Re: Prs
ADVICE (QUICK- for you , your friend and any young guitar buyer)
1. Don't buy from GC. If you spend $3000+ on a guitar the shop should do everything they can to make it right for you. GC will not do this whereas a smaller store will give you the service you deserve for that huge of a $ $ $ order.
2. If he decides on GC anyway. Watch out for the Good Cop/Bad Cop routine at GC. One saleman will pull up ridiculous amounts $$$ , while another salesman will be your "Buddy" and be friendly with you. Your "buddy" will talk to the other saleman about how the amounts are too much and they shouldn't be that much, they might even walk off to chat privately or away from the salesfloor. Anyway your "buddy" gets the price down a bit and they give you a warm feeling that someone is looking out for you. The reality is that you are still over paying for it. In some places, once you leave, they laugh at the fact that you are such a "sucker" or maybe they just feel good because they get a fat commission and they have bills to pay too, maybe kids at home etc.
3. Leave pride at the door, this is only about Money. ("F*** Pride" -Warcelus Wallace) Your friend may want to "show off" that he can afford such a pricey guitar because he worked so hard for the money. Again I don't know your friend maybe he isn't like this. Anyhow, screw pride, this transaction at GC is all about money. Basically it is GC giving you a block of wood, some finish, frets, pickups, and a case and your friend forking over $3000+
4. Don't buy on the first visit to the store. Go there at least a handful of times and get a feel for if the store is for you. Stop in and let let them know you're gonna spend $3000+ for a guitar, make sure they know you are serious. Leave and come back in a week, if you don't have someone recognize you right away DO NOT buy from them. They should kiss your ass if your gonna spend that kind of money. (This applys to everything in life*)
That's about it for quick advice. That beign said, I think GC is a fine store for certain things and I currently, and will continue to , shop their several times per year.
I'd just hate to see someone at 17 years old spend 25% too much on a $3000 purchase.
* I was at the Mohegan Sun Casino. A 40 year old guy ( or thereabouts) drops $8,000 on the table to get chips. The dealer, the bank, and the Floor man treat the guy like a regular Joe going in for $300. I couldn't f****ing believe it. It was like watching a valet parking a chevy while making a Porsche wait. Think of how big the tokes would be
