Norm’s Rare Guitars

[GAD]

I’m in CA for something and had an extra day so drove the hour round trip to check out Norm’s. Saw Norm standing outside on the phone, so thought this might be a fun adventure.

I walk in and the guy at the front desk says “It’s by appointment only, do you have an appointment?”

I said “No, but I’m from 3500 miles away and came to check out the store”

“We don’t do browsing. It’s app only. Says so on the website.” With an attitude that was very much “you don’t look like Joe Bonnamassa so get lost.“

I’m annoyed, but I suck it up since I’m absolutely guilty of not checking the website, so I call them from the car to see if I can make an appointment since there was obviously no one in the store. Same guy answers and tells me that I can’t make an appointment to browse, but can if there’s something specific I’m looking for.

I got a glimpse of the couch, so I guess that’s cool. I’m not even mad about the appointment thing since I probably should have checked (though that’s not been a problem for me anywhere else I’ve gone). It was the attitude.

I guess I’ll go look for a Guitar Center.

 

[walrus]

Wow. This may explain why I've always felt he was just a little bit "smarmy" and full of himself in all those videos. He is!

I just checked the web site, it does say "appointment only", but it sure doesn't say you can't browse. I would be more pissed at the attitude than you were, good for you.

Didn't you tell him who you were? "I'm GAD from LTG!"

walrus

 

[Stuball48]

What a disappointment. Not that I was gonna buy anything from Norm's Rare Guitars but that just solidified my feelings. Even George Gruhn and Walter Carter, not only allow but, encourage browsing.

 

[chazmo]

Well, that blows, GAD! Sorry to hear it!

 

[AcornHouse]

Probably for the best. You’d just get arrested arguing with them about all the incorrect information they have on the Guilds they have.

 

[GGJaguar]

They don't cater to the hoi polloi. Harumph!

 

[dreadnut]

What a dick.

 

[FNG]

After watching some of their latest videos, they should have a t-shirt that says..."Norms Rare Guitars..Making good guitars sound bad since 1975"!

 

[MacGuild]

Condolences, that sucks. Especially because making that pilgrimage, like visiting Carter Vintage or Emerald City, is something you do almost reverentially because it is such a cool store with so many nice toys.
Poor form on their part. You'd think they'd make an exception for someone who had come from so far away and, for all they know, could have been prepared to drop a couple of hundred grand there. And "3500-miles" should have got you at least an "ummm, we're not supposed to but let me check with my boss".
Ah, well. Seeing Michael Lemmo featuring a Guild on Guitar of the Day is about as rare as a Bigfoot sighting anyway.

 

[Guildedagain]

"I got a glimpse of the couch, so I guess that’s cool."

I'll never look at that couch the same way again, it's ruined for me now ;]

Down with the imperialist guitar stores. Guitars to the people!

 

[twocorgis]

What a disappointment. Not that I was gonna buy anything from Norm's Rare Guitars but that just solidified my feelings. Even George Gruhn and Walter Carter, not only allow but, encourage browsing.

We had and LTG meetup in Nashville back in 2013, it included a visit to Gruhn's when it was still downtown. @ladytexan had done a good job talking Guild with George, and he invited us upstairs to see his special stash (which was amazing). Not only did he show us some special and one-off '80s model from his tenure there, I thought he was nothing short of charming. He even played for us!



I think the folks at Norm's could learn a little from him.

 

[Rayk]

I’m in CA for something and had an extra day so drove the hour round trip to check out Norm’s. Saw Norm standing outside on the phone, so thought this might be a fun adventure.

I walk in and the guy at the front desk says “It’s by appointment only, do you have an appointment?”

I said “No, but I’m from 3500 miles away and came to check out the store”

“We don’t do browsing. It’s app only. Says so on the website.” With an attitude that was very much “you don’t look like Joe Bonnamassa so get lost.“

I’m annoyed, but I suck it up since I’m absolutely guilty of not checking the website, so I call them from the car to see if I can make an appointment since there was obviously no one in the store. Same guy answers and tells me that I can’t make an appointment to browse, but can if there’s something specific I’m looking for.

I got a glimpse of the couch, so I guess that’s cool. I’m not even mad about the appointment thing since I probably should have checked (though that’s not been a problem for me anywhere else I’ve gone). It was the attitude.

I guess I’ll go look for a Guitar Center.

Gad if your still there in the area I might be able to help ya out . Just let me know .

 

[Rich Cohen]

Norm's is over priced anyway. It's a mill.

 

[GAD]

Gad if your still there in the area I might be able to help ya out . Just let me know .

Honestly I have zero desire to step foot in there any more.

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

I live near Norm's and a few years ago needed picks so I thought I'd check them out. No picks for sale! I did get to walk around around the store, though. Wasn't impressed.

 

[JohnW63]

I can sort of understand their " appointment only " stance because of all the old and possibly expensive guitars and they don't want a GC crowd all playing at the same time and taking up space and not buying anything. But,.... There is a thing called customer service. Sounds like they are living on their precieved fame as sellers to the rich and famous. I would guarantee if you were a well known name, someone they would video playing their stuff, you would be let in the front door without an appointment.

 

[davismanLV]

My one and only visit to New York we took the ferry to Staten Island to go to Mandolin Brothers!! The owner, I forget his name, came up and introduced himself and when we told him we were visiting from LA he was soooo nice and took us on a tour of the store and gave us some history and talked about famous musicians and their visits and then he took us upstairs to the "seriously vintage room" and told us about each and every guitar!! What a great place and a nice man!! Nothing but respect for his business model. I'm sure Guitar Center was much better on the other side of the hill!! What a total dick move to be like that.....

 

[DrumBob]

Remind me not to go to Norm's next time I'm in California. And it was not too long ago that Norm was quoted as saying he'd probably have to shut his doors because COVID had hurt his business. Nobody was in the store and the salesputz refused you entry? What a douche.

 

[DrumBob]

My one and only visit to New York we took the ferry to Staten Island to go to Mandolin Brothers!! The owner, I forget his name, came up and introduced himself and when we told him we were visiting from LA he was soooo nice and took us on a tour of the store and gave us some history and talked about famous musicians and their visits and then he took us upstairs to the "seriously vintage room" and told us about each and every guitar!! What a great place and a nice man!! Nothing but respect for his business model. I'm sure Guitar Center was much better on the other side of the hill!! What a total dick move to be like that.....

That was the late Stan Jay, a prince of a guy who helped me out all the time if I needed information, or a sidebar while writing articles. He was one of the nicest guys in the business, and cancer took him from us. After he passed, his kids tried running the store, and it finally folded. A shame.

 

[davismanLV]

That was the late Stan Jay, a prince of a guy who helped me out all the time if I needed information, or a sidebar while writing articles. He was one of the nicest guys in the business, and cancer took him from us. After he passed, his kids tried running the store, and it finally folded. A shame.

Thanks DB!! Stan, yes!! What an amazing guy and no wonder his store was so successful. Sad when he died. What a great experience that was for us.....