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ere are some comments from customers who have purchased instruments from us or who have entrusted us with their instrument repairs.
♦ Thank you so much for the repair on my mandolin. Even though it is an inexpensive beginner instrument, I appreciate that you took the time and trouble to put it in the best playing condition possible. It plays so nice now, especially with the lighter strings, it really makes a difference. Thank you again. -JS
♦ A token for who you are and for what you do/create/share. Thank you! Thanks for providing a service, the space to look and listen; to get advice and to heal the injured “arts” of wood and string! -BD
♦ Received the guitar and it’s great — just exactly what I wanted! Your description and pictures were very accurate which is so important when purchasing a used guitar on-line. I look forward to many years of enjoyment from the instrument. Thanks again, I am very satisfied. -DP
♦ I received the guitar today and I’m very happy with it. Spruce Tree is my “secret” spot to buy guitars that my guitar playing friends would like to buy first before I did. But, I’ll be sure to refer Spruce Tree to my friends that “want” to know. Some people are a little skeptical about buying a guitar on-line without playing it or hearing it. But, I have bought 4 guitars from you guys and the result was complete satisfaction each time. You don’t sell junk instruments and have a well deserved good reputation. Thank You again. -MW
♦ Thanks for many years of fantastic personal service !!!! I have always gotten the best advice, friendly service and great instruments from Spruce Tree Music !!! Enjoy the best of the early fall season !!!! Cheers and Best Wishes. -RS
♦ Thanks for the helpful and informative advice. I am an instrument snob and I think this one is a keeper. Thanks so much, pleasure doing business with you. – TC
♦ I received the guitar today and I’m very happy with it. This is the 3rd guitar I have purchased from Spruce Tree and the results were the same. Have a great day and thank you very much. -MW
♦ Yesterday, the guitar was delivered safely. It is in very good condition and I am very much satisfied with it. Thank you for safe packing and quick shipping! Regards, -YO (Japan)
♦ Here’s a comment in French language for your “Spruce Tree customers” page, for an eventually future French customer :
♦ “J’ai commande depuis la France une guitare Larrivee d’occasion chez Spruce Tree Music. Les echanges de mail se sont fait avec Julie Luther, qui a fait preuve d’une grande gentillesse et d’une grande patiente, en repondant a chacun de mes mails ecrits dans un anglais incertain (attention au delai de reponse du au decalage horaire de 7 heures).
La guitare est arrivee en France en 4 jours seulement, dans un etat impeccable, tel que decrit dans l’annonce, et confirme par Julie.
Le reglement s’est fait par virement bancaire international (environ 3 a 4 jours de delai).
J’ai eu raison de faire confiance a ce magasin, la transaction s’est tres bien passee, avec un grand professionnalisme de la part du vendeur.
