For a little while now I've wanted a new guitar. I'm not a gearhead or collector, they're very much tools to me and it's very, very rare that I get a case of GAS, but the CV 50's 2tone Strat really hit me with it a couple months ago. The reviews, the pictures, the gushing owners, it just seemed to good to be true. A 50's style Strat with some authentic touches (the pickguard having 8 screws, the AlNiCo pickups, the 2 tone SB) all for a ridiculously cheap price? It just seemed too good. So about a month ago I called one of the 2 GC's located in my city. Asked what they had in stock, or specifically did they have some particular models in stock, which I was told they did. Drive 45 minutes to that one (in the suburbs) and lo and behold, they were full of sh*t and didn't have any of the things they said they had. I thanked them for wasting my time and gas and left after taking a look around and seeing lots of beat up, scratched guitars missing their pickguard plastic and knobs/switches. So a month goes by. A few people have recommended Elderly and Sweetwater, but I'm really reluctant to buy online before I even try the guitar. What if I hate it? What if it's damaged in shipping? So a couple days ago I call the OTHER GC that's located within my city. It's closer but hard to find parking. So I call them up asking specifically about CV Strats. I was bounced around from department to department for 7 minutes. Yes 7 minutes. From accessories to I don't even know what. I just know I said, "I want guitar sales to ask about a particular model and case being in stock." And everytime someone picked up the phone and I started saying what I wanted it's, "Ohhh, you want GUITARS!!! Hold on lemme transfer you." Yes, for 7 freaking minutes. GAH!! So finally I get a woman on the phone who actually sounds very perky and friendly. I tell her exactly what I'm looking for and she says yes they have many CV's in stock and plenty of tweed gig bags. I remind her I don't want a gig bag, I want a hard case. And I reassured they have those too.

So I get off work at the studio at 8, rush like a mad fool across town to get to GC before they close. I start walking around the store. And sonofabi**h I see no a single CV. Not one. So I go to the counter and wait (ironically another 7 minutes, yes I watch time) for a salesperson to notice me. Finally I get some help, they look in the computer and say yes they're there. He then says he's going to walk around and find where they are. So I wait another 5 minutes before I go looking for the guy. He's hanging at the back of the store talking to another employee over an amp, laughing. He notices I'm staring at him and comes over. "uhm yeah, we don't have any. We have the basses." I tell that's really messed up because I specifically called to avoid having my time wasted. He shrugs. I tell him this is the 2nd time GC has done this to me. He shrugs again, then tells me to take a look around and see if I like anything. He then follows me and points out a cherry sunburst Squier Standard with a bridge humbucker, looks nice but I tell him I don't like red guitars and I don't want a bridge humbucker. He then points out 2 more RED GUITARS!!! WTF?? I just said I don't like red guitars, and one of the ones he points too is a used LP. Are you smoking crack? I said no red and no humbuckers and you point to a red les paul? WTF?

Then I spied a butterscotch blond affinity telecaster and the body, color and grain pattern were just beautiful. So I'm thinking, "screw it let me check that one out." So I pull it down play it for a few minutes and think it's pretty nice and with a couple mods it would make a nice beater. Plus it's only $169. I take it to the counter and say I'll take this but I need a tweed case. Then I get told that they don't have any. Damnit wtf? Everything I asked for on the phone that you said you have plenty of, you have none of? I tell him I don't want the guitar without a case. Then he tries to tell me there's a fender custom shop tweed case I can get,........for $250. I look at him, look at him a little more, waiting for the punchline, then I realize there isn't one, he's not joking. I say, "you want me to buy a $250. case for a $169. dollar guitar? Does that make sense?" He shrugs again. Apparently the language of communication at GC involves lots of shoulder shrugging. Then I notice the pickup selector switch is bent down, I point this out. He grabs the switch, holds down the guitar and bends it straight, then very quickly slides the switch back and forth from front to back about 6 times. My GF and my friend (also a professional musician-a classical player) just stare at him like "are you kidding me?" He says, "there, I fixed it." Then he starts trying to pressure me. "so you want it, you're ready to buy it?" I ask, "can I get any kind of deal? Maybe no taxes on it?" He tells me yes, then a couple minutes later tells me I can pay no taxes if I have a church card that makes me tax exempt. I look at him and ask him if I look like I have a church card. (my arms are covered in tattoos.) So after wasting all this time I just tell him, you know what, I think we're through here.

Now,...the difference.

