Rguitars Avis 

Based on online reviews I decided to go to Richards Guitars. I had been playing a Yamaha F310 for the last year which was ok to learn the basics but the action was far too high, it was frustrating and I was never going to improve any more on it.
Rather than buying a new guitar and paying for it to be set up I decided to try Richard.
I only wanted to spend around £300, there was an issue with the guitar I originally ordered, they admitted it wouldn’t be ready on time so offered us the Eastman which was worth a fair bit more at no extra cost. The guitar is absolutely spot on, sounds gorgeous and is so easy to play after my last one meaning I’m finally able to start working on barre chords and trickier chord changes etc..
Any time in the future I’m looking to upgrade I’ll be coming back and I’ll recommend to anybody else who wants a new guitar. I ended up waiting around four weeks but it’s 100% worth it to get a guitar that is set up to perfection.

Richard's guitars were very accommodating and were able to meet my specific requirements. Thanks to Sophie for her efforts. Great guitar, plays like a dream. Thanks all and Merry Xmas!

EDIT 1/12/21 (16:25):

“Not only are you an angry, spiteful bully - but you are clearly an idiot too” (RGuitars public response via Trustpilot 15:36 1/12 - subsequently removed)

This is exactly the sort of volatile behaviour I feared. If politely declining further engagement fits your definition of bullying then that explains a lot.
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EDIT 1/12/21 (15:05): Thanks for editing your initial reply. Removing some of your more outlandish accusations and comments like “1 star review crazies” was probably sensible. Thanks also for your voicemail and email. Although you sound conciliatory I note there’s no hint of an apology and you’re still basically making the same unfounded accusations. With respect the time to talk would have been just *before* you sent the email you quote below. You would have found me a very reasonable person who is supportive of your business challenges. I’m just a guy who wanted to give you money in return for a guitar. I didn’t sign up for the lecturing and group therapy that seems to be included in the deal. And to be honest based on your somewhat volatile behaviour to date I’m not confident we could manage a conventional customer/supplier discussion. Unfortunately the damage is done. I suggest we both learn from the experience and draw a line.
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EDIT 1/12/21 (11:30): Thanks for your very full reply RGuitars. It seems you’ve made my point. I guess prospective customers will draw their own conclusions. As I said in reply to your statement “I say it as it is - you may hate me for it”. I don’t hate you. I don’t know you. But I do wish you all the best with your anger management issues.
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ORIGINAL REVIEW 30/11/21: I would strongly urge caution in doing business with this retailer. My advice is to check the 1-2 star reviews on Trustpilot and take them seriously. If you're expecting a normal commercial sale supported by a basic level of customer service you should probably look elsewhere.

Unfortunately my recent order has just crashed and burned thanks entirely to the eccentric and offensive attitude of the business owner. As several of the reviews indicate he has a penchant for giving customers the hairdrier treatment when the mood takes him. Once he "triggers" (for whatever reason) he will issue the most abrasive emails to share his displeasure.

Quite apart from the fact this is ALWAYS unprofessional and NEVER appropriate in dealing with customers it was based on his completely incorrect grasp of the situation in my case.

The trigger was my insistence on an updated estimate of delivery date (2mths into a 3mth lead time) to confirm everything was still on schedule. Nothing more. Unfortunately this company will spend any amount of time answering questions which haven't been asked rather than address the one that has. After 9 days of waffle I was forced to threaten cancellation if I didn't get a straight answer.

I got a straight answer (from XXX) and it was quite acceptable. So all the frustration and angst as completely unnecessary. I provided some perfectly respectful feedback on how the experience could have been better from my point of view (which in any normal business would have been treated as useful). At this point I thought we were back on track.

Only at this point did RGuitars intervene to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with his highly emotional finger-wagging email. For the record and contrary to his various accusations:

- I never complained about the quoted lead time from Dowina
- I never asked for expedited or special delivery
- I never quibbled on price or asked for any sort of compensation
- I frequently acknowledged that further delays might happen
- And MOST importantly I was always polite and respectful in my communications with the sales team so the accusation of "failing to treat my team with compassion" is both ridiculous and offensive (though evidently out of RGuitar's standard playbook when he hears a truth he doesn't want to hear)

My "crime" was simply to hold RGuitars accountable for providing an update. That and fail to be impressed by self-indulgent "artistic fragility" in lieu of basic customer service. It seems odd that RGuitars should think any right-minded customer will pay £1400 for the privilege of being treated with this level of contempt.

This is a bad outcome which has left both us both worse off. I'm sad to lose my built-to-order left-handed, walnut, Hyvibe Dowina Sol and £140 deposit. And RGuitars has incurred the cost of spending all that time alienating a friendly customer and finding another buyer for a rather individual instrument. I hope he considers his misdirected ego trip worth the cost.

Thanks to Jon @richardsguitars who sorted a spruce and walnut Dowina guitar out for me at short notice. Nice guitar and nice people. Great experience. Take care.

This was my second and equally fantastic visit to buy a guitar from Richard’s Guitars. The experience was excellent and again I can’t fault the service, expertise and professional provided by Richard and his team. Special thanks on this occasion to Jon and Sophie who helped with my choice of new acoustic. I’m now the proud owner of a Furch Blue DCM which has been set up beautifully. Many thanks.

I bought a 12 string from Rguitars because of their reputation simple as that
5 stars from me the guitar and service from these people was quality

I bought my first guitar via a well-known auction site about 18 months ago having never picked up a guitar before.
I promised myself that if I was still enjoying playing after one year then I would treat myself to a new instrument.
Before contacting Richards Guitars I had only ever picked up one guitar and had never visited a guitar shop.
I did my research and watched a bunch of videos. I kept coming back to Richards videos as his enthusiasm was infectious.
From my first tentative emails Richard and his team were very welcoming, professional and knowledgeable.
So I made the decision to visit Richards shop even though it was a good 150 mile away. When I stepped in Jon had selected
4 or 5 acoustics for me to try based on my vague description of what I thought I was after. We chatted about the sounds of different woods
and shapes and I admit that at that stage I was unsure that my amateur ears would notice a significant difference.
Jon then left me to it and I started to play them all and WOW! The sound difference between each of them was huge. Instantly I was so
pleased that I had visited rather than buying blind. I found that as well as a sound that I preferred, even the shape and feel was significant.
Jon popped back in and out and we chatted and swapped a few guitars around. After 3 hours in the shop I has narrowed my choice down to two.
A Faith Neptune and a Dowina, the model I have sadly forgotten. For my current playing I felt that the Faith suited me best and that’s what I ultimately purchased.
I think I played about ten guitars in total and honestly, they all sounded fantastic, I would have happily taken any one of them over my old guitar.
My beautiful Neptune has now arrived and is every bit as wonderful as I had hoped. Setup was brilliant and I am enjoying my guitar journey more than ever.
I enjoyed my afternoon at Richards enormously despite having a few pre-shop nerves. I absolutely cannot fault the experience at all.
Richard, Jon, Rikki and everyone else...Thank you for your passion, knowledge and honesty. I will see you again

Great service from Richards. They took note that I would be away for a couple of days and let me know each step of the way as it went through their set up process and onto delivery. I bought the Eastman E1D Classic finish. It's a beautiful guitar and set up perfectly. Just a minor thing, there was no fragile sticker/tape on the box, well you know how delivery drivers can be! Thanks team and all the best.

Due to covid I had a 10 week wait for a guitar, but none of that was the fault of Richard or his staff. During my wait I was making weekly calls to Richards staff. The staff are amazing, they understood my frustration and was always helpful and informative. Would I use Richard again? 110% I will. Excellent staff, excellent guitars that are set up to perfection. I couldn't be any happier and that is from someone who waited 10 weeks (again not Richard or his staffs fault)

I just bought a Faith Saturn 12 string from RGuitars. Its fa tastic, i couldnt be happier with it. Set up is perfect.
Really good service and freindly staff.

Living just north of Glasgow it was highly impractical for me to visit the showroom and I was slightly dubious about buying an instrument online and without actually playing it. However having read the reviews on customer service and watched Richards rather charismatic videos I decided to take the plunge.
I received my Furch Blue GCCM a couple of days ago the guitar was packed very well ( I was concerned of damage in transit ). The instrument is flawless cosmetically and has been set up perfectly and plays like a dream.
I have no doubt at all that the quality checks and work that Richards Guitars claim to put every instrument prior to dispatch actually take place.
I had called the showroom hoping to speak with Richard and ask him to convey my heartfelt thanks to all his team, in his absence I left a message to that effect.
To summarise I am extremely satisfied with the level of service I have received, from my initial telephone enquires with John through to taking ownership of my guitar I was keep informed of progress and have a guitar that I couldn't be happier with.
If there's a purpose to this review other than praising the wonderful playing Furch and the customer service, I would seek to reassure anyone considering buying online from Richards to do so without the worry that can all to often accompany online purchases.

