Elite Guitars
Formerly Guitars R Us, Los Angeles CA
Welcome. I have been a professional retail Vintage Instrument vendor since 1984. My previous business was known as Guitars R Us, which was a well-established and well-known brick and mortar vintage guitar store that I owned and operated in Los Angeles, CA. During the time I was open in Hollywood, I had a thriving local business, as well as many International customers, guests and visitors, many of whom I established long-term relationships with, which continue today. At the tail end of 2001, I decided to close my retail store. Since that time, I have worked privately inside the music industry, primarily as a much-needed expert vintage musical instrument vendor, appraiser, and consultant for many artists and friends.
The launch of a new online business and name marks my re-entry into the public retail domain. A perusal of my website will help familiarize you with my professional background and multi-decade experience as a collector, retail vendor, author, player and vintage instrument resource for many professional recording and performing artists worldwide.
My approach to online selling utilizes my professional photography skills to display my items. I feel an instrument’s photographs are an essential and vital part of the description, as such, you will always see many large, clear and detailed, high-resolution pictures accompanied by thorough, intelligent and informative descriptions with full disclosures, including any known repairs.
Additionally, I will never represent that I "think" something is original, or declare "I do not know" regarding an instruments' originality. I DO KNOW and pride myself on being an expert, which is one of the reasons I am relied upon. I am very passionate about Vintage musical instruments and am a serious, long-term collector myself. I have authored as well as participated in more than 2-dozen popular guitar-specialty books, which you can view on the ABOUT ME page of my website.
Many of my instrument offerings have been in my possession for 25-30 years, and because I care about all of my instruments, I strive to display them in an accurate, honest, documentary yet artistic style. I hope that my pictures might be enjoyed as well as provide useful and needed details, which as online buyers, we all crave.
Additionally, before the photography and editing sessions, each of my instruments is thoroughly vetted by me. During the process, they are carefully cleaned and detailed, thoroughly checked, adjusted and set-up. This always includes brand new name-brand strings and final testing before anything leaves my hands. There is a substantial difference in my approach to running a professional online instrument business, which is the result of many years of my own disappointing online “buying” experiences. My selling approach caters to the customer and to the continued preservation of my instruments, as such, I go to great lengths and great expense to protect, insure and ship everything as safely as is possible.
Please review my “safety” shipping processes as well as my “CUSTOMER-FRIENDLY” shipping/return process and store policies below.
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I accept online payments via PayPal up to $5000.00. For any higher amounts and ALL international purchases, I request a Bank Wire. For shipments to AK, HI and all INTERNATIONAL shipments, I will credit back some of your shipping costs, so do inquire. Additionally, I accept LAYAWAY sales, (terms to be discussed) and TRADE-INS are welcomed too.
Firstly, I offer FREE and INSURED shipping to any Continental U.S. address. My instruments are professionally hand-packaged (by me) as well as privately insured. All of the items I ship domestically (to any U.S. address) are MY property until You receive and also “approve” the item, as such, I want them adequately protected and covered by insurance, which neither Fed-Ex or UPS can sufficiently offer to do. I do NOT feel the customer should have any exposure or risk if buying or returning an instrument online. The insurance and any claims that may result from shipping in EITHER direction are MY responsibility. As a customer of mine, I will NOT make You responsible for my packaging or the handling by a carrier. I also include a pre-paid RETURN shipping label to all domestic U.S. customers; the item is again still insured by ME until it returns to me. To that end, I only use brand new, custom-made, “extra” heavy duty, custom-branded cartons. Because many vintage instrument cases are loose fitting, I also place my instruments in custom-made soft flannel bags before putting them inside the case. I use a large bag for the body and a smaller one for the headstock. I also install custom-branded plastic Fretboard protectors on every instrument. I then place every packed case into a large poly bag before placing it in the box. In most instances, I place foam Inserts inside the cartons to cushion the cases. I do NOT use crumpled up old newspaper or messy packing peanuts. I buy and use ONLY brand new packing materials. As a professional vendor, I go to great lengths and a lot of expense to keep my vintage instruments safe during transport.
Everything I offer and sell has a 48-hour approval period and more time is possible if requested and approved by me in writing. I ultimately want all of my online customers to be 1000% satisfied. If any item is returned, ALL shipping and related expenses are then the responsibility of the buyer.
