Here is what Id like to see a Fender Dealer do when they sell us a Tele

[mellecaster]

Mark...excellent counter to my post, you have a valid point.

I started to add IMO, but I remember you don't like that......

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by e-merlin

Maybe mom-and-pop can't undersell Mega-Monster-Music, but they sure can do a thing or two the big-uns can't. It's called value. Percieved value to be specific. "Yeah, our guitars cost a bit more, but we do a custom setup blah, blah, blah, value added, see what you think of this one compared to the one you played at..."

E....that's a good point, and I've tried to practice that in a few business ventures ....and w/ some folks it works quite well, but sadly the unwashed masses will still flock to the lower price, and crappy service. I use to try and understand it, but gave up awhile back.......

[Mightyaxeman]

I would think anyone that really loved guitars would want to do their own set up. Especially if you send a lot of time in here reading about builds,parts,woods,finishes and teles in general. If the guitar works at the store and your ok with it's condition why would you care about setup and specs. You can record all that when you get it home. I wouldn't trust some kid in a place like GC to touch my guitar anyway. I've seen their work spaces and tools. Do you think that kid knows anything about the radius of your fretboard or how your pickup hight sounds when plugged in.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Mark...excellent counter to my post, you have a valid point.

I started to add IMO, but I remember you don't like that......

Hahha ya I figure every message is that persons opinion or they wouldnt be posting an opinion. Im surprised you remembered that! LOL

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by e-merlin

Well, you're wrong! And here's why:

The customer put the little shops out of business. They weren't forced to go to the mega-store, they made a choice. A lot of the choices most of us make are based on price.

Now, if the "good little shops" were going the extra mile like Mark's favorite dealer, they might have retained customers that went elsewhere. However, when mom-and-pop choose to stick to their guns on price, and you can get the exact same thing for $100 less half way across town, which store is going to get the sale? Maybe mom-and-pop can't undersell Mega-Monster-Music, but they sure can do a thing or two the big-uns can't. It's called value. Percieved value to be specific. "Yeah, our guitars cost a bit more, but we do a custom setup blah, blah, blah, value added, see what you think of this one compared to the one you played at..."

You hit the nail on the head perfect explaination.

Thats why that dealer gets all my business and I never buy anything from the big chains. MY friend that got me my CV Tele got it from MF but he gave it to me as a present totally for free so I didnt complain but other than that 1 exception that was out of my control all my new Fenders have been purchased from Larry Miletich.

[rangercaster]

my point exactly E ... they put the bad mom and pops out of business ... and , yes, we should all support our good local dealers who provide great service ... it really is about value, not price !!! i will gladly pay 50 bucks more to a store owner who cares about me more than the idiot salesperson's commission at (Name Your Mega Store) !!!

[supernewt]

Elderly music sets up the guitars they sell. I bought a $200 Squire from them, and it was set up and played great out of the box.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by supernewt

Elderly music sets up the guitars they sell. I bought a $200 Squire from them, and it was set up and played great out of the box.

Yes they do an excellent job and if your picky about weight they will tell you the weight before you decide to purchase.

[surfoverb]

so if they sell all the light bodies to people they like who gets the heavy ones?

[JimmyJam]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

so if they sell all the light bodies to people they like who gets the heavy ones?

The people that don't ask or care about the weight...

[getbent]

Originally Posted by Parma_TeleMon

And one of these days I'm going to translate neocaster's sig - just for geeky fun.

'tone is in the soul'


I wonder if teles will ever come plekked. That would be pretty cool.

[mitchg]

Originally Posted by BAW4742

I agree with strapping-teles. As I was reading Mark's post Sweetwater came to mind. They may not hit on all points but they come closer than anyone else I can think of.

Maybe your suggestions will land with some of the Sweetwater guys. I would not be surprised to find that some of them are members here.

Someone pointed out this thread to me, first time I've been to this forum! Looks like a great place to hang....

Yes, we do a 55-point inspection of each guitar we sell before it ships out. In almost every case, the guitars leave here playing and feeling better than they did when we received them from the manufacturers. And, as mentioned in an earlier post, we do individually photograph each guitar that goes into our online Guitar Gallery so you can choose and purchase the exact one you want by serial number.

I'll pass along the suggestions to do the measurements, etc. And, of course, you can always give your Sales Engineer a call and ask any questions you might have.

We're always looking for ways to make a Sweetwater shopping experience even better! Feel free to PM or email me with other suggestions.

Mitch

[Lathem]

Add me to the list of folks who think that service is worth something. If the only thing we care about is the lowest price, pretty soon low prices are all we're going to get.

As an aside, I'd never done business with Sweetwater until very recently. I spent a whopping $40, but they treated me as if I'd spent $10K. Because of this Sweetwater is now the first place I look when I feel the need for something new. They'll never get rich off me, but as long as they continue to treat me the way they do I'll keep shopping there and recommending them to others.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by getbent

'tone is in the soul'


I wonder if teles will ever come plekked. That would be pretty cool.

I think all guitars should be pleked. Except maybe the Esteban model LOL

[surfoverb]

correct me if Im wrong but isn't plekked just a fret level done by a machine?

[Sirfretsalot]

Originally Posted by musicmatty

I couldn't agree more. Every guitar that is out on Display, should be ready to play on a high level.

I was up in Lansing, Michigan about three years ago and stopped at a Music store named Elderly instruments. I was blown away by the selection of new and vintage guitars. More importantly, every instrument was set up and tuned perfect. I asked the guy at the counter about the set ups and he told me that every guitar goes through the repair shop before hitting the racks. Then, a daily check for tuning of every single guitar is performed before the lights are turned out at night. How is that for service?

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

correct me if Im wrong but isn't plekked just a fret level done by a machine?

Thats a part of its process.

It also cuts the nut and when it does the frets its all tuned up so the neck is under the same tension as while playing it.

My 58 Custom Shop Historic Les Paul VOS 2006 was pleked at the factory and the frets are so even it feels like steel on ice smoothest feel ever.

[kp8]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

I dont get any special treatment he does that for everyone.

Same dealer (if i remember right), and he does that for me as well. I bought 3 or four guitars off him in the last 10 years and everything is always top notch right out of the box. You call him, he asks you what you play, how you like your action, what gauge you play. Etc. When i was a kid everyone did this (at least in NY, i.e. Matt Umanov, Mandolin Bros., Rudy's) I never bought a guitar with out asking them to put it on their bench first and give it the going over.

[kp8]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

Doctor, what does your dealer do with the ones that don't pass muster? Drop them off in Corona when he visits his daughters or goes to Knotts Berry Farm?

He sends them back. I kid you not.

He takes only the stock he likes. If you special order a model he doesn't have and Fender send him one with a crooked bridge plate or a blem he kicks it back to Fender.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by kp8

He sends them back. I kid you not.

He takes only the stock he likes. If you special order a model he doesn't have and Fender send him one with a crooked bridge plate or a blem he kicks it back to Fender.

Ah.

That explains where all Best Buy's stock is coming from. Dealer Returns.

Here's what I'd like to see:

Buy a Telecaster; throw in a MIM Esquire for free and I'll do my own set up.