Lifeguitars 

Adding my comment that I am another of a string of people left owed money by Life Guitars. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and when I was contacted by the owner to say that they needed an extension, I was happy enough to oblige as it wasn't pressing for me to have it but I wanted to be sympathetic to the economic climate for retail. This however, has soured things considerably. Lessons learnt. Hopefully for both sides.

Just adding to the long list of lament about life guitars abysmal trust worthiness. Smile and move on, do not believe a word he says! Do not lend him money, time or the air to breathe. Throw him out as quick as you can, do not let him fester. A "nice chap" on the outside, a cheat and a liar within. Avoid!!!!

My 2005 Faith Jupiter acoustic guitar needed a birthday and I left it with Joff and His team. It now plays better than new and I could not be happier with the result. the cost was very fair and I will be taking more guitars to Him over the coming months.
On the subject of guitars more than a dozen of varying quality from £100 - £2000 have been handled on a commission basis by Life Guitars over the past two years and their contracts are totally open and clear. The staff are honest, hardworking and very helpful at all times whether trading times are good or slow, as they can be in the Summer months when everyone is on the beach. I will continue to use this company for all my guitar needs. Thank you Life Guitars, regards Martin

I have sold and bought several instruments through Life Guitars over the last 18 months and have found Joff and his team to be invariably friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Things have not always gone smoothly with respect to the completion of commission sales arrangements but have ultimately arrived at a very satisfactory conclusion.

Avoid! Do not sell your guitar here. Waited for months for payment, chased many times and kept being told money was being transferred but didn’t appear. Finally after mentioning would take to small claims and posting poor review they paid.

I checked out Life Guitars in Exeter a couple of times earlier this year. They are generally OK, as the staff are helpful, but to be honest, I wish Mansons would come back. Mansons always stocked great gear, and I was a regular satisfied customer of theirs. Life guitars appears to have a lot tatty and overpriced gear, and I always felt that a lot of their stock had seen better days (but maybe that is because it is mostly second-hand?). However, having said this, there were some guitars I did like the look of on my last few visits. Staff were helpful enough to let me try out a few guitars, but I chose not to buy, as upon playing it I got the feeling that the gear was overpriced (just my personal opinion) and I didn't feel that the quality was quite there. Probably OK if you are into vintage/retro gear though?. I was gutted when I noticed that Mansons and The Music Room had gone from Exeter. That was a sad day indeed for Devon-based guitarists. I have a guitar playing mate here in Plymouth who has a different opinion though, he is into vintage/retro/collectors guitars has had a happier experience checking out Life Guitars.

I agreed with Life guitars for them to sell my guitar in February, but was only informed IN APRIL (when enquiring) that it was also sold in February and for the minimum asking price (no proof). The guitar they exchanged for mine didn’t get advertised on their website until April. Numerous emails and phone calls to try to get the money owed to me, resulting at the end of May, with a promise to pay me by Wednesday 13th June. That came and went with another email saying there had been an ‘account issue, with another delay in paying expected’. Phone call to the ‘owner’ meant that I received my money on 17th June.
Moral of story, IF USING THIS COMPANY, read the contract and demand that there is an agreed time between the sale of your guitar and getting your money, also that they inform you of the price they have been offered and intend to sell for, plus showing proof of said sale (£200 difference in highest and lowest estimate, which could be a nice little profit for them!)
Steer well clear

In January I agreed to sell a MusicMan Valentine Guitar through them on a sale/ commission agreement after they valued the guitar at £2000. I noted late Feb that it was no longer in their shop and by early March it was no longer on their website as available, yet I’d heard nothing from them. After a few calls with no call backs I went to the shop in McCoys arcade, and after walking around the store it was clearly not on display. I asked the staff who confirmed it had been sold but needed to talk to the owner( I won’t name him) as he dealt with commission sales. He was in a meeting but later that day he emailed me back and confirmed it had been sold that previous weekend. I asked to see the bill of sale but it was never produced. I decided to take it on trust that guitar sold for what they stated and on that day. Anyway my fee was due on 5th April(30 days after date of sale) as per the signed contract. As of today 10th May I am still awaiting payment less their commission after failed promise, excuse and failed promise to pay me. In this day and age it takes minutes to transfer money from one account to another.
I have today had no option but to pass the matter on to a Legal team to seek the repayment of what is a quite substantial debt, using more forceful measures.
Never had issues like this with Mansons or indeed Project Music in Exeter , who I’d dealt with for many years buying, selling and repairing high end instruments.
Can’t recommend Life Guitars at all I’m afraid. I’d steer well clear from them.

I visited Lifeguitars in Exeter recently for some work on my Ibenez bass. This is the second bass I own none have been named. After receiving my bass back from Isaac the following was clear. The work was exceptional. My bass now sings, dances along when needed, and has a character. She now has a name. My first named bass. Thank you Lifeguitars, Jonathan.

I travelled 30 miles to visit Life Guitars and when I got there the doors were locked. A member of staff came out and said they were closed for stocktaking. I said well that’s not very good is it, ( there was nothing on the website to say it was closed,) and he told me they are closed for general browsing but if I was going to buy something I could come in. I said no thank you I will take my custom elsewhere and I will definitely not be buying anything from your shop in the future.
I have spent a lot of money here over the years when it was Mansons and
It’s really sad the shop has gone this way, when it was Mansons the staff were super helpful and accommodating whether you were buying a plectrum or a Custom Shop Fender. It’s also staggering in this day and age that a shop that has staff costs and premises to pay for is so short sighted as to turn away customers and treat them with such contempt. I would not be very surprised if this business failed.

Life Guitars set up my Telecaster from Hell (from a set-up perspective) to perfection. It wasn’t an easy job and the Guys spent a lot of time getting it right. I couldn’t be happier with the result. A well-deserved five stars. Just gave them another guitar to sort out. They’re really nice, helpful and a very knowledgable team. My go-to local Guitar store from now on!