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Post by nachosgrande on Jul 2, 2020 18:16:29 GMT
I don't buy these guitars for the looks. If I was that vain I'd be more concerned with the words Harley Benton printed on the head stock. I don't believe these are guitars for showing off.
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Post by nachosgrande on Jul 2, 2020 20:14:43 GMT
It's likely that elliott just doesn't find the guitar attractive nachosgrande . If I like a guitar it is for me to like, not to show off to someone else with. An aesthetic thing that makes me gel with it or it doesn't regardless of its price. No point in me hoping anyone else will like it. They may love all the stuff I hate and hate all the stuff I love. And that would make no difference to me...or to them. I get that. Guess I just went in with such low expectations that the fact that they're even playable (with a bit of work) impresses me.
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elliott
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by elliott on Jul 2, 2020 21:41:30 GMT
Im sharing my purchase experience of products from a company which people globally are buying from. There is the product which is advertised. And then there is the delivered product. Us as consumers would be intelligent to get feedback from others experiences to make a sophisticated decision on whether our dollar is being made the best use of. So I shared my experience and asked for opinions on whether what I depicted is anywhere near what is being advertised. It's an absurd statement to make "Who buys a guitar for the looks, as long as strings are attached to a piece of wood and it can play then heres my money" is exactly what you just said. Of course we care about the playability first and foremost but appearance is a massive factor, as it is in every single case in a persons life. If we went out of our way to purchase a product from another country with raving reviews from people around the world, one should expect a standard being met.
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elliott
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by elliott on Jul 2, 2020 21:55:00 GMT
So this was the overall delivery. USPS: Once In the country Transferred from New York the point of import to california in about 6 days. Image depicted was the outside of the box containing 3 guitars. No damage experienced to the guitars themselves contained in their own boxes. The strap holder on the TE-52 did poke a hole on the bottom of the box but no issues. GS Mahogany Travel-E: Quality and finish exceeded expectations. However didn't realize that the battery would be dangling inside of the guitar. its kinda strange TE-52 is immaculate. Great playability and spectacular finish. SC-550 Paradise Amber Flame: Build quality is great, well worth the money. However the finish IN MY OPINION, is not the expected golden color with subtle dark stripes, it came out a dark brown, olive green which i don't think would even make it as a display model in a showroom. It just came out really off. Especially if its trying to replicate the guitar we all knows its trying to replicate. Comparing the SC-550 to an Epiphone Les Paul Standard would probably be the closest in comparison. But the epiphone would edge it out overall. But for the 250, great bargain of a guitar if you get a good finish. Hope this helps.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jul 2, 2020 22:11:33 GMT
Im sharing my purchase experience of products from a company which people globally are buying from. There is the product which is advertised. And then there is the delivered product. Us as consumers would be intelligent to get feedback from others experiences to make a sophisticated decision on whether our dollar is being made the best use of. So I shared my experience and asked for opinions on whether what I depicted is anywhere near what is being advertised. It's an absurd statement to make "Who buys a guitar for the looks, as long as strings are attached to a piece of wood and it can play then heres my money" is exactly what you just said. Of course we care about the playability first and foremost but appearance is a massive factor, as it is in every single case in a persons life. If we went out of our way to purchase a product from another country with raving reviews from people around the world, one should expect a standard being met. It's great you sharing your buying experience. I can see your 550 may not be a perfect looking one or upto the usual standard of finish. Tbh it's hard to see how bad it is from pictures. But to me it didn't look unbearable (I may well be wrong). If I'm honest I probably would have been disappointed if my 550 (tobacco flame) finish wasn't really good. The trouble is Thomann's QC is carried out by the manufacturers. I think Thomann would benefit from checking the stuff they send outside Europe. For you it's unfortunate you got a less than perfect looking 550. I can understand you being less than happy, I also know it's more difficult to return from the USA. Unfortunately it's a gamble we all take buying HB's, at the price point for those in the UK or Europe it's a gamble that's worth taking. I know this is no help to you. But try talking to Thomann see what they offer.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jul 2, 2020 22:25:29 GMT
So this was the overall delivery. USPS: Once In the country Transferred from New York the point of import to california in about 6 days. Image depicted was the outside of the box containing 3 guitars. No damage experienced to the guitars themselves contained in their own boxes. The strap holder on the TE-52 did poke a hole on the bottom of the box but no issues. GS Mahogany Travel-E: Quality and finish exceeded expectations. However didn't realize that the battery would be dangling inside of the guitar. its kinda strange TE-52 is immaculate. Great playability and spectacular finish. SC-550 Paradise Amber Flame: Build quality is great, well worth the money. However the finish IN MY OPINION, is not the expected golden color with subtle dark stripes, it came out a dark brown, olive green which i don't think would even make it as a display model in a showroom. It just came out really off. Especially if its trying to replicate the guitar we all knows its trying to replicate. Comparing the SC-550 to an Epiphone Les Paul Standard would probably be the closest in comparison. But the epiphone would edge it out overall. But for the 250, great bargain of a guitar if you get a good finish. Hope this helps. Jesus that box looks like it been through the wringer! I've had them with small holes or slightly torn but nothing like that!
