Ed Roman...

[pro-fusion]

I have not bought anything from him. About ten years ago I inquired about the price of a Randy Rhoads Polka Dot V (Which is a horrible attempt at a replica) and he wanted me to send a $3500.00 deposit before he would give me a quote!!!!

Anyway, check out these reviews on his guitars and the way he handles his customers.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...brand/Ed+Roman

Lot of good reading in those Harmony Central reviews. You expect a few cranks on HC, but bad review after bad review is a little more than coincidence.

I think you'd have to be crazy to order from him.

[Robert Burns]

I met him in Vegas and he treated me just fine even gave me a tour of the shop.
He is way overpriced on his guitars for the most part.He does have a separate room with artists guitars that is way cool.
I bought 6 OFR's at a decent price so not a bad experience for me.
His staff was quite friendly tho'.

** Same for me, ive been in there about a half dozen times..talked to
him a couple of times...Man, he's screwed up with his crippling weight
problem, so i kind of felt bad for him..treated me ok.. One thing, back
in the day, he did know a "Who's who' of 80's metal hero's...but he has
slipped into bad business dealings, and cheating allot of manufactures
out of money. At NAMM this year, his area was dead...NO ONE talked to
him! That says allot right there...

[Robert Burns]

Thanks guys!

From your replies, it sounds like Ed is a shrewd businessman, but basically honest.

I won't know if I can afford the Roswell until after tax time (2009), but at least I can start saving pennies.

*** You do know he closed his "Worlds largest Guitar store"...right?

So he has moved to god knows where? in Vegas...and does from what ive heard, make fakes locally. So be carefull! If you think your getting
that incredible $6500.00 PRS or custom Fender Strat...it may be just
an ok $900.00 copy!

[vondran]

Anyway, check out these reviews on his guitars and the way he handles his customers.
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...brand/Ed+Roman

I like this one http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...ckingbird/10/1. The guy orders a custom inlay with his name and it get mis-spelled.

I remember seeing someone else mention they sent into a BCRich to get a custom quilt top, and Ed misplaced it and ended up sending a $200 piece of junk after the kid spent several thousands. For all I heard, it's best to spend a little more elsewhere then go through him.

[WarPig]

*** You do know he closed his "Worlds largest Guitar store"...right?

So he has moved to god knows where? in Vegas...and does from what ive heard, make fakes locally. So be carefull! If you think your getting
that incredible $6500.00 PRS or custom Fender Strat...it may be just
an ok $900.00 copy!

Didn't know he went underground - living 2000 miles away, I browse the website...

I doubt I would buy a custom guitar from him. There are a lot of luthiers I'd rather work with first.

He shows three original metal Roswell Rhoads on his site. He'd have spent a lot of money to have faked them. When I'm ready to shop, I'll probably call him. He can't force me to buy one, and if the price I hear isn't the price I want, I bide my time. I am a very patient person; I'll wait as long as I need to wait: one will come to me.

[gitfiddler]

ed's fun to talk to, but based on others' experiences, i'd hesitate to do business. I don't know if Allan is still there (builder) but he may be a good person to start with. Straight-up guy.

[mattsmusiccenter]

Though I doubt he'd build a metal Roswell, I'm pretty sure he was building Jackson copies at one point.

[Robert Burns]

Didn't know he went underground - living 2000 miles away, I browse the website...

I doubt I would buy a custom guitar from him. There are a lot of luthiers I'd rather work with first.

He shows three original metal Roswell Rhoads on his site. He'd have spent a lot of money to have faked them. When I'm ready to shop, I'll probably call him. He can't force me to buy one, and if the price I hear isn't the price I want, I bide my time. I am a very patient person; I'll wait as long as I need to wait: one will come to me.

One of our JCF brothers sold a nice Roswell for $1300.00 So you
should be able to find one under $1500.00? Sometimes found at Drum
land/guitar city.. in Colorado

[AK47]

One of our JCF brothers sold a nice Roswell for $1300.00 So you
should be able to find one under $1500.00? Sometimes found at Drum
land/guitar city.. in Colorado

No he is talking about the aluminum model. I remember Newc got one with a broken neck that he repaired for cheap. Normally I remember them selling for 3500 when they were on Ebay in new condition.

[Da' Melta']

Wow! You guys just changed my mind about doing business with him.

I count myself lucky that I got away unscathed in my dealings with Ed.

Thanks for all the great experiences that you've posted. I'm sure War Pig feels the same way.

[Axewielder]

Any photos out there of Roman forgeries? Was he going so far as to build BC rich bolt-on necks and put fake logos on there?

[j2379]

Any photos out there of Roman forgeries? Was he going so far as to build BC rich bolt-on necks and put fake logos on there?

he built BCRich neck thrus complete with logo & even sometimes serial#s. there are many pics of the fakes. as a guy who played only BCRichs for a long time i can tell you, back in the day his fakes were very well made & would fool most of the people most of the time. a few yrs back i did a setup for a guy who had a supposedly vintage neckthru stealth, i believe it was a newer ed made guitar definitely was not a factory BCR. it wasnt very good at all. if your going to buy a BCR that isnt NEW, especially older ones watch out he made LOTS of them.

[Axewielder]

if your going to buy a BCR that isnt NEW, especially older ones watch out he made LOTS of them.

Any idea if he pumped out any Gunslingers or STIII's? If I were to buy an old one, it would be one of those.

[WarPig]

Wow! You guys just changed my mind about doing business with him.

I count myself lucky that I got away unscathed in my dealings with Ed.

Thanks for all the great experiences that you've posted. I'm sure War Pig feels the same way.

Yes, I do! Thanks guys!

And yes, I'm looking for an aluminum Roswell. Why? Well, I have this "thing" for strange/weird guitars. My collection looks like the Island of Misfit Toys...

[stevoc]

Did you try these guys (for an aluminum rosewell):

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1985768

http://www.accessguitar.com/inventory/jackson/rwr2.html