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Interview
with Gannon of The Almighty Guitar Planet
Today we're talking with one of our favorite
musical instrument dealers in Calfiornia.
Gannon, owner of The Almighty Guitar
Planet, has been in business in Ventura since 1989, selling
and repairing a wide range of guitars, amps, and accessories,
as well as, offering lessons.
The store is not only our favorite but, is the favorite
of many musicians in and around the Ventura area and is
considered the coolest guitar store in Southern California.
DooDad:
Your
a great guitar player and your demo's for customers range from
Van Halen and Satriani to folk and classical.
When did you start playing guitar?
Gannon:
After
High School. Played
around, goofed off and, I was a jammer.
Got in a band in 1989.
DooDad:
Tell
us about Guitar Planet. What
was your reason for opening a music store?
Gannon:
Just
before I opened the store I had a good job and my only hobby
was guitar. I
shopped at the local music store and recommended the store to
a friend. And, to
my disbelief he got a better price on the same product that
I'd bought there. Do
to my moral standards, I thought that was unfair and I opened
my own store. I give everyone the same price and I don't judge anybody.
DooDad:
How
do you decide which gear to put in the store?
Gannon:
The
broad easy way to do it is to look at all products and
basically I take an inventory of who has the best.
Then, since I know who has the best, we look for the
best price. Usually,
it's the small guy. I'm
not selling a name brand, I'm selling a quality product.
I do sell names but, it's very rare.
DooDad:
What
advice do you offer guitarists?
Gannon:
If
your an upcoming guitarists take lessons from someone whose
knowledgeable. Always
use an instrument that plays well and sounds good.
Don't waste your time on a crap guitar.
Saving $50 on a bad guitar will cost you $600 in
lessons. You
gotta learn action, intonation, and quality of hardware.
DooDad:
How'd
you decide on your Martian logo?
Gannon:
It
was a guitar student that drew it up. Her name is Jamie Vine and she's now a well known artist.
And the Martian fits with the Guitar Planet theme.
The logo represents that we are down to earth, have a
sense of humor - no suit and tie.
And, we are warm around the edges.
DooDad:
You sell lots of great gear at fair prices. One is DooDad Guitar's Check-A-Board Red Preamp and Booster
stompbox. Tell us
about “Red.”
Gannon:
It's
sturdy. What I like
about it is, if you throw it at someone it'll kill them. Musically it is in its own league, there is no other pedal
like it. Being
unique is a good thing and, it's a bad thing.
But, in this case it's good.
Its in the overdrive family with rich low gain that rings
out and sustains and, you can hear all the notes and harmonics.
The boosts with the overdrive engaged increases the gain
a tad which is nice for leads.
Also, with the overdrive off the booster switch, if
needed, can double the volume of your guitar without any noise.
It also looks very sporty.
And, on stage the LED's are beautiful looking.
DooDad:
What
are your customers who've bought them saying?
Gannon:
The
ones who've tried it want to know why it sounds so clear and
different. The ones
who've bought it are showing it off as the focus point of their
sound.
DooDad:
Is
there anything else you'd like add?
Gannon:
Store wise, people who buy guitars like to
buy from a guitar player. And,
not a sax player. They
like to have a shop that can repair guitars.
And, above all they like honesty.
Contact Gannon at 805-648-4633
The Almighty Guitar Planet
1822 E. Main Street
Ventura, CA
93001
http://www.guitarplanet.us
Interview by Mal Stich
May 18, 2010
In
store Ventura, CA
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