| | Today was spent doing housework and then later a spur of the moment trip to return an instrument.
The second part of my day began with a phone conversation with my Dad [who happens to be out of town] regarding my mandolin. Well, honestly it started a few days earlier...
I had gotten curious about what Alvarez had to say about my particular model of mandolin on their website.. did a quick google search for their website address.. looked over the mandolins and found nothing about mine anywhere. Much afraid that I had gotten a black market copy call them I did. I reached a friendly voice after requesting of the operator to speak to a mandolin expert person. He quickly informed me that my mandolin had been discontinued after the 2004 model year. Crestfallen, I asked the friendly voice [ I call him that since catch his name I didn't, and, there was no proof to the contrary that he was a computer generated voice.. but, I think he wasn't] to tell me what he could about my discontinued stringed instrument. The rundown is as follows.
A spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, mother of pearl inlays, AND laminate back and sides.
But the friendly voice tried to encourage me with something about laminate being superior to solid tonewoods. I quckly got off the phone and sat quietly staring at this piece of wood and plywood. Wondering exactly what to do I decided to sleep on it a few days.
Today being the day I decided to make a decision I consulted someone who I trusted to give good advice, my Dad. He was unaware of the mistake I had made in buying this thing. While he did help me pick it out.. we were told it was solid wood. And had no reason to doubt the sales guy with the clear polish on his right hand fingers. [Who admited that it looked a bit gay.. but had been convinced that this tea tree concoction somehow would improve the strength of his nails for fingerpicking.. his guitar not his nose!] Dad suggested that I take it back and demand a full refund not one with the shops ridiculous but customary 20% restocking fee.
I did just that.. now I am mandolinless. But much the happier for dumping the plywood monster I had come to own. But one consolation.. it seems that the salesperson will be repromanded for decieving me regarding the laminateness of the sides and back. I must admit it was a very good looking laminate. See, I had inspected it closely and didn't suspect it to be so.
The moral of this story is simple.. do a tad bit more homework on the mandolin before you buy it. I must admit I wouldn't have bought this one if I wasn't so caught up in the "I want a mandolin NOW" syndrome.
Something that doesn't often attack me on major purchases. I have learned.
And will promptly delete this post...
oh wait...... I didn't
|
| | Posted 5/5/2007 11:12 PM - 33 Views - 14 eProps - 9 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
