Took the "band" to GC today...

[LP_Fan]

We visit our local music store quite often but the selection is pretty limited and rarely turns over anything new so I loaded up my son's "band" and went to GC in KC.

My son (13), another guitar player buddy (13), and a 13 yr old girl that is their "lead singer". No drummer. It's kinda funny but I give them an "A" for effort. They jam quite a bit and try to cover songs they know the girl can sing.

Anyway, they made camp next to a Peavey Vyper Combo and a Raven 100W Combo and started playing everything I'd let them touch. I wouldn't let them touch the $3799 Gibby's but they had their run of the place for the most part. My son fell in love with a Gibson SG Faded Special. He's GAS-ing for one now even though he has a Epiphone SG. The sustain was ridiculously long on the Gibson. Also checked out the Seagull acoustics that I'd heard about on here and was VERY impressed for the $$$.

I was amazed how good they sounded playing Cashmere, and Skynryd's Tuesday's Gone. They gathered a small crowd every now and then but I didn't know whether to be proud or embarrassed that they were taking over that section of the store. LOL. We were there for 2 hours and I felt bad so I bought a ten pack of strings, a glass slide, some picks and a capo.

They really loved the Gibson V's, Explorers and SG's. I guess they're MLP influenced cuz they were totally not impressed with any strat they tried. All the Gibson LP's they tried were set up so badly they sounded terrible or weren't really playable. One Classic Custom had the strings touching the bridge PU... Probably from bastards like me bringing his kids in to thrash the demo guitars. LOL.... but how do you know if you like something unless you play it.

Anyway, they had a great time. Came home and jammed for 2 more hours and drove Mom crazy. The guys at GC were very nice and nobody gave us dirty looks or anything, which surprised me. I DID make sure they were careful, respectful and kept the volume down though.

[diceman]

I have an SG Faded - they are great for the money. Xmas is just around the corner, eh, Pop?

My boys are still too young for serious guitars (ages 4 and 6 - they both have "their sized" guitars, though). I'm looking forward to them getting old enough to actually jam with me!

[LP_Fan]

Originally Posted by diceman

I have an SG Faded - they are great for the money. Xmas is just around the corner, eh, Pop?

My boys are still too young for serious guitars (ages 4 and 6 - they both have "their sized" guitars, though). I'm looking forward to them getting old enough to actually jam with me!

Exactly what he said to me! LOL. It is fun jamming with them but I'm still so bad they have me play the same bass chord over and over. I guess that how you learn though.

[Jody]

Sounds great ,,Im glad they had a good time...
( By the way it sounds,You had just as much fun )..

[LP_Fan]

Originally Posted by jodymauk

Sounds great ,,Im glad they had a good time...
( By the way it sounds,You had just as much fun )..

Hey Jody!

Yep they had a blast. I guess I did too. Compared specs on amps and price shopped a bunch and just listened to some good old Rock N Roll!

[Jody]

Nothing wrong with that....
Nothing at all..

[Boleskinehouse]

Pretty cool to read a positive GC story.

Nice that you guys had fun.

[Jody]

Thats is a pretty decent store..
Thats the one I stop in at when Im up that way...

[Jody]

Wichita's Sux...Ive been in bigger Auto parts stores...

[LP_Fan]

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

Pretty cool to read a positive GC story.

Nice that you guys had fun.

It was good. Jody's right. It's a pretty good store. BIG selection and the guitar guys anyway, knew their shit. Unlike some stories I've read on here. They could play too, which surprised me.

[guitarbob123]

cashmere??
haven't heard it before

[LP_Fan]

Originally Posted by guitarbob123

cashmere??
haven't heard it before

Some English band... One hit wonder I guess?

[Fracture]

Cashmere?

They make nice sweaters and overcoats.
I think it's a type of wul.

[guitarbob123]

could be kashmir now i think about it.
sorry about that

[snaredrum]

maybe cashmere sounds like the sweater song by weezer

and there's my daily bad joke allowance all used up. it was worth it

[snaredrum]

also your trip to GC sounds awesome - when i was that age, we were barely even allowed IN the local music shop, never mind having a jam session

[GibsonByBirth]

Originally Posted by LP_Fan

Anyway, they had a great time. Came home and jammed for 2 more hours and drove Mom crazy. The guys at GC were very nice and nobody gave us dirty looks or anything, which surprised me. I DID make sure they were careful, respectful and kept the volume down though.

There was no horror story about GC here. Which is what I've come to expect. Great uplift for my morning thanx for sharing.

[dspelman]

Originally Posted by LP_Fan

They really loved the Gibson V's, Explorers and SG's. I guess they're MLP influenced cuz they were totally not impressed with any strat they tried. All the Gibson LP's they tried were set up so badly they sounded terrible or weren't really playable. One Classic Custom had the strings touching the bridge PU... Probably from bastards like me bringing his kids in to thrash the demo guitars. LOL.... but how do you know if you like something unless you play it.

Anyway, they had a great time. Came home and jammed for 2 more hours and drove Mom crazy. The guys at GC were very nice and nobody gave us dirty looks or anything, which surprised me. I DID make sure they were careful, respectful and kept the volume down though.

On the one hand, "how do you know if you like something unless you play it." On the other hand, "All the Gibson LPs they tried were set up so badly they sounded terrible or weren't really playable." That's pretty much the long and short of why I generally don't buy guitars at a GC.

I *love* to see a parent watching his/her kids play guitar at a GC. Depending on the parent, you'll sometimes see some great pride crossing their features. Sometimes a bit of fear after a glance at the price tag, coupled with some squinting at the wall to see what might not be *quite* so pricey but similar. Occasionally complete boredom, on the order of a husband whose been taken along clothes shopping with a wife who wants pants that don't make her ass look fat. And pain -- decibel levels going up, ibuprofen levels dropping. And danger -- as mom's sugar levels drop and junior's begin to kick in.

[Benguitar]

Awesome~

While the kids gather a crowd, YOU go to the noise room and play the R8/R9's through Egnators and Plexi fullstacks??

[Adwex]

Originally Posted by LP_Fan

Some English band... One hit wonder I guess?

That's the funniest post of the day.

[Loserface300]

...my dads stingy to buy me any guitar after a little incident before the whole neck sanding thing.... very time we go to a music store, when i play, looks at me, and well, just walks then to the drums..... i really need a good guitar... and i think im on hold for that till christmas.....

[LP_Fan]

Originally Posted by GibsonByBirth

There was no horror story about GC here. Which is what I've come to expect. Great uplift for my morning thanx for sharing.

Glad I could help! Mornings need an uplift sometimes.

[SiriusAbbott]

Thats cool
my daughters wanted NOTHING to do with my playing,band,or music stores
However,my grandson loves it all(bought him a set of Ludwigs )
I do have one memory of my Dad at a music store with me,1981,Garland Texas,we had some time to kill so I asked to go to the local music store,he nodded approval and drove us there.
I was floored when I saw an actual Hamer 12-string bass,golden amber flame top
even though I was a guitarist I just had to try it out(being a Cheap Trick afficianado) about 10 minutes into playing it loudly (Ampeg ) I looked up and caught Dad looking at me with...well......wonder
I had never seen that look on Dad before....still brings a smile to this day

[JM Vasek]

I've had a bunch of crappy experiences at Guitar Center and plenty of great ones as well. I'm glad you and the "band" had a great one!

Oh, and I never thought I'd say this...but...I miss my Faded SG I used to have. It's a great workhorse of a guitar!