I take the time to time stamp the entire show for your connivance This Podcast is sponsored by Patreon and Channel members www.patreon.com/phillipmcknightKYG?fan_landing=true Subject Index 00:00 Intro 02:00 Jazz guitar for a beginner? 03:40 Pedal Giveaway 04:50 Why Guitar Centers New Plan Is Not Going To Work 27:27 1st set of KYG winners 34:00 What is my least expensive guitar? 39:00 Gibson uses stickers on custom shop guitars neckillusions.com 42:16 Noise Gates? 44:25 We want to give this guitar to a local beginner 48:29 New Gibson Studios seem better than PRS S2s 51:00 Bad Dad Joke 57:00 I was embarrassed to share the story. The Craziest Guitar Of The Week 1:29:00 Buy guitars without touching them 1:36:00 Red Cross help give.helpsalvationarmy.org/give/166081/ 1:42:00 Shipping prices now 1:45:18 2nd set of KYG Winners! 1:49:48 The best holding iron? amzn.to/4dv7yn3 1:53:40 Thank you
You are correct. The used wall is the most exciting part of going in any given day. I guarantee you for every one guy that wants to buy a high-end guitar. There’s at least 10 guys that wanna buy a $300 guitar.
As someone one who has to take the best possible pictures of Folk Art to post online, most every picture from all the different GCs are all quite terrible. Pictures sell…
Not only are the pictures terrible - the descriptions are useless. An instrument graded as 'good' shows 4 small, fuzzy pics taken with an iPhone whose lens hasn't been wiped off in a year. There could be a head stock break and you wouldn't see it. No way I'm spending 1000+ on an instrument where the entire description is 'case included'.
The guitar center near me only has low end, inexpensive guitars. Or super expensive (in the little room). Very little in-between. I think GC would absolutely thrive as a quality used store
New guitar day I got a great deal on a D 18 at guitar center in Nashville TN . Thank you Anthony, Cole, and guitar tech Dion and the management of the Nashville guitar center
The main thing about GC that keeps me coming back is the used section! I have found some pretty good deals there. I've bought 2 used guitars from them in the past 2 months. I also like that i can trade in gear with them. I've done several trades with them over the years and gotten some good deals. Really hope they figure it out.
I've sold two guitars to my local GC. Both transactions went well. They told me up front that they offer UP TO 60% of what they will sell it at (I got the 60% - both were in good shape, clean, new strings and in tune) - then they did a little research online and came back to me with an offer. The trick is you need to KNOW up front that you don't sell to GC for the best deal - you do it for the convenience of getting immediate cash.
That robbery story is the most interesting story I've heard in a long time. I'm sorry this happened to you but I'm so glad you got that great guitar, and an interesting story, out of it. And you got a relic job thrown in. I managed a cellular phone store for many years and someone tried to rob us repeatedly, through the same pane of glass, 4 times in a few month span of time. I could see them break the glass, enter the store, walk to the first of 2 bolted steel doors, shake it for a few seconds, then leave. They never got anything, but we had to pay the glass company $3000. I started to think the guys worked for the glass company:)
Guitar Center needs to learn to make rice before they start making sushi -- maybe take care of the instruments on the floor and see if that helps before they try to peddle even more expensive stuff. Yeah i'm interested in a Charvel MIJ Guthrie Govan but not if it's missing a string, the trem is all screwed up and the strings feel like floss.
That’s where you are screwing up ! If you like a certain guitar AND you know what that guitar is capable of , you use the OBVIOUS defects to drive the price down during the negotiations WITH THE INTENT of fixing all the defects . Say you see that Charvel and it’s priced at $1,500 with a missing string , trem issues etc , offer them $1,200 knowing in the back of your mind it will take $200 to make it better and you just saved $100 bucks and your rig is like new after the set-up from your personal luthier .
Another fine show, Mr. Phil!!👍Many of my "Pro" friends are into "shopping components" (new/used) for their own builds...and I've been doing the same. Main reason we'd be in a G/C @ this point is to check out the Used Gear on hand; which does tend to support Yr. argument. Adrian Belew is an avid Lace P'up fan, too. They're featured on his "Beat Era", Mustang-based "Twang Bar King" as well as his Sig Model Custom Strat'. They sound good on yours, 2!
I go to a guitar shop either to buy strings or to fall in love. I always felt like Guitar Center made it hard to fall in love. The guitars are often hard to reach; they're out of tune; they all need a set-up. I'm talking new and used. Of course all their high-end stuff was on the ground, in tune, and ready to go. But what I was looking for was the $400-600 guitar that swept me away enough to put it on the credit card right then and there.
I've been in to two different local GC's in the last week and the visual improvements to the guitar displays is drastic and was long overdue. Its yet to be seen whether putting the expensive guitars more in reach will be a good or bad thing. I still wish the workers spent more time cleaning/tuning the guitars on the wall to make the experience that much better... but based on being overworked and underpaid, I get it.
The problem is that kids come in and beat the crap out of everything they can get their hands on playing metal! They downtune every guitar they touch and after wailing away on it at max distortion on a cheapo amp, they slap it back on the wall and never buy anything. The overworked employees have no time to put into retuning all these guitars, much less wiping them down, especially now since all the Gibbys are on the bottom row. If it's expensive and within reach, these are the ones the kids go for first. They never buy. The ones who are interested in buying high end guitars don't want one thats been on the floor!
I went to Phoenix GC and saw that they are hanging guitars by marked brand sections and some higher end guitars like Les Paul Standards were in the lowest rows, not on the top (out of reach) row. They still had higher end guitars locked up in separate room.
@philipmcknight I live near you . I had a pretty positive experience trading into guitar center . I went to the Val Vista store and traded in a Charvel Warren DeMartini signature snakeskin guitar . Took them about 20 minutes to give me a price (which was actually more than I expected). I left to think about it . Came back the next day and did the deal . Picked up a Gibson SG after . That guitar was pretty jacked up when I bought it , but that’s a different issue.I did this during the week to avoid crowds . The only caveat would be they had to contact to Hollywood store for a price since they couldn’t find it online .
The reason most ppl buy online- one reason anyway- is because of how spread-out brick and mortar stores are/were- even before the internet- and the limited selection they always have- for whatever reason. Idk about everyone else but I got sick of driving for hours just to find they were out of anything I wanted or still had the same stuff as the last time I was there- a year ago. Online allows ppl like me that live out in the sticks to get our hands on the same guitars as everyone else- that's cool, and new- it wasn't like this before.
