Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

[Biu]

I went to one of the smaller ones, so it wasn't too overwhelming at all. They still had a lot of guitars though.

I tried out the Ibanez guitar first since they're my favorite brand. All the used ones were WAYYY outta tune with bad setups, but the new S series they had were sweet guitars. Their Gibsons were all perfect, and bends on those were butter-smooth. Kinda hard to do a bad setup on Gibsons though I enjoyed the Custom Shop Fenders they had, very nice guitars. What REALLY turned me off of GC was that they had some guitars (Gibsons, Ibanez, Epiphone) that had broken headstocks, dents all over, etc. and they were either sold as "new" or "used". Their prices were usually only reduced about $50 or so most the time too

I tried out some Line 6 amps. The HD147 and Flextone III. THe HD147 was really neat sounding, but it seemed to be geared toward the rhythm guitarists (it had KILLER rhythm tones), but the solo sound I like just wasn't there. Then I tried the Flextone III, which had some cool, usable tones, but I dunno, I guess I've been spoiled rotten with tube tones because it seemed a little bit cold sounding to me. I actually expected the Line 6 stuff to really blow me away, but I was wrong. It's a good thing I got to try them out though.
After that, I gave some of the Vox Valvetronix amps a go. I was really IMPRESSED!!! Nice amps! Very tube-like, to a certain extent, but just overall GREAT tone. I really liked them and I'm planning to get one. I think something was wrong with the 60watt head I tried though, even with the bass turned to 0, it sounded like somebody maxed it out and threw a blanket over the amp. I also turned the regular volume to max and the master to about 3/4 and it was still too quiet for bedroom levels!!! Definitely something wrong with the one they had. You could still hear some delicious tone underneath it all though. I had to reassure myself, so I tried out the newer 30watt combos they had and was thoroughly impressed again.

I was expecting to see a bunch of shredders and old blues guys with jaw-dropping chops to kick my ass, but turns out, all there were were crappy punk/emo kids, "shredders" (guys that just played random sloppy notes as fast as they could, no order at all, it wasn't even chromatic or anything@!!!), and A LOT of old guys in their 50's and 60's that just blew. I woulda expected the old fogies to at least play some cool slow blues or something, but they were ALL fishing for notes and seemed like they never learned anything outside of the blues 1st position scale (and were still having trouble with that!). Not cool, quite annoying!

Well, to sum it all up, I was pretty disappointed. I thought Guitar Center woulda been heaven for me, but it seems it is possibly worse than Bizarre Guitars (lotsa guitars, but a-hole employees) here in town. GC, you've failed me, but I got to mess with your guitars!

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Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

guitar center always sucked. the only thing good about them is that they carry mesa boogie. you should come to florida with me man! we got MAE(apparently #3 store in the world) and it is just killer in there. nice employees, great gear(amp room!!!!!!!!!) they got everythng there. custom prs's, bogner amps, soldano amps, diezel amps, etc. you gotta come here some time and chill with me and Dime

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

I gave some of the Vox Valvetronix amps a go. I was really IMPRESSED!!! Nice amps! Very tube-like, to a certain extent, but just overall GREAT tone. I really liked them and I'm planning to get one. I think something was wrong with the 60watt head I tried though, even with the bass turned to 0, it sounded like somebody maxed it out and threw a blanket over the amp. I also turned the regular volume to max and the master to about 3/4 and it was still too quiet for bedroom levels!!! Definitely something wrong with the one they had. You could still hear some delicious tone underneath it all though. I had to reassure myself, so I tried out the newer 30watt combos they had and was thoroughly impressed again.

With amps like Valvetronix modeling amps, you've really got to take them home, mess with all the knobs, and come up with the good tones Vox had in mind for their customers. If you had any problem with the amp, it's because the noise gate was set high, the wattage set to 6W, or something like that.
I bought the AD60 head to use as a quiet home practice setup. I put it on either a Bogner 2-12 cab or Jubilee straight 4-12 cab, but just at home.
The best part of this amp's design is the OD pedals in front of it's amp modeling selector. This allows you to tonally tweak each amp model till it's exactly what you're looking for. The low wattage setting, recording out, and headphone out makes it a perfect amp to use as a home practice/recording rig. For players looking for better than average SS amp clean tones or tube-like super highgain tones, the Valvetronix amps do the job.

[Dime59hum]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

guitar center always sucked. the only thing good about them is that they carry mesa boogie. you should come to florida with me man! we got MAE(apparently #3 store in the world) and it is just killer in there. nice employees, great gear(amp room!!!!!!!!!) they got everythng there. custom prs's, bogner amps, soldano amps, diezel amps, etc. you gotta come here some time and chill with me and Dime

Damn right! We got guitars, amps, and not to mention a few good lookin bit*hes round here.

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Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

Damn right! We got guitars, amps, and not to mention a few good lookin bit*hes round here.

[Number One]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

The only reason i go to GC is because it's convenient. I'm surrounded by like 3 of them. But their employees are a-holes though. I had to get this little bottle of I-forget-what in the glass counter. the guy there was busy, so there's this other little employee just sittin around messin with guitars, and i tell him to come over. i point at the bottle and ask him to please get it for me. he says "i don't work in accessories. ask that guy." he goes back, keeps on playing on that guitar. I wait like 15 mins before i lose my patience and leave. i pointed at the little thing, and all he had to do was reach in, grab it, make me pay, and that little f*cker goes off doin his own thing.

[Guitarist]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

...I love it there...

[presa_tito]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

do they have guitar centers in Canada? I seem to read a lot about them.

[drp555]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

I live in Tampa, FL and a Guitar Center opened up somewhat recently. It's pretty small, and I was not impressed. I thought GC carried Mesa/Boogie, but the one here doesn't. They just have maybe 2 or 3 old, used ones sitting around. (Which sucks because I love mesa amps). There's a bunch of Sam Ash's around here, which I hate. There used to be a Mars Music before they went out of business, it was an alright store. Better than any others I've been in recently. I guess it's hard to find a good music store, unless you're lucky enough to live close to one, like the guys from S. Florida who posted about MAE.

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

I haven't been to M.A.E. in a long time.......I need to go back down there one of these days. From what I recall, it was a super nice place. All the gear you can think of, new & used, & the staff was pretty cool.

GC pretty much sucks, but like someone else said, it's convenient.......most of the time.

[Gamera]

Re: Recap of my first Guitar Center experience

I was expecting to see a bunch of shredders and old blues guys with jaw-dropping chops to kick my ass, but turns out, all there were were crappy... Not cool, quite annoying!

Yeah, I know I save my best material for Guitar Center appearances.

It's a store, not a concert hall. What do you expect?