The biggest music store's take on Westone... The Guitar Center

So I was on the Guitar Center site, and thought to search their used gear. I typed in Westone. To my surprise, there are a couple of them. What was interesting was a crackle finish WE6410 going for $449! I'd never heard of Guitar Center buying and reselling a Westone before. They usually turn their noses up at them. In the case of my friend and his Dimension VI, he went in to see if they're repair the bridge for him and they actually laughed at him (jerks). They said "that's just a cheap Jap brand, buy a good guitar" (again, jerks). I'd noticed prices rising on Westies, and maybe the used guitar sales industry is noticing too. For years they'd been taken to pawn shops because guitar stores wouldn't buy them, maybe that's changing.

The Chad wrote:they actually laughed at him (jerks). They said "that's just a cheap Jap brand, buy a good guitar"

I hate the snobbery that comes with playing guitar.. usually from long-haired Guitar shop assistants, The 3 things I love are Guitars, Computers and Cars.....The 3 things I hate are Guitar shops, computer shops and Garages..I must get a new hobby!!

bowenjaybee wrote:...I hate the snobbery that comes with playing guitar.. usually from long-haired Guitar shop assistants...

True dat. I'm fortunate that my local guitar shop is run by a guy who knows what's what. And his tech is even more tuned in to Mats guitars, for that matter all good guitars, regardless of branding. He'll appreciate a Martin acoustic, sure, but also raves about the Classic Vibe Squire Tele's and Strats...and my Westones!

That's a refreshing change from the long haired pimply faced Lugans who populate the guitar shops and the computer stores around here. Apropos of which, I recently went into a well known "big box" electronics store looking for a PS/2 to USB adapter so that I could hook up an old keyboard to a laptop. He was like, totally dazed and confused dude. Kept insisting that I look in the Sony Play Station area!

... which is why the imminent loss of my guitar shop saddens me. The guys behind the counter were my age - a wee bit younger perhaps? - and just liked guitars; they weren't concerned with name snobbery, just with what sounded good. I think Jersey may be a little small for 2 specialist guitar shops but the other one will never have me darken their threshold again after being treated like a leper because I didn't play a Gibson or Fender, or anything else they thought cool!

I suppose I'll buy strings via the web and do my parts shopping online as well... too bad really; East Coast Music in St Helier; good luck guys!!

When I took in my Westone to have a new pickup put in recently, the young guy at the counter looked at it and said, "I've never seen one like that before. That's cool." I'm pretty sure he was being genuine too.

I suppose you have to own a Fender or a Gibson to be a cool kid, because that's what all the kids are doing. I took great delight in telling one of my coworkers about my Westone, because you know what? It sounds and plays better than a LP Studio. (I admit I have a LP Studio. I'm terrible with peer pressure!)

"Peer pressure" aside, what better way to have a "standard" to judge other guitars against. Nothing wrong with owning a Les Paul since variety makes the world spin round. (I have a LPC meself.)

In some circles, there is an '80s revival going on. Fender started putting out Charvels a couple of years ago with Strat headstocks on them - just like the old San Dimas guitars from the early '80s. And Jackson is selling lots of guitars today as well. Look at all of those pointy Deans in the magazines and in metal music videos.

So depending on who in the music shop sees your guitar, they may say 'wow, cool' or they may say 'you should get a good guitar.' However, the market for our old Matsumokus is NOT at Banjo Center or our local music shop. It is online.

I frickin' hate the Banjo Center. It's not a music store. It's a marketing/sales business like a used car lot. I have managed to not buy anything from them in 4-5 years.

I love going into guitar shops and being served by pimply's.
Listen to all the sales splab even had some take a guitar from me and proceed to play and then hand it back saying" look how good it sounds"....then.... ask some technical type questions, gulp, 90% of them know f all and search for help.

We've all got ego's to a degree but they do make me chuckle

colt933 wrote:I frickin' hate the Banjo Center. It's not a music store. It's a marketing/sales business like a used car lot. I have managed to not buy anything from them in 4-5 years.

You're dead on, Colt!!! I recently met the "manager" of my local Guitfiddle Center when I went in with a friend of mine. He was looking to trade a Gibby for another Gibby. The manager took his guitar, and we waited 45 minutes for him to answer us, despite asking several times what's going on. The manager finally came back out and offered him $600 for it, it was worth $1800. This guy reminded me of a... anyone want to guess? That's right, a used car salesman. It was almost funny to watch him interact with my friend. I had managed health clubs for almost 6 years and had a team of salesmen, so I know them well, and this guy knew every trick in the book. I wonder if he'd ever thought about selling health club memberships... That's a tough way to make a living, I can relate!

I called 2 shops in Bendigo for a quote on that fretdress ive been yakin about.

The first shop said " Hang on! didn`t Westone build Basses back in the 80`S & got takin over by Fender.."

I replied.. " yeh probably mate, thanks for your time". (he would have been better off shutting it)

The 2nd shop I rang for a quote said " Which model Westone is it Richie"....
I said "its a Spectrum"... he said " bloody great Guitar in there day mate, pitty they caved in, would have given the big guns a run for there money, by the way is it an sx,dx,lx ect...".

He had me at "bloody great Guitar in there day mate".

So these guys will make around $400.00 just on product knowledge alone, & my drummer is buying a Full Pearl kit from them aswell. <it does not pay to be a flog>
Cheers,
Richie..

Nice; they'd've had me there as well!! Melbourne and environs seemed to be a hot bed of Matsumoku stuff in the early 80's, as I recall - loads of Vantage around...

There are a lot of Vantage around & pretty $$$$ly too.
There was a plain woodgrain, kinda looked like a Thunder 1, went for $1,200.00 on Gumtree, I was looking for my Pantera at the time (that I still do not have).

They must play alright Corsair?
Cheers,
Richie..

Yes, they do; I have a well worn Vantage VA900 bought in Melbourne in 1980 which I gigged and recorded with for 30 years... they play real good!!

Nice axe Corsair, kinda looks like a Thunder, I say this due to the p/ups & design. Do they sound & play like a Thunder because I have my Red Thunder 1 & I have been so happy with it. Maybe a Vantage would not be a bad idea..
Cheers,
Richie..