2021: Year of locals

Ghostman

Ghostman

Ambassador of the SuperNatural
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This coming year, I am going to commit myself to support local and small businesses when it comes to gear. This year was a year of discovery. I found several shops that build equipment right here in the area.

I have several 'needs' (used loosely here) and want to do what I can. When the shoe fits, why not?

Here's a few local shops that I'm looking at:

Abominable Pedals - High gain fuzz and cool pedals made right here. Boutique and expensive so it may take a bit
Black Hand Cabinets - Custom speaker cabinet shop made in the area. Baltic Birch, natural finishes, and cheaper than ordering from online retailers.

Since I saw Jethro's strap from WellHung, it's on my need for 2021 list. I just have to get the details worked out.


And a shop that I recently discovered as local, but could never:

Soldano - I've driven past that shop a dozen times and never knew they were there. Once this Covid is over and we are released into the wild, I'm definitely going to stop by to at least get a selfie like a mountain top trek.
 
I buy whatever I can get at my local Long n McQuade. They are helpful too. I even could have refused my Custom Shop if I didn't like it amd they would put it in stock.
I also get my camera gear, rechargeable batteries etc from the camera shop I used to work for.
Keep yoir local economy going at least where possible. Some items I canmot get here
 
I don't mind spending locally of course. The hard part is finding things or even places to support. Guitar shops are a rarity outside of the big box stores now days. I've been to several shops that are relatively close to me, and none of them had service that would warrant support. I don't need someone waiting on me hand-n-foot, but friendly acknowledgement would be a start.

Camera shops? I buy online only. Not from choice, but because the local shops force me to. There's two camera shops within reason to me, and both of them have the worst customer service I've ever experienced. I told one manager that I'd rather buy a used car than come back to his store. It was that bad.

I have a couple of speakers on my list of first haves from @CoyotesGator which will work great in a new cab from the shop near me. I need a setup to match up to my GR JKD from @T-Rex since it's lonely without a cab.
 
The staff where I worked, some of them anyways, are really good. They show me thjngs I never asked about knowing what equipment I have and use. I bought a flash for the Sony full frame and she convinced me to get a Godox rather than Sony. I would rather pay more amd get high quality stuff so I was skeptical.

This flash kills it! And, remarkably, it is only a Sony dedicated because of the hotshoe. It will work wirelessly with my Olympus as well!! So it is a multi set up type flash and the wireless receiver for both the types are built in unlike my Olympus. Plus the transmitters allow control of the Godox studio flashes amd I have one coming. The new collapsible beauty dish/softbox was a recommenadtion by her as well. Great service!
 
I live in BFE, so local stores are far and few on options but i try to keep things to them. I definitely veer towards local restaurants and RARELY eat at the larger chains we have, save maybe a drive thru on a rushed lunchbreak.

But as far as local music stores? The two nearby both burned me on separate amplifiers in the past and i wouldnt buy a pick from either now. But when i do gear purchases, i go direct and person to person sales because i dont like large chains either.

I always shop at the local grocer instead of the big guys we have nearby
 
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