Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

[Jake]

In my quest to find a new amp, I've been trolling local music stores trying some different amps out. Today I hit one of the Guitar Centers in town to try out the Marshall JVM series amps. Before I really begin to mess around with the JVM410H, I politely ask the salesman if it's cool if I crank it to gig volume, to see how the amp will sound in a more realistic setting. At first he says no, to which I then say something to the effect of "Well look, I'm more likely to walk out here with this amp today if I do" to which he says something like "Well, as long as it's not too loud." I see this as my green light, and go ahead and fire the bad boy up...only to have him running back to me 30 seconds later yelling at me to turn it down. I politely told him he just lost a sale and walked out of the store. I still didn't really get to form a true opinion on the amp, so I'll find another store to mess around with one.


So what's the proper etiquette here? Look, I realize nobody likes "that guy" who is the loudest in a guitar store, and this guitar center in particular got rid of it's "Amp Room" long ago, so all of the amps are in the main hallway. I hate "that guy" too, but if I'm going to drop $2000+ on a head, I'm going to want to properly test drive the thing before I drop my hard earned cash on it. If I test drive a Porsche, I doubt the salesman would tell you you can't go past 30 mph.


The Bogner Shiva is next on the test drive list, problem is the closest guitar store with one is in Austin. Road trip!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

The problem with amps like this (as well as keyboards, guitar synths, multi-fx pedals and any other 'deep' musical gear) is that you can't test it at the store. You can't program your own sounds, you can't hook it up to a computer, and you can't (and shouldn't) be that guy and crank up an amp. So what do you do? Well, if you have the $2k, buy the amp anyway...bring it home or to practice, and if it doesn't work, bring it back. There is no way to test out many things sold in GC- some are in glass cases, some have no floor model but they 'have them in the back' etc. If you seriously are considering an amp and have the $2k on you, this is just part of the process- bring it home. If you don't have the $2k on you, then the salesman is justified- they deal with tire-kickers all day.

 

[greatbob6]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

I went to GC today and was annoyed with one of "those guys"... He was actually a really good player but I was trying to test out the new Lovepedal Superlead and couldn't hear a thing. (I think it was pretty good...need to go back again in the middle of the day when nobody is around.)

I think it would be good to ask one of the salesmen if there was a good time that you could come back and really crank it if you're really serious about possibly buying it. Probably just showing that you're willing to come back at a better time to check it out would show that you are somewhat serious about buying it and might get them to help you out a bit more.

I could be wrong though...maybe one of the GC employees on the board could chime in?

 

[Jake]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

The problem with amps like this (as well as keyboards, guitar synths, multi-fx pedals and any other 'deep' musical gear) is that you can't test it at the store. You can't program your own sounds, you can't hook it up to a computer, and you can't (and shouldn't) be that guy and crank up an amp. So what do you do? Well, if you have the $2k, buy the amp anyway...bring it home or to practice, and if it doesn't work, bring it back. There is no way to test out many things sold in GC- some are in glass cases, some have no floor model but they 'have them in the back' etc. If you seriously are considering an amp and have the $2k on you, this is just part of the process- bring it home. If you don't have the $2k on you, then the salesman is justified- they deal with tire-kickers all day.

Interesting observation, but I'm not sure if I agree with some of your points. I've never bought gear remotely this expensive before (only recently joined the full-time working class since graduating college) so this is relatively new to me. I'll repeat I've always hated "that guy" but I do feel I'm justified in being allowed to be "that guy" for a purchase of this magnitude - assuming he's a commissioned salesman, he stood to gain a lot more money out of me than the kids around me jamming bad Metallica covers on Squiers (I'm not hating, I used to be that kid...but let's be real here). Taking an amp home and bringing it back if I don't like it seems slightly ridiculous to me, especially if it is something out on the sales floor. If I'm going to spend that much money on something and I've expressed to the salesman that it's definitely a possibility, I expect to be treated better than just any snot nosed punk walking through the door.

 

[Kane17]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

Ettiquette may vary from place to place...one peavey dealer I stopped in at insisted that I plug in to his (then new) peavey XXX to which he dialed in and cranked to earth shaking volume for me while I just played. It was a smaller shop and he was a little familiar with me (also probably was a little more dependant on making sales). But I've been in other shops where they litteraly do not want you to touch anything until you pay for it.

I think you did the right thing for the most part. The thing with dealers is that they may or may not understand how important it would be for you to hear an amp cranked. I do agree with what someone said above that if you try to arrange a special time when it would be better for them that they would probably be more understanding..but who knows.

