Music One Workshop?

[Silverface]

Bob, this thread started with someone asking for recommendations about Music One. John posted a justifiably negative experience, and got jumped for it, even though his tech, Rob DiStefano (who also has a pretty good rep around here) backed him up.

Both those guys are perfectly justified in stating their opinions, just as are folks who've had good experiences. I will add, however, that from my perspective as one who hasn't knowingly had a Music One guitar in my hands - this "Gold Level Setup" thing is pure marketing hype. Emphasis on the word hype.

I do not see the logic in paying for services others provide for nothing with a new guitar purchase. I DO see where it increases profit, however.

The guy had a bad experience. If that bothers you so much, go buy another plutonium-level setup guitar from them and make yourself...and them...feel better.

As far as the "maybe the problem is you and not us" comment - that stuff is probably better left to email, dude.

[dave_esmond]

Originally Posted by Silverface

this "Gold Level Setup" thing is pure marketing hype. Emphasis on the word hype.

I do not see the logic in paying for services others provide for nothing with a new guitar purchase. I DO see where it increases profit, however.

well i think we've established no one paid extra for gold level service.....and it does take a bit more then "hype" to become "gold level"....it's certainly a bit more then marketing....is it worth it to you?....obvioulsy not....but to others it does show a level of commitment and pride in work.....doesn't mean someone who's not a gold level place can't do very, very good work......but it does mean something....

d

[Silverface]

Dave - a "Gold Level Setup" has NOTHING to do with being a "Gold Level" anything.

It's not a Fender term for setup - it's a Music One self-penned marketing phrase.

That's what I mean about hype. Too many people buy into some imagined tie-in between Fender's "Gold Level" technician term and Music One's "Gold Level Setup".

They are totally irrelevant to each other. I can claim to do Platinum - Level setups..or gold, or silver, or aluminum...it has nothing to do with anything.

There's no such thing as a "gold level place" as far as setups - well, Music One thinks there is...

It's all marketing. They may do really outstanding work in many cases, but let's get over creating a relationship between manufacturer's certifications and marketing phrases.

[John E]

Originally Posted by Bob McLeod

Dude...it's not HYPE when people give you their honest opinion which in the case of Music One is overwhelmingly positive. It's only HYPE if people are trying to jive you.

You don't like Music One? Think you got a bad deal? Fine, but don't paint other's opinions in a negative light because of your feelings on the matter. No body here makes a dime off recommending Music One. Most of us who have dealt with Larry have nothing but the highest regard for him and his business. Maybe the problem is you and not us.Bob

Bob you're right, no insult intended... Sorry, hype was a bad choice of words. Buzz maybe? I'm not diminishing other people's opinions at all, sorry if I gave that impression... I will argue though that it seems that I'm the one that is being attacked a bit though, because I voiced my opinion and described a bad experience. I tried hard to avoid posting my experience as everyone seems to love Music One, and I figured I'd get slammed. Obviously it's all perception, yours and many other people's perception is good. But put yourself in my shoes, I was swayed by the great remarks that Music One always gets and so bought a guitar from them.... the buzz created made my expectations very high(making a bad situation worse) and it turned out to be a very bad experience for me and so naturally it really burns me every time I see somebody rave about them now. So I posted my experience and opinion(which are both obviously very bad). Let's just leave it at that, Peace to You Tele - Brother!

[0le FUZZY]

WADE DA MINNIT !!

Yew guys is haffin tew much fun.

The most wunnerful folks on this page are gittin all tense and stuff.

Zman asked---

Anyone deal with them? I spoke to them and they seem very legit. Please let us know.

The answer is yes!! and it's purdy simple.

Call Larry and /or George and ask em or email them.

They dew it for the luv and a liddo getus.

Nobody kin please errybody. It jes ain't possible!!

How many times haff we said stuff about all kinda business here onna NET and elsewhere?

This thread is goin downhill real quick and I hate tew cee it goin on cause all of yew are the very best folks on the NET and I hate ceein us all tryin ta type our feelins cause it alwayz ends up li kiss.

I haff not purchased from them but I haff received much valuable info for free from Larry.

My frens, we cannot settle this here. Jes like Guitar Center, Magicians Fren, eBay and the hunnerts of other places we git stuff this is no exception. We all haff different episodes in our life.

My opinion is ----- watts the point? Say bad thangs er good, respond or don't, it all ends up the same.

Lets be glad we haff options and be glad it ain't like it used ta be where yew hadda dew stuff yer own seff.

Put yer seff inna udder guyz shoes fer a short spell.

Life is good and TELECASTERs are wunnerful and he said she said and he did and they did or dent conversations onna NET kin go on forever.

I hope yew unner stan where I am commin from and where this response is goin.

The TDPRI is great !!

I remain yer fren (I hope);

[Kingpin]

Nobody kin please errybody. It jes ain't possible!!

That's it, in a nutshell.

My .02
Setups are a very subjective thing. Everybody has their own preferences on how things should be. Learn how to do it yourself, a little trial and error and you'll be Setup Master too. You'll be able to have it exactly the way you like it rather than having a tech guess about the way you want it to feel.

[Silverface]

Simply Dave - I view self-acclaimed marketing terms (that can be construed by those that don't read carefully as factory-authorized) as misleading.

Actually, yes - I would prefer "we do really good work" with some simple quotes from customers. Sure it's easy to "load" that as well - but it's not quite as silly as trying to tie into Fender's technician terminology with a misleading advertising term.

Yep, the proof is in the pudding. I certainly think that in most cases Music One has produced nice work. But the intensity of the responses against a guy who didn't get great work, apparently, is appalling.

Both parties are right - but the ones who like their Music One products seem to be of the opinion that a guy who didn't like his guitar is wrong.

I don't get that at all. And my other point is, again, dispelling the notion that "Gold level techinician" somehow certifies the use of the term "Gold level setup".

All of my guitars have a "Gold Level Setup"...done by me. Well, this one over here is more probably Steel level, it needs some tweaking. Oh, and this one is Platinum though, because the dog licked the frets and *really* polished those suckers, and....

[dave_esmond]

Originally Posted by Silverface

They are totally irrelevant to each other. I can claim to do Platinum - Level setups..or gold, or silver, or aluminum...it has nothing to do with anything.

sorry, didn't mean to imply it was tied to fender...words aren't my strong suit, did sound like i was putting them together......but i do think it takes a lot to be able to claim to be a "gold level place" or to offer "gold level setups"...you need the reputation and the following to make it stand up......

sure the words don't mean anything on their own....but the work does....so they do something to do with each other....

i can see how the confusion between gold level fender and the gold level term musicone uses could be a problem if the work didn't stand up....but in this case the work seems to justify the term.....

i see the term and the work having everything to do with each other.....if the work doesn't live up to the term call it hype, otherwise it's just good marketing to me....it's a matter of pride in work to me, and that's what i see it as....

d

[dave_esmond]

Originally Posted by Silverface

I don't get that at all. And my other point is, again, dispelling the notion that "Gold level techinician" somehow certifies the use of the term "Gold level setup".

i see your point....and it's well taken....

would "gold level technician setup" or "setup by gold level technician" be better?....really just curious if that would work better....

if there's such a thing as a "gold level tech"...what do we call the work they do?

d

[Bob McLeod]

Silverface: I'm aware of the content of the thread and aware of who the posters are. I stand by my comments.

Fuzzy: I defer to your wisdom.

Dave E: No offense meant. I just loves me some Larry and George, niether of whom has ever hyped my about anything.

Now let's go play some teles..

Bob

[eryque]

I've been following this thread kind of half-heartedly and the idea that MusicOne is advertising a service that most folks think the should provide as standard.

Gold level setup, according to their website, includes leveling, crowing, and polishing any high frets. I've never heard of anyone doing that before, is it at all common? I've played lots of new guitars in stores that could use a little TLC on the fretboard, so it surprises me that anyone thinks that this is standard service.

I'm not sure I can get down on a business for advertising their standards, particularly in a world where places like Guitar Center can get away with selling schlock for prices that are too high. Perusing Music One's website, it looks like their prices are on the high side of average, but they don't look at all outrageous. Personally, I *like* for someone I'm doing business with to give me a list of things that they do as standard practice. My experience has been that most businesses that can't give you a list (even if they are pretty standard items) like that haven't thought about it very much, so not all of those items on the list get done every time, it's hit-and-miss, depending on the mood and judgement of the guy at the time.

[Vincent Caster]

Where are you from?

Where else would you be looking to buy your guitar from?

What are you looking to buy?

I'm just wondering because there might be a great local shop you could buy from, you could be looking to get a bender installed or you might be looking for certain things that would help us here on the TDPRI make a more informed reccomendation to you.

It would be great if you could give us some specifics and that might help keep us out of the wheatfields (little Washington State expression)

That being said, when I went to buy my son's guitar I bought it from Music One. Larry came as advertised with a passion for guitars. I can fault a guy for many things but it is hard to fault a man for his passions.

I got a nice light MIM classic 50's with a great set up. But let me add that he went off the info I told him. I told him I liked my action high because I am a ham fisted player. I didn't tell him that I needed it Freddie Green high. Did I have to adjust the action? Yup. Hey come to think of it I think my son does have a lighter touch than me! Hehehe.....busted! Let me assure everyone that I am just breaking it in for him.

So please let us know some more about what you are looking for and we can get this back to finding you a keeper.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by Kingpin

<snip> ... Setups are a very subjective thing. Everybody has their own preferences on how things should be. Learn how to do it yourself, a little trial and error and you'll be Setup Master too. You'll be able to have it exactly the way you like it rather than having a tech guess about the way you want it to feel.

IMO, yep - "good" setups are a subjective thing, but there's more to it than just a pat statement ...

A g'tar setup is all about playability and "feel", and most g'tarists who've been around awhile have their personal preferences. This is where a g'tar tech *must* work with the g'tarist in order to tweak the playability to the g'tarist's tastes.

A good, personal setup isn't a store-bought "stock" item. It's a collaboration between tech and g'tarist. And yes, sometimes the tech IS the g'tarist. 8)

IMO ... If a g'tar is examined, and inherent non-subjective concerns are exposed ... i.e. - incorrectly cut nut slots, nut buzzing, saddle buzzing, very high nut or neck relief, bad intonation, really excessive fret buzzing, exceedingly high "slide" action, etc. ... I deem this to be a poor setup, IF any whim of a setup was even performed. LOTS of g'tars, even high-end ones, leave the factory with absolutely no aforethought to setup.

I think all guitars should have at least a decent, general setup tweak performed before hitting the retail vendors. True, some changes *may* occur during shipping, or with regards to environmental differences, but for the very most part a good many setup concerns are inherent when they leave the factory. I think that part of the dollars you spend on a g'tar's store sticker price should have already been allocated towards a decent setup - I don't care who performs the setup, as long as it's "ball park" and there are no inherent problems left unattended. But that's just not the way it is in this industry. YMMV.

[0le FUZZY]

Watt inna world yew gittin ready ta dew here?

Yew gonna grind out that slot so yew kin stick that P/U in air?

Grind them strings outta yer way?

Make a new slot ?

HEE! HEE! Thanx fer the grin.

Nice reply Rob.

It's true that many off the shelf TELECASTERs kin and mebby should be set up better. However many are jes fine as is.

If the person who is sellin it takes the time tew set it up it's a plus fer the buyer.

Here I are gittin ready tew dew a "FUZZY-Fix" set-up on iss here 52 Esquire.


*note* My work iss gar-on-teed cause I gots my Leo Fender mag-niff-fi-in glasses on. A hammer and hack-saw are a must.

[Joel Terry]

Originally Posted by astro

Oh yeah and ever since Bewitched I never been able to trust anyone named Larry!

I'm rolling in the floor over this one, Jeff.

Joel

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by 0le FUZZY

Watt inna world yew gittin ready ta dew here?

I'll tell ya, Fuzz-Meister, that thar Tele ain't never been the same since I "operated" on the ol' gal!

I do agree with ya - the better vendors will take the time to look over each new g'tar arrival and have their in-store tech do a "ballpark" setup.

Whether or not there's an upcharge for that service on the sticker price depends on store policy. The good shops don't tack on a dime for what amounts to around 5 to 15 minutes of tech work ... after all, that's what a good retail store really offers - service - that, and the fact that they try to do the right thing by their customers.

IMO, the three most prominent g'tar issues you might just find at yer local g'tar shoppe are ...

<li>serious setup issues (playability)
<li>absolutely dead or near-dead strings
<li>razor fret edges due to poor humidification

... all that adds to the reason why I get a paycheck. 8)