Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

[J Moose]

Earlier this afternoon I stopped into GuiTarget... got their flyer with the deal on Markley strings & I wanted to grab that $30 MXR pedal, check out a Rebel (again) and see what else was around. They didn't have the MXR, and they didn't have the Rebel... but they DID have a Bogner Alchemist in both the 1x12 combo & head/2x12 so I grabbed a Tele with a Bigsby and plugged into the head.

My first & overall impression of the Alchemist is that it's REALLY cool. More so then I was expecting. As soon as I flipped it on, in the 20 watt mode it sounded good & was responsive to play without touching a single knob. I put it through a quick spin of dirty & clean channels, dialing the EQ around a bit... checking the boosts and the 20/40 watt switch, which I'm happy to say made a fairly sizeable difference in the volume & projection of the amp.

Unfortunately, I really didn't get more then about 15 minutes with the thing before one of their punk kids came over with a pink acoustic guitar in his hands and said; "You're playing too loud and HAVE to turn down 'cause I'm trying to sell an acoustic over there."

At the time, I was on the clean channel... crunch switch on... master around 9 o'clock with the rig on 20 watts. I didn't think it was all that loud. On the contrary... it was just covering up the din of canned music and other noise. About the volume I'd play at home... and I was sitting about 2 feet from the amp because I couldn't get any farther, thanks to the tied down cable.

It got a little ugly. Ok. Really ugly.

My response was "I'm demoing an amp that I might actually purchase... and you're telling me I'm too loud?!" Words were exchanged and at that point I opened the amp up... cranked the master and punched out a few gnarly sounding open chords with a big grin...the amp sounded GREAT!!!

Then the kid got really flip... and I decided I'd had enough & started to leave the store with the assistant manager who I guess had witnessed the whole thing chasing after saying "Don't leave angry! What can I do???"

He was pretty cool about it and I told him truthfully... not much.

It was a great reminder of why I don't shop at GC anymore. Moron sales weasels who have no clue, damaged goods... the din of noise where I can't hear myself think, let alone get a subjective read on anything I'm considering a purchase of.

Not only did that kid piss me off, but he did so in front of several other customers... and all so he could sell a $50 kids acoustic guitar at the cost of an $1100 amp.

I've known the store manager for several years and have spent I don't even how many thousands there. One year alone I think was close to $12k. He'll be getting a call when I find the time...

The Alchemist seems like a wicked amp... maybe a little "generic" but I don't mean that in a negative way. I'd like to spend more time with one to see what it's really capable of... but it won't be at a Guitar Center.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

IMHO - If that GC wants to sell acoustic guitars, they need a room devoted to acoustic instruments or a soundproofed room for the amps. That "don't play it loud" attitude isn't gonna fly with knowledgeable customers who need to demo the amp before they buy it. I could understand if you were the kid who always shows up and does nothing but jam on an amp for hours and then leaves without buying anything, but you obviously aren't that kid.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

I had the same problem at Sam Ash ! I was auditioning a Peavey Classic 30. I told the salesman, I gotta crank it up to see if it's loud enough to gig with? he said O.K. within seconds the asst. manager ran over yelling "Turn That Down" I asked him. Is this a library or a music store? After a short exchange of pleasantries they convinced me it was loud enough to gig with. If not I could return it. Great, I threw down my cash and walked out with it. I got it home threw the receipt in the box, And ran to rehearsal. NO WAY JOSE! this thing couldn't cut it.:eyecrazy: ( I imagine I went out boozing after rehearsal ) So the next morning (err) Afternoon. I was ready to take that amp back to Ash and make a big stink! But wait,Where is the box w/t the receipt in it? My father then informed me he had put the box out for trash the night B4.:banghead: So Now I was stuck with this P.O.S. I sold it at a $100 lost.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

Long and McQuade has the acoustic guitars in a separate sealed room. The good ones also have a soundproofed amp demo room, where you can shut the door and crank anything you want as loud as you want. It's a great system for everyone.

The one GC I've been to (Orange CT) has an acoustic guitar room. I'm surprised they don't all have one.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

What a sad change from sales guys who knew what's up turning the amp up for you. You just can't get an idea of what an amp sounds like at a whisper. Especially when there's 2 or 3 bedroom stars trying out a Line6 on the insane setting with a shred axe just loud enough to p!$$ ya off as you try something.

