Rant

Gaddamn Guitar Center…I’m really starting to hate that place (the Westheimer store, at least). I was there last night to buy some strings for my classical guitar, with every intention of making it a quick trip (like I always do). I thought I’d step into the acoustic room for a minute or two just to see what they had. I’m thinking of trading in my classical for a flamenco guitar. Flamenco guitars have more…um, I hate to use this word when describing sound, but “punch.” The body is a little bit thinner and there isn’t as much bass response as a classical. Yeah, they’re both nylon string but the subtle differences make all the difference. On with my rant…

First, there is this douche bag that is playing every guitar in the room, really loud, and really bad. I didn’t know it at first but it turns out he works there. He keeps shouting to this other employee with a goatee asking him if he is playing some song right...I think it was that one song by Everlast. Then he starts playing the goddamn banjo like a guitar. Arghhh! I’m trying to try out an instrument over here! Must have been his first day on the job.

Then, the other employee, the Scott Ian wannabe, picks up another flamenco guitar off the wall, faces me, and starts playing really loud. I’m used to other people playing in the acoustic room, but the part that pissed me off is that he was less than two feet away from me (almost right next to me, and still very loud). Seriously, I could not hear what I was playing. He must have heard me playing Asturias (by Isaac Albeniz, look it up, it’s a good song) and decided that he could play it better and that he had to prove it. I’m thinking to myself, “um, yeah, WHY would I even consider buying an instrument when I can’t even hear what I’m playing?” I just know he wanted me to look his way and give him a compliment of some sort on his playing ability. You know, something like, “hey dude, you’re pretty good!” I refused to give him the satisfaction. Way to go dude. You proved your guitar excellence, fucker.

Now, I’m normally pretty reserved and usually keep comments to myself in certain situations, but this next part surprised even me. The first guy, the new guy, finally asks me if I need any help as I’m putting the guitar back on the wall. I look at Wannabe for a second (still noodling) and then I look at New Guy and say, “as long as you two are in here, no, I don’t.” I looked at him for a sec and walked out. I know that you can’t go into a guitar store and expect to NOT here someone playing a guitar, it IS Guitar Center after all, right? Duh. But, there is a reason that the acoustic room has doors on it, and, there is plenty of space in that room to play anywhere else except for right fucking next to me. Seriously, like 18 inches or so. I’ve been in there many times when other people are playing—no problem. Sure I could have asked him to be quiet, but I shouldn’t have to.

Am I being out of line? Or being a snob? If so, somebody please let me know. I mean, it’s not like trying out a Marshall stack—you HAVE to crank those things before you buy ‘em, it’s a given, an unwritten rule, and it’s totally understood. Seriously, how else are you going to get the full experience of valve-powered-awesomeness? But acoustics, come on. At the very least, prove your guitar excellence all you want, just not in my face.