I Tried to Shop Incognito at Guitar Center (I failed...)

[@ptittannique5621]

Reminds me of a story Tom Waits used to tell about taking his kid's class on a field trip to a guitar factory: "So I’m waiting for somebody to recognize me. OK. I think, someone’s gonna come up and say, ‘You’re that guy, right?’ Now. I’ve been there for, like, two hours. Nothing. Nothing. Now I’m getting pissed. In fact, I’m starting to pose over by the display case. Still waiting, but nothing all day. I get back in the car. I’m a little despondent. I mean, it’s my field. I expect a nod or a wink, but nothing. So a week later, we go on another field trip. It’s a recycling thing. OK, I’m in. We pull up to the dump and six guys surround my car-‘Hey! It’s Tom Waits!’ Everyone knows me at the dump...”

[@penpal222]

"Better a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy "

[@DruNature]

thats kinda funny! Tom Waits played regularly at a local bar in Sebastopol where my dad lives and he would go see him and he would always tell me how much Tom Waits hated being recognized and didn't wanna talk to any fans who came up to him.

[@ptittannique5621]

@@DruNature Honestly, I would trust your father over this story--told by Tom Waits himself!--when it comes to how much Waits likes or hates getting recognized by fans...

[@tightmf]

@@DruNature I ran into him at Sawyer's News in Santa Rosa. I was on a Tom Waits phase with 3 of his CDs on my passenger and Rain Dogs playing in the car before I walked in. I had my back to hime and heard him chiding his kids not to bug him to buy something. I was like "no fucking way". Anyway he came over to peruse and stood next to me in the music magazines section. (This was twenty plus years ago when there were magazines.) I apologetically gushed all over him telling him he was a genus and all that. He was very nice. "I'm still doin' it. You know." One of my favorite memories.

[@MadderLive]

This is my Guitar Center that I work at! Glad you came in and saw our selection!

[@Charles-Darwin]

You should get a tour/interview at gibson - don't skip the custom shop

[@averysahara8852]

I don’t think Gibson likes Trogly, because he isn’t going to just blindly fanboy everything they release. It’s too risky for them. They would rather invite Sweetwater who has an incentive to never say anything bad about Gibson bc they are a dealer.

[@dave23024]

I used to visit Memphis all the time, and it never occurred to me that I could tour the plant until they were gone.

[@Ottophil]

@@averysahara8852he also ignores their rules, they don’t like resellers

[@realdmc]

I think the crazier story is that you walked into a Guitar Center and an employee actually acknowledged you and asked if you needed anything.

[@hkguitar1984]

Of course you would be noticed! At the 5:00 mark, wow, that 40th Anniversary Squire Tele is fantastic looking, who doesn't love a double-bound Telecaster?

[@hkguitar1984]

@@calebwalker3764 Very Cool 👍😉

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

I have the double bound Esquire they did recently. Pick guard off, screws back in the holes, honestly my favourite guitar.

[@MrRobthephotog]

They are surprisingly excellent. I played one at a GC store some months ago. Felt great, very resonant unplugged, and looks killer. I already have a Tele that I love and I'm 100% happy with, otherwise I would have bought that Squier on the spot, it was that good.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I have gotten that occasionally. My face doesn't appear in my videos, but sometimes when I have gone into a bike shop, they recognize my voice. Not often, but every now and then.

[@hoganshideout]

The Ric bass pickguard is original. The first couple of years of the 4003 had those two piece pickguards and the truss rods adjust at the neck heal end.

[@hifibrony]

Yep.

[@Sonic-sh2vh]

You are correct !

[@capymoonking]

yup yup my 83 had this

[@jameslanclos568]

7:50 - That's a Grover Adnut for slide guitar. They are still available today. Loosen strings, pop it on top of existing nut, tighten strings, tune guitar.

[@wheels845]

Trog, Iam 60 , just started playing about a year ago and I am already on my 7 th, guitar ! What I really love is the craftsmanship that goes into making each instrument. Being a fine jeweler for over 40 years I certainly appreciate fine craftsmanship. Thanks for all your amazing work. Wheels

[@captainhowdy3104]

wheels- my parents did woodwork furniture ect. when i started playing i never knew guitar could be so fancy and well crafted…. starter guitars don’t really give the craftsmanship vibe… to the artistic eye the guitar reveals itself as a work of art

[@jasonswitzer1748]

I have that mocha Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster and it is one of my favorite guitars. I swapped the pickups for 51 Nocasters and added a push/pull pot to switch between series/parallel and it is fantastic. Don’t sleep on those guitars. The prices are great too.

[@BackstageMusicChannel]

@Trog they probably figured it was Trog when he said "Let's go ahead and plug it in...see how it sounnnndsss.' or with the emphasis on the 't' when he said how he loves the 'saTin finish'.... You're a rock star Trogs!

[@paulmclaughlin4092]

The trapeze tailpiece is a common modification on older 12 string guitars, due to the extra tension which forces the bridge to rise. This warps the soundboard between the sound hole and bridge, creating a depression. It's cheaper than a Bridge Doctor or a neck re-set.

[@Commander_Grub]

Yes, I have a 1967 Epiphone Serenader with a tailpiece. It's not quite a trapeze, it has a different tailpiece.

[@ericbgordon1575]

Face it, Trogly. You're dealing with people who spend their entire work shift listening. Sometimes, they don't like what they're hearing, but I measure of ear training is vital to selling musical instruments at a retailer. Sometimes, people in music don't have the greatest ear training. I remember in February 1997 when I was given my first synthesizer. Going to where I ended up purchasing it, a retailer called Alto Music of New York in the town of Middletown, an employee who had been educated at Juilliard here in NYC didn't realize that the synthesizer I was fingering was a step up in pitch; a C major chord sounded as a D major chord. I'm accustomed to Guitar Center clamping down so many of their high-priced models. Their hope, I think, is for a customer only to have it unlocked if it's a guitar they plan on buying and taking home. That's why I have hardly asked them to unlock Gibson models that I am fascinated with. It's not for the Casual Window Shopper.

[@IIllIIllIl]

Thank you for pronouncing Rickenbacker correctly, it means so little & yet it is appreciated 😂

[@thehark6247]

it doesnt sound like that when said with a british accent

[@IIllIIllIl]

@@thehark6247 if pronounced correctly I think it does, but there are much larger hills to die on imho

[@pepmasters-999]

How else can you say it?

[@gregw988]

I'd never heard the RickenBACHer (bark, not back) pronunciation till I started watching American guitar KZbin.

[@martyneary3501]

In a five watt world video, he explains that Yes, the guy’s name was German, but they are called “backer” because the company wanted to disassociate themselves with anything German after WWII.

[@nbenning25]

A Faceless popular KZbinr is no match for identifying someone in public. I ran in to Scott Grove of Groovy Music Lessons while on vacation in Washington DC at a museum several years back … his infectious laugh was a dead giveaway. Great guy! Keep up the great work Trogly!

[@PaperBanjo64]

Oh my! Now he's a character!

[@PaperBanjo64]

Years ago I had a used pedal I didn't know how to get working and he helped me in the comments section get it working.

[@PaperBanjo64]

Scott generally appears in his videos though, so anybody who watches him knows who he is.

[@MikeE-]

My favorite room at guitar center when I was in high school was the “loud room”. All the expensive guitars and expensive amps were in that room. But I agree their acoustic room has always been cool.

[@didamnesia3575]

That isn't the loud room, it's the room for people trying to hear themselves to make a purchase. Should be an age requirement to get in lol

[@joermnyc]

3:53 that’s from Fender’s “Pawn Shop” collection, guitars and a few basses with oddball mods, like this Mustang with the Wide Range pickup… a few years ago I lost out on one in this finish that someone had routed out for a Jazz bridge pickup and switch, it was professionally down and looked really cool!

[@arustydodge2111]

Love that RICKENBACKER, Austin!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@BOUZOUKI_PETE]

Trogly invented a whole new category of famous: Guitar Center Famous! 🎉

[@MrDussek]

I work at Guitar Center. You’d be surprised how many people have actually stolen guitars by putting them in their pants and walking out like nothing.