Yesterday before work I call Sweetwater. The phone rings a bunch of times then I get a receptionist, tell her I want guitar sales and she transfers me to a voicemail box. I admit at this point I was just like, "DAMNIT!" Because I thought it was going to be the same as GC. So I leave a message, my name and number and say exactly what I'm looking for. About a half hour later I get a call from a guy who says his name is Chris. He's already looked up what I was curious about and tells me yes everything I want is in stock. I ask him can you please hold a CV 50's strat for me in sunburst and a tweed case, I'm going to come in today and buy it. (I stupidly thought Sweetwater was only an hour away, turns out it was 3 and a half hours away.) But he says he can't reserve the guitar, but that there's plenty in stock and if I want I can come pick one out. I tell him I'll be in later.

I leave work early and begin what turns out to be a very long trip. Then I arrived at what I can only think of as heaven if heaven was a music store. There's an eatery there, arcade, mini golf, pool. It's a beautiful, beautiful building. Very modern and classy. I had to use the bathroom after that long trip and the very polite receptionist told me where it was, next to the bathroom is a glass wall looking into their warehouse. Words cannot describe it. It was like 30-40 foot ceilings, with just the most gear I've ever imagined in one place. Floor to ceiling, very neatly and carefully stacked up and arranged. Just jaw dropping.

So then I go to the guitar section and it's beautiful. temperature controlled rooms for the guitars, lots of guitars, all looking really beautiful, mint condition, and polished to a gleaming shine. There was only one guy working the sales floor, I got there about an hour before they closed, and honestly because of my negative GC experiences I was thinking great this guys busy with another customer and it's gonna be awhile before he notices me. But turns out he asked right away if he could help me and I told him I'd called and spoken to Chris and turns out Chris had put my info in the computer and this salesmen who's name was Greg pulled it all up, told me they had what I wanted, was extremely polite and kind and had someone get the guitar from the warehouse and bring it to me. It was brand new, still sealed in the box, he unpacked it, tuned it up, asked what kind of amp I'd like to try it in, told him anything that's 2x12, and he hooked it up, handed it to me, walked away and told me to take my time and enjoy myself. Can you imagine? Getting treated not only like a human being but treated with kindness and respect? I was actually a little shaken by it. I'm so used to horrible customer service I really was shocked and amazed. I tried the guitar for a few minutes. The construction is impeccable. The finish and fret work are beautiful. The intonation was absolutely spot on. It's a 2 piece body with the joint directly in the center of the guitar, you actually have to tilt the guitar in the light to see the joint. The neck is nicely flamed, and honestly I just loved it right from the moment I held it. Long story short, they had the guitar, had the case, I didn't need to try multiple guitars because I loved the first one I tried, though Greg made it known I could try others if I wanted, he'd have more brought out. I told him no that's fine I really like this one. I asked if I could get a pro/performers discount and he kind of smiled and said "we'll figure something out." I did get a discount, I don't want to say how much because I don't know if I should or if it would be tacky. But I walked out of there with my new guitar, a brand new tweed fender case, and a new set of (free) strings because I like .10's and the guitar came with .09's.

So in a nutshell, Sweetwater is amazing. The level of care and commitment to the customer was just staggering. I honestly felt like if I asked for a chair and something to drink, someone would have brought me both. It was that awesome.

I'm glad I got to see the facility first hand and I'm a little sad that it's such a long drive to get there, but I'm really glad I made the trip. I feel more confident now to order the CV 60's and CV Tele through the mail from them and know that they will do everything humanly possible to make my mail orders as pleasant and enjoyable an experience as possible with 110% customer satisfaction being their goal. This is why Sweetwater not only wins, it crushes GC in my eyes in a VS face-off.

I have alot of students, and they all buy their guitars for the most part where I tell them to buy them because they trust my judgement. From here on out I will be telling every single student/friend/bandmate that Sweetwater is THE ONLY place to shop for gear.

This is why GC really screws the pooch with the service. not only did they lose out on sales to me, (I walked in the door with $1000. in my pocket to buy some guitars, realized I was lied to twice and getting treated pretty poorly, no money for them!) But they also lose out on all my students. GC was easily selling 50 guitars a year just to my new students. No more. I will be telling this tale to all my students and only recommending Sweetwater.

So at the end of the day, not only am I happy that I got the exact guitar I was looking for and it's even better then I thought it would be, I've discovered that Sweetwater is the best place (imo) to be buying gear from. They really, really seem to appreciate your business and go out of their way to make you happy. I'm not a guy to really recommend stuff or go out of my way to sing praise for a company. But honestly I was so floored by the Sweetwater experience I really felt like I had to post about it.

