Music stores and first time buyers ?

[SOLR]

Seems to me the last time I bought new guitars (in the early '70s) I could just try one and they were all more or less playable, medium to low action, proper strings for the model etc..

Today I visited 2 well stocked venues (one is a chain type and the other family owned for a loong time).With the exception of a few new D'angelicos, pretty much all of the other makers ' models had fairly high action with lots of neck relief....Fenders, Gibsons, Heritages Ibanez, PRS, Gretsch, Godin etc..all new ...and somewhat all had similar string gauges on them...09 or 010...How can a kid just starting off choose a decent instrument?..

3 sales clerks at the chain store, all at the counter just chatting....when asked about setup they said they send it to a luthier for a little extra $$ when you purchase...

The family store's owner said "of course guitar will be totally setup", before delivery !!

Both stores had temperature/humidity controlled rooms for the guits...Only tried the electrics, no acoustics.

Is this the norm?

Luckily I guess, my present instruments were pre owned ...

S

[sgosnell]

Yep, that's the norm. As much as I prefer buying local, you're better off buying onlline. Stores don't do setups before the sale, because it's expensive. Then they charge for them after the sale, as a profit center. It's not likely to change. Deal with it.

[ThatRhythmMan]

Including PRS mystifies me, as I’ve never seen that. As for others, almost all new factory made guitars have nuts that are cut too high. Doing that right takes too much additional time for cost cutting MBAs. Leave it high and no worries about fret buzz even with climate changes.


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[deacon Mark]

I have not been in local music store in years. To me in my conceited way of thinking they should all just give me every guitar they get and have me set them up. I would charge them a huge fee and we all would be happy. It probably would be different depending on where you live.

[SOLR]

Including PRS mystifies me, as I’ve never seen that. As for others, almost all new factory made guitars have nuts that are cut too high. Doing that right takes too much additional time for cost cutting MBAs. Leave it high and no worries about fret buzz even with climate changes.


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Yes the PRS also puzzled me. Paul Reed himself has YT videos

. stating that each and every neck he ships is ready to play...or was that "they have impeccable fret work" or they don't need fret re dressing?? Wonder if retailer plays a part in that like raising the action "just in case" ?? a "marketing ploy" guitars that don't buzz ..? I was also surprised with the Heritages having high action (or nut as you pointed out....).

It's a shame really 'cause online big boxes are going to send those stores to the cleaners .

S

[Woody Sound]

Every PRS or Carvin/Kiesel I ever bought came perfect. I may adjust the rod and bridge a bit for my own prefs because I prefer almost no relief, but that's just me.

[rpjazzguitar]

My Comins was perfect in the store.

My Stratocaster (Fender American Std) would not stay in tune, not even close, until I locked the floating bridge down tight.

My used Yamaha Pacifica 012 stays in tune quite well with the bridge floating, so I don't see that Fender has any excuse.