Guitar Center To Start Pedal Modding?

[PDGoss]

GC went to hell after Bain bought them.

On the modded pedal note, I suspect they will be (if this indeed factual) offering things such as the GC Specific Love Pedal and other predominant mods that are already built or perhaps prefabricated kits; much like the Gilmour EMG PUP set in the pick guard that you install yourself.

They offer "luthier" services, but aren't allowed to perform certain full blown luithier tasks such as re-fret jobs etc. due to the liability and secondly time constraints that would take away from pumping out re-strings, pup swaps and the like.

That being taken into account, I am highly doubtful that you would ever be able to walk into a GC with a DS-1 and request a Seeing Eye Mod.

My .02.

[Thecomedian]

The DIYers will probably be disappointed in what "pedal modding" by guitar center means. GC nearest to me frequently doesn't have even basic replacement parts in stock, like blend pots. They do have an awful lot of amps, huge ones, like the 3-4 foot tall kind. Other than that, it's got an okay selection of guitars,  a half size selection of basses, and a room devoted to keyboards and another for percussion instruments like drum/bongo, but that's about it. the next GC 50 miles away actually has a glass door room for some expensive model guitars and basses, and seems to have a sparse keyboard/drum selection. Then there's the Army Surplus store thats at least near me, but it only sells instruments, no pedals or replacement parts. When GC goes, I'm almost certain that, barring internet sales, getting a guitar and parts for guitars will be extremely difficult locally.

[Paul Marossy]

On the modded pedal note, I suspect they will be (if this indeed factual) offering things such as the GC Specific Love Pedal and other predominant mods that are already built or perhaps prefabricated kits; much like the Gilmour EMG PUP set in the pick guard that you install yourself.

Here is a copy of the email I received Tuesday morning: http://www.diyguitarist.com/PDF_Files/GC_PedalMods.pdf

[Thecomedian]

maybe a bit unrelated, but if an employer said "hey theres this water tornado going on outside, but you still need to come to work", I'd ring them up and tell them noone's going to come in to buy anything and if you think keeping a store open during that time is good marketing or safe, you can go **** yourselves.

Pretty mysterious email. I'm assuming it's simple things like changing the transistor value, or pot values.

GC went to hell after Bain bought them.

It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan... to ruin walk-in shopping.

[Thecomedian]

Music retail and manufacturing are in a rough patch .
A lot of these big companies are tied to each other. A hefty percentage of fender's output is sold thru GC, fender is reportedly having financial issues. Mesa amps did not have a booth at NAMM for the first time in decades this year.

So do you think that sales of products as a whole is down or just that Guitar Center is a problem for the manufacturers?

its a problem stemming from the manufacturers. GC is contractually obligated to buy a certain number of strats, teles, JM's, deluxe reverbs, hot rods, etc. every new model year whether GC thinks they can sell them all off at their preferred price or not. its the old way of doing things and they are now learning like everyone else that the old way of doing things doesnt work anymore, hence why they are getting creative. and oh yeah, the CEO of GC used to work for Fender!! HA! i refuse to buy music gear of any kind new. theres so much on ebay and craigslist at a steep discount "like new". bring back the mom and pop music stores!!

You know, that brings to mind the concept of rarity. What happens when you print too much money? Each individual bill loses worth. What happens when you make too many strats on your assembly line? the Ebay and Craiglists of the world are flooded with resales at steep discounts, preventing you from making any money.

I think it's a twofold problem of businesses wanting to continue expanding beyond the saturation point, as well as the array of needed items going beyond the capability of a store's stocking.

In the future, all stores will just be kiosks where you talk to an individual who helps you use a virtual environment to emulate a product's behavior, then you fill out an order and you can have it shipped either to your house or to the store for pick up.

[Paul Marossy]

In the future, all stores will just be kiosks where you talk to an individual who helps you use a virtual environment to emulate a product's behavior, then you fill out an order and you can have it shipped either to your house or to the store for pick up.