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Post by GuitarCat on Jul 2, 2020 22:44:54 GMT
So this was the overall delivery. USPS: Once In the country Transferred from New York the point of import to california in about 6 days. Image depicted was the outside of the box containing 3 guitars. No damage experienced to the guitars themselves contained in their own boxes. The strap holder on the TE-52 did poke a hole on the bottom of the box but no issues. GS Mahogany Travel-E: Quality and finish exceeded expectations. However didn't realize that the battery would be dangling inside of the guitar. its kinda strange TE-52 is immaculate. Great playability and spectacular finish. SC-550 Paradise Amber Flame: Build quality is great, well worth the money. However the finish IN MY OPINION, is not the expected golden color with subtle dark stripes, it came out a dark brown, olive green which i don't think would even make it as a display model in a showroom. It just came out really off. Especially if its trying to replicate the guitar we all knows its trying to replicate. Comparing the SC-550 to an Epiphone Les Paul Standard would probably be the closest in comparison. But the epiphone would edge it out overall. But for the 250, great bargain of a guitar if you get a good finish. Hope this helps. I've been playing that TE-52 every day since I got it two weeks ago. It's great for playing those Johnny Marr chords.
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elliott
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by elliott on Jul 3, 2020 2:14:02 GMT
I've been playing that TE-52 every day since I got it two weeks ago. It's great for playing those Johnny Marr chords. Hands down best experience outta box. It just feels so right! Glad you are making the best of your new toy!
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elliott
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by elliott on Jul 3, 2020 2:18:15 GMT
It's great you sharing your buying experience. I can see your 550 may not be a perfect looking one or upto the usual standard of finish. Tbh it's hard to see how bad it is from pictures. But to me it didn't look unbearable (I may well be wrong). If I'm honest I probably would have been disappointed if my 550 (tobacco flame) finish wasn't really good. The trouble is Thomann's QC is carried out by the manufacturers. I think Thomann would benefit from checking the stuff they send outside Europe. For you it's unfortunate you got a less than perfect looking 550. I can understand you being less than happy, I also know it's more difficult to return from the USA. Unfortunately it's a gamble we all take buying HB's, at the price point for those in the UK or Europe it's a gamble that's worth taking. I know this is no help to you. But try talking to Thomann see what they offer. I greatly appreciate the time you took to respond with your thoughts on the situation! I just genuinely have mixed feelings as it is nowhere near as depicted, I don't hate it, but i also don't love it. I've just come to accept it as it is. I would not consider it a beautiful guitar. Or anywhere near the guitar it is trying to replicate, as we all know which one that is. It is just there staring at me on the stand lol. I did contact them to see if they have anything to say.
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Post by nachosgrande on Jul 3, 2020 3:06:49 GMT
Im sharing my purchase experience of products from a company which people globally are buying from. There is the product which is advertised. And then there is the delivered product. Us as consumers would be intelligent to get feedback from others experiences to make a sophisticated decision on whether our dollar is being made the best use of. So I shared my experience and asked for opinions on whether what I depicted is anywhere near what is being advertised. It's an absurd statement to make "Who buys a guitar for the looks, as long as strings are attached to a piece of wood and it can play then heres my money" is exactly what you just said. Of course we care about the playability first and foremost but appearance is a massive factor, as it is in every single case in a persons life. If we went out of our way to purchase a product from another country with raving reviews from people around the world, one should expect a standard being met. No offense was intended, if that's what you took from it. I think I just have lower expectations than everyone else at the price point so they keep surprising me.
