This is a "little" long winded so please bear with me for a minute. I am a little disappointed in Sweetwater. A couple of months ago, I ordered an Epiphone G400 guitar to take with me when I travel instead of taking the LP or Strat (I wouldn't want to lose either one). I know that this is a cheap guitar ($349 US) and I was not expecting Gibson SG quality but still, I am really disappointed by the condition of the guitar.

Firstly, the rosewood fretboard is faded and dried out like it sat in someone's garage all summer. Even a little lemon oil didn't help much although I will try again on the next string change.

Additionally, the side of the fretboard shows what I can only assume was a poorly done factory defect repair on the side of the fretboard. The sanding left a two inch area that really stands out due to being much lighter. Not well done at all.

I am also unhappy with the guitar's very poor balance (Headstock dive). If all Epiphone SG's are like this, It makes me wonder how many new guitar players gave up trying to learn on one. Learning to play is hard enough in the beginning without having to fight a guitar that does not want to hold still.

I know that the build quality is Epiphone's fault and not Sweetwaters.
I know that I should have sent the guitar back (really my fault).

Now, after all of that, comes the reason that I am disappointed with Sweetwater. What really bugs me is that I posted a review of the instrument on Sweetwater. They even emailed me twice stating how sorry they were that I was unhappy with the instrument. What they DID NOT do is post the review for others to see. I know I always read all of the reviews before ordering something hoping that it will keep me from making a mistake. If they are going to hide the truly negative reviews, how can they be trusted.

It certainly paints a biased picture if they choose to print only positive reviews,thats why I don't really pay any mind to reviews I see on retail or manufacturer sites and much rather read them on forums such as this where you are going to get honest unedited reviews.
BTW I bought an Epi G400 Custom (the 3 pup gold plated hardware model) and it is a superb guitar in every way and as I have ststed mant times before my daughter's boyfriend prefers it to his Gibson SG.Then again it cost $550.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Why didn't you return it?

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Never trust anything online. It could come from anywhere. It could Evan be a prank. Seeing, feeling, touching, holding, playing, In first person is the only truth and then only sometimes (BUYER BEWARE).
----Danny,

I don't really have an excuse as to why I didn't return it other than stupidity and procrastination. I kept putting it off until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow and the next thing that you know the 45 days were up. Pretty dumb, HUH?

I have always had good luck with MF and I've probably ordered from them over a hundred times through the years - including maybe 5-6 guitars, can't remember all of them. I always look at the reviews and will usually read the first 20 or so if I'm not dead set on getting a certain item.

Reviews on MF are a lot like the posts on most forums, take a lot of them with a grain of salt. You can always spot the ones from guys who either don't know what they are talking about or are just out to dis a certain product. I spend very little time on the reviews where it says - I've tried it. Right. Sitting at GC, no doubt.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

I don't buy any guitar or amp online. Ever. I feel that guitars pick You, you don't pick a guitar, same with an amp. I bring a couple of my own guitars whenever I buy and amp and bring my amp when I buy a guitar. I always have. No offense but comparing $250 Fender acoustic to a $4,000 Taylor is kind of funny. Fender was never known as a premier acoustic guitar builder. The only solid wood on the Fender is the top. Taylor uses some pretty nice tone wood especially in that price range. They just sound and play like everything else in their price range like Ibanez, lower end Epi's and Carlo Robelli. The only solid wood is the top.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

I don't trust reviews. I buy what I like.

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i always search for reviews on products i buy, but i only use them to look for common flaws or things to watch for. Usually there will be 1 or 2 haters that just bash something to the point that you don't even know why they bought it and then the fanboy that loves it unconditionally but the bulk of the reviews is where you will find good information. If 20 people mention that a switch breaks or a neck feels funny or broken then there is a problem. If one out of 100 hates the neck it is probably them.

Usually i look at the reviews during the information gathering/decision part of my shopping when i am not sold on a specific product, the reviews helps me narrow down my search make a decision IF i find solid reviews. But they are never the end all deciding factor.

Some things are just beyond trusting reviews.... i am looking at different Wah pedals, i narrowed down to classic vox and original crybaby. When i look at those reviews they are in the thousands and they are ALL OVER the place. Love, hate... flame wars. Basically they are comparing 2 industry standards so the reviews are no help. That is when i plug in and try em both.

Oh, truebluefliplover, SG's heads are heavy and tend to dive even the Gibbys. A good strap will help. I usually don't pay much attention to reviews. The fanboy thing is pretty funny. I always call em as I play em.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal