Hi Guys,
I rarely post here but I thought I should give you a heads up about the following. I wanted to buy an ES295 from 1954 and I asked several times if it was all original...
The seller (London Vintage Guitars of Denmark Street) told me it was. I asked for more pictures and I could then see that at least the guitar was refretted as the frets were on top of the original binding and no nibs were present.
I of course then start thinking if there was anything else that is not original there... I am going to post the conversation here, just so you tell me what you think. I don't think is right to be a shop and don't know what they are selling.
Why do I post this here? Because a shop from Sweden lied to me in the past when I purchased my 68 Byrdland. I trusted them and many parts were not original.
Cheers
Nat
Comments
You'd expect a refret on a well played 50s guitar but to have the seller turn round and say they are original and then change his mind when you pull him up on it shows a lack of knowledge at best. As you say it makes you wonder what else on there isn't original which can bite you on the ass when you try and sell it down the line.
1. Inaccuracy in the description regarding originality of frets.
2. Attitude shown in replies.
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Just Google 'Music Ground' if you have any doubts about this - that's their company.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
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Even if the guitar is genuine, you're funding a criminal enterprise that allows the Harrisons to rip other people off.
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
That being said, ATB had a couple of nice vintage 295's in stock last time I checked.
The gold one (1953) there was mine. It's very nice - the sunburst one has sold within the last week, but that was also nice, albeit with a slimmer neck. I was tempted with that one as well.
I'm not really interested in (owning) vintage guitars, but I think I'd only buy one which I knew was NOT 100% original.
i remember contacting a seller on ebay claiming to have a 1974 strat. all i asked him was how does he know its 1974 and not 73 or 75? i was hoping to get some background on it, he accused me of asking too many questions and to stop contacting him!
if you are going to advertise vintage items, whether its a guitar, car, or whatever, expect questions!
When I responded that it was customary for guitar sales to work the other way round, he said something like, 'Look mate, I don't know you from Adam - you could be anyone.' Fortunately, I did know who I was dealing with, having seen the BBC documentary.
The price was too good to believe and I suspect there will be other issues with it