fleabag Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Things not to do in a music shop........ Perhaps not light up a fat jazz ciggy next to the Ritters ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 (edited) I try not to play anything that might look like showing off as i personally hate to hear guys doing that when i'm in looking. Usually some scales across the neck, few quick licks with some harmonics or unusual style thrown in depending on how i'm feeling that day and never play too loud unless i'm testing an amp or cab where i want to check at a reasonable volume. On that i don't think i've ever actually upset anyone. Have even been asked to join bands while testing out basses. Dave Edited February 17, 2018 by dmccombe7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 I seem to play “Behind The Lines” off Face Value by Phil Collins... But I used to work in a guitar shop...and there are some great stories from the 11/12 years I did that job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share Posted February 17, 2018 44 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: I seem to play “Behind The Lines” off Face Value by Phil Collins... But I used to work in a guitar shop...and there are some great stories from the 11/12 years I did that job. Come on then, give us a few (so to speak) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 18 hours ago, TrevorR said: When trying out a bass in a shop I always find “The Theme From Star Trek Deep Space Nine” falling under my fingertips. Only ever been called out on it once... lovely tune, though. Quite so. The most majestic of ST TV themes, imo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 8 minutes ago, T-Bay said: Come on then, give us a few (so to speak) My favourite was a guy who bought an Epi 335 and a lead to go with it. Came back in complaining his new electric guitar didn’t work. he’d gone home and somehow wired a household plug onto the end of his newly acquired cable... he’d been plugging it into the mains. how he didn’t die I’ll never know. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 1 minute ago, AndyTravis said: My favourite was a guy who bought an Epi 335 and a lead to go with it. Came back in complaining his new electric guitar didn’t work. he’d gone home and somehow wired a household plug onto the end of his newly acquired cable... he’d been plugging it into the mains. how he didn’t die I’ll never know. Jesus, are people still doing that after nearly 70 years of mass market electric guitars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 I usually play different stuff to see how the bass responds, so some double-stops up the dusty end and also seeing how comfortable the bass is to play. They never have straps on them, which I find annoying cos I rarely play sat down. Last time I tried a bass in a shop I played Pump it Up by Elvis Costello over and over and got some funny looks from the sales guy. I then found the same bass cheaper and with a hard case on eBay and bought it (I know, I'm going to hell just for that). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 7 hours ago, paul_5 said: My first thought after reading the thread title was ‘defecate in the corner’. I think I need to speak my therapist 🤭 So that isn't what they mean when they ask you to do your favourite number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Things not to do? Any of these: Criticise their woefully inadequate range of bass guitars, and even more limited selection of amplification. State that you like an instrument you've been trying - next thing you know they are taking it to the till and trying to upsell you some accessories. Mention the expensive axes you already own - a keen salesman will take this as a personal challenge to find you something from the Squier or Vintage ranges that will blow it out of the water. Enquire whether a lower price might be available for cash (actual folding money) - the days of shops buying and selling in paper money are pretty much gone, they almost all have card facilities, and it can actually cost them more to bank cash than to take a payment on a debit card. Offer an existing instrument as trade-in - you'll get a better price from the first low-ball Gumtree chancer that comes along than from a retailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 7 hours ago, paul_5 said: My first thought after reading the thread title was ‘defecate in the corner’. I think I need to speak my therapist 🤭 If you're going to do it, I think in the corner is the most considerate place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 8 hours ago, skankdelvar said: Jesus, are people still doing that after nearly 70 years of mass market electric guitars? Apparently so Rik Mayall also did that in one of the Comic Strip stories - Beat Generation IIRC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 (edited) Happened upon a homeless gent taking a wazz at the side of the shop. ”sorry lad, when you gotta go, ya gotta go!” he then proceeded follow me in and started to strum an ibanez acoustic bass randomly singin “ahm sorreh I whizzed outside yer shop, me life’s a fuggin mess, forgive meh” for about 20 minutes. looking back it was f*cking tragic at times that place. Edited February 18, 2018 by AndyTravis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 15 hours ago, skankdelvar said: Jesus, are people still doing that after nearly 70 years of mass market electric guitars? Unbelievable indeed. I searched the web for a compact jack-to-mains adapter, AND FOUND NONE AT ALL! You'd think that they'd have come up with a patent that is simple and cheap but still well-built enough to take a current worthy of a Darwin Award. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 16 hours ago, tauzero said: So that isn't what they mean when they ask you to do your favourite number? Usually they ask for your favourite No1. Never ask for your fav No2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Asking anyone for their fave No.2 is fraught with danger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 4 hours ago, dmccombe7 said: Usually they ask for your favourite No1. Never ask for your fav No2. I don't know about that. I'm between two stools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 8 minutes ago, discreet said: I don't know about that. I'm between two stools. Poo Poo to you is appropriate then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 (edited) Generally sound like you know what you're talking about. This is the equivalent of going to your doc and reeling off a number of medical conditions you've been able to rule out with confidence before he tells you how irritated he his with people who use webMD for self diagnosis. Both GPs and music shop staff want you to be ignorant and at the mercy of their expertise. Edited February 18, 2018 by Barking Spiders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 I wish i'd seen this thread earlier, i've just come back from a music shop where the first thing i did was light up my trusty crack pipe, then I started morris dancing, and in the excitement i shät myself, and with all the energetic morris dancing it sprayed all over the equipment in the shop. When the staff tried to stop me, they took me by surprise and I accidentally assaulted them by throwing excrement at them. It all worked out in the end though because I apologised and purchased 1 used plectrum for 9p. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 I usually start by being highly specific about the precise combination of amp and cab(s) that I want to play the bass of my choice through. I then take the cables off the guy and wire it up myself, all the while pointing out why I've chosen this specific setup, and the failings of the other gear they have in stock, and why I won't use any of it. After that, staff and punters alike usually f-off and leave me in peace to play. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 I refuse to play anything unless they provide me with a music stand. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 (edited) Things not to do in a music shop? Don't be a know-it-all tw*t... Edited February 18, 2018 by Dan Dare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 10 minutes ago, Dan Dare said: Things not to do in a music shop? Don't be a know-it-all tw*t... Oh, come on - that's half the fun! At least that way you can find out if the staff really know anything. If they do, you can have an interesting conversation, if not, they'll definitely leave you alone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 5 hours ago, project_c said: I wish i'd seen this thread earlier, i've just come back from a music shop where the first thing i did was light up my trusty crack pipe, then I started morris dancing, and in the excitement i shät myself, and with all the energetic morris dancing it sprayed all over the equipment in the shop. When the staff tried to stop me, they took me by surprise and I accidentally assaulted them by throwing excrement at them. It all worked out in the end though because I apologised and purchased 1 used plectrum for 9p. Well I think you were very lucky to have gotten away with that! If I was the proprietor of a musical instrument retail establishment there is no way I would have tolerated morris dancing on the premises I can tell you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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