Et aujourd’hui, je suis vraiment heureux avec ma guitare Larrivee OM03R-LH.” -PV (France)
♦ I just wanted to send you a note to thank you for all your work and help in selling my guitar. I came to you because I had heard you are the best–knowledge, experience, trustworthiness, etc.–and am pleased to say that, based on my experience, all of those things are true. Thanks again, -GJ
♦ I received the guitar yesterday morning and everything was ok. The guitar plays well and I’m very happy with. I’m very surprised by the condition of the guitar, specially the back. Did you refinished it? The frets seem’s to be new, did you refreted it? Anyway, I very satisfied by my purchase, it’s exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. Best regards, -BR (France)
♦ Hi. Just letting you know that I received the guitar right on time. You did a superb packing job. The guitar is even nicer than I expected. I can’t imagine where it was hiding for the past 45 years. I have the same guitar that I got for Christmas in 1964 and it looks worn but still sounds sweet. This new one sound AND looks good. Thank you very much. -HW
♦ Dear Wil and Julie, Sometimes you just have to go by your gut, and I’m sure glad that I did with the purchase of that gorgeous Eric Johnson Fender Strat that I found on your web site. How right you were with the “near new condition” description you gave, and I swear, thanks to your great packaging, it was still perfectively tuned UPON ARRIVAL, after traveling almost 5,000 miles to Paia, Maui. That’s a first for me. I’ve been playing away, and I sure can’t wait to let my good buddy and mean picker P.S. give it a go when he gets back in town next week. Thanks again, and I’ll be sure to tell my recording buddies of Hawaii about your fine shop and web site. Best regards and aloha, -DR
♦ Wil, Wow, is my new guitar a Hoss. Thanks for steering me in the right direction! -BB
♦ Hey, Thanks, you know, funny thing, I was telling a guy I work with here in China that I had bought a guitar from you. And he is from Madison, he has bought from you too. Said your store was top notch. Thanks, -HH
♦ Just wanted to let you know that I’m very happy with the guitar you sent, and I totally appreciate the level of customer service you provided. Thanks, -PD
♦ I was surprised and pleased to receive the check for the sale of the Martin 2-17. Thank you for your expertise and professionalism in selling the instrument. I hope that the guitar has a good home. If I’m every around Madison, I’ll be sure to drop by and visit you. Thanks . . . and best wishes. -RZ
♦ Hello Wil, Duaine brought me my fiddle yesterday after picking it up from your store, and I just wanted to tell you how very pleased I am with the changes you made! I could tell such a difference from the first moments I played it, I will be enjoying this instrument a great deal, I’m so glad that I didn’t just sell it. Thank you. Sincerely, -PT
♦ Julie, I received the guitar on the 25th. I would have sent an email sooner, but I’ve been playing so much I forgot. A flawless execution from sale to shipment. Great guitar too! Thanks SO much!!! -GM
♦ Hi Will, My name is Larry and I was at your store last Saturday the 11th to look at a Deering Maple Blossom banjo. I was very impressed with your knowledge of Deering banjo’s and the history of the Deering Company. I was also impressed with your knowledge of the other brands you carry including the Weber mandolins and others and your knowledge of the various resonator guitars that other fellow was looking at. I guess you just can’t beat the small music store atmosphere versus the Big Box stores like Guitar Center and others. You are the kind of person I would like to do business with. I would like to order the banjo. Thank you again for the nice tour of your store and your no pressure to buy anything attitude. It made you a sale. -LK
♦ It arrived today and I’m truly ecstatic and couldn’t be happier! Thanks so much! -JS
♦ Thank you for the prompt reply! Spruce Tree is the best music store I have ever encountered. You guys were the only ones who knew how to fix my 1976 Gibson! -MM
♦ Thanks for much for everything. I think I’ve visited nearly every guitar shop in New York City over the years and a lot of them can be pretty apathetic to deal with. So I really appreciate the help and great service. I’ll be back. -CL
♦ Mr. B, I really like the way you set up my ’53 sunburst Gibson mandolin. And I really love the Lebeda Julie sold me. Peace and tidings of Goodwill to you both. -TS
♦ Thank you for your help the other day with the Vega conversion banjo. I received it from UPS today, and I’m very happy with it. It has a clarity of tone and a “ringiness” to it that I’ve been searching for in a banjo. I guess that can be attributed to the vintage “tub-a-phone” tone ring. You can definitely put me down as another satisfied customer, so thanks again, and if I’m ever in Madison, I’ll stop in to say hello. -TM
♦ Please pass on a big ‘thank you’ to Doug for the great job he did on my Guild Starfire III. The fret ends are now perfectly smooth and the guitar “plays like butter”. It’s also nice to be able to use the bridge and middle pickup positions without the 60 cycle hum–only trouble is now I can hear all my mistakes!… -JG
