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I shared an experience buying from carter a year or so ago where they intentionally did not disclose cracks and then tried to blame UPS for it and told me to take it up with them. Overall I was left with a bad taste, but like many of us I still browse there. I even stopped by when I was in Nashville. Unfortunately everyone was a bit of a jerk, unlike the treatment you get other dealers who love to talk about guitars with you. I played some out of tune archtops with bad setups and crusty strings. Everything sounded bad and played horribly, including some L5s, a D'Angelico, and a Stromberg. The employees had no interest in discussing the instruments.
Anyway, more recently, I saw a rare guitar pop up: a mid 50s es 135. These are like es 125s except with nicer cosmetics. Carter originally listed this as an ES-150. A few weeks later they updated the listing. They relisted it as an L-50, which is even further from accurate. That's fine, people don't know archtops, which are very niche. But check this out.
According to carter, it was an L-50 that was modified by the Gibson factory around 1950. This is a flagrant error. I couldn't read such a deceptive claim and not react. What are they using ChatGPT to do their listings?
Anyone else have experience with them lately? They have a good online marketing presence (lots of youtube) but I've been pretty disappointed by every interaction.
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03-01-2023 05:29 PM
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16.5K for this L-5 w/replaced tuners, neck reset, heel crack, side crack??
yeah, that's a joke
Gibson L-5 1937, Sunburst | Carter Vintage Guitars
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
And that's just assuming there isn't more they haven't disclosed.
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I am surprised they are making description errors, as not only is Carter's Vintage one of THE vintage places in the nation, but the Nashville cats all praise the place (but then, these Nashville buyers know as much of the particulars about vintage guitars as Carter's is supposed to, so they know what they are looking at)
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I was in there last week and had a similar experience. Every guitar I picked up left me cold. Bad strings. Bad setups. Grumpy staff. But then the pal I went in with was there to complain about a recent transaction, so they didn't treat us as friends. Had a much better experience down the road at Gruhn's. It was my first and probably only visit to either store. I live in Wisconsin. My pal, who lives in Nashville, bought a vintage Martin at Gruhn's for $65k that day.
correction: oops, the instrument I liked was $65k. The one he bought was only $60k.Last edited by WilliamScott; 03-01-2023 at 07:06 PM. Reason: correction
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Carter’s is a joke. They are as you mentioned completely clueless. If I buy a guitar from them it would have to be a steal. $5k for a non cut L7 with nothing but issues. Tells me never even try.
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I stopped in there last week, and was also pretty disappointed. I bought a cool banjo from them about 10 years ago and had a great experience. Good price, good customer service, they even gave me a t shirt. I went last weekend and was very unimpressed.
I assume you already stop in Gruhn Guitars if you go to Nashville, but I would also recommend Fanny's House of Music in East Nashville. I had never been, but it was a cool little shop. Everything was well curated and staff was super friendly and helpful.
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Did anyone try this guitar when they were there?
Gibson/Benedetto Howard Roberts 1969 | Carter Vintage Guitars
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Carter's owners sold the business to the guitar retailer North American Guitar in March of last year. Supposedly they are still involved.
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Just look at the description of the re-finished Johnny Smith for a paltry $6000.
One can buy a nice Campellone within that price range and you actually have a guitar that is not a bunch of excuses. How on earth do they stay in business?
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This is why guys like Larry Wexer are so respected. Sure he's a one man operation so its easier to control his business, but no bs, honest descriptions, you don't need to worry about unmentioned issues.
Too many of these other dealers are just hoping their customers are uneducated and miss some of these undisclosed problems.
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Larry is awesome.
I will also give props to TR Crandall. Their prices aren’t the best, but I’ve never felt so welcome just nerding out with shop owners.
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Prices in the US are so high at the moment. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
No wonder I’m getting calls from the US, whenever I advertise a guitar at UK prices. It should be the other way round.
Everyone thinks they’re Gary’s Guitars.
at least his business model makes sense in that he offers the best examples to people willing to over pay.
looks like a bubble, walks like a bubble etc..?
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Sounds like that's the problem. Originally Posted by rob taft
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I have no idea, but I did see this near my former luthier's workshop, and it definitely gave me a good chuckle
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A bubble you say? Perhaps so. But without a working crystal ball, it is impossible to say. It all depends on the demand coming from Gen Y and Gen Z when they get to their best earning years. When it comes to vintage archtops, the supply is finite, and with natural and man made disasters, is probably shrinking a bit each year. Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
But when all the newly printed money of the last few years has been spent, perhaps prices will come down. If that does happen, I suspect it will take a strong recession to get it going. Until then, if you want a particular guitar, you will have to pay the price of admission.
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I found this rarity,
Today, 03:05 PM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos