https://youtu.be/0lNUez1JfYs
I'm of 2 schools of thought. On one hand, Mom and pop shops don't have the buying power a big Corp has, but there's nothing like a mom and pop shop either, so I'd like to see them flourish again. Will GC make it? Sure, in some form I'm sure.
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my understanding is that without a debt restructuring the party is over for guitar center ... carvin quit ... gibson is circling the drain ... fender paid down some debt and is afloat but frankly there's a tipping point where we all own the amount of guitars and amps we're going to own and without a new market to sell to it won't last. kids aren't picking up the guitar like they used to.
Wait, when did youTube start putting sponsored content in the comment sections? Have I just noticed this?
Guitar Center never really have much to offer me. The employees don't know what they're talking about and they usually don't have what I'm looking for. But I always assumed they'd have a market with new players looking to get their first guitar and not knowing any better. Also, people who need stuff for a gig and can't wait.
It's weird to see all these guitar-related businesses struggling. Just a few years ago, it seemed like guitar was bigger than ever. Guitar Hero had gotten popular and people wanted to play for real. Tons of people were getting into metal through Metalocalypse. The whole indie scene was exploding.
I don't know what the kids are into these days, but whatever it is, they're wrong.
Synths taking over!
Quote from: mremic01 on December 12, 2017, 08:02:37 PM
I don't know what the kids are into these days...
Their phones.
I think Amazon are also killing these stores
I've often wondered how they have made it so far to date. I try not to go into one unless I have to. Like was said you have your idiots working there. Then you have your too cool for the room guys who think their shit doesn't stink. Don't much care for them either. The last time I tried to buy something from them was over a year ago. I needed a 12AX7. They were out :o I guess I understand. It is such an uncommon tube value.
Quote from: TNblueshawk on December 12, 2017, 09:06:47 PM
I needed a 12AX7. They were out :o I guess I understand. It is such an uncommon tube value.
No one plays toobs anymore. Check out this rockin' Spider III, it's got all the built in fx and amp models you'll ever need. Pay with cash right now and I can cut you a sweet deal- I'll throw in this metal zone and a free cable! Also, would you like to sign up for our credit card?
What surprised me is they just opened a new one in Laurel,MD in October. It looks like every other one.
I was talking to a friend that owns a music store. Guitar sales follow music trends, and right now there are now new guitar hero's so to speak, or guitar songs blowing up the radio or whatever people use to consume media now. He said it's all tailor swift, acoustics and ukuleles right now.
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Quote from: peAk on December 12, 2017, 08:51:38 PM
I think Amazon are also killing these stores
My bass and amp were both Amazon purchases. I can't be bothered to go to a store to try out stuff anymore. Heck, even my Martin HD-28 was purchased online (based on the dealer's reputation and lots of photos). That was a no-nonsense negotiation. I emailed them to ask for their best price, and they quoted a number that was one-half MAP plus a reasonable margin.
Quote from: mremic01 on December 12, 2017, 09:48:46 PM
Check out this rockin' Spider III, it's got all the built in fx and amp models you'll ever need. Pay with cash right now and I can cut you a sweet deal- I'll throw in this metal zone and a free cable! Also, would you like to sign up for our credit card?
Mike?
From Guitar Center?
Is that ....you??
::)
Quote from: EBK on December 12, 2017, 10:22:51 PM
Quote from: peAk on December 12, 2017, 08:51:38 PM
I think Amazon are also killing these stores
My bass and amp were both Amazon purchases. I can't be bothered to go to a store to try out stuff anymore. Heck, even my Martin HD-28 was purchased online (based on the dealer's reputation and lots of photos). That was a no-nonsense negotiation. I emailed them to ask for their best price, and they quoted a number that was one-half MAP plus a reasonable margin.
