Emmons guitar co.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 20 May 2010 1:16 pm

Erv, I've had the pleasure of doing business with you regarding tablature. I've been doing business with Emmons since about 1968 and they have always been honest and good to me. When I took my guitar down a few years ago for Ron to tweak it, I had all the parts with it. I don't think that I've ever heard of anything like this before. Has anyone else???

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 May 2010 1:25 pm

Charles,
I really don't think either side in this situation is to blame. I rather blame it on a language barrier.
You have to remember that we are also dealing with Italian customs and if they are like any other customs I have had to deal with, that could be the source of the problem.
I got a Fulawka out of Canada and the guitar was packed in two cases. The first case came alright but it took several days for the 2nd case to show up and they were both sent at the same time.
Just a very unfortunate situation on both sides.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 20 May 2010 1:37 pm

Erv said:

Jim,
It is very apparent that you really don't know what kind of person I am.
I am the kind of person who is not into character assassination.
I hate to see good people maligned, especially on a public forum such as this.

I took the liberty of bolding the text I am commenting on.

After reading years of complaints like this about the current management at Emmons, I don't believe they are GOOD PEOPLE

I don't want to see Emmons guitars disappear either. It is a shame we have lost Sho~Bud, ZB Custom, Carter, and others over the years. But due to our small community, it is inevitable that some are going to disappear, maybe because of death of the owner/builder, or perhaps shady and irresponsible, or just plain crappy, business dealings.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 May 2010 1:43 pm

Richard,
Maybe you'd be so kind as to relate the experiences you have had, personally, with Emmons. That would help a lot.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 20 May 2010 2:16 pm

I used to buy strings and bars from them, some time ago. They would not be shipped quickly, and I would receive the wrong sets. Now to be fair to Ron Jr, this was back when Ron Sr. had the company. I have not dealt with them since. And I never will. Not saying I wouldn't have an Emmons (as I have stated before), it would not be purchased through Emmons. Didn't really care for any of the push-pulls I have played (and not saying they are not great guitars), but their all pulls are pretty good. But even before I purchased a new Emmons, I would give considerable consideration to the other brands, which I feel are every bit as good as an Emmons, with actual customer service and care for their customers. I can't see supporting a company that acts in the fashion that the Lashley's are.

One example of what I call great customer service, was when I was first shopping for a pedal steel, I was calling MSA (several times), and Reece would spend all the time necessary to make sure every question I had was answered and even added more info I didn't ask about. We talked about different brands, as I was undecided. He never bad mouthed any of them. I ended up with a Zb. Do you think Ron Jr. would give that kind of service? Hell, he won't even answer the phone for his customers (although I will give him the benefit of the doubt here because people get through to order parts).

And before you ask, Carter and Williams have been great as far as customer service. Same with Kline. Talked to Joe Kline several times while building my guitar, AND HE CALLED ME. GAve me updates, suggestions, and just plain friendly conversation. I've never had a problem with my Carter, but have had a few calls over the years from John Fabian, and one from Bud Carter himself to check on how the Carter was. My Williams 600 came to me with the vertical knee lever (on the C6th cluster)in a location that was absolutely un-playable. I don't even think he tested it unless he used a small kid. It Hung down so far, I would stick my knee in the center cluster and my knee would hit the lever and start to knock the guitar over. I contacted Bill Rudolph, who's first words were something like, I'm sorry. What can I do to help. Wanted me to ship the guitar back, but I can get my way around the bottom of a guitar, so I told him that if he made me a shorter knee lever bracket, I could probably get it to work. Had the new part shipped next day air the next day.

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 20 May 2010 2:19 pm

Erv Niehaus wrote:Richard,
Maybe you'd be so kind as to relate the experiences you have had, personally, with Emmons. That would help a lot.

No Erv, while Richard is certainly welcome to post his positive experiences, THAT'S NOT what would help.
It's in the Lashley's exclusive hands to keep the company going and shining.

I don't think there is anybody out to "kill" the company or see to it that these guitars are not manufactured anymore. That's total BS.

