i just called about getting some thicker gauge strings for my new bass and they were trying to sell me a fucking 5 string over the phone instead of actually helping me out.

Me: i was wondering if you have thicker than normal gauge bass strings for a 4 string in stock
Assclown at GC: we have 45-110 but why would you want those?
Me: because i tune down to C on the E string and need a thicker gauge in order for it to not sound like a wet noodle
Asshole: if your gonna tune that low with a 4 string, you should get a 5 string instead.
Me: well i dont want another 5 string... i just bought a new Fende...
Dickwad: *interrupts me* I mean if you're gonna go that low, a 5 string would be your best bet. when you put 115 gauge on, you have the chance of warping your neck and stuff
Me: im not getting the strings to play in regular tuning, im getting them to play in drop C... the string isnt going to be ti...
Fuckface: *interrupts me again* right but you still pose the risk... you should get a 5 string set and experiment with that, but you should really consider a 5 string bass.
Me: yes, i have one and i just traded another in... you know... forget it... how about a new neck for an ibanez sr485?
Moron: yeah... i would have to order it from the factory and i dont know how much that would run... i have only ordered a neck once and it was for a fender strat so...
Me: ok... thanks for nothing *click*


so i called Daddy's in Burlington right after and the guy was more than helpful. he even made fun of GC with me. it was funny. i knew the GC guy was bullshitting me, so i even asked the guy at Daddy's if putting a 115 or 110 gauge E string would fuck up my bass and the guy was like "with any new string set up, you would have to mess around with the intonation and whatnot to get it right... it wouldnt put your bass in any more danger than a standard set would."

"Fuck Guitar Center"

Thats what I said. So, I bought my guitar elswhere and found out that company was bought out by Guitar Center.
Fuck Fuck Fuck!
In the end the bastards got my dough anyways!
Can't win.

http://www.returntothepit.com/view.php?formid=36304#538836

total bullshit! I get 130 gauge GHS boomers for my ernie ball four string and tune that shit down to B. does the neck warp? nope. does it sound mad heavy and sick? you bet.

oh and i left out the part where he said "well at that point you should really think about getting a bass EQ... you know...for that nice low end...."

thegreatspaldino said:

a-hahaha!

i'm suprised he didn't start offering a nice compression module or a noise gate or maybe a new pair of platinum plated cables.

man... still mad about this, haha... yesterday i was trying to go to local stores to get the strings, but most locals stores dont carry 5 string packs nor do they carry anything over standard gauge. so after trying to be "quick and easy" yesterday... i was setting up my "attack" for after work string shopping. so fucking aggravating.

rock city in somerville is where i go. its a five minute walk from my house and its a total shrine to all things bass.

i have been there ONCE and was completely amazed by the quality of bass stuff they had. multiple Tobias and Modulus basses new and used... thats all i needed to see. some really nice older fenders too that were like 800+ bucks.

doesn't this guy at GC you were talking to know that a lot of people don't like to play five string basses?

the guy should of atleast helped you out then say "but hey you ever think of getting a five string?"

yeah... i dont NEED a 5 string for a slam/death band. thats kind of why i bought a 4 string. granted i dont need fretless... but yeah. this bass kills. i was gonna get the fretted version, but fretless was just too fun. not to mention the possibility of flatwounds... *drools* if this bass doesnt work out for Dysentery, i always have my Ibanez that i can get fixed...

careful with the big gauge flatwounds. they kind of sound 'chimey' but they will last forever.

well i wouldnt use flatwounds in a death metal band ( i like my tone to be similar to Severe Torture's bassist or Alex Webster's "Tomb" and "Bleeding" tone)... but flatwounds in a more melodic kind of metal band would be great.

That's the way to treat a customer.

yeah... if you want the business to go bankrupt

The #1 rule when shopping @ Guitar Center. Allways remember that your sales jockey is a SALESMAN first, and a musician second. They go to meetings and are given handouts that basically teach them "who cares what EXACTLY the customer wants, get them to buy this". If you understand this, this will help you deal with them, and get what you want and out of the store without them trying to sell you something you DONT need.

i forget what it was that i was buying at the natick guitar center, but some dude was making suggestions as he was failing at finding what i specifically wanted. he said "well if you're going to spend the money, you might as well buy a cadillac you know? who wants to buy a fixer-upper and put all that time, frustration and money into it when you could just get the best right now?" it was the dumbest analogy ever, so i just said "i don't want a cadillac, i want a toyota. can i have a toyota?" and he didn't understand.

the one good thing that the natick guitar center did for me was put my name in the system as james brown, so whenever i come in they ask me to dance for them and hit my wife.

I stay out of GC, only cuz there are none close to me, but when I do go to GC or Daddy's, I tell the guy straight up front, what I am there for.
If he tries a pitch on me, I will shoot him out of the fucking sky by saying something like:
"I already told you why Im here" or
" Thats very nice, and Im very proud of you, but thats not *blank"

I find that pre empted condesention, works very well.
If they dont like it, sucks.

I only went to GC when I had friends working at them. That way I could visit them...and hit them up on their employee discounts.

For strings, the best way to go is with an online website.

Many have free shipping, no sales tax, and their prices are cheaper than guitar center.

I used to get 5 string elixir packs offline for 19 bucks.

also, The first time I bought my crate amp there, the guy asked me if I wanted the extended warranty, I said no and he said 'man, what are you stupid'.

So I asked him for my credit card and left the building.

The second time I tried buying that amp, the son of a bitch sold me a re-packed floor model that didn't come with the casters, footswitch, or speaker cable for full price.


The third time I went to Blue and realized it's what I should have done the first time.

i bought a mesa triple rec from there, which proceeded to stop working within two weeks.

FuckIsMySignature said:

rule of thumb for guitarists... dont buy triple recs. i know someone that has one and he blows a tube pretty much every other show. the other guitarist in his band bought one too and same shit happened to him. he returned it... i think the first guy i mentioned still has his.

oh and i was willing to drive like an hour to get these strings... i needed them tonight so... yeah.. ordering online wasnt an option

Niccolai said:


hahaha the look on that guys face must have been priceless. instead of shutting up and getting his commission on the sale he had to try and pressure you so that he could make a few extra bucks....but then because he was a dick he loses the whole sale and all the commission. hahah. commission is supposed to make salespeople MORE friendly and helpful as they try to make sales but instead it makes them more pushy and annoying.

thegreatspaldino said:


I bought it thinking it was like the cadillac of amps cause i was sick of getting shit that fell apart. Not impressed.

ive been to guitar center once. didnt buy anything, but some dick tried to sell me that crazy $8,000,000 eric clapton guitar.

GC in Natick is filled with scum.

I just order everything online and pay 50-60% the price I'd pay at some of these stores. I might go in to the stores for some strings and picks or to ninja-grope a particular guitar, that's about it.