My frustration...

[zedsnotdead]

Sorry guys, I really have to spit it out...

You probably don't know, of course, but I am a Portuguese owner of a Tribute S-500. It´s a 2007 Korean made S-500 Tribute, I bought it in late 2008 in a local shop.
The story goes like this: I was hoping to buy a LP or Ibanez style guitar, something around 300€ (220$), and as I was testing a few guitars the seller told me to try a G&L. So looked at it "strat type? Nahhhh... not for me...Whats the price tag? - 550€ (around 400$...) he said..... "definitely not for me!"....
So I kept testing other guitars, but he was always insisting "try the G&L! come on!". At the end I tried it.... and I was completly blown away! "God, this IS good!"
As you can imagine, I just came home with it, never thought about the price tag...and when I think about it it's like "the best 550€ i spent in a long time"
So since then I am trully a G&L fan.

And here lies my frustration....

On every music shop that I visit, across the whole country, I always ask for G&L products. And I visited A LOT and contacted A LOT of shops (it's a small country, so it's not a very difficult task), and I get ALWAYS the same answer:
"Sadly, we don't have G&L products, and unfortunately we have difficult time to get G&L... "
I asked why, since I know there's a local country distributor of G&L products. "Why don't you just contact the distributor and ask?"
"We can, but it's very difficult to deal with it, we can never assure that the customer gets the guitar on time, or even if the order is issued... He just doesn't care...."
This is what ALL the music shops informed me. Including the one that I bought the S-500, they just gave up dealing with the G&L distributor. "They didn't even had a technical assistance for G&Ls. If you had a problem with your G&L, they just won't give you any solution..." I was told.
Also, one thing to note and caused me to really giveup trying to buy a G&L product here in Portugal: they don't even care to market the G&L brand, they don't visit music shops to announce new products, or even post a catalogue. Nothing!

I can't get a G&L in my country because I can't test any, there are NONE on the walls of the music shops and the distributor just doesn't give a f* to sell or to market the brand near the dealers.
What can I do about it? Simply buy them on a online music shop (like Thomann, in Germany) and pray.

Really, there are so many guitarist here in Portugal that would love to get a G&L guitar, but as you see...

This is my frustration.
G&L deserve a lot better.

Sorry about all this "painful to read" post, I just had to cry all this out loud.

(edit: just to correct some mispelling and text mistakes, sorry....)

[meowmix]

I can't get a G&L in my country because I can't test any, there are NONE on the walls of the music shops and the distributor just doesn't give a f* to sell or to market the brand near the dealers.
What can I do about it? Simply buy them on a online music shop (like Thomann, in Germany) and pray.

G&Ls are very hard to find in music stores. Let alone, the exact make/model you want.
4 of my G&L guitars were bought sight unseen. You could have one custom made. If you do, I suggest to look at the 11/16 nut over the 5/8 nut. Get the bone nut. Once you get the guitar in your hands you will have to send it over to the luthier to get a setup. No point spending the extra cash on something you might replace. The bone nut does not cost extra. Get locking tuners, basic pick guard, and skip the Stainless Steel frets (too expensive).

Good luck

[zedsnotdead]

@meowmix
Well, If I want a custom made where can I "customize" my order if the distributor acts like this??
I mean, I can't see one Tribby in any shop, for christ sake.... not even one!
No tribbys, no nothing. Zero G&Ls in any shop, period.
If the local dealers/shops can'tt rely on this distributor, how can I?

[KenC]

I own 21 G&Ls at the moment. I bought 17 without seeing or playing them, and have been happy with them all. There were two others which had to be returned to sellers due to undisclosed truss rod issues (both were older instruments that had been misused). The construction and quality control on G&Ls are so good that many of us feel confident buying them online. I just always be sure there's a reasonable return period so I can make sure everything works and get a repair tech's second opinion if needed, unless I'm buying from somebody I know I can trust (for example, G&LDP regulars). If a store or a private seller I don't know isn't willing to accept returns, I just don't deal with them.

For what it's worth, the last time I saw a brand new G&L hanging on a store's wall was in 1998...

Ken

[zedsnotdead]

KenC, I envy you 21 G&Ls...


I mean, I know so many players that would love to get a G&L Tribute, but they didn't just because they can't play even one at the store. And we all know about G&L QC, but you do realize that one should always test and try the guitar before buy. I am confident about a USA G&L quality, I have no doubt about it and I surely would buy one from Thomann without seeing. But for a Tribute, people like to take the instrument in their hands, feel it and then buy it if it fits.
So, no Tribute G&Ls anywhere... they test a MiM Fender in the shop and for the price is as good as it gets...

