I have just finished chatting with a customer and I thought it would be useful to show you the kind of thing that can be covered.
Not many businesses provide genuine help at 9.00pm. Last night I was chatting to an American at 1.30am
I am always here to help if you need it!
Here is the transcript from my chat....
(His introductory text explained he was after his first acoustic)
Simon: good evenign
richard: Hi Simon
richard: OK - Well hopefully I should be able to help you on this one!
Simon: Hi there, I was recommended to you buy a friend who has just bought from you
richard: Sure.. Well thank them!
Simon: will do :-)
richard: Can I ask a couple of questions then?
Simon: sure
richard: First of all... how long if at all have you been playing?
Simon: well.. i've played bass guitar for several years but had a break about 6 months ago.. only really strummed a friends acoustic... so from that point of view.. i guess .. never
Simon: andnow want to learn acoustic
richard: ok.. And would you suggest that you want to primarily use the guitar for strumming chords or would you like to get more into picking styles and more complex playing techniques?
Simon: to be honest.. to start, I think more strumming.. but i know once i get hold of the guitar, i will get obsessed, as is my nature and want to learn it inside out
richard: ok sure.
richard: Now then - budget!!
richard: What woudl you say you could invest in this wonderful new hobby of yours?
Simon: hmm.. well i wouldnt want to start by paying more than 200 quid... tops
richard: No problem.
richard: Now then... as you may know my quality/affordable acoustic recommendations tend to be focused around the Cort acoustics.
richard: This range of acoustics are without a doubt the very best value/quality in the market today - as well as being extremely comprehensive.
Simon: yes.. that what my mate went for from you
richard: ok...
Simon: the other thing i think too, is that im quite small framed so would be looking for something with an easier action and not a massive body
richard: OK - fine.
richard: I will show you a couple of options....
Simon: cool
richard: I have been trying to simpify some of the layouts in my site and will show you a couple of pages..
richard: hold on a moment.....
Simon: no problem
richard: http://www.richardsguitars.co.uk/acatalog/Richards_Guitars_EARTH_Series_4404.html
richard: a new page should open in a second...
richard: let me know when its opened and I will give you some pointers
Simon: yes
Simon: tis there
richard: Now these are dreadnoughts.
richard: You MAY consider these to be too big
richard: but regardless I want to point out a couple of models.
richard: I have arranged them price wise
Simon: sure
Simon: ok
richard: and I would suggest the Earth Grand would be my first recommendation
richard: the one that comes with the gig bag.
Simon: excellent. ok.
richard: I have just done a photo set of a current model in stock which you may find very useful. Hang on and I will find a link to it...
richard: Earth Grand - stock model photo set
richard: If you click on that link a new page should open with some photos I took last week of one of these guitars.
Simon: yes.. thats opened. that looks a nice guitar
richard: They are really really lovely. Incredibly good and I never can believe the cost.
richard: They were new for 2009
richard: a
richard: So...
richard: the only other thing to consider would be the following.....
richard: Luce L100
richard: This one is also under £200
richard: but is a smaller body style - they call it a grand concert body shape
richard: This body style is smaller like you were talking about and is designed for someone with a focus on picking styles.
Simon: ah right.. that looks lovely too... is the sound "compromised" as such with a smaller body?
richard: Not compromised (depending on your point of view) but certainly focused.
richard: IE the sound this guitar produces is more mid range
richard: less bottom end
richard: and a tighter sound
richard: more punchy
richard: less natural reverb
richard: The way to imagine it is....
richard: If you know what the pedals on a piano do...
Simon: yes
richard: there is one which makes all the notes last longer?
richard: and they all blend together?
Simon: yes
richard: To give a big open sound for chords
richard: That would be the dreadnought!
Simon: ahhh.. ok.. im with you
richard: The other pedal that makes everything tighter
richard: for the notes you want to play in a more articulate way
richard: would be the grand concert body shape
richard: Does that all make sense?
Simon: sure does.. just gives me something else to make up my mind about though 
Simon: im mr indecisive
richard: Don't worry - take some time to consider your needs of course.
richard: I would rather you have something to think about than you make the wrong decision.
Simon: i think what i may need to do is wander into the local extortionate music shop and have a play with both styles to see the sound difference and then come back to buy from you.
richard: But do not get too worried about all this.
richard: Remember these are just directions and generalisations to help you.
richard: The World will not come to an end if you went either way I am sure!
richard: lol
Simon: true.. i just dont want to go and buy the "wrong sounding" guitar, i guess
Simon: if there is such a thing..
richard: Well - another thing to remember
Simon: yes
richard: In isolation IE without another guitar to compare to I would guarantee you would be very happy with any quality guitar I am recommending. However, if you had the opportunity to do so then I would recommend that you do at least get a feel of the sounds these guitars produce.
richard: I do hope you will consider coming back to me.
Simon: absolutely will.. like i say my friend was over the moon ... last thing... i take it that strumming rather than picking wont sound truly awful on a concert style body?
richard: I promise the guitar will be setup beautifully as I am sure your friend has told you.
richard: No. You can strum on either guitar but you get a fuller sound from the dreadnought.
richard: Sorry - I had a problem with one of the kids then!!
Simon: lovely.. thank you
Simon: and thank you so much for your time this evening .. i will be back in touch to buy from you.
richard: My phone diverts to my mobile out of hours if you ever need to speak to me.
richard: Bye for now.
richard: Thank you for your enquiry of course!
Simon: no worries. and thanks again
richard: Bye!
Simon: cheerio
