How To PROPERLY Try Guitars In Guitar Stores! - What To Look For When Buying Your Next Guitar!
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
- Buying your next electric guitar can be tough, guitars are very personal things and they've got to be right straight off the bat! Buying online is convenient and all, but the perks of guitar stores mean you can browse an array of guitars in person and not have to reply on photos, get one on one advice from in-store experts about what will suit your needs, get a guitar set up for you there and then, and ultimately try before you buy!
In this video Dagan shares his experience on what to look for when buying your next electric guitar!
Looking for your new electric guitar? Check out what we have available at PMT Online here! - bit.ly/3g7JjDJ
Check out all our awesome B-Stock & Pre-Owned bargains at PMT here - bit.ly/3RVCulO
Get extra benefits when buying a guitar with PMT BACKSTAGE - bit.ly/3CxJBes
Find your local PMT Store here - bit.ly/3MLUA93
Check out Sam's video on 'Guitar Anatomy' that Dagan mentions here - bit.ly/3Vrppn4
We talk about the stigma surrounding guitar shops, finding a guitar that suits your style and that looks cool, what to look for when it comes to comfort, like neck profile and body shape, the features available on guitars these days, how you can get a guitar set up in store to suit your playing style and preference, how it's a great idea to bring in your own amp and pedalboard to try out new gear, the best value for money guitars and so much more!
00:00 Intro & What's Coming Up
00:38 The Stigma Around Guitar Stores (They're Not Scary!)
02:40 How Comfortable Is The Guitar?
04:39 Finding The Right Neck Profile
05:32 Is It Set Up Correctly?
06:29 Try Amps And Effects Pedals
07:21 Play The Music You'll Actually Play On It!
08:47 Making Sure Everything Works
09:22 It Has To Look Good!
10:40 Potential Future Mods?
11:29 Longevity - How Long Do You Plan On Having This Guitar?
12:37 Remember To Have Fun
13:40 Two For The Price Of One..?
14:20 Try Appropriate Amps
15:09 Lifelong Benefits With PMT Backstage
15:44 Pre-Loved And B-Stock Bargains
16:17 Final Thoughts
#ElectricGuitar #NewGuitar #NewGuitarDay #GuitarStore
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The way i describe guitar shops to a new guitarist is like overweight people at a gym. Many people believe others will judge them but in reality they admire you starting and levelling up your life.
This is great advice!
Well said. I really doubt I could be admired for something in a guitar shop... maybe for my faked lack of fear to be ridicule?
😁 Anyway, good to read this, man.
Agreed. I’m a new player and I hated going to guitar shops. I learned a few licks(crazy train, iron man, come as you are, etc.) and a few scales (Emaj, pentatonic) and now I’m somewhat OK with going and trying guitars. It’s still not my favorite thing to do but I’m getting more comfortable.
I cancelled my gym subscription
As a guitarist and gym goer, that’s a damn good analogy
I bought my first "proper" guitar from PMT in Cardiff. Up until then I'd been trying to learn on a £40 acoustic from Argos. I only knew a couple of chords at that stage and was too embarrassed to play in front of other people. The guy who served me was absolutely wonderful. He played about a dozen guitars in my price range so I could hear them, explaining the traits of each one. I eventually settled on a Squier Telecaster which I still have. I've played and owned much more expensive guitars since then, but that little Tele holds a special place in my heart and I'm grateful to that guy for taking the time to be nice to a newbie. I was on the verge of giving up because it was so difficult to learn on that crappy little acoustic but he found me the perfect guitar for me and I've never looked back.
That story makes me want to be a guitar salesman. It’s an amazing instrument.
Nice story
I started enjoying my trips to guitar stores a lot more when I stopped caring what others thought. You’re a paying customer, you should be able to crank up an amp and test out whatever guitar you want to play, playing whatever music you want to play. As long as it brings YOU joy, that’s all that matters.
as long as you're not obnoxiously loud for too long yes.
@@braedonmorrissey7548 Yeah there’s a limit to everything. I personally never turn an amp’s volume above 3 in a store.