I understand that USA G&Ls are hard to find, I really do. But tribbys? Not one in any shop?
For example, I am interested in a Tribute ASAT Special. I have to order from Thomann, online shop. I can't "feel" the guitar before I buy it. Is it so complicated to comission a couple of Tribby's for even a selected dealers across the country? Is it so compllicated to visit those same dealers, marketting and providing some info and catalogue/prices for G&Ls guitars?
Frustrating, right?

[ChinoGee]

I live In France, and I bought online an used a 1993 ASAT in fantastic condition from a pro seller in UK, and I'm VERY happy with it. You can buy an US G&L used on the net, you won't regret it, my US ASAT is fantastic.

[meowmix]

@meowmix
Well, If I want a custom made where can I "customize" my order if the distributor acts like this??
I mean, I can't see one Tribby in any shop, for christ sake.... not even one!
No tribbys, no nothing. Zero G&Ls in any shop, period.
If the local dealers/shops can'tt rely on this distributor, how can I?

Here in the states, I ordered online over 2000 miles away. Your country must be different.
I gave up looking for G&Ls at the local shop 15 years ago. It is the way it is.

[The Black Page]

I own 21 G&Ls at the moment.

Ken

21????? ken can you point me in some general directions to scope as many of these as possible please so I can continue to salivate

That is major league bud dayum...
Cheers ken.

[ChrisPcritter]

There is one local dealer here, they don't care if the strings are rusty or if any of there guitars play well so I have bought every G&L I have either online or used. If you can do a setup then you've got it made. If not get on Youtube and find out how.

[zedsnotdead]

Thank very much for your replys and advices!

I wasn't talking about USA G&L's only. I was talking about G&L's Tribute series... are you saying that you don't see any Tribute in your local shop/dealer also?

[KenC]

I wasn't talking about USA G&L's only. I was talking about G&L's Tribute series... are you saying that you don't see any Tribute in your local shop/dealer also?

I've only seen them used, and that's been less often than I've seen used USA G&Ls.

Ken

Wait, I take that back. I was working in a small town in very rural Alabama last year, and stopped by a mom & pop music store to kill some time one night. They were a dealership and had a couple of Tribby ASATs hanging on the wall. As far as I know that's the only dealership I've been to since I discovered G&L in the late 90s.

[KenC]

If you can do a setup then you've got it made.

+1. I don't have any personal experience with Tribbies, but the US-built G&Ls are - and have always been - tanks. A couple of mine were unplayable when I got them, but an hour or two of work had them playing like butter. I just follow the factory setup spec sheet in the Gallery. Aside from two with truss rod issues (one '97 Legacy with a bad neck and an '81 L-1000 that may have had a frozen truss rod nut), I have found no structural issues or problems that a setup couldn't fix with any of my G&Ls. FWIW, the average age for mine is over 25 years old, so if something is going to fail it should be showing signs by now. The only common issue is cosmetic - a curved hairline in the finish at the corner of the neck pocket. They don't go through to the wood, and they don't affect playability.

Ken

[zedsnotdead]

KenC:
But that points to something even more weird.... I mean, shouldn't G&L expand at least their Tribute line to be more accessible in local shops? We see a bunch of fenders/squiers all over these stores... shouldn't G&L promote this line of products a little more?
Geezz... I'll take a Tribby over a MiM Fender anytime, for example....

[KenC]

21????? ken can you point me in some general directions to scope as many of these as possible please so I can continue to salivate

That is major league bud dayum...
Cheers ken.

Thanks!

Yeah, when folks around here mention that G&Ls can be addicting they aren't kidding! I actually have a small collection compared to some of the other guys on G&LDP, and especially compared to some of the members from the "old" G&LDP. All but two of my guitars are G&Ls, so I don't have the usual Fender, Gibson, etc. stuff to dilute the collection down.

My photography skills have been improving very slowly as I've had more guitars to take pictures of. The recent ones aren't too bad IMO, but the earlier ones I posted were pretty blurry. I don't have a public directory at the moment, but I need to upload some pics into the Gallery. If you search my threads, you'll see a lot of photos...

Ken

[KenC]

But that points to something even more weird.... I mean, shouldn't G&L expand at least their Tribute line to be more accessible in local shops? We see a bunch of fenders/squiers all over these stores... shouldn't G&L promote this line of products a little more?
Geezz... I'll take a Tribby over a MiM Fender anytime, for example....

I wouldn't try to guess at their business plan, but they are clearly selling a lot of these. G&L is a small company, and must be putting a lot of resources into global quality control. It is also building all of the pickups in the US. I can imagine that they are likely running close to full capacity as it is, without much room for growth unless the company got a lot bigger - which would move them away from their position as a smaller maker of very high quality guitars.

Ken

[zedsnotdead]

KenC, you got a point there... they are making pickups in USA for Tribbys and USA. Yes, it is understandale.
Seeing things this way, I think I will just be quiet with this... just let these guys work

[louis cyfer]

Thank very much for your replys and advices!

