Who is this Saul and what is the name of his shop?

[proanti]

?

[reswot]

Centre City Music

Saul's a good guy. I've bought my last two new Gibsons from him and will buy the next ones from him, as well.

[proanti]

Cool, thanks for the info

[Rare Form]

Saul is the man when it comes to buying Gibsons. He is great at customer service and gives great prices as well.

[05hummer]

Originally Posted by Rare Form

Saul is the man when it comes to buying Gibsons. He is great at customer service and gives great prices as well.

+1, Great to deal with.......

[trioderob]

Saul is the man.

[proanti]

Cool

[Jim Scully]

Saul is absolutely the man!I've made five purchases from him and wouldn't think of calling anyone else.

[badhabit]

Not only Gibson's but also the man to call if you're looking for Marshalls!

[777Brad]

I heard good things about Saul before I bought my LP, but I thought "how good can this guy be?"

I decided to call him to tell him what I wanted. He said that he would have to special order it from Gibson. Once he got it in, he sent pictures to me & asked how I liked it. Only once I approved did he send it to me. He said that he'd call me after I got it to see whether I liked it. A day after it arrived, he called & checked to see that I was satisfied.

Saul offered the absolute best customer service that I have ever experienced in my 45 years on this planet regardless of product. He took the time to listen & we even had enjoyable conversations about other topics when we talked.

I can't see why I'd go anywhere else.

[mikev]

I think I might have to get an R7 from him when I am ready to get one.
Particularly since I can get there by car in about 10 minutes from where I live..

[marasurf]

Saul is great guy and all about customer satisfaction but don't ask him how a particular guitar sounds because he can't play.

[tasticafe]

sorry but his prices are just ok...nothing special...usually local shops can beat his prices...you guys are just comparing his prices to gc

and he doesnt know how to play so had 0 feedback on tone a and feel...

i would really never buy a guitar from him....

[mmcquain]

Originally Posted by tasticafe

sorry but his prices are just ok...nothing special...usually local shops can beat his prices...you guys are just comparing his prices to gc
and he doesnt know how to play so had 0 feedback on tone a and feel...
i would really never buy a guitar from him....

I don't know what "local shops" you have where you are but nobody around her (from mom and pop type stores to GC or Sam Ash) seem to be able to get a decent selection of high-end Gibson Custom Shop stuff. Therefore, I always tend to deal with the "super dealers" like Saul, Wildwood, Matt's Music, etc. And these places also seem to be much better on price than anybody local (and I'm in a major metro area - Tampa).

True, Saul doesn't play himself. However, he often has some fine guitar players in the shop and will be very glad to plug the guitar in and have them demo it live for you over the phone. I know, the phone speaker will sound like crap... yeah, yeah... but it is one way to hear it live. When I bought my Classic Antique from him, I talked to the player (Saul's assistant IIRC) and HE was able to give me some helpful info on the guitar's sound.

As for price... it depends I guess on the guitar. Saul was able to give me a fine price on the CA. However, I've also had times when other forum dealers (Matt's Music, etc.) have done better on price. You just need to have a realistic idea of what you should be paying (allowing the dealer to make some profit) and negotiate price accordingly. Don't be afraid to price shop around and to haggle.

Where Saul shines is great customer service (will call you back at any hour you request, etc.), excellent shipping, and he does seem to be able to get some mighty fine looking guitars in. He's even done a few custom runs (seen the blue flame 336's... those came from Saul most likely). Sooooo... if you're looking for something in particular then I'd certainly talk to Saul.

[Wilko]

Well, if you were nicer to him than you were in that post, his price would go down accordingly.

I live in San Diego and have been buying from him for almost 20 years. For me, nobody can get near his price. I get the "bro deal".

Usually he know what the GC/MF price is, and will always beat it for anyone.

About tone and feel, he usually has someone else in the shop who can help with that part. I've been in there and he's handed me the phone and the guitar and let me talk to his customer.

For me, he is the "local shop" and he happens to be one of the the only remaining "super dealers" for Gibson. It helps that he's right across the street from House of Blues.

Most brick and mortar mom and pop stores can't touch his prices (or GC/MF).

[mmcquain]

Ha, Wilko - you and I said almost the same thing and must have posted at the exact same time... guess great minds think alike

[Wilko]

When I started typing your reply wasn't there yet.

Ya know, I just came back from a quick lunchtime trip to see Saul to get a shipping box from him. I sold a vintage soft case on ebay and he didn't have any acoustic size boxes for me. He did have a new case box.. right there we took out the cases and he gave me the box. I needed a hard case for the same guitar. He threw a price at me that was well below the street price for them, so I bought a TKL hard case for my 54 J-160e. and came back to the office and found this thread.

[mmcquain]

Yep, Saul is all about customer service

[tasticafe]

Originally Posted by mmcquain

True, Saul doesn't play himself. However, he often has some fine guitar players in the shop and will be very glad to plug the guitar in and have them demo it live for you over the phone. I know, the phone speaker will sound like crap... yeah, yeah... but it is one way to hear it live. When I bought my Classic Antique from him, I talked to the player (Saul's assistant IIRC) and HE was able to give me some helpful info on the guitar's sound.
t y.

is that a joke? you have to hope a customer/assistant with skill comes in to get a true idea of what the guitar sounds/feels like? Wow, that sounds like top shelf service....He cant even play or use the product he sells..

keep licking his ass and overpaying for guitars...call around, most dealers will beat his price...i never said he wasnt a nice guy, just said his prices were not special and it was a turn off that he cant play/ know what a good guitar is.

[Wilko]

if know how to negotiate, any store will be the best price FOR YOU.

If you're a real jerk, you probably aren't going to get better than a store price anyway.

good luck.

[05hummer]

Originally Posted by tasticafe

is that a joke? you have to hope a customer/assistant with skill comes in to get a true idea of what the guitar sounds/feels like? Wow, that sounds like top shelf service....He cant even play or use the product he sells..

keep licking his ass and overpaying for guitars...call around, most dealers will beat his price...i never said he wasnt a nice guy, just said his prices were not special and it was a turn off that he cant play/ know what a good guitar is.

You wont last long here with an attitude like that...
I've dealt with Saul many times and you will NEVER have to worry about buying anything from his shop, all is top shelf or it goes back.... PERIOD....

[Rimshot]

Originally Posted by tasticafe

sorry but his prices are just ok...nothing special...usually local shops can beat his prices...you guys are just comparing his prices to gc

and he doesnt know how to play so had 0 feedback on tone a and feel...

i would really never buy a guitar from him....

Prove it on the prices or it isn't true.
Leo Fender also never played guitar, but he seemed to do OK.

[mmcquain]

Originally Posted by tasticafe

is that a joke?....He cant even play or use the product he sells.... keep licking his ass and overpaying for guitars...call around, most dealers will beat his price...i never said he wasnt a nice guy, just said his prices were not special and it was a turn off that he cant play/ know what a good guitar is.

You sure know how to make friends here in the forum don't you

Anyway, my comments on Saul were not any attempt to brown nose (or how ever you put it ) but were simply coming from a happy customer who did "call around" to several dealers (local and nationally). There have been times when another dealer did beat Saul's price (Matt did for me before) and so I am not some type of Saul groupie. However, I believe in giving credit where it is due - and Saul deserves credit for being a fine dealer - pricewise and customer service.

As for his not being able to play... if you think that everbody that sells you something needs to be able to use the product perfectly themselves then you probably don't buy a lot of stuff (guitars or otherwise). I don't need Steven Spielberg to sell me a camcorder, nor do I need a guitar player to sell me a guitar. Sure it helps... when buying remotely (but that's what a trial period is for once you have the guitar in hand since how it plays/feels/sounds to ANYBODY else isn't going to be exactly the same as how I think it is). As Rimshot has already pointed out, Leo Fender never played guitar but that has never stopped me (or anybody else) from buying a Strat (except of course maybe YOU).

And please enlighten all of us to these "most dealers" you speak of... you don't have to give exact prices, but please share a few real examples (I shared one) of where there was a better deal than Saul... I'm sure we'd all love to know since nobody likes to overpay for a guitar.

Oh, I know you are new around these parts (forum) and I see from your other posts that you're asking several questions in the threads you've started:

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=143268

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/sh....php?p=1763629

But as a word of advice, it is better to go slow and get a feel for things before you start being so critical and throwing your opinions around without giving something to backup your claims. I think Rimshot and several here would take more stock in what you had to say if you did it with a little less 'tude and (nicely) gave us some real examples to back up your claims. That's just a little advice from a guy who still considers himself something of a newbie at times, even after a few years on here and a lot more years pickin' his guitar.... of course YMMV

[Wilko]

ok, say some dealer beats Saul's price...

DId you call him back and see what he'd do?

[Sean French]

Originally Posted by tasticafe

is that a joke? you have to hope a customer/assistant with skill comes in to get a true idea of what the guitar sounds/feels like? Wow, that sounds like top shelf service....He cant even play or use the product he sells..

keep licking his ass and overpaying for guitars...call around, most dealers will beat his price...i never said he wasnt a nice guy, just said his prices were not special and it was a turn off that he cant play/ know what a good guitar is.

You are waaaaaayyyyy off base.
I've bought a few guitars from Saul.He is the best for customer service I have ever had the pleasure to deal with.
He has a great crew as well.
Rob is a guitar builder as well as working with Saul.
Who gives a shit if Saul is a guitar player or not.
After high school I worked at the only pro music shop in El Paso.Danny's Music Box was the name of the shop.People came from NM and Mexico to buy from us.Why,because we had the best gear,customer service and a great crew.
Guess what.The owner,Danny,was an ex pro drummer.Not a guitar player.
As far as Saul's prices go.He has always been the lowest around.

[crankin]

In all fairness, Wildwood has done better on price on the 2 Historics I have purchased, also with top notch service. Steve has been excellent.
Both are great dealers.

