The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #61  
Old 06-16-2018, 11:55 AM
rokdog49 rokdog49 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,538
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by GuitarFundi View Post
My GC used to price match. I always would surf shop for what I wanted before going in and then show them the online price and they would match the price. Did they stop this policy?
Nope,
They still price match.
__________________
Nothing bothers me unless I let it.

Martin D18
Gibson J45
Gibson J15
Fender Copperburst Telecaster
Squier CV 50 Stratocaster
Squier CV 50 Telecaster
Reply With Quote
  #62  
Old 06-17-2018, 08:50 PM
Frusciante Frusciante is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 90
Default

I had a similar experience. Bought an HD28V from a forum sponsor but it didn’t sound as good as the one I had played at GC. Brought the one I had bought from a sponsor to GC compared them side by side and shore enough the one at GC sounded more “alive” for lack of a better descriptor. It was also quite light. Don’t know if that had anything to do with it.

Anyway GC matched the price. I’m surprised your GC wouldn’t do the same. Maybe each store is different.


Quote:
Originally Posted by rokdog49 View Post
Wow, you guys are all great. Lots of experience, opinions and good points.
I can't address every thing I read on here, but since many were kind enough to weigh in, I will tackle some.
First of all, I know that there will always be another J45 or any guitar out there that will take me to nirvana. Paying a premium for one that I know already does is absolutely personal but it can be and usually is, highly emotional. In the case of emotions, logical thinking usually vanishes and decisions are made. Guitars are about emotion so paying more for one that takes you to the heights isn't bad in itself.

As far as the "going rate",for a guitar, it's a moving target.

Yesterday, I was offered a pretty good deal on a new J45 from an AGF member/vendor with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee and no return freight.
It wasn't $1900, but I'm not 100% sure that number is out there. This vendor will give me the "pick of the litter" of the best of three guitars he has in stock. He will unpack each and play each and decide. He said he owns a J45 and he knows what a good one sounds like. Once again, 30 days to decide and send it back for full credit, they pay the freight if I'm unhappy.

I don't know where GC got their $2580 selling price except to say it's about ten off of MAP or close. I do think that their unwillingness to discount to a "reasonably acceptable market price" is a little odd.

As far as variances in the guitars themselves, it's pretty much universally agreed that J45's out of Bozeman are somewhat inconsistent in tone. This vendor affirmed that was their experience as well. Nobody really knows why. The less than acceptable ones he said are sent back to Gibson.
In summary, we all have feelings about how to deal with buying a new guitar and I can appreciate the folks who say to spend the extra, get the one you love. I can also appreciate the folks who say, hey there are a lot of J45's out there and one of them has your name on it at a better price.
Reply With Quote
  #63  
Old 06-18-2018, 05:06 AM
rokdog49 rokdog49 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,538
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frusciante View Post
I had a similar experience. Bought an HD28V from a forum sponsor but it didn’t sound as good as the one I had played at GC. Brought the one I had bought from a sponsor to GC compared them side by side and shore enough the one at GC sounded more “alive” for lack of a better descriptor. It was also quite light. Don’t know if that had anything to do with it.

Anyway GC matched the price. I’m surprised your GC wouldn’t do the same. Maybe each store is different.

See my newest post, they did match it, finally.
__________________
Nothing bothers me unless I let it.

Martin D18
Gibson J45
Gibson J15
Fender Copperburst Telecaster
Squier CV 50 Stratocaster
Squier CV 50 Telecaster
Reply With Quote
  #64  
Old 06-19-2018, 05:11 AM
rwhitney rwhitney is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 83
Default

My experience is guitars in general vary a lot in tone and playability, even among the same model, including high-end makes. Maybe it’s the strings, setup, lack of playing-in, but they’re all subjectively different to me. I had a J-45 TV I really liked for a couple of years but most standard J-45s I’ve tried at my local GC were just okay.
__________________
Collings OM-2H with cutaway
Cordoba GK Pro Negra flamenco
National Resonator Collegian
Taylor 562ce 12-string
Reply With Quote
  #65  
Old 06-19-2018, 05:23 AM
ruger9 ruger9 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NW New Jersey
Posts: 1,706
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by stormin1155 View Post
When you find a real gem, like you did, I wouldn't let a few dollars get in the way. I don't know how far off GC is from the price you want to pay, but think five or ten years down the road... do those few dollars really matter versus getting the one that stands out from the rest?
I agree. I would want THAT guitar; if it's special, don't hesitate.

Electrics are a little more consistent... in my experiences, playing one locally (say a strat), then buying one online... not a huge difference. Especially after a setup. But acoustics? Especially GIBSONs these days? I would have bought THAT guitar.

Honestly, if I found an acoustic that I thought was a lifetime keeper (I know we don't always know that, sometimes for years), I would buy it, even if I had to put some of it on a credit card. Because over a lifetime, it doesn't matter. And if I just had the cash, I would have accepted GC's price. I don't haggle too much over price if I think a guitar is really special.
__________________
2018 Farida OT-22 (00)
2008 Walden CG570CE (GA)
1991 Ovation 1769 Custom Legend Deep Bowl Cutaway
2023 Traveler Redlands Spruce Concert

"Just play today. The rest will work itself out." - Bob from Brooklyn
Reply With Quote
  #66  
Old 06-19-2018, 05:25 AM
ruger9 ruger9 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NW New Jersey
Posts: 1,706
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rokdog49 View Post
See my newest post, they did match it, finally.
Fantastic! Best of both worlds!
__________________
2018 Farida OT-22 (00)
2008 Walden CG570CE (GA)
1991 Ovation 1769 Custom Legend Deep Bowl Cutaway
2023 Traveler Redlands Spruce Concert

"Just play today. The rest will work itself out." - Bob from Brooklyn
Reply With Quote
  #67  
Old 06-19-2018, 05:29 AM
rokdog49 rokdog49 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,538
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ruger9 View Post
I agree. I would want THAT guitar; if it's special, don't hesitate.

Electrics are a little more consistent... in my experiences, playing one locally (say a strat), then buying one online... not a huge difference. Especially after a setup. But acoustics? Especially GIBSONs these days? I would have bought THAT guitar.

Honestly, if I found an acoustic that I thought was a lifetime keeper (I know we don't always know that, sometimes for years), I would buy it, even if I had to put some of it on a credit card. Because over a lifetime, it doesn't matter. And if I just had the cash, I would have accepted GC's price. I don't haggle too much over price if I think a guitar is really special.
Basically, I did what you said but I still haggled them down a bit using their own policy.
They said they would price match which they did. I'm just not leaving money on the table. I was in sales for over forty years.
__________________
Nothing bothers me unless I let it.

Martin D18
Gibson J45
Gibson J15
Fender Copperburst Telecaster
Squier CV 50 Stratocaster
Squier CV 50 Telecaster
Reply With Quote
  #68  
Old 06-19-2018, 01:53 PM
Slim Slim is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 392
Default

Thanks for the update! Great news you got the one you wanted at the lowest price.

Pics?
Reply With Quote
  #69  
Old 07-13-2018, 07:34 PM
sbmackie sbmackie is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 315
Default dealer?

Quote:
Originally Posted by brencat View Post
Jamie did the right thing walking away and I would have done the same. That price is outrageous. You can buy them all day long for +/- $1900 shipped. On principle alone, one shouldn't have to pay a 25% premium for "best tone."

/thread
Could you pass me the dealer that will provide this price?
Thanks
__________________
Scott
Three things we can't replace:
Time, Family and Integrity
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=