I’ll never forget the day that I was able to pick up every $2,500+ Gibson and Fenders completely unlocked at hands reach at a Guitar Center. When I asked a GC Employee, he told me “Yeah, they’re doing some changes in the above levels.” lmao
Guitar Center has been missing the mark for decades now, although I have still purchased from them from time to time. That being said, EVERY time I go to GC, no matter what I am there for, I always head straight for the used gear section, because its almost always different. Used gear moves so the inventory changes regularly. I can spend an hour on the used guitars/amps alone, all before I pick up whatever I intended to purchase. Their new policy will fail. Hiring a CEO with such an ancient vision seems like the nail in the coffin
Amen. But, I can tell you this much… I haven’t made a purchase at a GC, or Sam Ash for that matter, solely due to the indescribably stupid, socially-inept losers they started hiring, right around the late 2000 (give or take). And, that end of things has just gotten worse. I’ve walked out of those stores p!ssed off without having picked up a single instrument for that reason. I think that has destroyed the big box stores as much as anything else. One of the reasons for that is because a true pro isn’t about to work at a place like that, because GC or SA are absolutely horrible employers, as well.
@@phillamoore157Last purchase at GC was 15 yrs ago. A engineer friend who knows guitars worked there after retirement. He was basically a guitar collector and watched out for great guitars. I went to buy a Gibson SG and they were all trash. He finally showed me a PRS that was really sweet and gave me a great deal on a custom 22 emerald 9 top. Went back maybe once more couple yrs later and he had quit, but the usual goons were there. Never went back. They could care less what you want.
I wish GC carried more quality mid-tier guitars. The $500 - $1000 range. I also wish they dusted the guitars and changed the guitar strings more often. In fact, if they set up all the guitars to play well with low action, I'd definitely make more impulse purchases when I pull a guitar off the wall and try it out. Too often the new guitars are dusty and grimey, have corroded strings, sometimes they're even missing strings, and the setup is atrocious.
Went to GC for the first time in awhile like years to sell an amp. There was 4 people in the store. They asked if I could drop it off and come back. I live 45 to an hour away. I said no, it took an hour. A customer at the same time came in with 17 guitars and they said they needed a week.
GC offers to ship items for $20-30 that wouldnt be available anywhere else other than "local pickup only" or with $150+ shipping: they are the destination for used cabs. It may not make sense to ship a used Joyo pedal but they offer a lot of value with their used program.
I always look at the GC used wall, and have gotten some very good deals there. I've gotten some better deals at pawn shops, but that has involved a lot of time spent haggling, waiting for call-backs from the manager, etc.,which I'm not always up for.
Good analysis of guitar center. Since they started posting used gear, I always thought they had opened a gold mine. They have so many stores around the country that it should be easy for people to trade for cash or credit. I have even got a couple great deals that had to ship from stores across the country. But they seem to muddle the process.
Your honesty is refreshing. As a senior with an acquired collection of beautiful guitars I have calmed my GAS. I buy my strings on Amazon. Delivered free to my door and usually cheaper than the local retailer which requires packing a lunch to get to. However, the other day on route to a medical appointment,(all too common now) I stopped in at Canada’s equivalent of GC. A week day mind you, but I was the only one in the store other than three employees. Plenty of guitar stock and my one thought was, who’s buying these. It was rather depressing. Young people certainly don’t have the money. Their three luxuries are rent, groceries, and gas for car if they have one. I recall an interview that Rick Beato had with Eric Johnson. Eric made a comment that the majority of Gibson and Fender sales were to retirees. Whether true or not, it made sense. But I just don’t see that continuing. Where do you see the future for the guitar world?
GC needs a separate used dept and a dedicated employee for it who specializes in used gear etc, and the ability to act faster on offers, They would thrive, Music go round has largest used selection where I live. Also taking things on consignment might work as well. Clearly they suffer from corporate that doesn't have a clue and they have the ball and chain of the fender and Gibson who only care about selling new gear. Appreciate your channel.
I would have guessed (before you explained it) that Guitar Center would have gone the completely different way. Caitoring more to the new and begginner players. Marketingng the stores (and salesmen) as a more "beginner-friendly enviornment" where a person, who might be apprehensive about buying and/or returning a new guitar can go. Let's face it, most beginners don't want to go to a place where they have to "perform" or listen to others "perform". Yes, they will take a lot of hits, but getting more people, a lot more people, in those stores (even it's just for strings) now, is what they need. It's been a long time since I've been in a Guitar Center, but I can still remember looking around and never seeing anyone that looked like they gave a damn. Yes they are vastly underpaid but training people to have some "salesman social skills", like friendliness, eye contact and a smile, might be something they can use to succeed to a latter, higher paying job. People at a McDonald's (at least around me) care a lot more for their customers...what does that tell you.
Hollow body (Thinline) Tele preferably with humbuckers. Squier, Harley Benton, and I think Eart do one. Fat humbucker sound with a bit of air. Works well for any genre but great for jazz, blues, funk and fingerstyle/chord melody.
I had to get rid of one guitar about ten years ago so I could get a Epiphone Les Paul.. The Best GC would offer was $90 for my Schecter 006 Diamond with a EMG bridge pickup, ($100). I took the $90 and I still feel like they owe me about $100. What takes them 90 minutes to find out is, after they find the retail price of a guitar, they have to figure out what ten percent is,then that's the value of your used gear..
Whenever I go into a Guitar Center, I ALWAYS go to the the used section first and spend the most time there. I only do a quick run through of the new gear.
The way Guitar Center handles buying customers guitars now is they have to call corporate and tell them what you are trading and the condition and then wait for corporate to call them back with a price. The local store does not control what they offer and every store in the United States is calling them all day that office and that is why it takes an hour plus now just to get a price.
Sweetwater doesn't list their in store used inventory. You have to go there to see the used gear. I got a great boutique tube amp that sold new for $3500 for $675 otd!
I've been going to GC for years. What I would like to see is some different amps, guitars and pedals. Instead of the same oh crap, bring in different brands and keep cycling through with other brands, like annually.
I already own 3 nice USA made Fenders and with the price of them now I don't see me buying more of them. I have loved what Squier is doing lately and any new purchases for me will likely go that way. So I also don't understand Guitar Center wanting to be more upscale. Also, I play dive bars when I play live and I would rather gig my Squiers and worry less about theft or damage to my expensive guitars. I feel like most actual working musicians feel the same way.
Not only is the ISP Decimator the industry standard for noise suppression, Buck Waller, who runs ISP, is a really good guy. What other companies put their actual phone number on the instruction manual?
Selling used to GC is great as long as you manage your expectations. Buying used there are still better deals elsewhere as GC won't haggle on used gear
I did sales at GC for a sec, long ago- little has changed though and what us sorta more serious types noticed, the people GC needs to be bringing in don't care. They don't want used stuff. It almost never sells to average enthusiasts.
My friend has worked at GC for 17 years and now they are threatening his and other employees jobs if they don't sell more pro coverage and get more GC credit card applications and still no medium priced guitars, just inexpensive entry level or very expensive but they have those fancy new wall dividers, so they got that going for them.
@PhillipMcnight Why does a custom shop with a rosewood board have a skunk stripe?? I thought only production Fenders did that....a skunk stripe on all necks to cut down on production costs...
Guitar Center asks too much for used gear and I have never been able to get a discount on it. "It's store policy we have to wait X number of days until we can come down on the price." Then it's just a few bucks. Also if I order used gear from another store I call them and get a " hands on decription ". The guy at that end always says how nice the item is because he gets credit for selling it. When the item arrives at the local store for me to pick it up, sometimes its a POS. I reject it and the poor guy helping me takes the hit for a returned item. Bad GC program. The hit needs to be on that lying employee that sold it. I haven't bought any used gear from GC in quite awhile. Bad proram. BAD PROGRAM! GO SIT IN THE CORNER.
I think it's possible you misunderstood what "catering to professionals" means. before people think im some snob, i just bought a Squier Nashville Strat and put some Bare Knuckle Boot Camp pickups in, it sounds better than my fender strat, and plays just as well. imo, nothing under $500 is suitable as a working guitar. the tuners don't always work well, the fret ends will make you bleed, and the pickups are obviously sub-par. You can get a $350 guitar and put work and some new pickups into it to make it just like or better than a $1500 guitar, but as far as picking a guitar up off the shelf and trusting it in a show an hour later, I'm not buying anything under $1200, and that's almost exclusively because of the pickups and tuners. my ears are picky though, and most people would be happy with a $500 guitar that stays in tune, and that's just fine because that price range is the golden zone of value. the problem is that (at least at GC near me) everything within reach (physically) is entry-level crap i would only give to a beginner or random super strats with fake floyds on them. There's only so many guitars whose prices aren't inflated because of some dumb "fancy" finish. Everything else is up higher and the employees start to grumble and give you looks when you ask them to get them down for you. The employees work on commission, so if you're just trying guitars to see what they sound like, the employees get upset and act like you're wasting their time. The same goes for amps, pretty much every combo amp under $1500 comes with a stock speaker that wasn't necessarily voiced for the amp, speakers are only about $150 to $300 but that needs to be mentioned as most people will also need to pay for an install. Also, those cheap PCB amps are a nightmare to repair so either get ready to dish out for somebody who can solder on PCB's or buy a new amp altogether. You could of course wait for your warranty but that doesn't help you when you have to perform in the meantime. The Bass section got shrunk to a single wall maybe 20x30 feet, and all the crappy shredder guitars filled the old Bass room. As a bassist, fuck you GC, who the fuck do you think keeps the groove while some kid playing a pointy guitar just runs up and down scales and thinks they're playing with soul? Then you look at the pedalboards, and they're all pedaltrain nanos or other boards about the same size. The only pedals they have in stock are brands that they would get pretty much get sued for not selling, "Boss", or brands that spend more on their art department than the engineering department, you know the types of pedals I'm talking about. I could keep going on guitars but I just want to add, their synthesizer and piano department is atrocious as well. Every synth they have is a digital synth that just comes with preset pop music sounds. They have many digital pianos, but only maybe 1 or 2 out of a room of 20 had escapement, which if you're actually serious about playing piano is a necessity. Drum room was like a different world though, everything was in reach (the snares weren't but an employee saw i was looking at them and came over to help me without me asking), everything was playable. $5000 kits just sitting there and the employee walks up and hands me some sticks then tells me to give it a try. My point is that Guitar Center has been catering to the hobbyist musician, not the professional one. Professional does not mean overly expensive.
Reverb is a joke for us in Sweden. Mostly used gear priced higher than new and insane fees and policies for sellers. Everyone here buys and sells at our local sites that have great shipping deals and good affordable protection for buyer AND seller.
I think guitar center should be able to order their own inventory in their own store i have 2 near me and they carry models that no one is really interested in and the guitar centers further away have much better selections
I never comment on these types of videos but, I have been seeing headlines did guitar Center is done or bankrupt. They’re going out of business for quite a few years now. I guess it’s an attention click again or do I have that type of headline. But from where I live,, guitar center is still in business… I always stop in when I’m passing a guitar center. We always have a pretty good stock of used instruments for sale. I was going back a week later to buy some thing I saw the previous week used, and every time, that piece has been sold when I go back for it… pretty much every time I go there, their salesman are too busy with customers or students to spend much time, answering questions, or demonstrating.. how do you say they’re getting by
Love you Phil, but the idea that professional musicians don’t buy high end guitars is simply incorrect. Certainly in the UK, I played live professionally with 2 Gibson 175’s, a national resonator etc. I rarely saw pro musicians with entry level instruments.
Issues with Guitar Center: 1.) almost all “new guitars” they have seem to be damaged, factory 2nds, have lifting bridges, and are in desperate need of new strings and setup to be playable. 2.) beyond the used gear, all the inventory is ubiquitous with every other GC, and very limited selection that is in between starter guitars & unaffordable $1500+ guitars 3.) 60% of value from a retail store is decent trade in value, even though it was 70% a fee years ago. The issue is store employees are unable to quote trade prices and they need to have the manager call the higher ups to do so. 4.) i feel GC needs to focus on used gear and entry level priced guitars up to mid range. Already we have many high end guitar shops that most players cannot afford, and places like Russo music where the selection is way better than GC, but their trade values are only 30% with most inventory all over $1000.
@@TheLocalsOnlyPodcast ive traded in at GC many times and unless the item is “non brand” you get over 50% and up to 70% on good guitars. Not every time but have been occassions; $650 cash for a $850 sell on their end seems pretty good to me all said and done.
I like the soldering irons that give me a degree readout which I use to vary the temperature to suit the project at hand. That $112 Weller is definitely a good choice.
Guitar Center’s online used is a nightmare. The photos are terrible. Since they have franchise locations where they could obtain inventory from a wide geographic area and centralize a website for all used gear with better photos and easier to buy. As far as better guitars at GC, it would be better to have some new guitars that would be worth taking off the wall to try. Most of them now are cheap and bad with a terrible setup and rancid strings that won’t stay in tune. It won’t ever be a Chicago music exchange, but cool inventory brings people out, CME is always busy.
Gc is close and convenient, but it stopped being a must-visit place a long time ago. You are spot on, they still have the same guitars on the walls. SInce they announced their changes, I've noticed they seem much more willing to let you touch the top row stuff now. It's not really something that will save the business.
I don’t know what GC should focus on, agree going pro musician isn’t it. I’m guessing they are getting margins on the used side based on how hard they push it. I do see some pretty good deals on amps and guitars, though whoever traded the item in get probably half or a little more than the value? That said, if you trade something in to get something you can knock some off the price, and use your gear card to pay it over time with no interest. That’s a big deal to a lot of semi broke musicians. As for CL, I’ve had mostly good experience with it, but really only for lower end gear. Once you get above 500 bucks you are really thinning out the pool of buyers. To me it’s really for just dumping gear and taking your beating. Good subject, I buy, sell and trade guitars (occasionally amps) for fun, I just look at any financial loss as a rental price.
