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> Maybe guitar stores should start tossing in a free set of good strings with every new purchase. This would keep the complaints down, I think. Long term, a gui
by cyberferret 10y ago
> Maybe guitar stores should start tossing in a free set of good strings with every new purchase. This would keep the complaints down, I think. Long term, a guitarist will keep going back for the good string as well.
This is happening because of the death of the 'mom and pop' music stores and the rise of the big chain retailers.
Back when I started playing (>40 years ago) the stores I used to go into used to replace the strings, and setup the guitar for whoever bought it. They even used to offer the first one or two string changes for free (just buy the strings, and they would put it on).
Quite often, they would have a guitar teacher or two working out of a room in the store, so that new buyers could tee up some lessons (or get a free trial lesson). It was a good symbiotic relationship backed up by good old fashioned service.
Unfortunately, the ease of buying good guitars online anonymously has changed the landscape a lot.
- dizzystar 10y agoEven 10 years ago, it was pretty easy to find mom-and-pop shops in LA. There was even a few that had in-house luthiers, but I don't know of any like that these days. I now live in Austin and there is a healthy amount of small shops around town who carry a decent selection* of guitars made by local luthiers along with big brands, plus the strings are half-priced. *I'm assuming they are decent. I play left-handed, so can't speak of the quality.