Comments on: Guitar Center Coming to the Westside http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:05:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Pro Audio Enthusiast http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-232552 Pro Audio Enthusiast Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:43:51 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-232552 I recently made a large purchase from GC WLA, and was not too pleased. In fact, I was shocked that nobody knew anything about the gear they were selling (aside from one gentleman in pro audio who had lots of tattoos, the other guys were pretty much useless). After a couple days, I called back to check and see if my order had arrived, and to my frustration, it wasn't even ordered yet. WHAT?! This would never have happened to me at W LA Music. Understand that I work in a pro environment (film & TV), and am ruled by deadlines. We are not talking guitar picks here! Stores like Guitar Center and W LA Music have the capital to invest in professional audio equipment (i.e. large format consoles, fx processors, microphones etc..), and sell it at a competitive price. Therefore, they should know (and W LA music does) that they are also going to be catering to the pro audio consumer. This is especially true considering the fact that we are in LA which is a music industry hot spot. I ultimately had to go back to W LA Music to get my gear promptly ordered and shipped. I recently made a large purchase from GC WLA, and was not too pleased. In fact, I was shocked that nobody knew anything about the gear they were selling (aside from one gentleman in pro audio who had lots of tattoos, the other guys were pretty much useless). After a couple days, I called back to check and see if my order had arrived, and to my frustration, it wasn’t even ordered yet. WHAT?! This would never have happened to me at W LA Music. Understand that I work in a pro environment (film & TV), and am ruled by deadlines. We are not talking guitar picks here! Stores like Guitar Center and W LA Music have the capital to invest in professional audio equipment (i.e. large format consoles, fx processors, microphones etc..), and sell it at a competitive price. Therefore, they should know (and W LA music does) that they are also going to be catering to the pro audio consumer. This is especially true considering the fact that we are in LA which is a music industry hot spot. I ultimately had to go back to W LA Music to get my gear promptly ordered and shipped.

]]> By: Music Enthusiast http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-218725 Music Enthusiast Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:04:51 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-218725 Guitar Center opening in the area will only magnify the benefits of taking care of ones music needs at the independently owned shops nearby such as Adam's. The attention to detail that these smaller store-owners take in choosing their product and service far exceeds that of a giant who hires the hourly paid novice and sells the mass produced instrument. Guitar Center opening in the area will only magnify the benefits of taking care of ones music needs at the independently owned shops nearby such as Adam’s. The attention to detail that these smaller store-owners take in choosing their product and service far exceeds that of a giant who hires the hourly paid novice and sells the mass produced instrument.

]]> By: mompop http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-187315 mompop Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:06:12 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-187315 Just visited the cavernously GC in WLA. The parking lot is about as scary to drive into as Godzilla's mouth. There were 2 customers there when I was inside. The guitar room is huge, running the gambit from horrible Chinese to Expensive Martin's. I tried 3 guitars which were NOT SET UP, leading me to believe that each guitar comes straight out of the shipping box and on to the wall. There can be a world of difference between student instruments, and price has little to do with quality. For example, one can play 12 Fender Squire's ( their student entry guitar), and find many have unfinished frets,bad paint jobs, warped necks. My point is that this store may be too big for it's own good. Smaller music stores like West Valley Music, Adam's Music, and Westwood Music carry far fewer brands but will a keep much higher percentage of well set up, good playing instruments shown to you by generally a more experienced sales person. I know the Adam's Music and West Valley Music do NOT work on commission, and give deep discounts averaging 30% off and 1 year warranties on most stock, while also offering generous trade-up options as you progress with the weekly lessons offered on the premisies or in your home. For all these reasons, the environment at these smaller (but full line) music school/shops, is far more inviting and conducive to young children and adults alike to having a pleasant musical experience. Staff averages 20 to 50 years of musical instrument experience at these shops as opposed to the mostly entry level, commissioned, "green" superstore employees. AND, who needs 200 different entry level guitars with fancy names painted on the headstock? DID U KNOW THAT SAMICK (Korea) MAKES MOST OF THE WORLD'S STUDENT AND STEP-UP GUITARS? YOU JUST PAY MORE FOR DIFFERENT NAMES STAMPED ON THE GUITAR. SO, IF IT'S A GOOD,INEXPENSIVE GUITAR YOU WANT,SAVE BIG $$ AND BUY A SAMICK BRAND GUITAR. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC SHOP! Just visited the cavernously GC in WLA. The parking lot is about as scary to drive into as Godzilla’s mouth. There were 2 customers there when I was inside. The guitar room is huge, running the gambit from horrible Chinese to Expensive Martin’s. I tried 3 guitars which were NOT SET UP, leading me to believe that each guitar comes straight out of the shipping box and on to the wall.
There can be a world of difference between student instruments, and price has little to do with quality. For example, one can play 12 Fender Squire’s ( their student entry guitar), and find many have unfinished frets,bad paint jobs, warped necks.
My point is that this store may be too big for it’s own good. Smaller music stores like West Valley Music, Adam’s Music, and Westwood Music carry far fewer brands but will a keep much higher percentage of well set up, good playing instruments shown to you by generally a more experienced sales person. I know the Adam’s Music and West Valley Music do NOT work on commission, and give deep discounts averaging 30% off and 1 year warranties on most stock, while also offering generous trade-up options as you progress with the weekly lessons offered on the premisies or in your home.
For all these reasons, the environment at these smaller (but full line) music school/shops, is far more inviting and conducive to young children and adults alike to having a pleasant musical experience. Staff averages 20 to 50 years of musical instrument experience at these shops as opposed to the mostly entry level,
commissioned, “green” superstore employees.
AND, who needs 200 different entry level guitars with fancy names painted on the headstock? DID U KNOW THAT SAMICK (Korea) MAKES MOST OF THE WORLD’S STUDENT AND STEP-UP GUITARS? YOU JUST PAY MORE FOR DIFFERENT NAMES STAMPED ON THE GUITAR.
SO, IF IT’S A GOOD,INEXPENSIVE GUITAR YOU WANT,SAVE BIG $$
AND BUY A SAMICK BRAND GUITAR.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC SHOP!

]]> By: Learn Guitar » Guitar Center Coming to the Westside http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-172687 Learn Guitar » Guitar Center Coming to the Westside Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:38:47 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-172687 [...] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...] [...] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]

]]> By: opencolumns Blog Archive » Guitar Center Coming to the Westside http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-168766 opencolumns Blog Archive » Guitar Center Coming to the Westside Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:47:58 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-168766 [...] all the details here [...] [...] all the details here [...]

]]> By: Ryan http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-145730 Ryan Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:32:47 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-145730 Totally with you re: 'Pro Audio Attitude' @ West LA and their wonky store layout. Give me a hands-on demo @ sam ash or GC when possible and I will go order whatever I'm checking out online someplace if need be. Strictly for guitars on the west side, totally with Chris re: <a href="http://www.truetonemusic.com/" rel="nofollow">truetone</a> and McCabes. Each knows what it does best and skips the rest. Totally with you re: ‘Pro Audio Attitude’ @ West LA and their wonky store layout. Give me a hands-on demo @ sam ash or GC when possible and I will go order whatever I’m checking out online someplace if need be.

Strictly for guitars on the west side, totally with Chris re: truetone and McCabes. Each knows what it does best and skips the rest.

]]> By: Sung http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-145638 Sung Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:32:57 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-145638 I wonder if Guitar Center will keep the rooftop parking that I think this building has. Anyways, when remodeling is complete on Westside Pavillion II it should provide convenient parking for G.C. customers. I live close to West LA Music but never go there. The store layout is not very inviting. I wonder if Guitar Center will keep the rooftop parking that I think this building has. Anyways, when remodeling is complete on Westside Pavillion II it should provide convenient parking for G.C. customers. I live close to West LA Music but never go there. The store layout is not very inviting.

]]> By: Chris Barrus http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/comment-page-1/#comment-145556 Chris Barrus Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:13:37 +0000 http://www.losanjealous.com/2007/08/28/guitar-center-coming-to-the-westside/#comment-145556 Westwood Music up the street might take a hit as the parking there is worse and there isn't enough idiosyncrasies to the store to make it worth a visit. Truetone and McCabes are still the two stores of choice on the westside. Westwood Music up the street might take a hit as the parking there is worse and there isn’t enough idiosyncrasies to the store to make it worth a visit.

Truetone and McCabes are still the two stores of choice on the westside.

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