You're right about the samples they choose for their photos. I used to spend my weekends as a wedding photographer and the sample photos we advertised were our good pics, not our great pics, because you can't always expect to deliver that high a product every time. Thomann could learn a lesson from this because you rarely have complaints when you temper expectations and the customer is always thrilled when the results are better than they expected.
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elliott
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by elliott on Jul 3, 2020 3:48:04 GMT
Im sharing my purchase experience of products from a company which people globally are buying from. There is the product which is advertised. And then there is the delivered product. Us as consumers would be intelligent to get feedback from others experiences to make a sophisticated decision on whether our dollar is being made the best use of. So I shared my experience and asked for opinions on whether what I depicted is anywhere near what is being advertised. It's an absurd statement to make "Who buys a guitar for the looks, as long as strings are attached to a piece of wood and it can play then heres my money" is exactly what you just said. Of course we care about the playability first and foremost but appearance is a massive factor, as it is in every single case in a persons life. If we went out of our way to purchase a product from another country with raving reviews from people around the world, one should expect a standard being met. No offense was intended, if that's what you took from it. I think I just have lower expectations than everyone else at the price point so they keep surprising me.
You're right about the samples they choose for their photos. I used to spend my weekends as a wedding photographer and the sample photos we advertised were our good pics, not our great pics, because you can't always expect to deliver that high a product every time. Thomann could learn a lesson from this because you rarely have complaints when you temper expectations and the customer is always thrilled when the results are better than they expected.
Absolutely, I agree as they do make large promises and get our eyes big with their fancy pictures and marketing through their youtube channel. They target our hearts. However, thus far they have done exceptionally well, i genuinely don't think there is a better alternative to the TE-52 as it is a phenomenal guitar in the telecaster style. Also for a travel acoustic the GS Travel is well worth the 100$ bill. These Things feel like they'll last for the years to come and be absolute joys. My only gripe was that with the finish on the Paradise amber flame, the only resemblance to the photo depicted on the thomann website was that there was sort of a flame top (sortof). The finish is this dark brown/olive green, practically an entirely different guitar. And unboxing it, it just genuinely felt as if i was now in ownership of a car that had a porsche engine, but was an old beater of a car that you park out back. Great performance, but just really not proud to own or hang on the wall to admire as a piece of art. And this is for the one guitar that was the cost of the previous two combined, so it was a heart breaker. Others on youtube have though, received excellent examples of the guitar. So it is merely the luck of the draw and totally dependent on how the painter in the shop approaches painting your guitar. Maybe even an intern learning. who knows. Overall though i am happy with their products.
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advb
Harley Benton Expert
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Post by advb on Jul 3, 2020 8:49:00 GMT
So this was the overall delivery. USPS: Once In the country Transferred from New York the point of import to california in about 6 days. Image depicted was the outside of the box containing 3 guitars. No damage experienced to the guitars themselves contained in their own boxes. The strap holder on the TE-52 did poke a hole on the bottom of the box but no issues. GS Mahogany Travel-E: Quality and finish exceeded expectations. However didn't realize that the battery would be dangling inside of the guitar. its kinda strange TE-52 is immaculate. Great playability and spectacular finish. SC-550 Paradise Amber Flame: Build quality is great, well worth the money. However the finish IN MY OPINION, is not the expected golden color with subtle dark stripes, it came out a dark brown, olive green which i don't think would even make it as a display model in a showroom. It just came out really off. Especially if its trying to replicate the guitar we all knows its trying to replicate. Comparing the SC-550 to an Epiphone Les Paul Standard would probably be the closest in comparison. But the epiphone would edge it out overall. But for the 250, great bargain of a guitar if you get a good finish. Hope this helps. Tricky, isn't it? Some cheap guitars have photo flame finishes. The finish would be consistent but I think we would all prefer a proper wood cap, even if the veneer is very thin. So it then is all down to the luck of the draw..... But your TE-52 looks fabulous. The telecaster gods smiled on you with that one!
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jul 3, 2020 12:42:15 GMT
Hopefully elliott they will offer you a hefty discount. I know that's really not a consolation as the paradise flame should look like what it's supposed to be a copy of! On my pc screen it doesn't show the colour well enough as your seeing in natural light. I feel for you especially as you obviously wanted as close a copy of that finish as possible. Most of us on here have been lucky and apart from minor problems. Most have not had such a clearly poor finish. I hope Thomann do right by you.
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