i have to rant.
i was in swee lee a few days ago and i saw that they had the fender tweed twin and the 64 custom vibroverb.
so i tested it with a robert cray strat with a few blues licks for abt an hour and both amps ripped.
then i asked for the prices and they quoted me:
tweed twin ($5460)
vibroverb ($4830)
those prices are AFTER discount.
then i asked them why the discounted prices are higher than US retail?
i told them that if i ordered from a US agent, they can get me 30 to 40 percent off, and including shipping will still cost less than what swee lee is charging after discount.
they told me i get warranty here.
then i told them that their amp technician butchered my pro junior.
it did not work properly and the volume dropped in and out.
after sending it to irwin, he said that they had taken out the expensive resistors and put in cheap ones.
of course, he said that the filipino guy was top notch, etc, etc.
of course everyone knows not to trust swee lee amp techs. ( i have heard other horror stories)
i told him outright but politely that swee lee has no right calling itself a qualified amp technician service.
any way he went on to admit that the reason why swee lee stuff is so ex is because swee lee marks up its prices way above retail.
that is why even when they have a sale at swee lee at 40% off, they still make a decent profit.
thank god for the guitar shops at excelsior hotel who bring in jap fenders and online shops.
i was in swee lee a few days ago and i saw that they had the fender tweed twin and the 64 custom vibroverb.
so i tested it with a robert cray strat with a few blues licks for abt an hour and both amps ripped.
then i asked for the prices and they quoted me:
tweed twin ($5460)
vibroverb ($4830)
those prices are AFTER discount.
then i asked them why the discounted prices are higher than US retail?
i told them that if i ordered from a US agent, they can get me 30 to 40 percent off, and including shipping will still cost less than what swee lee is charging after discount.
they told me i get warranty here.
then i told them that their amp technician butchered my pro junior.
it did not work properly and the volume dropped in and out.
after sending it to irwin, he said that they had taken out the expensive resistors and put in cheap ones.
of course, he said that the filipino guy was top notch, etc, etc.
of course everyone knows not to trust swee lee amp techs. ( i have heard other horror stories)
i told him outright but politely that swee lee has no right calling itself a qualified amp technician service.
any way he went on to admit that the reason why swee lee stuff is so ex is because swee lee marks up its prices way above retail.
that is why even when they have a sale at swee lee at 40% off, they still make a decent profit.
thank god for the guitar shops at excelsior hotel who bring in jap fenders and online shops.
