Opinions on independant guitar manufacturers, and has anyone heard of Moondog Guitars

[Stevie G]

A couple of guitar playing friends found a Wales based company called Moondog, who make a small range of guitars and sell them via EBay. From the Ebay reviews and a couple of reviews on Harmony Central (http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/product/Moondog/Spirit+(Cutaway)/10/1
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/product/Moondog/Grand+Auditorium/10/1)
they seem to be very good value, but obviously my mates are very dubious about a company they've not heard of. They set the guitars up properly, guarantee them for lifetime (as long as it stays with the original owner), and even offer a 14 money back guarantee, where you can return it no questions if you're not entirely happy with the guitar.

Too good to be true sorta comes to mind, but they seem to be able to justify their prices, although I cant quite see if they're made in Wales, or if they're made elsewhere and then tweaked and set up in Wales.

Has anyone heard of them?

Does anyone know of any other independant luthiers that might offer good value guitars? One is looking for one for around £600/700, the other for around £300.

What are opinions on such companies? I guess most people prefer to buy from a well known manufacturer, which is understandable, but should it be possible for smaller makers to undercut with superior quality, or should mass produced still be able to provide better value for money?

Here is their Ebay website - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/moondogguitars (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=44&url=http://stores.ebay.co.uk/moondogguitars). I think they've been looking at the Grand Auditorium and the Spirit Cutaway (although they both looked the like of the Resonator!)

[DeadYankee]

Independents will generally be unable to undercut "name" manufacturers due to their inability to mass produce and to buy in bulk. They will almost always go for a "quality" boutique market and charge a high rate. If you rate the product and intend to keep it then it is great. it will usually have a low resale value though.

This company don't behave, or at least market themselves, like any genuine luthier I have seen. Ebay is not the image one would try to project after hand making a guitar. I'd avoid any such product unless I saw the workshop etc.

Those reviews look like they are an "inside" job to me.

To be honest, the quality of most Chinese made gear is great and, with the economic slowdown, this is a buyer's market. I wouldn't even look at a dubious "luthier" when, for the money you are talking, there's good, name gear out there.

[Tony Ferrino]

Gordon Smith!

http://www.gordonsmithguitars.co.uk/

Edit: Sorry, you were after acoustic. Anyway, if you want an electric independent in the future - Gordon Smith!

[Stevie G]

Cheers DY! Can always rely on you to give a frank and honest opinion! :thumbs: That does make sense.... we couldn't see how they'd be able to do better quality cheaper, but always best to find out! I'll pass on the advice ;)

[tim10839]

Stevie, I looked at the moondog site last year, and like you thought it was too good to be true. I called the company and talked things through - ended up buying a Spirit (non-cutaway). No kidding - it is excellent. A few weeks afterwards I had a problem with one of the frets lifting very slightly - I called them and they offered to come and pick it up and get it back to be within a few days: as they are only 50 miles away from me, I ended up taking it back myself - and they said 'yes we can fix it but it will take a couple of hours, why don;t you just take a new one instead?' so I did. Their customer service and helpfulness is second to none. I would describe their guitars as 'hand built' rather than 'hand made' (they may disagree with me!) in the far east then set up in the UK. The feel, tone and playability are all excellent, and being able to call them and get sensible answers from people completely dedicated to delivering excellent quality at a good price makes a real difference. HAving seen a couple of reviews of the Spirit and some of their other guitars, I have no doubt whatsoever they are genuine reviews. In fact I keep meaning to post a review myself but havent got around to it.
What I would say is that their 14 day no-quibble guarantee is genuine, so you really are covered if you don;t like it. By the way, buying one by calling them up rather than going through ebay is what most people do apparently - its a bit cheaper to do it that way, and I'm really glad I did that cos I wasnt really sure whether to get a cutaway or not, and he told me all the advantages/disadvantages of both options.

[Stevie G]

Cheers for the advice Tim, although I have to say the cynic in me noticed that this is your first and only post in here, you only just registered, and coincedentally when one types 'moondog guitars' into Google (http://www.google.com/custom?hl=en&cof=&q=moondog+guitars) my thread in here was number nine on the list! So I'm assuming you're either so pleased with it you registered here just to give your advice..... or you have an interest in Moondog! :lol:

[Mac58]

I bought one of the Howlin' Wolf resonators from Moondog. Beautiful looking instrument but unplayable - intonation way off. They didn't respond to telephone calls but did get back to me by email, and for a while things looked up, they had a courier collect the instrument and sent it back a few days later having moved the cone. However, the guy they use for setting up needs a little help I feel as not only was the intonation still out but the cone now touched the cover leaving a terrible buzzing. They then promised me the best instrument in their building, and that was the last I heard over 3 weeks ago now. I have now had to go as far as claiming my money back - great shame, all I wanted was a guitar and to be fair, it is a looker. Just goes to show, if a deal seems too good to be true then it probably is.

My last email to them a week ago was 'are you still trading'. No response so far! Personally I hope they are getting their act together and that I was a one off - I don't like to see anyone go under and I'm sure they meant well. Thank God it was only £199 instead of £1999!!! Wish they'd had the balls to contact me though.

[Stevie G]

Welcome to the forums Mac58!

