Guitar Shops and Intimidation

[bkdavidson]

Derek, Fazio's is still on Manchester. Sorry, I thought I said that, but I didn't. They've moved a few miles west down Manchester. I don't know how familiar you are with West County, but they're in the same plaza as the giant Shop & Save now, the next stoplight after New Ballwin Rd.

[derek]

Originally Posted by bkdavidson

Derek, Fazio's is still on Manchester. Sorry, I thought I said that, but I didn't. They've moved a few miles west down Manchester. I don't know how familiar you are with West County, but they're in the same plaza as the giant Shop & Save now, the next stoplight after New Ballwin Rd.

Yeah, I vaguely know where that is. Closer to 270 now?

[bkdavidson]

Nah, other way. Further from 270. It's quite a bit bigger, especially the acoustic room. The staff there is just so laid back and helpful, too.

[Baltar Hornbeek]

I know those cats at Sam Ash can seem a bit prickly at times. But, you got to feel for them. Sure, everyone wants to be a big shot player with success and and fame. And when it doesn't pan out, the music shop gig is the fall back gig that only reminds them of the rocky road they chose. We all can't be super stars, and some of us really are losers. Imagine every bright eyed whippersnapper customer, a mirror image of an earlier time, a snapshot of their once lofty dreams....broken to serve them again and again. It's purgatory.

I was in Sam Ash the other day. I found a particularly intriguing new instrument. It was a concert sized ukulele, strung with 1/4" - 1/8" fat rubbery black strings. Never seen anything like it. Astounded I asked the salesman, "what is this"....he just stared at me, a hollow, lifeless blank look...sapped of any enthusiasm. As if I'd asked him to explain his deepest most solemn concerns. Finally, he replied "bass ukulele". Hmmm, ok, sort of an oxymoron, interesting. But he sure wasn't. Not a great sales pitch, but I know how he feels. respect.

[dmort]

For those in the new york area... The nyc guitar center has a nice Carr Mercury, and a rivera (not sure which rivera) amp sitting in their used section. I had time to play the mercury, but not the rivera. The mercury sounded fantastic on the 2 watt setting!! (only setting I tried it on) $1400 For the Carr, $1000 for the rivera. Unfortunately, my wallet wasn't heavy enough to take one home. I don't think the guitar center guys even knew what they had.

I recently went into samash and was approached by a salesman. I told him I was looking for a smallish amp that had decent clean at low volumes. I told him my budget was around $300. Another guy jumped into the conversation and said, "I can get you what you want, but it will cost you three times what you want to spend." Then he went onto describe the Deluxe reverb. Then I said, "you don't think you can get a decent clean sound at low volume out of a fender pro junior?" Afterwards, I shortly left. I was surprised. If he had suggested a $300-400 amp, maybe like a roland, which they carry, I might have bought something that day. Oh well.