Going to buy a new guitar....from where?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
GrantMeThePower

GrantMeThePower

Platinum Member
Jun 10, 2005
2,923
2
0
From this thread i decided my guitar: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=2003193&enterthread=y

But now that I'm going to order, I've heard a bunch of bad things about Musician's Friend that I was going to buy from. Their reseller ratings are OK, but the bad reviews say that the customer service is bad and that the returns are a hassle, and because i'm buying a guitar sight unseen (nowhere near me sells it) then that is something that is important to me.

Anyone had luck with them? Anywhere else better? (guitar center doesn't sell alvarez)
Thanks.
 
Gibson486

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
I have no problem with musicians friend.

SamedayMusic is my favorite though. Everything always comes overnight for me (on ground shipping), even when I order past there same day dead line. Plus they have awsome customer service.
 
N

nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
6,825
504
126
I would suggest buying local if at all possible. The little extra you pay can make the difference between finding a great instrument and getting a dud.

That being said I had 2 horrble ecxperiences with music 123 on a single purchase. I finally got my money back but it took 6 weeks and cost me return shipping and a professional setup from and authorized luthier. ( about 100 total )
 
M

MustISO

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,927
12
81
Definitely buying locally. They will deal with you. Bring an ad from anywhere and they should match it.
 
BrokenVisage

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
Definitely buying Musicians Friend. They will deal with you and answer all your questions and offer you all the little things you may want.
 
Gibson486

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Originally posted by: nutxo
I would suggest buying local if at all possible. The little extra you pay can make the difference between finding a great instrument and getting a dud.

That being said I had 2 horrble ecxperiences with music 123 on a single purchase. I finally got my money back but it took 6 weeks and cost me return shipping and a professional setup from and authorized luthier. ( about 100 total )
Click to expand...

Yeah...I have dealt with music123 also. I bought a "grade B" guitar from them. It was described as just a return and missing strings. When I got it, i was surprised to see that the guitar was damaged and rebuilt. Basically, someone put a hole in the guitar and you could see where they repaired it. It was very noticeable. I asked to return and first they said no returns on grade B products, then they said fine, but I would have to pay for shipping. i eventually got the BBB involved and they sent me a box to ship it back.
 
N

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
3
81
Go local.

A decent local shop will have the guitar setup and ready to play.

It's worth the extra $25-50.

Edit- You want an AE? Definetly go local OR go with EM Shorts or Buffalo Brothers (do a google search). Fantastic places to deal with.
 
W

WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
5,006
0
0
If you're still located in the home of Trader Joe's, South Pasadena, like your profile says, then :
if beginning: buy local.

if one step up: then the better shops I know of in a wider SoCAL area are:

McCabe's in Santa MOnica

World of Strings Long Beach

If you can afford it & want to go upscale professional quality, then Breedlove

or near the top of the filed, expensive, true upper level professional quality, but you have to wait over a year: David Eichelbaum
 
Platypus

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Buy locally as others said, not all instruments have mojo.. you have to cherry pick them sometimes because of the quality of mass produced guitars.
 
CraKaJaX

CraKaJaX

Lifer
Dec 26, 2004
11,905
148
101
Don't buy it online.

Guitar Center is usually good.. I know they have stores all over. If not, go local.
 
L

LikeLinus

Lifer
Jul 25, 2001
11,518
670
126
Guitar Center is owned (or owns) Musicians Friend. The good thing is they don't charge taxes in most states.

I got an ESP Steph Carpenter Signature Model 7 String Baritone, EM-U 1212M and Shure SM57 from them for Christmas. I also got my son an LTD model and Line6 small amp. All were purchaed through Musicians Friend.

Buying online saved me over $100 in taxes. Not only that, I went through the Xmas deal and they sent me a $75 Coupon and $20 coupon for our guitar purchases. I got the Shure SM57 for 9 dollars, for a $100 Mic! So actually I ended up saving a couple of hundred dollars.

Shipped very fast and they do returns for 45 Days. Can't beat that.
 
N

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
3
81
He's buying an Alvarez....I guess it doesn't really matter where he buys it from.

Man...I'd rather go with a cheaper Taylor or Larrivee than an Alvarez....
 
C

coaster831

Member
Feb 9, 2006
152
0
71
Most employees (not all) at guitar center know very little about the gear they sell, plus every guitar in there is played and banged around by 100's of people. Their acoustic guitar room is typically not humidity controlled (so the neck doesn't have the right amount of relief, and sometimes even the bodies are warped), and usually the strings are old so it is tough to compare one guitar to the next.

That said, if they are having a sale and you find a guitar you like there, go for it. But I second the note above that EM Shorts is a great place to buy (even though they are online).

I also agree with the posts in your guitar thread that Seagull and Larrivee are the best values in acoustics. If you want tons more information, visit the acoustic guitar forum on harmony-central.com
 
Fritzo

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: coaster831
Most employees (not all) at guitar center know very little about the gear they sell, plus every guitar in there is played and banged around by 100's of people. Their acoustic guitar room is typically not humidity controlled (so the neck doesn't have the right amount of relief, and sometimes even the bodies are warped), and usually the strings are old so it is tough to compare one guitar to the next.
Click to expand...

That's why you always ask for the guitar on the TOP rack :) Their acoustic guitar room (at least the one here) is covered in cedar and IS humidity controlled. Unlike the local ma & pa shops where their 7 acoustic guitars are hanging next to their electrics.

 
C

coaster831

Member
Feb 9, 2006
152
0
71
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: coaster831
Most employees (not all) at guitar center know very little about the gear they sell, plus every guitar in there is played and banged around by 100's of people. Their acoustic guitar room is typically not humidity controlled (so the neck doesn't have the right amount of relief, and sometimes even the bodies are warped), and usually the strings are old so it is tough to compare one guitar to the next.
Click to expand...

That's why you always ask for the guitar on the TOP rack :) Their acoustic guitar room (at least the one here) is covered in cedar and IS humidity controlled. Unlike the local ma & pa shops where their 7 acoustic guitars are hanging next to their electrics.
Click to expand...


I'm not saying you can't get a decent guitar at Guitar Center, and I wouldn't go to a really small store with zero selection either. To get an idea of the places I'm talking about: Medley Music in the Philly area, or Melodee Music in Sterling, VA have amazing acoustic guitar rooms. Breedlove, Larivee, Santa Cruz, Collings, etc.
Check out the inventory at Medley for their high end guitars
 
JDub02

JDub02

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2002
6,209
1
0
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: coaster831
Most employees (not all) at guitar center know very little about the gear they sell, plus every guitar in there is played and banged around by 100's of people. Their acoustic guitar room is typically not humidity controlled (so the neck doesn't have the right amount of relief, and sometimes even the bodies are warped), and usually the strings are old so it is tough to compare one guitar to the next.
Click to expand...

That's why you always ask for the guitar on the TOP rack :) Their acoustic guitar room (at least the one here) is covered in cedar and IS humidity controlled. Unlike the local ma & pa shops where their 7 acoustic guitars are hanging next to their electrics.
Click to expand...


Same with the Guitar Center by me. I get almost all of my stuff there. The best thing is that all of the prices are negotiable. You have to treat shopping for an instrument like shopping for a car. Go in and play a bunch of them. And when you find the one that's for you, don't pay sticker price.

Also remember that two guitars of the same model can sound and play very different.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom