Ed Roman Custom Wolfgang

In March of 2002 I decided to take a trip up to see Ed Roman in Conneticut. I knew he isn't a favorite of most people but I wanted to go. I had in mind a cutom Wolfgang-type guitar but I wanted more special than a custom Peavey Custom shop so I decided to give him a try. I wil describe mymeeting with him later.
Basically I wanted a Wolfgang special body type but with tone control. It has a pickup selector switch with 2 blackback pickups. The body is made out of white korina wood and the neck is ebony with white inlays. The bridge is a original black Floyd Rose wih a D-tuner. The tuners are Sperzel and the neck is based after a unfinished Wolfgang neck with jumbo frets.
I had this guitar painted black with a blue flame pattern and it has light touches of purple in it.

The style of music that I play is from a jazz type to a Van Halen type of sound. Currently I am playing this through a Fender Stage 100 amp with a Powerbrake. I have the typical MXR90 pedal, delay and a distortion pedal.
The sound range of this guitar is phenominal. I can hit a warm fuzzy jazz tone all the way to the VH Unchanined Crunch. Harmonics are great also. Theese pickups give an overall nice smooth tone as compared to my Wolfgang standard which gives a sharper bite.

When I recieved the guitar it was set up perfect. Usually when I get a new guitar I have to make some adjustments and this I didn't even have to touch. The pickups are at the correct height and is perfectly alligned with the body. Everything is tight and perfect with the assembly.
The Floyd springs allittle tight but that will wear off with use.

Put it like this, after a nucleur explosion the cochroaches will have a guitar to play with when nothing else is alive. This guitar is a solid built guitar, it is extremely dependable.

Now this is were everyone usually has issues. The main part of World Class guitars moved to Las Vegas this year and AI think this definately helped in the communication aspect. By having 2 parts now, one in Conn.(repairs/cutoms) and one in Las Vegas(sales) it has definately helped them. I had never had problems with them when they were together in Conn. but the wait time is almost never on the phone.
Everyone has their opinions on Ed Roman. I personally like him. Mrs. Roman is wonderfull. Allen the custom shop manager is a saint for dealing with me.
If you email them it can be kind of slow repsonse but I recieved them.
Also I asked them not to speak with my wife so she doesn't change something on it/ask prices and they avoided her like the plague. I have a great story about this.

Here is my story. I have been playing for 20 years but I couldn't play for 8 years because of psoriasis on my finger tips. I was just able to pick up a guitar again in 9/01. Buy that time the 2 guitars that I had a strat and a Kramer Baretta were on the older side so I bought a 62 MiM Strat to see if I can play again. I then bought a Wolfgang Standard. In Febuary of 2002 I decided I wanted to have a custom guitar made and I made a appointment with Ed Roman.
I have heard so many stories of him and the running joke at my workplace was that he was going to throw me off his porch when I met him. I am a easy going person but when someone gets me going I can be a complete jerk.
Well let me say this I walked in and got to speak with Ed and after I explained my history with him with my psoriasis, he asked me "Are you sure you want me to build one for you? You might not be able to play it if your fingers act up." He didn't want me wasting my money(yes this is a true story). I explained what the paint job I wanted (hotrod type of flames but thicker)and he was concerned it was too retro. He wanted me to get a flametop. I said it wasn't me but he wanted to show me the types of flame tops to make sure. This was an experience in itself. I learned so much about it. He gave me a complete tour of his operation. When he was speaking to me someone called about buying a really expensive Heratige guitar and he told the person he will call him back because he was speaking to me. Just to let you know I am a regular person and I thought this was cool.
After it I still wanted the paint option and he said think about for 2 weeks and call him with my decision to make sure. He wanted to save me money and said it would be cheaper to get the flame top and not the paint job.
World Class Guitars is run with a hands on attitude from Ed Roman aspect and I like this. His only problem is that he deals with too many people everyday and this is why he forgets some of the people that he deals with. Everytime I spoke to him on the phone he knew who I was after saying the guitar type.
Overall I liked my experience with WCG and will buy another one from them when the time comes. It may be expensive but I liked the service, the people and the guitar.
The guitar took 6 months to get but the wait was worth it. If you need a custom guitar right away 6 months may not be for you.
The packing on this guitar was great. I have recieved many guitars by mail and this one was the best.