Online sites to purchase ESP?

[TheDarkOne]

Does anyone know any online sites to purchase an ESP guitar standard series for a GOOD price? I went around where I live (Indiana USA) but couldn't find any dealers with ESP or even guitar center?

[MikeC]

Don't think GC carrys ESP anywere. As far as price goes, I think they're all gonna be the same. Try www.music123.com or something.

What ya lookin to get?

[lucky13]

Dark, you should be able to go to your local music shops. places that are private and not a chain. and if they are an ESP Dealer, they can pretty much order anything you want. as long as it's in production or it's a custom order. you could go to the ESP site and do a dealer search

[Mizmo21]

www.gearhounds.com

they do layaway too

[jaymz097]

Here are just a few sites that sell ESP:
http://www.guitarplaza.com
http://www.musiciansfriend.com
http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/drumcitygl/stores/1/Guitars-C2.aspx
http://www.samash.com/default.asp
The prices will pretty much be the same so the key will be finding what you are looking for in stock. Guitar plaza worked well for me. They had a few UC M-II's coming in a few weeks and came through as promised.
Good luck

[TheDarkOne]

Thank yas!!! Samash, drumcityguitarland, and musicplaza had the M -II's, musiciansfriend and music 123 did not. $1,399 ...., I remember a few years back I was going to buy one, and they were all about 1k even...Damn...

[nileguy]

Thank yas!!! Samash, drumcityguitarland, and musicplaza had the M -II's, musiciansfriend and music 123 did not. $1,399 ...., I remember a few years back I was going to buy one, and they were all about 1k even...Damn...

where are you from? If in the USA, try Nick over at Piney Hills too...

[The Guitar]

i know where you're coming from TheDarkOne. i called damn near every place around the indy area, even into champaign illinois. i ended up finding my m-II on e-bay for $600 or so. you could look into local music stores, maybe even pawn shops.

[Matt Parsons]

Buy from Piney Hill's Music here on the boards. I am about to place an order for an ESP Standard and he cut me a great deal.

[nileguy]

Buy from Piney Hill's Music here on the boards. I am about to place an order for an ESP Standard and he cut me a great deal.

Nick's an extremely cool cat. Good guy and far more friendly than most of the dealers have become in hardened business times.

[Matthew]

DrumCityGuitarLand is the fucking best.

[nileguy]

DrumCityGuitarLand is the fucking best.

i used to think that too...lol

[xchumfiestax]

i used to think that too...lol

I only go to DCGL to try out new guitars before I buy them

I'm sure this does not amuse Jason :p

[nileguy]

I only go to DCGL to try out new guitars before I buy them

I'm sure this does not amuse Jason :p

LOL...I dug Jason and used to refer alot of people over to DCGL when my old shop first became an ESP dealer. Since we were new at it, we didn't have alot of the guitars at first. But Jason always had their whole catalog it seemed in stock...lol

But over time, I started hearing problems from people with his attitude and such. So as we moved along as dealers, I decided to just see if I could do something to speed up our store's ability to get the gear. I wish him well and all...but I just think there's a better way of talking to people that might buy things from you and give you another Dealer Of The Year award...lol

So now if anyone asks, I usually swing towards the Piney Hillz door for reference since I'm no longer with a dealer myself. Nick there is a wonderful dood who really just runs a music store because he wants to...it's nice to deal with someone who likes it, not someone who's being paid to be somewhere they don't wanna be.

[xchumfiestax]

Seriously

When I was in the market for a new guitar last year, I tried out an ec-1000 at DCGL. The entire experience wasn't all that great. He just seemed completely uninterested. It was as if I was bothering him when he was just sitting at his desk doing nothing.

Needless to say I ended up making my purchase elsewhere. I bought it from you actually :lol

[Piney Hills Music]

thanks Pman....

I, believe it or not, have done pretty well this year so far..

I always sell a lot of Jacksons, but I sold 5 ESPs in the last week and a half.. so thats pretty good for my little po dunk redneck store.

