M
Major Tom
New member
I have boughta lot of stuff from them over the years and have always been satisfied with their service. Never a guitar though...
distortedrumble
all up in yo grill!
musicians friend is ok
i think american music supply www.americanmusical.com is much better though. my reason for that is that I'm an impatient person and the MF warehouse is in the center of the country somewhere around kansas and the AMS warehouse is in new jersey...closer to where i live so i get my stuff quicker due to location. the only problem i had with musiciansfriend was when i bought one of those "dent/scratch" items (200 watt bass amp) and when it came it was more than a dent and scratch...the cabinet was split on both ends, the head didnt sit right inside it and then i turn it on and it doesnt work! didnt cost me anything to send it back but i didnt have a car. so i had to get a friend to take me over there....dont hold that against them though....it said dent/scratch and i got it for about half price....i got what i paid for...good thing i could give it back
i think american music supply www.americanmusical.com is much better though. my reason for that is that I'm an impatient person and the MF warehouse is in the center of the country somewhere around kansas and the AMS warehouse is in new jersey...closer to where i live so i get my stuff quicker due to location. the only problem i had with musiciansfriend was when i bought one of those "dent/scratch" items (200 watt bass amp) and when it came it was more than a dent and scratch...the cabinet was split on both ends, the head didnt sit right inside it and then i turn it on and it doesnt work! didnt cost me anything to send it back but i didnt have a car. so i had to get a friend to take me over there....dont hold that against them though....it said dent/scratch and i got it for about half price....i got what i paid for...good thing i could give it back
Scottgman
Legend in Own Mind
I've bought two guitars from Musicians Friend in the past. I was completely happy with both purchases. Don't even worry about it.
Having said that, I just wanted to share my (very short) experience working for Roadway Parcel Service many years ago (I think they got bought out by UPS). Anyway, my job was on the graveyard shift and I was a trailor unloader. Me and another guy would unload 4 - 6 trailors full of frieght in about five hours. The foreman would tell us: "Get those boxes off the truck as fast as possible." They never said "be careful."
Man... we would literally throw those boxes onto the conveyor belt. It wasn't that I didn't care-- I didn't like the idea of throwing people's stuff around-- but that was really the only way to do what the boss required. Of course, he never really "supervised"-- except to tell us to work faster-- so I guess he could claim he didn't know it was going on. I quit in less than a week.
Anyway, I'm not saying UPS operates that way, but I'm would bet that's probably standard operating procedure for all the shipping companies. I've personally never experienced any problems receiving packages from UPS, FedEx, or USPS, but if you are shipping items, I would suggest very careful packing.
Having said that, I just wanted to share my (very short) experience working for Roadway Parcel Service many years ago (I think they got bought out by UPS). Anyway, my job was on the graveyard shift and I was a trailor unloader. Me and another guy would unload 4 - 6 trailors full of frieght in about five hours. The foreman would tell us: "Get those boxes off the truck as fast as possible." They never said "be careful."
Man... we would literally throw those boxes onto the conveyor belt. It wasn't that I didn't care-- I didn't like the idea of throwing people's stuff around-- but that was really the only way to do what the boss required. Of course, he never really "supervised"-- except to tell us to work faster-- so I guess he could claim he didn't know it was going on. I quit in less than a week.
Anyway, I'm not saying UPS operates that way, but I'm would bet that's probably standard operating procedure for all the shipping companies. I've personally never experienced any problems receiving packages from UPS, FedEx, or USPS, but if you are shipping items, I would suggest very careful packing.
acidrock
GO PACKERS!
Sure,three times.
Yes it may not be set up right.
If you are very particular don't.
Myself I'll play just about anything.I hate super low action and wimpy thin strings so I'm easy to please.
You can always modify it down the road if want.
Yes it may not be set up right.
If you are very particular don't.
Myself I'll play just about anything.I hate super low action and wimpy thin strings so I'm easy to please.
You can always modify it down the road if want.
distortedrumble
all up in yo grill!
UPS has more casualties than the war in iraq. i swear people should get medals of honor for each tour (shift) they go through. due to the fact that all the boxes have deadlines like 1-3 day shipping. there is a crazy ass amount of pressure to get them to places at guaranteed times. now what the public doesnt see is the people like scottgman who have to unload that shit day in and day out to the point of physical and mental injury lol. expect your package to go through the equivilant of an nfl season at starting running back before you ever see it. that thing has been flipped, hail marry'ed, sacked, shot from the 3 point line and been suplexed from off the top rope. thank god for the plastic bubble wrap and styrofoam.
C
Calwood
New member
7evin said:
I'm running out of time,..so I didn tread all the posts here,..sorry if I'm repeating or whatever.
My expierience with MF has been a rocky one. They have sent me used equipment under the guise of being new,...stuff that didnt work,....not shipped when it was supposed to,..rude customer service,....the whole gambit.
Granted ,..this was several years ago and I havent bought from them since.
I've since been buying at americanmusical. Never,...not once have I had a problem.
My 2 cents.
Take 'er easy,..
Calwood
M
Mumbus
New member
Just for something to think about...
When you buy a new guitar online, your are getting a brand new guitar, shipped in the original packaging. The only person who has touched this guitar is the guy who checks it out before packing it.
When you buy from a local store, every idiot and there brother has had their greasy hands all over it. There are usually scratches and dents, but these places consider these guitars as "new".
I have bought all but two guitars I own online. I bought a PRS Tremonti SE, and a Gibson Les Paul Gothic from Musiciansfriend.com. (uses ups) Both of which were set up perfectly out of the box. I also bought a ESP B205 and an Alvarez AD60SC from Music123.com. (uses fed-ex) Both came outstandingly packaged, but the Alvarez was not set up very well. I actually had to send that back for a replacement, and they paid for the shipping. You cant go wrong with that!
Bottom line for me is... go play the guitars at your local music store, but buy them online. Not only do you get a true "brand new" guitar, but you also probably wont pay taxes or shipping.
Just my Bit,
Mumbus
When you buy a new guitar online, your are getting a brand new guitar, shipped in the original packaging. The only person who has touched this guitar is the guy who checks it out before packing it.
When you buy from a local store, every idiot and there brother has had their greasy hands all over it. There are usually scratches and dents, but these places consider these guitars as "new".
I have bought all but two guitars I own online. I bought a PRS Tremonti SE, and a Gibson Les Paul Gothic from Musiciansfriend.com. (uses ups) Both of which were set up perfectly out of the box. I also bought a ESP B205 and an Alvarez AD60SC from Music123.com. (uses fed-ex) Both came outstandingly packaged, but the Alvarez was not set up very well. I actually had to send that back for a replacement, and they paid for the shipping. You cant go wrong with that!
Bottom line for me is... go play the guitars at your local music store, but buy them online. Not only do you get a true "brand new" guitar, but you also probably wont pay taxes or shipping.
Just my Bit,
Mumbus
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donkeystyle
New member
Mumbus said:
i can't think of any store that would sell a scratched or dented guitar as new. they get discounted once they get scratched.
and grease can be wiped off.
online you aren't going to get a guitar that is set up well. like i beleive has been discussed in this thread and many threads before they dont set them up because
A: when a person picks up a guitar in a store and the strings vibrate on the frets even a little, they put the guitar down and go to the next guitar.
b: in shipping the setup will get all screwed up because of climate and pressure changes.
now for the positive things about buying from a store.
you get a guitar that is set up the way you want it.
you get to play the actual guitar you are buying.
you can compare it to other guitars of the same model and even color and pick out exactly which one you want (this usually is only allowed on higher end guitars)
many stores will match online prices (with shipping added of course) and in some cases will go lower than online.
you get to know your sales person.
i dunno. like i said before. i got a guitar from musicians friend in 1999 and had absolutely no problems. it went down in price soon after i got it, and they automatically sent me a refund. that's pretty damn good customer service.
someone said in this thread that on bigger purchases you should use a music store and i think that's the best idea. i think they suggested like 500 and up needs to be a local place.........i completely agree with that.
you know musicians friend started out as a string buying club? well at least that's what i heard.
Aaron Cheney
Favorite Chord: C 6/9
L
Lambo
Banned
LOL!!!
N
Natural Gass
New member
I bought a new Gibson Les Paul Standard from MF a couple years ago. The new Gibson selection here is very limited.
I wasn't too worried about getting it on line - I figured a new Gibson, never been played, is going to come out of the factory set up properly and sounding right.
I picked out the finish that I wanted and ordered it. It took about a week to get it shipped to me, but it showed up in its original box packed inside another box with plenty of packing material and it looked and sounded great. I took it to a local shop just to have it checked and all they could say was "wow, what a nice guitar".
Not a big deal, if you don't like it in the first week or two, send it back.
I wasn't too worried about getting it on line - I figured a new Gibson, never been played, is going to come out of the factory set up properly and sounding right.
I picked out the finish that I wanted and ordered it. It took about a week to get it shipped to me, but it showed up in its original box packed inside another box with plenty of packing material and it looked and sounded great. I took it to a local shop just to have it checked and all they could say was "wow, what a nice guitar".
Not a big deal, if you don't like it in the first week or two, send it back.
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donkeystyle
New member
i guess i should have said locally owned store. i meant like mom and pop type music stores.
D
DJL
Self Banned
How come no one who works at Musician's Friend has a last name?
A
acorec
Banned
7evin said:
I got a Epiphone Casino from them. Packed in a great box and the guitar was in mint condition. HOWEVER, it took me a couple of days to get the setup right for me. IF you are not experienced working on guitars (fret leveling, nut replacement/shaping, intonation, action) then you are way better off buying a guitar that you have played. If you don't mind paying for setup/changes then go for it. The MF guitars are absolutely no different or better than the guitars at your local shop (new). No one ever touches these things from the factory, so the playing field is level.
A
acorec
Banned
Aaron Cheney said:
I agree somewhat. That "magical, mystical" bond is the off chance that the guitar assembly person did more of an actual setup (in the factory) than another doing nothing. When I go to GC, I play guitars and fix them on the spot. I set the action and sometimes do alittle intonation work. I figure, someone will buy this thing so I can throw them a freebie. I have had guys try a guitar after I played it (and did some quick adjusting) and call their friend over to show them this great guitar they just found.
Aaron Cheney
Favorite Chord: C 6/9
That's funny you should say that. The one guitar I bought new from GC was an Ernie Ball Axis Super Sport. I was there with my wife and happened to see it sitting in a corner with a $399 tag on it. At first I just dismissed it as one of the cheapo OLP knock-offs. When I looked closer I realized it was the real deal. I couldn't believe it! $399?!
I grabbed it and found a quite place (nearly impossible) to examine it closely. I was sure something must be damaged. I scrutinized it from every angle: it was filthy, the fretboard looked like the petri dish from some genetics engineering lab, the body was a grungy blue, the stings looked black, but everything seemed solid and functionally fine. The neck was an aboslutely beautiful piece of birdseye maple, and there were two pinhead dings.
Then I plugged it in.... oh my gosh. I have never heard a guitar so "un-intonated"! It was no wonder nobody wanted it. Any chords farther up the neck than the standard open "cowboy chords" sounded like crap in the key of Z. I spent a good half-hour tweaking it, and .....
How can GC possibly neglect guitars to this point and expect to sell them ?!!?
Well, to make a long story short.... they sold me this one, but at a price far less than what they go for on Ebay every day. After a very thorough cleaning and some intonation adjustment, that axe plays wonderfully and is one beautiful guitar. GC lost about $1000 due to sheer employee neglect.
A
www.aaroncheney.com
I grabbed it and found a quite place (nearly impossible) to examine it closely. I was sure something must be damaged. I scrutinized it from every angle: it was filthy, the fretboard looked like the petri dish from some genetics engineering lab, the body was a grungy blue, the stings looked black, but everything seemed solid and functionally fine. The neck was an aboslutely beautiful piece of birdseye maple, and there were two pinhead dings.
Then I plugged it in.... oh my gosh. I have never heard a guitar so "un-intonated"! It was no wonder nobody wanted it. Any chords farther up the neck than the standard open "cowboy chords" sounded like crap in the key of Z. I spent a good half-hour tweaking it, and .....
How can GC possibly neglect guitars to this point and expect to sell them ?!!?
Well, to make a long story short.... they sold me this one, but at a price far less than what they go for on Ebay every day. After a very thorough cleaning and some intonation adjustment, that axe plays wonderfully and is one beautiful guitar. GC lost about $1000 due to sheer employee neglect.
A
www.aaroncheney.com
distortedrumble
all up in yo grill!
i've bought about 12 guitars and basses and the only time i bought a guitar that was 300 was when the 7-string korn fad was in full swing.... the whole magical-mysitcal thing doesnt happen for me until i get into the middle of a song and the distortion is in full swing and my head is bobbing and then i get that magical-mystical feeling....i guess the rest of the time i check out the feel, sound and color...if the feel is good and the color is good then the sound can usually be fixed to my liking. the few i bought online were no better/worse than the ones i got in the stores
G
GoMano
New member
Someone has no doubt already posted this, but in the odd event it hasn't been posted - Musicians Friend is Guitar Center's mail order department / adjunct