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

[L.A.Man]

How many guys selling guitars say they sound like shit?

Answer, none.

I dont give a shit about what the seller tells me, its not his opinion that matters its mine.

Run into any guitar store, and have the guy tell you HE likes it, and that is all you need?

I never bought anything from Saul, he had a Rossington that I wanted but the price was too high at the time, he sold it a month later for the price he quoted me, so it was too high for me, but not someone else.

[mikev]

Originally Posted by 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?

There's a scene in the classic movie The Big Lebowski.
Walter is in the Dude's car after they had to bug out of the bowling ally because he pulled a gun on someone.
He says, "am I wrong?"
And the Dude says, "no, Walter, you're not wrong, you're just an asshole."
Not sure why your posts here made me think of that scene..

[guitarmandp]

You guys all say he has the "best deals"

Give me some examples of Sauls great prices.

No frickin way is guy lower than Rainbow.

[Wilko]

it's not cool to list prices online.

anyway, it's about negotiation. if you get great deals from Rainbow because you know them, then he may not be the best. You build a relationship with any dealer and they will likely be the best.

Get a Rainbow price, then call Saul see waht happens. Of course, if you're just dicking around, it may not happen. If you are actually buying, the matter is a lot different.

[05hummer]

I think "best deal" is subjective, what you might think is a good deal I may not or vice versa...To me a good deal is a package, not just the product, but service before and after the sale...I'm sure there is always a better deal out there, but I don't have time to screw around I go to who I trust and will take the time to find the Right guitar for me...I don't understand why this tread is turning into a bash Saul fiasco, as far as I can see this nothing more than A trying to start trouble...

[Sean French]

Originally Posted by guitarmandp

You guys all say he has the "best deals"

Give me some examples of Sauls great prices.

No frickin way is guy lower than Rainbow.

Sure.
I bought a brand new '07 R0 DC Special from Saul for about what they were selling for used at the time.
The other dealers I checked with were wanting $300 more.

[Wilko]

also,
"lowest price" is for suckers. Look what "lowest price" has done to our economy.

Pay what it's worth and leave some for the guy making the deal.

A good dealer earns his money.

[Rare Form]

Had to chime in. I found out about the Forum through Saul, not the other way around. He told me to come here. I have bought 5 guitars from him and about to get my 6th if the Lifeson ever gets here. I also had two friends buy from him and have referred countless others. I have also bought from other dealers not because the price was better, etc. But, because they happen to have what I am looking for at the time and Saul has actually told me that he cannot get what I am looking for at the time and to go with what I have found from another dealer because it is a good deal. That is honesty and committment as far as I am concerned. It has been said here before, the package is what sells me. Saul is always excited about the purchase not because he is making a sale, but you can tell he actually takes pleasure in making his customers happy. He is always approachable on the phone answers all questions and I love the overnight shipping. Quick and safe. He packs guitars like nobody's business and calls the next day to see if everything is okay. I think he calls because he likes to share in the excitement of the customer. Will I go to other dealers ever? Of course, because I want what I want. But, Saul is always first choice, hands down!

[davess23]

I don't give a rat's ass if the dealer plays guitar or not. As long as he's smart enough not to try to BS me, he'll do fine. I'm not hiring a friggin' sideman, I'm buying a guitar. I've been playing for a long time and I know what I'm looking for. If the dealer has good inventory, can get me answers to my questions, and is focused on creating happy customers, that's the relevant skill.

If a guy plays guitar like Hendrix and isn't interested in helping me-- which, by the way, I've seen all too much of, maybe because good musical skills plus zero people skills too often results in bitter "I coulda been a contender" music store clerk with bad case of arrogance and general attitude problems-- then to hell with that noise, I'll go with the Sauls of the world any day.

[jackr]

I have had only one conversation with Saul. And from that conversation I can say that he will get a shot at my business in the future for sure.

I was interested in buying a Lifeson from him. He told me that the ones he had on order were spoken for but he was trying to get some more. He was pretty confident but not 100% certain. So he told me that if I found one in the meantime some other place to go for it.

He could have taken my money, and not told me that the ones on order were already spoken for and hoped he got more of them in. If he didn't get them and is honest he would return my money.

However, he was super honest as he was he didn't take my money in the first place. To me that is very valueable. It is what I do in my business and it is what I expect from everyone else.

That doesnt seem to be the case these days. For example, I am an art dealer and I shipped someone a piece of art and when they streched to prior to framing it revealed some defects I was unaware of. The guy called me, I told him to send it back and I would get him another immediately and I pay the shipping back. I also arranged for UPS to pick it up from him so he didnt have to do anything but put it back in the box. Seems pretty obvious to me that that is the way it should be. But to him, he thought I was going above and beyond the call of duty and thanked me for taking care of him. I think we have become so jaded and so used to bad service, when someone simply stands behind thier products it is unexpected these days.

By the way, the guy has already refered new clients to me.

[trioderob]

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....

You are nuts
his prices are rock bottom cheap.

I have bought 3 Gibsons from him and am happer than shit
with every aspect of the transactions.

and here is one for you guys - who else would beg you to buy a brazilain
in 03 knowing they were going up in value???

[ampLP]

Saul doesn't play but Saul KNOWS a good guitar...always has for me and I trust his judgement. He's always my first call and most times, after checking around, my last.

[Cogswell]

I don't think Tom Dowd knew how to play a guitar, but he knew what a good sound was. Same w/George Martin.
Maybe Saul is the Tom Dowd of guitar salesmen.

[Jim Sloves]

Originally Posted by L.A.Man

How many guys selling guitars say they sound like shit?

Answer, none.

Wrong.

Eric at Wilcutt's.

I had my eye on a guitar on their site last year. I called up and asked about it. Eric told me it looked great but in his opinion it didn't sound too good. He didn't try to push an alternative guitar. He just laid it out on the line.

[Todd Louis]

Originally Posted by Cogswell

I don't think Tom Dowd knew how to play a guitar, but he knew what a good sound was. Same w/George Martin.
Maybe Saul is the Tom Dowd of guitar salesmen.

Leo Fender didn't know how to play ether But yous all have him to thank Becuse with out him there would be NO Les Paul Guitar

[rrrcustom]

Perhaps it's not my place to say, but I've seen Saul do a lot of hustling (meaning, selling guitars at cost), just to pay Gibson and other vendors in time. I tell him all the time if he just charged $50 more per guitar, he wouldn't have to hustle as much. The salesman he is, he doesn't want to because he's too afraid to lose the business to someone else. It's sad at this day and age of internet sales and big box stores that a person as nice as Saul, who works as hard as he does, has to do what he does to keep up. Don't get me wrong, he has a nice house in SoCal, but for the amount of money he turns over each year, you'd think he could do better.

I guess it's a good thing I don't own the shop.

[wreckfan]

There seems to be 1 in every group - everything just has to be an "issue" or point of contention.
Saul has been in business for years - has a great reputation and his shop has the best selection around.
Doesn't have to be a guitar player to be a good dealer and as a matter of fact I have never gone to a guitar store and picked up anything that the salesperson did not comment on how nice a guitar it was or how nice it plays. I'll decide that for myself.
When I bought one of my Les Pauls I went to Saul and asked them to just keep bringing them to me off the wall and I sat a few to the side and ended up buying the first one that I tried. So nice and helpful that when I got home and noticed that they had inadvertently forgot to charge me the extra $50.00 for the upgraded historic case - I called them and gladly took them a check for the difference (plus a little gratuity for lunch)
Never thought price was the most important part of the process - got a good price and great service and would refer anyone to shop there.

[Coachmoe]

Originally Posted by mikev

There's a scene in the classic movie The Big Lebowski.
Walter is in the Dude's car after they had to bug out of the bowling ally because he pulled a gun on someone.
He says, "am I wrong?"
And the Dude says, "no, Walter, you're not wrong, you're just an asshole."
Not sure why your posts here made me think of that scene..

+1

[fjminor]

Originally Posted by Rare Form

I have also bought from other dealers not because the price was better, etc. But, because they happen to have what I am looking for at the time......

+1 BINGO...!!

[D'Mule]

Cool, but who is Dave?

[mmcquain]

Duplicate post

[mmcquain]

Duplicate post

[mmcquain]

Duplicate post

[mmcquain]

Originally Posted by tasticafe

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

Tasticafe - No, I am not Saul, but thanks... from the sound of the posts here, being Saul wouldn't be a bad thing.... and now, I rest my case

Cogswell - Saul and Tom Dowd... hmmm, nice comparison from what I've always heard about Dowd... very upright guy who did his job very well... same as Saul.

[L.A.Man]

Originally Posted by Jim Sloves

Wrong.

Eric at Wilcutt's.

I had my eye on a guitar on their site last year. I called up and asked about it. Eric told me it looked great but in his opinion it didn't sound too good. He didn't try to push an alternative guitar. He just laid it out on the line.

Well let me stand corrected, I wonder who Eric eventually sold that guitar to?

I agree, Mark Bishop has steered me away from guitars that werent right for me many times, but they were probably right for someone else, maybe Eric did this for you. But in a general sense those guys are the exceptions to the rule.

[Jim W]

Who is Dave?

Dave is the Man!

[Todd Louis]

Saul is a Fantastic Guy.. Every transaction I have Done with him was a pleaser !!

I don't see why anyone would have one bad thing to say about him at all...!!!