True positive testimonies are certainly helpful when they DO NOT only come as a reply to negative testimonies or questions on issues.

Emmons bashing would be exactly the contrary of what you are trying to make arise here: Every time somebody would open a thread and announce their content with their new Emmons guitar, somebody would drop in hastly ro rehash what horrible experience they had. I don't see that happen... so I don't see the sense of doing it the other way around.

If only ONE client has a VALID issue, all the other "endorsements" would NOT diminish that issue.
That's why a professional company, takes CARE of it's customers and when issues arise the HANDLE it gracefully and apologize.
Everything else is blah blah.

IF you were a TRUE Emmons Guitar FAN, YOU above all, would want everybody to be happy with the deal they got... not just call for a "democratic" 90%.

About the Italian "Saints" as you feel fit to call them, YOU have seen the PICTURES! You have never commented directly to them however. So, I reckon, you are ill positioned to declare saint anybody.

... J-D.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 20 May 2010 2:24 pm

J.D Said:

Emmons bashing would be exactly the contrary of what you are trying to make arise here: Every time somebody would open a thread and announce their content with their new Emmons guitar, somebody would drop in hastly ro rehash what horrible experience they had. I don't see that happen... so I don't see the sense of doing it the other way around.

This same thing used to happen when someone would post about their new Carter.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 20 May 2010 3:27 pm

Well, I guess if you lock a monkey in a room with a typewriter...

Maybe someone can translate this out of pig latin so the Italian guys can understand it....

"They got me... better grab your crayons and helmet and run like hell bub.. -BMF-"

ive been reading all the posting about emmons
guitar co.,and i know theve had problems.
but how many of you have had or knew some who
had a company that had problems.then everyone
started bashing them and saying dont buy from
these people .then all of a sudden there out of business.emmons builds one of the finess steels
on the market today ,do we really want to see this company go out of business.i for one dont .
i remember when ron took the company back over
after jim ran it in the ground and took peoples
money.i think there was one case someone had paid
jim for a guitar and lost there money then wanted
ron to take the loss and build the guitar.that puts you in the red to start with .and i know they have problems but sometimes there two sides .
so ya,ll dont jump on me to hard ,just my opinon
i dont want to see any steel co. go under everbody needs a choice

Just had to say something.

Of Course nobody at Emmons seems to be able to type either..

EJL

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 20 May 2010 3:38 pm

THE STEEL GUITAR SCHOLAR!!!

Available to edit all grammatically-challenged posts! Never be held liable for bad grammar again. Save face in front of literate posters! Let the steel guitar scholar turn those awkward posts into hard-hitting, easy-to-understand powerhouses of pertinent information!

jay thompson · Post by **jay thompson** » 20 May 2010 3:46 pm

Sorry to be so far behind in this discussion. Been driving for several hours. I thought it might have given Roger time to gather his thoughts re: Jim Aycoth, but he dodged sharing his knowledge by hiding behind some possible legal implication. Perhaps, on second thought, it wasn't so damning to the Lashley's after all.
Regards, Jay Thompson

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 20 May 2010 3:50 pm

Isn't this the second guitar that was shipped? I seem to remember pics of the first guitar on the earliest thread. I can't find it, but I've never had much luck with the Search function here!

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 20 May 2010 3:53 pm

Eric West wrote:Well, I guess if you lock a monkey in a room with a typewriter...

Maybe someone can translate this out of pig latin so the Italian guys can understand it....

"They got me... better grab your crayons and helmet and run like hell bub.. -BMF-"

ive been reading all the posting about emmons guitar co.,and i know theve had problems.but how many of you have had or knew some who
had a company that had problems.then everyone
started bashing them and saying dont buy from
these people .then all of a sudden there out of business.emmons builds one of the finess steels
on the market today ,do we really want to see this company go out of business.i for one dont .
i remember when ron took the company back over
after jim ran it in the ground and took peoples
money.i think there was one case someone had paid
jim for a guitar and lost there money then wanted
ron to take the loss and build the guitar.that puts you in the red to start with .and i know they have problems but sometimes there two sides .
so ya,ll dont jump on me to hard ,just my opinon
i dont want to see any steel co. go under everbody needs a choice
Just had to say something.

