burro237 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 I have never owned a Gibson acoustic before. Right now I'm gasing for a J-45. I've had several Martins, and I know at least two online dealers who sell new Martins at well below minimum advertised price. Are there any dealers like that on the Gibson side of things? I have never dealt with Sweetwater.com, but I really like the fact that they show pics of each individual guitar they have in stock. Anyone have any experience with them? Any other recommendations? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Sounds like you've done a bit of research to land on the J-45 and with some Martins under your belt, are a knowledgeable buyer. So you won't be surprised when you get lots of 'play it first' comments here. Not knowing where you live or what is available - you might want to try visiting one or two Guitar Centers. They usually have at least a half dozen Gibsons, and usually a J45. Second option, buy on the Internet and get a good return guarantee. You should expect at least a 20% discount off list. G'luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseybeat1963 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 20% off Retail is sheep to slaughter pricing (this country) In America..Look at the Retail list price & dont buy unless you get 30% off it MINIMUM..but you should get a good friendly 35% when you ask for it. If its a high ticket item with a retail of $10k I usually am thinking closer to 40% off. Other guitar brands that are from small shoppes give smaller head room to dealer profit in retail list price and 10-20% is it..but that list is comparitavely lower overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotTheSilver Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 20% off Retail is sheep to slaughter pricing (this country) In America..Look at the Retail list price & dont buy unless you get 30% off it MINIMUM..but you should get a good friendly 35% when you ask for it. If its a high ticket item with a retail of $10k I usually am thinking closer to 40% off. Other guitar brands that are from small shoppes give smaller head room to dealer profit in retail list price and 10-20% is it..but that list is comparitavely lower overall. Â Â By "retail price" I am assuming you mean list price, correct? Not MAP price. 35% off MAP price would be awesome!!! Â To the OP, if you have to buy sight unseen, I have heard that EM Shorts gives great prices and good service. I have not bought from them myself, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Have had very good service from two Five Star dealers, and never heard anything but praise on all of them. The Bozeman factory is producing nice slope shoulder guitars - hearing of a "dud" these days is very rare. Are you set on buying new? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burro237 Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 Have had very good service from two Five Star dealers, and never heard anything but praise on all of them. The Bozeman factory is producing nice slope shoulder guitars - hearing of a "dud" these days is very rare. Are you set on buying new? Â Which five star dealers do you mean? I'm not set on buying new. I'd love to find a good condition used one locally for the right price, but I don't have the cash to drop on one, and Sweetwater is offering a 18 month 0% financing (thats really what caught my eye). I don't really know how their customer service or return policy is. I'd rather find one in a Guitar Center locally, but of the three GC's in my area, there was only one J-45 in stock. It was the worst J-45 I ever played. The other two GC's told me they could order one for me....that always makes me laugh. I've had one bad buying experience buying online, and the company took the guitar back and replaced it without a problem, so I'm comfortable buying online as long as they back their return policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 I've bought from sweetwater before its not bad though the guitar was really dusty but other than that A+. Call and talk to Tyler Moore there great guy. I myself prefer to deal with the guys at music Villa. If I buy new I usually talk with Paul. He's been great to me. I really think these terrible soundin guitars are due to the strings gibson uses. I've been to a bunch of different shops and played some great gibsons and they were dead. Anyway just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Which five star dealers do you mean? I'm not set on buying new. I'd love to find a good condition used one locally for the right price, but I don't have the cash to drop on one, and Sweetwater is offering a 18 month 0% financing (thats really what caught my eye). I don't really know how their customer service or return policy is. I'd rather find one in a Guitar Center locally, but of the three GC's in my area, there was only one J-45 in stock. It was the worst J-45 I ever played. The other two GC's told me they could order one for me....that always makes me laugh. I've had one bad buying experience buying online, and the company took the guitar back and replaced it without a problem, so I'm comfortable buying online as long as they back their return policy. I have dealt very positively with Wildwood Guitars in Louisvillle, Colorado, and most recently had wonderful experience and service with Music Villa in Bozeman. Top notch organizations both. Have heard excellent things about Fuller's, EM Shorts, and some others I can't remember. I have a 2010 J45TV that I might be willing to part with - used to belong to David Hidalgo of Los Lobos - its got a long repaired and cleated crack in the side (not the driver's side) sounds very very good, it has a Seymour Duncan Mini-Mag soundhole pickup that is pretty impressive. Do you live anywhere near Colorado? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseybeat1963 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 By "retail price" I am assuming you mean list price, correct? Not MAP price. 35% off MAP price would be awesome!!! Â To the OP, if you have to buy sight unseen, I have heard that EM Shorts gives great prices and good service. I have not bought from them myself, though. Â Yes List Price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I was shocked today. My local GC has a J45 Custom with the Vine inlaid on the head at 42% off list. This price is good through Christmas. Great looking and sounding. They said they would order me a new one in if I didn't want the floor model. I'm debating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I was shocked today. My local GC has a J45 Custom with the Vine inlaid on the head at 42% off list. This price is good through Christmas. Great looking and sounding. They said they would order me a new one in if I didn't want the floor model. I'm debating. Â Â So we're talking vine on the head but not the board, and rosewood B&S? Bottom line price? If the one in stock sounds great and is cosmetically good, a bird in the hand (or J-45) may be better than taking a chance on a new build. But maybe not. Â Price should probably be almost exactly between a J-45 standard and a J-45 TV. 42% off current list would make it about $2100, which seems like a good price to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I believe it was either 2099 or 2199 specs  Features Sitka spruce top Indian rosewood back and sides Mahogany comfort contour neck Ebony fingerboard Mother of pearl dot fingerboard inlays Mother of pearl Gibson headstock logo Abalone "Flower" headstock inlay Ebony bridge Bone string nut Grover Rotomatic tuning machines L.R. Baggs Element electronics system Hardshell case included Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I believe it was either 2099 or 2199 specs  Features Sitka spruce top Indian rosewood back and sides Mahogany comfort contour neck Ebony fingerboard Mother of pearl dot fingerboard inlays Mother of pearl Gibson headstock logo Abalone "Flower" headstock inlay Ebony bridge Bone string nut Grover Rotomatic tuning machines L.R. Baggs Element electronics system Hardshell case included   Nice combination of specs, although I'm not a rotomatic fan because of the weight. And since I don't play an amplified acoustic, the pickup wouldn't mean much to me. I like the ebony board, and the headstock vine is a nice touch of bling.  At $2100, it would be a very good price, IMHO.  Not sure what that "comfort contour" neck is, but I suspect it means non-V and not too fat. It's the same neck spec'd for the J-45 standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
struma6 Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Russo Music in Asbury Park, NJ is an awesome 5 star dealer. Great folks to deal with. Don't know if they have your preferred guitar in stock but a phone call would find out! Â Happy to say they survived Sandy, they're mighty close to total devastation! Â http://www.russomusic.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchristo Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 we have a 5 star dealer right here.....PM modoc 333 ( Keith ) he will treat you fair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeljohnr Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Music Villa treated me extremely well and were great to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 we have a 5 star dealer right here.....PM modoc 333 ( Keith ) he will treat you fair   I appreciate the plug! lol  I will say, make sure you talk to ONE of the 5 Star dealers at least. I haven't heard of a bad experience from any of them. Perhaps pick the one closest to you for short delivery time. The 5 Star program was set up so that the guys in Bozeman would have dealers doing things the way they SHOULD be done. I would love to be the one to help, of course, but at least make sure it a 5 Star... some of the best independent dealers around. If not me, then I suggest Music Villa or Fuller's. Both are ABSOLUTELY TOP NOTCH dealers and have great selection. I have never heard of anyone having a bad experience with either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burro237 Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Thanks for all the recomendations. I will have to check out Fullers since its not too far from me. I looked at the Music Ville site and didn't see any in stock, I will have to call them. I'm also looking to possibly trade a high end Martin, so I will have to call around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickax Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I've found that EM Shorts, in Wichita, Kansas has the best prices on new Gibson's. I bought a CUstom Shop Martin at Sweetwater about a year ago and they were great to deal with. 40% off MSRP and gave me a 30 day trial period. Based upon that experience, I would recommend them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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