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Where Do You Buy Your Gear?


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Thought it would be interesting for us all to share where we go to buy our gear. I`ll start... I always go to Sweetwater to buy the more expensive gear but recently I discovered [url=http://www.SoundPure.com]www.SoundPure.com[/url] The prices are a heck lot cheaper but I haven`t purchased from there yet. Have any of you and where else do you recommend? Peace, Ernest
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No loyalty here. I'll buy from whoever has what I want, when I want it, at the lowest possible price - along with a guarantee of service where applicable. Both my local 'big-name' music stores have gotten a fair amount of business from me, as have many of the smaller stores. I've purchased twice (both Hammonds) from a local organ dealer, and done online purchases from Goff Professional and Zzounds. I also scan the private used market, though nothing has turned up for me since my first Ludwig drumset 27 years ago (is it that long? WOW.)

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Every 4 weeks I get a haircut. Right next to where I get my haircut is a Music Mall. So after the haircut, I go to the music store. My wife gets nervous when I get my haircut :D Music Mall will match most online prices and they're a more "mature" group. There's a Daddy's Junky Music down the road, but I hate that place. It's seems as if they're only interested in selling the Ibanez guitar/amp package to the next 12 year old that comes through the door with his/her mom.

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I used to buy some stuff from Reliable music here in town but they got wiped out by Mars and the internet which is a drag. That was a great place. Melvin we still love you. I used to have a friend here in town that owned a music store. Those were some sweet times. Action Music was the place, I dropped probably 3 or 4 grand over there, but I always got the best deal and Jimmy(one of the owners) always let me try out what ever I wanted. They were too small to compete but they did some business for about seven years. Last I heard Jimmy was working at The Guitar Center in Atlanta. He's probably the head of the guitar department, so if your looking go in there and tell him Steve from Charlotte said hey and to give you a good deal. Jimmy is one of the greatest guitar players I've ever known. That guy is a force of nature. Lately I've bought quite a few items at Music Go Round which is a National chain, they buy and sell used gear and you can get some good deals if you keep your eyes open. There are some cool guys working there, I go in every once in while just to talk gear, even if I don't need to buy anything.
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No loyalty from me either, I've bought used from ebay and local sellers, and new from online retailers and stores. Some recent purchases. Wavestation SR - bought from nice fellow in the bay area. Got to check a really cool synth collection in the process. ;) Peavey PC1600x - bought through a small store near my house in CA. Nobody carried it anyways, so I had them special order it. Yamaha EQ - MF Quiklok stand - Zzounds And so the lists goes ;)

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I really have no loyalty anymore. I bought a ton of stuff from Eastcoast Sound (now days musicmall or something). Morgan is really cool over there. Also bought a ton of stuff from Rolls around ten years ago. Also bought from Mercenary. They are very knowledgeable and fair. I wrote em what I thought of my purchase and they stuck it on the police blotter. Fletcher even gave me a spares tube set for my trouble free of charge. Can't beat that. I just check for best price and good return policy now days. Avoid places like Sweetwater like the plague. They screwed me over and totally pissed me off in the process. It was completely a used car salesman attitude. They also refused to give me a different rep. I do like Nika's posts though.
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It's funny -- I was quite loyal to one store (Mission Audio, which doesn't exist anymore) for software and computer-related audio stuff. For other audio supplies, it was always Goodman Music. This doesn't exist now, either. Ever since then, I'll get it where it's cheapest or best. Personally, I value customer service as well, and am willing to pay a little more for that. That goes a long way. However, I haven't quite found the customer service that I used to get at the aforementioned stores.
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I like to buy where I have relationships and that has served me well when little issues come up. My buddy from way back at GC left, now I'm hosed there and will have to start over - a good local relationship is worth having. Sweetwater - my guy there left too, but Nika picked me up, so that should work well - good to have someone out of town for the items that have a big tax or when I'm too lazy to drive around looking for stuff. Plus, they handle special orders pretty well. Mercenary - also good to have a few high-end, solid relationships - they've done me right so far. StudioTechSupply (Texas) - another good, top-line gear relationship recommeded to me by Beyerdynamic. Not a bad way to find a good dealer - ask the distributer for their best. For oddball items that don't cost much, I just put in Google and see what it comes up with.

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For you Bay Area folks, there's Starving Musician - I always liked them. Here in Atl. I used to go to Clark Music for everything, until Bob sold the place & retired - too hard to keep up with Mars & Guit Center, I guess... Midtown Music is a great guitar & drum shop - vintage a specialty, although they have a few less-than-vintage items too. David, Chris, & Page rock! Also gotta give mention to Galaxy Music out Hwy. 78 - they are a good source for all kinds of stuff. I confess, I often find myself going to the big 2 now, although I try to patronize the little guy when I can. Seems that in one place you can get old & grey waiting for someone to wait on you, and in the other you're like chum for the sharks. Give me a place where people will leave you the fuck alone to browse, but are ready to answer a question and are not too busy to sell you a pack of strings (and I remember who those people are when it's time to drop the big $$).
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I have to agree with those who voiced their lack of loyalty to a music store. There was a time when I did have loyalty, but that was before biz practices changed from customer service to making profit as the #1 priority. They gotta make a buck, but damn at least be fair about it! At least gimme a kiss before I get @#$%ed. I'd rather pay shipping and not have to deal with the other subculture: musicstore salesclerks. Talk about some odd cats. Even Daddy's Junky Music has stopped dealing and trading. So when the local store goes out of biz, all I can say is...you could've done better....work smarter, not harder!!!!! When I see the store manager drive up in a badass Caddy, not the owner mind you, the manager....somethings up. They have become musics' car salemen.....committed to legal thievery common in the corporate price fixing scheme, and disdain for their customers. I love having the means to NOT have to deal with them, but hate seeing those who don't, get screwed. Its probably a worthwhile endeavor for local musicians to band together, form a co-op, and buy at wholesale. I may put an ad in the local music mag to say just that!
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Veneman's (now defunct) Mars Guitar Center (but I like Mars better) I ordered three things from [url=http://www.bayviewproaudio.com]Bay View Pro Audio[/url] once and was pleased so I would buy from them again. I used to order from [url=http://www.musiciansfriend.com]Musician\'s Friend[/url] until I found cheaper places to buy.

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Chuck Levin's. Right around the corner from my house, and they have pretty darn competitive prices. I know people there, can play with what I want to buy and am commfortable there, since I been buying from them for 20 years now. But occaisionally, other places have better prices... Drew
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Mercenary's good. I've yet to purchase anything from there, but Fletcher knows his stuff and is very good. If I needed more pro audio gear, I'd go there. However, I don't. A good place to buy guitar amps might be handy, though!
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[quote]Originally posted by Ultravibe: [b]Chuck Levin's. Right around the corner from my house, and they have pretty darn competitive prices. I know people there, can play with what I want to buy and am commfortable there, since I been buying from them for 20 years now. [/b][/quote]I (actually my Dad) bought my first P.A. (Peavey, 4ch. powered box mixer, "voice of theatre" type columns) from Chuck Levin in 1975 so my bro' and I could start our grand high school rock band. Very good store, knowledgable sales staff, very competitive prices. Their web site is lame because it's not really an online shopping site. Other than that, I go where it's cheapest because for the most part music stores (1) charge damn near list for everything, (2) carry the lowest or lower line models aimed at the 12 year old starter, and (3) have sales staff that are there long enough to get their discount on whatever gear they need. Seems as if all local stores send every warranty repair off for work, so what's the point . . . hell, I know where UPS is.

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I've bought from loads of places over the years... everything from Mom and Pop shops to boutique pro audio shops to megastores to internet / mail order. I'm all for the relationship thing. I've got half way deceint product knowledge, so I don't really need to be "sold". I may have a few questions on something, but I'm not the sort who needs to be given the usual "Needs probe / features / benefits / close" approach. I pretty much know what the device is going to do before I walk in the door, place the phone call or make the online order. I've done my research well in advance of that. So I'm looking for a good fair price and good support AFTER the sale (in case something goes wrong). I normally use three sources for things these days: Sweetwater Sound. Some people love to hate 'em, and I had a couple of problems in the past, but they took the time to follow up and fix the problems. They have great product knowledge (try getting THAT from the typical flannel shirted longhair at your local megamusicmart :rolleyes: ) good service and fair prices. Besides, most of you "know" Nika - he's a good egg, and he'll take good care of you. So if you dislike your current sales associate, ask for a change. Mercenary Audio. Gotta love Fletcher's "mercenary" attitude. The guy says what he thinks, and that's a rare commodity in this overly "PC" world. The service is outstanding, the knowledge is good (if somewhat elite and biased - but hey, aren't we all a bit biased towards what we like?) and the prices are good. Fletcher is a lot nicer on the phone than you might think from his online "personna". Guitar Center San Bernardino. I am a longtime friend of the manager of this particular store. They're close by, so if I need something RIGHT NOW, they usually are the people I call. They treat you better than Sam Ash (also close) and the prices are good if you know the right people. Product knowledge of the typical salesperson sux, but the managers, if you have a relationship with them, will take the time to give you a hand or they'll tell one of their "people" what to do to "hook you up". I'm sure some or all of my choices will offend all or some of you. Too bad. It's my money and I spend it where I can get what I want and not be treated like a "mark" in the process. Because of my relationship with these people, they take care of me, and I've been very happy with that.
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I use [url=http://www.americanmusical.com]www.americanmusical.com[/url] American Musical Supply: Their prices are the same as the major chains, I don't pay sales tax, shipping is usually free, I've never had a problem returning anything, I've never been sent any dead equipment.... Best of all is their 3-6 month payment plan. It's not a credit card (like GC or Sam Ash). No interest, they just bill you in equal payments each month. I HATE credit cards. This is good for me..... Valky

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From a local store, it's House of Guitars, a worthwhile reason to visit Rochester, NY. One of their employees, Andy Babiuk, wrote the "Beatles Gear" book. He, and many others there, know equipment well. It's one store where I don't feel like I know more about gear than the salespeople. After they opened here last year, I tried Guitar Center for a few things, but I've come to hate the lack of customer service. I've been waiting over 7 months for a rebate, and no one in the local store has helped. They've lost a customer...and no business should ever lose a customer over something like this. As for e-tailers, my only experience has been with Sweetwater, for a K2500RS, a Proteus 2000, and a few CD-ROMs. Generally excellent service and good pricing.
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[quote]Originally posted by mzeger: [b]From a local store, it's House of Guitars, a worthwhile reason to visit Rochester, NY. One of their employees, Andy Babiuk, wrote the "Beatles Gear" book. He, and many others there, know equipment well. It's one store where I don't feel like I know more about gear than the salespeople. After they opened here last year, I tried Guitar Center for a few things, but I've come to hate the lack of customer service. I've been waiting over 7 months for a rebate, and no one in the local store has helped. They've lost a customer...and no business should ever lose a customer over something like this. As for e-tailers, my only experience has been with Sweetwater, for a K2500RS, a Proteus 2000, and a few CD-ROMs. Generally excellent service and good pricing.[/b][/quote]Hey there, fellow Rochestarian! :wave: If you are experienced with equipment, you can do well at the HOG, but if you are not, you can get taken a bit there. They have gotten better about their pricing since there is more competition here now. One place you must try out is The Music Shop in Webster, NY. When I don't buy from Carvin, I go there. The service I got regarding my problematic Alvarez-Yairi CY118 was exemplary and you can't beat his prices with a stick. The Mackie 808M I just got from him sells for $789 in Musicians Friend. John at The Music Store sells them for $675! It is a smaller operation than the HOG and you get more personalized service. He had Victor Wooten there at the shop in January conducting a clinic, so people are starting to learn more about him. You ought to check them out, and tell them that Greg Bogoshian referred you there. By the way, I live in East Irondequoit and work in Webster... Boggs
Check out my Rock Beach Guitars page showing guitars I have built and repaired... http://www.rockbeachguitars.com
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[quote]Originally posted by franknputer: [b]Here in Atl. I used to go to Clark Music for everything, until Bob sold the place & retired - too hard to keep up with Mars & Guit Center, I guess... [/b][/quote]Ah, Clark's - those were the days. I have a sweet Tele, a Takamine, and an old Tapco mixer from Clarks's - also a few old Morley pedals (big chrome ones, and a Marshalll Cab...and a mini Marshall stack...I miss those guys. I met George Thorogood in there one day - before he was much known at all - was in getting his acoutic guitar setup. He was surprised that I had heard of him! Another day I missed Rush by about 15 minutes. That used to be THE place.

Steve Powell - Bull Moon Digital

www.bullmoondigital.com

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[quote]Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe: [b]Guitar Center San Bernardino. I am a longtime friend of the manager of this particular store. [/b][/quote]Hey! I know that guy! We went to the Hootenanny Festival together for work. That was a load of fun. He [i]is[/i] a cool guy.

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