Neck Warping Myth?

[Tarrbot]

So I went to the local Guitar Center by work today to pick up another Planet Waves tuner for the kidlet.

While I was there (and having never been to this GC) I thought it might be beneficial to look over the inventory and headed to the bass section. While there, one of the sales guys asks me if I need anything, I say no and we just get to talking about basses and Ric basses in particular.

Long story short, he asks me if Ric has fixed their neck warping problem.

I'm like, "Who? Huh? WTF?"

He proceeds to detail a few of the Rics he's had in that GC (worked there the last 8 years) that have typical neck bowing until you get to the 2nd or 3rd fret and then it just falls off...

I enclosed a pic I made to show more of what he was suggesting.

He claimed a few had come through there (like GC runs tons through their stores, mind you) including a 1998 4003 that had this happen to it.

I was a bit confused but then again, I figured he might be confused since he thought that 1988 was the first year of the 4003.

Anyone care to make a guess on why he would think this or maybe this is a SE Michigan thing that's common here.

[rickaddict]

Sounds like a typical GC employee:

"We don't know how to work on/adjust a Rick, so let's blame RIC."

Don't let him touch yours, especially if it's a 4001.

[Freez]

I think it's more a GC has a beef with RIC type thing, since RIC stopped dealing with GC I've heard of a few of their automatons suggesting that Ricks aren't that great. Funny, when they carried them they couldn't find enough good things to say about them.

[rickenbrother]

Sounds like a typical GC employee:

"We don't know how to work on/adjust a Rick, so let's blame RIC."

Don't let him touch yours, especially if it's a 4001.

+1

[cassius987]

Dude, Guitar Center is the Best Buy of music gear. NEVER listen to those people.

I went there once shopping for a hollowbody guitar. Big mistake. They tried to foist Les Paul after Les Paul at me. "THIS ONE HAS PIEZO!! SOUND JUST LIKE ACOUSTIC!" F***ing hell, I just want a hollowbody Ibanez to try out! Quit it with the Les Pauls! Then, finally, when I found the hollowbody I liked, they kept directing me to other brand hollowbodies, etc. I couldn't actually try the Ibanez out for the life of me.

I get lots of dumb Ric rumors all over... including at the local music shops, not just GC, and of course smattered all over the internet. I don't even bother bringing up that I own a Ric or that I don't share their "experiences". Whenever I do announce that, though, they change their tune fast... "OH DUDE THEY'RE SO NEAT... GUH... GEDDY LEE TONE... WOW."

I just can't stand talking gear with most people. Seems like most people I meet have built up so many dumb preconceptions that they are too far gone to consider liking something new. Like the guy I just met who despises Fender and brags up his Gibsons constantly... he's a good player but jeez, enough about how much you hate Stratocasters. Etc. etc. ad nauseum.

[Tarrbot]

I like your style Joshua.

I didn't believe it when I heard it but had to verify since it was a little outlandish.

I don't think I'd trust them with anything valuable anyway. I typically only go there when the kidlet wants something or I need a part or something.

And I'd never trust what someone at BestBuy or CompUSA says. I've almost laughed at a few of them and almost went to jail over one incident that I won't bore you all with.

[marc61]

Dude, Guitar Center is the Best Buy of music gear.

That's funny...because now Best Buy IS selling music gear. Soon GC will be selling appliances

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... e=category

[8mileshigher]

Josh

Your comments about gear discussions reflect the sad situation of all human prejudices....
a foundation of ficticious beliefs, promulgated by ignorance and close-mindedness.

In the case of GC employees -- looks like their recommendations are also $kewered by commi$$ion arrangement$ on certain models.

Rich

[deaconblues]

Dude, Guitar Center is the Best Buy of music gear. NEVER listen to those people.

I went there once shopping for a hollowbody guitar. Big mistake. They tried to foist Les Paul after Les Paul at me. "THIS ONE HAS PIEZO!! SOUND JUST LIKE ACOUSTIC!" F***ing hell, I just want a hollowbody Ibanez to try out! Quit it with the Les Pauls! Then, finally, when I found the hollowbody I liked, they kept directing me to other brand hollowbodies, etc. I couldn't actually try the Ibanez out for the life of me.

I've had the same experience many times. When shopping for a Historic Reissue Les Paul they kept pushing Epiphones and those hideous BFG models.

Recently a salesman was trying to convince me to try a Mexican-made Martin 000X when I was asking him about high-end Gibson acoustics.

They just want people to buy the cheapest junk in the store...wonder if they make more profit off of it. But surely selling a more expensive guitar would yield a higher commission, right?

[jingle_jangle]

...comments about gear discussions reflect the sad situation of all human prejudices....
a foundation of ficticious beliefs, promulgated by ignorance and close-mindedness.

...and we're all guilty to one degree or other!

[johnallg]

And I'd never trust what someone at BestBuy or CompUSA says. I've almost laughed at a few of them and almost went to jail over one incident that I won't bore you all with.

Oh, bore us, Scott!

[Tarrbot]

In retrospect, it isn't that good of a story.

Suffice to say that it was about me trying to get my money back on a software purchase when told by a sales associate I could and the manager essentially calling me a liar and a thief.

Had I not had to be at work about 20 minutes later, I likely would have gone to jail over it.

I was a lot younger and dumber at the time but I still don't go into a CompUSA unless I'm forced to do so.

[johnallg]

I hear ya. I went at it with Circuit City over a Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas CD that I thought stunk and they were accusing me of dubbing it and then returning it for refund. It was quite a few years before they got any more of my money.

[rickenbrother]

I think it's more a GC has a beef with RIC type thing, since RIC stopped dealing with GC I've heard of a few of their automatons suggesting that Ricks aren't that great. Funny, when they carried them they couldn't find enough good things to say about them.

Long before RIC put an end to GC being a dealer, all I ever heard were false rumors and statements as well as unkind remarks about RIC from employees at GC.

[Tarrbot]

Joey, that's fairly common among people who either 1) don't have a clue or 2) have enough envy that it overrides common sense.

I see it with almost every good quality product out there.

It's good to know that my instinct about this comment were right but I had to ask.