Amen…. I want to know how it sounds, as well. But, with that said. I’ve walked out of a store, to purchase online, many times after finding that info out. I don’t like doing that. But, more often than not, the “salesman” I’ve dealt with at those big-box stores are flat-out, punks, who are there to do nothing but ring up a register. No knowledge, no customer service, DAMN-sure no knowledge, no common courtesy, no social-skills, and half of them don’t speak English. So, I don’t lose any sleep these days trying out an instrument at a big-box store, than purchasing on-line at Sweetwater.
on my "Stellarcaster" - Strat build I replaced the trem block with a full size brass block and roller saddles. I floated the bridge and tuned it to E-Flat standard like any good Strat should be the headstock sportd a titanium nut, roller string tree and locking tuners. the 3 quad rail/coil humbuckers and the 6 pots, 3 P/P vol. and 3 tone with the bridge tone a P/P to activate the bridge and neck pick ups together regardless of other controls. ypgraded to a Fender 5-way blade switch. all wired like a 50's Les Paul with coil splits using ,047 orange drop tone caps. wiring it all with small wires stripped from a computer VGA cable. with such low current output from the pick ups at mere Millivolts why use anything bigger. Saved space in the already crowded control cavity which was extended to accommodate the added pots and relocated the output jack behind the bridge also mounted in the custom hand made Brushed stainless steel pick guard that is both main ground through the control cases and shielding. accented with the chrome knobs and switch tip. compliments the stars and planets theme paint job on the body and head stock. .. it all started as a used cheap Chinese made Starcaster- Strar electric guitar By: Fender (said it on the head stock from factory) that I bought from my local Music-Go-Round for $100 . then the rest i got off Amazon and other stores. total cost of the build ended up at just under $500 including some tools i needed for the project with the axcuse to my wife that they could be used for home repair as well. LOL the paint job was donw with spray cans and airbrushed details finished with semi-gloss 2X clear coat. a cool looking guitar that feels good in the hand. It plays and sounds out of this world. the "Stellarcaster has way too many tone variations to count and add that to all I can get from the tiny Blackstar ID Core stereo 40 watt amp i plug it into. well there's no telling how many you might get. I just dial in what I like and just jam out. loud and Proud to annoy the nosy neighbors or go stealth mode with a good pair of headphones from the amp to me alone. Totally Jammin' man. as soon as i can upload photos for all to see. Wanna Play???
The GC problem is ... An amateur guitar set up by a professional is a professional instrument. A professional guitar set up by an amateur is an amateur instrument. GC won't pay people to work there that are "professional", so their instruments are amateurish to play. They can't cater to a customer they themselves can't afford to pay, because they can't understand that customers needs. Classic private equity, sell luxury as a brand and give trash as a product.
once again, why doesn’t GC hire Phil as a consultant?? they need his insight to make some smarter moves. GC could be great and valued, but need some help to define it better. Phil would help.
Guitar Center can’t seem to find a way to make the beam fit. If I have money for high end or professional grade expensive equipment, I’m going to CME or Carters etc. Guitar Center would be the last place I’d buy from and haven’t in years. After hearing your thoughts, it makes great sense that they’d really lean on and grow their used market. But GC has never made any sense to me.
I bought something from GC online about 6 hours ago. My biggest concern is how they will pack it. Biggest purchase ever from GC for me. 214.49 I like cheap guitars!
Hell no GC should not be going higher end. The market has moved down, with much better quality lower end gear. Add used and you have a formula for success.
So I’m motivated just to use my gear in better ways. Everyplace is horrible in my opinion. I have only came out on top when a friend gave me his Ibanez, I save up and spend more from a guy that makes and works on guitars in his garage. Also I rather buy a katana every 3 years then get ripped off on a hissing overpriced tube amp.
I told the guitar center salesman today that I only come in to check out the used rack. I also mentioned that I use Dunlop strings that they don’t carry.
GC is good to order and ship to store a and luthier but need inventory more midrange than high end, just my opinion. The CEO is a bad choice. The problem is all stores have the same inventory, I think they should have stores carry regional builders because this way stores have something different.
How much can GC hope to make by going pro only? Seriously, what percentage is that if the buying public? 5% maybe? Possibly not even that high. They're going to alienate their customer base. What kind of CEO comes up with a goofy plan like that? LOL!
There are plenty of CEOs out there that come up with stupid ideas and don't have to worry about getting fired by the board. All because that have a sweet severance package that will keep them happy until another business hires him or her.
I take the time to time stamp the entire show for your connivance
This Podcast is sponsored by Patreon and Channel members
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Subject Index
00:00 Intro
02:00 Jazz guitar for a beginner?
03:40 Pedal Giveaway
04:50 Why Guitar Centers New Plan Is Not Going To Work
27:27 1st set of KYG winners
34:00 What is my least expensive guitar?
39:00 Gibson uses stickers on custom shop guitars
neckillusions.com
42:16 Noise Gates?
44:25 We want to give this guitar to a local beginner
48:29 New Gibson Studios seem better than PRS S2s
51:00 Bad Dad Joke
57:00 I was embarrassed to share the story. The Craziest Guitar Of The Week
1:29:00 Buy guitars without touching them
1:36:00 Red Cross help
give.helpsalvationarmy.org/give/166081/
1:42:00 Shipping prices now
1:45:18 2nd set of KYG Winners!
1:49:48 The best holding iron?
amzn.to/4dv7yn3
1:53:40 Thank you
For your "connivance"!!! (because there are so many scammers out there?) All the best, Phil. I appreciate you.
You are correct. The used wall is the most exciting part of going in any given day. I guarantee you for every one guy that wants to buy a high-end guitar. There’s at least 10 guys that wanna buy a $300 guitar.
Exactly.
Guitar center needs to improve their used guitar photos!! But maybe thats the fun, you never really know what your getting lol
As someone one who has to take the best possible pictures of Folk Art to post online, most every picture from all the different GCs are all quite terrible.
Pictures sell…
They have actually gotten a lot better here lately!
Not only are the pictures terrible - the descriptions are useless. An instrument graded as 'good' shows 4 small, fuzzy pics taken with an iPhone whose lens hasn't been wiped off in a year. There could be a head stock break and you wouldn't see it. No way I'm spending 1000+ on an instrument where the entire description is 'case included'.
They also need to quit carrying primarily budget models.
The guitar center near me only has low end, inexpensive guitars. Or super expensive (in the little room). Very little in-between. I think GC would absolutely thrive as a quality used store
New guitar day I got a great deal on a D 18 at guitar center in Nashville TN . Thank you Anthony, Cole, and guitar tech Dion and the management of the Nashville guitar center
The main thing about GC that keeps me coming back is the used section! I have found some pretty good deals there. I've bought 2 used guitars from them in the past 2 months. I also like that i can trade in gear with them. I've done several trades with them over the years and gotten some good deals. Really hope they figure it out.
I've sold two guitars to my local GC. Both transactions went well. They told me up front that they offer UP TO 60% of what they will sell it at (I got the 60% - both were in good shape, clean, new strings and in tune) - then they did a little research online and came back to me with an offer. The trick is you need to KNOW up front that you don't sell to GC for the best deal - you do it for the convenience of getting immediate cash.
That robbery story is the most interesting story I've heard in a long time. I'm sorry this happened to you but I'm so glad you got that great guitar, and an interesting story, out of it. And you got a relic job thrown in. I managed a cellular phone store for many years and someone tried to rob us repeatedly, through the same pane of glass, 4 times in a few month span of time. I could see them break the glass, enter the store, walk to the first of 2 bolted steel doors, shake it for a few seconds, then leave. They never got anything, but we had to pay the glass company $3000. I started to think the guys worked for the glass company:)
Guitar Center would do well to have a better used section online with better photos and descriptions.
Guitar Center needs to learn to make rice before they start making sushi -- maybe take care of the instruments on the floor and see if that helps before they try to peddle even more expensive stuff. Yeah i'm interested in a Charvel MIJ Guthrie Govan but not if it's missing a string, the trem is all screwed up and the strings feel like floss.
Even my $80 Monoprice Indio is set up better than 90% of GC guitar stock.
That’s where you are screwing up ! If you like a certain guitar AND you know what that guitar is capable of , you use the OBVIOUS defects to drive the price down during the negotiations WITH THE INTENT of fixing all the defects . Say you see that Charvel and it’s priced at $1,500 with a missing string , trem issues etc , offer them $1,200 knowing in the back of your mind it will take $200 to make it better and you just saved $100 bucks and your rig is like new after the set-up from your personal luthier .
Another fine show, Mr. Phil!!👍Many of my "Pro" friends are into "shopping components" (new/used) for their own builds...and I've been doing the same. Main reason we'd be in a G/C @ this point is to check out the Used Gear on hand; which does tend to support Yr. argument. Adrian Belew is an avid Lace P'up fan, too. They're featured on his "Beat Era", Mustang-based "Twang Bar King" as well as his Sig Model Custom Strat'. They sound good on yours, 2!
I go to a guitar shop either to buy strings or to fall in love. I always felt like Guitar Center made it hard to fall in love. The guitars are often hard to reach; they're out of tune; they all need a set-up. I'm talking new and used. Of course all their high-end stuff was on the ground, in tune, and ready to go. But what I was looking for was the $400-600 guitar that swept me away enough to put it on the credit card right then and there.
I've been in to two different local GC's in the last week and the visual improvements to the guitar displays is drastic and was long overdue. Its yet to be seen whether putting the expensive guitars more in reach will be a good or bad thing. I still wish the workers spent more time cleaning/tuning the guitars on the wall to make the experience that much better... but based on being overworked and underpaid, I get it.
The problem is that kids come in and beat the crap out of everything they can get their hands on playing metal! They downtune every guitar they touch and after wailing away on it at max distortion on a cheapo amp, they slap it back on the wall and never buy anything. The overworked employees have no time to put into retuning all these guitars, much less wiping them down, especially now since all the Gibbys are on the bottom row. If it's expensive and within reach, these are the ones the kids go for first. They never buy. The ones who are interested in buying high end guitars don't want one thats been on the floor!
I went to Phoenix GC and saw that they are hanging guitars by marked brand sections and some higher end guitars like Les Paul Standards were in the lowest rows, not on the top (out of reach) row. They still had higher end guitars locked up in separate room.
Just noticed in the UK, eBay don't charge selling fees anymore. I'm sure they'll find other ways of charging us.
@philipmcknight I live near you . I had a pretty positive experience trading into guitar center . I went to the Val Vista store and traded in a Charvel Warren DeMartini signature snakeskin guitar . Took them about 20 minutes to give me a price (which was actually more than I expected). I left to think about it . Came back the next day and did the deal . Picked up a Gibson SG after . That guitar was pretty jacked up when I bought it , but that’s a different issue.I did this during the week to avoid crowds . The only caveat would be they had to contact to Hollywood store for a price since they couldn’t find it online .
Jazz/Rock guitarist Matteo Mancuso uses a chambered Yamaha Revstar.
Happy Friday! 😊
The reason most ppl buy online- one reason anyway- is because of how spread-out brick and mortar stores are/were- even before the internet- and the limited selection they always have- for whatever reason. Idk about everyone else but I got sick of driving for hours just to find they were out of anything I wanted or still had the same stuff as the last time I was there- a year ago. Online allows ppl like me that live out in the sticks to get our hands on the same guitars as everyone else- that's cool, and new- it wasn't like this before.
I’ll never forget the day that I was able to pick up every $2,500+ Gibson and Fenders completely unlocked at hands reach at a Guitar Center. When I asked a GC Employee, he told me “Yeah, they’re doing some changes in the above levels.” lmao
'Pro musicians' don't usually pay tourist prices.
Guitar Center has been missing the mark for decades now, although I have still purchased from them from time to time. That being said, EVERY time I go to GC, no matter what I am there for, I always head straight for the used gear section, because its almost always different. Used gear moves so the inventory changes regularly. I can spend an hour on the used guitars/amps alone, all before I pick up whatever I intended to purchase. Their new policy will fail. Hiring a CEO with such an ancient vision seems like the nail in the coffin
Amen. But, I can tell you this much… I haven’t made a purchase at a GC, or Sam Ash for that matter, solely due to the indescribably stupid, socially-inept losers they started hiring, right around the late 2000 (give or take). And, that end of things has just gotten worse. I’ve walked out of those stores p!ssed off without having picked up a single instrument for that reason. I think that has destroyed the big box stores as much as anything else. One of the reasons for that is because a true pro isn’t about to work at a place like that, because GC or SA are absolutely horrible employers, as well.
@@phillamoore157Last purchase at GC was 15 yrs ago. A engineer friend who knows guitars worked there after retirement. He was basically a guitar collector and watched out for great guitars. I went to buy a Gibson SG and they were all trash. He finally showed me a PRS that was really sweet and gave me a great deal on a custom 22 emerald 9 top. Went back maybe once more couple yrs later and he had quit, but the usual goons were there. Never went back. They could care less what you want.
I wish GC carried more quality mid-tier guitars. The $500 - $1000 range. I also wish they dusted the guitars and changed the guitar strings more often. In fact, if they set up all the guitars to play well with low action, I'd definitely make more impulse purchases when I pull a guitar off the wall and try it out. Too often the new guitars are dusty and grimey, have corroded strings, sometimes they're even missing strings, and the setup is atrocious.
