Just an update, because I was curious. Neither of my Fender Custom Shop teles show anything when I search their serial numbers on that site.

I think that may only work for production guitars.

That's odd.
It's still a Fender product. Seems like they should have logged those.

I've searched several FCS and the serials don't show up. Made in Japan ones do though.

Looks like the guitar thief in Houston might have been caught.

I stopped in at Rockin' Robin yesterday before heading to the Tommy Emmanuel show. It was too far from where we stopped for food to get to Fuller's in time or else I would have gone there.

Asked the gal at Robin about the thief. She said they had gotten a call from Fuller's and South Paw to be warned so they were definitely on the lookout, although they aren't really at risk of losing a high end acoustic.

They have an acoustic room of mostly used stuff, and behind that a small locked room with the high end stuff. The thief wouldn't be alone for a second in that store.

Okay, so I got my guitar today.

I'm happy, but not as happy as I ought to be.

First, I got a call late last week from a Sam Ash sales person saying "they thought they had got one in stock for me, but then it turned out they didn't. And somehow that cancelled my order. But now they DID have one (just one) for me if I wanted it," but the best price they could do was $120 higher than I paid before. The guy said it was just opened by a store in Philly for use as a demo, but I could have it in brand new shape. I argued a bit over the mysteriously cancelled lower price and the miraculously available guitar at the higher price, but the guy kept telling me "that's the best I can do" and I'm sure that's probably true, with that guy at that time. I did want the guitar, so i swallowed hard and bought it for $744 all in. Oh, but I get a $50 gift certificate thrown in. So still smarting from the price (more on that later).

I opened the package today (humorously enough, they packed the triangular cardboard box in a larger rectangular "Fender" box for shipping) and have a question for you guys. The guitar is flawless, so that's good. But there is not a single shred of paperwork or anything aside from a tag with the model number and "Inspected by xx" on it. No owners manual, no "certificate of authenticity" or warranty paperwork or anything. This is the first guitar I've ever bought new, so IS THAT NORMAL?

(It did have the gig bag, with tremolo bar and adjustment wrench, etc. inside.)

Second question: Now that I have the guitar in hand, is it worth my time to call back and try to get to someone with the horsepower to sweeten the deal to make up for the "cancelled order" that essentially cost me $120? A refund would be nice, but store credit or another gift card (assuming the promised one arrives...) would be better than nothing.

Last question: Is this typical, and would you expect it from Sam Ash? i.e. is this typical of the industry, and/or is Sam Ash more or less reputable than their competitors, as far as y'all know?

Oh, and I don't sound like David Grissom YET! ;-)

That almost seems like the ability to use that coupon code was a mistake so they cancelled the order. I know other retailers have done that before.

I haven't bought a SE before so I'm not sure what is standard for those models. The American made ones usually come with some case candy (pamphlet, small manual maybe, a PRS sticker, etc).

TX AG 88 said:

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I opened the package today (humorously enough, they packed the triangular cardboard box in a larger rectangular "Fender" box for shipping) and have a question for you guys. The guitar is flawless, so that's good. But there is not a single shred of paperwork or anything aside from a tag with the model number and "Inspected by xx" on it. No owners manual, no "certificate of authenticity" or warranty paperwork or anything. This is the first guitar I've ever bought new, so IS THAT NORMAL?

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You don't usually get that kind of thing with cheap or foreign guitars.

Have to ask for a manager at least in the future and be ready to walk from the deal to get the best result.

Also could call Sweetwater or another retailer and ask them to match, then you'll at least know if it is an industry scam. I do this with significant purchases sometimes if something sounds too good to be true.

Sounds like you came out alright if you were satisfied enough to execute the deal you got.

DallasTeleAg said:

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TX AG 88 said:

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I opened the package today (humorously enough, they packed the triangular cardboard box in a larger rectangular "Fender" box for shipping) and have a question for you guys. The guitar is flawless, so that's good. But there is not a single shred of paperwork or anything aside from a tag with the model number and "Inspected by xx" on it. No owners manual, no "certificate of authenticity" or warranty paperwork or anything. This is the first guitar I've ever bought new, so IS THAT NORMAL?

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You don't usually get that kind of thing with cheap or foreign guitars.

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I got all kinds of printed info with my Sire, and it's a foreign guitar and I got it for $641.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I don't expect success necessarily, but I do want to lodge my complaint at least once more. It's a crappy business practice to drum up business with outstanding prices that you don't then have to deliver on.

I'll post a pic when I get a chance and let y'all know if anything DOES come from my whining.

Was Sam Ash the only place that had it at a price as low as previously agreed upon?

I hadn't been looking, because I didn't know my original order had been cancelled. I do monitor "SlickDeals.net" regularly, though. A lot of guitar deals get posted there, and that's how I found out about the original sale on the DGT SE. I was aware that not many sales were showing up anywhere near the ones that I took advantage of, and I hadn't seen any with that guitar, so I'm fairly confident there weren't any great competitive deals out there.

As it is, I paid $6hundred and something plus tax., a pretty good price It's just not nearly as nice as $5hundred something plus tax!

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

DallasTeleAg said:

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Just an update, because I was curious. Neither of my Fender Custom Shop teles show anything when I search their serial numbers on that site.

I think that may only work for production guitars.

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Maybe. That's weird though

If you click on Customer Support on the Custom Shop website, it takes to the same page as the regular Fender site does.

That roasted maple flame is quite nice!

The figuring on that neck.

Is that you or is someone about to cause you some Reverb stress?

I think people do that to make others think they need to purchase it quickly. I see that all the time, and it stays that way for days. It has been shown to be in someone else's cart all day.

I just played my Strat for an hour, and convinced myself I don't need a new guitar. However, I'm leaving my most recent offer because I think it would be a good purchase at the price I offered.

Nobody here will judge you for buying that Strat.

Welp... I ended up actually buying a different guitar. I've been lurking and watching these Novo guitars for a while now, and one came up that was a little lower than I usually see. I decided to make him the kind of offer where I feel like it would simply be a great investment on my end if he took it, but wouldn't negotiate any higher. He originally didn't take my offer, but just messaged me and said he would go ahead and do it.

https://reverb.com/item/76747129-2023-novo-serus-t-ron-ellis-50-60b-ellisonic

I've been super curious about those but not in the market at that price point. I'm eager to hear your review.

Beautiful guitar.

Very cool. And green.

Kinda looks like a Gretsch hooked up with a tele.

Yeah... the price points have always been too high for my blood, but I picked it up much lower than any i've seen.

Rhett Shull will be impressed.

slaughtr said:

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Okay, I admit this purchase was at least partially for nostalgia's sake, but when I was 6 years old, my family moved from Texas to Australia. We lived there for 5 years and moved back to the Houston area. Since then, I've always had a soft spot for all things Australian. Vegemite, Aussie rules football, melanoma. All the good things. So when I came across this new but 2 year old Cole Clark, I traded a guitar I barely ever play and a little cash. Redwood top and Australian Blackwood back and sides. Queensland maple neck. She oak (ironwood) fretboard. Not super bassie and definitely not a dreadnought canon, but very balanced and their pickup system is awesome for playing plugged in.

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Gorgeous. I have two Ben Harper Cole Clark guitars I've posted on page 1 and one on some other page and am a big fan. I've had my eyes on something similar to what you got forever now but the are pretty pricey. Sweet purchase.

DallasTeleAg said:

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I don't need another Strat!!!

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I'll take "Lies people tell themselves to hang onto green pieces of paper that can't bring happiness instead of objects that can be had in exchange for said green pieces of paper than can bring happiness" for $500, Alex.

maroon barchetta said:

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Nobody here will judge you for buying that Strat.

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But some of us will judge him for not buying it.

So, MiniSlicer has decided he wants an electric guitar for Christmas. I told him find something in the $500ish range. He originally wanted a semi-hollow body, but has lately been leaning towards a Les Paul model. After playing thru multiple HH configurations of various brands, he wants this and said it could be a combo Christmas/Birthday present (birthday is latter part of January).

What do y'all think?

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone/Les-Paul-Modern-Figured-Electric-Guitar-Caribbean-Blue-Fade-1500000326751.gc

I bought a low end Epiphone Les Paul to mess around with. And by low end I mean $200 cheaper than that one. They're nicely made and very playable. Personally, I'd ditch the pickups and other electronics at the earliest possible convenience but the bones are solid.

I'm leaning towards getting it and if he ends up quitting on it (I bought him an acoustic 3 months ago; he's musically inclined, plays tenor sax in band, self-taught on some piano pieces). I'm thinking of making an agreement with him that if he quits on it, I'm keeping it for me in exchange for his next $700ish interest. Drop some Holy Grails in there and I don't need Gibson on the headstock.

I don't think he'll quit on it though. I ain't gonna buy a Gibson for a beginner, but I think too many kids give up early because their parents bought 'em a competent yet uninspiring Squier Strat pack when a budget-but-better-than-decent guitar might have kept them going. I'm hoping that happens with this.