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Purple Haze - 1965 Fender Stratocaster at Norman's Rare Guitars

Aloha_Ark

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Apr 2, 2020
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153

This is the saddest day of my life. A mint '65 Strat with an L-serial number has been revealed at Norm's store, and Lemmo is doing the demo. I fear the price is double what the other dealers in the USA would sell it for.
 

Aloha_Ark

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Apr 2, 2020
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I concluded a deal with Gary's Guitars, one of the elite group of dealers who sponsor LPF. It was a lot easier than contacting Norm's minions, and finding out who had the power to negotiate.
For those who have bought from Norm, does he give people like Lemmo the power to set up a deal over the phone?
 

Amp360

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Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
937
I concluded a deal with Gary's Guitars, one of the elite group of dealers who sponsor LPF. It was a lot easier than contacting Norm's minions, and finding out who had the power to negotiate.
For those who have bought from Norm, does he give people like Lemmo the power to set up a deal over the phone?
I bought a few guitars from Norm. Most were purchased from Mark Agnesi who always was really nice to deal with. Not sure why he gets so much hate online.
 

Aloha_Ark

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Apr 2, 2020
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Lemmo was demoing a pristine 1966 Fender Stratocaster the other day. Was Norm joking about the potential for a ding on the guitar, caused by Lemmo? These west coast guys trade double edged jokes among themselves. I never heard Norm say that to Agnesi. After losing Mark, I doubt that Norm would let Michael go.

 

Aloha_Ark

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Apr 2, 2020
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For those who remember Agnesi, he seems to be doing fine.

He gets to interview important musicians, and even store owners.


Norman may be the dealer to the stars, but I bought many guitars, drums and keyboards from Sam Ash. SA sold me my first signature Joe Satriani and Kirk Hammett guitars. Hope Norm and Sam Ash can both survive in the retail musical instrument business.
 

plexi69

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Sep 21, 2005
Messages
178
Norm is a greedy mercenary, Agnesi knows how to showcase a guitar to its full potential. The guy they have now makes every guitar sound exactly the same do to over use of effects and lack of knowledge on how to showcase individual instruments. I think he’s auditioning himself rather than the guitar.
 

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
Messages
11,042
Wow!

He quite obviously knows how to run a business and is one of the most successful operators in the industry and is legendary!

When most operators have failed he keeps it going year after year.

He has my respect.
 

Amp360

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Feb 16, 2012
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937
I don't really have anything good or bad to say about Norm. I can't say I love the guy, but his salespeople have always been fine.
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
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5,735
I concluded a deal with Gary's Guitars, one of the elite group of dealers who sponsor LPF. It was a lot easier than contacting Norm's minions, and finding out who had the power to negotiate.
For those who have bought from Norm, does he give people like Lemmo the power to set up a deal over the phone?
Off the top of my head I would guess no
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,735
Norm is a greedy mercenary, Agnesi knows how to showcase a guitar to its full potential. The guy they have now makes every guitar sound exactly the same do to over use of effects and lack of knowledge on how to showcase individual instruments. I think he’s auditioning himself rather than the guitar.
You forgot to add that he always prefaces every guitar of the day video as the best and the best in condition etc. To me he comes across as a "homer" (not as in the Simpsons)
 

Amp360

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Feb 16, 2012
Messages
937
Oddly enough, I got burned on an L5 years ago by one of the industry's most respected dealers, if not the most reputable dealer. It was a nightmare but eventually, I got my money back.

I dealt with Mark a couple of times and thought he was a good guy and did alright by me. Ed Roman was my favorite guitar dealer to do business with. He was by far the dealer I would most like to go to dinner or hang out with.
 

Aloha_Ark

Active member
Joined
Apr 2, 2020
Messages
153
I located two youtube videos where future (Alien) surfers can tell us which of the two, Mark Agnesi and Michael Lemmo, is the better guitarist. Both sound pretty good to my ears.



A question for the jazz enthusiasts in the crowd: what's the name of the ballad they're playing?
 
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