Guitar Shop Told Me to Take My LP Trad and Go Home!

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68Kustom

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I tested a LP Standard Bourbon Burst, locally, which played not very well. Then I drove two hours to another shop to try a new 2023 Iced Tea Standard ($2,699 USD) with a beautiful top and back. It played better, but its action felt like a trampoline. That seemed just an issue of setting to neck relief.

But what really had me questioning my desire to 'trade up' from my LP 50s Trad Honeyburst was ... pickups! My LP was WAY louder than the Iced Tea Standard. I mean, same pickup heights, but mine made the shop's Marshall combo BARK. I noticed too how the rosewood on the Standard was sandy pink whereas my Trad is almost ebony in shade and feel!

While I tested the Standard, the shop guy was very curious about my very-used 2011 'Long & McQuade' model. He even brought out his repair tech for a look at it. They ran the serial number. I was given this advice:

"The differences between your old Trad and this new Standard are its gloss finish, Grover tuners, flame top, and price. Your used Trad was a steal and is the better guitar, in our opinion. You won't be happy with trading it, paying another thousand down, and the further two-year payment plan. Yours has mojo--go home and play it."


He also said something like "people pay Murphy Lab for that faded finish ..."

I am very happy with my non-purchase!
 

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Leee

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LtDave32

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I tested a LP Standard Bourbon Burst, locally, which played not very well. Then I drove two hours to another shop to try a new 2023 Iced Tea Standard ($2,699 USD) with a beautiful top and back. It played better, but its action felt like a trampoline. That seemed just an issue of setting to neck relief.

But what really had me questioning my desire to 'trade up' from my LP 50s Trad Honeyburst was ... pickups! My LP was WAY louder than the Iced Tea Standard. I mean, same pickup heights, but mine made the shop's Marshall combo BARK. I noticed too how the rosewood on the Standard was sandy pink whereas my Trad is almost ebony in shade and feel!

While I tested the Standard, the shop guy was very curious about my very-used 2011 'Long & McQuade' model. He even brought out his repair tech for a look at it. They ran the serial number. I was given this advice:

"The differences between your old Trad and this new Standard are its gloss finish, Grover tuners, flame top, and price. Your used Trad was a steal and is the better guitar, in our opinion. You won't be happy with trading it, paying another thousand down, and the further two-year payment plan. Yours has mojo--go home and play it."


He also said something like "people pay Murphy Lab for that faded finish ..."

I am very happy with my non-purchase!

That grass on the other side? It's not always greener!
 

Brazilnut

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Absolutely.

This is how I formed a 25 year relationship with my guitar guy in Phoenix.
I realized he wasn’t bullshitting me, and I could trust him.
Rare as hen's teeth!
My luthier, my friend, such a great person, got Lou Gehrig's disease, shit, shit, shit!
 

68Kustom

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Good deal! That is a very sweet guitar you have there. Love the zebra pickups.

I had to put nickel covers on them! They were too sharp-sounding. When the covers went on, the impedance went up and they got warmer but stayed LOUD. Yes, I 'aged' the covers with Comet!
 
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Knoby

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Man! If that was my guitar store i would fire those Knucklehead's for turning you away. Outrageous!
 

Renegade

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Good to find honest people to deal with...Congrats on your IKMOGD (I Kept My Old Guitar Day) ;)
 

cmjohnson

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The newer one isn't always the better one. Neither is "vintage" any guarantee of mojo, either.

Every guitar should be evaluated as an individual. Not even Ibanez or PRS has yet mastered the art of making them all truly the SAME no matter how they try.
 

Freddy G

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I tested a LP Standard Bourbon Burst, locally, which played not very well. Then I drove two hours to another shop to try a new 2023 Iced Tea Standard ($2,699 USD) with a beautiful top and back. It played better, but its action felt like a trampoline. That seemed just an issue of setting to neck relief.

But what really had me questioning my desire to 'trade up' from my LP 50s Trad Honeyburst was ... pickups! My LP was WAY louder than the Iced Tea Standard. I mean, same pickup heights, but mine made the shop's Marshall combo BARK. I noticed too how the rosewood on the Standard was sandy pink whereas my Trad is almost ebony in shade and feel!

While I tested the Standard, the shop guy was very curious about my very-used 2011 'Long & McQuade' model. He even brought out his repair tech for a look at it. They ran the serial number. I was given this advice:

"The differences between your old Trad and this new Standard are its gloss finish, Grover tuners, flame top, and price. Your used Trad was a steal and is the better guitar, in our opinion. You won't be happy with trading it, paying another thousand down, and the further two-year payment plan. Yours has mojo--go home and play it."

He also said something like "people pay Murphy Lab for that faded finish ..."

I am very happy with my non-purchase!
A sales team giving you advice like that? I would be loyal to those guys.
 

pondcaster

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Nice story, yep not all guitar shop employees are clowns.

Basically had the same thing happen to me when I ran my '18 Tribute Goldtop down to local GC when I was thinking of selling/trading it. Great guitar, just not playing it since my R8 arrived last year.

After my guys played it and we talked trade-in $$, they pretty much said "we wouldn't do that deal, if this was ours"... Too nice a player and not enough in trade ($800).

I'm fortunate to have some good fellows that I've been working with at my local-ish GC for about 15 years. They are also outstanding musicians. Total trust, they've always taken great care of me and my twin bro.
 

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