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Post subject: Roman Guitar Store
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 10:07 pm
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Location: Las Vegas
In the past I have been guilty of complaining about living in a town without access to a quality guitar shop. Also stating the inability to find a qualified tech much less a luthier; I now humbly and happily eat my words. I recently found and visited a shop I can only describe as “Guitar Paradise” it is called Roman Guitars. I’m sure many of you have heard of these folks, I had not. For those that don’t know of them they hand manufacture truly beautiful instruments.
I found them via web search and they are located in an industrial park 15 min from my house right off the strip. The site suggested that it was best to call before a visit, which I did. The location is new and not fully open for retail, but with a knock at the front door I was admitted by the VP Scott and this is what I saw…
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These photos are only a small part of the retail inventory that is made up mostly of NOS guitars of every brand and style. Scott gave me a brief history of Mr. Roman (now deceased) as he gave me a tour; one large showroom of the retail stuff and this room that consisted of all the handmade Roman guitars.
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The base model was about 2.5k and they went up from there. They were truly works of art. I asked to see the production area and he agreed, he show me a room full of NOS parts, necks, bodies and electronics that Mr. Roman had acquired over many years. The back area had a curing room full of tones and exotics, the rest was wood working space with 2 builders and a tech (more of a luthier himself then anyone I had met previously). All the work was done by hand; they did show me a CNC that was being used for storage at the time he said with a laugh, they had hopes of perhaps producing a retail model in the future with it.
After seeing the level of instruments they had I was embarrassed to admit what I was looking for, but I came for a reason and got to it not wishing to waste any more of the man’s time. I was after a Bass that was under $500 (really less than that but I didn’t have the heart to ask for anything lower). Scott didn’t miss a beat and said I will give the same service to someone coming in with $200 to $10 k and I have several fine bass to show you. He showed me 4 NOS Ibanez each under $200 and that suggested one 2009 NOS with active pickups $400 with a nice soft case to boot. It was in perfect adjustment and flawless and just want I was looking for and could afford. I handed him my card and he called his tech out and handed it over to his asking me “do you have about 30 min, we always check the setup before we let one out the door. Do you want anything special, set up preference or string wise?” It felt fine as is was so I just said do whatever you feel best. About 30 min later the tech came out and Scott asked him how it looked, Bob (the tech ) said well would it be ok if I spent some more time on it I want to oil the board and there’s a few frets I would like to fine tune, would it be ok if I kept it till tomorrow.
I was flabbergasted I said hell yes take all the time you need (this was part of the sale price no extra charge.

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Take that GC, Musciansfriend and Sam Ash.
So to everyone here, most of who are real guitar connoisseurs, do yourself a favor and patronize this place, I have never experienced anything like it. I'm saving my money to pick up one of the beautiful Stratocasters I saw there, if I can decide which one.


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Post subject: Re: Roman Guitar Store
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 11:56 pm
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Cool post, thanks for the heads up. Congratulations, those are good bass guitars.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Roman Guitar Store
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 7:04 am
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I met Ed Roman in CT many years ago. "Guitar builder to the stars" is what he
called himself. Said he was moving to Vegas to escape the cold weather winters
in CT.

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Post subject: Re: Roman Guitar Store
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 11:08 am
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He was certainly a character.
He did have some interesting thoughts about guitars though.
I didn't agree with all of his ideas but most were pretty insightful.

RIP, Ed.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


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Post subject: Re: Roman Guitar Store
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 8:54 pm
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Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
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Great photos and post, Eroot64. Even here in Canuck territory Mr. Roman was known; although. I never really followed up on the background other than to say I knew of his fame. So good on ya for filling in some blanks. Thanks!

FSB

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