my dream guitar

[C.Cat]

The Gibson Firebird VII.

I wanted one before I started playing the piano, before I started playing bass, before I stated playing the theremin, and it might even have been before I started playing drums.

I'll be getting one soon, probably sometime after Christmas.

[C.Cat]

I now have my Firebird. I went through a lot of trouble to get it - the site (Dolphin music) I originaly tried to buy one from made me wait for months, and then told me they couldn't get one because they'd lost their contract with Gibson.

A heated exchange between my dad and Gibson soon follwed:

Hi Ray,

I have been waiting since January for a Firebird VII that I ordered (and paid for in full in January)from Dolphin Music. They blame a change in UK distributor, whenever I contact them. They gave me a predicted date recently, then failed to meet that. They keep telling me that they are contacting the Gibson Rep (I guess this means you), that the Gibson Rep is coming to see them etc. but when I call them back they have nothing to tell me, they just repeat that the problem is with the UK distributor.

I ordered this guitar for my daughter, and we think this is the best guitar there is for her style of music, but I am astonished that manufacturer as well established as Gibson can allow a customer relations disaster of this magnitude - something we have not experienced with Fender or even less prestigious manufacturers like Kramer in the past. If someone asked mo about buying a guitar now, I could not honestly recommend Gibson, simply on grounds of customer service. I even contacted Thomann.de who we often deal with and they said they could not guarantee a delivery date.

I hope you will be able to reply with some assurance that we will get the guitar quickly or I will have to cancel the order with Dolphin and consider ordering the best Fender Strat we can find (NOT our preferred option).

BTW I asked Dolphin if we could get a substantial refund and leave them with a deposit of say 10% until the Guitar arrived, but they told me "it's not policy." The fact is that although Dolphin had the best price on offer, my daughter's money came out of a high-interest savings account and loss of interest has completely wiped out their price advantage.

Kind regards,

Jim O'Shea


Thanks for your reply, Ray,

Unfortunately this is a highly unsatisfactory situation. My daughter has a number of gigs lined up and she is depending on having a professional quality guitar. It seemed reasonable to expect the guitar to arrive in time for them, having ordered and paid for it in January.

Now I don't know what to do. I am really reluctant to leave that much money with Dolphin while we wait for the situation to be sorted out. On the other hand, given the economic situation, a smaller dealer network might take advantage of the opportunity to raise prices if I cancel and re-order later. Then again, can I trust Dolphin to honour the current price? - they could use the distributor change as an excuse to raise the price on me when the guitar arrives.

One thing that might help us decide what to do - can you tell me whether or not Dolphin will be part of the new dealership network, please? It would be absolutely infuriating for it to drag on the the end of this month then find they can't fulfil the order at all.

Once again I have to say that I can't understand how a company like Gibson could fail to plan for these changes. Do you have the contact details for anyone in the states I could speak to?

Thanks,

Jim

Ray and Tom,

I have found the name of Gibson’ CEO in America and the address of the company registered office so I’m going to
write to him and ask if he knows what is going on and what can be done to speed things up.

Jim
(This bit really got them worried!)

Hi Tom,

My daughter is prepared to give it a little longer longer befre cancelling the order.

This was aginst my advice. I have been in business myself and I would never dream of charging the full price in advance of an extended delivery schedule. It's unethical business practice and drives away customers in the long run. I buy equipment for myself, but I also influence music technology purchasing decisions for one of the UK's largest Universities and I could not recommend you to my employers based on this experience.

I have asked Ray Miller form Gibson UK (by e-mail) for an assurance of sorting this problem out quickly and told him I am astonished that a company like Gibson could get into this mess.

Jim O'Shea



So the people at Gibson searched their UK stockists for a Firebird VII, but their weren't any. Their only option was to make two new Firebirds (2 is the minimum they can make at a time) in their factory and send one to me. When mine arrived it was perfect and I instantly loved it, but the Manchester humidity messed with it's neck so I had to have it adjusted. It's fine now, but I need to find a strap worthy of touching it's beautiful body!

