Is it just me.........

[dubtrub]

..or do others experience this.

Every time I go into our local Guitar Center, there is always some clown that picks up a guitar, plugs it into an amp wails away. Most of the time it's some hot shot that knows one or two cool riffs and loves to crank up the volume and blast out his 'talent'.

Well yesterday was no exception. My son Duane and I went to GC to check out some pint size amps, in particular a Champion 600. As usual some 'super star' breaks out a Les Paul and plugs it into '65 Bassman head sitting on a stack of a Marshall speaker cabinets ( as in plural) and lets it rip. I have to admit he was pretty darn good. The store was cram packed with Christmas inventory and was wall to wall people. As soon as he let off a riff, the entire store momentarily paused to listen. It was cool. But that's where the coolness ended. This guy kept it up until our ears were ringing and our heads were aching.

I walked over to him and gave him a go to heck look, and saw the setting of the amp volume was on eight. Needles to say he didn't let up and apparently thought I was just admiring his style. The clerk came over and screamed 'may I help you' and I screamed back, 'yeah, you got any ear plugs'. Well, we couldn't stand it any more so we left the store. I don't know if it's just this particular store, but that seems to happen every time I go there which isn't very often. I've been to North Hollywood store and it is never been like that. Sure people are playing and trying out equipment all over the store. They may even crank it up for a few riffs but they don't sit there a try to put on an entire one man concert at head bursting volume.

I'll wait and go back to GC later during the week and catch them as soon as they open. Yeah, that may work.

[Desert Surfer]

The poor kid just needed attention. We have a few here at our local Guitar Centers or Sam Ash too.

[dubtrub]

The poor kid just needed attention. We have a few here at our local Guitar Centers or Sam Ash too.

He wasn't a kid. He was at least 50 years old. I could understand a kid doing that.

[KRamone27]

When I worked for guitar center we always had people just like that come in. That crap would get annoying when I was in the middle of a sale. I would eventually go and turn him/her down and as he/she said something I would walk away. My managers loved me to death for doing that and would tell me thank you.

[Desert Surfer]

The poor kid just needed attention. We have a few here at our local Guitar Centers or Sam Ash too.

He wasn't a kid. He was at least 50 years old. I could understand a kid doing that.

I am over 60 now, but still act like a kid... my wife says so. That 50 year old kid probably had been yelled at home and went to GC to let out the emotion.

Seriously, I have met a few good players at guitar stores too. One time I met a great jazz player at Sam Ash. She was not loud nor showy.. but abviously loved that '60 Gibson jazz guitar and kept on playing. (I could tell she is not a Sunday Church player) I stood there and enjoyed the listening for quite a while...

[mosman]

I had a personal experience of the opposite nature a while back. I was trying out a guitar through a small Orange amp, and as I get very self conscious when I play in shops, I had the volume way down. Suddenly the store boss came over and ripped into the sales guy who was looking after me, for letting me play too loud. Honestly, my volume was nothing compared to some I've had to put up with, although as it was a Saturday morning maybe the boss was hungover or something. I know the employees in most of the guitar shops here usually are.

On a related note, I saw a guy trying out a guitar while playing Smoke On the Water, and believe it or not he just couldn't get it right. To make it worse, he was playing at a volume that while not excessively loud, was still enough to be heard through the entire store.

If you're gonna screw up a riff as easy as SOTW, you sure don't want a whole room full of people to hear you do it.

[Strat-o-rama]

"Every time I go into our local Guitar Center, there is always some clown that picks up a guitar, plugs it into an amp wails away. Most of the time it's some hot shot that knows one or two cool riffs and loves to crank up the volume and blast out his 'talent'."

This happened to me Saturday afternoon at Sam Ash at Peppertree Plaza in Pompano. Walk in with the wife and daughter and all is quiet....too quiet. I'm looking for strings but cruise by the guitars and amps. My daughter (age 3.5) is attracted to the drum kits at the back of the store, so Daddy gives her a little tour of the drum Dept. No playing...tapped my index finger of a Sabian just so she could hear the cybals.
WHAM! Cranked Mesa Rectifier gnat notes assault the store.
My wife, 'Can we get your strings and go!' Daughter, 'What's that noise, Daddy?' Me, 'It's a guy showing off.'
Pay for the strings, admire a reissue White Falcon hanging on the wall above the cash register(and point it out to the better half...hint hint.), and depart.
Ahhh. Saturday afternoons at the Music Store.

[dellison]

Ya that sure was annoying... I would have really like to hear what that Champion 600 was producing! That store was way over packed too - even without people there was no room to maneuver around the inventory.

On a side note - I called my local GC and they have 2 of those Champions on clearance. One on display, the other in a box. The assistant manager (who answer the phone when i called - and called me back) said he could probably give me another 10% off that.

I did ask about the Fender Pro Junior - he said they are also clearance out they did have any - and the stores that did had them for a while so they were probably trashed...

[Dennisthe Menace]

Hey Guys,
I worked at one of these so called Mega Stores for 7 years. One of my main reasons for leaving was because of the BS that went on there, but that's another story. Anyhow, both Sam's Trash and Guitar Center have a 30-45 day return policy. My suggestion would be to go ahead and buy the amp you think you might like, take it home, and try it "IN YOUR OWN SURROUNDINGS." This way, you can test it at different Levels and whatever else you see fit. If it doesn't seem to fit the bill, just take it back with the packing box and all the paper work (including the receipt), and exchange it for either another amp, or just get your money back .......

[dubtrub]

I went back to Guitar Center today around 1:30 pm to exchange the cord I bought the other day and it was a pleasant experience. No super stars, no crowd, no noise. BTW, Duke, that used Champion 600 is on police hold for 30 days and isn't available for sale yet even though they were trying to sell it to us on Saturday. Oh yeah, they will take less than the listed price tag.

If anyone is interested, the Champion 600 can be upgraded to sound great but they are being discontinued. They'll cost twice as much used in a year or so.