Helping a buddy shop for a guitar

[PugNinjas]

So, one of my neighbors is an aspiring guitarist with about a year under his belt and asked me to go guitar shopping with him yesterday. We went to a local Guitar Center to check out thier selection.

He was not sure what to get despite my steadfast recommendations to EBMM.

He played a $2,000+ G*bson LP which was nice looking until you look at it up close and see the headstock finish was literally flaking off in sheets. The knobs were obviously taken off and re-installed because they were not level either

He played a $1,100 F*nder Strat whose finish was horribly checking across the entire face of the guitar. This was NOT one of those ridiculous Relic jobs, this was a regular strat.

He was close to buying either one until I showed him these horrors and promised him what he would get from this company (EBMM).

To be clear, this is no way a knock on the Guitar Center, the guys were truly helpful and when I showed them some of these issued with the guitars there was no fast talk, they actually did not know how to react. The issues with the finish were manufacturing problems, not store problems.

We discussed several of the EBMM models with the salesmen and I think my buddy is sold on a Silo, I will keep you posted and hopefully get him to sign up here so he can get his fill on info.

Just letting you know that I'm still doing my part

 

[andynpeters]

Having tried quite a lot of high end guitars, I really think the difference lies in quality control. The 2 manufacturers you mention are obviously able to produce very good instruments, but far too many are allowed to leave the factory in very poor shape, maybe relying on the store to set them up, fix them up or sell them off to the unsuspecting.
I have never played an EBMM with a badly cut nut, sharp frets, a creaky neck or misted paintwork but have found all these faults on other brands.
A shame not everyone has a knowledgeable friend to stop them buying on outdated reputation.
Keep up the good work.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I've never worked in a guitar shop but my question is why do the shops accept the shoddy merchandise from the manufacturers in the first place?
Shouldn't they say to rep that the quality is not up to scratch and hand them back?

 

[Sweat]

I've never worked in a guitar shop but my question is why do the shops accept the shoddy merchandise from the manufacturers in the first place?
Shouldn't they say to rep that the quality is not up to scratch and hand them back?

Well mass production leads to poor workmanship and large retailers do not care and if you live in Texas hell its either F++++r or G#####n and the rest is not noticed, thank god I found my way

 

[roburado]

It's not just Texas, fing. Michigan is pretty much the same. I'm sure other places are too.

 

[the24thfret]

Thats a good point, far to many "guitarists" buy on name alone. This is the reason I find that typically younger, more inexperienced players have Fndrs and Gbns, and older players stay away from these generally, except for really high-end or vintage gear.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Yeah and that saddest part is they usually pay way too much for what they are getting... a trademark

 

[roburado]

I agree. People pay for the "mystique" of an older, more widely known, more widely distributed brand. I believe the same goes for M@arshall and F3nd3r amps, but that's just me. YMMV.

 

[roburado]

He played a $1,100 F*nder Strat whose finish was horribly checking across the entire face of the guitar. This was NOT one of those ridiculous Relic jobs, this was a regular strat.

I can't believe the prices that they charge for some of this stuff. I tried a used SRV, which was around $1000. I have been curious about them since they first came out. No thanks. Not for $1000. I'll stick with the playability, build quality, and sound of EBMM. With all things being equal, I'd take a Silo Spec over the SRV any day.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

^My Axxion is a nice guitar, but not close to worth what I payed for it

Ah well, we all screw up I suppose

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I like Gibson, but I agree, some real junk comes off their production line. A friend has a 335 and the bridge does not even line up! The tune-o-matic has a shoddy re-cut to make the guitar even work! Like Andy says, never have I played a duff EBMM.

 

[pjc812]

I've never worked in a guitar shop but my question is why do the shops accept the shoddy merchandise from the manufacturers in the first place?
Shouldn't they say to rep that the quality is not up to scratch and hand them back?

Speaking on behalf of independent Mom and Pop retailers, REAL guitar stores do not accept that trash. If I get something from G!ibs*n that is less than perfect, it goes back. Their stuff is way to stinking expensive for some of the stuff I see.

We sent back probably more than a dozen in the past year alone.

Guitars from the Evil Empire down the street, well, I've heard horror stories. Kids are allowed to thrash whatever they want to thrash, and the instruments are in no way shape or form maintained. We set up everything when it gets in, and keep it in top shape until it goes out. They don't. That's the difference between a guitar store and a mass retailer.

