes browsing around there stores unhelpful sometimes.

[Dancing Ants]

wow...at the GC i visit....it's like you aren't there unless you are banging away...

[acmorgan]

stupid kid, i woulda axed him...

[Heathcliff]

It may sound funny but I would be bummed if I got banned from GC. I like going once in a while and messing with all the different guitars

then again it's pretty funny that someone got banned from guitar center.

[jeremy_9]

I saw a kid one time at guitar center, pretty much destroy an 810 taylor, because he was wailing on it, jumping around and tripped and fell on the guitar. After smashing it , he tried to put it back on the wall and walk out like nothing happened, but a store worker caught him before he could and escorted him to an office. I hoped they made him pay for it, but I doubt thats what happened.

[nonewdirections]

I saw a kid one time at guitar center, pretty much destroy an 810 taylor, because he was wailing on it, jumping around and tripped and fell on the guitar. After smashing it , he tried to put it back on the wall and walk out like nothing happened, but a store worker caught him before he could and escorted him to an office. I hoped they made him pay for it, but I doubt thats what happened.
:eek: :eek: :eek: :mad:

[dragonfly102884]

I play around at GC too. It is nice how they let you play. The 810 is pretty sweet. No 900s though.

[mccar172]

I saw a kid one time at guitar center, pretty much destroy an 810 taylor, because he was wailing on it, jumping around and tripped and fell on the guitar. After smashing it , he tried to put it back on the wall and walk out like nothing happened, but a store worker caught him before he could and escorted him to an office. I hoped they made him pay for it, but I doubt thats what happened.

I would have pointed and laughed VERY VERY loud.

[RaynorC]

I saw a kid one time at guitar center, pretty much destroy an 810 taylor, because he was wailing on it, jumping around and tripped and fell on the guitar. After smashing it , he tried to put it back on the wall and walk out like nothing happened, but a store worker caught him before he could and escorted him to an office. I hoped they made him pay for it, but I doubt thats what happened.
:lol That's hilarious!

[jeremy_9]

Yeah, it really took me a second to process what I saw, at first I was horrified at what happened, and pissed becuase he tried to get away with it, but afterwards it was funny as shit, guess he can't get up a good enough goosestep with all those stools sitting around.

[Haiku Jimi]

:lol :thumbsup nice thread!

I've never had problems at the guitar center I go to...except for the 13 year old kids playing Nirvana REALLY loud in the electric section, but I don't go there often anyway. I really appreciate that they let you sit down and try almost anything though.

[mojo1210]

guitar center sucks
i mean its cool that they kicked the kid out for being a dick...but that place blows. i hate having to go their to get strings etc but i dont have a choice since they put all the local stores out of business. i hate having to set foot in the place, i cant go in their without being hasseled or called dude or man...its fucking annoying

[YknSTONE]

^That sucks that your GC sucks! Mine the guys that work there a pretty cool.....
I asked the guys that work the acoustic section (Taylor/Martin room) to get a 914ce in there.... haha it would be nice to play one!
Too damn bad for that "kid".... next time DONT BE AN ASS!!!..
"Jeremy_9" HAHA...your post dude..... that shit was funny, if i saw a dumbass fall on a "810" i would have laughed so fucking hard! :lol

[scoot_14]

I saw a kid one time at guitar center, pretty much destroy an 810 taylor, because he was wailing on it, jumping around and tripped and fell on the guitar. After smashing it , he tried to put it back on the wall and walk out like nothing happened, but a store worker caught him before he could and escorted him to an office. I hoped they made him pay for it, but I doubt thats what happened.

I'm not sure if I would have laughed or cried at that man, probably both!

[mojo1210]

^That sucks that your GC sucks! Mine the guys that work there a pretty cool.....
I asked the guys that work the acoustic section (Taylor/Martin room) to get a 914ce in there.... haha it would be nice to play one!
Too damn bad for that "kid".... next time DONT BE AN ASS!!!..
"Jeremy_9" HAHA...your post dude..... that shit was funny, if i saw a dumbass fall on a "810" i would have laughed so fucking hard! :lol

see and its not just one....i have had the same experience at mulitiple locations in my city. five-six years ago, i liked going to the place because it was like the local store. the people there were cool and it wasnt an issue if you tried out a guitar with no real intent of buying that day. now its much different. its not even worth it to me to be there anymore

[eisnach41]

see and its not just one....i have had the same experience at mulitiple locations in my city. five-six years ago, i liked going to the place because it was like the local store. the people there were cool and it wasnt an issue if you tried out a guitar with no real intent of buying that day. now its much different. its not even worth it to me to be there anymore


which guitar center in colorado do you go to bc i live in littleton when im not at school and i go to the one by park meadows and the guys there are really nice. i told them that their price was 50 bucks over this local store and they beat the local store's by 40 bucks and came down 90 bucks on a guitar already marked 300 off of 700!!!! i love guitar center they are so laid back and just let you fuck around.

[gregory311]

I wonder what the GC overhead/insurance is like.

Everytime I do wander over there it seems like there are a bunch of 13 year olds messing with 2-3 thousand dollar guitars. Shit is bound to get fucked up with that scenario.

I'm not busting on younger kids playing around, but seriously, the GC must not give two shits if something gets broken. That's what smaller stores don't allow kids to just grab whatever they want. They know they're in for some serious loss everytime some schlep screws up the Taylor they need to sell to stay in business.

J.

[Haiku Jimi]

That's what smaller stores don't allow kids to just grab whatever they want.
J.

Or anyone else for that matter :rolleyes:

You have to ask the employee then wait while he gets the keys from downstairs, then he's gotta come back up, unlock the guitar , give it to you and proceed to watch you like a hawk and just stare at you while you try to pretend like you're comfortably sitting there playing despite the fact that he's looking at you like you have tits on your head and at the same time giving you details about every guitar in the room.

How's that for a run on?

[mojo1210]

which guitar center in colorado do you go to bc i live in littleton when im not at school and i go to the one by park meadows and the guys there are really nice. i told them that their price was 50 bucks over this local store and they beat the local store's by 40 bucks and came down 90 bucks on a guitar already marked 300 off of 700!!!! i love guitar center they are so laid back and just let you fuck around.

i go that one everynow and then...its alright

the one i have a problem with is on colorado blvd and mexico, right by i25.

the one at park meadows has its ups and downs. my problem with that place is they pretty much put the local store that i used to go to/take lessons at out of business(cresendo music on littleton blvd). i mean you get a good deal at guitar center, but id rather pay for the personal attention that i used to get.

[GLR87]

Good story, I love guitar, but when theres only a few people in the store, its strange to go and everyone just lookms at each other, and its akward there seeing whose better then each other, no one talks it scary.

[nonewdirections]

i am intimidated by guitar stores.

[gregory311]

Or anyone else for that matter :rolleyes:

You have to ask the employee then wait while he gets the keys from downstairs, then he's gotta come back up, unlock the guitar , give it to you and proceed to watch you like a hawk and just stare at you while you try to pretend like you're comfortably sitting there playing despite the fact that he's looking at you like you have tits on your head and at the same time giving you details about every guitar in the room.

How's that for a run on?


I've never had that problem in the stores that I go to. That's odd... mostly they don't care.

J.

[Haiku Jimi]

I've never had that problem in the stores that I go to. That's odd... mostly they don't care.

J.

But you're still not free to pick up anything you want.....right? :D ..........right? :confused:

[DMBFan920]

i mean you get a good deal at guitar center, but id rather pay for the personal attention that i used to get.

I dunno how much sense that makes. At my local guitar store, the Taylor 714ce is about $3200 and at Guitar Center it's about $2400. I mean, the guys at the local stores are nice, but about $800 worth of nice? I don't think so.

[gregory311]

But you're still not free to pick up anything you want.....right? :D ..........right? :confused:

Seriously, I've never been to a guitar shop that had their guitars locked in any way.... shit, the first acoustics you see at the shop I normally go to are the Taylors. Hanging on the wall. Obviously it's touch/play at your own risk as you assume that, but no one hassles you there at all and those puppies aren't locked or tied down.

Most of the time they say hi and bullshit for a minute or two but they don't bother anyone in the least.

J.

[acmorgan]

I dunno how much sense that makes. At my local guitar store, the Taylor 714ce is about $3200 and at Guitar Center it's about $2400. I mean, the guys at the local stores are nice, but about $800 worth of nice? I don't think so.

hey, about your sig DMBFan920, i don't like john mayers personal stuff too much, but he is a fantastic guitar player, listen to his covers of wind cries mary, lover lay down, and message in a bottle...he rules the guitar, as far as classifying him with clapton or stevie, i don't know because they play completely different music, but you gotta give credit where credit is due, even if you don't like him...

[scoot_14]

Or anyone else for that matter :rolleyes:

You have to ask the employee then wait while he gets the keys from downstairs, then he's gotta come back up, unlock the guitar , give it to you and proceed to watch you like a hawk and just stare at you while you try to pretend like you're comfortably sitting there playing despite the fact that he's looking at you like you have tits on your head and at the same time giving you details about every guitar in the room.

How's that for a run on?

I know what you mean, there are some local shops in my area that act like that. I got "spoken" to by a manager one day for picking up...yes just picking up...a $200 Yamaha acoustic. I had no intention of doing anything with that particular POS to begin with but this guy came over and gave the whole hands off the merchandice. Now I understand if it had been a high end guitar, or even if I was playing it, but c'mon...it was a cheap guitar!

Other local shops have given me no trouble, but some do, and I have seen places where they actually do lock the guitars in cases.

[theBLINDmelon]

Yes, Guitar Center is cool for being able to play expensive guitars freely. But, why would you want to buy a guitar that literally hundreds of people have played. Next time you pick up a guitar (specifically acoustic) check out the neck. Notice the bow. If the Guitar Center near me represents or is similar to all Guitar Centers, that store is only good for accessories. Picked up a Taylor a few weeks ago and couldn't play because the neck was so bowed it wouldn't stay in tune. Just my thoughts.

[tyler1389]

I know a salesman at my local one and he told me that the reason they let you play freely is because it's a salestactic. People who haven't played before will walk in there and be like "wow, if this seventeen year old kid can play like that than I surely can," and they will end up buying a guitar.

[WJM-WJM]

That's an awesome story. I love how guitar center allows you to play the high end guitars and doesn't hassle you unless you're a jackass like him. I for one, can't affoard them but do like the oportunity to check out what I'm gonna be saving up for someday. It sucks that people would take advantage of such a privledge.

I like smaller shops too, but unfortunately they often don't let you play or touch the guitars and that really makes browsing around there stores unhelpful sometimes.

that's a good point, at guitar center or mars (before bankruptcy), you can sit there and play a $3k guitar which was awesome, the small shop i go to keeps everything on lockdown though

[jkanter]

Or anyone else for that matter :rolleyes:

You have to ask the employee then wait while he gets the keys from downstairs, then he's gotta come back up, unlock the guitar , give it to you and proceed to watch you like a hawk and just stare at you while you try to pretend like you're comfortably sitting there playing despite the fact that he's looking at you like you have tits on your head and at the same time giving you details about every guitar in the room.

How's that for a run on?
This is like DEAD on for the "local" guitar store near me. Ugh...it's fucking annoying. Once, I had to sit there and lie off my ass to get a D-35 off the wall.

"Yup, Yup...Daddy is buying me a new guitar. I'm looking to trade in my D-28. My Birthday is coming up soon...along with Chanukah...and graduation.....and my wedding........yada yada yada"

It obviously didn't go that far but it's like i needed to fill out a form saying, "YES, I AM GOING TO BUY THIS GUITAR" and then I could try it out.

THEN ANOTHER FUCKING TIME......I ask to see an HD-28V and the mother fucker tells me no and says try this guitar.....he handed me a Fucking DM. I told him to go fuck himself and walked out.

I guess it's just my local shop....but I fucking hate them. I go to Sam Ash in NYC and I ask to see their D-42K...a freaking $3,000(or whatever) KOA guitar and they just take it off the wall(it had a sign saying to ask for help to get that guitar down...only one with a sign) and I sit there playing for an hour, no hassles. The guy even jammed with me.

Oh well.....guess it's just personal experience

[Haiku Jimi]

I ask to see an HD-28V and the mother fucker tells me no and says try this guitar.....he handed me a Fucking DM. I told him to go fuck himself and walked out.



:lol wow, what an ass..."No try this"

btw, check your PMs

[cj4258]

I've NEVER had a problem playing a guitar, drumset, bass, or violin for that matter. With guitars you can take it for granted in this town - if you're playing a guitar in a shop you're testing it out. Buying a guitar takes research. Any reputable guitar-player/salesman will realize these things and leave you to your peace.

I go to Sam Ash (used to be because it was the closest larger music store to me when I was living north of town with my mom) and they had anything and everything as far as Gibson, Martin, Taylor acoustics as well as the lesser-expensive brands. I've played them all, have my next purchased guitar picked out, even know when the've started to carry another model number than they did the week before. Ok, so now it sounds pathetic of me, but the guys there know how it goes. You came there to buy some strings, but the longer they leave you alone to play the guitars the surer that you'll come back and buy their guitar from them.

In the orchestra department, they know me by name. I bought my upright from them and I'll get my next one through them. I play their violins and violas on occasion - they're always falling all over themselves to get me a bow.

My point is - don't take any shit from these guys. If they tell you to keep your hands off the merchandise, all you have to say to them is that they just lost a possible sale. Remind them that you won't buy unless you know it sounds and feels good first. And no, if they play it for you, it won't help. Tell the manager if you have to. Just make them realize that they're not going to sell that $3,000 Taylor unless they get it down from the wall for you.

"We love it when you touch the stuff." That sells.