Honest opinions about gear and services provided?

[duodecim]

I'm always honest. I haven't bought gear in several years. I don't have money for it now. I'm here for knowledge and not community, and I wouldn't give a damn about offending someone and their fan club – especially on the other side of the world.

There's sometimes too much hype and posse sentiment going on, but at least a lot of people here back it up (either positively or negatively) with clips. Which is all I have from here, as a lot of gear doesn't make it out here or is prohibitively expensive.

Take the Axefx, hyped product number one – and I'm not actually stating anything about it being nor not being worthy of that hype. I don't like most clips, but if I could try it, perhaps I can get some sounds out of it I do like. Except there's only one obscure dealer for the whole of Europe called "g66.eu" who charges 1699 euro for the standard model. That's $1499.95 (US) vs. $2418.3566 (EU). Despite the exchange rate, we always get fucked on any sort of deal. (BTW, did you know that last time I checked it cost 3 times more to send a guitar from Europe to the US than it does the other way 'round? WTF?)

The internet enables anyone to market themselves, that's only going to get worse (or better, however you look at it). It's clips, live tests and other hard, cold evidence that makes gear interesting and not the FRIEDMAN/Cameron/Fortin/... circle of best buddies – again, no intentions of singling out anyone in particular.

That said, there must be something unique about most of these products to many people because it's hard to be that sceptical to think that people are willing to bash away thousands of posts over something they don't care about.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I didn't make it about your business...This is my last post on the matter, remark away man, remark away.

Yeah, right...you never made it about my business...sure you didn't! LOL Probably good for you that thread isn't still up with all of your original posts so I can prove how you just lied to cover your ass on this thread.

forget it....it's not worth my time or effort getting involved

 

[Anonymous]

Back to the OP.

I do my best to "speak the truth in Love"

I always remind myself that my words have the possibility of ruining someone's livelihood, so I try to distinguish between my opinion and what is fact. For example, I might not like the frequency response of an amp (that is subjective preference) or, the tolex was done sloppily and has unsightly creases and is peeling away (fact) or, the parts were soldered poorly (fact) or i don't like the color scheme (subjective preference).

get my meaning?

 

[SFW]

I've owned the same gear for the past four years. I don't give a shit what the now amp of the month is or not. If I buy a piece of gear, I will tell you if I like it or not.

 

[IntenseJim]

I'm happy with the speakers but the condoms I purchased from Jim Seavall were both used and leaking.






I speaketh the truth but do it what I hope is a tactful way. I'll describe what or why I don't like it but I rarely say something sucks because often that's not the situation.....even though I may think it does suck! One player's dream tone is another player's nails on a chalkboard.

Eg: I had a Glaswerks Zingaro for two days. I thought it was mediocre sounding. A friend who is a gear slut also did not like it. But plenty of folks think it's a great amp. I've played three different Two Rocks; no swooning here but....well...you get the point.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I didn't make it about your business...This is my last post on the matter, remark away man, remark away.

Yeah, right...you never made it about my business...sure you didn't! LOL Probably good for you that thread isn't still up with all of your original posts so I can prove how you just lied to cover your ass on this thread.

In one of your replies in that thread you claimed the reason for all your posts was because you were considering selling him a quad of speakers you had.

If you were really insulted by the price he was willing to pay, wouldn't you have just skipped right over his thread and not given it a second thought?

Instead you were posting about shipping rates from southern california to Canada and going off on other tangents about how his price didn't make sense. Sure it might not have made sense to your business model or even in the used market for certain speaker types/makes, but he didn't even specify those details in his original post to my knowledge I can't remember for sure though.

Then at some point all the contents of your posts were edited out and emptied all of a sudden.

I think his price got under your skin because you're in that business and you wanted people to see that it would be impossible for him to get 4 speakers for that price.

Sorry for the thread derailment barzini, but I posted in the thread in question and didn't want to "hold back on my opinion", lol.

 

[joepete77]

Back to the OP.

I do my best to "speak the truth in Love"

I always remind myself that my words have the possibility of ruining someone's livelihood, so I try to distinguish between my opinion and what is fact. For example, I might not like the frequency response of an amp (that is subjective preference) or, the tolex was done sloppily and has unsightly creases and is peeling away (fact) or, the parts were soldered poorly (fact) or i don't like the color scheme (subjective preference).

get my meaning?

Yeah, what u said makes alot of sense. Its important to remember that words can ruin someones livelihood and shouldnt be dished out lightly, but at the same time , honest experiance and opinions can also help the builder by pointing out things to be improved upon whether it be sloppy work, bad service, etc, or just suggestions. I also think its important for people to share their really bad experiances where they were done wrong and ripped off because it keeps other fellow members from falling prey. There is a differance between giving an honest opinion or experiance and stirring the pot

 

[Zachman]

Sorry for the thread derailment barzini, but I posted in the thread in question and didn't want to "hold back on my opinion", lol.

