Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some commonly asked questions. Contact us if you need more help.
For help ordering online, see Store Help.
Trilogy Policies
Below are some of our purchase policies but if you need more help or don't see your particular question listed below, please contact us.
Do I need to make an appointment to see the guitars?
Yes, please! We run our shop on appointment to ensure that you receive our full attention, that the guitars you're interested in are tuned and ready to play, and so that you can evaluate those instruments without having to compete with several sound sources!
Our showroom hours are Monday-Saturday from 10am to 6pm but we're happy to work with your schedule.
- Contact us to make an appointment.
- See our showroom.
Is there an approval period or Can I try a guitar out at home?
Can’t make it to Los Angeles to see us? Would you like to hear how an instrument you tried at the shop sounds in your playing space? Do you need a second opinion from a teacher, spouse, or fellow guitar friend? Great! You’re on the right track and ready to utilize our 48-hour approval period.
We’re happy to send a guitar anywhere in the U.S. or internationally* on a 48-hour approval basis. The instrument will be pre-paid by wire transfer, cashier's check, personal check, money order or any major credit card and once the payment has cleared the shipment will be prepared. If, at the end of the trial period you decide that it is not the right guitar for you we ask you to kindly repack the instrument and send it back in the manner it arrived for your full refund. The returned instrument is the responsibility of the buyer until received and inspected by Trilogy Guitars.
All shipping and insurance charges are the responsibility of the customer unless otherwise agreed upon. We will prepare the shipping waybill through FedEx** online and obtain a price quote for the charges for Standard Overnight or 2nd Day Air, which will then be charged the customers credit card. In the event of the final shipping costs varying from the initial quote, we will issue a 2nd invoice (should it increase) or happily refund you the difference (should a larger discount be granted).
Extra time needed? Do you have special circumstances? Just give us a call and we’ll see what we can work out.
*Additional information will be required from international customers.
Does Trilogy Guitars take trades?
We are open to discussing trades on a case by case basis. Please call us at 310-305-7577 or E-mail us to let us know what you are interested in and what you currently have.
Guitars purchased from Trilogy are always eligible for trade-in. For one full year we will guarantee a trade-in value of 80% of the purchase price, towards another guitar in the shop. Damage to the instrument outside of normal wear can result in the trade-in value being lowered.
Does Trilogy do repairs?
We are happy to assist you with string changes, minor set-up adjustments, and tuning machine swap-outs here in house. For all other repairs we will refer you one of our preferred luthiers or repairmen.
Trilogy is proud to now offer In-House Refinish work! Please call or email us for more details.
Does Trilogy have a showroom?
Yes, our showroom and office are located in Playa del Rey, CA just off the beach! Learn more on our Travel to Trilogy page.
Will Trilogy consign my guitar?
We are always on the prowl for guitars to add to our inventory and would be happy to consider yours! Please contact us to see if we have a spot open for your guitar. We will work with you to find the right market price for your instrument. Our consignment fee is 25%. A discounted fee is offered if you have purchased a guitar from us.
- Contact us for more information.
Will Trilogy write me an appraisal for my instrument?
We will gladly write an appraisal for your instrument. Appraisals are included with your guitar purchase from Trilogy Guitars or they also are available for $75.00 each, for any other guitar. Please schedule an appointment or call to arrange the shipment so that we may examine your instrument fully.
Trilogy Guitars uses and recommends Heritage Insurance Services, Inc. for coverage of your instruments!
Purchase Policy
48-Hour Approval Period:
Can't make it to Los Angeles to see us? Would you like to hear how an instrument you tried at the shop sounds in your playing space? Do you need a second opinion from a teacher, spouse, or fellow guitar friend? Great! You're on the right track and ready to utilize our 48-hour approval period.
We're happy to send a guitar anywhere in the U.S. or internationally* on a 48-hour approval basis. The instrument will be pre-paid by wire transfer, cashier's check, personal check, money order or any major credit card and once the payment has cleared the shipment will be prepared. If, at the end of the trial period you decide that it is not the right guitar for you we ask you to kindly repack the instrument and send it back in the manner it arrived for your full refund. The returned instrument is the responsibility of the buyer until received and inspected by Trilogy Guitars.
All shipping and insurance charges are the responsibility of the customer unless otherwise agreed upon. We will prepare the shipping waybill through FedEx** online and obtain a price quote for the charges for Standard Overnight or 2nd Day Air, which will then be charged the customers credit card. In the event of the final shipping costs varying from the initial quote, we will issue a 2nd invoice (should it increase) or happily refund you the difference (should a larger discount be granted).
Extra time needed? Do you have special circumstances? Just give us a call and we'll see what we can work out.
*Additional information will be required from international customers.
** Due to FedEx policy on Declared Value and Limits of Liability, instruments over 20 years in age shall be shipped and returned via UPS to as they WILL allow instruments to be insured at suitable values.
30-Day Policy
(Info Coming Soon)
Trade-Up Policy
(Info Coming Soon)
What is "French polish?"
