From "Noel":
I have a unique horror story relating to one short, fat, bald, racist 80's hairball worshiping scumbag named Edward Roman.
I met Ed while touring with a fairly high profile singer/songwriter. We met Ed (who had weaseled his way backstage) and he seemed to be a decent guy, although he was very loud. He asked me to try one of his Pearlcaster guitars. I was playing a 1989 Stratocaster + (Lace Sensors) with a maple neck as my main guitar at this time, my other guitar was a Gretsch Pearl Jet fitted with TV Jones pickups and wring harness.
I am always on the lookout for a new guitar, so I tried the Pearlcaster. I didn't really like the sound, it was far too bright for my tastes. Ed insisted this was due to the pickups. He also invited me to visit his "shop". I had a day off the next day and was planning on going to look at guitars anyway, so I took him up on his offer.
Ed showed me some of his "custom" models and I tried a few. Nothing really knocked my socks off, but nothing really sucked either. The finishes were pretty, although I am not really into purple guitars or 80s graphics. Ed did have some nice Rickenbackers, so I purchased a new fireglow 360.
Ed seemed a little put out that I didn't buy a Pearlcaster, and offered me one at cost. I told him that I was happy with my Stratocaster and really didn't want to replace it. I was doing Leno the next month and Ed new this. He finally offered me a Pearlcaster for $300.00 with the understanding I would use it on televison, I still was not interested. I finally wanted to get out of his place, so I agreed to pay him $300.00 for the Pearlcaster with the understanding that I would play it for the next week and send it back to him with a list of changes I wanted made. He was to make these changes free of charge and overnight the guitar to me.
I played the guitar for the next week and it was really bright. The neck was very thin as well (think Ibanez). I knew this guitar was not for me. I spoke to Ed on the phone and we discussed my changes. I overnighted the guitar back to him the next day. I asked for 5 changes.
1. The neck had to be replaced with a thicker more "Strat-like" neck. I told him I liked the neck on the '70 Telecaster I have at home as well as an original '57 Stratocaster that I own. I wanted to give him a general idea of what Iwanted. I also told him my American Plus Strat's neck was nice (although itwas not an ideal). I figured that an American Standard has a fairly common neckshape.
2. I wanted gold Lace Sensor pickups
3. I wanted a "vintage style" bridge
4. I wanted Sperzel Tuners
5. I wanted a plain
white pickguard
Well, weeks went by, then a month and a half. The TV gig came and went. No word from Ed Roman. I played my Gretsch on Leno and the tour went on.
About three months later, the guitar finally arrived. The Lace Sensor pickups looked used (the writing was worn off), the pickup switch was noisy, the Sperzels were faded and pitted and there was some hokey bridge. Most unexpected was a bill for $2732.57, the original bill had been for $3032.57 but he had credited me the $300.00 that I had already paid. I called Ed's shop, but was unable to reach him. I spoke to his wife, whom I had met on my visit, and she assured me that the bill was a mistake and that I should not worry about it. I had all but fogotton about the situation.
A few weeks later I was in London and got a message from my (very pissed off) wife. She told me that a collection agency had been harrassing her for $4100.00 for a guitar that I had never paid for. I explained the situation to her and told her not to pay for anything. The next morning I called Ed and he was very rude. It seemed he was upset that I had played the Gretsch on televison instaed of the Pearlcaster. When I reminded him that the Pearlcaster was in HIS POSSESSION the day of that show, he said it was a non-issue. He said that I should have arranged to get another from him. He told me that he wished I had signed a contract because he would sue me. He said that by not playing the guitar on television, I had cost him several hundred orders. I am by no means a "household name" and highly doubt that anyone would buy a guitar simply becasue I played it. He called me a "no talent hack" and told me I was "Anti-American" becasue my wife is Korean and I play a Fender. I told him I would send the guitar back to him and he could return my $300.00. He told me that the $300.00 would not cover the labor I had requested. I told him to keep the $300.00. The next day I overnighted the Pearlcaster back to him.
The collection calls stopped for a while, then resumed. This time they wanted $400.00 on behalf of WCG becasue of the discount I had gotten on the Ric 360 that I had bought. Fine, I paid them.
In all fairness to this jerk, his guitar work was not all bad. I can understand why he hates imported guitars. His Pearlcaster plays and sounds much like a
Yamaha Pacifica. This is not a bad thing. Pacificas are decent guitars, although they sell for $129.00 not $1299.00. His attempt to make me a Stratocaster knockoff was ok. I have played many "off the rack" Fenders with identical pickups that play/sound better and cost 1/3 the price of a Pearlcaster. The "Roman" logo is 80s looking and should be redesined to match the looks of this guitar. I guess he wants more because his are hand made, but handmade doesn't always meen better.
I think Ed's shop is exceptional at making 80s style (goofy graphics, translucent hot pink) guitars. They are probably the best place to go if you want a skull shaped body and a Floyd Rose along with two necks and flashing lights. If you worship Racer X or Nitro, Ed is your man, but it is 2003, and the majority of us don't really care.
He is a racist and a liar. He said some horrific things to my wife on the telephone.