[@davidpaul6656]

I agree, Squier have been really putting out some great guitars lately. I recently bought a 40th Anniversary Tele and was really surprised at how good it plays and sounds! Great price too!

[@didamnesia3575]

You work with concrete?

[@jeffdethuin3137]

the mustang is a pawn shop bass.. it was a limited edition Fender. Fender imagined what you might find in a pawn shop. (kind of like an early parallel universe)

[@davidwareham3569]

Please, please, please bring back Fender Friday

[@achimdg6335]

Sorry, dude, you're not 100 % faceless. You showed your face often enough for me to recognize you.

[@ilanlukatch]

Austin, the white Ric bass is a fretless conversion. Real Ric fretless boards have dot inlays and they’re bubinga, not ebony. The split pickguard is original. The first 4003’s (replacing the 4001) still had the hairpin truss rods, but they were reversed and adjusted from the body side. So Ric split the guard so that you don’t have to pull out the wiring harness part every time you want to adjust the rods.

[@ChuckNicholsonTRM]

Just came to say this. The fingerboard conversion is also surely why the neck is refinished.

[@MegaHomie4life]

Would love to see you review Fenders again!

[@thomasrevere7916]

I just moved to Bowling Green, Ohio and that Guitar Center is the one that's closest to me. I was just talking to a friend about potentially running into Trogly there and then he posts this. Neat.

[@EXSENTRIX]

That's awesome, I was wondering what GC he would have been at. I grew up going to the one in North Olmsted.

[@thomasrevere7916]

@@EXSENTRIX The reason I know which one he was at is because of the fretless Richenbacher. I saw that the last time I was there.

[@svart_kors]

What a cool episode, nice visit!

[@SoilentGreen666]

Love the sparkle ones some day I will gift one to myself ❤

[@chrisva4268]

I actually shouted out loud when you showed the HG-20 at 7:35! They were the first dreadnaught guitars produced by Gibson, designed for Hawaiian steel guitar play, that high action is factory including the riser nut. They have a super curious construction with an internal set of sides, like a body inside a body, hence the f-holes for the outer edge It was Gibson's strange rendition of a resonator guitar. They can make great "regular" guitar conversions if done properly, very rare, I'd love to have one some day! You should definitely check out that Rickenbacker 360!

[@timarmstrong1207]

I've had a Fender F65 since new in 72. For the cheap guitar it was, is now really great to play. Elixir strings made it come alive.

[@phil36135]

You are a celebrity, or maybe thats not the right word. One thing for sure, you are well known. All of my musician friends and assosiates know you, and the good people of Sweet Water know you for sure. I've spoken to 3 PR guys at Sweet Water that mentioned you in our conversation, and they talked very good things about you. To me you know more about Gibson guitars than anyone I know. All in all you are a celebrity. Thank you for what you do.

[@mqaisataloss.5951]

Oh man i wonder how greusome that rickenbackers conversion was from fretted to fretless to require a refinish XD

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

The Rickenbacker was most definitely my fave !...I have a Rick 360 ( the other rounded 360 ) in ' Jetglo ' ( Black ) which I love , it sounds so great-great-great !!!...The Rick bass is cool too , it'd be fun to play around with that baby !...I would have recognized your voice too , you should have pretended to have a tracheotomy !...Thanks Trog !

[@jordansmith444]

Do you think that Gibson les paul custom silver is still Available? I’ve been looking for one like that for a while !?!

[@thatsmrharley2u2]

I bought my silverburst Gibson Les Paul Studio at GC back in 2009, and I haven't been back since. I did some research on it and decided THAT'S what I wanted...and they tried SO hard to talk me out of it. It was the only one they had in stock. Well I tried it out and fell in love, bought it on the spot. It has all the goodies a Custom would come with (at the time) except for the binding, and I was sold. The main reason I was lusting after it was the ebony board. Now that I think of it, perhaps it was a GTOW or Guitar of the Month maybe? I dunno. But I still have it...and I LOVE it.