French polishing would be a more accurate term as this is a technique of applying a shellac with a smooth, wadded piece of cloth rather than a finish material itself. This is the traditional method of finishing classical guitars and while other finishes are becoming popular, it is still the preferred method due to its durability, beauty, ease of repair and acoustic properties.
- Browse our collection of French polish finished guitars
What is a "Concert Guitar" and what is a "Student Guitar"?
Student Guitars
These are guitars made with beginning guitarists and student budgets in mind. They're typically constructed by a group of craftsmen or in a factory with relatively higher volume than that of craftsmen luthiers. Student guitars should have solid tops but often utitlize laminate woods for their back and sides to reduce production costs. A lacquer finish is typically used to provides durability and protection for the instrument but this is generally regarded inferior to a French polish shellac finish used for concert guitars.
Student guitars can start under $1,000 and range up to about $3,500.
Concert Guitars
These are instruments built by a single builder or a duo of builders, for example; Tezanos-Perez (by luthiers Mariano Tezanos and Gregorio Perez, Ober/Blochinger (by luthiers Fritz Ober and Edmund Blochinger). These builders typically have a very low anual output ranging from about 4 to 20 guitars a year, allowing them to focus more on each individual guitar and its components. More attention is also given to the refinement of tonality and color ina concert guitar. Concert instruments tend to be finished with the much more time-intensive French polish shellac rather than the less expensive lacquer more common in student guitars. The most celebrated benefit of French polish is in improved sound.
Concert guitars generally start at around $3,000 US and climb from there depending on the skill, consistency, celebrity and rarity of the builder.
- Browse our current selection of concert classical guitars, concert flamenco guitars, and concert acoustic steel-string guitars we have in stock.
What is the difference between spruce and cedar?
When choosing a guitar, you'll find most student and concert classical guitars have one of two types of wood: spruce or cedar.
Spruce Top Guitars
Typically spruce top guitars have a brighter and more seperated tone. This lends itself nicely to multi-voiced or polyphonic music such as baroque as it highlights the clarity between each voice.
- Browse our selection of Spruce top guitars
Cedar Top Guitars
Cedar tops can be described as lending a warmer, rounder tone to a guitar. The blend of voices cedar offers can bring out the depth of romantic music and is characteristic of the Spanish guitar. Many players feel cedar top guitars can project at a greater volume as well.
- Browse our selection of Cedar top guitars
What separates a flamenco guitar from a classical guitar?
While both flamenco and classical guitars share common roots and building methods some distinctive musical demands of each style have led to the usage of different woods, dimensions, and set-ups.
The rich and mellow tones desired of the classical guitar were not going to cut-it for guitarists looking to accompany the cante (song) and baile (dance)of flamenco music. The guitars needed evolved into lighter, brighter instruments with a hard percussive element that could then be heard against the dancers feet and the rough flamenco voice. Spanish cypress was chosen for the back and sides of the flamenco guitar due to its abundance and that it can be worked much thinner than rosewood. The idea of vibrancy and lightness were also applied to the internal design, which used lighter braces, and the head stock, where peg heads were kept in favor to tuning machines in order to give better balance to the light body. Some other differences in the flamenco guitars are a flatter neck angle and lower action allow or faster passages and provide a greater percussive sound as well as the use of a golpeador or tap-plate to protect against the hits, drums, and slaps on the top.
- Shop our classical guitars
- Shop our flamenco guitars
What should I keep in mind when shipping a guitar?
Our insurance carrier, Heritage Insurance Services, Inc., has just sent around a great list of things to keep in mind when shipping an instrument.
We estimate that over 50% of the losses paid by Heritage are the result of the shipping process. Instruments, especially wooden ones, are intrinsically delicate. When an instrument is shipped, it enters a battle zone, and casualties are much greater than when it is being played or walked down main street under the owner’s arm. Regardless of which carrier is used to transport the instruments, the loss frequency, type of loss and severity remains constant. One carrier is as good or as bad as another, depending on how you look at it.
Canada
. Do not depend on another person or entity to insure your instrument in shipment unless you are satisfied with quality of their insurance.
(2) Packing, packing, and more packing. While non-delivery and disappearance of a shipped package occasionally occurs, the primary loss caused during shipment is damage to the instrument. Improper or inadequate packing is the cause of many, if not most, of the losses we see. If the instrument is entering a war zone (being shipped), then it needs special protection to survive. 3) Use Expedited or overnight shipment, but not ground shipment. Expedited or overnight shipments produce significantly less loss activity than ground shipment. Packages should always be sent using the shortest delivery time available, and they should not be shipped on a Friday, or in such a way as to be warehoused over the weekend. (4) Control Delivery and Shipment – Arrangements should be made so that the package is received personally by the recipient, or their agent, and that they will be available at time of delivery. Require that the package be signed for by the recipient. Mark your address and the recipients on the carton directly, as well as on the shipping slip. (5) Documentation of Shipment – Retain copies of shipment receipts and sales receipts (if any). Take digital photos of the instrument prior to shipment to show condition and/or authenticity.