[mrclean77]

I ordered my MH1k from DCGL simply b/c the one/color I wanted was in stock - pretty much had no questions as I had my mind set on what I wanted & had asked all ?'s here - was just a simple call, order, ship it to me


You would've thought I was asking him to walk it from CO to AL- he could NOT have sounded more put out by simply being on the phone with me & my $$$


I'm glad I'm not the only one - all I ever hear around here is "the wonderful deal @ DCGL" - glad I got a chance to get that out, lol




Oh yeah - wish I had've checked the lengthy 3-day return policy before I discovered the light finish scratch on the back of the body as well - not deep, but I'm anal - had too much of a boner for the guitar to check on that :o and had heard all these wonderful things about them

[Kgry]

carlinoguitars.com 8o :lol

Anyway, regarding DCGL. Come on guys, wtf do you want? He's a business man. Who cares what he sounds like over the phone. Do you want him to do jumping jacks and cartwheels? You got what you wanted plus freebies (I'm assuming he still gives away shirts, straps and picks) and he got what he wanted.

[BigSillyGoose]

You have to mention that you're from the ESP boards to get the good treatment at DCGL.

I dont think you guys have been doing that.

[DixSerina]

LOL...I dug Jason and used to refer alot of people over to DCGL when my old shop first became an ESP dealer. Since we were new at it, we didn't have alot of the guitars at first. But Jason always had their whole catalog it seemed in stock...lol

But over time, I started hearing problems from people with his attitude and such. So as we moved along as dealers, I decided to just see if I could do something to speed up our store's ability to get the gear. I wish him well and all...but I just think there's a better way of talking to people that might buy things from you and give you another Dealer Of The Year award...lol

So now if anyone asks, I usually swing towards the Piney Hillz door for reference since I'm no longer with a dealer myself. Nick there is a wonderful dood who really just runs a music store because he wants to...it's nice to deal with someone who likes it, not someone who's being paid to be somewhere they don't wanna be.

I'm going to assume I had this same attitude problem over at DCGL.

[Piney Hills Music]

carlinoguitars.com 8o :lol

Anyway, regarding DCGL. Come on guys, wtf do you want? He's a business man. Who cares what he sounds like over the phone. Do you want him to do jumping jacks and cartwheels? You got what you wanted plus freebies (I'm assuming he still gives away shirts, straps and picks) and he got what he wanted.

I think they are talking about the general attitude of Jason. He has always been cool to me, and I have bought guitars from him before I had my own store. But if he doesnt sound appreciative when you spend (if its on a Jackson, ESP or upper end guitar) big bux... then people dont feel like he cares.

He is the top ESP dealer in the US.... so he will always have more stuffs.. than me and others (i have only 6 ESPs in stock at any time,) I also have about 40 Fenders....and other stuff too.. ESP and Schecter are his 2 biggest lines and he is number 1 with both of them..

[Matt Parsons]

thanks Pman....

I, believe it or not, have done pretty well this year so far..

I always sell a lot of Jacksons, but I sold 5 ESPs in the last week and a half.. so thats pretty good for my little po dunk redneck store.

Make that 6 8o

Nick ( Piney Hills ) so far has been the best experience I've ever had buying anything. If I buy something, and he has it, I'll buy it from him.

[Piney Hills Music]

well, I counted you in that...

I sold two Horizons, a Michael Padgett, a Gus G, and a Ninja with a FROYD LOSE

[TheDarkOne]

Haha funny that you guys bring that up about Drumcityguitarland. I contacted Jason there about trying to purchase an ESP standard series from him after I posted this. He seemed very unenthusiastic. He just stopped emailing me too. lol, we he lost my business.

[xchumfiestax]

Haha funny that you guys bring that up about Drumcityguitarland. I contacted Jason there about trying to purchase an ESP standard series from him after I posted this. He seemed very unenthusiastic. He just stopped emailing me too. lol, we he lost my business.

I wish I could say I'm surprised.

I bought a Viper 400 from him back in 05 and the experience was completely different when I went back to DCGL a few years later :\

[DixSerina]

Haha funny that you guys bring that up about Drumcityguitarland. I contacted Jason there about trying to purchase an ESP standard series from him after I posted this. He seemed very unenthusiastic. He just stopped emailing me too. lol, we he lost my business.

That's the same problem I had when I was going to purchase an F-400 from there. I dropped him an e-mail letting him know I wanted it, and he was cool, then I asked him if he could figure out shipping and stuff and got nothing back. So I asked again two weeks later. And one last time a week after that. Needless to say, I still haven't gotten anything back, a year and a half later about it. I bought the F-400 elsewhere.

[MajorTom]

I recently purchased my Snow White Eclipse II from Jason. He did seem a bit unenthusiastic, but he kept in touch. I let him know I'd heard about them from the ESP boards and that I was ready to buy asap. I'm pretty sure he said he was going to call me back once, and he didn't. But I called him and asked him again what he was supposed to tell me. Again, I wasn't clear if he was going to call me or if I was supposed to call him. Then I started communicating via e-mail. He responded pretty promptly to those. Like within a few hours.

He sold me a case at their cost and installed the strap locks I bought from them at no cost. He gave me the usual case candy. Shirt, picks, stickers and catalogs. And installed the strings I wanted and tuned the guitar how I wanted. So I think he did ok.

But I get the unenthusiastic part. I just really got the idea that he'd prefer answering emails rather than phone calls. After that, everything went fine. If I gave his transaction a rating out of 10, it'd be an 8.5. Smooth once I figured out his preferred mode of communication.

[deftoneskidd]

theperfectguitar.com - give those guys a call/email and you won't want to shop anywhere else again.. promise. super friendly, always enthusiastic, always willing to do whatever it takes to make the customer happy.. you don't see that much anymore.. plus the pics on their website are freakin KILLER.

[Piney Hills Music]

thats funny, as the perfectguitar/perfectbass are prolly the store I hear the most BAD things about. I have talked to them on the phone and they were pretty nice to me, but I have some customers down in that area, that absolutely HATE that place.

they are the only Fender Custom Shop dealer in the state, and thats where I send my customers looking for that, one last week told me that there was no way he was buying from them after he called them.

[deftoneskidd]

that's pretty surprising to me, they're always great when i go in... what kind of complaints do you get? i guess i could see not liking that place if you're used to guitar center, it's quite a different experience..

[Dissident]

Got my Snow White Eclipse from www.americanmusical.com
Had no problem getting it on their easy payment plan too (pretty much no credit check) Great guys to deal with.

[Piney Hills Music]

that's pretty surprising to me, they're always great when i go in... what kind of complaints do you get? i guess i could see not liking that place if you're used to guitar center, it's quite a different experience..

no, these are ANTI guitar center people that I deal with mainly, owning a small store myself.

the feed back that I recieved was that they were very "snobbish on the phone"

I know how it is to have 10 people staring at you while you are answering calls, but I TRY to at least be polite.

[deftoneskidd]

no, these are ANTI guitar center people that I deal with mainly, owning a small store myself.

the feed back that I recieved was that they were very "snobbish on the phone"

I know how it is to have 10 people staring at you while you are answering calls, but I TRY to at least be polite.

well I can't argue with that, I don't have any experience dealing with them on the phone.. I'd put them in touch with either Sean or Brandt, though, to make sure they're getting the best service, they're always awesome to deal with..

[Piney Hills Music]

the only thing i cant get is the Fender Custom stuff...

I sell all the other stuff, and stuff they cant get.

ESP, ESP Custom Shop, Jackson, Jackson Custom Shop, Charvel, Charvel Custom Shop, Fender, Schecter, BCRich, BCRich Custom Shop.

So, i dont have a lot of need to send someone down to them.

But i will keep in mind those names if it arrises...

[deftoneskidd]

they also deal Breedlove, Martin, Music Man, Michael Kelly, & Traveler.. Ibanez is on the way there as well.

