Gary Preston's New Emmons

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 18 Dec 2008 6:26 pm

Well old friend, you should have
the guitar back from Emmons by now?
I think you said it was shiping
12/12/08
How does it look? sound?

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 18 Dec 2008 6:40 pm

Who knows ? Promises ,promises ! I thought we had things ironed out and the guitar was supposed to be here . No guitar and no e-mail response again ! Whats it all about anyway ? No guitar and money spent ! How can this be ,how can you run a business like this ? More of the same it appears! It appears that i may have to go another route. Sorry Rick that i don't have any pics to show you . I could post some pics of my two Sho~Buds . Best i can do for now ! G.P.

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 18 Dec 2008 6:47 pm

Gary
Perhaps Emmons will see this post
and give you an answer.
They must be crazy busy

I thought you mentioned that the
whole matter was resolved.
I'm only a few hours away from them
and I have some time off, I might
just drop in on them. That way I could
bring it to Columbus next week.

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 18 Dec 2008 6:51 pm

Rick i too have some time off and maybe i will come down and go with you ! Others have told me they would like to go to the factory also . Lets see if there is anything from Emmons posted here !

Robert C. McKee · Post by **Robert C. McKee** » 19 Dec 2008 8:32 am

Hey Gary, from the past writings on the forum re: Emmons...let's do a caravan to thefactory...make 'em furnish hot dogs & chips to everyone....Man..I feel for you all with these folks. Wouldn't it be nice if they would only make the 'dreaded' phone call to customers so they would at least know what was going on & why! Well, anyway, just wanted to say hi. Once again, sorry I missed yet another jam. Yeah, I know, you were surprised, lol. Good luck my friend, & a million thanks for all of your help/support with me.

Larry Scott · Post by **Larry Scott** » 19 Dec 2008 12:10 pm

BUT NO GEETAR IS WORTH ALL THE PAIN YOU HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH.

Gary drink some of this before you arrive at the Emmons shop

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 19 Dec 2008 12:12 pm

Gary,

just to try clear some questions up that some of us have.
You said that Ron and Rebeca told you the guitar shipped on 12/12/08 right?
Did younz make this agreement verbal or written?

I hope that they will ship your guitar out this year and who knows......maybe it will be in time for Christmas.
Depending on the time they send it and the carrier they are using some things could take up to 10(working)days.
Today is December 18th and IMO is it a little to early to sit down and think they did something wrong.
Give it some more time my friend.I know for a fact that Ron and Rebeca do anything in their power to have this done smooth and without any problems.

Ron

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 19 Dec 2008 1:07 pm

Gary
Did you get an email from Emmons?
I have a gut feeling that you have
been lied to again?

No one deserves to be treated
like this.

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

Ronnie Boettcher · Post by **Ronnie Boettcher** » 19 Dec 2008 2:21 pm

I feel so sorry for you, and all the trouble you have with Emmons. You have a lot more compassion than I would have. You should demand your money back on the spot, and in cash too. Tell them to go stick it. Then go buy another brand from a reputable company. I fully agree with Rick. Even if you get it, you will not be happy with it. For now, play your SHO-BUDs, anddo yourself a favor, and get all your money back. Emmons is history, and move on. What happens if you would want a new part for it? Wait 2 years to get it? NNNNNAAAAAHHHHHH, I think every steeler should jamb up their phone with nasty calls. My 2 cents plus a few thousand more.

Dan Murphy · Post by **Dan Murphy** » 19 Dec 2008 4:56 pm

Hi Guys , I thaught Gary got his guitar back and it had chips along the mica??Did it get sent back again??

. I have been kickin around the idea of buying my first Emmons , but know Im really dout if I should. Zum is looking better all the time.

