i was at a newly opened larger branch of a well-known KL music store yesterday afternoon, just before a trip to the supermarket across the road. there were more guitars and amps than their store in bukit bintang, and i had the opportunity to check out items (with a five-figure price tag each) in the gallery.

one thing about large stores like this, however, is the “see-no-touch” policy and the “may i heptchu[sic]” sales reps. probably after my “i’m just browsing” brush off, they sent a friendlier chap down our way, who seems to know his stuff as opposed to one who’d reel off specs and tell you how much it costs.

i love going to stores where the assistants are real players and are happy to let you play anything in the store, from cheapo squiers to higher priced gibbos. one thing with musical instruments salespersons, though, is, putting it mildly, their ability in “conning” the buyer to buy the item by demonstrating how good it sounds. i once saw this chap playing a superb blues lick on an epi les paul, clearly impressing the dad that was going to buy his son’s first electric guitar. i know someone who sold like 4 pianos a week doing the same thing. i saw none of that yesterday.

but i guess if a store monopolises the sale of particular makes of instruments/amps, they can afford to have a “take it or leave it” attitude to the average punter when they have people in the industry coming in droves buying stuff worth thousands of ringgits.

tak de soul. give me the second hand market on eBay anytime.