Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was in the Finger Lakes region last week and I stopped in at a couple of guitar shops. The first was the House of Guitars in Rochester. It certainly lived up to it's billing, lots of guitars stacked all over the place. They had a half dozen Rickenbackers, including a 320, 330/6, 330/12, 360 & 360CW. I tried to play a couple, but they were all way out of tune and poorly set up. They only had one bass, way up on a shelf with somebody's autograph on it, so I didn't even bother. The sheer number of guitars packed into one room was pretty overwhelming. The record/cd/t-shirt shop in the back was even more chaotic.
Later, I went by Rumbleseat Music in Ithaca. Opposite end of the spectrum, organized, bright, spacious. Not as many guitars, but the ones they had were beautiful, all nicely polished, hanging on racks or stands. Beautiful assortment of vintage Les Pauls & Jrs, a couple of Rickenbackers. I was hoping to try the BG 370 that had been discussed here, but it was on hold or sold, not on the floor. No RIC basses in stock. I did try a lovely 450/12 FG that had great action, but was out of tune and I didn't want to bother. Is this a common theme in US guitar shops?

Anyways, both were interesting experiences & I would recommend that any forumite who finds themselves in the area should pay both shops a visit. I could've spent hours in either of them.

captsandwich wrote: I did try a lovely 450/12 FG that had great action, but was out of tune and I didn't want to bother. Is this a common theme in US guitar shops?

Interesting thought here.If the guitar was in tune and you instantly fell in love with it you'd probably at least "think" about buying it.Which is one step closer to The store selling the instrument Yeah? So why not at least make sure that the merchandise is in reasonable order for the customer to relate to.Interesting point Greg i recently went to my local store ( Which is obviously not in the U>S) that had a BBR 360 in a Sh*t state of affairs.Its like buying a new car and when you start her up and it sounds **** and the dealer saying oh dont worry it not been tuned! Who the hell wants to tune a 12 Str in a guitar shop!The Guitar shops should be responsible for the tuning and cleaning of their guitars.I mean after all its these people that are selling them! Wheres the logic?

The shops here in the 'Zoo (most notoriously GC) do not set up any of the instruments. If I was just starting out, and tried a bass here in town, I would have a very negative experience and if young and inexperienced, I would possibly give up thinking I had no chance of ever playing. Badly bowed necks and sky high action do not make for a very positive tryout experience. And I'm talking even the $1000 plus instruments.