Guitar Center is actually a really good place for gear.

[Dabrenn]

I don't know if this really belongs here (I'm considering this as a "resource"), but I recently bought some things from my local Guitar Center and discovered that they have a good selection of various types of equipment AND they will price match any item, and then take off an extra 10% of the discount. (You see $200 item in the store, find it on Amazon for $150, they take $50 off, plus 10% of $50, making it come out to $145)

I ended saving almost $100 dollars on a $340 purchase (would have been $440 normally) thanks to this price matching and one other deal they had in store. I don't know if this is common knowledge, but I figured I might as well share it since I personally much prefer to physically buy items rather than order them in the mail.

[Fimbulin]

I got my flamenco classical guitar at a Guitar Center, with a case and every bit of gear I'd ever need. $500. I highly recommend Guitar Center as they gave me a 4 + 1 year full-coverage warranty on all my gear.

Best guitar I've ever owned, too. :)

[itroitnyah]

There's a Guitar Center that's like, a good hour or so away from me. I've heard that they're good, but unless I can't order something from the internet, I won't be able to go there for any gear. I'd love to walk into a guitar center though, it seems like it would be an awesome place to be. Just so that I can go and drool over the expensive equipment they have there, haha.

[vladnuke]

Eh, Guitar Center is alright. Basically, if you walk in there, make sure you already know what you want to buy, because the guys are paid on commision and will sell you what they need to sell, not necessarily what you need. I've caught a few employees not knowing things about the stuff in their sections.

Jeez, if I could go back in time I would have never bought that damned Roland Juno G (for $1000 are you shitting me) and would've just gotten a decent Moog or Korg for that price. But hey, I was 14 at the time and didn't know better.

[Freewave]

Yeah i can really recommend them too. One of the few places you can see lots of different musical gear, ask questions, often test out, and physically buy and return. I know a lot of people buy stuff via mail order but there's a reason why stores exist and buying things in person is a step above in service.

[Dabrenn]

Jeez, if I could go back in time I would have never bought that damned Roland Juno G (for $1000 are you shitting me) and would've just gotten a decent Moog or Korg for that price. But hey, I was 14 at the time and didn't know better.

$1000? Ouch.

I would say I know that feeling since I spent $150 that I regret at age 15 on a rather terrible midi keyboard, but I'm sure what I feel isn't the same.

I'm surprised you were willing to invest so much at that age.

[JSynth]

My local guitar center offers studio lessons.
I am actually taking lessons from guy who teaches there privately. Simply because he saves me $20 an hour and we both share the same DAW. He also has most of the plugins that I do and more.

[CaptainFluffatun]

Yep, GC is fantastic. Lots of gear and lots of time to be killed in all the various districts of that massive city<3

[Alycs]

There is a guitar center about 30 minutes from us but I've only been there like once when I was seven when I got my piano; I've always wanted to go back though, my memories of it was that is was awesome, and my older brother (who was really into music - not really making it, but listening to different CD's and the equipment side) swore by the place.

[cplbradley]

i usually get kicked out of the guitar center by my place because i enjoy spending time in the speaker room too much

[Ocular]

I got kicked out for playing with the synthesizers for too long :I