Gary Preston's New Emmons

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 25 Dec 2008 2:47 pm

Thanks David for your info and i think you are right on . When i went to buy a new guitar i talked with Bruce at Zum . I didn't like waiting for the Zum . It appears that i made a huge mistake with this decision ! At Emmons i was told 46 weeks for delivery . I must say that they were close to that but when we went to get the guitar it wasn't ready . When we got there it only had end plates onto it . As i said before we watched Ron build the guitar and we were so tired all we wanted was to get to the motel and crash afterward . AS I said before i saw something on the front of the guitar at the shop but i thought it was mica glue that i knew that i could clean off myself . My problem is Ron saw what it was and didn't offer to fix it or even tell me that he would have to re-do it ! The end plates didn't match the body either but i could have lived with that because the guitar sounded so great ! Lets face it when anyone buys a new guitar or whatever from an established company and they tell you a time frame for delivery this should be exactly the time you receive whatever you bought . NOW if there is any problem on either end then there should be some type of communication between them on a weekly or bi-weekly basis . This is simple business 101 . My guitar was a simple fix after it was sent back . All that they had to do was strip off the bad mica and replace it and send it back . How hard can this be for them ??? You know they didn't trash my body and start all over again right ? As a matter of fact i really would like to know where my ----------went to ? Wouldn't you ? I was told that Ron made me a new body and he would ship the guitar out on Dec 12 th . I have told this before but here i go again ! In my mind i really can't come to any kind of understanding as to what they are thinking !!! This isn't doing them any good for business but it doesn't look like they really care ? Or am i missing something here ? I have given them until Dec 29 th for delivery or money back so lets see how this pans out .Maybe i should be calling my attorney and have him stand ready Huh ?

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 25 Dec 2008 3:19 pm

Yep - it sounds like they need to leave a little slack in their build-time estimates. When I order anything, I like to be able to count on that, within reason. Most people won't gripe if it's done early, or even a little late - but have a problem if it's very late. If a manufacturer is consistently late, they need to look at their estimating procedures.

I know that most manufacturing processes have uncertainties in them - subcontractors or other suppliers can have problems, and unexpected things can come up in a plant. Ergo, put some slack in ship-date estimates. I expect brutal honesty up-front, rather than an optimistic estimate to get the order.

Of course, some people "want it yesterday", but it sounds like you have been very reasonable here. Again - I hope this gets resolved well and you can move on with the guitar. I don't think any of us wants to see the Emmons Company slide into serious problems.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 25 Dec 2008 4:43 pm

Jerry Roller wrote:Tommy, my customer wanted an Emmons and wanted it by Christmas and I delivered and he didn't have to pay for it until it was handed over to him. (actually his wife).
Jerry

Jerry,
You and my friend are definitely two of a kind, looking after the customer during the sale, that is truly something that is lost today. Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 26 Dec 2008 10:29 am

I think Rains are still turning them out at 8-10 weeks

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 26 Dec 2008 12:14 pm

Chris Schlotzhauer wrote:I think Rains are still turning them out at 8-10 weeks

Last I talked to Gary, I recall he said "inside 30 days". But that's been a couple of months, too. Gary will sure-nuf return your calls. Come to think of it, that's probably why his orders are ever increasing. Gee, howz THAT work?

Imagine that!!

Luke Morell · Post by **Luke Morell** » 26 Dec 2008 12:20 pm

I ordered my Emmons Sept.06, through a dealer. Ron said it would take a year to get it. At the St. Louis convention 07, Ron said it would be shipped out in a couple weeks. I received it March 08. I had a hard time getting any answers from them too, also so did the dealer. I just about gave up, and finally it arrived. I do enjoy it. If I ever get a chance to order another new one, I beleive it would be Mullen.

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 26 Dec 2008 5:10 pm

Luke was your guitar any cheaper going through a dealler? I would think so.

Gary do have proof like a certified letter that your guitar was recieved?

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 26 Dec 2008 6:00 pm

Im a hard core emmons guy myself but I do believe if I wanted a second guitar it would not doubt be a rains

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 27 Dec 2008 12:50 am

I ordered a LeGrandeII in 1900 and something and back then the wait was 1-year....Ron delivered that LeGrandeII on the day that he said he would.It did cost me a bundle of money back then(shipping and taxes) but hey....what the heck...I wanted it...so I bought it.

He was right on the money back then.Best dang guitar I ever had.....

Ron and or Rebeca...if you read this...you have my mail address.....shoot me a mail.

