|
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | I was interested in something different than my other guitars, and needed to spend some cash as a pick me up (hey, it works for my wife!), so I got a hold of Al and the conversation went thusly:
Cruster: Hey, Al, I want to buy an interesting guitar for not much money. I don't want a Junior or an acoustic, but something nice. Oh, did I mention I don't have a lot in the guitar fund?
Alpep: Oh, yeah, I have just the thing for you. It's a NOS Hamer Studio flametop with a sunburst finish that looks kind of OK in a tawdry sort of way. The best part is, it's only 4x what you said you want to spend. You might like that.
Cruster: Well, that's a bit more than I wanted to spend, but hey, send me some pics.
Alpep: No it's not. You know you want to take out a mortgage on the house and sell your kids into slavery so you can buy a Hamer Improv, so in comparison this is right in your ballpark. Oh, and I don't have any pictures so you'll have to either trust me or go deal with someone less reputabale but who does have pictures.
Cruster: When you put it like that, it makes sense. Let me mull it over and I'll call you in a couple days.
Cruster (three days later): Hey, Al, here's my debit card number, hook a brother up. Oh, and how are you doing?
Alpep: My elbow is bunk, I can't move either of my arms, I'm talking to you on a headset telephone that I operate with my toes, but I'd be happy to punch your numbers in with my nose and package this thing up using only my teeth, the ring finger on my left hand and maybe some other appendages that shall remain unnamed until such time as I chose to possibly reveal them (by name, you understand, not physically reveal them) to you.
Cruster: Um, bummer about the arm. Hey, this is a USA Hamer and not an import, right? Oh, and it's nice?
Alpep: If you keep asking me idiotic questions, I won't sell you a pack of strings, so knock it off.
Cruster: OK. You officially own me now, go ahead and ship it out.
Alpep (four days later): Hey, Crusty, I just got out of surgery and ate six Tylox for breakfast. I'm going to have a morphine martini for lunch, but I've got this Studio all ready to go. If you hear a thud, don't worry.
Cruster: Al? What are you talking about? Hello? Al?
---time passes---
UPS shows up at 6pm (gee when they say 'end of day' I guess they mean up to midnight, eh?). I have the patience to let the box warm up for about...ten minutes. Then I open it up and take the case out. I let the case warm up until it wasn't cold to the touch any longer...my wife wondered why I was walking around with ziploc baggies full of ice strapped to my hands. I peeked a couple of times but couldn't get a good look...after I had deemed it was now OK to crack the case...
HOLY FANIZZLE THIS GUITAR IS THE SHANIZZLE! What the heck was Al talking about when he said, 'Oh, it's nice enough, you'll probably like it.' The sunburst is PERFECT! The figuring in the maple top is UNBELIEVABLE! It plays AWESOME! Not only does it taste great, it's LESS FILLING! No, wait...
I never doubted Al's description for a minute, but I did not expect a guitar to be *this* nice. Especially not for $200! I mean, maybe it was the pain pills, but near the end of the deal he started telling me it was an import. I don't know...I sorta feel bad for the guy, but...
You can see pictures here but they don't do it justice. Not by a long shot. As a benchmark, my wife took one look at the Hamer and said, 'I guess you can sell all those other ugly guitars now.' It's that nice.
So, a big huge thanks to Al. That's my testimonial and I'm sticking to it...anyone has questions about dealing with Al and Lost Art Vintage...drop me a message.
Oh, and I made up the conversation. Well, parts of it. :) Unfortunately, he did charge me USA prices, but I had a dream about the import thing, so I included it in the story...kind of adds a little spice, dontcha think? :D
And no, spending money didn't really pick me up. Much. Does it show? ;p |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | oh man I haven't laughed that hard in days.
that was funny as hell.
it went more like this
I have a guitar for you but it is more money. Don't ask me for any pics because Nikon is still fixing my camera you have to trust me. John calls me with his credit card number and I disappear into the hspt for 4 days. no way to get in touch with me. He thought it unusual that i was not on the message boards LOL. against doctor's orders I box up the guitar and send it on its way.
enjoy. that studio is a cool guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Love that narrative Cruster, I think you nailed Al perfectly, and that is a beautiful guitar.
Al, you got to get used to a little fiction based truth as you run that New Joisey enterprise that has gotten a lot of praise. I been saving a lot of couch change in the hopes of being able to do some dealing. Glad to hear you kicking butt again, the natives were not only getting restless, they were like 10th graders on their first overnight class trip while you were laid up.
Bailey ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hey Bailey,
Watch it...I resemble that remark ;) .
Stephen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Al once told me that he was the worst salesman in the world. Believe me, that is *not* the case. He may not be a pushy, swaggering windbag with an overblown sense of self (know anyone like that?), but he *does* know how to take care of a customer.
The pictures don't do it justice...it's a beautiful guitar.
NOS Hamer Studio: $more-than-I-wanted-to-spend
Nickel strings : $5
Dealing with Al : Priceless
Oh, wait... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ doesn't that look like it should say, 'Al : Princess'? :eek:
HAHAHA. Just kidding you, Al. Thanks again! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | actually a few people have told me I am the worst salesman on earth. Michael Wong tells me I should not even be in business. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | some of the best sales people I continue to deal with don't act the profile for salespeople!
In a way it can be like having to vote for politicians when the last one I want in office is a politician!
Hang in there Al! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Hrmm, good product, good prices, great service. I'm not sure what else there is. What does Pere Wong think you're missing?
Sure, you didn't have a picture of the thing, but you had something even better...reputation! As soon as you said, 'Believe me...' I knew I was buying it. There were (at least) two other options I had (with pictures and smarmy salestalk) and *they* didn't get my business. Go figure.
FWIW, having owned a business in the highly competitive field of technology conslutting, I can assure you...positive word of mouth/reputation will get you more business than you can handle. I could go on for ages about that, though... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Originally posted by cruster:
. What does Pere Wong think you're missing?
.
He says I don't have the killer instinct. I am too nice, too much of a "musician" not a businessman. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I see....so if you are a decent and kind human being you cannot be in sales.... :confused:
Al, I am glad you are going against the grain. The world needs more "bad" salespeople like you.
Stephen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | I'll have to second the first (???) post. I just got the Adamas from Al. Kinda vague on the phone and didn't answer all the questions by e-mail. BUT, I had enough "trust me, trust Al" responses from *all-y'all that I bought it anyway. The guitar sounds great. I let one of my good "wood only" friends play it. He said that this is the first Ovation he has ever liked... He didn't know plastic could sound so good.... I had to cut him off before the tupperware remark ;-)
*Oh, and yes, I am Texan. Born and raised. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Let's look at this sales thing?
Salesman; some guy who turns whatever product he has into cash money so he can get big cars, big houses, big boobs, old scotch, young ho's, and the respect of the community so's they will keep on buying his "product" as he participates in charitible projects that don't take any money or time.
Alpep;
Some New Joisey idiot who likes Ovation guitars enough to associate with some guy named Miles in a dangerous enterprise that is more likely to bring wasted time trying to bring some order to 3000 idiot guitar pickers with crazy ideas. A man who tries to foist his ideas of great guitars off on the unwashed to the point of joining in an ill fated tour of his beloved factory, thereby exposing the innocent artisans to a swarm of opinionated idiots walking all over the factory and asking the janitor which fabled slot head he built, and expecting Charlie Senior to arrive in a 50's helicopter playing that Martin that started it all.
Al hasn't got a sales bone in his body, thank God.
Muddy Lemon Davis Bailey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by Bailey:
Al hasn't got a sales bone in his body, thank God.
Which, in my not so humble opinion, makes him a heckuva salesman.
;P |
|
| |
WOT: Alpep is the god of guitar dealers
