Facts

Shipping and Travel:

• Detune your instrument.  Approximately three, one half turns on each tuning peg is enough to take the pressure off of the neck, but hold the bridge in place.
• Make sure there is nothing in the case to rattle around dinging or scratching your instrument.  We have seen objects that have obviously come out of the pick box during shipping.  When we ship, we put pickbox objects in a plastic bag, then into the pickbox.
• Insure with shipping agent for replacement value.
• If shipping to a residence you may want to consider requiring a signature receipt as we have had instruments left on door steps, and on top of garbage cans, etc.
• Packing:
  
  • We have found that at least one inch of padding on each side, and two to three inches of padding on each end of the case is sufficient to protect the instrument inside a strong shipping box. (Snug, but not tight).  
  • Do not pack the box too tightly as this will allow the packing and not your instrument to absorb a blow.
  • Put your address information so that it's read right-side-up, meaning the peghead end is up- with perhaps arrows saying 'this end up".  Can't hurt!  Neck and Peghead damage are the most common problems usually caused by the package being dropped on the peghead end of the package.
  Do not unpack the instrument for 24 hours allowing it to come to room temperature undisturbed.

Storage:

• Loosen strings and place truss rod in a neutral position to relieve tension on the neck.
• Instrument may 'go to sleep' a bit, and may need play-in time after storage.
• When playing after storage check to make sure the neck is flat adjusting the truss rod accordingly, check the action and change strings if needed.

You Receive an Instrument or Item Damaged in Shipping:

NOTE:  Over the years we actually have had very few instruments or other items damaged in shipping coming from the Weber Shop. While it may take a little time, we will always work toward the customer's satisfaction.

Weber is not responsible for instruments and accessories damaged in shipment from the Weber shop to the customer.  We insure most items shipped from the Weber Shop. If insured items are damaged in route from us to you we will file a claim with the shipping agent. Once the claim is accepted or denied by the shipping agent we can begin discussions about possible solutions and/or replacements.

If your instrument or accessory was shipped from the Weber shop, and received by you with shipping damage, please Contact Us as soon as possible and save the box and shipping materials that it came in.  Weber must make the insurance claim and UPS will require these items.

UPS may need to inspect the damaged item before it can be sent back to us for repair or replacement.

Weber may request pictures of the damage before the UPS inspection, or return of the item to the Weber shop, in order to begin discussions on possible repairs or replacement of the damaged item.

Weber Receives an Instrument or Item Damaged in Shipping:

NOTE:  Once again, over the years we actually have had very few instruments or other items damaged in shipping coming into the Weber Shop. Please go Here for hints on packing and shipping your instruments.

Weber is not responsible for instruments and accessories damaged in shipment to the Weber shop.  If we receive an instrument or item damaged we will contact you immediately as it is your responsibility to file a claim with your shipping agent.

We will save the box and shipping materials that it came in as they are usually required. Shipping agents may need to inspect the damaged item before a claim can be processed.

Weber will help you in any way we can to facilitate the processing of your claim and get a repair or replacement moving forward.

Weber acoustic guitars and mandolin family serial numbers are constructed:
YEAR / SERIAL NUMBER / MONTH MADE and/or SHIPPED

Examples: 
9914308  
1999  / 143 is the serial number of that instrument and model / August
8244212
2008 / 2442 as the serial number / December
039906
2000 / 399 as the serial number / June

Each of the following instrument/model groups have their own sequential numbering:

• Sweet Peas
• Flat mandolins
• Flat mandolas
• Flat octaves
• Flat mandocellos
• Maverick Solid Body mandolins
• A-style & Big Horn mandolins
• A-style  & Big Horn mandolas
• A-style & Big Horn octaves
• A-style and Big Horn mandocellos
• F-style mandolins
• F-style mandolas
• F-style octaves
• F-style mandocellos
• Arch Top Guitar Series (all tunings)
• Resonator Guitar Series 

Give us call if you would like to check out the original specs on your instrument.

We keep in mind that the very people (musicians) that need a great instrument often cannot afford them. We have not had a price increase on Weber Instruments since 2005.  In fact, while a few of our customizations went up two years ago, several of our standard model prices came down in price when we re-arranged our line-up in 2008.

We use the finest materials from wood selections to fretwire. We try to pay a good living wage to people who work for Weber as they are highly trained, self motivating, as many luthiers are. We keep overhead costs down as much as possible and while our shop isn't fancy it's full of light and the best tools of the trade.

Our model line up starts with instruments stripped of more costly, labor intensive ornamentation with an example being the Hyalite and Gallatin models. The models progress with unique woods and coloring, gloss or varnish finishes, more inlay, intricate binding, up to our high end Big Sky, Fern, and the mouth watering Elite models. F-Style instruments are much more labor intensive and do cost more.  The Gallatin F-Style is the example again: a basic F-Style without the F Peghead and a modified scroll.  The Bitterroot has the F Peghead, full scroll and also top binding. The Yellowstone adds back and peghead binding, color, gloss and inlay.

Of course, you can create your own 'model' by adding something to our standard models to get the instrument you desire at the price you can afford.  Many love the natural, simple look of the Gallatin but add an F-Style peghead. In theory you could add things to a Gallatin until you would have a Fern at the Fern price.  The fancy ones are beautiful to behold.

I should add that there are some special selections that go into the higher end models, for example a top that seems to have that special something as Bruce chooses, graduates and tunes tops each week.  However we give the same loving care and attention to detail when building a plain little A-style. Wood selection is an art and, depending on the woods and bracing, many of the (especially) higher-end instruments will take a little more time and play to mature- and will continue to mature throughout their lifetimes. 

The instrument should fit the kind of music you play.  A simple Flat Style mandolin like the Aspen may be the best choice if you play celtic music. It will hold it's own, definitely be heard, and is the traditional instrument for this type of music.

We, at Weber, love to discuss these things and help you make the best choice for you.

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