I wasn't talking about USA G&L's only. I was talking about G&L's Tribute series... are you saying that you don't see any Tribute in your local shop/dealer also?

i see used tributes at guitar center once in a while. that's it. and i am only 20 minutes from the factory. the dealer support is absolutely horrendous.

[The Black Page]

Thanks!

Yeah, when folks around here mention that G&Ls can be addicting they aren't kidding! I actually have a small collection compared to some of the other guys on G&LDP, and especially compared to some of the members from the "old" G&LDP. All but two of my guitars are G&Ls, so I don't have the usual Fender, Gibson, etc. stuff to dilute the collection down.

My photography skills have been improving very slowly as I've had more guitars to take pictures of. The recent ones aren't too bad IMO, but the earlier ones I posted were pretty blurry. I don't have a public directory at the moment, but I need to upload some pics into the Gallery. If you search my threads, you'll see a lot of photos...

Ken

Will have a trawl round a bit later,thanks ken.would love to see the galleries of some of the guys you're inferring too in your post.the mind boggles if 21 is a "small" collection is rick Nielson hooked up here? cheers..

[JagInTheBag]

I suppose I am spoiled to have a G&L dealer in my back yard then. The new Tribute ASAT Deluxe carved tops were on the wall the moment they were released. They have a new Trans Black one still, they keep a good mix of Tributes and USA in stock. Right now, there is a black burst, natural binding semi hollow ASAT Special sitting next to a Tobacco Burst, natural binding semi hollow Blues boy. Not to mention the three (butterscotch) blondes, ASAT Classic, ASAT Classic Alnico, and a Legacy Special with vintage tint birdseye neck!

He ships internationally...

[louis cyfer]

I suppose I am spoiled to have a G&L dealer in my back yard then. The new Tribute ASAT Deluxe carved tops were on the wall the moment they were released. They have a new Trans Black one still, they keep a good mix of Tributes and USA in stock. Right now, there is a black burst, natural binding semi hollow ASAT Special sitting next to a Tobacco Burst, natural binding semi hollow Blues boy. Not to mention the three (butterscotch) blondes, ASAT Classic, ASAT Classic Alnico, and a Legacy Special with vintage tint birdseye neck!

He ships internationally...

i go to craigslist to check out g&l's, easier then the dealer. if they had a showroom on fender ave, that would be very nice.

[Lazer]

I'm in the same situation, will never ever buy a guitar unseen from som one I don't know. Therefore
I will probably never own a new G&L.

Cheers
L-zr

[The Black Page]

I suppose I am spoiled to have a G&L dealer in my back yard then. The new Tribute ASAT Deluxe carved tops were on the wall the moment they were released. They have a new Trans Black one still, they keep a good mix of Tributes and USA in stock. Right now, there is a black burst, natural binding semi hollow ASAT Special sitting next to a Tobacco Burst, natural binding semi hollow Blues boy. Not to mention the three (butterscotch) blondes, ASAT Classic, ASAT Classic Alnico, and a Legacy Special with vintage tint birdseye neck!

He ships internationally...

Zed after experiencing similar frustration pat had me sorted for a will ray custom build within a week bud.not only were any queries & alterations answered( within minutes at times) but I had an extra thrown in for good measure, along with plenty of sound advice.he went out of his way on more than one occasion to make it happen for me as well.
Pat is not only overseeing the LE-2 project for the guys here,but is a direct conduit into darth & our leader here chris too.
I'd hedge a bet that if any of the planks pat's listed above that his local dealer currently has in stock are of interest to you he'd have an email in your inbox within a couple of days comprising pics,prices,set up enquiries,shipping costs etc. if you'd like a custom G & L made exactly to your personal specs im sure that could be arranged as well.
The big guys thrown his hand out your way zed,& in full view for transparency.if you're serious about getting a G & L mate pat is about as reputable as it gets here short of an in the flesh transaction.
The balls in your court

[Theguitarstore]

If you want I can easily give a dissertation on the reasons G&L dealers are not common. I will save you the lengthy response and just say that there is a lot of interest by deeper pockets than G&L to keep you playing other brands.
I stock 20-30 USA and a dozen or so Tributes at any time in the store. I regularly have people who come in looking for a Fender. They know Fender. I explain G&L and they look at me blankly then say something like "oh you are well I was looking for a Fender".
The bottom line is that G&L is not a low hanging fruit for dealers. It means you actually have to work and most people do not like to have to work. Especially those in sales.
The company is growing and people are learning to look for them but, they still have a long way to go to become common. And really you are not looking for common.

[pvan]

I would certainly believe that. I noticed that Guitar Center sells them online and when I was in the local GC I asked if they were going to get any G&L's in. The guy said they don't stock G&L. He didn't give a reason although I should have asked.