And we wonder why brick and mortar stores fail


 
I’m primarily a mandolin player but, guitar, banjo, string bass are “secondary” instruments to tinker with for me. No longer have a banjo around or bass but, would not mind finding a decent deal on a 3/4 size bass to have around for jam time, and for guests. I don’t really need a banjo but, an old time open back one would be fun.
 
Like I said earlier, I play a Martin 000-15M ( all mahogany and long scale)but it kills my fingers, so I capo on the second fret and tune down to standard tuning, effectively making it a short scale guitar. I am in the market for a short scale spruce and rosewood, but can’t settle on one.
 
Like I said earlier, I play a Martin 000-15M ( all mahogany and long scale)but it kills my fingers, so I capo on the second fret and tune down to standard tuning, effectively making it a short scale guitar. I am in the market for a short scale spruce and rosewood, but can’t settle on one.
Look into some of the Taylor guitars, very nicely made and not brutally expensive.
 
Look into some of the Taylor guitars, very nicely made and not brutally expensive.
They are beautiful. My buddy oddly though just traded off his gorgeous 6 string Taylor (Made in California) for a Martin. He loved that on Taylor for a VERY long time. Heck I've known him over 40 years and that Taylor was always by his side. But he really loves that Martin as well. Sam Ash was very happy to get the Taylor since not many are USA made anymore. My Martin will be going in for work soon. And I just picked up a pristine Seagull S12 Coastline. My hand is coming back little by little. Though my index finger keeps "locking". Chiropractor is trying to work on that now. He called it "trigger finger". Said with work and the right therapy it should subside. BTW I just got my new case today ordered from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FQ1R31Y/?tag=tvwb-20 it's pretty incredible and fits the Seagull like a glove
Also won an auction from FleaBay for a ChromaCast Hardshell case. Got it from a scratch and dent place. (has a few "dings") to use with my Sigma 6 string (forget the model but it's a copy of the Martin D45). All these years (bought it back in 1981) when Sigma was Martin's Japanese made product. So it's also got some years on it. All these years it's been used in one of those cheapo vinyl covered cardboard cases. So, I was able to get this ChromaCast for $45. I would have paid $130 at a regular store. I didn't care about a few dings, After all that's what it's there for. So for $45 I can treat the old Sigma to a nice home
 
Taylor made a maple dreadnaught similar to the old Guild G-37 that was a fine instrument! Back when a buddy of mine owned a music store he had half a dozen of those go through the place, every one was a darned fine guitar! I should have gotten one back then, I think I sold four for him
But, I’d really love to find an old G-37 though.
 
I would call myself an aspiring player. I’ve had my Strat for over 20 years and still can’t play🤣

I need to buckle down and give it a serious attempt.
I ’play’, but I would never subject someone to listening, other than the dog, who rolls on her back and covers her ears.:cool:
 
Casual guitar player here as well. I have an entry level Fender strat my folks got me 20 years ago, a no name black acoustic, which I bought when I was 25. And finally, an Epiphone hummingbird I picked up 2 years ago- new. The guitar shop was phenomenal.
 
Working in a music store right out of high school was the best thing I could have done, it was fun, I put together a band, we worked at least two nights a week at a saloon (the Whistle Stop) and held the record for most consecutive weeks until the place closed down. We gigged there for 59 weeks, we did a little road time at a joint in Port Huron, more like well paid practice there (I think the bar was laundering money)
That was a great job, played a TON of really good instruments, saw a lot of very cool musicians, worked festivals, drove some great people from the bus station to their gigs. I soaked up all that stuff like a sponge!
I’ve been lucky, had some really interesting “Brick and Mortar” jobs! Music store, art store, jewelry, then there wasone that really sucked…Electrolux! Door to door, cold calls! Talk learning about rejection? Doors slammed in your face, dogs, filthy places, snotty people, the whole range. That was tough.
 
I went to my GC for a case as well and got the same response. I also brought my Martin 000-15M for a possible trade. It is in very good condition and 2 years old. They told me they would give me 1/4 of the price I paid for it, even though a new one is 30% more than when I bought mine. I still stop in from time to time, but it reminds me of going into a Circuit City during their final days. With online retailers like Sweetwater and the Reverb site, GC is clearly going out of business soon.
I have a D-15S, cool guitars those 15’s.
 
then there wasone that really sucked…Electrolux! Door to door, cold calls! Talk learning about rejection? Doors slammed in your face, dogs, filthy places, snotty people, the whole range. That was tough.
Kinda like being a Realtor. :D I think I could write a book about the experiences and things I saw (and wish I didn't). One of the worst was my friend was requested to do a BPO (Broker Price Opinion) for a bank on a foreclosure. She asked our broker and myself to come along because it was a "unique" property out in the more rural part of Boone Cty. Well, the managing broker and myself needed to look at the "bones" of the place and had to go into the basement. Got down there. Cramped, dingy, dark and smelly. You guessed it black mold everywhere. Both of us came down with pneumonia and were REALLY sick for 2 weeks. Yeah fun times :D
 
Sweetwater initially was a bit annoying, with emails and calls and texts (not overboard, but seemed I got all three at a time). But then I got to thinking about it and it was a bit refreshing. I think I worked with Tyler there and he seemed genuinely interested in making sure I got what I wanted/needed. Ended up the drum set and guitar weren’t the colors I wanted but the girls love them and that’s all I care about.

He touches base occasionally here and there to make sure things are good and I’ll be sending more business that way when I’m ready.
 
I went to Guitar Denter to order a battery door for my Ibanez bass. Horrid customer service. After many tries over the course of of weeks & months & them forgetting + every other lame excuse in the book, I gave up. I went to Sam Ash, they ordered it & 3 days later, it was in my hand.
 
Scott, thanks for bumping up this thread, forgot all about it. I was in rehab back in Jan. (hmmm, wonder what else I missed here?) lol
 
You are so right. Same thing happened in the retail audio market. Today a visit to an audio dealer is by appointment only and the bulk of their business is installations (home theater systems, not 2 channel stuff).
 

 

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