There's a good store in Longmont that lets folks turn an amp up to show levels and get the feel for a bit...I usually don't go for more than five minutes. It's fun to hear the BR rockers try to get louder than me by turning up the distortion. I just flip it to the bridge pickup and let 'er rip.:friday:

I haven't been to GC lately.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

Every GC I've ever been to has had an acoustic room. It doesn't have a good seal from the main sales floor, but it's still a good bit quieter. The one in Columbus and the old one in Cincinnati had acoustic demo rooms that were fairly isolated as well.

The biggest crime, IMO, was the level of the background music over the house sound system. I'm not sure what the advantage is of pumping music through a sound system in a store that sells musical instruments.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

Long and McQuade has the acoustic guitars in a separate sealed room. The good ones also have a soundproofed amp demo room, where you can shut the door and crank anything you want as loud as you want. It's a great system for everyone.

I rattled the walls at the one in Winnipeg with an Orange AD140 pegged on 10. I guess it's not quite as soundproof as they said it was.... :lmao:

Anyway, I've had a few dickhead experiences. I even had a guitar grabbed out of my hands once. I usually shake my head and walk out without saying anything.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

the ppl at my guitar center love me. they tell me i can d**k around all i want as long as i dont mess with 'real customers' ;D

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

The GC here actually has an acoustic room, but their acoustics are either low end Martins or high end Gibbos. Needless to say, I bought my Larrivee from Sam Ash.

I'd use that to your advantage and get that alchemist hella cheap. I bet you can get a GC employee price on it if you make a big enough fuss. Screw that kid trying to sell a cheapo acoustic, he obviously was using an amateur approach.

 

[Tor]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

The one GC I've been to (Orange CT) has an acoustic guitar room. I'm surprised they don't all have one.

The GC in Manhattan has one as well..

 

[Vetteboy]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

The GC here actually has an acoustic room, but their acoustics are either low end Martins or high end Gibbos. Needless to say, I bought my Larrivee from Sam Ash.

I'd use that to your advantage and get that alchemist hella cheap. I bet you can get a GC employee price on it if you make a big enough fuss. Screw that kid trying to sell a cheapo acoustic, he obviously was using an amateur approach.

If it's the GC I'm thinking of, there's a Sam Ash directly across the street. :scratchch

When I got my Taylor there, I made it clear to the guy that I was going crank it if he wanted any chance of making the sale. He tried to put me on a smaller amp so I could get saturation without as much volume, and I told him that wasn't the point. He finally relented.

Usually though I don't like playing loud at a GC type store. I used to enjoy going into those places and blowing all the little whiny kids out, but now I'm constantly checking the volume and being overly considerate.

The fun thing to do is play some unusual stuff that the guys there don't hear all the time. I like busting out some jazz runs or chickin' pickin' in response to the little asshole shredder the next aisle over...and more than once I've had the guys tell me that I can actually turn up if I want.

 

[theodie]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

The one GC I've been to (Orange CT) has an acoustic guitar room. I'm surprised they don't all have one.

Everyone I have been in has had one.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

Moose, its funny you mention that CANNED music, I was thinking that the other day. Everytime I go in there, they're blasting some tired old classic rock or coldplay or something. Makes it very difficult to demo gear.

And another thing... I don't know what one you were in, but I've been at 2 GCs in the past week, and in BOTH of them, there were salespeople "demoing" amps, who could BARELY play, and were hacking away at out of tune guitars, with the volume blasting. I think that's unprofessional. GC should have the balls to tell certain employees "Listen, you're great, but you can't play for sh*t, so TURN DOWN, or stop demoing gear."

 

[jmh151]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

The Guitar Center in Carle Place (Long Island) New York had a few soundproof rooms- even before they moved down the block to their new location. Seperate soundproof , humidity controlled room for acoustics, another soundproof room to try any guitar and amps in- and I've never had a problem cranking up amps- it's a huge place and no one seems to mind.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

When I have two customers in my store and one is kicking tires and the other one is ready to actually plop down some cash I give the customer who's ready to plop down the cash my full undivided attention.

