An observation... differences in buying from MF vs a smaller store

[mystixboi]

Here's an interesting view based on a few purchases I've made recently...

Earlier this Spring, I purchased a PRS SE Hollowbody ii with piezo from NStuff Music. The guitar normally sells for $1599, but they knocked off a bit to make it around $1450 or so shipped. The sales rep told me that it would have a full setup before it was shipped. When I got the guitar, it was perfect. I didn't have to tweak a single thing. The fretboard was nice and the frets were perfect. I get a good amount of guitars and they usually need some kind of tweaking. This needed nothing. Perfect. I gigged with it the next day.

I recently purchased another PRS SE Hollowbody ii with piezo from Musicians Friend since NStuff didn't have any in stock. MF gave me a larger discount so I got the guitar for $1280 plus tax. However, the guitar from MF needed quiet a bit of tweaking with the action. The fretboard was dry like the desert and the frets were really scratchy. I put some work into making it play as nice as the guitar from Nstuff. After spending time with it, I feel comfortable gigging with it, but I would have concerns out of the box.

So there you go... either pay a bit more with a smaller shop that offers a full setup or get a larger discount, but be prepared to put some work in to make the guitar "playable".

There you go. =)

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Good observation. The 55 point inspection from sweetwater didn't hold much weight in my decision buying an axe from them maybe 6 years ago. But, it wasn't setup at all out of the box. I do like if they have multiples you can see each one on the website.

 

[mooncobra]

That same guitar was a grand at the local
Music store near me. Maybe it was cheaper because it was the last one in an undesirable color, a particularly rancid brownish color that was very visually offensive to look upon.

have to say, the neck felt good, the action was perfect, and if it had decent pickups it would be a playable guitar. But, sadly, the pickups were the most atrocious things I’ve ever heard or played on. I don’t know if it was a bogus set from the factory, but they sure harshed my mellow. I was playing the guitar unplugged and thinking, “damn, this has got to be the best bang for the buck going.” Plugged it in, ohhhhh boy, it was now a hissing and snarling disaster. Turning the volume down could not come close to cloaking the hissing. The buzzing was just as bad, it was a clear stage 10 disaster.

But, if you put a good to great set of pickups in that it could be cool. I was surprised how good it was straight out of the box with no setup.

 

[mystixboi]

That same guitar was a grand at the local
Music store near me. Maybe it was cheaper because it was the last one in an undesirable color, a particularly rancid brownish color that was very visually offensive to look upon.

have to say, the neck felt good, the action was perfect, and if it had decent pickups it would be a playable guitar. But, sadly, the pickups were the most atrocious things I’ve ever heard or played on. I don’t know if it was a bogus set from the factory, but they sure harshed my mellow. I was playing the guitar unplugged and thinking, “damn, this has got to be the best bang for the buck going.” Plugged it in, ohhhhh boy, it was now a hissing and snarling disaster. Turning the volume down could not come close to cloaking the hissing. The buzzing was just as bad, it was a clear stage 10 disaster.

But, if you put a good to great set of pickups in that it could be cool. I was surprised how good it was straight out of the box with no setup.

Interesting... you must have had a guitar with bad pickups because I love the way these sound. So much that I ordered a core Custom 24 with them loaded. That guitar didn't sound as good. I ended up selling it.

 

[napalmdeath]

Here's an interesting view based on a few purchases I've made recently...

Earlier this Spring, I purchased a PRS SE Hollowbody ii with piezo from NStuff Music. The guitar normally sells for $1599, but they knocked off a bit to make it around $1450 or so shipped. The sales rep told me that it would have a full setup before it was shipped. When I got the guitar, it was perfect. I didn't have to tweak a single thing. The fretboard was nice and the frets were perfect. I get a good amount of guitars and they usually need some kind of tweaking. This needed nothing. Perfect. I gigged with it the next day.

I recently purchased another PRS SE Hollowbody ii with piezo from Musicians Friend since NStuff didn't have any in stock. MF gave me a larger discount so I got the guitar for $1280 plus tax. However, the guitar from MF needed quiet a bit of tweaking with the action. The fretboard was dry like the desert and the frets were really scratchy. I put some work into making it play as nice as the guitar from Nstuff. After spending time with it, I feel comfortable gigging with it, but I would have concerns out of the box.