♦ The Gibson Blues King you sold me is better than I could have imagined. It suits me and my playing style perfectly. I just wanted to write to tell you that everything has worked out beautifully, and that, in large part is due to your efforts in our correspondence. Thanks again. I had better get going, I have a lot of picking and strumming and singing ahead of me. Cheers, -IC
♦ I am very happy with this guitar and want to thank you all for your attention to this matter. It has been a pleasure doing business with you. -MW
♦ Thank you for your time and helping me purchasing a harp. I love my harp! Your attentiveness and instructions made a wonderful buying experience. Thank you so much for your patience–I’ll always remember it. -MW
♦ I received the Hofner Vice President right on time… and it is incredible… brand new, better then the photos and better then your description … and thank you very much…. I am very very happy… I hope to do business with you again…
thanks again for everything…. I recommend you to all of my friends and I will keep your email address in my address book. -JA
♦ Just a note of thanks and appreciation on all the help I received from you in selecting a new violin. It was refreshing to have the assistance from people who are knowledgeable as well as willing to help me pick out the right instrument for me. I am extremely happy with my new violin, and I will recommend your store to anyone I know that is looking for a new string instrument. Sincerely, -RG
♦ Thanks so much for all your help & expertise. It was nice talking to you, & I look forward to seeing you the next time I’m in Madison. Spruce Tree is a national treasure—-keep up the good work! All best wishes, -AM
♦ I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the ’75 Guild F212-XL–without a doubt, it’s the best 12-string I’ve ever owned or played! It occurred to me that over the past 15+ years or so I’ve purchased at least five guitars from you (two of them this year), and it’s always been a pleasure to do business with you. I appreciate your honesty and integrity (qualities that are hard to find these days), and truly believe that Spruce Tree Music is the best guitar/repair shop in the state. Thanks very much for another great deal on an exceptional guitar–this one is a ‘keeper’! ’til next time, -JG
♦ What a pleasure! Terrific guitar in every way. I’ll send you a clip as soon as I do a show with it. Thanks very much for the fine service, – GT
♦ You did a really great job on my resonator. THANKS A TON! -JN
♦ Just wanted to thank you for the new Larrivee LV-05E! I really liked your shop — I was fascinated by the old architecture and your outstanding collection of instruments. I also liked the attention I received from you. -JR
♦ Yesterday my husband and I were in your wonderful shop where I purchase a bow and violin from you. We truly enjoyed your shop …. it was wonderful to see that there are actually craftspeople doing things in a day when everything is mass marketed and huge stores and malls are all over the place. We will be recommending your shop to others as my husband plays with other people. Its worth the trip! I love my new violin……and bow it just FEELS right, I am the kind of person that if something is right from the beginning, I don’t take a whole lot of time thereafter I liked the sound from the get go
The sound of the D string sold me for some reason. The bow was a wee bit for me to pick out…. but it FEELS SO good in my hand I am having a great time here. I will get years of enjoyment out of this! thanks….we had a nice drive there and looking at your wonderful shop! Sincerely, -PB
♦ Hi, I came across your website today and wanted to say thank you for taking the time to include the section on setting up a violin. Being a beginning violin player, I never really knew what it all entailed and now I do. Thanks, -MB
♦ I want to thank you again for the great job you did on my guitar. It turned out much better than I expected, considering the problems involved. I am especially happy with respect to the tonality issues up the neck. It sounds great and is much easier to play. Thank’s again -ES
♦ Just to let you know those tuners were the cat’s meow and worked out perfectly. Thanks again! – MC
♦ I received the Martin D-12-35 yesterday and I really like it a lot. It sounds and plays exactly like I hoped it would. I really appreciate the professional transaction from you, and also from Wil for the detailed description he gave me before I bought it. I hope to buy something else from you in the future. thanks again, -MM
♦ Hi Folks, On Saturday October 25, I was in your store and purchased a new Walden D550CE. I just wanted to say “Thank You” for the outstanding service, low (no) pressure sales approach, your expert answers to my questions, and the great advice on care of my new instrument. The atmosphere in your store was nothing less than sublime, I felt like more of a muscian than I really am….and that felt good ! My only regret is that I didn’t have more money… enough to buy one of your elite guitars. I guarantee, that when the occasion arises to “upgrade” .. I will be a repeat customer. Thanks again, -SH ps: the “greeter” made me feel welcome !
♦ I am very pleased with my purchase and greatly appreciate the time you spent in helping me. You have a great shop there in Madison, and I will be sure to stop-in whenever I can when travelling to/through Madison. -RH
♦ Hello! I am writing to let you know that my lovely new Ohana ukulele arrived last Monday–a day EARLIER than expected. It was met with the highest praise from my teacher. He’d never heard of Ohana before, but I am sure he will be spreading the word now. Thank you so much for your excellent, and very speedy service. I hope to do business with you again in the future. Sincerely, -JB
♦ I wanted to let you know that we received the violin yesterday. Justin loves it and looks forward to many years playing it. Thank you so much for all of your advice. You and your colleagues were enormously helpful. All the best, -GT
♦ Thanks for making this all work; the internet does help in bringing people together! -CA
♦ Thank you for fixing the action on my 12 string. I’m very pleased with the results. I’m not sure exactly what you did, but, it sure plays nicely, now. -SP
♦ Hi, Thanks for your help and all the information yesterday. I just finished a 1.5 hr session with my new mandolin and I love it! The tone, the feel, the ease of playing it are all great. Thanks again. -SB
♦ I love it! It’s the first time that a guitar looked better than its’ pictures. The case is great, too. After seeing the instrument, I will keep it for the rest of my life. Thank you and please thank Will. Dealing with both of you was a pleasure. Oh yeah….GO PACK!!!!!!! All the best, -MS
♦ The setup on the Aria is outstanding–better than expected. Thanks again. -JN
♦ I received the banjo today. Spectacular; what can I say. Thank you for delivering it so perfectly set up to play. I look forward to many happy hours playing this lovely instrument. Best, -ES
♦ Hello Wil, Thank you so much for all the attention to detail. -AD
♦ Just a quick note to thank you once again for setting up my GAD 30. I’ve been almost unable to put it down since Monday. Anyway, thanks again–your customer service is outstanding, and much appreciated! With best wishes, -RK
♦ Just a quick “thanks” again for holding the DeArmond X-155 for me last week. What a gorgeous guitar! I brought it to my band rehearsal right after I left your shop on Sat. and the guys flipped over it–they LOVED it (but not as much as I do, of course)…and, it sounded great with the band…thanks so much for another great deal at Spruce Tree Music (still my favorite guitar shop…:>) until next time…take care, -JG
♦ Once again, I really appreciate all your time and help at such a busy time of year. All the best, -JG
♦ It was a total surprise. He’s shocked and so excited. Thank you SO SO much for your help. I really didn’t expect to find the kind of help you provided. Happy Holidays, -LC
♦ As always, Wil, I very much appreciate your personal responses….always warm and informative. Best wishes to your fine store, and thanks again. Take care, -SR
♦ Have had a chance to work with the 64 Texan for a while now since I picked it up. Wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the guitar. Has the tone and it is very sweet indeed. It plays very well and I couldn’t be more happy with the job done on it. I have recommended your shop to a few friends who are interested in getting some work done on their acoustics. Just wanted to say thanks. -JF
♦ Here is a long over due email to thank you for your store, your service, and your good energy.
I stop by your store when I come through Madison two or three times a year to visit a friend in Appleton. Over the years I’ve traded a Gibson mandolin for a flute, bought strings, picks, books and CDs. You’ve always provided just the right combination of welcoming, how can we help you, and allowance for trying some of you instruments. I always feel welcome and know that if I have questions you are there to answer those. Never pushy but always available. ”It don’t get no better than that.” I try not to abuse your generousness in playing your instruments when I know I’m not at a place to buy.
