Podium rocks. Jeff and Marty are awesome. Very professional, and down-to-earth. Another great Collings dealer.

sparky

Here's a vote for Artisan Guitars in Nashville (Franklin). Just back from a week vacation. Spent 4 hours in the shop, mostly one-on-one with the owner who kept handing me amazing guitars-learned so much from him. Walked out with the CA Cargo (travel guitar) tobacco sunburst. He and his wife are wonderful people.

My apologies, folks - I've been completely underwater with work for three weeks or so and haven't been able to get back to this. The store in question was the Podium, and the store's owner has graciously - and publicly - stepped up and apologized on this forum. He had also sent me a PM to apologize privately and to offer to make up somehow for my bad experience; I didn't realize he had sent the PM until tonight, but once I did I responded to it in addition to responding here.

Bottom line: as I told him, I appreciate the apology and his reasonable explanation for the "perfect storm" that resulted in my bad experience. Apology accepted, and no further action needed - the Podium is back on my list.

Good for you, and good for Jeff and the Podium. If you're expecting infallibility, you came to the wrong species on the wrong planet. We all fall short. The apology and the path that follows is what matters. Well done. tom