Official Luthiers Forum!

Grizzly Tools is having a tent sale at their Pennsylvania Warehouse and Showroom this Saturday. Has anyone been to one of these sales? Any get any good deals? Is it worth going?

Thanks
Ken

I go pretty much every year to the one in Bellingham, WA. I buy more guitar stuff than tools. Last year I bought 4 Honduras Mahogany back/side sets and 1 EIR set for a total of $85 - and all are high quality that I wouldn't hesitate to use for any project. The EIR was one of their "Master grade" sets and was sanded smooth but was marked as "too thin". Didn't feel that thin to me and later measured it at .125". I also got a complete set of classical templates and a set of plans (the ones that accompany Bogdanovich's book) for $10. You have to get there early and stand in line and know what you're looking for. Some guys spend the night to get in front of the line and grab the big machinery. Most of the tools I've seen were pretty sad and, despite the attractive prices, didn't look worth my trouble to fix up. The people that work there know their tools but don't know much about lutherie supplies, so you can usually find some good deals.

I went to 1 tent sale and won't need to go to any more. The prices are often not a real value when you figure what you have to pay for replacement parts and your time . You will find some deals with the suppliers at the side tents but as for the scratch and dents , echhh. If you are looking for small items , you may find something like discontinued items that would be a nice value but the big tools are at best hit and miss.
They do get you through the lines pretty fair but expect some time . and go early.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Thanks for the advise. My wife decided that I should not go.

I live about 3 hours from Grizzly in Washington. I have never gone but am thinking about going this year because I would like to pick up some guitar supplies. I really don't think I would pick up any machines as per what John stated above.
Chuck

Chuck, the Bellingham Grizzly is normally only open Mon-Fri. Our tent sale is Saturday June 26. There is a place down in Kent on the West Valley Highway that has scratch and dent stuff. And for the life of me I can't remember the name. Will probably remember it at 3 in the morning. When I do, I'll send it to you.

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Aoibeann

I know your pain...