In light of the GC thread going on I thought I'd ask you guys your opinions on Sweetwater and Sam Ash? Quite a few people have recommended me them lately for my future purchases. One guy mentioned Sweetwater guitars have a 2 year warranty on them and they check ALL the guitars before they ship out. Another guy said the same thing but said they don't check ALL the guitars, just most of them.

Either way though I keep hearing pretty good things about both companies. Does anyone have any first hand experience with either company they could add?

thanks.

I like Sweetwater but don't forget Elderly Instruments great people to deal with. No guitar ships from them until it is checked a setup and me being somebody that does that for others I can say the two guiters I got from them where dead on. Fast service and good contacts.
http://www.elderly.com/

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I have shopped Sam Ash both in the store and via the website, and I've never had any problems. In fact, I bought my Jazzmaster from a very helpful and knowledgeable salesperson (David in San Antonio).

I have also had good experiences buying a guitar through WorldMusicSupply.com and an amp through ThePerfectGuitar.com -- no complaints whatsoever.

_________________
I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

I can definitely recommend ThePerfectGuitar.com. I've bought most of my equipment from their store. Too close to home for online!

thanks for the replies, I bookmarked Elderly so I can check them out later.

One of the reasons I'm curious about Sweetwater is I believe they're located less then an hour away. (hoping for fast shipping.)

Can you make deals with any of these people? For example call them up and say, "I want to buy 4 guitars, lets negotiate."

Or will you just get shut down?

Sweetwater is THE only online retailer whom has never messed up my orders. Sam Ash (my local store) has always ,every single time , Beaten GC on my trade in gear.

I delt with sweetwater and they are buyer friendly. And yes they do check each guitar berore they ship it. In many cases there priceses are lower than most. Go online at sweetwater.com and see for your selfe.

I do not like Sam Ash and they are five minutes from me. I only stop in to grab strings and there inventory is awful. I have never bought a guitar from GC about 10 minutes from me but boy do they have a beautiful store and they are loaded with every ax you would want.

Sweetwater is in my town, and there's is nothing magical about them... they're just another online retailer. The prices aren't any lower (unless you want to call 199.97 lower than 199.99), and despite their best efforts they do screw up people's orders and make customers unhappy just like everybody else.

Personally, if I was intent on buying a guitar online, I'd deal with someone who specialized in guitars... Elderly, The Perfect Guitar, etc.

But, then... I wouldn't buy a guitar online. Too many variables.

I purchased a 2009 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus from Sweetwater back in February. My sales rep was knowledgable and spent over an hour on the phone with me discussing and describing the various instruments I was looking at. The guitar lists for $2299.97 on the web site but I was able to get it for $1750. The guitar was exactly as pictured and the follow up customer service has been nothing but excellent. I would, and will buy another guitar from Sweetwater again.
The only problem is that they don't ship to Canada, so I had to order it to a US address then bring the guitar across the border myself.

_________________
'05 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS
'07 Gibson GOTW week 40 1984 reissue Flying V
'08 Gibson Robot Explorer
'08 Gibson Robot SG
'09 Dave Murray Artist Series Stratocaster
'09 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
'09 Gibson Les Paul Studio

Sam Ash is just one step up from GC. Elderly is more mom and pop to deal with.

I have never bought a guitar from Sweetwater but I have bought a number of other guitar related items from them - pedal, Vox amPlug, etc.

Knowledgable people, great service, fast shipping and (most important to me) - follow up every time. Your Sales engineer calls you to make sure that your merchandise arrived on time, in good shape, and lives up to your expectations. I like that!

_________________
Ignorance IS bliss - and I am the happiest person here!

I deal with Sam Ash. No problems. They have a super store 5 min. from my home. I still go online so I don't have to scream above the wanker kids. Plus the inventory and selection is better on line.
Elderly Instruments is great too.

I'm with SlapChop, I won't buy a guitar or amp for that matter on line. It's too much of a hassle to take back. I like George's Music for guitars. They're smaller and don't allow kids to take the guitars off the wall and wank on them. Everything is clean and polished. They set up the guitars before you take them as a matter of coarse. Nice people to deal with and there is a George who ows the stores.

If Sweetwaters is only an hour away, take the drive. They have a great inventory and a staff that knows from shine-ola( I'm still not sold on putting shoe polish on a Guitar neck)and they will work with you.

Good luck,
John.E

Ask for the "performer's discount."

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!