I stopped in back in August and asked if you had any used octave mandolins. You mentioned that you had just got one in a few days before and pulled it out to let me play it. I wanted it but it being Thursday with my paycheck not being direct deposited until Friday, you agreed to hold it for me for a day without a down payment, even though I offered. I did pick it up on Friday and continue to be thrilled with the quality of the instrument and the quality of your service.
This is just a thank you. Wish I were closer (I live in southwest Iowa about 7 hours away) so I could frequent your store more often. I hope the people in your area appreciate what they have in Spruce Tree Music. See you in January when I again visit Wisconsin. Take care, JD
♦ I am sending you all my best wishes. My trip back to Montreal went without any problem, and the guitar made it safely, good news. So, I wanted to thank you again for your very generous service, advices and nice conversations. The fact that I could spend a few (long) hours in your store was definitely a highlight of my stay in Madison, I wish I will be able to return soon! Greetings, -AS
♦ Good morning will and the fine folks at spruce tree, Just a quick note to thank you for a very enjoyable afternoon trading instruments. The J5 lebeda mandolin is more then I had hoped for. Your store is incredible with a great selection of instruments for what ever need I would ever want. and the dog was cool too. -DS
♦ Banjo got here yesterday and I haven’t put it down. It is really a fine quality made instrument. Now I know what everyone has been talking about. Thanks again and it was a pleasure doing business with you. Well, gotta play some more. -DD
♦ Wil, Just a note to thank you and your staff for the repairs on my Hoffner 12 string. The difference is amazing, even to a “tone deaf non musician” like me. Easier to play and back to the same rich tone that made me buy it in the first place. I’d recommend your services to anyone. Sincerely, -MO
♦ I received my guitar today, and let me say, this has been the best guitar buying experience I’ve ever had (and there have been a few). Excellent, courteous customer service and lightning fast shipping. All that, plus I LOVE the guitar. It is simply beautiful looking and sounding. Also plays like a dream. Please accept my sincere thanks and I really look forward to stopping in next time I’m in town. Best wishes, -BG
♦ I just wanted to thank you and everyone at Spruce Tree Music for a wonderful, mandolin shopping experience. Everyone there was just super! Being able to sample all of the Weber and Lebeda F-styles was a real help to me in finding the right one to buy. I am extremely happy with my Lebeda Premium F. It has the sound I want and the playability is incredible. Thanks again, -RS
♦ the Harmony Monterey arrived Wednesday as scheduled. I have purchased several as is instruments in the past 2 years. This has to be one of the best if not the best example of something looking exactly as described. Also the packing job was excellent. Thank you very much for the excellent service. -JA
♦ I received the guitar a couple of days ago, and I just wanted you to know that I love it! Thanks so much for everything and I hope to do business with you some other time. Best regards, -CW
♦ My Bart Reiter arrived yesterday. It is beautiful and in wonderful shape. I would not hesitate to by another instrument from you sight unseen on your description, both written and verbal. Thank you for adding the spike at the fifth fret. It has been a complete pleasure doing business with you. Best regards, -GL
♦ Just wanted to say thanks to Wil for his great advice on the guitar I’d recently brought in for some “tweaking,” and to Doug for his EXCELLENT work. I’ve been fortunate to own a few nice acoustics over the years, and have tried to make most of my adjustments myself. Obviously, a BIG mistake. The compensated bone saddle combined with the PERFECT setup and fret work Doug did on my instrument have made a WORLD of difference on this guitar, both tonally and in terms of playability. I couldn’t put it down this weekend and literally played it every spare second I had—hours and hours (you’d think I’d EVENTUALLY have to get better! ; ) Thanks again. I appreciate all the advice ya’ll have provided me over the years, not to mention all the killer instruments you have in your shop! Cheers. -BN
♦ To all at Spruce Tree Music: I would just like to say thank you for helping me making my purchase on the ’94 Martin D-35. The guitar sounds absolutely beautiful and it plays wonderfully. 🙂 I have so much sound now that I do not know what to do with it. You have made my experience in buying this guitar very wonderful. Thank you again, -JF
