Guitar Center offers a huge collection of axes, yet its heft may not be helping consumers.  According to a recent lawsuit from law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, both Guitar Center and the National Association of Music Manufacturers (NAMM) have been conspiring to artificially control pricing on guitars.  The class action lawsuit applies not only to electric guitars, but a wider range of fretted instruments.

The suit, filed with the US District Court in California, points to backroom meetings focused on price-fixing.  Those meetings, dating back to 2001, allegedly revolved around preserving profit margins and squeezing out competition.  “We contend that, even with its market domination, the company acted illegally to rig the marketplace to its benefit,” said Steve Berman, lead attorney and managing partner at the firm.    

The action invites participation from anyone purchasing a fretted instrument between the dates of December 1st, 2005, and December 31st, 2007.  Banjos, acoustic and electric guitars, violins and more are covered by the suit.