That being said, I've never seen an EBMM come in less than perfect. Everything is meticulous and they require very little adjustment. I expect the little bit that is needed is simply due to settling during shipment.

Not telling you where to go, but I would strongly suggest finding a local independent dealer for your musical needs. Someone who knows their product and is willing not only to stand behind it after the sale, but make sure it is taken care of before the sale. Nobody deserves a "new" used instrument.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I haven't been to the local evil guitar empire in a long time now. There's really nothing I need there, and it's in a terrible spot... The drive there makes me violent

 

[candid_x]

My son bought a new SG about a year ago. The saddle notches have already worn down too far (soft metal) and have been replaced. The new bridge/saddles were not cut yet, and he was told that all new Glibs now come that way, that he must notch them himself. His friend bought a new LP ($2400), and had to drill holes in the top and install the pick-guard himself. It's nuts!

You can bet that G and F's endorsing artists still get top notch instruments, though. That's one of the big differences with EBMM: the instrument I get will be the same quality as Morse, AL, JP, Vinnie, Luke, Levin or LaRue gets. That in itself makes me proud of my Balls.

 

[pjc812]

You can bet that G and F's endorsing artists still get top notch instruments, though.

Actually, they don't. We had a traveling show room visit our store in the dead middle of summer. The traveling show room is a converted horse trailer with wall hangers and stuff in it. The high temp. with heat index was about 120* on the pavement. Murder on any guitar. They had a window A/C unit hooked up in there, but it kept blowing breakers in the store cuz it was so hot.

Upon asking the guy in the trailer what they do with those instruments after they're done with them, he said some go to the factory museum, the rest will go towards endorsee's.

Big Gay Al Gay man.

 

[candid_x]

Actually, they don't. We had a traveling show room visit our store in the dead middle of summer. The traveling show room is a converted horse trailer with wall hangers and stuff in it. The high temp. with heat index was about 120* on the pavement. Murder on any guitar. They had a window A/C unit hooked up in there, but it kept blowing breakers in the store cuz it was so hot.

Upon asking the guy in the trailer what they do with those instruments after they're done with them, he said some go to the factory museum, the rest will go towards endorsee's.

Big Gay Al Gay man.

Sounds like Arizona.

Um, well, I doubt John Mayer or Eric Johnson would get one of those. But your point is well taken: namely, they don't give a shizm.

If I was 20 years younger - no, make that 40 years younger, I'd be camping on EBMM's doorstep to rep their products. Would pull weekends at stores to sell product. It just slays me how two big names can grab so much market share with such crappy attention to detail and quality.

Small Straight Bruce Straight man.

 

[candid_x]

Hey Pug, iffin you're inclined to play again but aren't ready to commit to buying, I'm just a little over an hour away. You can use one of mine.

 

[PugNinjas]

Hey Pug, iffin you're inclined to play again but aren't ready to commit to buying, I'm just a little over an hour away. You can use one of mine.

Sounds like a great offer, if and when I am ready to play again I will definitely make a trip to see you to check out your collection. Afterwards, I will be calling Pete for another EBMM. I am trying new doctors and other methods of alternative treatment including yoga. Man, I moved out west and seem to be turning into one of the soy latte drinking, hybrid driving, tree-huggers

 

[73h Nils]

Nice work on getting him to pick the Silo. Hopefully it follows through! (Ahem, Carbon Blue Pearl with Abalone pickguard)

Also, had a conversation with my friend the other day about the new "Do-it-all VG Strat" and how I said that it would be poorly built and have zero improvements over the regular Strats, he was like, "Don't knock the Strat, dude. It could take 5 times the beating your guitar could and still sound better" and I just wanted to punch him. He has NO idea.

 

[Sweat]

Nice work on getting him to pick the Silo. Hopefully it follows through! (Ahem, Carbon Blue Pearl with Abalone pickguard)

Also, had a conversation with my friend the other day about the new "Do-it-all VG Strat" and how I said that it would be poorly built and have zero improvements over the regular Strats, he was like, "Don't knock the Strat, dude. It could take 5 times the beating your guitar could and still sound better" and I just wanted to punch him. He has NO idea.

Nope no idea so just punch him I am in the same dilema with a freind at work so fixated on a tele or strat and keep telling him an AL or a silo much better, hopefully when we go to the Dallas guitar show on the 21st he will see what I am talking about.