Huh, you just kind of described Guitar Center!

You go there, they don't have it, you order it, then pick it up. 

[wavley]

maybe a bit unrelated, but if an employer said "hey theres this water tornado going on outside, but you still need to come to work", I'd ring them up and tell them noone's going to come in to buy anything and if you think keeping a store open during that time is good marketing or safe, you can go **** yourselves.

I agree, but as I was told "So you're quitting?"  You see since the sales staff is on a draw it doesn't cost GC anything to staff a store in the off chance somebody wants to buy a guitar, also they get to keep a bigger part of your commission check which keeps you hungry to make up for it.

GC went to hell after Bain bought them.

It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan... to ruin walk-in shopping.
[/quote]

It went to hell long before then.

[Mark Hammer]

On the modded pedal note, I suspect they will be (if this indeed factual) offering things such as the GC Specific Love Pedal and other predominant mods that are already built or perhaps prefabricated kits; much like the Gilmour EMG PUP set in the pick guard that you install yourself.

Here is a copy of the email I received Tuesday morning: http://www.diyguitarist.com/PDF_Files/GC_PedalMods.pdf

Well THAT was informative!    Looks like they don't really have much idea themselves of what it entails.

[Paul Marossy]

Ha ha, yeah, I think corporate is out of touch with reality.

[Thecomedian]

maybe a bit unrelated, but if an employer said "hey theres this water tornado going on outside, but you still need to come to work", I'd ring them up and tell them noone's going to come in to buy anything and if you think keeping a store open during that time is good marketing or safe, you can go **** yourselves.

I agree, but as I was told "So you're quitting?"  You see since the sales staff is on a draw it doesn't cost GC anything to staff a store in the off chance somebody wants to buy a guitar, also they get to keep a bigger part of your commission check which keeps you hungry to make up for it.

GC went to hell after Bain bought them.

It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan... to ruin walk-in shopping.

It went to hell long before then.
[/quote]

I'm sorry it happened to you, but this is a good story for showing anyone that quitting is a better option to losing a body part and then getting fired from the job without compensation for injury..

[Electron Tornado]

I agree, to make the pedal modding thing work, GC has to find someone local, or at least regional who can do pedal work. If it's mostly a ship it out to a repair site scheme, it's not going to last. It's going to cost more due to shipping, and turnaround times have to be that much faster, or the service loses value. If GC tried to stay local, then quality is likely to vary widely. Up here, GC farms out a lot of guitar work to a local place, which then generates business for at least one of the other local guitar shops here fixing what GC's place did. I imagine the same will happen with pedals.

On the bright side, this can be looked at as an opportunity for anyone who can do quality repair and mod work. You can approach your local GC and ask if they have or need someone local who can do pedal work. If they say no, then hang out a shingle - online and in the local music press - and you will very likely out compete GC on both cost and service.

[Paul Marossy]

I think this whole idea will be in the same category as when Fender tried going with solid state amps after CBS bought out Leo...

[Jdansti]

its a problem stemming from the manufacturers. GC is contractually obligated to buy a certain number of strats, teles, JM's, deluxe reverbs, hot rods, etc. every new model year whether GC thinks they can sell them all off at their preferred price or not. its the old way of doing things and they are now learning like everyone else that the old way of doing things doesnt work anymore, hence why they are getting creative. and oh yeah, the CEO of GC used to work for Fender!! HA! i refuse to buy music gear of any kind new. theres so much on ebay and craigslist at a steep discount "like new". bring back the mom and pop music stores!!

I know about the obligation to buy certain quantities when I used to know the owner of a small music store. So the problem for GC is that people aren't buying the products then, and GC takes a loss. Makes sense.

After MF/GC came to town, every single mom and pop store here except one or two went broke. I am still irritated about that after all this time. I used to get some great deals at one of these places that doesn't exist now. 

The old guy that owns a little guitar shop where I live (the store is called "Guitar Stringer" and his last name really is "Stringer"!) told me that when he makes a deal with any manufacturer, they not only require him to buy a certain amount of guitars, but he also had to buy a bunch of the company's peripheral stuff like straps, cables, string sets, picks, etc. A lot of it is inferior quality and he gets stuck with it.

[Thecomedian]

its a problem stemming from the manufacturers. GC is contractually obligated to buy a certain number of strats, teles, JM's, deluxe reverbs, hot rods, etc. every new model year whether GC thinks they can sell them all off at their preferred price or not. its the old way of doing things and they are now learning like everyone else that the old way of doing things doesnt work anymore, hence why they are getting creative. and oh yeah, the CEO of GC used to work for Fender!! HA! i refuse to buy music gear of any kind new. theres so much on ebay and craigslist at a steep discount "like new". bring back the mom and pop music stores!!

I know about the obligation to buy certain quantities when I used to know the owner of a small music store. So the problem for GC is that people aren't buying the products then, and GC takes a loss. Makes sense.

After MF/GC came to town, every single mom and pop store here except one or two went broke. I am still irritated about that after all this time. I used to get some great deals at one of these places that doesn't exist now. 

The old guy that owns a little guitar shop where I live (the store is called "Guitar Stringer" and his last name really is "Stringer"!) told me that when he makes a deal with any manufacturer, they not only require him to buy a certain amount of guitars, but he also had to buy a bunch of the company's peripheral stuff like straps, cables, string sets, picks, etc. A lot of it is inferior quality and he gets stuck with it.

sounds like he needs to find a good online wholesaler and only do buy-backs for instruments. Theres always rich kids out there getting gear from their parents and then abandoning it.

[PDGoss]

Just found this on GC's site about GC Garage
http://www.guitarcenter.com/GC-Garage-Home-g26501t0.gc

As far as the corporate side of GC is concerned... I'll spare you all the hate laden profanity and disdainful diatribe that would ensue; it isn't worth the effort and a futile.

The GC here provides "Luthier" services, but they don't shell out near $12K to send the employee designate to get bona fide luthier certification like I did for my son; they go to a class presented by GC for a week or two and that's about it. I've had to repair (and my son as well) work performed by previous GC employees that held the position.

So if that's any indication as to the quality of service that will be provided... DOA.

I'm going to talk to the manager (good friend and I do his personal repairs and restorations) at the GC here and find out what the scoop is and let you all know what I find out.

[drewl]

That was dated 2011 Goss!

I'll have to see if the local GC does any repair work and if so who does it.

The local Sam Ash was sending it's repair work to a local repair shop set up by a friend of an ex co-worker.
That was like 10yrs ago, I'll have to see if that's still the case.

[Paul Marossy]

The GC here provides "Luthier" services, but they don't shell out near $12K to send the employee designate to get bona fide luthier certification like I did for my son; they go to a class presented by GC for a week or two and that's about it. I've had to repair (and my son as well) work performed by previous GC employees that held the position.

So if that's any indication as to the quality of service that will be provided... DOA.

That's exactly what I expect to see - people getting their pedals back DOA, or with the LED not working anymore, maybe not even the pedal they sent in, or something along those lines.

[facon]

GC pedal modding makes sense if you're the type of person to bring your guitar to them to have it setup. I'd imagine they're going to have some standards of what can and can't be modded along with detailed instructions on the mods they offer. There are a lot of qualified people around here looking for work that I'm sure could fill the spots.

[DougH]

So now the kid with the black shoe polish in his hair, dark eyeliner and ring through his nose is going to point to a TS9 and say, "D00D, it needs more germanium"...

Bain has had GC's head on the chopping block for a few years now. This is an eleventh hour call to the governor while they are sharpening the axe.

[andrewgf]

If it's anything like their guitar repair services, it won't last.  I used to work at a Sam Ash that was right next to a GC, and they loved to flaunt their "professional" luthier. I worked on quite a few instruments fixing his "pro" setups.  Made some extra money doing it, but hated that this dude right next door was ripping people off so badly.