I'm a bit stumped by a question about something called the "live sound wall". I asked one of the employees what it was, and he didn't know. I'm a guitarist and very familiar with Guitar Center. I have some guesses as to what it is, but I don't want to guess.

"Guitar Center offers a comprehensive selection of live sound gear, featuring a "wall of sound" setups that include powered speakers, subwoofers, and mixers from brands like QSC, JBL, Bose, and Electro-Voice. Customers can test PA systems and live sound packages in-store to find suitable options for performances, ranging from portable column systems to robust venue audio."I just looked it up. Haven't heard that before either.

It's the wall of speakers in the live sound room as opposed to the studio monitors on display (usually in the keyboard area).

The wall is also supposed to be "live" i.e. ready to demo using their switching/routing system, and you are supposed to be able to hook up a playback device and listen through whatever combination of speakers and subwoofers you like.

I just celebrated my 49th anniversary working in the industry, and have called on GC stores in a variety of capacities over the years. I got my start at a store in Texas that did more business out of one location than the 5 GC's that were in existence back then, FWIW.

I actually aborted my last GC mystery shop (at a location I have visited on behalf of a manufacturer). I was able to get my phone to play tunes via Bluetooth over the sound wall, and made a total racket switching speakers for a good couple of minutes with no offer of assistance.

Having experienced something similar when killing time (making all kinds of noise in the keyboard area while the sales loser kept their face buried in their computer screen), I decided I was biased and opted not to go through the hassle of trying to engage.

How that location stays going is beyond me... it's quite possibly the worst one I've been in out of dozens and dozens of visits.

Yeah, I did two of them and just went with the wall of speakers & mixers that you could noodle around with. I also learned that the worst GC in my area keeps dead strings on every. acoustic. guitar. That place is so effing grim; I always shop local. Bleh.

@PurpleCrayon wrote:

I always shop local. Bleh.

They are indeed the Dark Side.

I encourage my students, and everyone else for that matter, to go there to check out gear then buy local or from Sweetwater. Friends don't let friends buy from GC.

I had one good experience buying a new Taylor guitar case at the Sunset BLVD., location in Hollywood, CA. That was many, many moons ago. Every experience in any location I have been to since then has been disappointing, to say the least.

Hollywood is the mothership, so typically you'll get decent service there. Many of their other stores not so much.