It can be very difficult to buy the guitar you want from a mom and pop store. It never used to be but because of the ruthless business practices of Guitar Center, it's now next to impossible. Guitar Center will mandate that they get all of the best makes, models and colors from manufacturers like Gibson, Fender etc. What the mom and pop stores are left with are crap guitars, the ones Gibson is pushing that Guitar Center doesn't want. Guitar Center will often give more for a trade-in too. Therefore, they end up with the best used gear too. They're pretty ruthless and cut-throat. I've had some long conversations with music shop owners and they get livid about it. I hadn't made the Bane/Romney connection prior to this article though. Interesting stuff. I think that from here on out I want to buy used guitars anyways.