Back in February '16, the Memphis Guitar Spa was selling a custom milk white Telecaster build they…read morehad completed in their shop. I inquired about purchasing the guitar, or one like it, but was told that the guitar was sold. Then, the pitch followed, "We can build you one just like it to your exact specs."
I was intrigued. I always wanted a Tele with double P90's, compound radius fretboard, block inlays and double binding. I did my research on the company, read the reviews and pulled the trigger for the amount of a $1,000 deposit. Later that day, I got an email that stated they needed another $500 for hardware that they needed to order from the pickup manufacturer (TV Jones). TMGS would be required to pay upfront. I was leaving the country the following day for 3 weeks, so I obliged. I was promised constant pictures and status updates would be provided throughout the build, and I should have a guitar in my hands somewhere around 90 days, give or take a few weeks.
4 weeks later, no updates, no pictures. No biggie, I own over a dozen guitars that I can play. Take your time. I inquire if it is too late to change the inlay design. TMGS tells me they are running behind schedule and that I'm OK to change the inlay design. I send them my design, they tell me they will check with the person who is designing their fingerboards and will get back to me. 4 weeks later, no pictures, no updates. I inquire yet again. I was informed that they haven't heard back from the person who is making the fingerboards as he is also behind schedule. I tell them to scrap the custom inlay job and stick to the block inlays. 4 weeks later, no pictures, no updates. I inquire once more and was informed the one builder was out because of a death in the family. Now, I'm in no place to call BS on such a heavy topic, but given the BS I'd been fed up to that point, I was skeptical. I was told the builder would be back in Memphis the upcoming Tuesday and they would send me pictures of my build.
Well, that Tuesday comes and goes (exactly 90 days from day of deposit) without any pictures or any updates. So, I pick up the phone and call TV Jones. I've purchased dozens of pickups from TV. They know me by name. I explain the above situation to them and ask if TMGS has ordered my custom pickups from them. TV Jones is one of the best companies around, they tell me they have not built or received an order even resembling the custom P90's I requested. Now, I'm totally ticked. I make the executive decision to pull the plug on the build. I've had enough. I call PayPal and open two cases to get my two deposits back. Lo and behold, 24 hours later, a picture shows up of a milk white Tele build that was claimed to have been mine. Now, I wasn't born yesterday, the picture had about a 300 dpi resolution and the only thing that made it "look" like mine, was that they downloaded the TV Jones Tele bridge template from the TV website and taped it to the guitar. Then, 24 hours later, a receipt shows up in my inbox for my pickups. Pickups that were supposed to be ordered 13 weeks ago. Pickups TMGS used to squeeze an additional $500 deposit out of me.
As I sit here today, I've gotten my initial $1,000 deposit back from PayPal, but I am still struggling to get my $500 back. It's been sitting in the hands of my bank now for two months as they fight to get the last remaining deposit back. At this point, I've wasted more time and energy into getting that $500 back than it has been worth.
I'm sure TMGS does fine work. The pictures on their FB page and website are awesome. Their business practices are less than desirable, though, and they have no concept of transparency or doing the right thing. Buyer beware, if I were you. Unless you're some Nashville country hot shot, your build will sit on their bench for months. You will need to hound them for updates and hope to god they don't kick the can down the road on you.
In a day and age where there are so many fine custom builders, you'd be best served by avoiding the Memphis Guitar Spa.
