I'm still confused about Les Pauls

[StreakyPete]

I can recommend GAK in the UK' date=' they do sell occasional used stuff but mostly new. They will price match against other net sites too; I just bought a Fender combo from them, I also got my Alleykat there.

 

[/quote']

 

I checked GAK out today. Their prices are right up there, e.g.

LP Std £299

LP Studio £229

G310 £179

G400 Vintage £199

SG400 £279

SG400 custom £349

 

Also, they give quite an informative little description of each guitar, with full spec list.

[Rob S]

Well at least we can all sleep rather more soundly in our beds tonight (UK Members mainly)

 

Marvelous News......... Musicground are in Receivership. ALL Branches closed today and Denmark Street Shops first to go.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am to hear this news, couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch of shysters.

[AlanH]

I checked GAK out today. Their prices are right up there' date=' e.g.

LP Std £299

LP Studio £229

G310 £179

G400 Vintage £199

SG400 £279

SG400 custom £349

 

Also, they give quite an informative little description of each guitar, with full spec list.[/quote']

 

Check out DV247.com. They will match European prices (i.e. Thomann who are often the cheapest). Under each price on a search page DV247 say "Guaranteed best prices in Europe". A G400 is £249 with free delivery over £199 but they would have to match Thomann's £224 for an ebony one. Artic blue LP Studios are £233 at both retailers and black ones slightly cheaper at Thomann (£224 vs £233).

 

They don't have stores in Bonny Scotland but, if you don't like buying unseen, remember you have a week to return without reason under the distance selling regulations.

 

LP Studios and G400s regularly go for £150-170 on ebay plus getting ripped off for postage. When you can get a brand new one for a few quid more with free delivery and a return policy surely it's a no-brainer.

 

Have a chat with your missus about 'upping' your £150 budget. Tell her the used ones might need a good clean and the wood could smell of smokey bars or pet odour (or whatever she dislikes). That might persuade her!

 

Alan

[Zork]

Just buy an Epi the quality is better than ever.

[midiman56]

I could satisfy my Custom GAS and my Black Beauty (2 pup) Gas with this:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Limited-Edition-Les-Paul-Custom-Electric-Guitar?sku=518073

 

It's even got a 'chrome' PG' date=' not a white or cream! Oh, yeah!

Sheila

 

[/quote']

 

I agree, Sheila ... that Chrome Custom is a beauty. We have one at the store at the moment and it plays as good as it looks. About the only negative thing I could say about it is that it is the world's biggest fingerprint magnet. Black guitars are usually bad enough ... now just imagine covering it with MIRRORS! LOL

 

Jim

[deflepfan]

I agree' date=' Sheila ... that Chrome Custom is a beauty. We have one at the store at the moment and it plays as good as it looks. About the only negative thing I could say about it is that it is the world's biggest fingerprint magnet. Black guitars are usually bad enough ... now just imagine covering it with MIRRORS! LOL

 

Jim

 

[/quote']

I am so jealous of you! There isn't anything near me (under an hour) to go play Gibby's or Epi's! I know that the Chrome is technically not a Black Beauty (or is it?) but it would be my choice as I can't see me ever needing three p'ups! The description calls it a Black Beauty, but not the official name. Much like the new SC is/ is not a Junior?!

 

I think I would really like to buy the company - just to get the names straightened out!!

And maybe add a few to the mix:

Junior - Bolt-on neck, Humbucker, available in Black, White, Wine, Blue

Junior Special - Bolt-on neck, P90, available in (Stains, not paint) Trans Black, Cherry, Blueberry, and a couple of 'bursts

Junior Deluxe - Set neck, choice of Humbucker or P-90, available in Any of the above colors.

 

Anyone game?

Sheila

[midiman56]

I would really like to buy the company - just to get the names straightened out!!

Anyone game?

Sheila

 

Well' date=' She ...

 

I think the guitar you like is officially called The Les Paul Custom Chrome. That differs from The Les Paul Custom (same axe with gold hardware and a black pickguard) and The Les Paul Black Beauty ... the three pickup version. 'Tis confusing at times, I'll agree!

 

As for buying the company, if Henry [i']Jerk[/i]iewicz doesn't chage his evil ways pretty soon, it might cost us less than you think!

 

Read the latest! I know that any publicity is good publicity, but this is getting DEEP!

