The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Modern Gretsch Guitars: Best place to purchase Gretsch. price vs quality

Best place to purchase Gretsch. price vs quality

« » Page 1 2

- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 7:37 p.m. adp:

Looking for a new G6120SSLVO (Brian Setzer)

Where is the best place to purchase one and be guaranteed a first quality guitar without issues and still get a fair price. Thanks all.
- Rated: 47 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 7:42 p.m. dmanlow:

I'd suggest a board sponsor located on the right of this page. Try Joel at Shanghai.
- Rated: 93 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 8:20 p.m. Pappy:

I recommend Joel as well. You'll get a top knotch guitar and amazing customer service.
- Rated: 16 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 8:27 p.m. Gretschadelphia:

Joel at Shanghai has great service and great prices. I havn't purchased from the other site sponsors but I have heard very good things about them also.
- Rated: 24 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 9:17 p.m. TomfromPA:

I've bought a 6128TSP, SSUGR and 6122-1959 from Joel At Shanghai and couldn't be happier with the price, service and intefrity associated with each transaction.

I also got a Fender Custom Shop guitar from GDP sponsor Dave's Guitars and was very well pleased. Salesman Luan auditioned several guitars from their inventory and sent me a sweet sounding, perfectly set up NOS '60 Telecaster.

Blind transactions with these shops turned out so well I don't bother looking at the big box stores in my area. The great mom & pop stores here are long gone - victims of hard economic times and the monolith.
- Rated: 93 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 7:28 a.m. Pappy:

I was talking to a supervisor of mine who says he used to work at a couple of music stores in the area, but they're gone now. Most are. Now there are two, one focusing on school band kind of instruments and one that is floundering to say the least. He had to close up and rent out half of his shop to a music instructor because he couldn't pay the rent.

It's a shame.

But the way Shanghai handles things, with ordering your guitar and making sure it's sweet gives me hope. Perhaps it's a sign of things to come?
- Rated: 21 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 7:40 a.m. GentlBen:

We are very lucky in my town to have quite a few fine independent music stores that have thrived because the nearest Guitar Center is over 100 miles away.

If we don't support our local shops we will all be buying our guitars from Wal-Mart
- Rated: 12 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 8:08 a.m. Chonny:

As a close friend of Joel I'm gonna have to recommend Shanghai for every Gretsch purchase and that is completely unbiased
- Rated: 25 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 8:10 a.m. senojnad:

In my area (Lehigh Valley, eastern PA) we have both a Guitar Center and a couple of local mom & pop stores. The local stores usually have better prices than GC, along with better service, competent staffing, etc. They also have more selection of different Gretsch models than GC.

For my purchases over the last few years, I have bought exclusively from the small local shops. The experiences have all been good, both during and after the sales.

For a specific recommendation in this part of the country -- Dtown Guitars, near Doylestown, PA (northern Philadelphia suburbs.)
- Rated: 6 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 1:55 a.m. fbama73:

Even at a slightly higher price, I'd still rather purchase from the smaller stores. I'm not knocking GC, but you'll almost always get better customer service from the locally owned store.

We have two awesome local stores in my area. One doesn't work with FMIC for business reasons (he won't let FMIC dictate what he has for sale), but he has a great selection of Martins.

The other has/can get anything Gretsch I could want. I bought my 5120 a few days before I learned that this place existed. I wish I'd know about it sooner.
- Rated: 2 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 11:08 a.m. I am Icinerator:

Joel at Shanghai!!!!! I have a local dealer or two, but I feel that Joel got me into a good set up with my Spectra Sonic.

Someday, when I get the funds together for another gretsch, I will def. go through Joel again!
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 11:38 a.m. adp:

I checked with Shanghai but 4,500 is over 1500 too high. I like to support the boards and get good support but too high for me. Thanks everyone
- Rated: 43 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 11:41 a.m. Joel:

adp: said: I checked with Shanghai but 4,500 is over 1500 too high. I like to support the boards and get good support but too high for me. Thanks everyone

Where did you get that number? As far as I know I haven't had anyone check with me about an SSLVO in the past 48 hours. Just for reference I do have one in stock and the price is well under the price you posted. Due to our prices we can't print prices and only the retail prices are listed. These are not the prices we sell them for. Are you sure you weren't confusing a Phoenix with an SSLVO? Just want to clarify things. I don't like misinformation getting out...
- Rated: 41 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 11:55 a.m. dubkitty:

I would definitely go through sponsors for a new high-end Gretsch, because even the really good Gretsch stockists in the Bay Area don't have anything like a comprehensive selection. the idea of having, e.g., multiple Falcons to audition is very appealing. for general stuff--Epiphones, Blueridges, EFX, and what-not--i try to support my local stores, especially Guitar Showcase, which is a great store with friendly, knowledgeable staff...local stores like that are too rare nowadays, and i like to support them whenever i can. but when it comes to Fender parts i succumb to eBay...i have a fully wired 60s RI Strat body coming for $381.
- Rated: 28 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 12:20 p.m. Wishinfora(nother)Falcon:

CALL Joel!!
- Rated: 24 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 2:22 p.m. TomfromPA:

Ditto what WfF said!

You have to CALL or EMAIL Joel. Prices are individually negotiated and are nobody else's business. For a host of reasons dealers are not free to publicly advertise their best deal.

But trust me, this will be worth the effort.
- Rated: 25 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 3:20 p.m. senojnad:

Ditto what TomfromPA said, which was DITTO what......

My experience has been that none of the good dealers post the prices they sell Gretsch gear for on their web sites, for the reasons Joel points out.

You have to talk to these dealers -- by phone or in person. They will treat you much better than list prices, GC prices, etc.
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 8:01 p.m. adp:

Now that I am searching their website I don't see what I thought was the guitar or price. It was my mistake and I deeply apologize to Joel and his shop. After reading the reviews I think I would be a foul not to call him first. I'll be calling next week when I am ready to purchase. Thanks guys
- Rated: 8 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 9:32 p.m. Macky54:

I can attest to Daves Guitars, picking up my purchases there next week. Laun is very good to deal with. You can't go wrong dealing with either one of these 2 stores.
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 4, 2008 8:27 p.m. commedimus:

I have also dealt with Shanghai and Dave's and have been very happy with both. You always get a good price, but more importantly, you get good service from these guys.
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 7, 2008 4:49 p.m. adp:

Ok Guys I called Joel and I have to say the guy knows his business. Best price but more importantly I feel I am dealing with a true professional who knows a musicians needs. I'm assured that I will be sent a perfect guitar. Which for me, has not always been the case buying on line.

I look forward to closing the deal and reporting back when my baby gets here.
- Rated: 28 ↑
Oct 7, 2008 6:08 p.m. Wishinfora(nother)Falcon:

Congrats Man. Joel will take care of you. I forsee, yet another, satisfied Shanghai customer!
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 7:25 p.m. adp:

Well guys, joy oh joy my guitar got here and all is well. Joel has excellent customer service and a perfect price. Glad I went with him, next time I think I will purchase items like this in person not on-line. Guitar sadly has a finish issue on the neck that I will not pursue. Returning is just too much hassle. All in all I am happy enough. Thanks all
- Rated: 24 ↑
Oct 21, 2008 10:16 p.m. donwood:

Sometimes is best to inspect on site and make sure absolutely no issues. I have been pretty lucky ordering and when not perfect have been able to resolve. Luck with your new guit. Don
- Rated: 43 ↑
Oct 22, 2008 12:19 a.m. Ric12string:

adp, I would talk with Joel about the finish issue. Although I have not yet had a chance to buy any guitars from him, my very clear sense from talking with him on a couple of occasions is that he wants you to be completely satisfied. He may also have some suggestions for how you can deal with the situation. But, give him a call and talk to him in a non-confrontational manner and I am sure you will make some progress to bring you closer to a resolution that you are pleased with.