So there you go... either pay a bit more with a smaller shop that offers a full setup or get a larger discount, but be prepared to put some work in to make the guitar "playable".

There you go. =)

And cross your fingers MF doesn't send you somebody's return as new. Or, a wall hanger from GC. Fuck MF. Only thing I'll buy from them is the 12-pack of D'Addarios when they do the SDOTD for $39.99. Other than that, they can suck it.

 

[mooncobra]

And cross your fingers MF doesn't send you somebody's return as new. Or, a wall hanger from GC. Fuck MF. Only thing I'll buy from them is the 12-pack of D'Addarios when they do the SDOTD for $39.99. Other than that, they can suck it.

I stopped using them long ago.

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

Last thing I bought from MF was an audio interface. I haven't bought a guitar from them in years.

 

[glpg80]

I hate dealing with my local mom and pop shops. They’re always catering to beginner musicians who pay into lessons or can be easily upsold on music gear. You go in and want to look at their actual guitars/ask questions about the private stock of good stuff and the service is a joke.

I’ve also ran into issues with wanting to play said instruments. Some big black dude can jam jazz or clean blues as loud as he fucking wants but the second I lay it down on a 5150 combo they’re running over telling me to turn it down while holding a $8,000 Murphy lab Les Paul.

I had to sell one of my strats to GC because they ruined the frets with a fret sanding and screwed up the aftermarket brass intonation fixing nut I had on it. If it’s not a cookie cutter squire they’ll fuck your shit up. Generally the shops I’ve ran into lack the experience to work on modern instruments with modern features such as compound radiuses.

Lastly there’s no returns even as a business.

Long story short I fucking hate small mom and pop shops and refuse to do business with them. I’d rather deal with a pawn shop or guitar center or purchase from forums or eBay/reverb.

 

[Techdeth]

I hate dealing with my local mom and pop shops. They’re always catering to beginner musicians who pay into lessons or can be easily upsold on music gear. You go in and want to look at their actual guitars/ask questions about the private stock of good stuff and the service is a joke.

I’ve also ran into issues with wanting to play said instruments. Some big black dude can jam jazz or clean blues as loud as he fucking wants but the second I lay it down on a 5150 combo they’re running over telling me to turn it down while holding a $8,000 Murphy lab Les Paul.

I had to sell one of my strats to GC because they ruined the frets with a fret sanding and screwed up the aftermarket brass intonation fixing nut I had on it. If it’s not a cookie cutter squire they’ll fuck your shit up. Generally the shops I’ve ran into lack the experience to work on modern instruments with modern features such as compound radiuses.

Lastly there’s no returns even as a business.

Long story short I fucking hate small mom and pop shops and refuse to do business with them. I’d rather deal with a pawn shop or guitar center or purchase from forums or eBay/reverb.

I’m having the same issue. So I quit going .

 

[gbsmusic]

And cross your fingers MF doesn't send you somebody's return as new. Or, a wall hanger from GC. Fuck MF. Only thing I'll buy from them is the 12-pack of D'Addarios when they do the SDOTD for $39.99. Other than that, they can suck it.

I agree 100%, they do this all the time Musician's Friend is Guitar Center and I trust them equally, and that means not at all! The smaller stores care a lot more Unfortunately they don't get the big discounts and can't sell things as cheap as the big boys.

 

[romanianreaper]

I'm older so have seen the transition throughout my life with guitar shops. In 85' a German guy practically patted me down and required a background investigation for me to try out my first electric.

Then Musicians Friend became my best friend. As I was living all over the place, I'd get things sent no matter how far. At some point I noticed they were hiring non-musicians with zero knowledge on anything and sending me broken gear so dropped them.

Than I started going to Guitar Center, etc and would find great deals. But then idiots would come take knobs off guitars, etc so gave up that idea, Lol.

Sweetwater is my place now and I get things fast and for such a big operation, they have a family feel. There are a few great Mom and Pop shops but the best one I've found is 2 hours from me.

I agree that unfortunately they cater to new players, etc and are not kind to hard rock players sometimes.