[@frankwebster9110]

That does it for me as well. SG with an Ebony board, and I'm all set!

[@jeffdeboer1679]

I've heard those 40th anniversary Squiers are some of the best Squiers you can buy.

[@stockholm1752]

The Rickenbacker 330 😍 and the Fender Mustang bass!

[@larryburwell8550]

we all know guitar center and musicians friend are the same company, but you dont want to go in guitar center to sell them a guitar. they will screw you big time. i bought 2 tv yellow epiphone les pauls special mail order from musicians friend just to get a nice one. both were nice so i took one to our local guitar center here in spartanburg sc to sell them the one i wasnt keeping still new in the box and they said the most they could pay for it is 75 dollars when the price i payed was 429.00 each. i told them id never be back in their store again and have not. crooked!!

[@HughJaeness]

I have that quilt blue standard LP. had ot since 2021. Absolutely love it.

[@TomSJazzBass]

The pawn shop mustang is PHENOMENAL!!!! Super dubby, perfect for Reggae and old skool vibes.

[@clayh254]

Those 90s Rickenbacker V series guitars have SUPER hot pickups, like twice as much resistance as the more modern Toasters. Would've been interesting if you had gotten to plug that one in.

[@trippgoldsberry2694]

I wouldn't mind building a house between the strings and the fretboard on that silverburst SG. Or maybe an office building. Usually when I hear someone complain that the action on a guitar is very high, I then watch them show strings that are just a little higher than almost brushing the frets. But that SG has some serious set up problems. I'd guess the neck relief is way off so it might be a simple fix, but man, that's pretty much at the point where it's hard to play.

[@LRBerry]

The silver sparkle LP grabbed my attention. A very nice guitar.

[@Siggy_Sour]

seriously how do u walk away from that. i dont see it online?

[@Kookiebiskit]

Does anyone else remember when Trogly had the facecam going during the guitar hunting episodes? Not so faceless! (unless you've grown a huge lumberjack beard by now lol)

[@nellayema2455]

You do have a distinctive voice, Trogly. I saw Bob Seger at Eldery's in Lansing, MI once. I didn't recognize him, but my brother did. We didn't bother him as he noodled around on a Les Paul. I was trying out amps. While we were leaving the store, my brother said "Did you see Bob Seger?" It wasn't until he said it that I realized who he was.

[@BubblesJrJr]

Trogly, you have a keen ability talking guitars. You have taught us so many things with your attention to detail and overall sound. Gibson is a great master of guitar building and you show us why every time!

[@jeremywolstenholme9277]

It's good to see that Fender acoustic , they were very popular in the UK in the 70's.

[@BlpBud]

Thanks for the retail side of things..can’t beat the touch and feel aspect of an instrument.

[@gregoryblind8954]

I just bought that same squire tele last week! Ok not that exact one but same model. I really REALLY enjoy playing it. Only complaint is several screws holding the plate under the knobs to the body and thru out the pick guard had their holes pre drilled much too large and the screws just kinda fall out... less than ideal for a brand new guitar but such an easy fix and the sound and feel of it make up for it to me at least

[@jeffcooper3433]

I've only got a quick glimpse or two of you but I bet I'd spot you in an instant. And yes, vary memorable voice. KeepSmiling Trogly!

[@288beetle]

Is that Guitar Center Toledo?????

[@TonyToledo22]

Should really check out HEIGHTS GUITARS the next time you're in Toledo. They're big fans too!

[@28mmRPG]

4:05 was my bass when I first started playing back in the 70's I had mine refretted and modded by Ted Thompson back in the early 80's (who now does high-end acoustics only)

[@thatsmrharley2u2]

Just curious Austin...but...if Gibson or GC decided to make a Trogly Edition Les Paul, how would you spec it out?

[@eduardoprisbrey9157]

Which guitarcenter location is this? I want to pick up that Les Paul.

[@TripleThreat2405]

Guitar Center Springfield 1578 Spring Meadows Dr, Holland, OH 43528

[@Trog]

I'm not sure if they will still have it as this was filmed at least 2 months ago - but the above info is correct

[@greghopkins18]

❤ oh that Squire Tele

[@willyjojo724]

Sparkle LP looks like a Billy Zoom guitar.

[@MrFingers127]

That double pickguard rickenbacker bass is legit for a +- 1980 instrument. The trussrods were inserted the other way around in those, so it was a heel-adjust instrument, hence the split pickguard to make it a bit easier to do so. But that bass has been modded, since Rickenbackers never came with an unlined ebony fretboard.

[@AppaBoy]

the satin necks on those 40th anniversary squiers are amazing, i dont own one but ive tried a few and the necks feel better than some of my expensive instruments

[@leddygee1896]

Silver Sparkle Les Paul Is Sweet!! That Rickenbacker Fretless Bass Was A Trip... No one could mistake that voice, Trogly!!

[@michaelbutcher9343]

Toledo guitar center?

[@HailTheApocalypse]

The new weird Fender acoustic thing was the first one that caught my eye because of the head stock when you first glanced through the top row 😂😂 I like it.

[@buzzstankos8532]

Wow! Niw, THAT is a Guitar Center! I’ve never seen. stuff like that in the GC’s I’ve been to…. lookslike a good time

[@frankwebster9110]

To be fair you do have a very distinct voice. And anybody that has listened to it over a few epjsodes will pick it up fairly quickly. I'm positive I would

[@elamon51]

Woot woot Trogly's guitars 🎸 🙌

[@Kahuna54]

Locking the guitars is a sad result of to many guitars growing legs and disappearing!

[@jlo7770]

Well I mean in California they can't even call the cops lmfao

[@Podcastforthewin]

dude, I'm a nobody. but twice people have said to me, your voice sounds familiar. and it turns out they've watched a couple of my videos on basic tech stuff.

[@cherry.c0kee]

Oh god, I need that Rick!

[@Siggy_Sour]

i need the Paul!

[@therandom802]

My GC never has anything unique in the store. You can buy an RG, a player series fender, or the LP from Epi or Gibson. Once in a while, there will be Schecter or two. And don’t plan on a finish that isn’t black, blue or sunburst. Part of the problem are the customers in the area. If they stopped buying 5 of the same guitar, GC would probably stock a larger variety. Edit: they did have a PRS 24 and 594 last time too.

[@TonyToledo22]

Toledo! Awesome!

[@squirrel-1969]

It's not just your voice that gives you away. If anyone has seen some of your videos, you're recognizable too Austin!

[@GuitarJoesGuitarShow-mp4zv]

I picked up one of the SG Silverbursts from GC. Love it. Great Action and playability on mine.

[@kennethcbailey27]

That acoustasonic Fender is up high because if you sneeze too hard at it, it will probably break 😅 I think every guitar center in south Florida has at least 2 to 3 broken ones. Seems like they're made of glass.

[@MindFullCheeseburger]

they need to make more spiderman guitars!!

[@JohnDoe-bw3tz]

Strangest thing just happened... I was casually watching this episode while simultaneously split-screen scrolling through a craigslist analog (I'm in Europe) for some Gibson guitars and in the very moment you were showing that (new to me) Rickenbacker 360v64 on the right side of my screen, an ad with an identical twin Rickenbacker 360v64 pops up on my left screen between all the Gibson search results. What are the odds!

[@tommilitello198]

It’s the internet,the odds are actually pretty good that kinda thing happens a lot

[@DiamondPressMusic]

it's a sign to get it

[@asterisk606]

Having guitars people would actually want to play up high out of reach is the norm for my local guitar center, too. I understand why, but it's unfortunate. Mine has also turned into 95% Squier and Epiphones. They used to have interesting guitars every once in a while and stocked Ibanez, Schecter, Charvel, etc. but now it's a strong focus on entry level Squier and Epiphones. If I had to guess, there would be less than 20 guitars from other brands at one time in the store.

