Gibson Artist Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Anyone purchase guitars from stores OTHER than Musiciansfriend and Guitar Center? I found a place called American Music Supply and was wondering if anyone buys from them or Sweetwater? If you have some other experiences with good sales/service and maybe even flexible payments id love to hear about it. While Ebay is a temptation for a Standard im more inclined to trust an Authorized Gibson Dealer than just some guy with an online store. Would love to hear your experiences or thoughts, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FarnsBarns Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Anyone purchase guitars from stores OTHER than Musiciansfriend and Guitar Center? I found a place called American Music Supply and was wondering if anyone buys from them or Sweetwater? If you have some other experiences with good sales/service and maybe even flexible payments id love to hear about it. While Ebay is a temptation for a Standard im more inclined to trust an Authorized Gibson Dealer than just some guy with an online store. Would love to hear your experiences or thoughts, thanks. I once bought a std in from a non authorized dealer. They were helpful, knowledgeable, experts who sold me an amazing guitar which I was recently able to sell for twice what I paid for it! They did setups and fret dresses free of charge a few times over the years. Don't worry too much, just buy a great guitar from a shop you feel you can trust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 My fave - Fuller's - http://www.fullersguitar.com/ - Great people and service (Gibson stock not allowed online, but will work with you - call or email). Also - Sweetwater - http://www.sweetwater.com/ - Like the fact that their online photos are of the specific, individual guitar for sale. Wildwood - http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/ - Same - their online photos are of the specific, individual guitar for sale, but they won't budge much on prices. BTW, I've bought from MF ( http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ ) and have no complaints. They'll deal on the phone. But their online photos are advertising photos, not the specific, individual guitar for sale. It's fine if you're buying a paint guitar, but for a non-painted guitar, good graining/figuring is a crap shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I'm not sure about AMS being potentially part of the MF/M123/Guitar Center operation. I've seen conflicting information. Sweetwater claims each guitar is checked out before it's sent out. That could get around some QC complaints I've seen about MF/M123 where it appears guitars got to a big central warehouse from the factory and then are sent out. That gives me climate concerns etc., and I think may have something to do with qc complaints on Gibsons, at least. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson Artist Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 I'm not sure about AMS being potentially part of the MF/M123/Guitar Center operation. I've seen conflicting information. Sweetwater claims each guitar is checked out before it's sent out. That could get around some QC complaints I've seen about MF/M123 where it appears guitars got to a big central warehouse from the factory and then are sent out. That gives me climate concerns etc., and I think may have something to do with qc complaints on Gibsons, at least. m Good to know milod, thanks much for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson Artist Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 My fave - Fuller's - http://www.fullersguitar.com/ - Great people and service (Gibson stock not allowed online, but will work with you - call or email). Also - Sweetwater - http://www.sweetwater.com/ - Like the fact that their online photos are of the specific, individual guitar for sale. Wildwood - http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/ - Same - their online photos are of the specific, individual guitar for sale, but they won't budge much on prices. BTW, I've bought from MF ( http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ ) and have no complaints. They'll deal on the phone. But their online photos are advertising photos, not the specific, individual guitar for sale. It's fine if you're buying a paint guitar, but for a non-painted guitar, good graining/figuring is a crap shoot. I own a MF card and ordered my hummingbird and my old tele on it but i was just curious about other stores. no real problem with mf other than they refused to offer me a decent credit limit, i only have like 800 whereas if i just use my normal credit card i have a 3000 dollar limit, the odd thing is my credit score is fine but they cheaped out on me for some reason. Right now im thinking about either Sweetwater or AMS for the flexible payments which is nice since i could pay off 300 a month ez and avoid a giant interest all at once. I believe my first purchase will either be a Vox ac30 or Gibson LP Traditional, and perhaps a good acoustic like either a Guild or Martin. Id love to have a Gibson but their acoustics are in the 3k range and id prob rather spend only about half that for now. im still using a cheap micro cube and would like an upgrade, heard the vox at a local GC and loved the tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I have used AMS and they were great. I bought my Hofner bass from them and unlike MF and GC they included the case and at a lower price. They were really great to deal with and I believe they still have deal were they charge your cc in three installments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Sweetwater claims each guitar is checked out before it's sent out. They do. I had an Elitist Casino on order for five months last year. Got a call from my sales guy that it was in and as soon as they finished their QC check, he'd have it shipped. Later that day, he called to tell me they found a ding on the back, and emailed me pix. It was a ding about 1/8" on the back. My choice, take this one at a discount or wait for the next one. I waited, and a week later had a perfect Casino in my hands. They're my first choice for online stuff. As stated, you see the actual guitar, not a stock photo, their QC and follow thru is second to none. Find something elsewhere for less? They'll match the price (got my Blues Jr. that way). Only problem is that they don't have the amount of inventory (both in variety and quantity) that GC, MF, etc. do, but that hasn't been a huge issue for me. Your mileage may vary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Epi Artist... One of the guys formerly active on the forum said he'd had problems with MF's credit card anyway - penalties for early pay, penalties for late pay... etc., etc., etc. I don't know if that was true or not, but... always something to think about. Seriously, I've had quite good response and "luck" with MF. I don't like how specific descriptions of used equipment seems to be disappearing. I'd had a great experience buying one piece that way, but only after reading the specifics about the piece. I don't think any "mail order" purchase will be perfect in some ways, but I've found if you're careful and know how the different places operate, then are nice but double check the order with the sales person, you're likely best off and happiest. "Packages" at MF, likely other places, if purchased from an inexperienced sales person, may be difficult if they don't do computer order forms on everything. For example, a PA package that comes with amp, speakers and speaker stands, may require separate computer inputs. They've been fine making this work after an error, but best for all not to have the error in the first place. .... As for Sweetwater, quite a few folks have said good things about them. One forum guy was convinced that somehow they passed on his contact info elsewhere. But the idea of having a specific check of an instrument before it's shipped is to me a great idea. Were I buying something there I'd ask if they could set up and put on "my" strings and I'd be more than happy to pay extra. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson Artist Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 They do. I had an Elitist Casino on order for five months last year. Got a call from my sales guy that it was in and as soon as they finished their QC check, he'd have it shipped. Later that day, he called to tell me they found a ding on the back, and emailed me pix. It was a ding about 1/8" on the back. My choice, take this one at a discount or wait for the next one. I waited, and a week later had a perfect Casino in my hands. They're my first choice for online stuff. As stated, you see the actual guitar, not a stock photo, their QC and follow thru is second to none. Find something elsewhere for less? They'll match the price (got my Blues Jr. that way). Only problem is that they don't have the amount of inventory (both in variety and quantity) that GC, MF, etc. do, but that hasn't been a huge issue for me. Your mileage may vary! Awesome info, they are someone ill keep on my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson Artist Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 Epi Artist... One of the guys formerly active on the forum said he'd had problems with MF's credit card anyway - penalties for early pay, penalties for late pay... etc., etc., etc. I don't know if that was true or not, but... always something to think about. Seriously, I've had quite good response and "luck" with MF. I don't like how specific descriptions of used equipment seems to be disappearing. I'd had a great experience buying one piece that way, but only after reading the specifics about the piece. I don't think any "mail order" purchase will be perfect in some ways, but I've found if you're careful and know how the different places operate, then are nice but double check the order with the sales person, you're likely best off and happiest. "Packages" at MF, likely other places, if purchased from an inexperienced sales person, may be difficult if they don't do computer order forms on everything. For example, a PA package that comes with amp, speakers and speaker stands, may require separate computer inputs. They've been fine making this work after an error, but best for all not to have the error in the first place. .... As for Sweetwater, quite a few folks have said good things about them. One forum guy was convinced that somehow they passed on his contact info elsewhere. But the idea of having a specific check of an instrument before it's shipped is to me a great idea. Were I buying something there I'd ask if they could set up and put on "my" strings and I'd be more than happy to pay extra. m Yes, i actually like mf despite their credit system because it is a little strange. Currently, I am self employed and my income went up about 10k this year and for some reason i dont think they believed me when i told them and asked for a credit increase. They should though because i paid off their card istantly and right now all my cards are empty so now is the time before i buy a house to make any BIG purchases. I wonder if i could get ams to do a setup with good strings? Id even pay extra for that, im really torn right now between a Gibson Les Paul Traditional or a Martin like possibly a d16 or maybe a d28. Im a former acoustic player who really loves the old instruments and not that i believe they give all that big of a tonal difference, i just have a reverence for things from the past, an appreciation if you will. You have given me some food for thought about setups, i never even thought to consider asking music stores if they do that, i suppose because i just assumed they only sold and not serviced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 For what it's worth, I figure more than 4-500... it's worth more for the setup with "my" strings. I don't know where you live, but out here in "America's OUtback," I'm not sure if there's anyone outside one or two stores within a cupla hours drive where somebody could do any better at setup than I could. And I doubt either would care to set up a new guitar purchased "mail order"... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpanda Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 I only go with Long & McQuade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Beast... Yahbut that's in Canada... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpanda Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Beast... Yahbut that's in Canada... m well you could always of course buy from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson Artist Posted March 18, 2011 Author Share Posted March 18, 2011 For what it's worth, I figure more than 4-500... it's worth more for the setup with "my" strings. I don't know where you live, but out here in "America's OUtback," I'm not sure if there's anyone outside one or two stores within a cupla hours drive where somebody could do any better at setup than I could. And I doubt either would care to set up a new guitar purchased "mail order"... m I live in rhode island and there's a GC and a few respectable shops here, most notably one called noll guitars, they do really good work from what ive heard from local musicians. Im tempted to sell my hollowbody to buy the Martin AND the Traditional lol. My fiance really likes the bursts on Traditionals, specifically the honey and cherry burst in particular. Im not sure if they would sell me both gits on payments simultaineously but i suppose the martin could wait and my gf keeps whispering in my ear get the Gibson!! In truth i love my Epiphone Hummingbird but its the git that i can travel with and get a dent or two with no worries, i take it to summer cabins on vacation and stuff but id also like a higher end that would only be for my house and nobody would be allowed to touch it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Were I buying something there I'd ask if they could set up and put on "my" strings and I'd be more than happy to pay extra. I never thought to ask about that, but I'd bet they'd do it if they stocked the strings you wanted. The other benefit of SW is that you have a "personal" sales rep. You deal with him, not "someone who happened to answer the phone". If he's on vacation, etc. you'll get a call from the backup covering his stuff for the duration. I also take advantage of their credit card "no interest for 12 months" everytime and pay it off early. I've also had good luck online with MF and GC (really one and the same), but SW remains my first choice if they have what I want. Usual disclaimer, no affiliation with any of the above, just a happy camper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrosurfer1959 Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Ive bought from AMA with no issues. Sweetwater is my go to store if I'm buying on line great service and a great warranty or returns with no questions asked. GC and MF well what can you say it's GC but without the annoying salesman and the depressed goth checkout girl that seems to be at every single GC that I ever been into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 I guess I'm a lot more cautious about things. I have never ordered a guitar from a website before and I probably will never do it. Milo brings up an excellent point about not knowing whether it's Gibson's or the dealer's fault when it comes to QC issues. Actually, I'm very cautious. All of my guitars, except my PRS, were bought after I played them first. I played more Les Pauls than I can count. Each one felt/sounded different to me. I can find little flaws in each one but I was very happy with the ones I got. PRS' are different in that I have never seen one with a flaw and they all felt/sounded the same to me. I got most of my guitars from the famous House of Guitars in Rochester. No one came close to matching their prices. They gave me a price of $800 lower than the best price I could find anywhere else on both my Premium Plus Les Paul and ES-339! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverG Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Hands down: Fuller's in Houston. Don't know what Gibson's bone is with them, but after using them, I will never buy a guitar anywhere else. They know their stuff. I bought my first Gibson from Guitar Center. I paid a lot fo money for a crappy guitar that no one at GC could fix. I bought my next Gibson from Fuller's on line, then visited the store when I was in Houston. Neat place, nice people, instrument quality much better and service is outstanding. Fuller's is proud of what they sell and what they do. GC seems like a 8-12 hour shift clock your time outfit. Big box stores like Guitar Center are OK if you don't know any better. Once you deal with a place like Fuller's you will never use a place like GC again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Lunatic Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Wikipedia entry for AMS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Musical_Supply I've dealt with Sweetwater for years, and they are top-notch. Music 123, too. I bought My Cube from Zzounds, and had to return it due to a problem. They quickly emailed a UPS return label, and shipped out a new unit as soon as my return registered on the UPS tracking system - good customer service. And Zzounds also did the best price beat of all the vendors I contacted. I'm comfortable dealing with any of the large retailers, in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrosurfer1959 Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 I thought this was a question on just the big internet warehouse sellers if were talking guitar stores than I would go with Bizarre Guitars in Phoenix with agreat selection of pristine instruments and my personal favorite for Gibsons especially acoustics is Centre City Music in San Diego they are a Gibson superstore or whatever they call them now with cool knowledgable staff, amazing guitars and fair pricing. And If I'm just looking or don't care what it costs than the Chicago Music Exchange is amazing, probably the prettiest damn guitar store I've ever seen, with prices that match they are not cheap I guess something has to pay for the fancies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.