Whoa here! Just a word for The Podium. Although I haven't been in their store for nigh on 35 years, I did buy a guitar from them a couple of years back and they were great to do business with. And for the record, when I have been in their store, they've been attentive and helpful without pressure. I'd go again, with confidence.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by redavide:

quote:

I was guessing it was Komonawannascratche Guitars in Honolulu. Might be wrong.

Yeah, I can't stand that place -- all the guitars are always in slack-key tuning . . . And they're always saying "aloha" when you come in AND when you leave -- it's a little confusing . . .

Unlike in Italy, of course, where they say Ciao when you walk in and....what do they say when you walk out?

Strange you mention Merula Musica in Bra. I was in Bra once, or twice , but that's another story.

Oh my Mary! That post is hilarious!

Ha! Who would have thought that this would have sparked almost as much debate as the "mushy D1A" post?

For the record, I counted four staffers and two customers (including me). All strings were dead and crusty, and no staffer was remotely helpful (or seemed interested in being remotely helpful).

quote:

Originally posted by mattmoo:
My bad.

I shop Elderly all the time, but it not the best place to really hear a guitar. There are a couple of really bad things about Elderly, unless they know you as a regular.

So, my bad for guessing wrong.

mattmoo

I hate Elderly. I simply can't stand the place. It is a great place if you like elitist attitude and insufficient descriptions...

I spent an afternoon at Elderly a couple of yrs ago. On a Saturday, Memorial Weekend to boot. They let me use a practice room downstairs to try out guitars. In fact, it was offered up right off the bat. I think it helped when I said I was looking at Collings. At times I had 2-3 guitars in the room.

I got a workout going up and down the stairs. I then played promising guitars in the big room to check their "presence". By that time the crowd had gone down. A D2HA caught my ear, unfortunately I had promised my wife, no buying. (I was already on probation for bringing home a Martin M38 from Elderly without asking her first a few yrs prior.) All guitars had reasonably fresh strings.

About a year later, I purchased a used D2HA from Elderly over the phone and at a good price. The D2HA purchase was based hearing a new one during my prior visit. (That new D2HA was purchased by a forum member about 2 wks after my visit.) Anyway, the used guitar was exactly as described.

I have to defend Elderly. The people that work there are great. There is one super ass, but I think the management knows to keep him off the floor. If you ever met that guy as a customer, well it could turn you off to the place forever, so I can see how someone might get the impression you did. But Larry, Aron, Mike, and everyone else are just great people. Down to earth and they want you to find the right guitar.

The repair shop is decent. I don't know if they are "the best", but they have always done an ok job for me. They have dinged my tops twice, and I was real unhappy about that. I let it slide but now take my good stuff to someone else.

Two bad things about the place. When you want to consign, more often than not your guitar will need some repair before you can list it. Frankly, this has been complete bullshit every time I've listed something there, which is not very often. The other bad thing is that the place is damn noisy when it is busy.

Prices are good, but all the good Collings pieces last about two days. Got to be quick to get the good stuff.

mattmoo

Mattmoo, that's a defense of Elderly? Yikes!

Tom,

Yea, point taken. And it is a valid point.

I love the people who work there, but it is not my favorite music store.

And I am really not pleased with the second minor ding in my top esp AFTER I gave them written direction that said DO NOT DING THE TOP OF MY BRAZILIAN COLLINGS.

I guess if I were your lawyer, you would be looking at some jail time.

mattmoo

quote:

Originally posted by mattmoo:

...And I am really not pleased with the second minor ding in my top esp AFTER I gave them written direction that said DO NOT DING THE TOP OF MY BRAZILIAN COLLINGS...

mattmoo

Well, that's enough information for me...Elderly is not a place I would like to shop at, are they somewhere in Michigan?

If it was The Podium, I am the owner and I would like to apologize. My son changes our strings and he is graduating from college this semester and has been unable to work for the last few weeks because of finals and writing his senior paper. Strings go bad quickly with the number of people playing guitars and we have gotten behind on this important task. No excuses for not being attentive and it's something we usually don't do. Two of the four people there were employees (we only have two people working except on Saturdays) and the others were customers and I am afraid I was one of the guys that should have been paying attention to you. I was distracted talking to a friend I haven't seen for a while and working on a guitar on the bench and I know better and would like a chance to make it up to you.