Ed Roman

  • Thread starter Thread starter flybythefret
  • Start date Start date
flybythefret

flybythefret

New member
Stopped in at Ed Romans' for a visit.....
If you haven't been by in a while, you owe it to yourself.
Thanks Ed
 
Yes, you guys owe it to yourself to try the Sicilian slices.

Romans-Logo.jpg
 
I've passed by his shop a few times, never bothered to stop in there though :)
 
He burned me really good back in early 93 during the ECMM days.

I was 14 at the time and had saved up for my first "real guitar" so I ordered a ESP customshop and I specified the exact same specs as Kirk Hammett's M2-deluxe, neck thru, EMGs etc, when I tried to get a spec sheet to review he kept telling me not to worry they are going to use Kirk's spec sheet to make my custom. Made me wait over a year and then sent me a regular old bolt on KH2 in the late part of 94.

I paid for a neck thru custom M2 and at the time the US had not received the official KH2s yet. So he yanked me around for close to a year then sent me a regular old KH2 when they just came out. When I called to complain he laughed and said you want neck thru well thats going to be another 1000 dollars. :doh: Also sent it in a SKB case and not even a ESP case no tags or anything. :confused:
 
I had nothing but great experiences in all my dealings with Ed Roman. I purchased great gear at great prices, he gave me great prices on trade-ins and went the extra mile with manufacturers for me to get things done expeditiously, and fairly. He's a stand-up guy in my experience, though he is a business man who doesn't take crap either, and doesn't like to have his knowledge or experience insulted, rudely either and he will be sure to let you know if you piss him off! ;) One of the reasons I like the guy! :thumbsup:

Ed owned East Coast Music Mall, in Danbury CT and that is where I know him from and made deals with him. For years, long before the internet shops were around, I purchased everything I needed from him (and I shopped around, NYC, CT, Boston, etc. Ed was usually the best option). My guitar player also had great experiences with Ed at East Coast, in fact he introduced me to Ed and East Coast.

I was really surprised to learn about the amount of "hate" he seems to inspire out here on the 'net. Guess its a NYC thing (not sure if Ed's a native New Yorker, but I am (or was, transplanted for many years) and this is the kind of straight-up, in-your-face, brutally honest interaction I'm used to). Now, I haven't been to his Vegas store as Vegas is not my thing, but if I ever get there again (usually for business) I will be sure to pay him a visit.

That's mine. Now, let's hear your stories about Ed!
 
He did right by me on a set of EMG's. His staff was personable and went the extra mile as well.

He is a no bullshit guy, and I can only imagine what he deals with on a daily basis. Although some of it may be self inflicted with his rants etc, I can't complain.

That said, he does not carry any guitars that I am killing to buy either.
 
I bought a steinberger body from him back in the day. "Like new". When i got it, it looked like it had been polished with a handful of rocks.

That was enough for me.
 
Bad experience for me. My bought me a Ric 620/6 a few years back from Ed. They sold us the guitar as a new guitar but it was not. I did not get warranty cards, case candy etc. The Rick company said it was already sold to someone else and the warranty was in their name. I got the run around until I finally said I was going to report them to the Better Business guys then I got action. Ed was willing to give me a store credit on the amount I wanted to make up for the difference of new to used. I was more than fair to him and settled for around $350 in store credit. Never again but at least we were able to settle our differences.
 
i wouldn't deal with him, just because of all the stories of people getting the run around and such.

doesn't take many bad deals to sully a reputation in a business. I'd rather stay safe and deal with people who have great reputations for honesty, quality, customer service, etc.

if you have no problem with him and he's always treated you well, then awesome. I wouldn't risk it though.
 
Bad experience for me.

Late 90's I had a Steinberger GM that I did a home install Fernandes Sustainer on. Kept feeding back and I know nothing about PC boards/etc, but I know how to solder.

Sent it to him because his site said his repair shop could fix anything, no job too big. He had my guitar for a long while and sent it back with a $300 bill and nothing had changed. Years later I found out I all I had to do was turn a couple of taper pots.

He said he had ZERO complaints about his repair shop. I told him to put me on his website as his first, if that was the case.

Strike one on me for being foolish and ignorant to begin with, but he went above and beyond in taking advantage of me, IMO.

I wouldn't deal with him if he was the only game in town; I'd make my own stuff.
 
I've dealt with him twice and both times I had no problems. In fact on the second guitar I bought from him he gave a really high amount on my trade in. So I really can't complain at all.

I know people online have had problems with him, and I don't doubt the majority of them, but I know people who won't buy from the guy in town that is known for the best prices and service because they claim he "screwed" them over. Myself and a friend of mine had pretty poor and slighty deceptive service from one of the online dealers that everyone raves about so it swings both ways.
 
Back
Top