Ron

Martin Weenick · Post by **Martin Weenick** » 27 Dec 2008 3:48 am

E-Gadds Ron S., you have the oldest LeGrande of anyone. Better hang on to that one.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 27 Dec 2008 5:19 am

I have ordered 21 Emmons over the years and all were on time and I have one presently on order. I have full faith in the Emmons company,Ron and Rebecca.
Billy Knowles

Sam White R.I.P. · Post by **Sam White R.I.P.** » 27 Dec 2008 7:17 am

Hu Think I'll sell my 2005 LaGrande III so I don't have to go through this. I'll go back to Fessy as Jerry is a good guy and a freind.
Sam White

Luke Morell · Post by **Luke Morell** » 27 Dec 2008 7:54 am

A.J. wrote (Luke was your guitar any cheaper going through a dealler?)
No A.J. it was the same price as their web site quotes.[/quote]

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 27 Dec 2008 9:10 am

In fairness to all I hope it is announced here as soon as the guitar is delivered. I guess we can assume it has not arrived? Does anyone know?
Jerry

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 27 Dec 2008 9:39 am

Hi Jerry . No guitar and no communication as always ! What is going on with these guys anyway ? It's like they have a vendetta or something to prove with their unresponsive attitude !!! Here is what i think is going on . They have dealers that have been with them for a long time and anyone that is a nobody well they fall where it may . I think when a dealer puts his order in everyone else goes on the back burner . Maybe if you are lucky to fit in somewhere as i did at the start you had better count your blessings . But after having a problem now it seems that they don't know you when you have to send your guitar back for repair . It appears that they don't have enough money to buy parts or other things to properly operate a company to keep it on schedule . I don't think they can afford to hire good builders to keep up with the demand ! ''DEMAND'' how long will this go on with them ??? If i had a business like this that the whole steel guitar world can read about i would be on the ball trying to get this fixed and ''OFF THE AIR '' !! Am i alone in my opinion ? I don't think so !

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 27 Dec 2008 9:52 am

Hi Billy . After watching all the replys about what i have been through how can you have ''Full Faith '' in the Emmons people ? As you know i'm not the only one that has been upset with them if you have been watching these posts ! Do you know something that we don't know ??? Surly you don't think all this has been a lie do you ? Please help us out with your reasoning .

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 27 Dec 2008 10:38 am

I ordered some pull rods and tuners two weeks ago they came today.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 27 Dec 2008 11:39 am

Hi Gray, sounds like you perty much summed it up, and when guys are getting small orders like pull rods and such, thats probably an easy order to fill verses the whole guitar when probably 1 guy is doing all the work and mostly for dealers. I would guess they don't want to talk to you because they don't have anything to tell you other than more promises. I've had my own buisness for 15 years and if i was in that position i would bite the bullet and talk to my customer and let them give me a good verbal thrashing and get it over with (which i would deserve) and try to help them out the best i could. That's MPO anyway. Good luck Gary

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 27 Dec 2008 11:40 am

Correct me if I am wrong on this, the reason for a dealler is #1 the guitar will be marked down some, #2 the dealler can help you with the guitar as for as repairs go. Why doesn't emmons list thier deallers on their website?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 27 Dec 2008 9:46 pm

Joseph Barcus said:

I ordered some pull rods and tuners two weeks ago they came today.

You don't see people complaining about getting parts from Emmons. That seems to be the only thing they can do right. The problem is when you order a new guitar. Good luck seeing that delivered on time (if at all).

Also to the dealers that have responded that they always get great service and get their guitars on time, well, that's because you are a dealer and will most likely be ordering more guitars for people in the future. The poor guy who is foolish enough to order a guitar straight from Emmons is going to have problems, as he is likely to only buy one guitar. He will get pushed aside for them to build a dealer or Pro a guitar in a heartbeat.

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 27 Dec 2008 10:06 pm

Richard,

that's because you are a dealer and will most likely be ordering more guitars for people in the future.

With the exclamation on likely.I don't think that Emmons runs it this way.
Gary put it this way;

"I gave them till December 29th to give me the guitar or a refund".
Now as we all know is the 29th not far away.Let's see what happens then.
Bashing the name Emmons any further then it already has been done does not help any.
i think the best thing that Gary can do right now is ride it out like Roger mentioned.
Further more does it not help Gary any if we all keep throwing the name Emmons in the fire.If all....it sets negativity.

Let Rebeca, Ron and Gary come to a peaceful solution.

Ron

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 27 Dec 2008 10:42 pm

I don't think talking about this is bashing the company. We've all had good service from Emmons through the years. I have. That's what is so confusing about this. People seem to still be getting service.
It's almost as if Emmons is choosing to mess with Gary by ignoring him. Are they ticked at Gary?
Gary if you get that guitar, it might have a lugie on it

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 27 Dec 2008 11:53 pm

Chris,

Rebeca and Ron have "never" ever done anything wrong to me.When I bought my first Emmons I knew that the delivery was close up to a year.Nevertheless did I order it.
It came on the day the year lapsed.

I have done business with them after that and never had problems.
That is my experience with Ron and Rebeca.I have never met them, although sometimes I wished I had because they build the best of steel guitars.IMO are there a couple excellent builders and they belong right up there in that list with them.

Ron

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 28 Dec 2008 2:08 am

you would'nt be an Emmons dealer now would ya' Ron ?

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 28 Dec 2008 3:28 am

Delete