Every guitar I have (and no I don't have a collection like Jimilee) with the exception of my first guitar, bought in 1975, a Yamaha acoustic (still have it) have been bought on line. Oops I bought an American Tele off of Craigslist also. One I pay enough taxes as it is so going to GC is a no go. And as EBK said, I can normally get a very good discount and if I don't like the guitar I can send it back. There have been times when they wouldn't budge on the price and I just didn't buy the guitar. And there's no pressure like in a store, that is if you can find someone to assist you in a timely manner.
I tend to buy strings at GC just because its convenient for me.
That said, my Telecaster came from GC too. 3 Reasons:
1) I had a gift card
2) It was on sale
3) They took a further 15% off the top when I "sold" them a crappy danelectro pedal. A 15$ pedal got me 60$ off the price of the guitar.
That said I never really enjoy visiting. There are way too many hovering commissioned sales folk (except none at the case, of course, where you actually need a person). Not enough knowledge to answer many questions, and way too hard a sales pitch usually. Plus there's always that one dude rocking out some ever so slightly out of tune, off tempo, buzzy rendition of some chugga chugga djent tune on the latest modeling amp in the corner of the store.
I doubt they're going to go away completely, but I wouldn't be surprised to see several stores closed over the next year or three.
I have no idea what the future holds in the long term for GC. Their demise has been predicted for years, but they hang in. They sell a lot more than guitars, so it's possible part of their business is propped up by the Pro Audio division.
Part of it is that Gibson and Fender have allowed them to run up large debts because they viewed their own success as tied to GC's survival. Many prognosticators suspected that Fender's decision to sell direct was a way of protecting themselves should GC actually go under.
Quote from: BrianS on December 13, 2017, 02:37:14 AM
Quote from: EBK on December 12, 2017, 10:22:51 PM
Quote from: peAk on December 12, 2017, 08:51:38 PM
I think Amazon are also killing these stores
My bass and amp were both Amazon purchases. I can't be bothered to go to a store to try out stuff anymore. Heck, even my Martin HD-28 was purchased online (based on the dealer's reputation and lots of photos). That was a no-nonsense negotiation. I emailed them to ask for their best price, and they quoted a number that was one-half MAP plus a reasonable margin.
Every guitar I have (and no I don't have a collection like Jimilee)
I mean, you know.... I usually know more than the guys in there, I have to do my homework, so i pretty much know what I'm getting before I go i, unless I take my wife, then she usually finds something for me. They all know me all too well, so I just grab someone when I need something. The guys that do play every weekend are douche bags, because what they use is "it" I try not to hassle the new guys too much, they're cute when they try.
I walked into a guitar center a couple months back when I was debating on buying or building a Princeton Reverb (I decided to build it!). They didn't have one in stock but they were asking $900 for a Deluxe Reverb RI and the cabinet had a MAJOR crack at the joint of the top and left panels. It was seriously so bad I would be afraid to lift the thing. I rhetorically asked the guy "what happened" and he claimed that it cracked apart due to cold weather. Lol. It was obviously dropped VERY hard. I still wanted noodle around a bit so I grabbed a Mexican telecaster to play. I went to do a bend and the B string popped right out of the nut! Lol. There were other things I noticed too like an amp missing pilot light jewel and just generally beat up equipment. And to top it off I got to watch them low ball an old lady selling her deceased husbands Strat just because it had a scratchy pot.
This was on of the smaller GCs I've been in and definitely the worst. I'm pretty sure it will be one of the first to go if they start closing stores. At the end of the day, I prefer to support local music stores and won't miss them when/if they're gone.
Quote from: Stomptown on December 13, 2017, 03:13:36 AM
At the end of the day, I prefer to support local music stores and won't miss them when/if they're gone.
As do I, but they have jack in stock anymore. I hate it, one of my best friends owns a store just down the street from me. He does help me out when I need something from dunlop or or something, i can get it wholesale, but, generally, smaller guys don't have the fender or gibson dealerships because they can't afford it or territory rights.
Quote from: jimilee on December 13, 2017, 03:21:23 AM
Quote from: Stomptown on December 13, 2017, 03:13:36 AM
At the end of the day, I prefer to support local music stores and won't miss them when/if they're gone.