[Rimshot]

Jim Marshall also did not play guitar. Sold a lot of amps though!

[1954Gold]

Saul is great. He had a guy demo an R4 for me on the phone 'cause I was concerned about intonation. Went thru the hoops with me on an acoustic and a 335.

Net - net, nobody beats Saul.

Period.

[Wilko]

now, before we go "licking his ass" as someone once said...

Maybe someone can beat him. These forum dealers can and will beat each other on price.

There is a limit. Maybe one gets along better with Saul, or Wildwood, or who ever.

It's all good. Also remember price is not everything. Service and choice have value.

[1954Gold]

Originally Posted by Wilko

Maybe someone can beat him. These forum dealers can and will beat each other on price.There is a limit. Maybe one gets along better with Saul, or Wildwood, or who ever. It's all good. Also remember price is not everything. Service and choice have value.

Yes, someone did on my R7 and I was not happy with their after-sales service. So as I said "net - net" and as you said "service has value".

[mmcquain]

54Gold, Wilko... you're all right... service has value and to the original poster's question - the short answer is Saul and our forum dealers (Wildwood, Matt, Mark, etc.) all have great service and great prices. The poster will be in good hands with Saul, etc. (regardless of what one individual may say).

[tasticafe]

you guys keep saying he gives great service...ive never said he didnt..
i just said his prices were just ok, and i thought it was weak that he couldnt explain to me what one guitar sounded like...thats my only point...
you really dont think it would be better for him to actually tell you what the guitar sounds/feels like?

if you were opening a store wouldnt you want the people working there to know what they feel/sound like?

[Wilko]

I'd prefer that I could get a good description of the guitar. On that I'll agree.

Also that when he can, he gets that info to the customer in some way--either by employee or other means.

[mmcquain]

Originally Posted by tasticafe

...if you were opening a store wouldnt you want the people working there to know what they feel/sound like?

I've noticed you've posted in several threads about "if you were opening a store" or what we would like to see more of in a music store or what do we like in flame, etc. etc. And now you're in here talking down another dealer.

Hmmm, you wouldn't happen to be phishing for what the "market" (at least here in the forums) might be like for a new dealer would you?!?! Would be awfully nice if you were to talk down another dealer's prices, etc. (especially if you were in hopes of pulling others out of the woodwork that maybe were on your side) and then, down the road, you put up your shingle offering "a shoppe where the owner plays guitar and can beat Saul's prices" or whatever.... hmmmm, maybe my imagination is running away with me (I've been sick and am on heavy meds right now ) but that would be awfully convient now wouldn't it.... hmmmm

Of course, from the sound of this thread... Saul would still end up with way more business as you've managed to tick off the majority of posters in this thread in some form or another.

Well, we're still waiting for some of those examples of better prices that you've mentioned...

[tasticafe]

never said i was giving out stores with better prices, do your own research...but as you can see from this thread alot of people on here have found better deals elsewhere. Is that not true? Just scroll up and read...im not sandbagging anyone...

you posted in an open forum how this guy is the best dealer in the universe , was just saying the so called best dealer ever should know how to play a guitar, know if its set up well, know what it sounds like, and give the best prices in the universe...he doesnt do any of the 3 does he ???? No he doesnt!!

am i wrong about any of those points?

are you saul mmcquain?

i think you are saul and you are trying to bump up sales for your own stores.

[Sparta]

Saul is great.

He is honest, and I have not been able to beat his prices. Believe me, I negotiate everything as long as possible and as completely as possible. (In any negotiation, time is your friend.)

Plus, I like the guy. He is open with his thoughts and I have never known him to be grouchy. Everybody can get overloaded with work, but Saul bears it with a happy heart when things are busy.

He always gets back to you when he says he will.

+1 on Saul and his team at the store.

[Sparta]

I think it is a rule of nature somewhere written before the dawn of time that every single internet board will have a fixed percentage of people who just love to vent their spleen.

They cannot be openly negative and vindictive in their daily lives, so they give us their frustrations as a gift to be savored and enjoyed.

[Bluestar]

tasticafe - sad to see such an unhappy person - you have obviously never dealt with Saul. Perhaps your bitterness and low self esteem could be put to better use somewhere else?

[Steve Craw]

I'm a Saul fan as well. There weren't supposed to be any left handed Gary Rossington Les Pauls made, but Saul thought it might be a cool idea, so he got Gibson to make four of them. I'm grateful to have one of them. Saul was great to do buisiness with, and called to make sure my guitar got to me alright, and that I was happy with it. The guitar was set up beautifully, which was a change from the R9 I had bought from a different, well known dealer which arrived virtually unplayable. I hope some day that he'll be able to post his inventory on the web again.

[1954Gold]

Originally Posted by Lefty Elmo

I hope some day that he'll be able to post his inventory on the web again.

I wish he'd just send around an emailed inventory sheet of what he has in stock.....guitars are my one impulse purchase. What I really like about Saul is even if the deal falls thru, he is still there for you.