Neil Shah - Pianist/Vocalist/Composer

This blog is no longer current and has not been updated since 2007. It is still available for archival purposes and for those searching for topics pertaining to NYC music clubs, concerts, and other miscellaneous information. For current information about Neil Shah, please visit neilshah.com

Takamine Repaired minus Sam Ash

I contacted Takamine about a broken tuning button on my acoustic. It’s over 10 years old, bought back when they really made a push at trying to make high-end guitars. They had a reputation at the time of making the best pickups in the world. My particular guitar happens to be extremely rare, so I knew it would be tough to get the part. And so I contacted Takamine…

They said I needed to order part number so and so through an authorized dealer. I asked about ordering it myself and they said no way, I had to go through a dealer. Sam Ash is the main dealer in New York, so I ask their guitar repair guy Paul if he’d order the part. He said sure no problem.

After 5 weeks of me calling and asking about my part, Paul finally says that Kaman, the part distributor, doesn’t have the part–and even if they could find it, it would take 3 months to ship it. He tells me I should just bring my guitar in and he’ll fit an after-market part on there.

I got off the phone with him and looked up Kaman. Surprisingly I was able to get right through to the parts department. I spoke with Tony and Norm and they were super-friendly and said they’d ship the part to me right away. Yesterday, just a week after I talked to Kaman, I got the part in the mail. Much better delivery time than the 3 months that Paul had estimated. Oddly, the button wasn’t a perfect fit, but a few minutes with the drill and my acoustic was back in business. Tony and Norm rock the socks.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 11th, 2006 at 7:52 pm and is tagged music, business. Follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed and Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Takamine Repaired minus Sam Ash”

  1. Wigtor the Destroyer Says:
    July 18th, 2006 at 8:32 pm

    I hate music stores! It angers me that this happened to you. Sam Ash, Manny’s, Guitar Center…they are all the same: Fucking retarded. Peace.

  2. Jason Says:
    July 19th, 2006 at 3:38 pm

    Interesting story, Neil. I’m not surprised at all. As a horn player, I’m constantly at the mercy of understocked mail order “factories” or driving over to Sam Ash only to walk out extremely frustrated five minutes later. Not to be cynical, but I have never had a good experience at any Sam Ash store I’ve patronized. Whatever happened to respect for your customers? Down with Sam Ash!