 

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cad42764-3924-11df-8970-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=e8477cc4-c820-11db-b0dc-000b5df10621.html

 

Jim

[leicester35]

Marvelous News......... Musicground are in Receivership. ALL Branches closed today and Denmark Street Shops first to go.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am to hear this news' date=' couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch of shysters. [biggrin]

 

Well, let's just hope that their employees are joining you in your unbridled celebration of this joyous news (as they contemplate their mortgage payments or rent bills for next month). Hip..hip..hoo-ray.

[midiman56]

Well' date=' let's just hope that their employees are joining you in your unbridled celebration of this joyous news (as they contemplate their mortgage payments or rent bills for next month). Hip..hip..hoo-ray. [img']http://planetsmilies.net/violent-smiley-1694.gif[/img]

 

Well said, Leicester!

 

Especially since, in cases like this, the parties MOST resposible for any ill-conceived or dishonest policies are usually the ones that are LEAST hurt when the party comes to an end. It's the working stiffs that were just doing what they were told to do that take it in the back!

 

Jim

[StreakyPete]

Well at least we can all sleep rather more soundly in our beds tonight (UK Members mainly)

 

Marvelous News......... Musicground are in Receivership. ALL Branches closed today and Denmark Street Shops first to go.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am to hear this news' date=' couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch of shysters. [biggrin]

 

Hi Rob

I'm not up to speed on the rise & fall of the company formally known as 'Musicground', but (taking a wild stab at a guess here) I would say that they stiffed you once too often.

Am I right?

 

Pete

[StreakyPete]

Have a chat with your missus about 'upping' your £150 budget. Tell her the used ones might need a good clean and the wood could smell of smokey bars or pet odour (or whatever she dislikes). That might persuade her!

 

Alan

 

I've got a better idea...

YOU tell her.

I'll wait outside

 

Actually - and I kinda thought this might happen - I'm gradually upping my intended spend on a day-to-day basis[blush]

If only I hadn't looked at that pesky 'Post my Epiphone' thread.

[deflepfan]

I've got a better idea...

YOU tell her.

I'll wait outside

FUNNY!! The rest of us will wait eith you!

 

Actually - and I kinda thought this might happen - I'm gradually upping my intended spend on a day-to-day basis[blush]

If only I hadn't looked at that pesky 'Post my Epiphone' thread.

Yeah, those pesky guitar porn threads will get you into trouble all the time!

Sheila

[deflepfan]

Well' date=' She ...

 

I think the guitar you like is officially called The Les Paul Custom Chrome. That differs from The Les Paul Custom (same axe with gold hardware and a black pickguard) and The Les Paul Black Beauty ... the three pickup version. 'Tis confusing at times, I'll agree!

 

As for buying the company, if Henry [i']Jerk[/i]iewicz doesn't chage his evil ways pretty soon, it might cost us less than you think!

 

Read the latest! I know that any publicity is good publicity, but this is getting DEEP!

 

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cad42764-3924-11df-8970-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=e8477cc4-c820-11db-b0dc-000b5df10621.html

 

Jim

Personally, I've just been calling her the Black Beauty Chrome. But, she's actually (according to MF) an Epi Ltd. Ed. LP Custom (Ebony with Chrome Hardware)

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Limited-Edition-Les-Paul-Custom-Electric-Guitar?sku=518073

But the description says she's a Black Beauty with flashy appointments.

And I saw that article yesterday. Yup, it shouldn't be long, now! Down the toilet or out the door.

Sheila

[Rob S]

Hi Rob

I'm not up to speed on the rise & fall of the company formally known as 'Musicground'' date=' but (taking a wild stab at a guess here) I would say that they stiffed you once too often.

Am I right?

 

Pete[/quote']

 

 

In answer to all who have picked up on this thread. Of course one feels sorry for any employees that have been caught out in this, but, anyone who was working for them had to be pretty damn naive. The stories and rumours that have been circulating about this particular company and its management team are legion, well publisized and equally well known by those who have any connection with the UK Retail Market, so whilst having sympathy with the employees, I am afraid that I cannot lose to much sleep on this subject. The rumour mill has been at work for in excess of 8 years for goodness sake. I bet Guitar Centre (sorry, Center) are glad that they steered clear when this retailer was making overtures some years back and offering to open up the UK to them.

 

Yes Pete, you have guessed pretty much correctly. My beef actually lies with their ambulance chasing tactics. A very dear friend lost his battle with cancer some years ago. He was a well known and respected musician here in the UK, his band provided the springboard for Bruce Dickenson to become the vocalist in Iron Maiden etc, etc. The Funeral was a supposedly private affair, but somehow, they managed to get one of their bods in to the chapel and he pressed a business card into the grieving widow's hand and uttered the frankly incredible line," Give us a call when you want to out his old tat."!!

