[Mahogany Martin]

People make jokes all the time about Little Johnny wailing away at Stairway to Heaven in a music store. The ultimate annoyance in gear shopping experience. What if it’s the only song he knows? What then are some of the *basic* behaviors in a guitar shop? I’ll venture out first but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

Don’t take any guitars off the rack. Establish communication with a salesperson. He/she will take it off the rack for you to try?

It’s OK to try/play but keep it down? On an acoustic, it’s not so much a problem. But on the electric plugged in, don’t you need to have it a little *louder* in order to get a better feel/sense? Can/will a music store make a pair of headphones available at your disposal (I know this sounds silly but why not?).

Don’t spit on the floor?

 

[Mahogany Martin]

It seems silly to ask a sales person every time you take a guitar off the rack. We're old enough to drive or go to Afghanistan but not to take a guitar off the rack? This would discourage me from going to a guitar store. Do you really want someone following you around the store as you check out the guitars? This suggestion makes sense for really expensive guitars but for 90% of them, why? The fun of guitar shopping is trying out as many as you can as you make your choice. Having to ask a clerk to get you each one would be a serious drag. Sounds a bit anal to me.

I agree that it seems silly. I've seen places where they'll get the guitar off the rack and walk away and come back to check on you a little later (especially for more expensive guitars like you say). It just seems to make some shop owners nervous. I guess they never know who they are dealing with.

 

[Mahogany Martin]

IMO, the "cranking" of amplifiers has to be done, unfortunatly. Simply because, if I'm buying an expensive amp, and plan on playing it at shows, etc... I want to hear how it sounds loud. We all know that between bedroom volume and gig volume, there is a huge difference in tone.

So, not to sound like an *******, but I don't really care if the other customers are pissed off at me if I'm blasting an amp.

I'm the one who has to pay for it.:rockon:

With a handle like that (marshallman), "cranking it up" and a straight forward attitude are both a given and your not an ******* for voicing your opinion. Let me ask you this though, do you then make a point to do this on a quiter day or night at the shop or does it matter whether it's a quiet Tuesday night or a busy Saturday afternoon?

You're ok in my book to crank it up in order to try it but not so ok if you do so when it's busy. I still respect your opinion though :sport-smiley-002: