Ed Roman The Microsoft Of Guitar Dealers

Preface

I will print anything that anyone send me as long as it's relative and intelligently put together, I don't care if you call me the lowest scum sucking maggot on the planet as long as you do it with decorum and intelligence I will print it.  This website is my soapbox, I stand behind everything I say and it's only fair to print any customer gripes along with any customer praises. Fortunately for me I don't get too many letters like this one. Some of the things the gentleman said in his review really hurt. But I do see his side of the story, I think he has judged me a little too harshly in some of his statements but he is of course entitled to his opinion, just like I'm entitled to mine.

I've tried calling twice now to tell you that my (Rick Gledura "Pegasus" Heavily Quilted - Root Beer) guitar finally arrived in Germany. Both times I called, I was put on hold and nobody ever answered again ... I hung-up after 10 minutes of waiting (that's bad business Ed).

Anyway, I invite you (at your leisure) to read through my review of both the guitar and moreover, Ed Roman Guitars. This review will be published on the internet for other readers to be informed. Of particular interest to you might be the sections titled: "Action, Fit & Finish" -and- "Customer Support" (See attached file: Rick Gledura Testimonial)  (See Below)

I hope to someday purchase another guitar from you (Jeff Terwilliger or Quicksilver).

Having said that, then you'll know that my current purchase & delivery were satisfactory.

Overall, you've become the "Microsoft" of Guitar Shops in that I have no choice but to do business with you to satisfy my taste in handmade, custom-built guitars. No other guitar shop (that I've seen) can compete with what you have to offer ...

Just like Bill Gates (Microsoft) you've done well to surround yourself with a highly skilled, knowledgeable staff.

Brian in shipping was simply FANTASTIC in helping me !!! Brian did an OUTSTANDING job packing my guitar so that it arrived in EXCELLENT physical condition. Brian was the only person (besides your wife) that put my mind at ease about the delay in arrival (due to shipping to an APO via USPS).

Give this guy a raise (really) ... He truly deserves (at the very least) a really BIG thanks you from me !!!

I was much less impressed with whomever did the Buzz Feiten implementation (the action on the guitar was just plain horrible).

Rich (the salesperson who sold the guitar) was also O.K. (but he had the easy job). The thing about Rich though worth mentioning is that he got all the information I gave over the phone correct, e.g. shipping address, etc. Maybe this sounds like a little thing, but it's NOT ... He got it all right and for being a GOOD listener, that makes him quite valuable.

Thanks Ed. I'll be back to purchase again.

Best Regards,

Michael D'Antoni
Amalienstrasse 5
68723 Oftersheim (Germany)

Before reading his review

Dear Mike

My sincerest apologies for your phone problems with being on hold etc.  That I am afraid I have no cure for.  No matter what I do I have not been able to solve that problem.  It's a HUGE problem and we lose tons of business over that one.  (Ouch)

I am relieved and happy that the guitar arrived safely.   I know you will love it Rick's guitars are the greatest !!!!!

As far as the Microsoft comparison, I don't know if that is a complement or an insult but please be aware we don't have the Microsoft attitude.  Maybe we will in a few years, I can't predict the future, but as of right now we are so swamped we have no time to bask in complements or attitude!!!!

Ed

Then I opened up his attachment which I have printed below:  I have not edited it in any way. This guy is a very meticulous guy who obviously spent a lot of time tweaking the guitar and tweaking me. See his assessment of me which is a little harsh but basically truthful in his eyes.

·      Features

·      Sound

·      Action, Fit & Finish

·      Reliability/Durability

·      Customer Support

·      Overall Rating

Features:

Rick Gledura "Pegasus" model [2003] with Korina body and neck ... Even from the backside, the guitar is absolutely incredible to look at and has a perfectly lacquered finish that shows off the amazing grain pattern of the Korina wood (neck and body) so wonderfully. From the front side, the guitar has a 1/2 inch thick (at the center) "arch type top" (Quilted Maple AAAAA) top that is a dark brown root-beer color that is absolutely stunning in it's perfection. Deep set neck tenon (Korina) with Ebony fretboard (with 24 "playable" frets) has square [Mother of Pearl/Abalone] inlays similar to that of a Les Paul ... Only the inlays are infinitely more exquisite and beautiful with wonderful and unique multi-colored patterns. There is a single volume & tone with a 5-way selector switch. The pickups are Seymour Duncan Black-Backs (quite powerful). The hardware is all gold and the tuners are Sperzel Trim-Loks with Tone-Pros (Tune-O-Matic) bridge, and string-through-body design. My heart skips a beat like a young man in love for the first time every single time I open the case.

Sound: 

Buzz Feiten tuning system pre-installed. I use a Marshall JCM 25/50 Watt 2550 Amplifier with a JCM 800 Lead - 1982 four speaker cabinet. I use a Rocktron (Voodoo Valve - Online) and/or a Roland GP8 multi-effects processor as my pre-amp. Which is to say, I get my distortion, equalization, and effects from the Rocktron Voodoo Valve -or- Roland GP8 and use the Marshall for my volume, e.g. running clean with minimal distortion. My choice of tonal combinations is limitless (literally) ... But I seem to drift towards an out-front (in your face) heavier sound. Dare I say, Hendrix, Santana, Vaughan, or Page ??? Probably not ... Since they're the Gods of Guitar (in my eyes) and I'm just a humble follower. The Seymour Duncan Black-Back pickups on the guitar are quite powerful so I keep them turned down. This is different for me compared to my other guitars where I use Dimarzio Super Distortion pickups. The guitar (which is ultimately what I'm supposed to be discussing) is perfect insofar as "sound" ... I can dial-in more tone easily for a brighter sound, or less for a heavier rhythm. The tone and volume knobs have a wide "throw" range (so-to-say) which give me good variation. The Korina wood of the guitar lends itself to a heavier, thicker type of sound (I think) and it's not as bright as say "swamp ash" ... I think you could compare Korina to Basswood or Solid Mahogany insofar as sound. But you can't compare it to either insofar as "looks" or "grain pattern", which are simply incredible to look at.    

Action, Fit & Finish:

The guitar was purchased at Ed Roman Guitar Shop (over the internet) and shipped to Germany. It took (literally) six weeks through the USPS to arrive. During this time, I agonized hoping everything would be O.K. (I'll never EVER do that again). And so it was with GREAT relief that the guitar finally arrived in EXCELLENT condition. No scratches, no physical damage whatsoever. Man-o-man was I sooooo PLEASED with that. Now, the ACTION on the thing SUCKED. I had severe string buzz going on and my first reaction was that a 12 year old must have set the thing up. So I was kind of pissed ... And unimpressed with my Buzz Feiten Tuning. But in all fairness, considering that it was winter and the guitar was six weeks in transit, I'm now calmed down and thinking the poor ACTION upon delivery was unavoidable. Lucky me, I took out my Peterson VSII Strobe Tuner (LOVE THAT THING - WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN GOLD) and spent the weekend getting the guitar in playing condition again. I started by getting the neck straight (with slight up arch) since it was bent badly like a backwards "C" (just not so extreme). Once I got the neck straight (slight arch in the right direction) I set about changing the strings and getting the string height nice (the way I like) ... That was the easy part. Now came INTONATION on a BUZZ FEITEN guitar. That sucked and took me hours and hours (literally). I had to go to the U.S. Patent web site to get the offsets and then (you know the deal) I had to go back-and-forth loosening the strings and adjusting the bridge saddle to get the intonation absolutely perfect. PHEW !!! What a <blank> that was. The bottom line is that I got it PERFECT and the offsets from the U.S. Patent Website for BUZZ FEITEN (supposedly trademarked) worked absolutely perfect on the Peterson VSII tuner. Could not have done the above if it weren't for my OUTSTANDING Peterson Tuner (GET ONE EVERYBODY !!) So anyway, the action is "now" perfect and the fit & finish were (as always) just wonderful. RICK GLEDURA - If you ever read this, "YOU ARE A MASTER CRAFTSMAN" ... You're guitar is WONDERFUL and BEAUTIFUL. It plays like a dream. There's a part of me that doesn't want to play it because it's just so beautiful. I just want to put it in a glass case and keep forever. But that wouldn't do it any justice, because it captures my sound and expresses my soul like a gospel singer drunk on God. I'm so in LOVE with it that I feel like a child in a candy store, e.g. giddy when I open it up and see it in the case.

Reliability/Durability:

The guitar is absolutely solidly built (like a tank). I would definitely play it live, but would NEVER leave it alone for a minute since it's too tempting for someone to steal if given any opportunity (it's that beautiful and breathtaking to look at). And that might be my reasoning for not playing it live ... I'd be too afraid that it might get stolen. The hardware is robust and I'm confident I'll be able to give the guitar to my grandchildren someday. The lacquered finish is thick and tough, I've bumped it slightly here and there with no apparent markings or scratches to be seen. The guitar is VERY WELL MADE (no denying) ... It's 100% handmade by a single craftsman and it shows in every regard. RICK GLEDURA is the BEST (in my opinion) and is in a very small crowd (Jeff Terwilliger, Gary Jacobs and Steve Helgeson) of master craftsman when it comes to making guitars !!!

Customer Support:

Aaaah ... I've been waiting to get here. I want to write something about Ed Roman. The man is many things. Ed Roman is NOT your friend. Ed Roman is a BUSINESSMAN. He will sell you anything (probably his kitchen sink if the price were right). Ed Roman is NOT a thief or robber, but you should treat him with a degree of caution. Ed Roman is FAIR and will not deliberately screw you. If you buy a guitar from Ed Roman ... Be up-front and direct in your conversations. Be absolutely CLEAR and CONCISE in your specifications. YOU WILL NEVER GET YOUR MONEY BACK -or- receive support once the guitar has been purchased and left the shop. In other words, it's a done deal. So be damn sure you get exactly what you're asking for ... Let me just say it again, Ed Roman is a MASTER businessman. He's been selling guitars for more years than most any other. He knows exactly what he's talking about and his website is a GREAT place for information. Ed Roman has some of the BEST guitars on the planet. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST GUITAR SECTION. These are the Best-Of-The-Best Guitars in the world (I firmly believe there are none finer). So the bottom line is that if you want a 100% handmade guitar from a master craftsman (Rick Gledura, Jeff Terwilliger, Gary Jacobs and Steve Helgeson), then in the end you will have to go through Ed Roman. BUYER BEWARE ... Ed Roman is the MAN (no doubt) when it comes to buying a quality handmade guitar, but he can BITE and you can LOOSE just as much as you can WIN. Just remember, it all BUSINESS (do the deal 100% by the book) no handshake deals here. Ed Roman Guitars is a lot like Microsoft ... Just like Bill Gates, he has surrounded himself with a quality staff of knowledgeable people. BRIAN IN SHIPPING IS AWESOME !!! Do not talk with ED to put your mind and heart at ease if something goes wrong (shipping delays, etc.) speak to his staff. Ed Roman's wife is WAY COOL !! But her words don't mean anything if Ed says something different. Like I said, BUYER BEWARE ... Once you leave the shop and make the purchase, it's over and done. Note: I can only base this on conversations I've had with Ed Roman where he clearly stated exactly what I've written. Would I buy another guitar from Ed Roman Guitars ?? YES ... Although I will never ship via USPS ... I'll visit Las Vegas (always wanted to and the wife will love me for it) and I'll buy direct from DA MON (as they say down in Jamaica). ED ROMAN you're O.K. (despite my harsh words). It's all BUSINESS. And the review is FAIR, REALISTIC and ACCURATE.

Overall Rating:

I've been playing guitar for over 20 years. I have owned many guitars. I think Fender Stratocasters suck (cheaply made, mass-produced guitars). Vintage, Customshop, and custom made Stratocasters might be the exception. I think Washburn guitars are EXCELLENT !!! My first guitar was a Washburn A-20V and I still play it (20 years later). I do own a Fender Stratocaster (gave it to my 12 year old son) ... 'cause I didn't want to see it anymore. Just didn't feel good in my hands. I own a Marshall JCM 25/50 Watt 2550 Amplifier with a JCM 800 Lead - 1982 four speaker cabinet. I use a Rocktron (Voodoo Valve - Online) and/or a Roland GP8 multi-effects processor. My Rick Gledura "Pegasus" model [2003] with Korina body and neck is just my DREAM COME TRUE insofar as a guitar. I would consider buying another, but will probably (someday) buy another guitar (just for variance) from either Jeff Terwilliger, Gary Jacobs and Steve Helgeson. If my Rick Gledura "Pegasus" were stolen I would cash in the insurance (yes, it is insured) and buy another. I would be deeply hurt though, because it's truly a one-of-a-kind guitar. There are no two alike ... I love the fine specimen woods that were used throughout, e.g. Korina. I love the amazing (Quilted Maple AAAAA) top. In closing, if you are considering spending several thousand dollars on a guitar: DO NOT purchase a mass-produced, machine made PRS or Les Paul ... Take a look at Ed Roman's - World's Best Guitars - Web Pages and inform yourself before purchasing. You won't be sorry. You may never spend money on PRS, Les Paul, Fender, etc. again ... Go CUSTOM and therein, you can do no wrong if you purchase from one of these people: (Rick Gledura, Jeff Terwilliger, Gary Jacobs and Steve Helgeson) They won't be around forever, and they might give in to large-scale production demand someday, but for now - they're doing it all by hand (one-at-a-time) and you can't find that anywhere these days. I personally liked what Rick Gledura said about building guitars: Per Rick Gledura -- "In my opinion the most important part of the guitar is the neck. The neck is the part that translates your ability and soul into the music, sounds and tones that are pleasing to your ears." And therein, I purchased Rick Gledura because I agree and the neck of this guitar is exquisite in every detail. And the body is equally right-on-the-money as being out of this world !!!

Ed Roman's Comments on this letter

This guy is a very prolific writer, I actually took the time to read this letter twice !!!!!

I suspect that this may be one of the fairest reviews I have ever seen on me !!!!

This man tells it pretty much like it is (based on the facts he has).

The mitigating issue here is that this customer opted for delivery by none other than the US Postal Service and the guitar took about two months to arrive to him.

He was extremely worried if the guitar was insured properly and when he got me on the phone I had absolutely no knowledge of how the guitar was shipped.

I was simply not able to tell him what he wanted to hear so therefore that made me akin to Bill Gates.  Ouch !!!

When he finally got through to the right people they put his mind at ease. I am quite sorry it wasn't me. 

I will also say that I have refunded many people many thousands of dollars when they were unhappy with things. It has cost me dearly over the years to give refunds but it is a necessary evil on my side of the fence that I deal with daily. I will also say that I am usually friendly and easy to do business with. There are exceptions of course.

My basic motto is "When you make a commitment to me I make a commitment to you"

Or

"If you make a commitment to me to buy a guitar, I will make a commitment to do my best to try and keep you happy"

"If you break your commitment after I have started work on your guitar then please don't get upset if I break my commitment to keep you happy"

Peace, Love, Dove

Ed Roman