 

We did assist him with finding the exit.:)

[AlanH]

Yes Pete' date=' you have guessed pretty much correctly. My beef actually lies with their ambulance chasing tactics. A very dear friend lost his battle with cancer some years ago. He was a well known and respected musician here in the UK, his band provided the springboard for Bruce Dickenson to become the vocalist in Iron Maiden etc, etc. The Funeral was a supposedly private affair, but somehow, they managed to get one of their bods in to the chapel and he pressed a business card into the grieving widow's hand and uttered the frankly incredible line," Give us a call when you want to out his old tat."!!

 

We did assist him with finding the exit.

 

 

Would that be the late Paul Samson?

[midiman56]

It's an ugly old world at times, isn't it?

 

Jim

[StreakyPete]

but somehow' date=' they managed to get one of their bods in to the chapel and he pressed a business card into the grieving widow's hand and uttered the frankly incredible line," Give us a call when you want to out his old tat."!!

 

We did assist him with finding the exit.

 

Jeez! what imbeciles!

I wonder if this creep was acting on his own initiative, or if this was company policy.

Good riddance to them!

 

Ermm, any more juicy lines like that?

I can sense the stirrings of an idea for a new sit-com here...

...Nah, wouldn't work.

Pete

[StreakyPete]

Sorry about the above - when I proof read it (too late) I see it isn't in the best of taste.

Mia culpa

[animalfarm]

Heading back on topic, let us know what you eventually

go for, be it EPi or not!

 

 

[StreakyPete]

Depite dire warnings about the perils of eBay, I've got my eye on a LP Standard.

It's being sold locally, with the auction ending on Sunday.

I should really push to 'try before I buy' but, this being Easter week-end, I'm not sure if I'll be able to slip the lead long enough to do a decent recce.

There were plenty of photos of the guitar along with an invite to ask any questions.

 

It seems to be kosher - the serial number is DW05070783, which identifies it as being made in the Deawon plant in China in July '05.

I read somewhere on this forum that Chinese built guitars were of pretty decent quality. I tried to find the post which dicussed that point, but failed. (Blimey! you guys must really love your guitars, 'cos the posts really move along at a fair old clip!)

I know I should be taking deep breaths and standing back from this a little, but the New Guitar fever is high at the moment.

[Rob S]

Don't worry Pete, we have all risen well above all of their silliness, but perhaps now you can understand me evident glee at the news that the Owners of this establishment are getting something approaching their cumupence at last.

What goes around, does indeed tend to go around.

 

AlanH Yes indeed. The world lost a very fine person the day that Paul left us.

 

Just for you Pete, purely to assist you with your Script Writing you understand, LOL, here is a letter that circulated amongst a few of us just prior to the announcement of Musicground's "difficulties".

 

It might be even better if read in the style of Arcright from "Open All Hours".

 

 

"Justin Harrison - If it's not a scam it's no a deal

 

Here's some news maybe bad news for many who have dealt with Justin Harrison at Music Ground, Doncaster, England. It is beyond any doubt whatsoever that Justin Harrison (Director of Music Ground) with the blessing of his father Richard Harrison (Managing Director of Music Ground) has produced fake guitars and amplifiers over the past twenty years using a devoted, though some might argue misguided and greedy, group of talented individuals. These have included electronics wizards, woodworkers, graphic artists, Photoshop experts and guitar finishers. And here are some examples of amp and guitar nasties:

 

A large in depth article appearing some time ago in Vintage Guitar Magazine went into great detail about a European Music Company manufacturing fake Marshall amplifiers. This of course was Music Ground a fact that was boasted about by Justin Harrison. Amongst the people he duped were Mikhaal Karlsson guitarist with the Hives and Peter Svensson talented guitarist with the Cardigans. When Peter Svensson challenged Richard Harrison about the authenticity of the Marshall amps, Richard, being the devoted dad that he is, admitted they were fakes and raced over to Sweden and immediately bought back the amps out of his own money totalling some £80,000. And what happened to the amps on their return to Doncaster, Justin Harrison sold them on again to another unsuspecting individual. Mikhail also fell foul of the Marshall fakes and he too demanded a refund. Music Ground is paying him back on a payment plan which is continuing to this day.

 

Turning his attention to another amp range Justin Harrison has produced a number of fake Dumble Amplifiers. Of course these are very profitable as the electronics wizard for building the amp only receives around £3000, the cabinet maker £1500 and the amp sells for £30,000. It is worth noting that the art work for the front panels of the Dumbles are made in a little former mining village called Bentley just a couple of miles away from Music Ground's headquarters. Who are the dupes on this range then? None other than Texan Real Estate Magnate Garry Keller. Perhaps someone ought to tip him off about this and Oh God yes the other fake amps He's bought from Justin Harrison. But come on Howard Dumble get your arse into gear and stop all this. Your amps are great don’t allow a crap like Justin Harrison to make thousands out of you.