Went to GC for the first time in awhile like years to sell an amp. There was 4 people in the store. They asked if I could drop it off and come back. I live 45 to an hour away. I said no, it took an hour. A customer at the same time came in with 17 guitars and they said they needed a week.
Guitar center only offers free shipping on new guitars. On lower priced guitars it only makes sense to buy from a local guitar center.
they only charge $20 to ship a 80 lb amp across america. GC shipping is super cheap.
GC offers to ship items for $20-30 that wouldnt be available anywhere else other than "local pickup only" or with $150+ shipping: they are the destination for used cabs. It may not make sense to ship a used Joyo pedal but they offer a lot of value with their used program.
I always look at the GC used wall, and have gotten some very good deals there. I've gotten some better deals at pawn shops, but that has involved a lot of time spent haggling, waiting for call-backs from the manager, etc.,which I'm not always up for.
Good analysis of guitar center. Since they started posting used gear, I always thought they had opened a gold mine. They have so many stores around the country that it should be easy for people to trade for cash or credit. I have even got a couple great deals that had to ship from stores across the country. But they seem to muddle the process.
I think GC lost their objective for the customer after private equity stepped in - as happens to most companies that go that route
Your honesty is refreshing. As a senior with an acquired collection of beautiful guitars I have calmed my GAS. I buy my strings on Amazon. Delivered free to my door and usually cheaper than the local retailer which requires packing a lunch to get to. However, the other day on route to a medical appointment,(all too common now) I stopped in at Canada’s equivalent of GC. A week day mind you, but I was the only one in the store other than three employees. Plenty of guitar stock and my one thought was, who’s buying these. It was rather depressing. Young people certainly don’t have the money. Their three luxuries are rent, groceries, and gas for car if they have one. I recall an interview that Rick Beato had with Eric Johnson. Eric made a comment that the majority of Gibson and Fender sales were to retirees. Whether true or not, it made sense. But I just don’t see that continuing. Where do you see the future for the guitar world?
It's only going to get worse unfortunately..The days of having a few extra dollars to treat yourself are all but gone.
GC needs a separate used dept and a dedicated employee for it who specializes in used gear etc, and the ability to act faster on offers, They would thrive, Music go round has largest used selection where I live. Also taking things on consignment might work as well. Clearly they suffer from corporate that doesn't have a clue and they have the ball and chain of the fender and Gibson who only care about selling new gear. Appreciate your channel.
I have the Hakko FX888 soldering station and I love it…about 120 bucks👍
GC should also improve their website search function for products IN specific store locations.
I would have guessed (before you explained it) that Guitar Center would have gone the completely different way. Caitoring more to the new and begginner players. Marketingng the stores (and salesmen) as a more "beginner-friendly enviornment" where a person, who might be apprehensive about buying and/or returning a new guitar can go. Let's face it, most beginners don't want to go to a place where they have to "perform" or listen to others "perform". Yes, they will take a lot of hits, but getting more people, a lot more people, in those stores (even it's just for strings) now, is what they need. It's been a long time since I've been in a Guitar Center, but I can still remember looking around and never seeing anyone that looked like they gave a damn. Yes they are vastly underpaid but training people to have some "salesman social skills", like friendliness, eye contact and a smile, might be something they can use to succeed to a latter, higher paying job. People at a McDonald's (at least around me) care a lot more for their customers...what does that tell you.
I bought fretboard stickers from Jockomo, a Japanese company. Good quality at a decent price.
I sell all my used gear through GC. It’s mostly painless accept for time issue you mentioned. I hope GC listens to your advice.
It makes me feel better knowing you're like me in that I prefer trade in vs. hassel selling myself.
Lace sensor pickups seem to look better with mismatched plastics from the pickguard I wished they were still available on production model fenders
Hollow body (Thinline) Tele preferably with humbuckers. Squier, Harley Benton, and I think Eart do one. Fat humbucker sound with a bit of air. Works well for any genre but great for jazz, blues, funk and fingerstyle/chord melody.
I just received my new Gibson Les Paul Studio. I think it's a great guitar, I'd love to see your take on it.
I had to get rid of one guitar about ten years ago so I could get a Epiphone Les Paul.. The Best GC would offer was $90 for my Schecter 006 Diamond with a EMG bridge pickup, ($100). I took the $90 and I still feel like they owe me about $100. What takes them 90 minutes to find out is, after they find the retail price of a guitar, they have to figure out what ten percent is,then that's the value of your used gear..
Whenever I go into a Guitar Center, I ALWAYS go to the the used section first and spend the most time there. I only do a quick run through of the new gear.
The way Guitar Center handles buying customers guitars now is they have to call corporate and tell them what you are trading and the condition and then wait for corporate to call them back with a price. The local store does not control what they offer and every store in the United States is calling them all day that office and that is why it takes an hour plus now just to get a price.
A sanding sponge from Home Depot works like a champ on fret ends.. Come in lots of grits..
Antek soldering irons are the industry standard along with Weller. Here in the UK.
They never reopened the store in Fort Wayne, IN. Home of Sweetwater!
Sweetwater doesn't list their in store used inventory. You have to go there to see the used gear. I got a great boutique tube amp that sold new for $3500 for $675 otd!
it's online, unfortunately for us locals
I've been going to GC for years.
What I would like to see is some different amps, guitars and pedals. Instead of the same oh crap, bring in different brands and keep cycling through with other brands, like annually.
I already own 3 nice USA made Fenders and with the price of them now I don't see me buying more of them. I have loved what Squier is doing lately and any new purchases for me will likely go that way. So I also don't understand Guitar Center wanting to be more upscale. Also, I play dive bars when I play live and I would rather gig my Squiers and worry less about theft or damage to my expensive guitars. I feel like most actual working musicians feel the same way.
Not only is the ISP Decimator the industry standard for noise suppression, Buck Waller, who runs ISP, is a really good guy. What other companies put their actual phone number on the instruction manual?
Selling used to GC is great as long as you manage your expectations. Buying used there are still better deals elsewhere as GC won't haggle on used gear
Lot better options than Red Cross if you want your contribution to really get to the people that are in need. I live in NC FYI.
can you do a deep dive on an evh guitar? sorry if you already did ! hello from chicago...
I did sales at GC for a sec, long ago- little has changed though and what us sorta more serious types noticed, the people GC needs to be bringing in don't care. They don't want used stuff. It almost never sells to average enthusiasts.
My friend has worked at GC for 17 years and now they are threatening his and other employees jobs if they don't sell more pro coverage and get more GC credit card applications and still no medium priced guitars, just inexpensive entry level or very expensive but they have those fancy new wall dividers, so they got that going for them.