As do I, but they have jack in stock anymore. I hate it, one of my best friends owns a store just down the street from me. He does help me out when I need something from dunlop or or something, i can get it wholesale, but, generally, smaller guys don't have the fender or gibson dealerships because they can't afford it or territory rights.
Yeah, Fender or Gibson is out of reach for most smaller dealers. I have a really good local shop that I've been going to for years. They don't do Fender or Gibson, but they have PRS, G&L, Ibanez, Heritage, Breedlove, etc. All in all, a really nice selection.
There was a long article in the Washington Post several months ago about the musical instrument business - specifically about declining sales of electric guitars, and a person from Fender was saying that actually, Taylor Swift is the person most likely to drive new instrument sales, in the sense of new young people picking up a guitar.
I'm not sure that music stores have ever been particularly welcoming to newbies, but GC seems more so. A lot depends on the staff.
Quote from: reddesert on December 13, 2017, 04:36:18 AM
There was a long article in the Washington Post several months ago about the musical instrument business - specifically about declining sales of electric guitars, and a person from Fender was saying that actually, Taylor Swift is the person most likely to drive new instrument sales, in the sense of new young people picking up a guitar.
I'm not sure that music stores have ever been particularly welcoming to newbies, but GC seems more so. A lot depends on the staff.
I actually think it's great that T.Swift is getting young kids into playing guitar. I'm sure that's more acoustic than electric, but it has to start somewhere. If the kids stick with it, they'll branch out as they get older.
Everything goes in circles.
70s rock, then synth-y 80s, then Britpop and Grunge in the 90s, then god-awful teeny-bopper shit in the naughties, then the current trendyshit... can't wait for either guitar or some other band with balls to make it in the mainstream. It's all so... un-offensive.
The worst that Beeber gets up to is with his pet chimp or whatever it is. You don't hear about things like the Gallagher brothers getting into fistfights in the street, these days.
Quote from: jimilee on December 13, 2017, 03:21:23 AM
Quote from: Stomptown on December 13, 2017, 03:13:36 AM
At the end of the day, I prefer to support local music stores and won't miss them when/if they're gone.
As do I, but they have jack in stock anymore. I hate it, one of my best friends owns a store just down the street from me. He does help me out when I need something from dunlop or or something, i can get it wholesale, but, generally, smaller guys don't have the fender or gibson dealerships because they can't afford it or territory rights.
Totally true. I also have a close friend who owns a music store and carrying major brands is out of the question for him as well. If GC goes under I would hope Fender, Gibson, etc. would lower their yearly purchase requirements, etc. so smaller businesses could carry them again. Probably a pipe dream...
It would suck if the only option was to roll the dice online. Guitars and clothes are the two things I'm just not that excited to purchase online; unfortunately all signs indicate I'm going to need to get used to it...
Quote from: strat68 on December 12, 2017, 09:57:57 PM
What surprised me is they just opened a new one in Laurel,MD in October. It looks like every other one.
Pretty sure it's been there a long time, but closed for a bit while they did a remodel.
Could be wrong, don't get up that way too often.
The ones in VA just outside DC had a very noticable decline several years back. Now they are dirty and don't have much beyond strats and les Paul's.
Quote from: Matmosphere on December 13, 2017, 05:36:19 AM
Quote from: strat68 on December 12, 2017, 09:57:57 PM
What surprised me is they just opened a new one in Laurel,MD in October. It looks like every other one.
Pretty sure it's been there a long time, but closed for a bit while they did a remodel.
Could be wrong, don't get up that way too often.
The ones in VA just outside DC had a very noticable decline several years back. Now they are dirty and don't have much beyond strats and les Paul's.
You may be correct but it never shown up in searches for music stores before. It's so generic it could be the one in Pasadena, CA I've visited. It's either Make n Music in Frederick or Bill's in Catonsville if I need something.
The Taylor swift conversation was the exact one I had also. As far as newbies, local shops depend on newbies for lessons. I'd say local shops fear seasoned musicians, we're more apt to try to get a deal because we usually can.
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Quote from: Matmosphere on December 13, 2017, 05:36:19 AM
The ones in VA just outside DC had a very noticable decline several years back. Now they are dirty and don't have much beyond strats and les Paul's.
There is a somewhat new one in Alexandria. I haven't been in it yet, and probably never will, so I can't say much more about it.
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on December 13, 2017, 02:23:40 AM
Quote from: mremic01 on December 12, 2017, 09:48:46 PM
Check out this rockin' Spider III, it's got all the built in fx and amp models you'll ever need. Pay with cash right now and I can cut you a sweet deal- I'll throw in this metal zone and a free cable! Also, would you like to sign up for our credit card?
Mike?
From Guitar Center?
Is that ....you??
::)
I laughed out loud on that one :)
Quote from: strat68 on December 13, 2017, 10:19:51 AM
Quote from: Matmosphere on December 13, 2017, 05:36:19 AM
Quote from: strat68 on December 12, 2017, 09:57:57 PM
What surprised me is they just opened a new one in Laurel,MD in October. It looks like every other one.
Pretty sure it's been there a long time, but closed for a bit while they did a remodel.
Could be wrong, don't get up that way too often.
The ones in VA just outside DC had a very noticable decline several years back. Now they are dirty and don't have much beyond strats and les Paul's.
You may be correct but it never shown up in searches for music stores before. It's so generic it could be the one in Pasadena, CA I've visited. It's either Make n Music in Frederick or Bill's in Catonsville if I need something.
I haven't even bothered to go to the new GC in Laurel. If I'm going to a store it's Bills or Appalachian Blue Grass for acoustic stuff (except they don't carry breedlove).
A good friend of mine works at Bills so I try to go through him when I visit there. If you ever stop in, ask for PJ. He's super cool and he'll hook you up.
I haven't been very enticed by either the selection or pricing in my local GC's. My purchases have all been online and after extensive research. Also, I'm not seeing myself buying up a collection of guitars and amps. Just a couple good choices so I feel like all I'm set for is little purchases (pedals, cables, picks, strings, etc.) and if I'm going to make a major purchase it will probably be on the used market where there's a glut of choices and much better deals to be had.
Quote from: sonnyboy27 on December 13, 2017, 03:17:39 PM
I haven't even bothered to go to the new GC in Laurel. If I'm going to a store it's Bills or Appalachian Blue Grass for acoustic stuff (except they don't carry breedlove).
A good friend of mine works at Bills so I try to go through him when I visit there. If you ever stop in, ask for PJ. He's super cool and he'll hook you up.
Love Appalachian. Bought a Taylor there last year and have an eye on a 12 string. Oddly enough I've bought 3 guitars from PJ: LP, Tele, and a Ric 330/12. But I'm less than impressed with the guitar techs there.
Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on December 13, 2017, 02:23:40 AM
Mike?
From Guitar Center?
Is that ....you??
::)
Yes, I am hear to meet all your gear needs. Please buy this can of bees with the phone jacks plugged up so the bees can't get out. I need the commission to pay rent.
Quote from: jimilee on December 12, 2017, 09:58:35 PM
Guitar sales follow music trends, and right now there are now new guitar hero's so to speak, or guitar songs blowing up the radio or whatever people use to consume media now. He said it's all tailor swift, acoustics and ukuleles right now.
Actually, the trend with the younger crowd right now is to trot out whatever vintage teisco/harmony/silvertone cheap guitar they find at a garage sale because it makes you "hip" and "in-tune" with whatever it is we're supposed to be in tune with (go to Portland, OR and maybe you'll understand). You can't buy that kind of gear at Guitar Center, and the new pedals are outrageously overpriced, so there you go.
Quote from: lars on December 14, 2017, 04:30:06 AM(go to Portland, OR and maybe you'll understand).
To clarify, we don't take credit for those turds. They just moved here and forced their lame culture on us. "Isn't Portland so cool, guys?"
Quote from: lars on December 14, 2017, 04:30:06 AM
Actually, the trend with the younger crowd right now is to trot out whatever vintage teisco/harmony/silvertone cheap guitar they find at a garage sale because it makes you "hip" and "in-tune" with whatever it is we're supposed to be in tune with.
That, or whatever the latest ibanez et al. lifeless sterile numb-bucker guitar is making the rounds these days. That seems to make up most of the other half of new guitarists I come across recently. (And what makes up the VAST majority of used guitars I see hanging on the wall of my local stores)
Guitar Center has every force working against it in every direction.
The one thing I think it has going for it is Fender. I believe it was in that aforementioned Washington Post article where I read how Fender is doubling down with a laser focus on trying to recruit and retain new and young guitar players. Longtime players know what they're looking for and shop secondhand/online, but Fender needs a retail presence to get guitars in beginners' hands.
Another thing I'm wondering about is if it goes under, is there going to be a fire sale, or will Fender stack all those guitars in a warehouse to keep the price points higher?
Quote from: somnif on December 14, 2017, 05:39:16 AM
Quote from: lars on December 14, 2017, 04:30:06 AM
Actually, the trend with the younger crowd right now is to trot out whatever vintage teisco/harmony/silvertone cheap guitar they find at a garage sale because it makes you "hip" and "in-tune" with whatever it is we're supposed to be in tune with.
That, or whatever the latest ibanez et al. lifeless sterile numb-bucker guitar is making the rounds these days. That seems to make up most of the other half of new guitarists I come across recently. (And what makes up the VAST majority of used guitars I see hanging on the wall of my local stores)
Ironically I work across the street from Dean guitars, which is what dominates the used market in Tampa. Back in Wichita, Schecter were the lifeless sterile numb-bucker guitars of craigslist, facebook, pawnshops, etc
I went into a guitar center a few months ago when I had some spare time and money to spend. Wandered the entire store and for the most part no one even acknowledged I existed. On one hand, I don't like sales-people to be to aggressive, but this was crazy. I ended up trying a few basses, and ended up buying one through Sweetwater instead because they've always come through for me.
Quote from: jubal81 on December 14, 2017, 05:52:34 AM
Another thing I'm wondering about is if it goes under, is there going to be a fire sale, or will Fender stack all those guitars in a warehouse to keep the price points higher?
You would think that makes sense. They are in financial straits and need cash so why not sell off inventory at even a modest discount?
Unfortunately, most of the time they often double-down and try to raise prices shortly before closing doors. Never made sense to me ::)
If they are closing shop and liquidating inventory, selling everything at steep discounts is a very good idea as they would no longer care about the guitar market. If they plan on staying in business, there can be a future cost to flooding the market with cheaper instruments; it can redefine the price points for consumers. While situations can vary, often it is difficult to reset to the previous price point.
Quote from: drezdn on December 14, 2017, 02:00:17 PM
I went into a guitar center a few months ago when I had some spare time and money to spend. Wandered the entire store and for the most part no one even acknowledged I existed. On one hand, I don't like sales-people to be to aggressive, but this was crazy. I ended up trying a few basses, and ended up buying one through Sweetwater instead because they've always come through for me.
That is quite the conundrum.
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Quote from: Govmnt_Lacky on December 14, 2017, 02:16:07 PM
Quote from: jubal81 on December 14, 2017, 05:52:34 AM
Another thing I'm wondering about is if it goes under, is there going to be a fire sale, or will Fender stack all those guitars in a warehouse to keep the price points higher?
Unfortunately, most of the time they often double-down and try to raise prices shortly before closing doors. Never made sense to me ::)
I guess that explains why they are in the shape they are, they need new minds in the home office. Sounds like the instant gratification quick buck, make as much on a small amount of people instead of making a small amount on a larger scale, seems like they'd find a middle ground.
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