Maybe the customer trying out the acoustic guitar was ready to plop down the cash while you came off as someone just kicking tires.

Lew

 

[ErikH]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

All of the GC's in this area have separate acoustic rooms. There's one location that I actually prefer over all the others. It's a smaller store but they have really nice people working there that actually know their stuff and don't make a stink when I'm demoing gear.

 

[B2D]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

And another thing... I don't know what one you were in, but I've been at 2 GCs in the past week, and in BOTH of them, there were salespeople "demoing" amps, who could BARELY play, and were hacking away at out of tune guitars, with the volume blasting. I think that's unprofessional. GC should have the balls to tell certain employees "Listen, you're great, but you can't play for sh*t, so TURN DOWN, or stop demoing gear."

:laugh2: Oh man, so true.

When I was working at GC, I never demoed gear unless customers specifically asked me to, and then a few short licks or chords was all. I wasn't there to play a gig for a captive audience, I was there to try to sell stuff.

JMoose... just curious, did this place not have a Loud Lounge/soundproof room or acoustic room? Every GC I've ever been to has one.

If there wasn't any kind of room like that, I think the proper thing to have done (or what I would have done anyways) would've been to ask you to hold off playing loud just for a moment until you'd closed the sale or at least finished talking to the customer. His request was probably understandable but the way he went about it (wrong way of approaching you, flip attitude) was not.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

Man, I always play super quiet in a GC, if I plug in at all,
which would be precisely once for about 60 seconds if I'm buying a guitar.
Which rarely happens

I think it's tacky and immature to crank up in one of those stores.

I also have never bought an amp from one of those stores.

I am a pretty experienced guitarist, but I really don't ever have a desire to plug in in one of those places. If I pick up a Telecaster, for example, sure; I will be curious how its pickups sound and how the guitar sounds plugged in, but I'll say, "It's a shame I'm in a Guitar Center, otherwise I could plug this in without someone hovering over my shoulder, or a high school kid coming up and staring at me like I'm in his way"

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

What a sad change from sales guys who knew what's up turning the amp up for you. You just can't get an idea of what an amp sounds like at a whisper. Especially when there's 2 or 3 bedroom stars trying out a Line6 on the insane setting with a shred axe just loud enough to p!$$ ya off as you try something.

There's a good store in Longmont that lets folks turn an amp up to show levels and get the feel for a bit...I usually don't go for more than five minutes. It's fun to hear the BR rockers try to get louder than me by turning up the distortion. I just flip it to the bridge pickup and let 'er rip.:friday:

I haven't been to GC lately.

wow I hear ya, I too was recently trying out an alchemist, though fortunately no one complained about the noise ....um music coming from the amp. I try to go to GC before all the little kiddies get out of school, primo time for me is from opening until about 1pm after that...FORGET IT!!!

Chris

 

[Koreth]

Re: Ever get hassled for playing too loud??? Alchemist & GC content

I'm surprised the store doesn't have a separate soundproofed or quieted room from the main sales floor for the demoing of the amplifiers or acoustic guitars. Many of the GCs I've been in have had both. IIRC, the acoustic room is also humidified, as the super dry air here at altitude would cause any acoustic worth playing to dry out and crack if one wasn't careful. But those quieted rooms really do work. One time I went into a GC looking for a certain guitar. They didn't have it in stock, but they had another guitar that caught my fancy. I asked to demo it and the salesman set me up in the quiet room on a VHT half-stack that he turned up loud enough for it to start to sound decent. I've been by that same store before and the soundproofing really works. The only time I can really hear what's going on in that room is when the door's open as someone's going in or out.

Truthfully, I'm usually one of those annoying wannabe shredders in a GC, except that I'm usually trying to do it on a tube amp, which lays bare for the whole store exactly how bad I lack chops. Still, I'll turn down when asked. I know full well when I'm ready to pull the trigger on a purchase, and when I'm just dicking around with gear I wish I could afford in the hopes it'll make me a better player. That, coupled with the fact that I do actually purchase stuff from the local GC, be it strings or what have you, the salesman recognize me and are friendly and helpful when I do go in.