The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #135472   Message #3309781
Posted By: GUEST,Tony
16-Feb-12 - 07:05 PM
Thread Name: Review: Recording King guitars
Subject: RE: Review: Recording King guitars
But back to the original subject:

I've been interested in 12th-fret steel-string guitars for a long time, ever since I tried out an expensive handmade one that someone brought to a singaround. If the mass-produced ones sound anything like that, I definitely want one, in place of the collection of dreadnoughts which I never play.

I found that, in addition to the Recording Kings, there are also 12th-fret models by Trinity College, Art & Lutherie, Washburn, Bedell, Great Divide, and Johnson. But I could never find one in a store, even stores with hundreds of guitars in stock. The only way to get one is to order it and pay before it's shipped.

I finally found a Great Divide 12th-fret in a store, yesterday, and it had the kind of sound I was hoping for. But it's a small-bodied guitar, about a 0-size, apparently intended as a sort of travel guitar (the "Campfire" series), and it sounds a bit like a child's guitar. Still, it's made me feel that a 000-size such as the Recording King would be just what I'm looking for.

My question:
Does anyone have experience with the return policies of companies like Woodwind & Brasswind, and Music123, and Musician's Friend? They all sell Recording Kings (for $255), and they give the impression that you can order one, with free shipping, and try it out, and if you don't like the way it sounds you can ship it back for a full refund. But in each case the exact wording of the published return policy makes me suspicious.