Dan Murphy · Post by **Dan Murphy** » 19 Dec 2008 4:58 pm

I think the name of this topic should be changed to Gary Prestons NIGHTMARE

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 19 Dec 2008 5:11 pm

Hi Ron . The agreement was in the form of an e-mail . By the way i do print off these e-mails from them . Maybe you didn't see the post that i did a while back . I sent the guitar there on Oct.1st . If i can count right thats getting close to 3 months ! It only takes a little more that one day to install all the mechanics under the guitar . I know this also for a fact as i was there and watched it ! This also brings up another thought that has been here before but i really don't want to go there at this time ! It concerns the time that it takes to build a guitar from the start to finish ! This is all that i will say about this subject so i hope no one bothers to comment ! I only wish that i was posting a Merry Christmas to the Emmons company but everyone can see that it isn't working this way ! I really don't know whats going on down there and how any one can run a company like this . I only hope to see my money instead of the guitar .It will be hard to look at the guitar and know what i had to go through to get it right !

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 19 Dec 2008 5:21 pm

Hi Dan . The guitar was only sent back one time but it hasn't came back home as of this time . It has been gone much to long in my opinion and others !

Ronnie Boettcher · Post by **Ronnie Boettcher** » 19 Dec 2008 5:25 pm

Gary, I have been up to date on all your posts, from day 1. All I can say is "good luck". It is just a nightmare. Once the body is made, I believe it can be assembled in one day. Then at the most about 3 to 4 hours to completely set it up. I can do mechanics on anything, but have no clue on the woodworking, or metal parts that have to be made, and the finishing of the body. But with a shop, in business, to produce steel guitars, it couldn't be that long. I will say "good luck" again. Ronnie

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 19 Dec 2008 7:33 pm

Hi Ronnie . I have been in fabrication for over 42 years now and i do know a little about it myself ! If we took this long to do our work we wouldn't have a job and shouldn't ! Customer service is the name of the game and follow up afterwards ! The point in business is to have repeat customers and their word of mouth this is what sells their product . This is mind boggling to me !

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 19 Dec 2008 8:06 pm

I just called the other day and talked with bobbie every time I call she answers, but I call like 9 am most of the time. I ordered some pull rods for my legrand. she said ron was away but she took care of the order for me

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 20 Dec 2008 9:56 am

Hey Gary, I hope you get your steel by Christmas..let us know how you made out... these one man shops can be very good or very bad.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 20 Dec 2008 10:01 am

Depending on the time they send it and the carrier they are using some things could take up to 10(working)days.<<

Hey Ron, I believe "Pony Express", back in the 1800's was faster.

Tamara James · Post by **Tamara James** » 20 Dec 2008 10:30 am

Brad Malone wrote:Depending on the time they send it and the carrier they are using some things could take up to 10(working)days.<<

Hey Ron, I believe "Pony Express", back in the 1800's was faster.

I am thinking the pony express dealt with letters. We would have to put it on a stage coach. Thus many, many more excuses for late delivery.

horse died
driver died
indian attack
stage coach robbery
wheel came off
wheel broke
driver got lost, telegraphed from California
Miss Emma got the vapors and they had to stop
axel broke
stuck in muddy rutt
horse in heat, refused to work

on and on.....

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 20 Dec 2008 12:38 pm

Hi Tammy . You are the best ! Missed you at the last O.S.G.A. jam . The weather was a little ugly i know but we had the best crowd ever i think ! 15 steel players plus some that didn't set up at all ,thats great . Back to the subject . Guys it doesn't take more than three to four days to ship to Ohio from North Carolina on any given day and thats shipping ground ! I have done enough of this and i know ! This is becoming a great ''NIGHTMARE '' to say the least ! They posted on the last thread that i had here so where are they now ??? It would be great to hear their excuse this time ! All they have to do is send my money back or build the new guitar . I want my money rather than the guitar now ! What do you have to do to make your point with these folks ???

I am at a loss for any more things to say about this subject now !!!!?????

Tamara James · Post by **Tamara James** » 20 Dec 2008 1:30 pm

This is such a sad situation. No one can win. I can't help have some compassion for the Lashleys. Whatever is causing this problem is affecting all of us. It is so awful about your steel, Gary, it was so beautiful and the tone was great. I know your frustration must be at the max. I would be in an awful state about it. The steel community is too tight to have negative feelings going around. I am sure every one shares your pain.

This seems to be an on-going problem that Ron has inherited along with the company. These old threads indicate a problem as far back as 2002.

http://www.steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/003907.html
and again in 2005
http://www.steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/010211.html

I try to find good in things. Some kind of hope that this will turn out allright. I have been on my knees about it and I am still looking for the good. I will continue to pray that this is resolved and something good comes of it, but right now, I just don't see it. I am so sorry for all this happening to you. It must be with great regret that you are sharing it with us. I don't think I will be doing any business with that company.

It does make me feel blessed that I have some local music stores that have never dissapointed me on any business we have done. Sometimes we DO forget to appreciate what goes right, it's often taken for granted.

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 20 Dec 2008 1:32 pm

I have always loved Emmons Guitars. . . .and I've got a slew of them to prove it. To me they're still THE BEST!

However, with the things I read & hear about at the Emmons Company I'm really disappointed. Gary's situation with Emmons Guitar Company is not the only one I'm familiar with. My friend Tommy Butler also has a nightmare story of his own. A few years ago it was Billy Jenkins dilema, and more recently Charles Dempsey. Also I know that the late Hal Rugg & John Hughey like many others left this brandname after being dis-satisfied and having issues with Emmons. I've heard countless reports of people who have put down healthy deposits and even completely paid for new Emmons guitars but have never received them.

My personal recommendation to anyone wanting a Emmons Guitar nowadays is to buy one used and have it re-conditioned to new. Emmons Guitar Company has built many great Steels over the years so theres plenty of them out there. The days of Ron Sr, Fred Trogdon, Jack Strayhorn, Ron Preston & Bryan Adams (when he worked there) are over with and long gone.
The present staff at the Emmons company has lost consumer confidence with many of us.
However, I am able to have my Emmons guitars serviced here locally and worked on with no problem. There are several good Emmons repair technicians that can make a old one brand-new again. I now have all my Emmons work done by Dave Robbins in the Nashville area and I can highly recommend him. There are others in your areas who can do the same like Bryan Adams, Mike or Tommy Cass, Bobby Bowman, Jim Palascar and Lynn Stafford.

Sorry, but right now I just can't recommend ordering a new Emmons Guitar with the present state of things at the factory in Burlington. It hurts me to see this company headed in the same direction of Sho-Bud, ZB Custom & Marlen. Those were great guitars from the past, but now have NO future continuing their heritage with new guitars.

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 20 Dec 2008 1:58 pm

Thanks Nick . I must say that the guitar sounded awsome and it sang to me ! I didn't really like the feel of it but maybe it's because i have been a Sho~Bud player all my life and expect any new guitar to at least feel half as good as my old buds ! It appears to me that the Emmons guitars are going down the same path as you mentioned but if they had someone to run the business that you could depend on it could come back to the top again . I wish this had never happened and that i could sing their praises but this isn't the case . I mast say that it would please me more that anything to have been one of their dealers but you know the rest . Does anyone know the answer to this whole matter ?

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 20 Dec 2008 2:19 pm

Gary
Has Emmons answered your phone calls
and emails in the last week?
I've thought about driving down there
myself but that is not in your best interest.
If you haven't heard from them
my advise is seek legal council and
sent them a Certified Letter and let
the lawyers either get your money or
guitar back. I would ask your attorney
if you would be entitled to any
damages.
By the time Emmons hires a lawyer and
pays court cost and give your money back,
it will have cost them thousands of dollars.
I would even ask the judge to order them to pay your attorney fees.

I dare say that you are not alone
with your problem with Emmons.

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 20 Dec 2008 3:01 pm

Hi Rick . No they havn't answered my e-mail to them but what do you expect this seems to be the standard practice for them . I have given them to Dec,29 th to send me my money back or the guitar . I really don't want the guitar now as anyone would know it would be hard to look at it and know the problems surrounding it ! If no response from them then my attorney will handle it from there and yes i will expect them to pay for my attorneys fees . This is unreal and seems like something from science fiction movies ! What does it take anyway ???

The Steel Guitar Forum

Gary Preston's New Emmons

Gary Preston's New Emmons

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could take up to 10(working)days!

Re: could take up to 10(working)days!

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