[TattooedCarrot]

DCGL has a shitty return policy too. I bought a guitar pictured on their website only to find when it arrived it was a different one than pictured and had a shitty flame whereas the picture showed killer flame. He would only take it back if there was a defect within 3 days and pretty much told me too bad you don't like the flame. I mean c'mon, a 3-day return policy? GC and MF and the likes have 30-45 days. Also DCGL prices suck, they are not cheaper at all, there's just no incentive. IMO the only thing DCGL is good for is their wide selection of in-stock items, including custom shop and oddballs. So if you're looking for something unique they would be a place to check with. If you're looking for a stock ESP or Ltd, look elsewhere.

[Piney Hills Music]

wow...

I dont offer a whole lot on returns either, but I at least give a week upon reciept and then give a full merch credit. and the buyer pays shipping...

chains like MF do the 30 day thing, as when its return, they offer it as a blem. And they never even open the box...

[manicsix]

Nick's an extremely cool cat. Good guy and far more friendly than most of the dealers have become in hardened business times.

+1 Nick was the most helpful person I found when I was inquiring about importing a Horizon into Australia. Every other US dealer I contacted said they couldn't do it or the shipping was something ridiculous.

[guitarsatbmusic]

+1 Nick was the most helpful person I found when I was inquiring about importing a Horizon into Australia. Every other US dealer I contacted said they couldn't do it or the shipping was something ridiculous.

8o
Any Americans want to buy an ESP off me? :D

[strngthbyndstrngth]

8o
Any Americans want to buy an ESP off me? :D

Yes!!! any ESP? or are you offering a particular ESP?

[guitarsatbmusic]

'tis a joke. There's one set of rules for me......:p

[strngthbyndstrngth]

'tis a joke. There's one set of rules for me......:p
Ouch.....you got me all excited :(

[themisfit138]

I would go with Nick at Piney Hills, I ordered a Jackson from him and he had no problems with shipping it to Greenland.

[Piney Hills Music]

thanks Brock....

I am still trying to get your custom quote "locked" down...

[Mizmo21]

nick can you put in a quote for me?

i sent you pm's

[Piney Hills Music]

??

I cant find them bro...

shoot them to me via email ngoff@pineyhillsstudio.com

[nileguy]

+1 Nick was the most helpful person I found when I was inquiring about importing a Horizon into Australia. Every other US dealer I contacted said they couldn't do it or the shipping was something ridiculous.

shh...you're not supposed to say that.

[manicsix]

8o
Any Americans want to buy an ESP off me? :D

Wouldn't that be like playing ESP ping pong? :rollin

[Piney Hills Music]

shh...you're not supposed to say that.

no, Pman, we spoke and I told him that he would have to have someone buy it for him, and then they would ship it to him.....

he found someone (bender) and thats how I was able to give him a price...

;)

[nileguy]

no, Pman, we spoke and I told him that he would have to have someone buy it for him, and then they would ship it to him.....

he found someone (bender) and thats how I was able to give him a price...

;)

that's awesome...lol Loopholes ftw.

[gainiac]

DCGL - I've bought a handful of high dollar guitars off Jason. He runs a store with incredible online access, and I imagine he fields calls ALL DAMN DAY LONG from people that really do not want to buy. So he's been doing this a long time, and I can see how that would wear on people. I used to work in an emergency room doing the 12 hour shifts. Man, seeing society in the raw can be really depressing sometimes. And as he runs a metal-oriented online guitar shop and answers almost every phone call - not surprising that he's become a bit jaded.

He always provides me no-bullsh*t service. It's a pretty cold transaction, yes. There's no excitement when you drop 4 or 5k on a guitar there. And when you return to buy another, it's the same - no excitement. But the prices are good, he carries a lot of one-offs from bunch of different brands you don't see anywhere else.

I've returned a couple guitars, no problems. I completely understand the return policy. You get it, you check it out, don't mark it up or ding it, and return it immediately if it's not you. Until I know I'm keeping a guitar, I handle it with kid gloves. I know most people do not, and I'm sure Jason knows that too. So he keeps the return policy tight.

Just seems to me to be a tightly run, efficient business, and Jason's a businessman who has more of an interest in drums, though he sells more guitars. It's all cool.

[robguitar]

Check out http://www.theperfectguitar.com!

All guitars are individually photographed (no stock photos - the guitar you see is the guitar you get) and the site is updated daily.