I went into Guitar Center the other day and was reminded why I don't like to go in there. It had been a while, but I needed some strings & picks. Every time I have ever been in a guitar store, it seems like there are always a bunch of young studs playing their best licks really loud. I guess I was probably one of them 25 years ago.
It got me to thinking about how competitive a lot of musicians are, about how they feel like they have to "blow away" everybody else in order to feel like a rock star. If I were to play a few blues licks, I'm sure they would sneer at me with disgust and disdain, and turn it up even louder, and play even faster!
Somewhere along the line, I guess I got old enough, and had been "blown away" enough times that I quit trying to compete with the young bucks, and just play music for the sheer joy of it. I have no greater joy than to sit out on the back deck in the evening and play the blues, with nobody listening but my dog. I don't feel like I need to be better than the other guys. It just feels good to play. I have found musical nirvana.
From now on, I think I will order my strings and picks online.
Testosterone
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Testosterone
I'm 55 and when I was in high school playing lead was looked down upon by other musicians as show boating. So I lived with that embedded in my mind.
Today if your not show boating they say oh so you dabble a little on guitar huh!
No respect left.
Mark
Today if your not show boating they say oh so you dabble a little on guitar huh!
No respect left.
Mark
Re: Testosterone
The dog comes to listen to me too!
I suspect if there ever was safe time to go to a guitar store it's only right as they open up in the morning and certainly never on a Saturday!
Recently I had to go to one on a Saturday and they had given the kids Pods, headphones and sofas. But the thrill has gone because they just don't have any old amps these days so the places don't smell right.
I suspect if there ever was safe time to go to a guitar store it's only right as they open up in the morning and certainly never on a Saturday!
Recently I had to go to one on a Saturday and they had given the kids Pods, headphones and sofas. But the thrill has gone because they just don't have any old amps these days so the places don't smell right.
Re: Testosterone
Reminds me of information in one of the local shops - "Please don't play Metallica or anything from Led Zeppelin IV" but that seems not to work. 
Paul
Re: Testosterone
I went to a local guitar center to get strings for my goldtop.
Some 16 year old told me I had to get "period correct" 9s.
If I remember right they were like cheese wires back in the day.
Asked about flat wound and got told no - you dont want them.
Not going back there - ever.
We do have Motor City Guitar here though - great store & good people.
Some 16 year old told me I had to get "period correct" 9s.
If I remember right they were like cheese wires back in the day.
Asked about flat wound and got told no - you dont want them.
Not going back there - ever.
We do have Motor City Guitar here though - great store & good people.
Why Aye Man
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Gibsonman63
- Posts: 1033
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 1:59 pm
- Location: Texas
Re: Testosterone
I have been ordering online for a long time now. The last straw was when I dropped in to buy some picks a few years ago. They no longer carried the Fender jazz picks that I use. The only similar picks they had were sold in a 3-pack for $5!
I was in there recently on my lunch hour to look at a digital mixer. I read a couple of reviews and went to the manufacturer's web-site and downloaded and read the manual. 20 minutes of reading, tops. The guys there had no clue how to run it and struggled to get it to play MP3s from thier computer. For a $3K piece of gear, I expected a little more. What happened to training?
I was in there recently on my lunch hour to look at a digital mixer. I read a couple of reviews and went to the manufacturer's web-site and downloaded and read the manual. 20 minutes of reading, tops. The guys there had no clue how to run it and struggled to get it to play MP3s from thier computer. For a $3K piece of gear, I expected a little more. What happened to training?
Re: Testosterone
When my wallet feels like getting raped I go to Guitar Center.
I feel the same way I hate going into music stores. I'm a total ass when it comes to trying out instruments. I can play the licks but they don't really tell me much about the instrument. I know what I'm capable of i want to know what the instrument can do. where are the dead spots how does it hold a note? where does it buzz? I'll sit in the amp room and play at a louder then bedroom volume and walk scales and play every fret one by one holding the note and listening to how it reacts. then after I've bored the life out of everyone within a 30ft range I'll let a couple runs slide. power down and move on to the next.
I actually like bringing players that are better then me to play the instrument so I can focus on listening to it and focus on the $ side. seriously you want how much for this?... Give me a sec I'll offer your this (cash).
I feel the same way I hate going into music stores. I'm a total ass when it comes to trying out instruments. I can play the licks but they don't really tell me much about the instrument. I know what I'm capable of i want to know what the instrument can do. where are the dead spots how does it hold a note? where does it buzz? I'll sit in the amp room and play at a louder then bedroom volume and walk scales and play every fret one by one holding the note and listening to how it reacts. then after I've bored the life out of everyone within a 30ft range I'll let a couple runs slide. power down and move on to the next.
I actually like bringing players that are better then me to play the instrument so I can focus on listening to it and focus on the $ side. seriously you want how much for this?... Give me a sec I'll offer your this (cash).
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: Testosterone
For picks and strings online, I have had good luck (=good prices, good service) from:
juststrings.com
juststrings.com
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Bob Simpson
- Posts: 299
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:43 pm
- Location: Lakewood, CO
Re: Testosterone
+1Teleguy61 wrote:For picks and strings online, I have had good luck (=good prices, good service) from:
juststrings.com
I've never bought picks from them, but have been a string customer for several years. Only good experiences...
Bob
Please understand that IMO an answer to this question is of no practical relevance at all. - Max
Re: Testosterone
the local music store is a total shit hole. it wouldn't be bad by small music store standards if they didn't charge list price or more. making a peavey item as much as a professional instrument and a les paul standard over $6k.
anyway... I was new in town and went in thinking I would keep my money local. I needed strings for a '66 fender XII (12 string electric) The stoned stoner rocker behind the counter told me they didn't exist. Fender never made an electric 12 string. I remember looking at him with a very lost.. You work at a music store? expression. I asked for anyone else who might have half a clue about guitars to come help me. The next guy was even more of a douche. "buddy, this and Dude that." If you want to sell it we'll give you $500 store credit. I never once considered selling it or offered up the instrument, which at the time would have easily sold for $3500.
finally I got them to understand 12 string sets did exist, but they quoted me $50 a pack and that I would need to buy them by the case (12 sets). I got on my phone in the store and ordered six sets shipped over night for $53. Showed them what the strings should sell for ~ $12 and suggested they learn the difference between MSRP and what the item actually sells for.
I still am on the fench about how sweet it would be to open a music store on the same block and sell quality instruments at actual values. just to make them hurt.
anyway... I was new in town and went in thinking I would keep my money local. I needed strings for a '66 fender XII (12 string electric) The stoned stoner rocker behind the counter told me they didn't exist. Fender never made an electric 12 string. I remember looking at him with a very lost.. You work at a music store? expression. I asked for anyone else who might have half a clue about guitars to come help me. The next guy was even more of a douche. "buddy, this and Dude that." If you want to sell it we'll give you $500 store credit. I never once considered selling it or offered up the instrument, which at the time would have easily sold for $3500.
finally I got them to understand 12 string sets did exist, but they quoted me $50 a pack and that I would need to buy them by the case (12 sets). I got on my phone in the store and ordered six sets shipped over night for $53. Showed them what the strings should sell for ~ $12 and suggested they learn the difference between MSRP and what the item actually sells for.
I still am on the fench about how sweet it would be to open a music store on the same block and sell quality instruments at actual values. just to make them hurt.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: Testosterone
Wish I could rebut in this manner:M Fowler wrote:I'm 55 and when I was in high school playing lead was looked down upon by other musicians as show boating. So I lived with that embedded in my mind.
Today if your not show boating they say oh so you dabble a little on guitar huh!
No respect left.
Mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8O5wZAd2z4
Re: Testosterone
Great videos! They are right on, exactly what I was talking about! LMAO!
Re: Testosterone
I suppose everyone has a story or two...
I grew up on Long Island, NY. There was nothing better than a trip to Sam Ash in Hempstead. That was back in the day when it was a Mom and Pop store. They had everything. It was a huge M&P store. I went to college about a mile a way and used to window shop a lot. No money. Missed a bunch of great gear, cheap by today's standard. Yeah, they had real musicians working there in the late 60's - early 70's, who actually were capable of helping you. There was only one rule posted....you guessed it...no Stairway to Heaven.
Fast forward...I go into GC about 10 years ago because I really needed some 1/4" phone plugs (to make a cable) and mail order for just a pair didn't pay. It was troublesome with a salesboy who probably enjoyed the shaving cream, but I doubt he actually needed a razor. I only got into electric gear about 10 years ago, and didn't really know much about brands and the like -- I was learning. Anyway, I was uninitiated, and he discusses Neutrik plugs with me. I know this is a good brand, OK. But not being in the know, I say "noo-trick" while he get's real snooty saying "noy-trick". It really pissed me off because he did it so disrespectfully and was so full of himself that he could pronounce the fabled name of that German company correctly. I know better now, but just the same, a mature person wouldn't have pressed the point in a one-up kind of way. It really left a bad taste in my mouth. This isn't about who was right, it's about how the customer was made to feel by the non verbal communication. BTW, I ordered by mail.
I grew up on Long Island, NY. There was nothing better than a trip to Sam Ash in Hempstead. That was back in the day when it was a Mom and Pop store. They had everything. It was a huge M&P store. I went to college about a mile a way and used to window shop a lot. No money. Missed a bunch of great gear, cheap by today's standard. Yeah, they had real musicians working there in the late 60's - early 70's, who actually were capable of helping you. There was only one rule posted....you guessed it...no Stairway to Heaven.
Fast forward...I go into GC about 10 years ago because I really needed some 1/4" phone plugs (to make a cable) and mail order for just a pair didn't pay. It was troublesome with a salesboy who probably enjoyed the shaving cream, but I doubt he actually needed a razor. I only got into electric gear about 10 years ago, and didn't really know much about brands and the like -- I was learning. Anyway, I was uninitiated, and he discusses Neutrik plugs with me. I know this is a good brand, OK. But not being in the know, I say "noo-trick" while he get's real snooty saying "noy-trick". It really pissed me off because he did it so disrespectfully and was so full of himself that he could pronounce the fabled name of that German company correctly. I know better now, but just the same, a mature person wouldn't have pressed the point in a one-up kind of way. It really left a bad taste in my mouth. This isn't about who was right, it's about how the customer was made to feel by the non verbal communication. BTW, I ordered by mail.