[rumba]

Just bought a new guitar today an Epiphone LP Custom in black. Will try to get somwe photos up over the next couple of days.


Rumba

[rumba]

Here's my guitars.



This my new aquasition, an Epiphone Les paul Custom.



My Gibson Les Paul Studio, bought this early nineties, can't quite remember the year. It has a lovely weight and was the best sounding in the shop at the time. Still plays like a dream, i use jazz strings on it to stop that electric scratching sound.



A Tanglewood 5 String Nashville Banjo. Great starter banjo.



Boss Bass guitar, this is in the process of being cleaned and re-strung, not been used as much as i would have liked.



Tanglewood TW400, again bought in the early nineties, first guitar. Bit rough round the eadges but still gets played on a regular basis and has been thrown around an awful lot.



Bought from Ikea for my daughter, however the tone and the action on it are excellent and i have used it on several occasion at parties.

Rumba

[C.Cat]

Nice collection!

[ginnie]

My dream guitars would be:

Electric: Gretsch White Falcon
Acoustic: Martin D-45
Bass: Fender Precision

I can't afford any of them. So instead I have a:

Harmony H64 (1964) & a Stinger Strat
Yamaha FG-460s (12 string, but I only put six on now - sounds really good like that)
Squire P-Bass

In the past I've had:
Hagstrom Bass (1974)
Squire Strat
Hagstrom Goya (early '70's)
Yamaha Bass
Yamaha FG450 acoustic
Pan 6 string electric
plus a few more that I can't name for the life of me...

THE STINGER:


THE HARMONY H64:


THE SQUIRE P-series

[dabronxboy]

Sept 12, 2008 21:46:01 GMT ginnie said:

My dream guitars would be:

Electric: Gretsch White Falcon
Acoustic: Martin D-45
Bass: Fender Precision

I can't afford any of them. So instead I have a:

Harmony H64 (1964) & a Stinger Strat
Yamaha FG-460s (12 string, but I only put six on now - sounds really good like that)
Squire P-Bass

In the past I've had:
Hagstrom Bass (1974)
Squire Strat
Hagstrom Goya (early '70's)
Yamaha Bass
Yamaha FG450 acoustic
Pan 6 string electric
plus a few more that I can't name for the life of me...

THE STINGER:


THE HARMONY H64:


THE SQUIRE P-series

Hey Ginnie- That was my dream(the White Falcon) since I was a boy many moons ago;so this past Christmas, the wife bought me an Electromatic 5120; my first Gretsch and its a fantastic inexpensive instrument.
My folks couldnt afford the White Falcon so my pop bought me a Les Paul Custom "fretless wonder" in 1968(ya-I'm an old fart too)
which I still play to this day

[ginnie]

The White Falcon used to be the most exspensive new electric guitar in the world.
I've never played one but I just know it would be great to play.

[ginnie]

but I need to find a strap worthy of touching it's beautiful body!

I had my wife sew me a couple of straps made from old jeans. Strong, durable and very comfortable.

[C.Cat]

Sept 12, 2008 23:56:02 GMT ginnie said:

The White Falcon used to be the most exspensive new electric guitar in the world.
I've never played one but I just know it would be great to play.

I wish I could have a White Falcon...

[dabronxboy]

you can..for about $6,000

[C.Cat]

I don't think I've got that much money in my penny jar!

[dabronxboy]

Sept 14, 2008 17:18:04 GMT C.Cat said:

I don't think I've got that much money in my penny jar!

Here u go- just pick it up and play it

[img src="[/img]i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk59/Fanucci73/274294.jpg"]


This is what I got for Christmas

[img src="[/img]i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk59/Fanucci73/Gretsch_Electromatic_G5120_guitar.jpg"]

[ginnie]

beauty...a dream guitar!