A note about what you said about being treated better than the punk kids...well lets be realistic..I DO see your point but if that difference in treatment is NOTICED it can be INTERPRETED many different ways. Any of which can hardly be good for them. Second, in most every guitar shop I've been in, the Solid-state/metal/extreme/modeling amps on the floor outnumber the big tube amps 3 to 1 or so. Some places I've been have no tube amps (save for maybe an old trade in they have). Why? I'm no analyst but my guess is that those punk kids may buy less expensive stuff but they probably move much higher volume of stuff from the shelves than the more mature/self-reliant crowd. Case in point...after revisiting the GC for over the last 18 months..almost all of the mesas, peavey 6505's, VHT's, Orange and etc etc are the same ones that have been there the whole time whereas the entire SS/Practice amp shelf looks like a completely different scene than from when I started going there. So I imagine as a business its hard to discern the more valuable customer.

EDIT: just reread what I said..logic may be a bit sloppy but I think the overall point still stands.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

Flashing a wad of ready cash often changes minds.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

You are not going to learn anything by cranking an amp to gig volume in the store anyway. The best thing can do with a place like GC, is to buy the amp, and try it at home with your guitar, your pedals, and your normal gear. You have 30 days to return it for a full refund, but you will know within a week if it is the amp for you.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

You are not going to learn anything by cranking an amp to gig volume in the store anyway. The best thing can do with a place like GC, is to buy the amp, and try it at home with your guitar, your pedals, and your normal gear. You have 30 days to return it for a full refund, but you will know within a week if it is the amp for you.

+1

If the store does not have a return policy of this sort, grumble at them. Tell them exactly why you are taking your business elsewhere. This might inspire larger retail outlets to install a soundproof test booth.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

In my quest to find a new amp, I've been trolling local music stores trying some different amps out.

INTERESTING!

Interesting observation.

I’ve never bought gear remotely this expensive before (only recently joined the full-time working class since graduating college) so this is relatively new to me.

So you are tried of that Fender Vibroverb that I gave you a few years ago?

 

[crguti]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

Flashing a wad of ready cash often changes minds.

:cool2:

 

[tone4days]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

sorry to read of it, jake
yeah its a tough position
my best GC experience came when i called to make an appt and let them know i am ready to buy ... they had the mesa roadster (set up through a big ol 4x12" cab even though i told him i'd be using the (2) 1x12" cabs i already owned) and 4 EJ strats ready for me to try ... it got loud ... ... i left with the head and an EJ strat

maybe you can try that ... if not, the 30 day return is probably your best bet

good luck
t4d

 

[sosomething]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

The way to test an amp in a store:

• Bring your own guitar with you.
• Get it up loud enough so that the power section is at least doing something. This is usually somewhat markedly less than what anyone would consider "gig volume," but right about where it starts to warm up a little bit.
• Check all the channels to make sure they work
• Check all the control ranges to make sure the pots are OK - no crackle, no cutting out, etc.
• Switch through all the channels to see if there's any popping or cutting out.
• Check the inputs, speaker outs, reverb (if there is any).
• Make sure you at least dig the tones at the volume you're at
• Take it home after everything else checks out and really test it at business volume then.

I really only use the in-store test to get a basic feel for the sound and vibe of an amp and to make sure it's not defective or damaged. It's impossible to emulate any kind of real-world scenario in the store, so it's pointless to try. If you get it home and it's not happening up at gig levels, well, that's what a return policy is for.

M2C

 

[J Moose]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

It's impossible to emulate any kind of real-world scenario in the store, so it's pointless to try. If you get it home and it's not happening up at gig levels, well, that's what a return policy is for.

M2C

Yeah but some stores don't have a 'open door rental' I mean 'return' policy like GC does.

At least half the amps, and probably most of the gear I own came from smaller places with maybe a 7 day exchange, or typically a 48 hour return period. Never 30 days cash back.

Couple three years ago I was in a GuiTarget, in the process of amp shopping myself and saw the then new Bogner Alchemists on the floor. I didn't get to play for very long before the sales-monkey came over and told me, from a distance of a couple feet away, and without shouting to turn it down because I was too loud and he was trying to sell an acoustic.

Awesome.

I replied that I was just trying to get the amp up over the volume of the ****ty canned PA music and the SRV clone around the corner... a scuffle, and a scene ensued (complete with an apologetic manager asking me to not leave angry) when he literally grabbed the guitar out of my hands.

Haven't been back there since & it put me off GC for good. Nice to know it happens in other stores too.

I've never had a problem trying to turn stuff up for a real test drive in a real music store. Rudy's music in NYC let me crank up a VHT & bunch of other heads to ear-shattering volume that only ended when we got a call from the guys downstairs in the acoustic room, after about an hour of knocking walls down.

When I bought the Tiny Terror from a local shop, the guy plugged me into a 4x12 on a busy afternoon and was turning knobs while I played... dimed the volume and said "that's as loud as it gets"! Much to the chagrin of all the moms buying sheet music and rummaging for earplugs.

I love my local music stores.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

If they got rid of the amp room they get what they deserve, right?