[Jim Sloves]

Originally Posted by L.A.Man

Well let me stand corrected, I wonder who Eric eventually sold that guitar to?

I agree, Mark Bishop has steered me away from guitars that werent right for me many times, but they were probably right for someone else, maybe Eric did this for you. But in a general sense those guys are the exceptions to the rule.

I agree. They are the exception as are guys like Roger Sadowsky. Eric could have sold it to someone who said "It's gorgeous, let me try it," and they liked it. This is all so subjective (tone).

Regardless, I peruse the forums and most accolades for Saul are for service. If he gets the lowest price or not I don't know. And price is subjective: I don't think it's unreasonable for a killer topped LP to sell for more than a plain top. So price comparison could be like delicious apples to ...brayburn apples?

.

[pdfiddler]

I officially only buy new Gibsons from SAUL!

[Zhangliqun]

Only bought once from him, a killer ES-355, from a limited run of about ten they made that year (2001). Love that 355, and got a great deal on it, flamey vintage burst. He had another flamey one in cherry, wish I could have bought it too.

I'd gone to him previously with a Standard to wheel and deal for something else and the deal didn't happen. I forget why, probably because I was really going there more to look and see what his store was about than actually buy. But what I'll never forget is that it sure wasn't for lack of trying on his part. It made me watch his site and when that 355 appeared, I hit the ceiling. He let me put it on layaway for a pretty measly deposit.

Saul kicks booty. If you can't come away from his store happy, then you are congenitally incapable of happiness.

[dtw576]

I'll chime in as a Saul devotee if that is what we are. He's getting me a Lifeson 355 and he was the only one I called. He has always been standup and as everyone says, his customer service is top notch. I'm a value buyer not a price buyer. And when it comes to value, he has never been beat IMHO and I've bought from all the rest of the killer dealers that are on this forum. I doubt I could save $100 on a $4000+ purchase and those $$$ would seem like a gnat's *ss if something went wrong with the deal.

Not to say there is anything bad about the other killer dealers around this forum because they have all been top notch also. Saul and his personality, attitude, business ethics, etc just fit me better. I was planning on meeting him for breakfast this week on a business trip to SD that unfortunately got called off. But he is first on my list to finally meet face to face on my next trip to SD.

[superlead73]

To me, Saul is a great salesman with impeccable ethics and great prices to boot. I have bought two Historics (lefty) from him. With the R0, I told him what I was looking for and he would periodically call me and tell me he was still trying to get me my guitar. When one finally came in he called and said, it's here. The guitar you want is here. I bought it and am very happy with it.

He also sells Marshall amps and when the Hendrix stacks were coming out he said he ordered six of them and kept pushing me to buy one. I said thanks but no thanks. He said, I'll tell you what, when I get to the last one I'll call you again and give you a shot at it before anyone else. By then I had become very interested in the Hendrix stack so when the call came in, he gave a super deal that nobody else could touch. I bought it and am very happy with it. So yes, I do like Saul as we became friends, His customer service is just icing on the cake!

[trucks]

I just bought a Johnny A from Saul. Did all my homework and he more than earned the sale. I had a question on availability and got an email to call him at home on SUNDAY night! He had one shipped to him from Gibson and got it to me today. He kept me informed as promised and ended every call telling me when I would next hear from him.

It was a first rate experience to go along with an exceptional instrument. Saul exceeded my expectation.

[MarkMAN]

Bought my last two Les Pauls from Saul and couldn't be more pleased. Even had a problem with one, Saul stepped up and took care of it more effectively than 95% of the blow darts out there would have. I for one will always go to Saul first when looking for a new/used Gibson. He's the best. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[rhinowti]

I've bought two reissues from Saul in the last four years and I think he is one of the nicest most genuine people I have met, and his prices are very reasonable. Also, as far as the argument goes about him not playing, last time I checked he does still own a real '59, so he probably knows what the real deal sounds like.

[garywright]

Chuck Norris once roundhoused a dealer 'cause he couldn't beat Saul's prices.

[Fixxxer]

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.

I gotta ask, where can you go and get a better price out the door?

I don't care if he can or can't play; to be frank he has the best deals going out the door. I also have faith in the custom shop as on average, most guitars are the shizzzznit.. If they are not, get it set up correctly and its all good.

[jon67]

Bought an LP Standard there when I visited San Diego in 2003, got a great deal on a 50ies neck Honeyburst... around $300 below the typical street price at that time

[wooderson]

So Saul can't play guitar and therefore has to rely on someone else to give a description of an individual guitar's tone?

But aren't all such descriptions subjective? One man's "bright" is another man's "tinny".

[Gros Tigre]

Leo Fender also never played guitar, but he seemed to do OK.

I never knew that!! Thats pretty amazing!