[@Gene_Cali]

Time for a beard, Austin.🧔🏻🎸

[@TheGalilee416]

My daughter and I did a GC visit promising ourselves to ONLY pickup guitars/basses we normally wouldn't. It was such a fun time sharing what we discovered! That Sparkle Silver Les Paul looks great.

[@b_nast19]

So cool to me that you're local (to me obviously lol) and seeing my local GC in a Trogly video. Haven't been in there in quite awhile but I instantly recognized it. May have to stop in there soon..

[@williamanderson6023]

Hey! You were in my part of T-town. I was just there Tuesday. Lol. I looked at that RD, which is my holy grail, and it was beat. EMG's instead of the dirty finger pickups. Really bummed me out to have one so close but not in great shape. Oh well, the search continues. Cheers! If you need me to do some recon, let me know. Haha.

[@ogd3thst4r93]

Only the 2007 model had dirty fingers, but it was common to switch them out because most people didn't like the sound.

[@bassfingers]

The original Rickenbacker 4003’s had a two piece pick guard as seen here. I’d guess it to be very late 70’s to early to mid 80’s.

[@AlecBoyd]

Yeah, but the refinished neck with a ‘rare’ fretless board is likely a mod

[@sideshow1297]

My local GC = anything over a grand is 12 feet in the air on a locked holder, like beat it kid. It's great to know small shops are here to stay.

[@larrynoe6162]

The 70’s RD had a 25.5 scale the later reissues standards were 24.75

[@DrVink86]

I encountered the same thing in my last visit to GC last week. Everything I was interested in was either locked or out of reach. I asked to play a 61 reissue SG and she had to get a ladder and take it down and I wanted to hand it back to her immediately because the thing was so out of whack and in need of a proper setup. Action was as high as that acoustic you showed.

[@newjack69]

That was great, should do that more often.

[@WAMilyFamily]

That Mustang Bass was siiiiick. Love it!

[@shawncox9277]

That’s been my experience at Guitar Center, their stuff usually has humidity problems, fret sprout, crazy high action. Typically almost every guitar has something wrong with it and if not I’m too nervous to buy it because I’m afraid I’m just overlooking or can’t see the issue.

[@kcole4001]

The fretless Rickenbacker was an early 4003 - early to mid 1980s- the pickguard should indeed be a 2 piece, but the part surrounding the neck pickup might have been replaced/fabricated, or just reshaped slightly for some odd reason, normally it's a good fit. I have a (formerly) white '77 4001 which has yellowed considerably more, that 4003 isn't quite as banana hued as it will be in future - the clearcoat yellows with age on all Ricks. Fretless 4003 basses are pretty rare, that might have been a decent score depending on what they wanted for it.

[@Buzzer-ww3my]

Love that custom silver sparkle!

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Rick guard is original. They had the truss rod adjust at the heel for a bit. The two piece guard was to speed up adjustment.

[@HipsterNgariman]

That white Rick bass is killer, if it doesn't have the issues the old basses have (neck warping, bridge pulling up, pickups not working, tuners having play)

[@johnclark8921]

I'd love more videos like this

[@1997Ghost]

great video! i enjoyed your commentary on just the random selection at guitar center.

[@tantibusking7095]

Did those RDs come with EMG's? Or were they added after

[@raytorvalds3699]

I walked into a Guitar Center last year and I indeed walked out with a guitar that I normally wouldn't gravitate towards. It was 2nd hand with a really low price, but it looked brand new. I tried it and really liked it. So I brought it home and have a Schecter Demon-6 now lol.

[@zaccds]

I have one of those mustang basses (they called it a "Pawn Shop) in sunburst. Very loud pickup, great if you wanna level a house or something like that.

[@wirthwhilemedia]

that red Mustang bass is part of the "Pawn Shop Series". I love mine, they are way cool!

[@SurfGreenTelecaster]

Chris Murphy of Sloan has rocked a 70s striped candy apple Mustang bass like that for many years, but has the regular single coils. 👌

[@dannystarkridesfixed]

Besides your voice being very distinctive, you have shown your face enough in previous videos. That depending on how long they’ve been watching i could see it being an easy one to put together haha. Least you were able to get the footage without any worries though your plan failed.