:headbang:

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

Jake, the new GC on Westheimer has relatively cool people and an audition room. Not saying they have the best selection of amps in the world, but I brought in my guitar and cab and was able to test out the JCA20H I eventually bought at enough volume to get my ears feeling the SPL. Since it's in town, you may want to give that a shot.

By the way, have you ever been to Rockin' Robin? I've heard good things about that store, but I've never actually gone into it. Also, Evans Music City has the only Fryette amps in town, in case you care about that.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

frankly there is no etiquette

there are ******bags who buy strings once a month at a shop and because they are technically "paying customers" they deserve to torture us with their played out riffs and licks on all my newest coolest loudest gear

there are people who judge 100% of their opinion on youtube videos and walk in and ask to buy an entire full stack new in the box sight unseen without opening it until they drive all the way home

dude obviously didn't wana sell an amp or you'd have had some fun with that marshall, but the return policy is there for a reason man

 

[Hellion]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

I get the salesman's point of view, I've been in far too many music stores where some kid who has no intention of buying an amp is playing "Smoke On The Water" badly and at full volume. They probably didn't know that you could actually play!

My take on amp tryouts in the store is that if you're planning on playing the amp all out, you should try it all out, but do it only for the amount of time that you need to determine that it's doing what you're wanting it to do. It's not going to sound the same when you get it home or onstage. I've never been to GC, so I don't know, but a lot of the music stores that I frequent have an amp room with closeable doors, which does a lot to cut the volume to the unappreciative ears of the mothers buying sheet music!

 

[lex666]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

IME, I can never really hear anything at GC. I basically do what Soso said:

a: check to see that all functions work
b: check for ease of use, ergonomics, etc
c: see if tones/effects are to my liking
d: quality control check

Then I go home at really test it. Be sure it works and sounds good with my gear and set up.

Testing it in the store only gets you so far. IMO, you really have to get outside the store and into a real/normal playing environment to see how it sounds. I pretty much do this with all my gear. I don't want to abuse the return policy, but the only way i know if I'm gonna like something is after spending some time with it on my terms.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

I usually walk straight to the glass case full of the most expensive guitars, and start yanking on it, till a manager runs up and unlocks it.

I proceed to grab the guitar with the highest price tag, then yank on the nearest guitar cord till it breaks free of the zip tie.

Of course, I'm not interested in anything but fullstacks, so I unbox any FX unit in the store that has stereo outs, so I can link a couple of them together for a richer listening experience.

Since I fancy myself more as an educator and entertainer, it's necessary to make myself as visible as possible, so I climb up onto a centrally located display, scoot the stands out of the way, and shout "attention Guitar Center punters, time for your lesson of the day." Then, I proceed to treat them to some SRV stylings, and wow them with some Yngwie inspired arpeggio work......sorta like the Maestro Alex Gregory with some blues thrown in for good measure.

By this time, they usually know I'm serious and get me down from the top of the display to begin the bartering. I try not to knock any of the Squiers and ESP's off the stands as I climb down over the Egnaters.

Since I know their cost on each item, I tell them to cut the bull and get down to brass tacks. Fluttering a stack of bills under the salesman's nose, while reminding him that he's got to beat his minimum wage draw, works WONDERS!!!

Of course, I know inside my head that I'm just there to test the gear, so I demand his absolute lowest price in writing. Since they don't do that, I use it as my excuse to exit promptly, while telling them they just lost the best sale of the day. If I really liked the sound of it, I'm sure it'll pop up on Craigslist eventually.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Etiquette when testing out an amp at a music store

I usually walk straight to the glass case full of the most expensive guitars, and start yanking on it, till a manager runs up and unlocks it.

I proceed to grab the guitar with the highest price tag, then yank on the nearest guitar cord till it breaks free of the zip tie.

Of course, I'm not interested in anything but fullstacks, so I unbox any FX unit in the store that has stereo outs, so I can link a couple of them together for a richer listening experience.

Since I fancy myself more as an educator and entertainer, it's necessary to make myself as visible as possible, so I climb up onto a centrally located display, scoot the stands out of the way, and shout "attention Guitar Center punters, time for your lesson of the day." Then, I proceed to treat them to some SRV stylings, and wow them with some Yngwie inspired arpeggio work......sorta like the Maestro Alex Gregory with some blues thrown in for good measure.

By this time, they usually know I'm serious and get me down from the top of the display to begin the bartering. I try not to knock any of the Squiers and ESP's off the stands as I climb down over the Egnaters.

Since I know their cost on each item, I tell them to cut the bull and get down to brass tacks. Fluttering a stack of bills under the salesman's nose, while reminding him that he's got to beat his minimum wage draw, works WONDERS!!!

Of course, I know inside my head that I'm just there to test the gear, so I demand his absolute lowest price in writing. Since they don't do that, I use it as my excuse to exit promptly, while telling them they just lost the best sale of the day. If I really liked the sound of it, I'm sure it'll pop up on Craigslist eventually.

I'll have to try that.