[ramonesfreak]

Here’s a plug for sweetwater. I have a Martin D-41 I bought from them and have had 1 year. The other day I was playing it and heard a crack and now notice the neck joint is loose at the heel. The joint has failed.

Instead of calling Martin, I emailed my Sweetwater sales agent with a short video showing the issue and just got an email that that they are replacing the guitar with a new one, or, I could have my $5,600 refunded….no questions asked.

This is the most amazing customer service I have ever experienced with a company. The usual procedure is Martin would refer you to a local Authorized tech. No thanks. And no way I want a neck reset on a 1 year old instrument. If you insist on sending you guitar back to Martin, you can look forward to getting it back in 6 to 9 months and again, a neck reset on a new guitar that shouldn’t need a rest for 30 more years, if ever. No thanks.

I’m all for supporting local business but this is the reason why I no longer do for costly purchases. In fact I bought a Martin locally and didn’t check the serial number until I got home at which point I learned that I was sold a 20 year old NOS instrument….fortunately I’m the original registered owner and will have the lifetime warranty but wow that is shady…and this was after the owner offered to knock off $150 on a different guitar but same model $4,500 instrument that had a warped top. This was a guitar that should be in the owners fire pit, not sold to a customer.

Thank you Sweetwater.

Now Musician’s Friend/Guitar Center….never ever again. I bought a Yamaha sa-2200 hollow body. They do not come with a case but was assured the guitar would be well protected in bubble wrap and I shouldn’t worry. When UPS delivered it, the box was open and guitar had ZERO protection. None. This was a transaction through Musician’s Friend but fulfilled by Guitar Center. Pathetic. It is no wonder this sad company is going down the toilet where it deserves to be.