Thanks SW, you guys kick $@! and made me extremely happy.

*pics coming soon, waiting for the camera to charge.

I know I said I don't like red guitars and here I am with one. Some guitars are so good the rules must be bent for them. This old made in the USA red Squier is just such an exception.

Beautiful guitars.

I've always had great service from Sweetwater. I've only ordered from them online but never had any kind of trouble. They will even call you within a couple weeks after you buy and ask you if everything is okay. I haven't ordered from them in a while but they still call periodically to ask how things are going and to tell me what kind of deals they have going on. A great bunch of people there.

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The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.

I'm glad you had a good experience at Sweetwater. As I stated in another post awhile back they are much better at customer service than the other big stores. They are located an hour from where I live, but I have been there many times. Greg whom you mentioned helped you, is also my sales engineer. He is helpful, responds quickly to e-mails, and is very knowledgable. If you order a guitar they will typically unbox it, check the setup, and ship quickly. I know of a smaller dealer who treats people as well, but not many of the big stores can come close. And you are right the building is a sight to behold.

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...

I like Sweetwater better too. Free shipping + 2 year warranty on most items...and they have great catalogs.

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

Don't leave home without it!

Nice Stratocaster collection there. I too am disillusioned with my local Guitar Center. I stopped going there all together. I really loved the one I frequented in Seatle, Washington 10 years ago, but who knows if they are still a good shop anymore. The one here in North Houston has always been a bit of a disappointment. They do not want to do deals, the costomer service is under par, and equipment looks beat up. There is another shop (Texas Music Emporium) around the corner from them that is much much better (but a bit smaller). Customer service is great, equipment is better cared for, and are looking to make you a deal when you are ready.

I am glad you are happy with your CV 50. I own a CV 60 and I am very happy with mine.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

You know, I've never had any issues with internet orders from MF, GC, as well as Sweetwater. But my "local" (2 hours away) is worthless... Glad to know that "local" Sweetwater store is as good as the internet service they provide.

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

Hello Mu51cman,

Glad to hear you got a nice guitar.

Over her in my neck of the woods there are
a few GC's I like going to them all, I'm always
treated fairly and they let me play just about anything.
I'm happy there around.

Cheers.

that's cool glad you're happy with them. Personally I had nothing but bad experiences with them. I only wrote about 2 of my trips there, I've got lots of bad GC stories sadly. Like buying a guitar from them (a fender) for $750. dollars, deciding I didn't like it returning it 3 months later in mint condition because I hardly played it and them telling me it was worth $250-$300 tops. But then selling stuff that's been played and abused, scratched and dented at full price. All kinds of bad stuff. Plus it seems now there is no haggling with them at all, you pay full price.

I'll be more then happy to go to Sweetwater in the future and I've already told some students about them who are checking them out now for their next purchase.

They really cost themselves a lot of money when they lied to me twice. That's not how you treat people.

Ha ha, 2 more students today want a guitar from Sweetwater after they saw my new one and I told them about SW.

They should be getting another order for a CV 50's and a Hot Rails Squier pretty soon.

I love watching GC lose more sales. Maybe one day they'll learn that their lies cost them money, hopefully they learn when they're drowning in debt and filing for Chapter 11.

I like the fact that they assign you one person; and every time I deal with them I always talk to the same guy. I like the fact they call me from time to time to check up on things. I have never seen a company so in tune with it’s customer before.. I have nothing bad to say about Sweetwater at all…

Cheers
Bill

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(80’s Hair Metal) = A snapshot in time before Grunge ruined Rock & Roll forever!!!!

i live only 45min from sweetwater and i find them very helpful the last time i was in there about a month ago there was a sales rep from fender there we talked for an hour about guitars

I am really happy for you! That is one gorgeous looking Strat my friend! How does she sound??

Sorry that I couldn't read your whole post but I thought I might say that Sam Ash has a "50thanks" coupon good for the whole weekend that is worth 50 bucks on all purchases over 225. I didn't buy this year, and I happen to live in FL.(I would have to pay sales tax), but a CV is 350 so subtracting the Fender 10% and 50 bucks would be like 285ish. Fairly good deal except for the price increase.

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Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder. George Washington
No picture = No equipment
Fender CD-60
Squier Deluxe Stratocaster
Squier VM Tele Thinline

Sweetwater would be my choice..no sales tax is a plus too.

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher