• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: Frustrated with Guitar Center

I really feel the need to start a new topic on this.

I bought a Gibson brand Switchcraft 3 way toggle for my Epi Les Paul. They were going to install it. $25 for the toggle (ouch) and $25 to install it. SO - they call me the next day, and say that it won't fit... but I know it will. I had the stock toggle in the case already detached. When they called me, the tech said he found an epi switch in his toolbox and soldered that in for me. I'm like "didn't you check the case?" I already have one of those? I could've soldered mine back in for free.

I'm just done buying things from there. I should've had my luthier put the switch in. I haven't even gone back there to get it yet. I'm just fuming right now.  yikes



NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I had a guitar tech at the detroit guitar center totally RIP on me for bringing in an Epi Les Paul with top wrapped strings.
His buddy that was there as well told me "I need to go back to rock school." The tech said I had the 'wrong string angle' on the tailpiece because I top wrapped it. And that 'ease of bending strings' is only due to three factors: string gauge, string tension, and scale length.

They totally have me the third degree about it, and made it sound completely absurd that I was doing it at all. I didn't know if I should have stood my ground, but I said... "whatever man - do whatever you think will make it sound best." I won't be bringing any of my guitars back there. And I'll probably be buying everything else from elsewhere.

I guess Zakk Wylde, Billy Gibbons, and Jimmy Page... and even Joe need to "go back to Rock School too?"  hmm

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I really feel the need to start a new topic on this.

I bought a Gibson brand Switchcraft 3 way toggle for my Epi Les Paul. They were going to install it. $25 for the toggle (ouch) and $25 to install it. SO - they call me the next day, and say that it won't fit... but I know it will. I had the stock toggle in the case already detached. When they called me, the tech said he found an epi switch in his toolbox and soldered that in for me. I'm like "didn't you check the case?" I already have one of those? I could've soldered mine back in for free.

I'm just done buying things from there. I should've had my luthier put the switch in. I haven't even gone back there to get it yet. I'm just fuming right now.  yikes



NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I had a guitar tech at the detroit guitar center totally RIP on me for bringing in an Epi Les Paul with top wrapped strings.
His buddy that was there as well told me "I need to go back to rock school." The tech said I had the 'wrong string angle' on the tailpiece because I top wrapped it. And that 'ease of bending strings' is only due to three factors: string gauge, string tension, and scale length.

They totally have me the third degree about it, and made it sound completely absurd that I was doing it at all. I didn't know if I should have stood my ground, but I said... "whatever man - do whatever you think will make it sound best." I won't be bringing any of my guitars back there. And I'll probably be buying everything else from elsewhere.

I guess Zakk Wylde, Billy Gibbons, and Jimmy Page... and even Joe need to "go back to Rock School too?"  hmm


NPB- being a Brit, I've only ever bought one guitar from GC (LA)- a lovely staggered pole piece 71 sunburst strat which I still have.

As it was pretty expensive, I asked for it to be set up in a very specific way- I use a custom gauge (10, 13, 18, 28, 38, 48) on strats because of getting the floating trem to stay in tune properly- I have 1/2 tone pull up on the trem. It then needs 4 springs, three on the bass side and 1 only on the treble. Charlie Chandler taught me this and swears by it. I have done this umpteen thousand times and it'll keep most vintage trems in tune spot on however much abuse you give them. I also like a medium to highish action so I can really get under the strings to bend them and bend them big on a vintage rad board.

I even gave them one of my other strats to show them exactly what I wanted.

I was told I didn't know what I was talking about and the grungey sales kid and eqaully grungey 'tech' almost sneered at me 'Leave it to the experts etc"- they were rude to the point of if I hadn't loved the guitar so  much I wouldn't have bought it.

Needless to say the setup was absolutely hopeless and I had to re-do it myself. I realised they'd shoved regular gauge slinkys on it and paid no attention to what I'd asked for, so I took it to Chandler's when I got home, Charlie did it properly and I sent them the bill, which after 5 months of arguing, they paid. It wasn't the money, it was the principle if that makes sense.

Useless people, which is forgivable, but when that's combined with overt arrogance, that's unforgivable.

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.
  • Registered: 2008-06-16
  • Posts: 4,021

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

also done with them as far as guitars go. I bought 2 from them, one was also the Epi LP. Son and I later went back to have ZW EMGs put in and they would not touch it, thank God! I found another store, not GC, and they put them in for virtually nothing. Then our Line 6 spidyvalve lost a knob, only like 3 months old, and they would not touch it either. Instead they referred us to a factory authorized repair shop, which was OK since in the same area. It seems they are good if you need to buy strings. To give you an indication, my son got a gift certificate for XMAS, and he needs several sets of new strings. He has yet to darken their door and use that thing. I wanted a copy of the original guitar I had in college, 72 Tele Thinline pictured here, so I went somewhere else and bought it. I was not comfortable giving them a special order and hoping they got it right.

As corn through a goose, so are the days of our lives
  • Registered: 2009-12-20
  • Posts: 155

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

I too am sick and tired of guitar center. Worst employees I've ever seen at the one around here. I've had one walk up to me before and just poke enormous fun at me, god knows why, being like "Hey MAN, what can I do for you, MAN, what's up, MAN?", all in like one or two breaths, then ran off before I could say anything and started giggling with his buddy. Another time I was playing some Stevie, some Hendrix, etc through a marshall combo, checking out the Gibson SG, at a volume that I was hearing comfortably (Y'know, that level where even if you play as hard as you can, it's pretty quiet), and one comes over to me and tells me to turn it down, when there's some idiot on the other side of the store *blasting* out Metallica and the likes, who has nothing said to him. The place *demolishes* the little stores around who are actually credible and care. I've never purchased from guitar center, and these incidents, as well as the stuff I'm reading on here, simply confirm my decision in that smile Support the lil' guys!

Guitars - Cheapo "Jay Turser"
A beautiful Blue guitar made by "Agile"
2009 Fender American Standard Stratocaster - Olympic White, Maple Wood Fretboard
1994 Blue Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite, Black-Chrome Hardware
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

I've had simlar problems with them.  I bought a EC signature model one time and everytime you touch the pickguard on them you could hear the static pop on the plastic come through the amp.  you couldn't play it with your hand touching the pickguard.  I drove 1 hour to the store I bought it from just to be told that is a normal thing that nothing was wrong.  Turns out Fender doesn't fully sheild those one ply pickguards and any time you touched it the static pop would be there.  Solution put copper tap on the back of the pickguard or a 60's full sized sheild.  But nobody could give me a reason or a fix for this.  If I buy anything from now on its ususally online and know all the issues like that before hand.  I had only played guitar for 2 years back then but knew that wasn't right...  I had to buy a book on guitar repair to ever figure out how to fix my poor EC Strat.  Its gone now but after I fixed it I told myself Never again to listen to the repair guys at big stores again.

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  • Registered: 2009-01-16
  • Posts: 291

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

that sucks you guys have all had such bad experiences with them..........i live in Michigan and every time i have been to the local Guitar Center all the employees have been cool and very helpful.........

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

"SO - they call me the next day, and say that it won't fit... but I know it will. I had the stock toggle in the case already detached. When they called me, the tech said he found an epi switch in his toolbox and soldered that in for me. I'm like "didn't you check the case?" I already have one of those? I could've soldered mine back in for free."

    Okay, you asked them to put a $25.00 (?!?) Switch in and they said they would. Then, they didn't do it. Okay, didn't fit, whatever. A real Tech would be able to do it. But, you were at GC, so...........

    Now, here's the rub: They did some work you didn't approve? I don't think you owe them any $$$$ at all. They should have called/emailed/whatever you and asked FIRST before doing any unauthorized work.
    Sounds like the guy there wanted to make sure you had a working Instrument and found a Switch of his own to make sure you were ready to go. So, basically it sounds like they WERE trying to take care of you. No nefarious motives, etc.

    BUT, that's just basic business 101. They should have contacted you to ask first. And seriously, making a different Switch fit would be pain. Probably needs to be routed out to fit the new Switch. BUT AGAIN, they have a STORE FULL OF PARTS! And.......The "Tech" is doing this for money. i.e. He's a "Professional". So, he should behave like one.

    Anyway, that's what we get with stores that are Bottom Dollar mindset. And we've all patronized them. So, real "expertise" needs to be found elsewhere. And it'll probably cost more, nowadays.

    Bottom line: If you're really upset, you shouldn't have to pay anything for the work/parts. It was unauthorized. However, is this the Hill you want to die on? Pick your battles.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
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  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
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  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

Being in an independent technical service business, customer care is top priority. I charge 20% more than my competitors and back our work 100%. If you are not satisfied in any way, you should contact the manager immediately and get it rectified. If a tech of mine acted the way you describe, he would be looking for another job. Several I have fired in the past are working for my competitors.  smile
Rick

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  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

:s some people are total wastes of air.... However you do get that in every walk of life (try liasing with BT (british telecom) and you will be instantly baffled at how 90% got a job, then every now and then you come across 1 super helpful person that goes out of his/her way). Some peoples take pride in there work and some simply dont...

