I suggest applying to both places. Still, the workplace culture varies between locations. I loved everyone I worked with at Sam Ash, and the clientele was great, but Sam Ash in the next city could have had a toxic workplace culture. I never worked at Guitar Center, but have been told it is similar. The pay wasn’t great, so I recommend taking this as a first job for a musician or if you’re new to a city and want to make connections in the local music scene. The role you apply to also varies. Salespeople get an hourly wage plus a commission. If you’re great at selling gear, you can make decent money. Don’t forget to apply to local music stores, especially if you’re a teacher. As I said, I discovered my old vocal and bass teachers charged their own rates rather than using the store’s rate. This way, you can make more money. Again, all local shops vary, so make sure you ask about pay before accepting the job.