Ed knew his stuff when it came to guitars but he did so much shady stuff.

Back when he owned Eastcoast Music Mall in Danbury, CT. I went in there around 1989-1991, (not sure which year exactly) to see what he'd offer for my used guitar (Ibanez Roadstar II RS-440 I bought new in '85 or '86). I didn't have it with me because it was a spur of the moment decision to stop in and ask. So he asked what kind of guitar I had. I barely finished saying "Ibanez" when he just went "Pffft!" and then turned around and walked away. Like "Don't waste my time." I went back a month later to window shop (like all the other smart shoppers who can find the same thing elsewhere at a cheaper price) and the store was filled with Ibanez banners, posters of Steve Vai and an entire wall of Ibanez guitars. Suddenly Ibanez was THE guitar to have. Now I had even less respect for Ed (if I even had any at all). For the way he treated me and now suddenly praising the guitar brand that, just a month earlier, wasn't worth his time. Over the years, I had heard ECMM was a cocaine front. Wouldn't surprise me. Just watching him talk about the woods and sniffling and struggling to try and make up some BS stories would convince me he was snorting something before this tour began.

I bought a Roman guitar that you reviewed on your channel.. I actually rang the doorbell at the shop when I was in Las Vegas (Ed Romans was a bucket list visit) so I walked there from Caesar’s Palace while my wife was shopping.. Initially the salesman was a bit grumpy because I didn’t have an appointment, but he let me in because I came all the way from Louisiana and walked from Cesar’s.. Weeks later I ordered the guitar that blew me away and still does.. It arrived packaged incredibly well in a hard case, setup was perfect and it was surprisingly in tune..

WOW, that's a Great shop tour. Boy if we could turn back time. Talk about craftsmanship & custom work. To me each guitar is a priceless work of art. I bought my White 1988 Spector NS- 2 from Ed back in 1995. Fair price and straight up honesty. A great guy. Thanks again Tone King 👑👑👑👑 that's why You Rock Sir.

Ed Roman oozing charm as always.

Ed had a lot of great ideas and builders in his shop. He was always nice to me when I went to his CT shop.

Wow. Quite a guitar treat. Thank you TK.

Nice Louis. Thanks for the tour.

Gary Jacobs worked for Ed Roman behind the scenes and didn't get credit. It killed Gary's love of guitar making.

Thanks Tone King. I talked to Ed on three occasions. I too went ’upstairs’ for a meeting with Ed about an invention of mine. He was nice to me. But he certainly didnt shy away from saying what he thought! At one point there was interest in a tv show about him. There is a sizzle real on KZfaq.

Ed was great. Bought several guitars from him, which I still own till this day.

I always loved looking through Ed's old website way back when.

That was really cool. Thanks for sharing

This is excellent! Thanks for sharing.

man some of those guitar bodies are awesome

He forgot to mention that he counterfeits guitars along with ghost building, custom work, etc.

I bought my Seagull S6 acoustic from Roman's when the giant store was still open to the public. They went out of their way to pull out a bunch of different guitars for me to compare against each other. I made an appointment when they reopened, after Ed passed, and ended up buying a JS1200CA (Joe Satriani) Ibanez that was in one of your walk-through videos.

he seems like he was very smart. What a great memory. What a gem Lewis thanks a ton for sharing this.

I worked for Ed in the mid '80s. He was good to work for, he treated his guys well. It was a fun place to work.

So much controversy around Ed, especially in the old days on JCF. I've always been fascinated with him and his business. He was one of a kind and so connected and guitar smart. Reproductions aside you can tell that only top shelf products came from those benches. That US Flag Y2KV is one of the rarest Jacksons on the planet. Jackson cancelled my order for one about a week before the Mustaine departure was announced. It was $2500 when I ordered, they're $10-$20k now if you can actually find on that Dave didn't own himself lol

I have a ‘94 custom shop BC Rich gunslinger with a Brazilian Rosewood cap. Wouldn’t surprise me if it came out of Ed’s shop

very cool..... thanks for sharing

I went to Ed Roman's shop 3 times in my life. The first time was his last shop next to the strip, by the In-N-Out Burger on Dean Martin Drive. I came in as a shy 13 year old wanting to see the guitars he posted on his website. When I got up the nerve to ask one of the salesmen if Ed was around, he went to the back and got him. He came out beaming, shook my hand and said, "You just missed Eddie Van Halen by 15 minutes!" He talked me through his shop, and at the end I walked away with one of his Korean import Baker Guitars. I sold it years later, but I wish I still had it. 2 years later, I went to his home where he was operating out of. He was cordial as well, but a bit brash when the subject of Gibson came up. The 3rd time I came by a few months later. He was looking a bit gaunt in the face (not in the gut though) but he still told stories of rock stars and guitar building. He was nothing but kind to me, and he was a salesman to the T. Still, I miss his rants and complaints and general hell-raising.

East Coast Music Mall was always a highlight to visit every year during Guitar Camp!!!

When they talk about a guy who knows where all the figurative bodies are buried in the guitar industry, they're pretty much talking about Ed Roman. I know next to nothing about Ed other than his name from decades past and that there's been quite a bit of controversy about Ed over the years, especially his destruction and chainsaw vids. But whatever the case, whether he's a charlatan or a genius, you have to give it up for someone who has literally spent his entire adult life focused on one specific area and industry. That's the old skool way.

what about the forgery guitars he created ?

Thank you so much to you TheToneKing for this "jewel" video . Here is what I remember here: honesty and the righteousness of a man who loves his job and who talks about it without compromise.

Wow. I just noticed the natural satin medium brown Stealth copy......It gave me wood....

You walk out of there Mind Racing over What to Buy Next. So many high quality instruments and history it was mind boggling. There were only a 1/2 dozen employee's working the day we went. A must do for anyone who loves guitars.

Ed was a very very shady person! And I am talking of a personal experience. One of the worst people I have ever dealt with!!

I bought a Firebird body from them after Ed was gone and they were selling off stock. Built a nice Jackson Firebird with it. It is a decent body.

Spent a day with him in the Roman & Lipmann days -- he was an entertaining host, full of stories (all hilarious, some possibly even true) and he showed me around his store room in his ridiculous mansion and the luthier's shop at East Coast Music Mall. I was interested in a full custom R&L bass, but ultimately the instruments they were making were decent enough but didn't really speak to me. What's interesting is that when I ultimately ended up saying "no thanks" to ordering a bass at the end of the day, he said with no small amount of respect in his voice, "nobody's ever turned down that schtick before. Let me know if you want that 8-string Kramer I showed you before I turn it into a Gene Simmons Axe. I'll give you a good price."

Some things bother me about certain aspects of his guitars but all said and done, I'd buy one!

Cool. I went there once.

wish this vid showed more bc rich stuff! still good none the less.

Thanks for sharing this TK ....I have an older Squier M 80 with an Ed Roman sticker on it , always wondered if they made them for Fender ?

My many hours of research led me to this place years ago when I had been searching for a neck for my acrylic mockingbird. Unfortunately I missed the boat and he was no longer alive :(

How old was this footage?

Is there a date for this video?

This is cool, he built some great stuff, to bad he did alot of shady stuff to. i love it when he says that he have stories about major companys pretending that they´ve build a model but they did not, because it came from Ed´s shop.. it makes me wonder, what brands and models could that be ?!

Ed Roman was a scam artist.

Looked strikingly like Kerry kings ear wig Dean hanging up there at first.

He was a something .. Do we know what happened to neck though dime guitar? Maybe a follow up vid on what happened after he died

in 2011, this was shortly before he died, I called him to ask if he was interested in a celebrity owned guitar I had that I was looking to sell. he was interested, but I wasn't because I was looking to sell it to him outright and he proposed a consignment deal. he called me again about a week later trying to get me to send the guitar to him, and really laid it on thick, the BS and insanity coming out of his mouth was just something else. I was like wow, I really dodged a bullet by not sending it to him after the comparatively reasonable 1st conversation. And then he died like a month later. I would have never seen a penny from him or the guitar again had I let him talk me into sending it to him

He was one of a kind. LOL

Ed was as they say something of a character. He wasn't a warm fuzzy person. I don't know if he ripped anyone off directly but I would like to know what exactly happened to my guitar that was in his store when he died cause it is gone now and obviously Ed and Star? are unavailable for comment.

Did they ever find out what happened to his daughter Lindsey?

KDH told the truth about Ed.

Ed Roman's original location was the best. The showroom was huge. I used to go there every so often. And then they moved a couple more times. I knew the guy who runs it now from way back when he worked at another shop across town. Can't recall his name at the moment. Been over a decade since I lived there. Edit: His name is Scott. Super cool guy.

How’s he doing?

I wonder what became of the guys that ran Cinnamon Ridge Guitars...(pre-1990)

Most made in TJ Mexico

Ed Roman was the ultimate wannabe

His business model was silly.

🤣😂😅

Knock off BC Rich Guitars

He's a complete bullshit artist. "That's Dimegags guitar"..."It's a neck through body Dean" So, it's NOT a Dean anymore. If you have to build a new neck and body with pickup cavities, it ceases to be the same guitar 😅😅😅 It's like taking the transmission out of a Ferrari, putting it in a replica and saying it's still a "Ferrari"

Ed should be in prison for fraud

Scammer of scammers. A man that chopped 1958 Flying V in half and saw nothing wrong with it saying that it's still a '58...