Memo To Dealers

[blueox]

Coming through a city about an hour away from home the other day, I thought it was a good time to check out the Heritage dealer's inventory. He had two H-150s, one chambered and one solid, an H-575, and an H-535. The H-535 caught my attention, and it had a burnt amber finish and HRW pickups. The serial number indicated that it was made in 2008. I was asked if I wanted to try it out, so I plugged into a Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty to play some lead over a rhythm track. No surprise--it looked, played, and sounded good. I might have made a move on this one, however, there was some black rubber stuck on both sides of the neck below the headstock from the guitar hanger. Overall the guitar looked like it had been hanging for three years and could have used a good polishing. Memo to dealer: if you want top dollar for an instrument, make sure that you are keeping it in top shape.

[schundog]

I personally cover any contact points with nitro finished guitars with a t-shirt or some cotton cloth, and I can't understand why shops don't do the same. Very easy way to avoid this type of problem.

[Kuz]

I personally cover any contact points with nitro finished guitars with a t-shirt or some cotton cloth, and I can't understand why shops don't do the same. Very easy way to avoid this type of problem.

 

BINGO!!! Why don't the dealers get it???!!!

[skydog52]

Coming through a city about an hour away from home the other day, I thought it was a good time to check out the Heritage dealer's inventory. He had two H-150s, one chambered and one solid, an H-575, and an H-535. The H-535 caught my attention, and it had a burnt amber finish and HRW pickups. The serial number indicated that it was made in 2008. I was asked if I wanted to try it out, so I plugged into a Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty to play some lead over a rhythm track. No surprise--it looked, played, and sounded good. I might have made a move on this one, however, there was some black rubber stuck on both sides of the neck below the headstock from the guitar hanger. Overall the guitar looked like it had been hanging for three years and could have used a good polishing. Memo to dealer: if you want top dollar for an instrument, make sure that you are keeping it in top shape.

 

That sounds like Rainbow Music in Grand Rapids. My wife and I spent a few days there to wind down.

While she was in the spa I couldn't resist and look up some shops and explore. He has them listed a little high in price.

[tulk1]

When a local MnP here in town were first carrying Heritage I mentioned they might want to protect the headstock where they were hanging. "Hopefully they won't be up there that long" was the reply. So, riddle me that!!

[Gitfiddler]

While on a business trip in April, I stopped in at the local downtown music store...just in case they had something interesting.

Low and behold they had a 23rd Anniversary 535 hanging on the wall. I got all excited and asked to check it out and the owner plugged it into a Blues Jr.

 

The 535 needed a setup and was shop worn, including nitro burn to the back of the headstock. The strings were DEAD. After about 20 minutes of playing it, the owner asked me if I was interested. He'd make me a killer deal. The deal was about $500 more than the guitar was worth even without the poor condition. I politely declined and asked if he was a Heritage dealer. He said he was, but had not ordered any recently. He picked up the 23rd at a NAMM show because it was a great guitar. He knew nothing about the fire at the factory that was being memorialized by the pearl 23 inlay until I told him about it. Quite a businessman...not.

 

I agree with Blue Ox. Heritage dealers need to be on top of their game, especially in a down economy. How much does it take to clean up and re-string a guitar costing over $2k?

[peteraltongreen]

Coming through a city about an hour away from home the other day, I thought it was a good time to check out the Heritage dealer's inventory. He had two H-150s, one chambered and one solid, an H-575, and an H-535. The H-535 caught my attention, and it had a burnt amber finish and HRW pickups. The serial number indicated that it was made in 2008. I was asked if I wanted to try it out, so I plugged into a Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty to play some lead over a rhythm track. No surprise--it looked, played, and sounded good. I might have made a move on this one, however, there was some black rubber stuck on both sides of the neck below the headstock from the guitar hanger. Overall the guitar looked like it had been hanging for three years and could have used a good polishing. Memo to dealer: if you want top dollar for an instrument, make sure that you are keeping it in top shape.

 

My local dealer ( for whom I worked ),some years back had issues with the nitro reacting with the rubber stand/headstock protectors.He came up with felt cloth tubes that covered the rubber on the stand.It's sometimes difficult to keep the strings bright .If a customer has sweaty hands,the acid in the sweat reacts on the strings,along with dead skin,and deadens them.It also reacts with the electro plating.It's a battle to keep the instruments pristine,but that's part of the sales job.I've often had to polish frets,oil fingerboards & re string,along with polish the body of the guitar.Don't mind doing this.I was there to sell,not pose & be superior.

Peter Alton Green

[mark555]

a gem on wisdom there Pete....

[Trouble]

My local dealer ( for whom I worked ),some years back had issues with the nitro reacting with the rubber stand/headstock protectors.He came up with felt cloth tubes that covered the rubber on the stand.It's sometimes difficult to keep the strings bright .If a customer has sweaty hands,the acid in the sweat reacts on the strings,along with dead skin,and deadens them.It also reacts with the electro plating.It's a battle to keep the instruments pristine,but that's part of the sales job.I've often had to polish frets,oil fingerboards & re string,along with polish the body of the guitar.Don't mind doing this.I was there to sell,not pose & be superior.

Peter Alton Green

I have wondered for years why someone doesn't make a stand that is felt or carpet covered, hell make a zz top model with thick shag on it.

 

It would be a simple manufacturing process seems to me and well worth any additional cost as long as it wasn't too pricey.

[brentrocks]

if i had a guitar shop i would dust and tune daily

[Spectrum13]

if i had a guitar shop i would dust and tune daily

 

 

Brently,

 

I thought you have a guitar shop.

[peteraltongreen]

if i had a guitar shop i would dust and tune daily

No you wouldn't ! No offence,but when the customer's in,he's king & he doesn't want to see the Hoover in action.I agree you will polish the guitar you're handing over,before & after,but will your employees ? If you do get a shop,I'll be round for a coffee & chat,and don't leave the dirty mugs for a week like the guys in some shops I've been to ! Has experience made me cynical ?

Peter Alton Green

[drfie]

Problem solved: http://www.amazon.com/Levi-Leather-Standard-Guitar-Mount/dp/B003MYD8LY

 

This what Ren recommended, and it's how I hang 'em at home.

 

 

dan

[Trouble]

Problem solved: http://www.amazon.com/Levi-Leather-Standard-Guitar-Mount/dp/B003MYD8LY

 

This what Ren recommended, and it's how I hang 'em at home.

 

 

dan

How does that work exactly?

[drfie]

How does that work exactly?

 

 

It works for all 3 on a side ped head tuners. I use Levy's Leathers which are made in Canada. Just slide the the G and D tuners through the slits (snug fit) and hang from a hook. I use a coat hook affixed to a 3 inch wide piece of mahogany mounted to the wall. For my nicer guitars I have a strip of carpet that I glued to a strip of t111 and mounted that to the wall to protect the bodies.

 

dan

[MartyGrass]

I agree with you guys but also have another view.

 

Any of the negatives on a guitar drop its value when negotiating. Dead strings mean nothing to me. I always restring. I can get a good idea of a guitars tone even with dead strings.

 

Hang rash can be completely fixed for $30-35.

 

So a guitar with poor tone and hanger rash could be a nice opportunity. I would state to the dealer that a poorly maintained shop guitar is basically a used guitar. That has saved me quite a bit of money. Dealer's bad!

 

I doubt you'd ever see these problems with Jay Wolfe.

[DetroitBlues]

I picked up a Gibson LP Custom in Alpine white at my local GC. Apart from the normal shop wear all their guitars get, I noticed they used the foam padded wall hangers because the finish was completely worn off on one side and discolored the finish on the other side. I guess they've never heard of Nitro before?

[pressure]

Use a Hercules stand, they don't react to nitro.

[Dick Seacup]

Has experience made me cynical ?

 

Whenever I'm accused of being cynical--and it happens more often than you might think--I like to respond, "Perhaps I'm a bit jaded from experience, but I like to think that just makes me realistic, not cynical." Or, as Nietzsche said, "Cynicism is the only form in which base souls approach honesty."

 

Then again, it was Mencken who said, "A cynic is a man who, upon smelling flowers, looks around for the coffin."

 

Total thread hijack complete...proceed with caution.

[tsp17]

Brently,

 

I thought you have a guitar shop.

 

+1

[DetroitBlues]

+1

 

+2

[brentrocks]

Brently,

 

I thought you have a guitar shop.

LMAO

[peteraltongreen]

Whenever I'm accused of being cynical--and it happens more often than you might think--I like to respond, "Perhaps I'm a bit jaded from experience, but I like to think that just makes me realistic, not cynical." Or, as Nietzsche said, "Cynicism is the only form in which base souls approach honesty."

 

Then again, it was Mencken who said, "A cynic is a man who, upon smelling flowers, looks around for the coffin."

 

Total thread hijack complete...proceed with caution.

Love it,Dick Seacup.Thanks for the wise words ! Now,where's that coffin ?

Peter Alton Green

[DetroitBlues]

I went back to GC a month or so after I saw how worn the "new" LP custom was. The salesman told me the manager would make a really great deal on it since its damaged. I thought about buying it and sending it back to Gibson because of the vaneer seperating off the headstock.... It would of come back a whole new guitar. Quick, someone give me $3800 for it!

[pro-fusion]

I rarely run into this problem, simply because I usually buy used guitars.

 

The largest (non-chain) local music store around here has a lot of guitars on display that are never tweaked or restrung, but they also have tons more not on display, which they'll bring out for you if you inquire about something specific. I bought a new SG there and was the first person outside of Gibson to ever touch it--the salesman opened the shipping box as I watched.