@@TylerJohnstonGuitar I wanted to try a couple of bass amps and turned them well up but not for long - you need to hear it when it’s being pushed hard as it can be different to low volumes. But I would agree with you in general, and I keep it short - going in during the week is better so you aren’t drowning out a full shop of customers with your big Marshall stack. 😂😂😂
@@rcatkin1 Absolutely, I’ll crank an amp if I’m testing one, but that knob will only stay above 5 for 30 seconds before it’s back to barely audible. A few years ago a dude played Careless Whisperer for about 45 minutes through the biggest amp in the store and that’s all I heard for the next week.
@@TylerJohnstonGuitar I can’t help thinking that dude knew what he was doing and went home a happy man. 😂😂😂😂😂
The biggest tip that I would give is that if you are a beginner you probably don’t know exactly what you are looking for so if it’s your first time buying a guitar just look for something cheap that feels right to you. You’re a lot less likely to regret a purchase if you don’t dump tons of unnecessary money into it. Once you start playing electric more, and learning about how different guitars work, you can always go back to the shop to spend more money on something you know you want.
I haven't picked up an instrument since high school, but I ordered a cheap(ish) Squire Strat that's arriving tomorrow. I'm a complete noob with guitars and everyone recommends the stratocaster to start with.
@@slated9 Congrats, man! How are you liking it so far?
@madeofdeath21 I've been playing with it every day. Loving that thing!
@@slated9 That's great to hear, bro. I'm a total noob too. Or at least I will be once I get my guitar, hopefully in the summer sometime.
That's the best advice... In fact even better than anything in this video. If someone is that new to playing guitar they won't know what to look for in regards to tone or feel. Definitely wouldn't recommend a first-timer to purchase one because of how it looks.
My problem is going to a guitar shop and then my mind goes blank and I forget I know anything 😂 the best guitar shops ask if you need help then give you SPACE! Nothing worse than wanting to try something then having someone hover around I have only bought guitars that speak out (if that makes sense) it’s a personal thing and I don’t need someone telling me how to feel about it or to buy it to make a sale, unfortunately not all guitar stores are about the music a lot are about the sale
One of the most important things for any instrument is that it looks cool, and that you want to pick it up and play it. Instruments that don’t get played aren’t nearly as much fun.
Having visited many guitar stores over the years, it always struck me how many times i just walked out
not because i couldn't find a suitable guitar, but due to way i was treated.
Some approach you as soon as you enter, others totally ignore you, so both situations means i just walk
out empty handed.
As for finding the right guitar, as a new player you won't know until you are able to play just what your likes
and dislikes are, finding the right guitar is critical, or you will hate trying to learn and it will be another lost
player.
This is where a good local store can be the best place to start, if they help you find the right one in the first
place, you will go back there and that is how they survive.
A wall of guitars as shown is great for seasoned players, but not for new would be players.
Sadly my local excellent one has closed, now i have to travel many miles or risk mail order, and that means
you can't try before you buy. i totally ignore all the hype in reviews these days, a guitar that is right for you
is what you are looking for.
@ghost mall If they totally ignore me after trying to grab their attention, then I take it that they don't want or need my custom, the plushy ones I just try to ask for time to look first.
@ghost mall As the saying goes, this job would be alright if it wasn't for the customers.🙂
As a female coming into a guitar store they always assume I play acoustic guitar, I do not, so they can be a bit biased is my experience. But they always help me get the things and information I need , so as a customer you dont have to be too sensitive about it.
That's such an interesting observation. Why do you think it's like that?
That happened to me in one shop lately too. I forgot that I was wearing a cute 50's dress which I guess confused the staff. Please, just give me some nice Floyd instead. 😆
I was wearing jeans and they still were confused, I guess we have to dress in black leather with tattoos everywhere and a nose ring to be recognized as rock players.😅
Idk why anyone would be sensitive to someone guessing what instrument you use and being wrong.
Also, are you saying you don't play any acoustic at all? Most guitar players (even metal heads like me) play acoustic. We don't limit ourselves to just electric, normally.
Off course your right, I just don't have an acoustic guitar because it makes too much noise for the neighbours, I do have a semi-acoustic though. It happened more than once that it gets a bit awkward when they make the wrong assumptions. But then I get great service, so nothing serious, just something I noticed.
Ask the guitar store if they rent guitars and amps. For a fraction of the cost of buying, you can try a guitar/amp for a couple days (or weeks), bring it back and swap it for another one till you find one you like. Once you find something you like you can buy it.
One tip I have for beginners playing is to pick something neutral for the stuff you're not there to test. Let's say you already have a sweet guitar and you're looking for an amp. I'd either find the same (or similar) guitar off the rack or play something very very neutral like a strat. Strats are great guitars, but they're not especially weird in any way. It's just about isolating the variables yknow.
Also don't be afraid of the staff. If it's a shop worth buying from the staff won't be bothered by "dumb" questions. I get pretty stressed at my job, but honestly the beginners are a breath of fresh air. I want you to get into guitar, I really do. Let me know how I can make that happen.
Dagan....I wouldn't want the PMT world to ever loose your talent but man you have the "it" thing when it comes to television/video. I love your videos!
Charisma!
One of the shops in my town had a blues contest. They encouraged me to enter. Surprisingly, I finished ahead of everybody who wasn't an octogenarian. An 85 year old guy totally kicked arse.
As someone who is actually experiencing this first hand ( looking to buy my first guitar) this is a great video.
Good luck and I hope you get something cool
The advice I would give to anyone starting out is, buy the guitar that makes you want to pick it up and play it when you get home
👏🔥
@@garybattaglia4009 exactly what I was gonna say
If you are a beginner or a nervous shopper take someone with you that you trust. They don't need to be a musician but they may just have the confidence to ask the nooby questions or tell you to walk away. A guitar that speaks to you will eat away at your brain for a week a month or a year so there is no rush. Small shops sometimes have a well curated collection rather than bloody everything. A month ago I bought an old used DeArmond LP junior for 100 and it's fantastic!
Weight and balance. Play standing up with a strap and sitting down. Make sure you are comfortable with the weight and that it feels stable and balanced. Beware of neck dive when standing. It can really feel miserable after a while. And sort of related to the looks, but deeper. Does it inspire you? Can you walk by without feeling like you need to pick it up and play it? If so, keep walking.
Love the Start Me Up Riff Dagan,my favourite riff of all time, many thanks for that
Thank you for this video. You give a lot to think about when looking for the perfect instrument
i play the guitar to relax with just to sit down at home and relax with a guitar and a beer don't matter if it good or bad what you play as long your relax and enjoy your night . good way to take away your stress
I really wish I’d known this back when I first tried guitar 20 years ago…I gave up in the end.
I walked in, the chap was so helpful telling me the best guitars for me and why I didn’t need to spend loads more on the fancy ones…he was great…he asked if I wanted to hold the guitar, so he set it up with an amp, handed it to me and said “I’ll let you have a play with it” and walked away.
I felt like a complete idiot because I knew maybe 2 chords…but that was it…I just sat there not knowing what to do for about 20 minutes.
His advice had been sound, I bought a pacifica, but that period sitting there I just felt lost…
You could have asked to borrow a music book, where I go they will let you borrow them you just have to pay to take them home, it may be worth a try to get back into guitar or maybe another instrument though
@@Yee626it wouldn’t have made a difference, I knew 2 chords because my brother has taught me them once, I don’t know how to strum, how to change chords but more importantly, I had no idea how to read music or how to read tab, so giving me a book wouldn’t have mattered at all…I’d have looked an even bigger loser sat there staring at a music book!
I did however buy a new guitar in November and so far, I haven’t given up!
Very great tips Dagan! I also love your energy and how you show the audience that you can have fun with not very expensive guitars, like I see you smiling with that Squier Telecaster. Thanks for all the tips!
The is a really excellent and helpful video. I wish someone had told me this when I was starting to learn to play guitar. 👍
My biggest gripe with guitar stores, especially and almost uniquely the big ones - the staff ALWAYS assume they know more about what you want then you do, i have countless stories of just that nearly every time i go and ive bought stuff from all of the big stores 😅
I hate it when you ask someone what gear was being used on a specific song, and then they say something like "Tone is in the fingers dude, no one can sound like x". Like, of course, but I'm talking about gear.
Lol imagine someone asking what gear Hendrix used on Wind Cries Mary, and the guy gives a non answer like that, so the customer ends up with a Les Paul instead of a Strat.
@@Mephilis78 that's never happened in real life. Nobody has ever asked what Hendrix played on Wind Cries Mary, and the guy said "Tone is in the fingers dude". There's nobody working in a guitar store who can't answer that question.
I shop at guitar center in Cheektowaga NY. The staff is friendly and helpful. Even the other customers are fun to be around.
I go to pmt manchester alot and i have to say the staff are so helpful and nice to begginer guitarists. Im a pretty good player and i always jam with people who are starting out to help them feel comfortable and its great! I love guitar stores!
Looks is huge! Especially if you are a beginner. You have to want to pick it up every time you walk by it or you'll never get better at playing. Once you find a style you like, ask about what colors it comes in. I love Les Paul style guitars but have seen ugly ones
all the times ive been to PMT to try guitars the staff have always been so nice when i asked to try a guitar. (the guy even gave me a discount on a bass cause the location didn't have the one i wanted in stock but they did have the upgraded one)
I love a video like this, thank you so much.
0:54 I lost it!!!
Dagan, if I ever come to PMT, I hope I get to meet you. You're legendary!
Good content as always and good advice. I just wish the store experience at PMT was as good. Perhaps I've been unlucky but both guitar and recording equipment purchases have been problematic, particularly the guitar which was sent out damaged, took a while to negotiate a solution, ending up with me replacing the damaged part to send back to PMT so they could "swap it onto another guitar" 😬
If you pay attention he always has a hand supporting the neck which is interesting because even on the tele with no neck dive he’s used to his SGs which he has to support. Love you Dagan.
Hmm. I went to PMT in Northampton in 2022 ready to buy a Gibson J35 or Taylor 315. I could not get served and so left after an hour. Never had that problem in Andertons or PMT Norwich. Anyway... The most important thing about YOUR guitar is that it inspires you to pick it up and play it. As a beginner there are dark days ahead when your fingers are sore and you feel like you are not making progress. That guitar must call to you and inspire you to continue. When I finally could afford a Gibson Les Paul, it would lean against the sofa with the case open when I could not play any longer, just so I could look at it.
The íbanez q feels SOOOO GOOD, I went to a guitar store a year after buying mine and literally none of the guitars I played came close to the comfort level, it feels way more like an extension of me than all the other heavy wood blocks
This is such an empathic video. So many total newbs have no idea even how to "turn on" a guitar...or how to plug it into an amp.
PMT Birmingham? 😁 Great store, been there a couple of months ago when I was deciding on which digital piano to buy. That wall of electric guitars is absolutely massive and so beautiful haha. I'm definitely gonna come back there to pick out my first electric or acoustic guitar soon.
I can back up that guitar shops aren't scary. I was moving, but I was short a bag/case for one of my guitars because it's oddly shaped (my B.C. Rich Draco V), so I went to my shop to see if they had something that fit. They didn't, but the did give me a shipping box for it because we all know it's better than nothing. I miss those guys, they were great.
What a great Saturday surprise
For my first guitar it was purely price. I didnt want to invest in something I wasnt sure I was going to stay with. After I learned a few scales and chords and began to understand the instruments I started shopping for a better quality guitar. I tend to stick in mid range guitars because I have grandkids, so if they knock it around a little I'm not out 1000's. Still learning and someday I'll buy a real axe. Now days I spend 1-2 hours at the guitar store just for a pack of strings lol.
you are a LEGEND sir. Well said.
Love this guy!
This was a great topic for a video
thank you sir! I always feel like I need to keep my hands off stuff, especially when I know a can't afford it. Also to add , I'm not from the U.K.
I love going to my local guitar store…although, they’re not too encouraging to try it out hooked up and all. I’ve tried a guitar out at Long & McQuade and they’re supercool in trying out the axe as well as plugging them in. May switch to L & M.