Of Course nobody at Emmons seems to be able to type either..

EJL

Okay, the first one's a freebie:

"I've been reading all the posts about the Emmons Guitar Company, and I know they've had problems. But how many of you have had or knew some who had a company with problems? What if everyone started bashing them and saying "don't buy from these people"? All of a sudden they're out of business. Emmons builds one of the finest steels on the market today. Do we really want to see this company go out of business? I, for one, do not.

I remember when Ron took over the company after Jim ran it into the ground and took people's money. I think in one case someone had paid Jim for a guitar, lost his money, then later wanted Ron to take this loss and build the guitar. That would put a new owner in the red right from the start.

I know they have problems, but sometimes there are two sides. Therefore, don't jump on me too hard; this is just my opinion. I don't want to see any steel company go under. Everybody needs a choice."

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 20 May 2010 4:57 pm

Chris I think you're onto something.

Is that a young PF in that picture??

Naw....

Maybe you could work out some discounts from one of the less articulate forumites..

I remember I "re-wrote" the mangled letter that Sierra Steel Guitars sent out that would have had people lined up praying for them and sending donations instead of wanting their lost deposits back..

You can make a silk purse look like a sow's ear - You can also hide a sow's ear in a silk purse..

All with how you present it..

EJL

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 20 May 2010 5:01 pm

#1. Count me in on $40.00 mate!

#2. Somebody P.M me when needed!

#3. I wish you had of bought an M.S.A!

Jack Strayhorn · Post by **Jack Strayhorn** » 20 May 2010 5:43 pm

edited

Don McClellan · Post by **Don McClellan** » 20 May 2010 6:01 pm

Chris and Eric,
This is getting hysterical. This forum has needed The Steel Guitar Scholar, working day in and day out, for quite some time. Welcome aboard!

Jack Strayhorn · Post by **Jack Strayhorn** » 20 May 2010 6:14 pm

edited

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 20 May 2010 6:14 pm

This situation does not seem unusual to me as far as the current Emmons company goes. I had a very dear friend whom I suggested getting an Emmons too. He was caught in the Aycoth transition mess. That whole thing was bad enough but the current Emmons owners handled his situation with avoidance and lies. After 15 or 20 rediculous contradictory excuses and stories he got his money back by filing a claim with his credit card company. He would have saved months of headaches and hassles if the current Emmons owners knew how to be direct and honest in the face of problems.

Bob

Dave Diehl · Post by **Dave Diehl** » 21 May 2010 3:30 am

Jack. I not at liberty to discuss other peoples business in public unless they have asked me to so. You say that you are the only one that "knows the facts". Well, I will beg to differ with you on that and you can't honestly refute that. Dragging things back from the past can do no one good, including yourself. So I agree with Buddy in his earlier posting that this thread should close. The discussion has nothing to do with the current business operations (to which I'm not implying anything). I have no experience in that to share.

bob Ousby · Post by **bob Ousby** » 21 May 2010 5:21 am

Chris...Who is the Steel Guitar Scholar? What about that right hand technique (a la Jeff Newman)? My Show Pro is the spitting image of that Bud. Wish it was in color...Bob

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 21 May 2010 5:36 am

Bob, the scholar is Chris himself.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 21 May 2010 7:02 am

Who is the graduate??

bob Ousby · Post by **bob Ousby** » 21 May 2010 7:05 am

Ooops!...Excuse the comment about the right hand! But I do like the watchband on the left arm. It reminds me of the one I had to wear around my left ankle. But the judge made me wear it for only 6 months.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 21 May 2010 7:35 am

Buddy Castleberry wrote:bob lets close this one

Done.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Emmons guitar co.

Speak English.

This grammatically incorrect forum thread calls for.....

Emmons Co.

Re: Speak English.