This is a conversation/incident that occured at a local guitar shop today:
Customer: Can you do a set-up on this Stat Copy I bought on ebay for $40?
Guitar guy: Snorts of outrage/amusement and calling his mates over to have a look. Much amusement all round!
Customer: It only cost $40.......
More gasps and chuckles......as he grabs a passing muso to have a look and a good laugh.......
Making a long story short......the action was so high because there was space between the neck and the body (screws were coming loose) where the strings were pulling the neck off the body, and the screws holding the bridge down were lifting as well.
Guitar guy: You could have this new lefty Samick for $120!
Customer: But what about the sound? Doesn't the Strat copy have better sounding pick-ups?
Guitar guy plugs in both guitars and tests the pickups on both. The customer is not sure she can really tell from one quick listen.
Customer: How much would it cost to fix up the Strat Copy?
Guitar guy: About $120.
That's when inspiration struck
Customer: I suppose I could buy the Samick, and fix the Strat copy myself!!!!!
Guitar guy: Good idea, and if you bring it in I'll help you do it!!!
When the customer notices a scratch on the Samick, it turns out its second hand.......
Guitar guy: But a second hand guitar for $120 is better quality than a new guitar for $120 isn't it? It stands to reason.
(Hi Rocco if you're reading this! You have a guitar shop - you're a salesman - it's OK, I get it!)
By now, guitar guy is changing the strings and cleaning up the Samick for the customer. The customer casually mentions that she gets lots of help and info from a Guitar website. No response from Guitar guy.
Customer (real casual): It's run by Kirk Lorange.
Guitar guy stops and looks up: Gasp! Not
THE Kirk Lorange????
Customer: That's him.
Guitar guy: Not......
Plane Talk?????
Customer (super cool): The very one!
Guitar guy: Kirk's a legend!!
Customer (a little smug): I know!
Guitar guy: We used to play one of his CDs all the time! He used to play a lot at the Bridge Hotel. He's such a great teacher and its because he's a musician etc etc etc.....
So that's what happened. A true story - only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
The Samick is blue/green with a white pick-guard (
)and some pics will follow in a couple of days.
One good thing about music is that when it hits you, you feel no pain - Bob Marley
...congrats Carol, great story.