But to just point something out, the Epi Les Pauls are measured in metric... Gibbos are in imperial.... so the switchcraft switch wouldnt of fit with out 1) filing couple of mm from the switch hole and basically being really tidy with wiring (the switch is alot longer than the epi switch)... But I managed to do it on my first wiring job, I put masking take over the hole got an imperial drill piece in the right size and worked it by hand till it came through, so I'm sure a trained tech could...

  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

If you want real mexican food; then don't go to Taco Bell.  Just sayin'  wink

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

Guitar Centers are hit or miss, never go on a weekend if you want to buy something because it seems they have every **** they can find on the floor, telling most people the wrong info. I have corrected a few. There are some good ones I get to know those guys and only buy from them but I don't often buy there. ALso don't go to GC to get repair work done, I have watch those guys hack up some nice guitars really sad.

There are some great shops in AZ and a few real shitty places. When I was on the quest for a Les Paul I went to one place that had a Les paul standard with the faded finish used for $1100 nice guitar good price. I went back the next day with my wife ready to buy price tag was $1600! I asked the guy at the counter about the guitar and he said that is the new price but we could work a deal if you want it. The guy never got up from the counter because he was talking to his buddy and only approched me when I headded for the door asking if I wanted to buy it. No thanks I got one somewhere else where people give a **##....Hell I bought it online and got better customer service!

So these things happen everywhere.

  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

Guitar Center is a Mass Merchant, Mass Merchants can't afford to have/pay for overly knowledgable staff, otherwise their overhead/price increases, which is not their structure, nor why you go their- it'a no different then Wal-Mart, etc.  When going into a Guitar Center, you should know what you want and know you'll get a fair price and thats it.  Do your homeowork first!!

Why would anyone go through GC for tech needs, all they do is farm out virtually everything to local techs.  All guitar players of any level should find and qualify their own local tech.  Bottom line, no guitar comes set-up perfectly at factory level and is pure luck if you buy a new Fender or Gibson Custom Shop guitar for thousands and it is. I bring every guitar to my tech, who has my data or "DNA" on how I like my guitars set-up, I just drop and go.

If you require good solid information/help from store level, then drive a distance to a guitar botique store, they normally have higher end products and more knowledgable staff.

Sorry, any complaints about product not being right at GC or less then knowledgeable staff is your fault, I hear people complain all the time that; "I bought a $2K Strat and I shouldn't had needed to get it set-up, that's not right, #*^@"...........remember where you're going.....a Mass Merchant Retailer Look, if you call Two Rock, Joe or one of the boys get's on the tele with you and can pass down importannt info on what amp to get based on what you shared with them, yes they're $4-5k, but this is part of the service that you're pay for...are their amps worth it to the average folk, probably not, but for the playaz that can drop that coin like $5.00 pint of beer, it's worth it as a whole package- Just an example.

Sorry for the rant!!

13 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2010-03-26 22:46:28)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

ALL true.

I do have a trusted luthier. And there's no way I'd drop off my '73 LP Custom or my '79 Explorer at Guitar Center.

I simply bought a Gibson switchcraft to put into my CraigsList Epi Les Paul. No big risk. Didn't think I'd have to jump through hoops. Plus the tech should have "known" if the switch wasn't going to work before opening it and gooing solder all over it. I'm not the first person ever that wanted this I'm sure.

I ended up getting a refund on the part, but the "service" fee I couldn't get back. I consider that a Lesson fee now.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

14 Reply by Chris Martins (edited by Chris Martins 2010-03-26 16:22:23)

  • Registered: 2009-11-24
  • Posts: 94

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

How about that one... We have the same sort of store around here... About a year ago, I'm out of new string packs, so I go to this shop. I ask for the usual I use which was 10-52 d'addario's at the time. The salesman's answer : this gauge does not even exist, man....

Right... I've only been using those since before you were even born kid...

But the kid wouldn't even check... I left without buying anything...

  • Registered: 2009-12-20
  • Posts: 155

Re: Frustrated with Guitar Center

Makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only one with bad experiences with them smile

Guitars - Cheapo "Jay Turser"
A beautiful Blue guitar made by "Agile"
2009 Fender American Standard Stratocaster - Olympic White, Maple Wood Fretboard
1994 Blue Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite, Black-Chrome Hardware