Hi to all you guys. I was wondering is Samash Music Online stores a good place to buy a guitars? I am planning to buy a Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster and I want your opinion on this online store reliability.

Thank you

I've always used American Musical Supply for mail order and have never been disappointed.

Reliability and price will be on par with MusiciansFriend, and they are reliable. I doubt that you will have problem with it's service.

However, it's a crap shoot to buy any guitar online from anywhere since all guitars have their flaws and quirks, you just have to find the right one that is acceptable to you. Hopefully it will be right on the first try.

I don't buy guitars online either. I have a Sam Ash 5 minutes from home. Be careful, even when you buy a guitar from them in the store. At the SA by me, they just hand you a box and tell you to come back in a few weeks for adjustments. I'd deal with either American Music Supply or Sweetwater. Every time I buy something from Sweetwater, they call right after delivery and make sure I'm satisfied which I think is a nice personal touch. I've never had a problem with Musicians Friend either.

If possible and if there is a reputable local mom and pops store in your town, I would support them. I try to avoid G Center an Sam Ash at all costs. I have only played guitar 1 year and I know a lot more about guitars than 95% of the staff at every GC and Sash I have been in.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Great advise! And if $$ is your main concern, most (if not all) will match any price you can document.

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... and the cradle will rock !

+1 I deal with 2 in my area. George's Music who has a few small stores and Cintioli's Music in Philly. Mom & Pop stores want your business. Most times they'll either match or come close to the bigger chains. I like walking into a place where the owners know you. The only time I use the big chains is if the local M&P don't have or carry what I want or need.

+1 on the Mom and Pops.

I take lessons at a small shop. Most will work with you. Plus sometimes you get a level of personal service the big boxes don't give you. At mine you can hang out, play all the instruments, and shoot the breeze with the owner. One time I bought some strings, replaced them while at the sotre, and popped the high E. Greg just handed me another string, and tried not to laugh.

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2015 Epiphone Casino Goldtop
2011 Taylor 814ce
2009 EC Custom Shop Merc Blue
2008 Schecter ATX
1964 Epi Granada E444T
Fender Super Champ XD

I too would have to offer a word of caution about buying a guitar from an online supplier or a catalog. As Unhomed said, every guitar is different and has it's own character. In my always and ever so humble opinion, the only way to get the "right" guitar for you is to play it before you buy. I would strongly suggest going in to as many music stores as you can and playing as many guitars as you can in your price range and make your choice based on feel, sound, etc..

That said, Sam Ash is pretty much on par with the other online/catalog retailers such as Musician's Friend, AMS, Sweetwater, etc.. I've had good experiences with all of them...although in all fairness I've never bought a guitar from any of them either. Speakers/monitors, hardware, percussion accessories, etc., yes...guitar, no.

I would also offer a word of caution on those "mom and pop" shops others have mentioned. While I'm all for supporting local business and if you have one in your area that is reputable, certainly support them if you can however please know that not all small shop owners are reputable or honest. Given a choice between an 18 year kid at Guitar Center who doesn't know his butt from a hole in the ground and a small shop owner who is trying to deliberately rip you off, I'll take GC any day of the week. Here's the thing about small shops...many of them make their money from people who really don't know anything about guitars at all. "Little Johnny" decides he wants to play guitar so his parents...who don't know squat...will go in to "Joe's Music" to get him one (and perhaps sign him up for lessons as well). Most of these shops know their market and their clientele and to be perfectly blunt, they can smell a sucker coming a mile down the road. As such, Little Johnny's parents end up forking out $250 - $350 for a $99 piece of firewood that's probably going to get locked in a closet 6 months later.

Now I'm not saying that -all- small music shop owners are crooked but the fact is that -a lot- of them are. That's how they compete with places like Guitar Center and such. In the case of something like a Fender Strat, if they are in fact a Fender authorized dealer, in theory they should be selling that guitar around the same price as the larger dealers but the truth is that because those larger dealers such as GC, Sam Ash, etc buy in large quantities, they get the guitars -a lot- cheaper than the smaller dealers do and very often those smaller dealers will try and make up that difference (one way or another).

I would also have to say that despite the "lack of expertise" that can often be found in places such as Guitar Center, I do have to say that I've never seen a fake Strat there either. I have however seen bogus copies in small shops...and those shop owners will -never- admit it. A few months back I had a kid at a local small shop try to sell me what he claimed was an mid 80's MIJ E-series Strat...the guitar was without a doubt a complete fake. Granted this particular guitar was not part of the store inventory...it was the kid's own guitar, but this all happened in the store. I will also say that I have -never- gotten screwed at Guitar Center or Sam Ash...I may not score many "steals" there but their prices are usually "fair". In my younger days however, I did get taken at a couple of small local shops because I didn't know what I was doing. You have to be -very- careful with some of these people. In other words, make sure you -know- what it is that you are buying and know how much it should be going for!

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

My only problem with GC is the last time I was there I got a headache from the preteens banging away at $3000 guitars and cranked up amps.

It is a great place to go and try out many different guitars and amps and that's why I was there. My money, however, will be going to a local guy.

I did purchase a keyboard from MF and had absolutely no problems. They even retroactively gave me a discount that became available right after my purchase.

I recently visited two independently owned music shops in my area and they were both cheaper than Guitar Center and Sam Ash on their effects pedals and several guitars.

Instead of all American Standard Teles and Strats being one price, for example, the less popular colors were a lot cheaper.

I always try to support the little guy if I can.

Three of my guitars, I've purchased from Musician's Friend. I was very happy with the purchases.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

Wildwood's a diamond in the rough. Great place to deal with.......... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

While I wouldn't buy a guitar online from a retailer sight unseen, I would not have a problem buying from the store. The caveat is that you must be an informed buyer and never rely on sales staff for anything. That way, you don't get your expectations dashed. That said, I will only ever buy from my local shop, who matches prices with onlne retailers. The benefit to me is I get great local service and they go the extra step to ensure that I'm happy. I keep my money in the local economy and the community benefits as well.

Cheers!

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!

They been around a long time I have used for few things never a problem. Since you dealing on line who cares if there store staff has any knowledge, your not dealing with them on line.

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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