The owner of my favorite music store died and his children ran the store into the ground. I bought a few items from a local store, including a Gretsch 5125 ($850-GC price); then a double-neck Gretsch, also silver sparkle.

I bought mostly low end stuff for presents for kids from GC (Epiphone guitar, Yamaha keyboard, Peavy amplifier, Gibson Faded Les Paul, etc.) Found a friendly kid to deal with and told him I had two sparkily Gretsch guitars. He told me to bring the 5215 in and he would work a trade for an orange 5120 (GC price-$599.00).I decided to go to GC last night and trade, and offer $100.00 difference. The 5215 had never been played-still had all the tags on it.I didn't take it back to the place I bought it because the place still had an identical one on the floor and didn't need two.

The kid was gone, but the manager took the instrument to "work up the deal". He came back with a "take it or leave it" offer of $300.00 trade against the $599.00 model.

I put the Gibson 137 down I was looking at, along with the Pro-lock bench and headed back to the store I bought the instrument from. He traded even and apologized for not being able to do better. I bought a 137 and a 175. I had purchased a PRS two weeks prior and a Flying V and a Music Master a month before that.

My "play money" for personal musical toy is $12,000.00 per year. I'll NEVER go to a chain music store again. GC will probably survive without my business.

Man I hope not!


Russ

Yes, they do Russ...

The knowledge level is pathetic in most cases. They're fine for the casual players most of the time...

Usually when I stop in there its for a cable or a small thing. I've visited with the keyboard & PA guys and its surprising how little they know.



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Bill in Dayton

I think the only Guitar Center store that would be any fun for you Russ is the one on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. They have the the "Vintage Room" there with 50s and 60s Fender and Gibson guitars ranging up to $120,000 for a 57 Gibson 335 and $50,000 50's Les Pauls. It really is a fun room to spend an hour in. So many vintage guitars all together in the same room. Probably around 60 or more pre 1965 guitars.

I just saw it recently because a guitar player from Australia that I played with in the early 80s was passing through Los Angeles so I was taking him to some areas of interest GC Hollywood being one.


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 10-28-2008).]