Mr. Surface, derailment is not a problem in any of my threads

 

[Vrad]

Being that this is a don barzini thread, I can't help but post in a 1/2 serious manner... Lol.
That said, I find I can dial in a usable tone from most gear unless its total crap. At the end of the day an gear is gear. Its the mysticism attached that drives supply and demand. Its based on popularity, demographics, trends etc... Most of the time after playing hyped up gear I'm disappointed. However, I can deal with that. Its not the builders fault people are goofy like that. However, I have no patience for poor customer service. I shouldn't have to wait 6+ months for a piece of gear. If a builder can't get their act together and run a business effectively they can go fuck themselves. I also have no patience for attitiude. Again they can fuck themselves long and hard.

So yeah.

 

[Vrad]

Being that this is a don barzini thread, I can't help but post in a 1/2 serious manner... Lol.
That said, I find I can dial in a usable tone from most gear unless its total crap. At the end of the day an gear is gear. Its the mysticism attached that drives supply and demand. Its based on popularity, demographics, trends etc... Most of the time after playing hyped up gear I'm disappointed. However, I can deal with that. Its not the builders fault people are goofy like that. However, I have no patience for poor customer service. I shouldn't have to wait 6+ months for a piece of gear. If a builder can't get their act together and run a business effectively they can go fuck themselves. I also have no patience for attitiude. Again they can fuck themselves long and hard.

So yeah.

very well said. notice how most of the men we give praise and worship to are "off the shelf" players. Unless they are pulled in by:

LOL!
Exactly...

 

[FixXxer]

With many of the smaller manufacturers constantly lurking on all of the music forums all day long nowadays, I'm wondering how many men actually give their honest opinion whether it be related to the actual gear you purchased or the way you were treated.

I live in fear....


Honestly the boutique guys that do this take the joy out of surfing the guitar forums. I have literally, had manufacturers call me asking why I put up a review that was less than stellar and then proceeded to tell me how I was using it wrong. I replied to the guy, dude its an pedal, I bought it for X and this is how I'm going to F-ing use it and it frankly sucks.

I'm done buying gear.

 

[FixXxer]

With many of the smaller manufacturers constantly lurking on all of the music forums all day long nowadays, I'm wondering how many men actually give their honest opinion whether it be related to the actual gear you purchased or the way you were treated.

I live in fear....


Honestly the boutique guys that do this take the joy out of surfing the guitar forums. I have literally, had manufacturers call me asking why I put up a review that was less than stellar and then proceeded to tell me how I was using it wrong. I replied to the guy, dude its an pedal, I bought it for X and this is how I'm going to F-ing use it and it frankly sucks.

I'm done buying gear.

I love the FixXxer, looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Have you been by? My house has been taken over by transformers and my back yard looks like bunker hill.

Till we meet again my friend.

 

[Anonymous]

Back to the OP.

I do my best to "speak the truth in Love"

I always remind myself that my words have the possibility of ruining someone's livelihood, so I try to distinguish between my opinion and what is fact. For example, I might not like the frequency response of an amp (that is subjective preference) or, the tolex was done sloppily and has unsightly creases and is peeling away (fact) or, the parts were soldered poorly (fact) or i don't like the color scheme (subjective preference).

get my meaning?

I understand you completely and you complete me. When I pay top dollar and have to wait for a supposedly high end product, I don't expect slop.

Sometimes we are confronted by a difficult situation. One experience I had when I was a partner at TM a few years ago was a builder brought in an amp to review for possible sale at our shop. The amp was well built, the tolex and cab were impeccable, but when I turned it on, well, it sounded horrid. My son's Crate practice amp sounded better... LOL!
So, I very respectfully told the builder that I could not bring his amp line in because it did not sound like anything that my customers would like. He pressed me a bit and I had to tell him that the amp sounded terrible. It wasn't mere opinion. I went ahead and had him hear some of the other amps in the shop and explained to him what works in a "real" world setting.
I sat different amps side by side so he could hear the difference. Unfortunately, I never saw the guy again and haven't seen his amps for sale anywhere. I had mixed feelings telling the guy what I did, but I think I did him a good service in the end...

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, I never saw the guy again and haven't seen his amps for sale anywhere. I had mixed feelings telling the guy what I did, but I think I did him a good service in the end...

hopefully he's not hanging by the neck somewhere with a note attached to his body stating how life can't go on since Carl hates his amp.

BTW, I felt like doing that sometimes seeing and hearing some of the amazing guitarists that used to come in and try gear. Some days I asked my self, why even bother playing anymore....