 

As for guitars particularly Hofner bass guitars there is a never ending list of dupes. Here's one example: Let's take a right handed guitar that was picked up in Breda, Holland by Music Ground. It sailed back to Doncaster only to be transported to a guitar hospital based in Newark run by a very clever wood worker who put a left handed spin on the guitar and it became a lefty (the top was flipped). It kind of went through what might be termed the equivalent of a sex change shall we say? It returned to Doncaster to be aged and then transported to Los Angeles where poor old Beatle beatnick Greg Feo bought it for some £30,000. He was warned by his chum another Beatle nut Tony Capizzi that fake Hofners were incubated in the Music Ground basement. But the rest is history and the profits fell into Justin Harrison’s pocket

 

Let’s quickly pass over mentioning that Kirk Hammett bought a fake Zematis made in Doncaster from Justin Harrison (and returned it after some clever negotiations between Richard Harrison and Kirk's lawyers) to detail his finest scam to date-fake provenance over a Korina Explorer sold to yes, Peter Svensson. Poor old Peter and He's such a nice guy but easy prey for Justin Harrison. The Music Ground Director claimed he had found the original owner of the 1960 Explorer complete with a Polaroid picture of him holding the guitar way back in the early 1960s. But no, that wasn't true. The picture depicted none other than a Music Ground employee a wood worker. So several weeks after Peter Svensson took delivery of the Explorer and was glancing at the photograph of the original owner it was pointed out to him that this guy bore a striking resemblance to someone on the Hiwatt website (Hiwatt is Music Ground’s sister Company). And yes the one and the two were the same. Bad mistake Justin Harrison because Peter Svensson is taking you personally to the cleaners for this.

 

Justin Harrison is really the music world's equivalent of Dennis Nielson (a British mass murderer now serving a life sentence). He picks up unsuspecting investors takes them into his confidence and butchers them.

 

Why am I telling you all this. It's because Justin Harrison hates guitarists and rock music full stop and delights in taking the piss and ripping the crap out of all of us in the Music Industry. Please, please don't be associated with him or anything he stands for. Remember it's only a deal to Justin Harrison if He's ripping your bollocks off.

 

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Music Ground is being liquidated on Monday. Justin Harrison is taking creditors for around a million quid. So let's hope when it all goes bump next week there are plenty of people with base ball bats ready to take revenge.

 

I can give more stories if required please let me know via the forum.

 

A footnote: Justin Harrison was scamming prior to the liquidation. A Streamline terminal registered with Hiwatt was siphoning off Music Ground funds.

 

A second Footnote: Hands up all those who want to know of the dozens of stolen guitars Music Ground has fenced? If there’s under a million requests I won’t talk.

__________________

[Rob S]

Apologies for derailing this thread.

 

So what are you thinking Pete? Ebay "can" be your friend too.

[animalfarm]

Depite dire warnings about the perils of eBay' date=' I've got my eye on a LP Standard.

It's being sold locally, with the auction ending on Sunday.

There were plenty of photos of the guitar along with an invite to ask any questions.

 

It seems to be kosher - the serial number is DW05070783, which identifies it as being made in the Deawon plant in China in July '05.

[/quote']

 

I snagged this one from Ebay, from a pawn shop in Florida, USA. I asked

questions of seller, rcvd prompt responses. Mine was manufactured at

Daewoo Plant on 2006, I paid $300 USD. It's actually my favorite one to

play - FAST neck. Of course, I did eventually upgrade pups and tuners.

Good luck, don't get caught up in buying frenzy and overpay, there will

always be more out there!

 

PRE-MOD/AS RCVD:

 

 

POST-MOD:

 

 

[Rob S]

Very Nice Indeed.

[StreakyPete]

Justin Harrison is really the music world's equivalent of Dennis Nielson (a British mass murderer now serving a life sentence). He picks up unsuspecting investors takes them into his confidence and butchers them.

 

_

 

Priceless!! - Forget the sit-com, there's enough material there for a series of Blockbusters!

 

eBay? well, buyer beware of course, but it's pretty small beer compared to old Justin's shenanigans.

I've got a pretty good feeling about this one, but we'll see.

It may be a case of 'hold me back before I do something I'll regret', but I'm healthily suspicious at the moment.