where should i buy my guitar?

[seth_southerland]

I read on here that a lot of people have had trouble with Guitar Center and that they don't recommend buying from there. If not from there, where? There are a couple of small shops nearby, should I see if they can order one of the guitars that I want for me? Is there a reliable web site that I can buy one from? (Although I don't want to pay shipping so I probably wouldn't do that unless there was some great benefit from that seller)

[6_strings_for_life]

If those small shops are not an authorized dealer of the brand you are seeking, sometimes they order off musiciansfriend, or a similar site. So with that in mind, id say just shop around, go everywhere you can and try as many as you can, and go from there.

[Kahn]

Authorized small shops with Luthiers on the wrok force, not just dumb high school graduates are the best IMO

[seth_southerland]

sounds like some good advice there on both counts

the guitar that i found that i'd like to get is the schecter c1 blackjack

unfortunately there isn't a dealer within 100 miles of me

i suppose a good thing that makes it all ok is that i'm not going to get it right away because i've got other things to take care of first, but when the time comes i'll hit the two aforementioned shops and see if they can help out, but if not i'll just have to hit the nearest GC

[Grachi]

Authorized small shops with Luthiers on the wrok force, not just dumb high school graduates are the best IMO

i go to a place that you describe. The guys are all at least 40 and they definately know what they are doing. It's a primarily guitar place but they sell electronics (DJ stuff), keyboards, drums, and basses too. They have probably 20 employees i'd say, but their acoustic department is upstairs (the shop was converted from an old house) and is nice cause its away from all the noise downstairs.

Anyway, more importantly, they have three or 4 luthiers and one I had work on my guitar does really good work. He was really cool too, really nice guy who knew more about guitar then i knew about any one thing. So yea I agree if you can find the local music store kind of stores instead of the chain-stores like Guitar Center or around here there is Brighton, you'll find better quality among the employees, and actual guitar experts as well.

[taylordb]

If those small shops are not an authorized dealer of the brand you are seeking, sometimes they order off musiciansfriend, or a similar site. So with that in mind, id say just shop around, go everywhere you can and try as many as you can, and go from there.

Actually, musiciansfriend is owned by Guitar Center. Same company.

[lakerhoc1121]

guitar center is pretty sweet... i bought mine from there and i had a loose bolt on it and they repaired it than put on new strings for no extra charge just because i bought the guitar there

[RunsWithBuffalo]

I anually rape guitar center because of their price match guarantee. Go on the internet and find the lowest price you can, print it out and take it in. If you can negotiate at all, you can usually get the price if not better. They work on comission and are very eager to sell.

Just don't expect a lot of technical knowledge partly because they are in high school and partly because they carry a lot of shit. Also try to feel out the staff, sometimes they do have good employees working there, you just have to find them.