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Post by jdd2 on Oct 30, 2021 20:47:16 GMT -5
In local forum, someone made the comment that in the US it's okay to pick up guitars on display and try them--on your own. There were wondering if it was okay to do that here, too.
My comment was that maybe you could do that at a guitar center (and not the separate room for the good stuff), but not other shops. (where there may be a sign to "ask for help")
But my knowledge and experience are way out of date. So which is it--try guitars on your own, or wait/ask for help?
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Post by Marshall on Oct 30, 2021 21:10:24 GMT -5
Both. Depends on the shop. I’ve been in shops with do-not-touch signs, and others you can try most anything in the shop.
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Post by aquaduct on Oct 30, 2021 21:20:44 GMT -5
Been a while since I've been in a guitar shop but I've never had a problem trying anything I want.
Maybe it's just age and a sense of how a guitar is supposed to work and be handled.
I've never dialed anything up to 11.
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Post by Marshall on Oct 31, 2021 7:45:50 GMT -5
I've been to Carter and Gruhn in Nashville and played anything that caught my fancy. You certainly have to be respectful and careful with the instruments. Once at Gruhn (the old shop) I played a couple Gibson archtops and chatted with a sales guy. I got invited to an upper floor that had a couple D'Angelicos and other high end archies.- I didn't stay long.
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Post by drlj on Oct 31, 2021 7:57:43 GMT -5
Same here. I have been to Carter’s & Gruhn’s several times & did the upstairs visit at Gruhn’s old place where I actually had a conversation with George.
I visited the old Cotten’s years back which was small, uncomfortable, and cramped. I remember electrical sockets with no cover plates. They were nice, though, and all three places let me stay as long as I wanted and play what I wanted. At Cotten’s, they put me in a small, back room filled with cases and boxes and brought guitars in to me to play. That was safer then negotiating the narrow hallway myself. I tried to be respectful of their time, but it was obvious I could stay as long as I wanted.
I was in a shop in Fairhope, AL several years ago that had lots of nice guitars. All were located behind the counter and there was no getting to them. I asked to try a Martin that was hanging on the wall and got a 3 minute lecture from the salesman about its value. He then said, “Are you prepared to pay for it if you damage it?”
I said something along the lines of I am not giving this shop any money for any reason and left. I didn’t even buy my usual souvenir shop pick.
As we left, Barb remarked about how rude they were. I may have referred to them in stronger terms. I don’t recall the name of the place but they were centrally located. The shop looked warm and inviting but it was anything but.
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Post by Marshall on Oct 31, 2021 8:20:58 GMT -5
Yup. Cotten too. I bought a hat.  |
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Post by robjh22 on Oct 31, 2021 8:46:57 GMT -5
Yup. Cotten too. I bought a hat. At GC, I help myself but respect the instruments. In a boutique, I wait until the salesman offers to let me try whatever I am asking him about. He really can't afford to have someone scratch his inventory. Then I remove my belt, ring, and watch. And I insist that he stay nearby. Probably video taping would protect both parties. (Do they still say "tape"?) If I were a boutique owner, I'd consider keeping a beater of every model and let you play those. After you pay, I'll let you strum a new one-- and not with a pick or long nails, either. Yes, I'd likely go bankrupt. |
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Post by drlj on Oct 31, 2021 9:06:43 GMT -5
Yup. Cotten too. I bought a hat. At GC, I help myself but respect the instruments. In a boutique, I wait until the salesman offers to let me try whatever I am asking him about. He really can't afford to have someone scratch his inventory. Then I remove my belt, ring, and watch. And I insist that he stay nearby. Probably video taping would protect both parties. (Do they still say "tape"?) If I were a boutique owner, I'd consider keeping a beater of every model and let you play those. After you pay, I'll let you strum a new one-- and not with a pick or long nails, either. Yes, I'd likely go bankrupt. You sound perfect for the shop in Fairhope.😃 I own expensive guitars. I know how to treat them. Of course, they don’t know that but 5 minutes of scoping me out would tell them. Guitars are all different. Playing a beater version of a newer guitar would only tell me how the beater plays and sounds and nothing about the shiny new one on the wall. Maybe I would want the beater. I realize, though, that they have to protect their inventory. I have been to GC and have seen thrashers at work. If I owned a shop I would probably be nervous all the time. |
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Post by robjh22 on Oct 31, 2021 11:11:26 GMT -5
I know.
Only way I'd do it is part time, and by appointment. Ideally I would have a base of serious customers, and advertising would be by word of mouth.
If it's a 14 year old kid with a Metallica t-shirt that's been taking lessons 3 months, nah. He ain't touching it.
There are actually classical dealers in my orbit who work like that. Strangers come with an introducer, or not at all.
My other problem is that I'd fall in love with the inventory.
"How much for that one?"
"Not for sale."
"Oh. What about that one?"
"Mmm, no."
"Well let me see the ones that ARE for sale."
"I don't have any guitars like that right now. Check back in 5 years."
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Oct 31, 2021 12:06:05 GMT -5
I can’t shop at guitar center. I don’t know how to play Stairway.
Mike
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Post by paleo on Oct 31, 2021 12:43:23 GMT -5
Love to shop (try different guitars) at Dave's Guitars in Lacrosse. There is a sign that greets you when you walk in.
Dave's Rule for shopping
#1. Play any guitar you want
Can't remember the other rules.
They usually keep the high end guitars high up on the wall, so to play them you need to ask someone to get them down.
Last time I was there I told one of the workers I wanted to try some of the high end Martins to see how they compared to my D-28. The guy pointed out what they had and said he would get them all down and make sure they were tuned and I could try them. I think he got down 5 or 6 and I tried them all.
I visited with Dave, he was upstairs where his private collection is. He asked if I wanted to play any of the "Upstairs" guitars, but I declined.
I didn't buy any, but I'll gladly go back there.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,919 
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Post by Dub on Oct 31, 2021 13:10:13 GMT -5
A few of you will remember Jim Jensma’s shop in Cedar Rapids called Stars Guitars. He had modeled it using ideas he found at The Podium in Minneapolis’ Dinkytown. I worked there for three or four years after being retired from Collins Aerospace (née Collins Radio). Jim had high end new guitars but didn’t deal in the vintage market. He had Ryans ($10,000), Goodalls, Santa Cruz, McPherson, Bourgeois, Lance McCollum, etc. I think we have an IJam photo of Evan playing a McCollum there.
We basically wanted everyone to play any guitar they wanted to try but we often “assisted” people with the process. We might ask them to remove a jacket or offer a cloth to place between the guitar and their bodies. If a high end guitar had no pick guard we might not let them use a pick. We tried to be permissive but vigilant.
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Post by Marshall on Oct 31, 2021 13:45:25 GMT -5
I sweated bullets when we went to Stars Guitars. I almost bought a guitar and amp. It wasn't a McCollum. But it started with an "M." (No, not a stinkin' Martin). It was a Japanese maker. Anyway, I needed and amp, so I popped for that: a Schertler David.
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Post by Marshall on Oct 31, 2021 13:50:46 GMT -5
I think it was a Morris. Something like this  The guitar was going for $2,400. The amp $950. I swallowed hard and walked out with the amp. Still got it. |
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Post by drlj on Oct 31, 2021 13:52:53 GMT -5
I think it was a Morris. Something like this The guitar was going for $2,400. The amp $950. I swallowed hard and walked out with the amp. Martin is a guitar. Morris is a friggin’ cat! |
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Post by robjh22 on Oct 31, 2021 13:58:06 GMT -5
Love to shop (try different guitars) at Dave's Guitars in Lacrosse. There is a sign that greets you when you walk in. Dave's Rule for shopping #1. Play any guitar you want Can't remember the other rules. They usually keep the high end guitars high up on the wall, so to play them you need to ask someone to get them down. Last time I was there I told one of the workers I wanted to try some of the high end Martins to see how they compared to my D-28. The guy pointed out what they had and said he would get them all down and make sure they were tuned and I could try them. I think he got down 5 or 6 and I tried them all. I visited with Dave, he was upstairs where his private collection is. He asked if I wanted to play any of the "Upstairs" guitars, but I declined. I didn't buy any, but I'll gladly go back there. Decent |
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Oct 31, 2021 14:09:49 GMT -5
I was in a Guitar Center Tuesday for the first time in well over a year. The under ~$500 guitars in the front acoustic guitar room were available to take off the wall and try.
The more expensive guitars in that room, and everything in the high end room were locked in special hangers. Each hanger was numbered and I suppose if I cared enough I could have asked for one to be unlocked. Some of the stuff in that back room didn't seem all that high-end.
Barring a lottery win, my guitar/mandolin buying days are over so the locks didn't bother me much. I stayed about fifteen minutes, only picking up the only mandolin in the room, a The Loar (not a Gibson Loar!). I already own a better mandolin.
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Post by billhammond on Oct 31, 2021 14:25:02 GMT -5
I sweated bullets when we went to Stars Guitars. I almost bought a guitar and amp. It wasn't a McCollum. But it started with an "M." (No, not a stinkin' Martin). It was a Japanese maker. Anyway, I needed and amp, so I popped for that: a Schertler David. I wrote a very large check there once for my Composite Acoustics GX, but never regretted it. |
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Post by drlj on Oct 31, 2021 14:26:36 GMT -5
I was in a Guitar Center Tuesday for the first time in well over a year. The under ~$500 guitars in the front acoustic guitar room were available to take off the wall and try. The more expensive guitars in that room, and everything in the high end room were locked in special hangers. Each hanger was numbered and I suppose if I cared enough I could have asked for one to be unlocked. Some of the stuff in that back room didn't seem all that high-end. Barring a lottery win, my guitar/mandolin buying days are over so the locks didn't bother me much. I stayed about fifteen minutes, only picking up the only mandolin in the room, a The Loar (not a Gibson Loar!). I already own a better mandolin. You own some nice stuff. I loved your small body Larrivee. |
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Post by billhammond on Oct 31, 2021 14:36:47 GMT -5
Martin is a guitar. Morris is a friggin’ cat! No, Morris is a hilarious British motorcar.  |
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