I’m a noob this was so helpful looking forward to visiting my guitar
Recently went into PMT in Leeds as someone who couldn’t play a bass at all apart from a few simple notes. Staff couldn’t have been more helpful and let me play around with a few on my own - even got my wife set up on some drums as she said offhand she always wanted to play them!
Although not from PMT I ended up getting a Fender Precision Bass as it was the colour I wanted (Tidepool). I could afford a proper Fender and Dagans advice on one of his videos was to buy a guitar that makes you want to pick it up. I pick up my PB several times a day and still after a few weeks still get excited when I see it and feel super cool with it on!! Can I play it? Not really but I’m learning fast and loving it. I could have saved money buying a Squire but they just didn’t excite me.
Some people say a PB is harder to play but I don’t care - I’m a newbie so I can’t tell the difference anyway!!
Only advice I would give is try to go in a shop in the week rather than a bust Sat so staff have more time to help you.
Thanks for your enthusiasm Dagan! You’re a credit to PMT and I’ll be back in the Leeds store to buy more kit very soon.
Big love out to all the new guitarists - I’m 46 and just starting out - you’ll love it!
I’m just a few months off Seventy played for 35 yrs but still learning new stuff all the time. I try to keep out of guitar stores as I can go in for strings and end up with another guitar ( I think 22 to date). I can’t help it I love them, but I’m still shy trying out in a shop more so than up in front of a crowd.
I think it comes from a long time ago feeling insecure in a guitar store where the sales guy was more into showing off than helping you. Glad things have changed.
I have the exact same Tobacco Burst Strat that you have in your studio. Mine is a pro 2 with some personal mods. That is my main guitar.
Nice video Dagan. I totally agree that buying guitars from shops is far better than buying them online. Let me add: take your time, take someone more knowledgeable with you if necessary, play every note on every string, one at a time and listen for fret buzz etc. Don't be bamboozled by bling: one of the worst guitars I ever bought was the best-looking one in the whole shop, and I didn't check it thoroughly enough. Idiot. And my absolutely essential test: plug in, set a clean sound, play the note "G" on strings 2, 3, and 4 and listen to how quickly the note dies away in each case. String 3 (the G string), fret 12 will be quickest. If it's _too_ quick, then that particular guitar will never sustain properly, so put it back on the wall, no matter how many other things it has in its favour.
Well, one of your videos I don't have to watch. I'm left handed!
Keep up the great content!
You should do a video about guitar kits and building your own guitar.
Excelente video 🤟🏻👏🏻
If you are ever in Newcastle do pop in there the staff are amazing and friendly built a mutual kinship with the guys Dagan, Jordan, Clem, John and the rest of the staff are legends
The best tip someone told me was while the guitar is hanging on the wall, hold the body of the guitar with your left hand and pluck the high E string with your right. If it resonates well you’ll feel the vibrations in your left hand. If it feels alive, then it’s a contender. If it doesn’t resonate then no amount of mods will fix it and you need to move on.
I'll definatly try that but in my head that looks ridiculous in public lol
Hi Dagan! Great video with great information again. - always love your videos! When watching your videos I'm always interested in the guitar hanging behind you. And, today I noticed that black Les Paul cut, second from the right. If you or someone else has the time, is it an Epiphone or Gibson? What model, If I might ask? Thank you!!!
I remember I used to be scared to ask try the expensive stuff. I always loved the sound of Les Pauls and SGs, but for the longest time I would limit myself to only trying Epiphones or knock-offs like LTDs. Then my friend, lead guitar player in my dad's band, told me he was impressed by how far I'd come with my playing and handed me his early 90s Les Paul Classic, and I felt like King Arthur had just handed me Excalibur. He said "what you do on that old epiphone sounds great, I want to hear you play it on professional gear", so that also includes the old Marshall.
Anyway because I normally played bass with the band, and would only mess around on my guitar during breaks (weekly band practice), at the end of the day it became a regular thing for me to play Bill's LP, and sometimes the Strat too. So I got comfortable handling the expensive stuff. Now I know for sure that I'm not going to just ruin a guitar at Guitar Center, and spend the rest of my life paying it off (something I actually believed before). These guitars are not delicate flowers, they are hardy tools meant to be used.
Moral of the story, if there is a guitar that you dream of playing, don't be afraid to ask someone at the store to pull one down for you. You won't ruin it, and you won't become an indentured servant if you scratch the pickguard. The only way you'll ever know if a guitar like that is worth saving up for is by playing it.
I remember A1 Music by Oxford Road Railway Station in Manchester,August 1984: they had a big sign over the entrance saying "Anyone heard playing Stairway To Heaven or Smoke On The Water will have said guitar forcibly stuffed up their dirtbox" 🤣
Dagan my friend, i would love to own one of each tipe of guitars! Cheers!
The last time I tried out a guitar in PMT Southend , I had picked out 3 guitars to choose from and was constantly hassled every 5 minutes to see if I had made up my mind, I ended up leaving it and purchased elsewhere. Admittedly this was about 10 years ago but it is off-putting when they don't let you actually try them out, also this was on a quiet weekday without other customers waiting.
Good advice Dagan I will feel different the next time I visit my store
Lol, I was at the local guitar store yesterday and was wondering how to do this. How long can I stay, how to set-up the amp, how expensive guitars could I ask for to test all kinds of questions in my head.
I feel like going to PMT after watching these videos, over other guitar shops where I felt they were just trying to make a sale.
Detest going into guitar shops for all the reasons mentioned. I've had a few bad experiences (not PMT) and it does put you off. I only go in if I absolutely HAVE to.
I use everything said here and then something i was advised the 3 Ps, Price, what price point are you looking at, Performance, this includes the feel and sound of the guitar etc, and finally Prettiness, looks - does it look good, colour.
Great video. Reassuring for the less experienced. I have noticed that stores tend to de-tune guitars to make them easier to play. Maybe they don’t do that anymore but certainly in the past. Also mentioned an intonation issue when trying a while back and was told it was the way I was playing …..decided not to buy!
when i tried a schechter in a shop in london,I told one of the employees that the guitar was off, she had a listen and found out the intonation was wrong and immediately took it to a tech to have it fixed :D
great video!
I wish Dagan was at the Manchester PMT
I love PMTVUK, shout out all the UK shredder's
I used to be anxious about this but I went to a guitar shop recently, saw a nice looking Ibanez and the guy work in Ng there practically forced me to plug in and play it, which it turns out was the best way to get over the weird anxiety.
And it worked, I fell in love with the guitar instantly and play it way more than the other couple I own.
SOME people do need that initial push to plug in publicly . I still am not really keen in plugging in as I play more unplugged anyway but the times I did have been right fun
I remember when I first decided to take the plunge and buy my first guitar... I picked up a Yamaha Pacifica that looked like great value (and it was!) I asked the salesman if it was a lead guitar. He told me it was an electric guitar. 'Yeah, I can see that... but is it a lead guitar?' Quite embarrassing looking back. Funny though! Since then I've bought quite a bit of lovely kit from PMT Manchester.
your the best ..period
Good advice.
We don't have a gutiar center near me we have a really cool local shop and they were so cool when I was a beginner and still go to them they price match and have alot of cool stuff so id say look for local shop alot of them are super cool
Thanks for the good advice. I wish I'd seen this before I went shopping. I did some online research, walked in assuming I knew what was best for me, and didn't even try the guitar or ask questions. It didn't take long for me to realize that (1) a smaller scale guitar may have been more comfortable for me with my short arms and fingers, and (2) all the little things I want to upgrade will make it cost more than if I'd been patient and waited until I could buy a model a few hundred more. I wish I'd asked to try a guitar and said something like "I haven't had a single lesson. Could you teach me a couple of chords so I can try this out?" That would have defused embarrassment. I just wanted out of there asap.
Awesome video. Currently trying to decide between a Gibson Standard 50’s or 60’s and no local stores have them. I have to drive 3 hours, which I don’t mind doing, to try them and it’s definitely intimidating as I’m a newer player. The other thing is I’m not great at amp setup! My katana is so easy to find tones on with the librarian app but actually trying to find a tone on a non modeling amp is a struggle. Obviously this whole situation is a great problem to have!! As always, thanks Dagan. Great content.
Setting up an amp is always a bit of a struggle, even for me still after 20+ years of amateur level playing with the occasional gig every now and then.
Just see if you can plug into a simple amp 2 and start with the eq section at noon, and go from there. Don't overdo it with the gain as you are there to hear what the guitar sounds like.
And you can always ask a staffmember to help you set up an amp. If they're not putting in the effort to help you for a minute, their store is not worth spending your money in.
As someone who has also struggled with tone, what helped me was understanding the theory and physics behind sound. Learn the basics of waves, frequency, what a sound envelope is, equalizing, compressing etc. and it won't be so daunting. If you can visualise the tone you are hearing on an EQ chart, you'll be able to say "ok, my tone right now sounds quite dark, muddy, the notes are hard to tell apart etc. And I want something sharper that stands out more" then what you'd have to do is maybe reduce the bass/mid knobs on your amp/guitar and increase the highs/treble.
Does this make sense? Hope it helps, if not message me and I'll try expanding on it.
For example, does your tone sound too muddy? Maybe the lower end
Also take the drive, just make sure you're both ready (you and the shop 🤣). Have a list of things to test. E.g. ONE demo riff, not too long, played will all knobs at max and pickup at bridge position. Repeat every pickup position. Now back to bridge and slightly move a tone knob. Visualise this tone in a band with a drummer, maybe bassist, maybe piano, can you think of another song you already know that has this kind of tone? Does it evoke any emotions? Take note.
Love my 50s tribute LP!!
Great video
Great vid would love to take my gear down and plug a Jackson pc1 into it instead of my old dk2s sustainiac although just a lately I’m loving the SG with a Monty’s P90 in the bridge but saying that I still want a pc1 at some point lol 😂
I rarely play anything in a guitar store, most of my purchases have been well known models, I pick them up and play them without plugging in. Unless it’s a pickup I’m unfamiliar with, I rarely do more than plug the guitar in, check for hum, check for quiet pots and play a few notes to check for problems with the pickups. If I head down to the store to try a new guitar that’s come out, 8/10 times I can tell I don’t like it by picking it up.
What does piss me off thought are the people who take up residence to show off their riffs when I’m trying to check the tone of an amplifier. Many stores offer lessons, which are usually given in soundproof rooms out in the back or upstairs.
If I’m trying to make a decision on (particularly bass amps) I’ll ask to take the amp into one of the lesson rooms. Ten minutes is usually plenty of time to try it out fully. Maybe stores should offer this as standard, and on weeks when some new blazing metal amp is released, just set it up in a lesson room for customers (and those who just want to show off).Alternately, if it’s a big amp launch, have an open evening.
7:40 we've all done that more than we like to admit
Drooling over that CV Thinline!
I bought one a few months ago. Amazing for the money, capable of some great sounds, very versatile - and plays nicely.
I shouldn't be watching this video, I bought an Ernie Ball nusicman Luke in April (after 6 years of hunting for an affordable EBMM). Won't need another for a long, long time. Didn't care too much for the looks or colour, because the feel and sound is unlike any other guitar.
Thanks for a great video!
Well, strictly speaking it's not about the looks of the guitar, but how much it inspires you to pick it up and play it with a big smile on your face.. but.. yeah.. looks play a part in this..
For any first-time or nervous shoppers remember, spending money should be an enjoyable experience. If you are going into a store with the intent of buying something, you should feel good about it. Take your time, try a few different pedals, and ask for the opinion of the people working there (politely of course). My early experience in guitar stores (17+ years ago) really put me off going into stores. Now, older and humble, I love going into stores to chat about guitars and trying things out. I think I'll visit my local PMT this week and pick up some new strings.
Try buy a guitar in a shop if you are left handed. I have bought one guitar in a shop, Steve Krenz held his live lessons at Gruhn's Guitars. I was online at one lesson and someone messaged me to go look in their used section. there were literally two Gibson Les Pauls left handed in the used section. One had cigarette butt burn marks all over the head stock and one had none. The one I bought was clean, very good shape and a Les Paul Traditional Sunburst. $1800 for a two year old guitar left handed is not a bad deal.
I feel like this too. I want to go in and try a guitar but I can't play anything yet just a couple of chords on my acoustic so I don't know what to play when I'm testing it.
Here's a suggestion for the shops. Have a little supply of NUX Mighty Plug head phone amps for people to try guitars with. They wont feel intimidated as nobody else will be listening and it will give them an idea of how the guitar might sound with some effects. Ultimately, you'll have to try the guitar moving air through a proper amp but the Mighty Plug might help with the initial feel and playability test. For the music store half a dozen Mighty Plugs is not a great outlay and doesn't use up much space.
I got an LTD MH-1000 as my first guitar... It was calling at me.
Hey Dagan I live across the pond would love to have a pick or a sticker from your store would look awesome on my Black Jackson Dinky Rock On my favorite guitar reviews and tips come from you you bleed rock n roll brotha!!
Here in México, few guitar shops let you play with a pick and even worse the people working there always looks you like: "dude your not gonna Buy It" or "1 scratch and you are gonna have yo Buy It"... Sadly but few shops here Let you feel comfortable trying out guitars
Every guitar you ever buy will always be a stepping stone 🤣
how did u hang ur headless guitar on the right? What kind of mount is this? Great video btw
I have the blue sweetwater exclusive version of that guitar!
Just bought a 2023 Ebony Epiphone Les Paul Custom. Fresh out of the box and tuned, it’s got a good bit of fret buzz across a bunch of strings/frets. I have done nothing but tune it. No professional set up. But my other guitars (LTD Eclipse and Gibson Explorer) don’t have this problem and I haven’t really needed to do set ups on them. Is that normal to have fret buzz on a new guitar out of the box (a few slightly high/low frets when testing with a straight edge)? Trying to decide on keeping or returning the guitar within the guitar center return window. Thanks!
Great video! Super helpful advice! But.. first thing: Respectfully ask the staff, before you just grab a guitar. And get rifd of your bullhorn bell buckle before you scratch that sweet instrument you are trying out.
I tried out a bass in PMT Bristol. I was given the smallest bass amp in the shop about 3 metres from someone playing a les Paul through a very loud amp. I couldn't hear the bass I was trying out, a nice US Fender P bass so I gave up and left without buying. And that was after paying a small fortune to park near by.
I would asked for a bigger amp as soon as they pulled out the baby amp. If they say no. I'd hand them the bass and say see ya.
Any advice for working in a guitar store? I have an interview coming up this week and any advice would be well appreciated.
I always check for neck dive too- very important for we with respect to gigging- hate hate hate neck dive!
I've been playing for donkey's years & never even heard of Neck Diving.... is it anything like Muff Diving ??
Oh, I'd love the staff to demo a guitar for me... I'm a lefty.🤣In reality, 3 of my 4 guitars were bought online. The last one came from Japan, so there would be no possibility to try it anyway.
I would definitely buy a guitar from this guy
One thing I learned the hard way was to check intonation
Just querying the black Les Paul-esque guitar hanging on the wall behind you. Looks remarkably like a Legend solid body electric that I have just acquired. If so can you give me some background on the make?
That's all good but in practice it doesn't seem to work. I've got a lot of guitars but I've always struggled to get the right one. All music stores (including PMT) are only helpful for the first 10 minutes. After that you're on your own. I went into a PMT store recently planning to spend 5K on a guitar but I walked out with nothing because I didn't feel like the guy was interested. I guess staff come and go so I shouldn't expect too much.
Get the help to change strings or lower the action. Yeah right. The last guitar that I purchased from a store took 30 minutes to get down off the wall. How many hours would you wait for a lower set up?
Unfortunately I have to rely on videos like this because I have no guitar shops near me , I live in a suburb/rural area and the nearest GC is a 35 minute drive. So it's not really convenient , especially with gas prices so high....😐