Guitar Center is where you go if you're at your practice space and your last drumstick breaks.
Guitar center is where you go to pick up a nice microphone, record with it, and then return it because you "didn't like it."
Guitar Center is where you go to feel smarter than everyone else, but only because everyone else is stupid.
When you walk in, you're greeted by some hot girl who checks in you and any gear you brought with you. At this point your ears will be assaulted with the noise of amateur guitarists, keyboardists, drummers, bassists, and the completely musically retarded who have taken up residence at the bongos. It has the feel of an air-conditioned flea market.
And the people helping you give off the same vibe. I believe it's because they are paid on commission, but if you're not buying anything, don't expect them to be very open to having conversations about your favorite amps or cymbals.
However, as soon as you show yourself to be interested in making a big purchase, they become very nice and quite knowledgeable about the instruments they're selling.
Still, smaller shops like buffalo bros, music mart, and the rhythm house possess an endearing sort of quirkiness, and a feeling of genuine care for the customers, that Guitar center seems to lack.
In addition, most of the gear here is geared toward consumer-level musicians. They carry very few prescision-tuned studio monitors, or boutique guitar pedals, or festival-quality speaker arrays. In addition, their "Vault" of vintage instruments is the smallest room of the store.
In short, if you need something musical, they've probably got it at Guitar Center. But if you wanna find that 1971 Fender Music Man bass with a short-scale neck and a cracked, faded finish, you should look elsewhere.
Pros: Has at least some of everything, good return policy
Cons: Service, Metal Kids, Limited High-end and Vintage Gear
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