Just received a Dowina Ceres from Richards Guitars - it is an absolutely stunning guitar and a joy to play. The level of craftsmanship & the quality of wood used in its construction are utterly breathtaking and result in the most beautiful of tones. A hand built gem of a guitar at an unbelievable price - I feel privileged to own such an amazing instrument.

The set up carried out by Richards technician is, as always, perfect.

Unfortunately I live too far away from Richard's to have ever visited the shop but have bought 4 guitars based on his personal video recommendations & supplemented with excellent online advice from Jon & Rikki.
Every guitar has been superb, the Dowina setting a new standard in quality and value - I wouldn't go anywhere else for advice on / buy a guitar from!

One of my lockdown coping mechanisms has been to enhance my guitar collection - and in that time i have tried about 25 guitars - keeping 6 but returning the others. This company sells an interesting range of some remarkable guitars at very competitive prices and if they get things wrong - they do their best to put things right. All in all - they are probably one of the better guitar companies i have dealt with - if not one of the best. Keep up the good work.

I bought an Eastman SB59v from RGuitars. My experience was extremely positive. Eastman I think are producing some of the best guitars on the market at the moment. I've being playing 30+ years and I've had pretty much every type of guitar out there and without doubt Eastman have become my favourite brand, they have something extra. Amazing craftmanship, mojo and soul I have never found in any other current guitar brand. If you want an ES355 or Les Paul style guitar do yourself a favour and check them out. Simply stunning.
If you then decide you want one - buy it from R Guitars simple as that. You are pretty much guaranteed a perfect guitar (or as perfect as it can be!) from these lovely folks. You're dealing with a small committed group of people who genuinely care about what they are doing - they really do want you to have a great experience. I had a delivery issue which was not the shops fault (rubbish UPS) but they offered an £80 quality guitar strap for my trouble even though it wasn't their fault. That shows their mindset. Special thanks to Rikki for dealing with me. I will buy from this shop again and I encourage anyone out there to use them if they have what you want. Next time though I will buy in person as I'd love to check out their shop!
Thanks for the PERFECT guitar!!!

I recently bought a beautiful and wonderful sounding Dowina Cocobola GAC from Richards Guitars. The whole buying experience was first class and throughly enjoyable.

They have a great range of guitars to suit every budget and for every stage that you are at in your guitar journey.

All the team are super-knowledgable about the guitars they stock and super-passionate about finding the guitar that's perfect for your needs as a guitarist.

The after sales service is great and I was kept in the loop about the progress of setting the guitar up and when it would be ready. I think its important to get your guitar set up properly (which the team at Richards Guitars do) and I was fine with waiting for that to be done, my mindset on this is, what's a week here or there when I'm going to be playing this beautiful sounding instrument for years to come.

If you are in the market for a guitar this is the place to go. I will only buy my guitars from here going forward.

Quite simply, best guitar buying experience ever.

Excellent service, excellent guitar set-up. Great communications.

My guitar and bass were set up to the very highest standard. My showroom visit to purchase an electric guitar was a pleasure. I recommend Richard's Guitars very highly indeed.

Great service and great product

Wanted to try a faith blue moon before commiting, difficult with restrictions, however Jon arrange an appointment for me and ensured both neptune and venus body shapes were available. Been in today and now proud owner of faith neptune blue moon😁. A great experience all round. Communication from Sophie was excellent and the set up from Chris spot on. Really great to find a team of people that provide a great service, cheers guys. 👍

I wrote an 'average' review of Richards Guitars a couple of years ago that on reflection was not really fair, I'd mis-understood information provided regarding stock levels and unfairly marked them down, unfortunately I'm unable to remove or edit the original review, however to help put things right I have to say that I've now bought a total of three Eastman guitars from Richards Guitars and in every case the level of service and care provided has been exemplary, with quick, friendly and knowledgeable after sales support when I've needed help and information.

Thank you so much Rguitars .....such a pleasure to deal with ordered a new Faith Neptune Blue Moon 🌒
As my fender acoustic snapped after a bad fall....firstly the team kept me informed every step of the way and wanted to know if they could deliver before Easter .....And without any problems it arrived Thursday before Easter I had only ordered it a few days before ...all set up polished and checked and sounded amazing even for me as only been playing for 2 years ...I know sound a lot better .....Many Thanks again Richard and the team