If I could give this place zero stars I would. I came here about a year ago to have some work done on one of my guitars. I had one of the worst experiences I've ever had in a store. It was openly misogynist and very unprofessional. Here's what happened:
Three guys were behind the counter when I came in. While I was waiting for one to assess the work on my guitar, Guy #1 says something about an item being $5. Guy #2 shouts in response, "What! That's more than I'd pay for a hooker lap dance!"
Gross. I kept waiting, and watched as the men proceeded to talk to each other about my guitar, without bothering to ask me a word about it; Not why I set it up the way I did, or what style I play, or what my goal was with the adjustment. Literally, talked right over my head. Like I wasn't even there. Guy #3 speculating about string gauges (I could have answered this, had I been able to get a word in); Guy #1 says, right over my head: "Well, she doesn't bend, does she?" Are you fing kidding me? I've been a professional musician for upwards of 15 years. He didn't know anything about me, yet proceeded to make massive (and false) judgements about my abilities and style, made more degrading by the fact he deemed me incapable of answering that question myself. Apparently it required another man's opinion, rather than that of the musician herself. Awful. Followed by, again directly over my head, "She probably just strums and accompanies." Like, seriously? Because I'm a woman walking in with an acoustic guitar (which apparently according to them, women just stare at, don't play, and know nothing about) I'm automatically relegated to a category of less competence? With the added belittling qualifier of "just"? To add insult to injury, the guy behind me walked up, placed his guitar on the counter, and was met with a straightforward greeting and questions about his guitar, a totally different experience than mine. I was stunned, sickened, and just wanted to get out of there at that point. I didn't think it could get any worse but it did.
I asked for my guitar back and as I was closing the case muttered under my breath a comment, something like, "So much for being a gal in a guitar shop." Which the guy closest to me heard (Trevor? Travis? Medium length dark hair)- And proceeded to drape himself over the counter in response, sticking his chest out as though to display pretend breasts, and leaning forward to stick his butt out with one hand on it, emitting high-pitched giggling, twirling his hair, imitating what apparently he thinks of as a woman. Which according to him (and the other guys at this place) is unintelligent and solely sexualized.
I was nauseous at that point and beelining it for the door, when I saw a little girl (9? 10?) entering the store with her guitar for a lesson and my stomach dropped at the thought of these unchecked attitudes around little ones. PLEASE, do not send your daughters here for lessons, lest they grow up to view themselves the way Trevor and the others view them. Or your sons for that matter, lest they grow up to be like these guys, with open bigotry, unchecked arrogance, and perpetuation of rape culture. And don't believe what they say- Believe what they do when no one's looking (like when they thought I wasn't.)
Take your business elsewhere. Please don't support these guys. Support equality and respect for your fellow humans by going somewhere else. It's disheartening to see that these attitudes are still so prevalent, especially in guitar-land; But so worth it to find other places that aren't so rife with misogyny, and that treat people with respect regardless of gender, color, etc.
I will be filing a complaint with the BBB as well; I mainly wanted to posted this so parents can send be spared sending their kids to an environment like this.
And PS-
Yes, bro, I do bend. read more