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

GrantMeThePower

GrantMeThePower

Platinum Member
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.
 
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.
 
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 )
 
Definitely buying Musicians Friend. They will deal with you and answer all your questions and offer you all the little things you may want.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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....
 
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
 
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.

 
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
 
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.
 
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