Guitar Center files for Bankruptcy

Have always felt this niche is somewhat unsuited for big box, specifically GC. I’ve been playing for 20 years and have never entered a GC nor purchased anything. Don’t see the appeal of going to a mall every time I need strings with crazy markup.

I about shite a brick when a new Guitar Center opened in my city last fall. I thought they were on their last legs 5 years ago, couldn't believe they were still opening B&M locations.

Guitar Center bought up all of the local competitors around Baton Rouge, so they’re the only game in town. Their repair shop sucks, and is always slow and backed up. During Covid, they wouldn’t allow more than like 3 people in the store at a time, so you’d have to que up outside and wait in line for an hour in the sun before you could come in, then you couldn’t try anything to decide what you wanted, only grab what you came for and GTFO. F$&k them. I go to Guitar Center specifically because I DON’T know exactly what I want, and I need to try out a few options before I decide what to buy, or because I need something that day. If I knew what I wanted, I’d buy online. If I need something that day, I probably can’t afford to wait in line for an hour just to get inside.

I’m hoping that guitar center gets bought out and survives in some brick and mortar form, because otherwise, they will literally leave a giant void in the music supply market in my area. I’m also concerned that a guitar center bankruptcy court drag down Fender and many other great brands with it. However, I do hope that bankruptcy results in me being able to pick up a bunch of merchandise for cheap. I would love to be able to score a really nice acoustic electric with a cutaway, a 12 string, a baritone guitar, a big seminhollow-body gresch, shite ton of high end effects pedals, etc for cheap.

They bought all the local shops. If gc goes down, so do they.

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They were struggling before covid. Kids don't want to work to play music when they can just create some digital beats.

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Counterpoint:
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This has more to do with the debt GC has been saddled with for years. At this point, they aren't going under. This version of bankruptcy provides some protection from creditors so they can reorganize and have a chance to survive.

They do need to make some big changes in their business for sure. I expect them to close a lot of stores and consolidate them. I live in West Los Angeles and there are TEN GCs within 30 miles of me. I won't be surprised if 5 or more close as part of the reorganization.

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They bought all the local shops. If gc goes down, so do they.

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Nah..instruments will make a comeback.




FretShack moves into numero uno

Yeh, I have heard good things about the Fret Shack from friends in BR. Unfortunately, I don't live there anymore. Fill that void baw.

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I went into Guitar Center a few months ago to look for a potential guitar on the low end. I was looking at an SG and some others like it and the guy tells me unless I’m buying a guitar that day,

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Not unique to GC. One of our local shops pulled the same shite on me of a PRS Santana SE like 15 years ago. Had the money in my pocket and showed him after he gave me shite. Ended up buying from Musician's Friend.

I try to shop and buy local but frick them. One of the other guitar shops we had was ridiculously helpful when I bought an amp a couple years later. shite seriously comes down to employees.

I live in NW Houston and I like the local GC. Daughter (no pics) takes lessons from a really good teacher that’s helped her make incredible progress, and they set up “recitals” to let the kids play that are tons of fun.

They are pretty cool about letting you play with stuff as long as you put it back and aren’t banging it around or cranking the amps up to 10. Their used selection turns over pretty quick and always seems to have something interesting, rare or exotic.

They went way overboard with the Covid crap and lessons haven’t been in person since April - thus I haven’t set foot in the store. I hope they get back to normal. It was one place I looked forward to going to each week.