HOOTZ GUITARS, BUYER BE WARE!!!!

I AM A PLAYER OF VIOLA CAIPIRA, BRASILIAN 10 STRING GUITAR. I PURCHASED TWO INSTRUMENTS FROM HOOTZ LUTHIERS OF BRASIL FOR MY SHOP TO SELL. BOTH INSTRUMENTS ARE POORLY MADE. THEY LOOK LIKE SOMEONE FROM A GUITAR SCHOOL MADE THEM. THERE ARE MANY MISTAKES IN CONSTRUCTON ON THE BODY WITH THE BINDING BE PUT ON POORLY. THE NECKS ARE MADE VERY WELL AND PLAY VERY WELL. THE SOUND IS GOOD BUT POOR FOR A HANDMADE GUITAR. THE FINISH IS POOR. THESE GUITARS LOOK LIKE SECONDS OR THIRDS...I HAVE OTHER BRASILIAN GUITARS AND THE HOOTZ IS THE WORST SOUNDING. THE WOOD IS OF VERY POOR QUALITY. LOOKS LIKE RED JACARANDA BUT LOTS OF THE SAP WOOD IS USED. THE WOOD IS POORLY DRIED SO BOTH INSTRUMENTS HAVE WOOD CRACKS. I HAVE ALL MY INSTRUMENTS IN A CLIMENT CONTROLED ROOM AND THERE WERE 30 OTHER ACOUSTIC GUITARS IN THE ROOM WITH THESE TWO AND ONLY THE HOOTZ' WOOD CRACK. I SENT ONE BACK TO BRASIL BUT THE LUTHIER NEVER REPAIRED IT AND SENT IT BACK TO ME. I KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE WON'T DEAL WITH SOUTH AMERICAN LUTHIERS BECAUSE OF SHADDY SHOPS LIKE HOOTZ AND IT IS A SHAME. THERE ARE LOTS OF TOP NOTCH MAKERS AND I HAVE PURCHASED MANY INSTRUMENTS FROM BRASIL. I HAVE ONLY BEEN RIPPED OFF BY HOOTZ. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND A NUMBER OF BRASILIAN LUTHIERS THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY PURCHASED FROM. SINCE I PLAY BRASILIAN AND PORTUGUESE MUSIC, ONLY THESE PORTUGUESE OR BRASILIAN INSTRUMENTS HAVE THE SOUND.
IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET, BEWARE OF HOOTZ.

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