What are you looking for in a guitar parts store?

cdiscs

Hi guys,

I recently started a company and we want to build a great guitar parts store to sell in the European Union. It's aimed at guitarists who want to upgrade, customize or repair their instruments. I'm not going to plug the company or our website, but we want to bring some real value to the community of guitar builders, luthiers and modders out there. So we figured we better ask you guys for your opinion.

What brands do you think deserve more attention? There seems to be a lot of independent manufacturers out there doing a great job and we're considering reaching out to a few. Who's on your list?

What extra content do you think would be useful for modders? We're already developing a "Guides" section for beginners and intermediates who would like to learn more about the guitar building & modding process. Any topics you want to see covered, questions you want answered?

What matters most to you when buying online? Is it free shipping, fast delivery times, customer service, other?

Like I said, this is really more of a passion project than a business venture and our number 1 priority is bringing as much value to guitar enthusiasts as possible. If you have any ideas, suggestions, criticisms or any kind of feedback at all, that would be much appreciated.

"The best music happens when you have a personal connection to it. That same philosophy can extend to the instrument you hold in your hands: if a guitar means something special, you're bound to do great things with it."
- Frank Iero

V8

cdiscs Well this is a South African forum - so from the EU I'd want reasonably priced shipping, especially on small items - too often one needs something tiny but critical (E.g. ibanez trem system parts) but shipping is often 2-3x the value of the item.

In general, a wide range of bits to only have to order from one place would be great.

Tuckstir

cdiscs

As somebody that loves project guitars, and does most of his shopping online. a few things

Easy and clear browsing, don't lump everything into accessories and make me wade through 50 pages to find a 250k pot
good and clear descriptions. I.e if you selling pick-ups indicate the Ohms, and if its Neck or Bridge specific state so.
Shipping, affordable shipping with tracking. ( if shipping through the post office.. this is doubly important as our post-office has a very bad reputation of not delivering un-tracked items and I cannot afford a 50Eur shipping cost for a 50Eur Item)
communication with client, if there is a delay, don't delay, contact client and inform the client ASAP .
5.if you are a re-seller indicate expected shipping time..
As stated I buy mostly online.. for the convenience of it. so yes I do buy strings online.

hope that helps

cdiscs

Thanks for the reply V8!

That's a great insight, and we'll make sure to offer free shipping on the bits & pieces that often break. Here's a question, do you think selling strings online makes sense given that pretty much every music store already offers it?

Keep the suggestions coming in, guys! Lets build a great service together.

guidothepimmp

Quick and reasonable shipping. Few things are as irritating as paying for the item and then waiting 2 to 4 weeks before getting it.

Also focus on getting outbound orders correct. Returns due to incorrect and damaged goods will sink your reputation and business.

Having items in stock and ready to go are a great convenience. If i were browsing your site and you had 8 out of the 10 items i needed.. i would prob be happy to pay a little more for said items too. But being the reseller of items from other places wouldnt work for me. Id be inclined to just go straight to the other sellers.

OD1

Dimarzio and Seymourduncan pickups....specifically the AT1.

Also JHS and Carl Martin pedals as nobody wants to import them locally. If your importing pedals some wampler pedals aswell.

Bias probe tool thing can't remember what you call it, but the one you insert between the socket and the tube bot el34 and 84, and 6l6. Guitar neck rest (the short one and the longer one).

5 way super switch and switch craft mono and stereo barrel jacks.

Push pull pots, normal ones and CTS.

And please shielded single core guitar wiring wire, tonetubes have none.

The nice helping hands that has 4 adjustable arms and nice clips, not the one with the magnifying glass stiff arms and crappy clips.

Silver Mica pico farad caps, from 100 to 1000pF. Resistors 100K 130K, 150K, 220K, 250K, 330K, 500K, 1Meg, 1.5K

Caps, 0.0033uF 0.0022uF, 0.1uF,0.01uF, 0.022uF, 0.047uF and 0.015uF.

Pots 250k and 500K with the smkoother 21 ratio and all the different tapers, You also get a dual stacked one but cant remember the name.

The common DPDT switches you get for guitar.

and some 3M velcro the black one for pedal boards......

Hope the shop is running or still in planning 2019 thread....my 2c at least.