Playing guitar is one of my passion, and there's nothing short of thrill and excitement when it comes to visiting a shop that sells guitar at a huge quantity. And that place is bentleymusic. This place is nothing short of breathtaking and whenever we step in, there is just this feeling of tears coming out. There is a reason for this, and it's either because the amount of guitars you can find in there are quite alot, maybe the largest selection in SEA, and also the price is at the high end part.
You gotta understand they are a retail outlet and their prices are fixed. There is no bargaining around, and they don't even give offers or discounts, regardless of seasons. I don't recall them throwing out at least 10% on the range of stuff they had, and that's why if i wanna go to places like these, it's just so that i can see what are the new things they bring in, and of course to admire some of the classics they have.
They also have on display some of the most expensive guitars around, and by expensive, it is their best range and best looking guitars. It also has those from SRV and SV and JS series, man those are the bomb i tell ya. I name those few because they are the ones that inspired me from the very beginning of my discovery on the world of guitars. There was this one band that got me into all of these, and for the love of goodness, I can't remember which band that was. One thing about me is that I don't remember things very well. I mean, I can even forget my best friend, being my friend at all. Like whut? I know right.
Speaking of a friend that I forgot about being a friend at all, was a very astounding discovery. What happened was, I was lepaking around a shopping mall doing my own sightseeing, ehem if you know what i mean. Suddenly someone pop out of nowhere and started with recognizing me and calling my name. And I was like, err HI, with a super awkward reaction and the look on my face probably shows how dumb looking i am at the moment. And he's like, i am so and so, from bibu bibu, your once very close friend! And i gave the same confused look back to him and say, yes you are .. Who are you again? Ha ha. We then grabbed a place to sit down at MD a began to chat. I kept questioning him, who he really was. In my memory till today, I don't know who he was. Is it me that i have amnesia or is it him recognizing a wrong friend? Maybe i look like his handsome partner but no, just no. He kept insisting we were once very close and all.
So then i began getting interested in the world of guitar. Previously i was just all about drums, because it's just a guy thing. Almost every guy has this thing with drum, and you see us head banging to the sound of a beat. But not all guys can catch the timing properly, so it has gotta be talent in someone to be able to pull it off. There was alot of drumming stuff at bm, and one of my favorite was the black color symbol they had on display. Like all things carbon fiber, this probably made out of cf as well.
They also have this room that was locked, and contained full of the most exotic and expensive guitars around. Legendary from the kings of rock. To get it, we'd have to ask them to open the door, and then my friend and I would just jaw drop. Everytime we were there, it gives us a heart attack. The beauty and price both gave us a shock. Prices increases each year, and the dream of owning one of those babies will always remain a dream.
While we were there, there's always someone frying a solo or the staff got bored and played the guitar. And the drums will be kicking away, because they have a TD-9 in the house. We're always shy to ask the staff whether we can test the guitar or not, and also because the way the staff just like stared stone cold on the customer while he's trying the instrument out just creeps us out. I however did managed to test out the electronic drum set they have. The space surrounding it is quite big and like a stage feel to it, that i quite like. I took over the stick from the staff, and started whacking it, acting like a pro. But truth is, my skill is no match for a pro at all. I know some basic pattern and drum roll, but when it comes to showing action, i just flunk it. My hand just wouldn't follow my mind at all. This say very much about the fact that even if I had talent, without practicing, doesn't make me any better at all.
I then saw one of those jem series, man that is sick. It wasn't the gold inlay, not the original one. But this being quite close to it in resemblance. I dare not touch the original one, because the poison might just sip into my veins, and i'd lose my sense of normal .. idk .. my wallet will drain. But one thing i don't quite like is the way the neck just seems fatter than my liking. Blame it on my small hands, and the master's hand is like swallowing the entire neck so for him it's like child's play. The only thing i like is the monkey bar grip on it. I mean just look at it, there's just no other guitar that looks like it.
There's this one time we came in a gang of 4, and decided to pick up 2 guitars, thinking we could jam together or something. After tediously tuning the guitar that's out of tune like a dead cat, we struck a few chords as intro. The moment we got into the groove, the staff rushed over and told us off, saying we can't jam in here. We were furious, but kept it cool, and silently said to one another, this place and this guy is a jerk. What more this fellas just don't know how to do business. Who wouldn't stop by and listen if we threw a impromptu jamming session? And the customers will be impressed by not just what we did, but the guitar as well. Even if the guitar we used were just mediocre, it'd still convince the would-be buyer that it's that good. And all my friends would agree, that it's a valid rant.