Where Can I Try And Buy A Freeborn Guitar?
Are your guitars at Guitar Center?
I primarily show and sell my instruments at bona fide guitar shows and festivals. I’m west coast based, so they tend to be in the Pacific Northwest and California. Guitar shows are getting fewer of late on account of economic and cultural pressures, but I try to show at least once per year. Watch my “latest news” page for when and where I’ll be showing.
From time to time I will also send an instrument to one of the “Boutique Shops” that specializes in hand made instruments. Watch my “currently available” page for these. You can also order directly from me. I’d prefer you to play it first to avoid heartbreak, so if you’re in Portland OR use the contact link and let’s get together.
I do not sell at Guitar Center. For a myriad of reasons…
Custom orders VS “In Stock”
Do you accept custom orders?
I am beginning to lean away from custom orders. This is on account of several factors, the main one being that I’m concentrating on using in stock materials. I have at least 50 guitars worth of wood and I’m not getting any younger.
I also am in the process of quitting while I’m ahead – in that I’ve never had a guitar returned because the customer didn’t like it. I’d like to keep it that way. So… I’ll be taking note of what my clientele requests, and depending on how confident I am in: a.) Being sure that what you want is crystal clear and feasible to and by me, and: 2.) How confident that if you don’t like what I build, someone else will.
Shipping
What Shipping Methods Are Available?
All the usuals. FedEx, USPS & UPS are the top three.
Let me know what works best on your end. I don’t mark up the fees – what it costs me is what it costs you.
Do You Ship Internationally?
In a word , yes. That said there are a number of hoops to jump through. Customs, VAT, CITES to name a few, with CITES being the hardest. That’s the international system for controlling endangered species. I’m all for it, but it can throw a wrench in the works when exporting some of the woods and materials I use. We’ll have to discuss it before I can commit to a price or deadline.
How Long Will It Take To Get My Guitar?
However long it takes to get there. I’ll provide tracking numbers so we can both keep an eye on it.
Payment
What Payment Methods Are Accepted?
I can accept credit cards via Square, PayPal, Certified Check or cash. Personal checks will have to completely clear before I release any instrument or begin a custom order.
Credit cards incur an average of 3% service fee, depending on which one you use. PayPal “friends and family” is free of fees, but you’ll really have to be one of those, or very well referred.
Is Buying On-Line Safe?
It certainly is on my end.
Orders & Returns
Can I return a guitar?
That depends on where and how the train went off the tracks. I’m assuming that we’ll have covered every possible detail on a custom order before we close on the project. If that turns out to not be true we’ll figure it out.
In stock purchases have the usual 14 day try out period. After that, or if it’s damaged in any way, it’s yours. Shipping both ways will be on you, though.
That’s pretty much self explanitory