Thanks for posting your experience with them. Funnily enough, I was thinking about this thread yesterday for some reason (probably partly because I'm still after a new acoustic!) I did read a review of their grand auditorium (I think it was) a few months ago in Acoustic Magazine, and they rated it well, 4 out of 5, and impressed with the build quality, but I'd pretty much decided that I'd stick with a known maker. I've currently got my eye on a Guild, but I need to go shopping and try some out. It's a shame Sound Control in Tottenham Court Road has closed down as it was the one place in central London where it was big, open and not intimidating. There's not really anywhere I know of that's like that.

I hope you get your money back ok!

[Mac58]

have you looked at Indie guitars? I know a guy who has about 4 of them now and they are very nice indeed. He's a professional musician and obviously makes the guitar talk a million times better than I ever could but worth a look. Cracking build quality - just wish they did a resonator! indie guitars, have a look. Blimey, now I sound like a salesman - oi! Indie, you reading this! (worth a try!)

[Jon]

have you looked at Indie guitars?
Indies are good quality for what they are - but they are mass-produced Korean imports, some original designs but predominantly the usual Fender & Gibson copies.

The level of craftsmanship, attention to detail, hardware & originality that you would get having a guitar built by a luthier is light-years away from this.

As a bassist I can't really recommend guitar-specific builders, but names like Shuker, ACG, Sei, RIM etc make some absolutely stunning bespoke basses.

J.

[Mac58]

hi Jon, i know they had to pander to the gibson/Fender crowd, but their own stuff is kinda yummy,(here I go again - listen up Indie, commission time!) build quality spot on and sounds top notch. hey, even my Epiphone hasn't seen good ol' US of A but damned if I'm turning my nose up at it simply because it came from the East. Lots of cool stuff comes from the East. Pyramids. Chopsticks. Really big walls, the list goes on. . . .

[Jon]

I do know a little about Oriental instruments - all I was doing was pointing out that hand-built British guitars really aren't the same thing!

Me, I have a worrying obsession with 70s & early 80s Japanese basses & guitars... :D

J.

[Stevie G]

To be honest it's enough of a minefield when it comes to buying a guitar anyway, and the trouble with lesser known makers is that they're harder to track down and trial, so I think I'll be sticking with a known maker. I'm still after a good acoustic, and this will be a big purchase for me (up to £1000 if I think it's worth it) so I need to be completely happy with it.

Mac, I hope you were able to get your money back from Moondog.

[louj666]

Oh no!! Moondog where are you???

Does anyone know? I tried to buy the Howlin' for my husband's 30th yesterday and no replies to emails, no answering the telephone...not even an answering machine. I have just looked at their ebay page (link above) and there is nothing on it. I've got a receipt for purchase but I'm beginning to panic- does anyone know what is going on with them?

[louj666]

Where is my post?!!

Does anyone know if Moondog is still alive? I got a recipt yesterday but I have a horrific feeling that I'm not going to be seeing anything for my money...and my husband's 30th is going to be a bit depressing....

[Stevie G]

Sorry to hear about that louj666. Mac58, did you have any luck getting your money back?

I know they advertise in Acoustic Guitar magazine (www.acousticmagazine.co.uk). It may be worth emailing them to see if they know if they're still trading or not.

If not, did you pay by credit card? You'll be guranteed by the credit card co if you are. If not, try Ebay to see where you stand about getting a refund.

Have you tried calling? +44 (0) 2920 462746

[Gringoloco]

Sorry to hear about that louj666. Mac58, did you have any luck getting your money back?

I know they advertise in Acoustic Guitar magazine (www.acousticmagazine.co.uk). It may be worth emailing them to see if they know if they're still trading or not.

If not, did you pay by credit card? You'll be guranteed by the credit card co if you are. If not, try Ebay to see where you stand about getting a refund.

Have you tried calling? +44 (0) 2920 462746

Hi all newbie here

I seem to be in the same boat regarding Moondog guitars. No communication since late Sept/early October regarding a refund. I reckon they've gone bust.
No phone/no email. Anybody know anything more up to date?
Thanks for the tip re-Acoustic magazine Stevie.

Gringo

[louj666]

Thanks for the commiserations Steve- I'll set to this and let everyone know. Definitely no guitar has arrived. I paid for it on credit card so I have some protection there.

I rang all the numbers I could get hold of for Moondog. No answering machine, nothing. I emailed them too. I even- in a fit of Poirot like sleuthing- found a shop that was located nearby and rang them to find out if they passed the premesis and knew if it had closed down! No luck. Got some very bewildered shopkeepers in Cardiff though!

Worryingly, a music shop a street away didn't even know they exsisted- and they had been there for years. I'm not convinced it is a scam- yet- more than likely another tragic victim of the 'current climate'. But still...

The company has a partner in furniture making- or something. At least they share the same address. Dead too.



I'll get onto my bank and see what happens.

Louisa

[louj666]

Oh yes I must add I checked with Companies House and a mate of mine that works in insolvency. At the time of my first post there were no obvious signs from this aspect that the company had keeled over- hence my query for insider knowledge. I'll check again.

[louj666]

Oh dear. Scroll down past the lonks on this (wierdly set out) forum- and the diagnosis seems to be that Moondog were credit crunched.

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=116478&messages=14

[Stevie G]

Yes, it does look like it they've gone under. That's a real shame, hope you guys get your money back.