Mail Order Madness

Mark Byrom · May 24th, 2005, 08:25 PM

Last week I posted a little story about my stuggle with the '72 Tele I bought from Elderly Instruments. Got a lot of great suggestions and comments from you folks, and eventually decided that I just couldn't pay $2K for a Tele that'd been hacked, even though it was a fine musical instrument and the pickguard covered up the problem. I did talk to some fine luthiers about repair options, Bill Crook and Bryan Galloup. Both were generous with their time and knowlege and couldn't have been any nicer. Still, considerling the time I spent agonizing, repacking, haulin' the guitar to The UPS Store and paying for shipping both ways, it was an expensive lesson. The problem is, it's a lesson I can't seem to learn no matter how many times it's taught. I don't EVEN want to know what I've spent returning guitars over the last 25 years (the first was a refinished '62 Tele bought from Gruhn for $600). Let me just say that I really know how to pack a guitar for shipping.

Until about 6 years ago I'd spent most of my life in a small Texas town a pretty good ways from a well stocked, high end, guitar store. Mail ordering was one of my few good options, so I got into the habit of buying guitars that way. When cyberspace arrived, things got even worse. I've checked Elderly's inventory first thing every morning (and I mean every friggin' morning) for years, not to mention checking in with countless other online retailers regularly.

Now I live outside of Austin, which I've heard, is considering changing its name to Guitarville. You'd think that I'd be able to find plenty of fine instruments locally that more than suit my limited ability. It's just that is so easy and fun to shop, drool, and order online or by phone. Or spend hours studying the unholy book of eBay instead going to the trouble of actually playing my guitar. Those pictures just look soooo gooood.

But, to be honest, I've become so picky in my old age (and lurking around this durn page sure doesn't help), that I'm almost never happy with an instrument I've ordered, either from a retailer or auction. Somehow, I must convince myself that the only way I can buy a guitar anymore is to see it, handle it, smell it, and play it first. Is this going to happen anytime soon? Maybe. At least until the 55 bucks I just spent on shipping charges is forgotten.

Oh, BTW, guitargai has some a really nice lineup this week.......Are there support groups for this? I need help.

Twang · May 24th, 2005, 11:25 PM

I hear ya Mark. This place is can be Gas-city sometimes

There's so much cool stuff out there it can boggle the mind (and the bank account).

Maybe I've just had good luck or maybe I'm not as "selective", but of the four guitars I've bought on-line I've only had to return one. Two of the keepers were from Elderly, but they were both new guits. Great ffolks up there.

I never found a support group for my search, only "encouragement"...eventually I found my #1, my #1 tele, and my #1 for fun and finally stopped there

Good luck

May 24th, 2005, 08:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mark Byrom TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Georgetown, TX Posts: 75	Mail Order Madness Last week I posted a little story about my stuggle with the '72 Tele I bought from Elderly Instruments. Got a lot of great suggestions and comments from you folks, and eventually decided that I just couldn't pay $2K for a Tele that'd been hacked, even though it was a fine musical instrument and the pickguard covered up the problem. I did talk to some fine luthiers about repair options, Bill Crook and Bryan Galloup. Both were generous with their time and knowlege and couldn't have been any nicer. Still, considerling the time I spent agonizing, repacking, haulin' the guitar to The UPS Store and paying for shipping both ways, it was an expensive lesson. The problem is, it's a lesson I can't seem to learn no matter how many times it's taught. I don't EVEN want to know what I've spent returning guitars over the last 25 years (the first was a refinished '62 Tele bought from Gruhn for $600). Let me just say that I really know how to pack a guitar for shipping. Until about 6 years ago I'd spent most of my life in a small Texas town a pretty good ways from a well stocked, high end, guitar store. Mail ordering was one of my few good options, so I got into the habit of buying guitars that way. When cyberspace arrived, things got even worse. I've checked Elderly's inventory first thing every morning (and I mean every friggin' morning) for years, not to mention checking in with countless other online retailers regularly. Now I live outside of Austin, which I've heard, is considering changing its name to Guitarville. You'd think that I'd be able to find plenty of fine instruments locally that more than suit my limited ability. It's just that is so easy and fun to shop, drool, and order online or by phone. Or spend hours studying the unholy book of eBay instead going to the trouble of actually playing my guitar. Those pictures just look soooo gooood. But, to be honest, I've become so picky in my old age (and lurking around this durn page sure doesn't help), that I'm almost never happy with an instrument I've ordered, either from a retailer or auction. Somehow, I must convince myself that the only way I can buy a guitar anymore is to see it, handle it, smell it, and play it first. Is this going to happen anytime soon? Maybe. At least until the 55 bucks I just spent on shipping charges is forgotten. Oh, BTW, guitargai has some a really nice lineup this week.......Are there support groups for this? I need help.

May 24th, 2005, 11:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Twang Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Age: 44 Posts: 674	I hear ya Mark. This place is can be Gas-city sometimes There's so much cool stuff out there it can boggle the mind (and the bank account). Maybe I've just had good luck or maybe I'm not as "selective", but of the four guitars I've bought on-line I've only had to return one. Two of the keepers were from Elderly, but they were both new guits. Great ffolks up there. I never found a support group for my search, only "encouragement"...eventually I found my #1, my #1 tele, and my #1 for fun and finally stopped there Good luck