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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Nasdtrader:
I like my friends, but I"m not about to go around giving them money!  Ummm, let's see... OK, scratch Nasdtrader off Christmas card list... next checklist item is...
Good points though! |
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Joined:
February 2007
Posts: 75
Location: Portland, OR | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Originally posted by Nasdtrader:
I like my friends, but I"m not about to go around giving them money! Ummm, let's see... OK, scratch Nasdtrader off Christmas card list... next checklist item is...
Good points though! |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | January 2007 I bought a Martin 000X1 for a guitar to use as a beater.
Back then nothing much on eBay for the price I paid. Todays market is much better for the buyer.
BTW: Beal great discussion topic. |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | 1979. bought it in myrtle beach, sc. blonde aria dreadnaught. that was my only guitar from then until 1997.
edit: bought a taylor from a store on kaua'i in 2002. sold it on eBay the following week. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | One time. It was 1978, I was 18 and I found a brand new O in a local guitar shop and HAD to have it. Bought it and never looked back.
Haven't had that instantaneous jones for anything else since. (Well, ok, maybe a FEW other pieces but let's not go there...) |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Last week when I unexpectedly fell in love with my Collings CJ sunburst hog/german short scale.
Didn't even quibble over the price cause I knew I loved it and it was gonna be mine. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 379
Location: Alagoas, Brazil | My first guitar was an old one, that I found in the attic.
My second one was a second-hand, that I bought from a friend.
From then on, each guitar was tested and bought from a real brick store, and I carried them through the door. Before buying I just want to make sure I'll get a fair price, and I get. The Adamas took me more than an hour dealing with the manager, but it came home with me.
Internet is nice, but sometimes you can get a better deal talking to people. |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I have to cater to the wants and needs of the locals. I sell used guitars as well as new, so I always have a great variety. I also take consignments. I have had everything in here from 4000 dollar Gibsons to low priced Yamahas. (I even had a Taylor on consignment once, but it didn't sell, so after a while the guy took it back.)But what keeps people coming in I believe, is that I'm FRIENDLY. I let people play the guitars without standing over them. I give good service. If you buy strings from me, I will put them on for free. If the neck needs to be tweaked, I'll do that while I'm at it, and don't charge for that either. I WANT people's guitars to be as playable as possible. Just the other day a guy came in and bought a cheap Yamaha to send to his son. I keep extra boxes on hand, so I packed it for him at no extra charge. I wanted to make sure it got there in one piece, and because I went the extra mile, I know that guy will be back. And the coffee pot is always on. I even had a guy say one time that it feels like going to a friends house. I try to make everyone feel welcome, and so far, business has been good. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | I bought my 1778LX, 6756LX, 07C, Martin CF-1 and my Larrivee PV-09E from brick and mortar stores (Northcross GC and Strait Music in Austin) between 2005 and 2008. Everything else was eBay, except the 06C, which I got from an on-line store. The last two were the Martin and the Larrivee. When I bought the Martin, I got it and the Bose PAS Model 1 at the same time. I refer to that setup as heroin and the syringe. I fell in love with the Larrivee while killing some time at Strait Music. Went back a couple of days later and found out it was a special order that was never picked up. Got a killer deal on it.
I love going into these places and playing guitars. I love hanging out and jamming with some of the local musicians who show up from time to time. I figure if I want to keep doing that I better spend some of my money there. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Well, this is how most everybody does it. It's not that I don't support the local store, I've got a bunch of stuff in there for sale on consignment and it moves through at a reasonable pace. If there was something in there that I wanted I'd buy it. But most things I want I already have or they have a way of finding me, like the D18s and the Collings.
As I've said here before, ny focus has shifted from getting to using. It's easy to get great guitars, much harder to play them great.
I guess I almost bought a 56 D28 from Mike's store here on the island. It walked in the door and in order to keep it from walking back out again it was purchased. It was my money but Mike took first refusal and quickly decided he should keep it, (smart move!) So he has it now. It's got a skinny neck anyway. Some of you have seen it, it's sweet. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
I have to cater to the wants and needs of the locals... I try to make everyone feel welcome, and so far, business has been good. Sure wish you were in my 'backyard'!!!  |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Ali, that makes two of us who wish you were closer by. There are two mom & pop's not too far from me, but there are no decent Ovations in either "because they don't sell." The service in each is so-so.
I picked up a black T last year at a GC because the price was so low that I couldn't leave it there (and a friend who was looking for a new O bought it from me); usually, though, I would prefer to deal with our own Mr. Big.
--Karen |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Last March.
I saw that EliteT with the Koa eppy and that was it. One of those joyful, unexpected, meant to be type of impulse buys. Sigh... That one felt good. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4028
Location: Utah | My last new guitar purchase was from Al. Before that it was maybe three years ago buying the daughter's 1778T-RF at Guitar Center. About 3 yrs before that it was her Applause AA13 from the local mom & pop.
Before that it was the Alvarez-Yairi 12 string bought in 1977. I really wanted the Ovation 12 string they were selling at Rondo on rt 22 in Springfield NJ, but I couldn't quite afford it, so I went down the road and found the A-Y for about $50 less. Music Town was the name of the store I think. Now that store is an adult DVD store, and Rondo is closed.
I try really hard to buy local. For cables, strings, picks, and other stuff it isn't a big difference in price $ even if the % difference is large. Paying an extra $1 for strings from old Ray is worth it to me to keep the money local and to build a personal relationship. We bought the Crate acoustic amp from him even though his price was $30 higher than internet.c
I'd be thrilled to buy an Adamas from a local retailer, but they just don't carry them. |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| I bought a used Balladeer from the local mom&pop music store a little over a year ago for an out-of-town friend. Before that - 1976? |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | My first 12 string (Cimar?) in 75, my first Ovation (Ultra) in 96, a Celeb to take to Africa in 02, and 2 6778LX's in 05.
None of which I have anymore. Everything I have now I either bought online or through ebay. A couple came from a member here who is heartless and unrelenting in his quest to force me to buy his hand me downs. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | 2003 I bought Guild D-25 at Caruso Music in New London Ct.
2003 Bought Martin D-28 from Sam Ash New Haven.
I went shopping a month ago for 12 string electrics.
Found nothing but a Strat 12 and had one of those and it did not stand up well. Neck angle problems.
Bought a Epi LP Classic 12, & Eastwood Nashville 12
online.
Now there are 3 chains and little else around here. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1477
Location: Michigan | I bought my first new O from our local guitar store in 2004 and then I purchased a new Fender Slimline Telecaster from him in 2007.I have bought 4 new amps from him also.
I have bought 7 other guitars from the Bay and two amps.The only thing that I can say is there is a difference between every single guitar made and when you do buy one without touching seeing and feeling it keeps the adreniline flowing until you do finally get it in your hands,but when you can see, touch & play the one that you are buying it takes all of the worries out of play.I have been very lucky buying online but I prefer to try and buy from a brick & mortor store in my town.
SlipKid & I have a tremendous mom & pop store that has very high end to medium style guitars with a super experienced staff ( all players ) working there.
We also have G.C. all around but they are just for testing and lookingfor me.I would never buy a guitar of the rack at any of our G.C. after seeing the way their instruments are treated by the staff and the customers.GWB |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
A couple came from a member here who is heartless and unrelenting in his quest to force me to buy his hand me downs. Doncha hate it when they just show up atcha door and want you to play them! |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 489
| I stay out of music stores. I buy strings on line to avoid impulse purchases and do on line research before buying an instrument or serious gear, which I will then buy on line.
In the olden days you had to go to the music store to learn about new gear, let alone purchase it. Now why bother? Since you can do all that on line without any thirteen year olds pushing Strats through Marshalls set on 11. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
I try to make everyone feel welcome, and so far, business has been good. Canterbury- You are the consumate small business professional! THAT'S how you stay in business and prosper. As iffy said,"wish you were around here." Good luck in this nasty economy. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by stephent28:
Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
A couple came from a member here who is heartless and unrelenting in his quest to force me to buy his hand me downs. Doncha hate it when they just show up atcha door and want you to play them! |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | never have. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3408
Location: GA USA | About 2 months ago. Remember when I said my son was looking for a guitar? I got some very nice offers, but letting him be his own man, we went to a store I won't name, but the name begins with guit and ends with arcenter and bought a Tayl... a new guitar. I feel so dirty.
That's the fifth guitar I've bought at a store (even though it was all his money this time). |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | December 2008, I walked out of SAM with my new 2007 Elite 1868T.
Canterbury, you are running your business the way it should be run. And the way I remember it from years ago. I commend you for it. I too wish you were around here. |
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When was the last time?