@PhillipMcnight Why does a custom shop with a rosewood board have a skunk stripe?? I thought only production Fenders did that....a skunk stripe on all necks to cut down on production costs...
Guitar Center asks too much for used gear and I have never been able to get a discount on it. "It's store policy we have to wait X number of days until we can come down on the price." Then it's just a few bucks. Also if I order used gear from another store I call them and get a " hands on decription ". The guy at that end always says how nice the item is because he gets credit for selling it. When the item arrives at the local store for me to pick it up, sometimes its a POS. I reject it and the poor guy helping me takes the hit for a returned item. Bad GC program. The hit needs to be on that lying employee that sold it. I haven't bought any used gear from GC in quite awhile. Bad proram. BAD PROGRAM! GO SIT IN THE CORNER.
Wichita KS Guitar Center must be their best store cuz they rock 🤘
I think it's possible you misunderstood what "catering to professionals" means.
before people think im some snob, i just bought a Squier Nashville Strat and put some Bare Knuckle Boot Camp pickups in, it sounds better than my fender strat, and plays just as well.
imo, nothing under $500 is suitable as a working guitar. the tuners don't always work well, the fret ends will make you bleed, and the pickups are obviously sub-par. You can get a $350 guitar and put work and some new pickups into it to make it just like or better than a $1500 guitar, but as far as picking a guitar up off the shelf and trusting it in a show an hour later, I'm not buying anything under $1200, and that's almost exclusively because of the pickups and tuners.
my ears are picky though, and most people would be happy with a $500 guitar that stays in tune, and that's just fine because that price range is the golden zone of value. the problem is that (at least at GC near me) everything within reach (physically) is entry-level crap i would only give to a beginner or random super strats with fake floyds on them. There's only so many guitars whose prices aren't inflated because of some dumb "fancy" finish. Everything else is up higher and the employees start to grumble and give you looks when you ask them to get them down for you. The employees work on commission, so if you're just trying guitars to see what they sound like, the employees get upset and act like you're wasting their time.
The same goes for amps, pretty much every combo amp under $1500 comes with a stock speaker that wasn't necessarily voiced for the amp, speakers are only about $150 to $300 but that needs to be mentioned as most people will also need to pay for an install. Also, those cheap PCB amps are a nightmare to repair so either get ready to dish out for somebody who can solder on PCB's or buy a new amp altogether. You could of course wait for your warranty but that doesn't help you when you have to perform in the meantime.
The Bass section got shrunk to a single wall maybe 20x30 feet, and all the crappy shredder guitars filled the old Bass room. As a bassist, fuck you GC, who the fuck do you think keeps the groove while some kid playing a pointy guitar just runs up and down scales and thinks they're playing with soul?
Then you look at the pedalboards, and they're all pedaltrain nanos or other boards about the same size. The only pedals they have in stock are brands that they would get pretty much get sued for not selling, "Boss", or brands that spend more on their art department than the engineering department, you know the types of pedals I'm talking about.
I could keep going on guitars but I just want to add, their synthesizer and piano department is atrocious as well. Every synth they have is a digital synth that just comes with preset pop music sounds. They have many digital pianos, but only maybe 1 or 2 out of a room of 20 had escapement, which if you're actually serious about playing piano is a necessity.
Drum room was like a different world though, everything was in reach (the snares weren't but an employee saw i was looking at them and came over to help me without me asking), everything was playable. $5000 kits just sitting there and the employee walks up and hands me some sticks then tells me to give it a try.
My point is that Guitar Center has been catering to the hobbyist musician, not the professional one. Professional does not mean overly expensive.
Reverb is a joke for us in Sweden. Mostly used gear priced higher than new and insane fees and policies for sellers. Everyone here buys and sells at our local sites that have great shipping deals and good affordable protection for buyer AND seller.
I think guitar center should be able to order their own inventory in their own store i have 2 near me and they carry models that no one is really interested in and the guitar centers further away have much better selections
I never comment on these types of videos but, I have been seeing headlines did guitar Center is done or bankrupt. They’re going out of business for quite a few years now. I guess it’s an attention click again or do I have that type of headline. But from where I live,, guitar center is still in business… I always stop in when I’m passing a guitar center. We always have a pretty good stock of used instruments for sale. I was going back a week later to buy some thing I saw the previous week used, and every time, that piece has been sold when I go back for it…
pretty much every time I go there, their salesman are too busy with customers or students to spend much time, answering questions, or demonstrating..
how do you say they’re getting by
Love you Phil, but the idea that professional musicians don’t buy high end guitars is simply incorrect. Certainly in the UK, I played live professionally with 2 Gibson 175’s, a national resonator etc. I rarely saw pro musicians with entry level instruments.
Also in the guitar geek travel destinations, where do you recommend for all of us? Indonesia? Or somewhere cool you’ve been you would recommend
5.8ghz wireless guitar dongles. $50 Amazon. No latency. No 60cycle hum. No discernible tone diff
Hey Phil, why don’t you do a amp of the week? 😎
no wait in indiana
Should be used stuff. I already use them mostly for used stuff - they will ship to my local store and their return policy is great.
Issues with Guitar Center:
1.) almost all “new guitars” they have seem to be damaged, factory 2nds, have lifting bridges, and are in desperate need of new strings and setup to be playable.
2.) beyond the used gear, all the inventory is ubiquitous with every other GC, and very limited selection that is in between starter guitars & unaffordable $1500+ guitars
3.) 60% of value from a retail store is decent trade in value, even though it was 70% a fee years ago. The issue is store employees are unable to quote trade prices and they need to have the manager call the higher ups to do so.
4.) i feel GC needs to focus on used gear and entry level priced guitars up to mid range. Already we have many high end guitar shops that most players cannot afford, and places like Russo music where the selection is way better than GC, but their trade values are only 30% with most inventory all over $1000.
It’s never really been 70%. I gotta tell ya, it’s 50% and if you’re lucky 60%.
@@TheLocalsOnlyPodcast ive traded in at GC many times and unless the item is “non brand” you get over 50% and up to 70% on good guitars. Not every time but have been occassions; $650 cash for a $850 sell on their end seems pretty good to me all said and done.
Well, GC's used gear prices have gone sky high so apparently the CEO's plan is working.
I like the soldering irons that give me a degree readout which I use to vary the temperature to suit the project at hand. That $112 Weller is definitely a good choice.
Guitar Center’s online used is a nightmare. The photos are terrible. Since they have franchise locations where they could obtain inventory from a wide geographic area and centralize a website for all used gear with better photos and easier to buy.
As far as better guitars at GC, it would be better to have some new guitars that would be worth taking off the wall to try. Most of them now are cheap and bad with a terrible setup and rancid strings that won’t stay in tune. It won’t ever be a Chicago music exchange, but cool inventory brings people out, CME is always busy.
Gc is close and convenient, but it stopped being a must-visit place a long time ago. You are spot on, they still have the same guitars on the walls. SInce they announced their changes, I've noticed they seem much more willing to let you touch the top row stuff now. It's not really something that will save the business.
What is crazy is what the guitar center asks for used gear.
The only reason I go to GC is to look at used pedals.
I don’t know what GC should focus on, agree going pro musician isn’t it. I’m guessing they are getting margins on the used side based on how hard they push it. I do see some pretty good deals on amps and guitars, though whoever traded the item in get probably half or a little more than the value?
That said, if you trade something in to get something you can knock some off the price, and use your gear card to pay it over time with no interest. That’s a big deal to a lot of semi broke musicians.
As for CL, I’ve had mostly good experience with it, but really only for lower end gear. Once you get above 500 bucks you are really thinning out the pool of buyers. To me it’s really for just dumping gear and taking your beating.
Good subject, I buy, sell and trade guitars (occasionally amps) for fun, I just look at any financial loss as a rental price.
??? Phil does Guitar Center do lessons? Master Jo Student is not buying a pro guitar for there first.
Mom and Pops need to happen?
Also can I buy one of your Yngvie gig bags, I know you have too many lol.
Thanks Rik
Im for gc to focus on used. Bought 2 great used basses at gc, over the years. Rather look at 100 used guitars than 200 new.
Offer up has been good with used gear
I would actually visit a GC if they had higher end guitars. I am not interested in a squire.
I don't buy shoes on line and I don't buy my guitars on-line. It may make me an outlier, but I need to see how the guitar feels in my hand.
Amen…. I want to know how it sounds, as well. But, with that said. I’ve walked out of a store, to purchase online, many times after finding that info out. I don’t like doing that. But, more often than not, the “salesman” I’ve dealt with at those big-box stores are flat-out, punks, who are there to do nothing but ring up a register. No knowledge, no customer service, DAMN-sure no knowledge, no common courtesy, no social-skills, and half of them don’t speak English. So, I don’t lose any sleep these days trying out an instrument at a big-box store, than purchasing on-line at Sweetwater.
Just straight forwardly: I have a negative attitude towards GC & would only buy from them if I had no other choice.
on my "Stellarcaster" - Strat build I replaced the trem block with a full size brass block and roller saddles. I floated the bridge and tuned it to E-Flat standard like any good Strat should be the headstock sportd a titanium nut, roller string tree and locking tuners. the 3 quad rail/coil humbuckers and the 6 pots, 3 P/P vol. and 3 tone with the bridge tone a P/P to activate the bridge and neck pick ups together regardless of other controls. ypgraded to a Fender 5-way blade switch. all wired like a 50's Les Paul with coil splits using ,047 orange drop tone caps. wiring it all with small wires stripped from a computer VGA cable. with such low current output from the pick ups at mere Millivolts why use anything bigger. Saved space in the already crowded control cavity which was extended to accommodate the added pots and relocated the output jack behind the bridge also mounted in the custom hand made Brushed stainless steel pick guard that is both main ground through the control cases and shielding. accented with the chrome knobs and switch tip. compliments the stars and planets theme paint job on the body and head stock. .. it all started as a used cheap Chinese made Starcaster- Strar electric guitar By: Fender (said it on the head stock from factory) that I bought from my local Music-Go-Round for $100 . then the rest i got off Amazon and other stores. total cost of the build ended up at just under $500 including some tools i needed for the project with the axcuse to my wife that they could be used for home repair as well. LOL the paint job was donw with spray cans and airbrushed details finished with semi-gloss 2X clear coat. a cool looking guitar that feels good in the hand. It plays and sounds out of this world. the "Stellarcaster has way too many tone variations to count and add that to all I can get from the tiny Blackstar ID Core stereo 40 watt amp i plug it into. well there's no telling how many you might get. I just dial in what I like and just jam out. loud and Proud to annoy the nosy neighbors or go stealth mode with a good pair of headphones from the amp to me alone. Totally Jammin' man. as soon as i can upload photos for all to see. Wanna Play???
The GC problem is ...
An amateur guitar set up by a professional is a professional instrument.
A professional guitar set up by an amateur is an amateur instrument.
GC won't pay people to work there that are "professional", so their instruments are amateurish to play.
They can't cater to a customer they themselves can't afford to pay, because they can't understand that customers needs.
Classic private equity, sell luxury as a brand and give trash as a product.
OMG…Phil, you have the best stories…hahahahaha🤣
once again, why doesn’t GC hire Phil as a consultant?? they need his insight to make some smarter moves. GC could be great and valued, but need some help to define it better. Phil would help.
Guitar Center can’t seem to find a way to make the beam fit. If I have money for high end or professional grade expensive equipment, I’m going to CME or Carters etc.
Guitar Center would be the last place I’d buy from and haven’t in years. After hearing your thoughts, it makes great sense that they’d really lean on and grow their used market. But GC has never made any sense to me.
Guitar Center is a dead man walkin
I bought something from GC online about 6 hours ago.
My biggest concern is how they will pack it.
Biggest purchase ever from GC for me. 214.49
I like cheap guitars!
Think of it this way, you are not actually selling your gear to GC for 60%, you are really PAYING Guitar Center 40% to sell it for you..
0:24 made me giggle
Needed the boost. Thanks Phil.
If it's not too late, I would love the electric Stew Mac kit. You rock man, very informative videos
Hell no GC should not be going higher end. The market has moved down, with much better quality lower end gear. Add used and you have a formula for success.
How do you pronounce Godin as Godan? Where is the “a” coming from?
So I’m motivated just to use my gear in better ways. Everyplace is horrible in my opinion. I have only came out on top when a friend gave me his Ibanez, I save up and spend more from a guy that makes and works on guitars in his garage. Also I rather buy a katana every 3 years then get ripped off on a hissing overpriced tube amp.
I told the guitar center salesman today that I only come in to check out the used rack. I also mentioned that I use Dunlop strings that they don’t carry.
GC is good to order and ship to store a and luthier but need inventory more midrange than high end, just my opinion. The CEO is a bad choice. The problem is all stores have the same inventory, I think they should have stores carry regional builders because this way stores have something different.
Phil nails it .... Reverb overpriced Guitar Center just nuts and out of touch
Every guitar center employee will tell you to never sell used to GC.
How much can GC hope to make by going pro only? Seriously, what percentage is that if the buying public? 5% maybe? Possibly not even that high. They're going to alienate their customer base. What kind of CEO comes up with a goofy plan like that? LOL!
There are plenty of CEOs out there that come up with stupid ideas and don't have to worry about getting fired by the board. All because that have a sweet severance package that will keep them happy until another business hires him or her.
I wd not pay more than$1000 for a guitar. So ...GC get it together.